It can now be called a dynasty.
For the third time in the last four MIAA state championship meets, the Concord-Carlisle girls Nordic skiing team took home the title, capturing it on Tuesday, Feb. 14 at Prospect Mountain in Vermont.
C-C totaled 32 points to finish ahead of second-place Newton North, which scored 54.
The Patriots had previously won state titles in 2019 and 2022 and placed third in 2020. There was no state meet in 2021.
“The season went very well,” said Jeff Campbell, who just completed his 10th season as C-C’s coach. “We had a good training weekend in Jackson (New Hampshire) last month that really helped.”
Finn Feist led C-C with a second-place overall finish in 21 minutes, 33 seconds just three seconds behind the first-place finisher, Clara Lake of Newton North (21:30).
“With the final loop left to go, Finn was right on Clara’s skis entering the woods,” Campbell said. “Though Clara opened up a gap on the final hill, Finn closed back to within three seconds and when Clara crossed the line, she was spent.”
C-C Sarah Kirincich placed sixth in 22:58 and Katie Pohlig was 11th (25:14).
“In the girls race in which almost all skiers’ times were 60 -120 seconds slower than in last year’s race, Katie actually matched her previous time in 2022 when she placed 29th (also 25:14),” Campbell said.
Abby Kirincich was 13th (25:27) and Molly Branigan was 25th in 27:31. Azalea Feather was 42nd (28:51).
In the 10 years of C-C records, only one other girl has had a higher first state meet finish (Ella Nichol, 11th in 2018),” Campbell said.. “Abby’s 13th-place finish in 25:27 was achieved skiing mostly all alone at the front of Wave 4 which she won by over three minutes. Audrey Pozen of Newton North was second in Wave 4 in 28:20. What an impressive performance (by) Abby.”
During the season, C-C won the Mass. Bay West League title for the eighth time in 10 years. Despite a lack of natural snow for much of the winter, the league got in all of its meets.
“Weston (Ski Track) started making snow in November,” Campbell said. “We had enough to be able to race every Tuesday.”
Many of Concord-Carlisle’s top skiers also compete for Eastern Mass. Cross Country (formerly Cambridge Sports Union) or Freedom Trail XC.
On The boys side, C-C finished third with 62 points. Mt. Greylock was first with 25 and Newton South was second with 32.
Xander Scopinich-Burgel placed second in 18:51. Adam Synnestvedt was 16th (20:55). Jonah Carter placed 17th (21:01). Isah Nichol was 27th (21:52). Harry Holden placed 38th (22:04). Penn Rogers was 43rd in 22:49.
The full lineups for C-C were on the girls side Finn Feist, Sarah Kirincich, Katie Pohlig. Abby Kirincich, Azalea Feather, Molly Branigan, Kendall Colleran, Uma Samnotra and Miriam Sachs; the boys team included Xander Scopinich-Burgel, Jonah Carter, Adam Synnestvedt, Isah Nichol, Harry Holden, Penn Rogers, Marcus Bjerke, Will Bowers and Elias Bondensgaard.
