High school skiing

Vernon’s Haley Merrit and Keith Vella took home first place-trophies in the Fourth Annual Steven Petro Invitational at Mountain Creek on Friday evening. Merrit and Vella were presented their awards by Newton head coach Dave Pede, who walked the halls with Petro to recruit student/athletes to join the Braves’ first ski team in 1998. Petro, a 2000 graduate of Newton High School, passed away on Sept. 1, 2002 after a battle with brain cancer. For the first two years of his high school career, Newton High School did not have a race team so he decided to start one. He was made captain of the first Newton High School Race Team. “Steven loved the mountain,” said Pede. It is fitting that, for the last four years, the mountain is honoring him. The proceeds raised from the even benefit the Steven Petro Memorial Scholarship that is awarded to a Newton High School graduating senior. Merrit, who was selected the McAfee Ski Shop Skier of the Week, stood fifth after the first run, but grabbed the biggest trophy when she posted the fastest clocking of 34.89 on the second run. Her teammate, Amanda Malkin, finished fifth with another Lady Viking, Chantal Bernhart, in seventh place as Vernon won the girls’ team title. High Point claimed the boys’ team trophy as Tyler Bartz led the Wildcats, occupying the runnerup slot to Vella. (Results compliments of njisra.com) Boys’ Team Scores 1. High Point 4:37.93 2. Ridge 4:38.06 3. Vernon 4:46.78 4. Blair Academy 4:49.34 5. Jefferson 4:59.15 6. Newton 5:03.71 7. West Milford 5:07.66 8. Bernards 5:10.47 Individual Results 1. Keith Vella (Vernon) 31.36-32.59-1:03.95 2. Tyler Bartz (High Point) 32.35-33.11-1:05.46 6. Chad Kunz (Vernon) 34.70-33.72-1:08.42 8. Ed Cooke (High Point) 34.27-35.22-1:09.49 9. Craig Ulicini (Wallkill Valley) 34.97-35.00-1:09.97 10. Scott Kern (Ridge) 34.98-35.53-1:10.51 11. Corey Ulicini (Wallkill Valley) 34.71-35.93-1:10.64 14. Greg Aromano (High Point) 35.43-36.00-1:11.43 15. Dan McBride (High Point) 35.26-36.29-1:11.55 18. Tom Wiltshire (Jefferson) 35.49-36.86-1:12.35 20. Justin Mitnick (Newton) 36.13-36.59-1:12.72 21. Eruc Wilton (Jefferson) 34.82-38.53-1:13.35 22. Greg Smith (Wallkill Valley) 36.42-36.96-1:13.38 23. Kevin Yarzab (Newton) 36.53-37.15-1:13.68 24. Brian Welles (Kittatinny) 36.40-37.78-1:14.18 26. Derek Bishop (Jefferson) 36.80-37.81-1:14.61 27. Andrew Resinger (Vernon) 35.49-39.30-1:14.79 28. Ryan Raye (High Point) 38.12-37.15-1:15.27 31. Dereck Johnson (Newton) 38.17-38.98-1:17.15 33. Luke Masi (Jefferson) 40.96-37.88-1:18.84 35. Scott Resinger (Vernon) 44.36-35.36-1:19.62 37. Maciej Maslonka (Newton) 39,62-40.14-1:19.76 41. Craig Gerth (Kittatinny) 40.14-41.20-1:21.34 42. Josh Gibson (Kittatinny) 40.78-44.23-1:25.01 46. Brian Rieken (Newton) 46.57-49.55-1:36.12 47. Devon Cross (Jefferson) 33.02-DNF-N/T 48. Devin Fielding (Vernon) 33.16-DNF-N/T 56T. Dennis Cook (Kittatinny) DNF-DNS/N/T 56T. Kyle Faris (Vernon) DNF-DNS-N/T 56T. Andrew Frazell (Newton) DNF-DNS-N/T 56T. Corey Hellwig (Wallkill Valley) DNF-DNS-N/T 56T. Anthony Nurkowski (Wallkill Valley) DNF-DNS-N/T 56T. Dan Paulik (Wallkill Valley) DNF-DNS-N/T 56T. Chris Wahlgren (Jefferson) DNF-DNS-N/T Girls’ Team Scores 1. Vernon 4:55.69 2. Ridge 5:07.80 3. Immaculate Heart Academy 5:22.31 4. Mountain Lakes 5:24.09 4. Mountain Lakes 5:24.09 5. Bernards 5:29.05 6. Newton 5:39.79 7. Jefferson 5:50.90 8. Kittatinny 5:57.49 Individual Results 1. Haley Merrit (Vernon) 34.69-34-89-1:09.58 4. Laura Backman (Wallkill Valley) 35.19-35.47-1:10.66 5. Amanda Malkin (Vernon) 34.60-36.41-1:11.01 7. Chantal Bernhart (Vernon) 36.19-37.00-1:13.19 9. Stacey Davis (Jefferson) 36.44-38.24-1:14.68 11. Natasha Yasin (High Point) 36.87-38.27-1:15.14 12. Jessica Jonsson (Newton) 37.04-38.16-1:15.20 15. Julianna Katterman (High Point) 38.20-38.81-1:17.01 22. Belinda Kotler (Jefferson) 38.01-39.91-1:17.92 24. Devon Greif (Newton) 38.51-39.76-1:18.27 25. Rachel DelFumeri (Kittatinny) 39.22-40.12-1:19.34 29. Casey Emilius (Vernon) 37.61-44.30-1:21.91 30. Erin Fleck (Kittatinny) 40.43-41.70-1:22.13 32. Erica Pentony (Vernon) 40.39-42.80-1:23.19 33. Corinne Healy (Jefferson) 41.82-42.53-1:24.35 35. Chelsea Kahn (Newton) 38.04-48.72-1:26.76 36. Noelle Hayenhjelm (Wallkill Valley) 38.33-50.01-1:28.34 38. Kelsey Roberts (Kittatinny) 44.19-45.66-1:29.85 43. Danielle Clark (High Point) 39.88-53.88-1:33.76 48. Ashley Frazell (Newton) 50.81-48.75-1:39.56 49. Danika Daley (Kittatinny) 52.79-53.38-1:46.17 50. Catherine Rudio (Newton) 55.84-56.25-1:52.09 51. Jael Estey (Jefferson) 1:00.02-53.93-1:53.95 55. Kristina Bentson (High Point) 37.98-DNF-N/T 56. Keri Pier (Vernon) 38.04-DNF-N/T 59. Nicole Plaza (High Point) 40.13-DNF-N/T 61. Kim Greif (Newton) 41.18-DNF-N/T 63. Liz Ashman (Jefferson) 53.03-DNF-N/T 64. Danika Daley (Kittatinny) 56.55-DNF-N/T 65T. Hannah Katterman (High Point) DNF-DNS-N/T