NEWRY, Maine - The New England College alpine ski team made its official return to the MacConnell Division, the most competitive and premier USCSA division in the country. Racing on Monday and Tuesday at Sunday River in Newry, Maine, the FIS-sanctioned race included Division I teams including Harvard, Bates, St. Lawrence, some strong ski academy teams, and a powerful list of MacConnell Division regulars. 

NEC freshman Tommaso Sala (Villanova, D'Albenla, Italy), led the way with two podiums.  Sala finished in third place for U18 Athletes in both the SL and GS. In the slalom on Monday, he was the team's top finisher in 42nd place overall out of 113 skiers, posting runs of 47.59 and 51.69 - 11.65 seconds off the lead. Sophomore Owen Kizak (Manchester, N.H.) finished in 56th place with a total time of 2:14.83. 

After posting a DNF in Monday's slalom race, junior Hogan Bemis (Stow, Maine) led the team on Tuesday in the Giant Slalom. He logged times of 1:17.15 and 1:12.41 to finish in 43rd with a total time of 2:29.50 - 17.38 seconds off first. Sala was right on his tail, finishing in 44th just 14 tenths of a second behind Bemis. Senior Robert Hotchkiss (New Durham, N.H.) also brushed aside a DNF on Monday to finish in 58th in the GS with a total time of 2:50.68. 

In the women's giant slalom, sophomore Lorelei Holloway (Ashland, Va.) placed 41st of 77 racers with runs of 1:31.57 and 1:27.49 for a total time of 2:59.06.  

The Pilgrims will hit the slopes again next weekend at Proctor Ski Area on Saturday, January 17th and Sunday, January 18th. 

For continuing coverage of New England College Athletics, visit athletics.nec.edu and follow the Pilgrims on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.