In a fitting climax to Coach Bob Morse’s career, the girls nordic ski team won the Class B State Championships in Fort Kent. They won Classical event on February 22nd, and followed up the next day with a victory in the Freestyle. Sophia Laukli ’18 won both of the races decisively, ably supported by Hannah Corey ’18, Isabel Brennan ’19, and Maddie Marston ’21.
Coach Morse, who has coached YHS ski teams for 37 years, finishes his career with eighteen state championships for girls, and fourteen for boys. Most of these came under the old scoring system, which combined alpine and nordic results.
In the alpine meet on February 19th, the girls team beat Fort Kent in the giant slalom, but on the following day Fort Kent rallied in the slalom, edging the Clippers 83-80 to win the championship. Greta Elder ’18 placed second in both events.
The boys nordic team finished sixth. The alpine team placed second to Cape Elizabeth.
In other play-off action:
The boys basketball team completed their season with a record of 13-7. They defeated Maranacook in a Quarterfinal game at the Expo, but lost to Cape Elizabeth in the Semifinals.
After defeating Gorham in a Class B South Quarterfinal game, the boys hockey team advanced to the Semifinals, where they lost to Greely, 4-1, ending their season a record of 11-7-2.
Both boys and girls swim teams fielded deeper squads this year, and showed significant improvement throughout the season. The boys team won the South Southwesterns, and then placed 8th of 18 schools in the Class B State Championships. The girls team placed 2nd in the South Southwesterns and 6th in a field of 21 schools at the States.
Only a few students qualified for the Class B championships in track. Luke Laverdiere ’18 continued his dominance in distance events, winning the two mile by almost a minute.