Su Valley skiers take home Zucchini Cup

January 3, 2006

DARRELL L. BREESE\Frontiersman reporter

HATCHER PASS - Nico Ambrose and Galen Johnston of Susitna Valley High School teamed up to capture the boys' title during the second-annual Zucchini Cup cross-country ski race Thursday. With the victory, they took home the coveted 30-pound zucchini grown by Glynn Strabel.

The Rams' tandem set a blistering pace around the 1.7-kilometer loop at Mountain Streams Bed and Breakfast on the south side of Government Peak. Their time of 20 minutes and 1 second was more than two minutes better than runners up Alex Munger and Mason Wick of Colony, who finished in 22:43.

The race was a sprint relay, in which each team of two people had to complete two complete loops of the course.

Palmer's Jasmine McQuown and Erin Skvorc from Colony combined to win for the winning girls' team, finishing in 27:39. Palmer High skiers Kate Fitzgerald and Collean Fisk were second with a time of 28:23.

Teams from Colony, Palmer, Su Valley and Wasilla all took part in the first race of the season.

&#8220It's just a good way to break up the two weeks the kids are off for school,” Colony coach Mark Strabel said. &#8220The kids enjoy it and everyone had a lot of fun. They were skiing for a zucchini, after all.”

Strabel and the Colony ski team will host the first big meet of the season Friday and Saturday, as teams from around the state gather for the Mat-Su Pursuit.

&#8220We're doing a snow dance, hoping to be able to host the meet as planned,” Strabel said. &#8220But we're also working on back-up plans, which include moving the race to Hatcher Pass, the Sheep Mountain Lodge or maybe to Chugiak High School.”

&#8220The race is going to happen,” Strabel concluded. &#8220We just don't know where yet.”

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or at darrell.breese@frontiersman.com.

Zucchini Cup Freestyle Relay - Mountain Streams Trails

Boys - 1. Nico Ambrose - Galen Johnston, Su Valley, 20:01; 2. Alex Munger - Mason Wick, Colony, 22:43; 3. tie; Sean Boyden - Ryan Van Gorder, Colony and Brian Senta - Ryan Herrington, Palmer, 22:45; 5. Evan Walker - Jeff Ford, Colony, 24:13; 6. tie: Devin Warburton - Joe Hunner, Wasilla, and Ian Mannix - Jacob Mannix, Su Valley; 25:18; 8. Elias Holt - Jeppe Asmussen, Su Valley, 28:17; 9. Robert Wise - Cameron Walters, Colony, 30:22; 10. Jeff West - Mogans Tyler, Colony, 33:12.

Girls - 1. Jasmine McQuown(Pal.)- Erin Skvorc (Col), 27:39; 2. Kate Fitzgerald - Collean Fisk, Palmer, 28:23; 3. Jae Lynch - Suzanna Caldwell, Wasilla, 29:26; 4. Jade OLeck - Heather Kelehan, Colony, 29:42; 5. Morgan Moeglein - Kalli Brettrager, Colony, 29:45; 6. Rachel Winz - Rebecca McQuown, Palmer, 32:05; 7. Lindsey Miller - Meghan Jones, Wasilla, 40:03.