The Purgatory Alpine Ski Team wrapped up the season with strong showings in the seasons last two events for younger skiers, a team championship and four team members earning honors as overall champions in their age groups for the Southern Series.
Purgatory retained the team title and the trophy dubbed The Birdie that it won last year in the Southern Series, which includes teams from southern Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona.
Nicholas Unkovskoy (under 12 boys), Wiley Corra (U10 boys), Isabelle Washburn (U10 girls) and Madison LeSage (U8 girls) finished the season as age-group champions.
I am so proud of our athletes, head coach Leah LeSage said. ... I have no doubt that much of this seasons success has been attributed to training on Chapman Hill. It has been an integral part of our training.
In the Southern Series Championship hosted by Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort on March 22-24, Nicholas won two gold medals and a silver in four races; Wiley and Isabelle won all four of their races; and Madison took three golds and a silver.
Other medal-winners for Purgatory included Lucas Robbins (U14, two golds and a silver), Maddie Jo Robbins (U12, gold and silver) and Calvin Chase (U12, two silvers and a bronze).
Other Purgatory athletes contributing to the team title included Jack Eggleston, Gunnar Schwab, Anne Chase, Haleigh Latta, Amy Leonard, Annie Watson, Harry LeSage, Tobin Ogden, Miles Bronson, Jacob Ledbetter, Jack Schuba, Ellie Gober, Zoe Kiesel, Analise Gates, Jake Washburn, Wes Jackson, Kaleb Ledbetter, Toby Scarpella, Paul Watson, Abbey Shepard and Ava Watson.
A couple weeks earlier, Purgatory athletes swept the gold medals in all age and gender categories at the U12/U10 Championship at Powderhorn Ski Area.
Maddie Jo Robbins and Calvin Chase took top honors in the U12 divisions, and Isabelle Washburn and Wesley Jackson won the U10 competitions.
Isabelle Washburn took silver in the U10 girls division,
Also racing for Purgatory were Nicholas Unkovskoy, Calvin Chase, Harry LeSage, Miles Bronson, Maddie Jo Robbins, Wiley Corra, Toby Scarpella, Harry LeSage, Ellie Gober and Abbey Shepard.
