Western Carolina University tied for 10th place in the men’s team alpine combined (giant slalom and slalom) at the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association’s Mid-Atlantic Regional competition, Feb. 28-29, at Blue Mountain Resort in Palmerton, Pennsylvania.
Individually, WCU junior Jacob Bennington, of Waynesville, finished 24th in the slalom event with a two-run combined time of 1:38.09 and 24th in the giant slalom with a combined time of 2:21.06. WCU sophomore Lance Shallenberger, of Clyde, finished 29th in the slalom event with a two-run combined time of 1:47.97 and 33rd in the giant slalom with a combined time of 2:34.42.
Columbia University placed first, United States Military Academy was second and Lehigh University was third. WCU tied with Appalachian State University; 14 universities competed in the men’s alpine events.
In the ski freestyle competition, Shallenberger placed 8th out of 27 skiers and Bennington placed 17th. As a result of their participation in the freestyle event, Shallenberger and Bennington are eligible to compete in the USCSA National Championships freestyle event scheduled for March 10-14 at Lake Placid, New York. “The sport is still growing at the national level, so anyone who qualifies as a freestyle athlete can go to nationals,” said Doug Grayson, USCSA executive board vice president of sport.