GANNON's Simmons RockwellCayga Health Guthrie Sports Med Southern Tier Sports ReportDANDY MINI MARTS FIRST HERITAGE FCU WILLIAMS AUTO GROUPColdiron



NYSPHSAA SKIING: FUN EXPERIENCE FOR CORNING'S WALSH AS SHE WRAPS UP HS SEASON AT STATES (2022-03-20)

By Brian Fees
Southern Tier Sports Report
It took just one season of varsity skiing for Corning’s Teagan Walsh to end up in the state meet.

While the results at states weren’t everything Walsh had hoped for, it was a special experience for the eighth-grader to make it to states.

“It was really fun and not as crazy as I thought it would be,” Walsh said. “It was actually really nice and it gives me more confidence for future years that I can go (back to states).”

In the Giant Slalom the Corning skier finished 37th out of 64 competitors with a time of 2:54. She had a top time of 1:25.4 in her first time down the course.

Walsh was 42nd in the slalom out of 64 competitors. She had a total time of 2:00.98, including a 50.9 in her first time down the course.

The Corning skier knew she had a challenge facing many much older athletes.

“I think there were a lot of seniors there, so they were definitely quite a bit older than me,” she said.

For Walsh it was a special experience to get to ski at states, and Gore Mountain was fun for her to compete on.

“The mountain was really fun,” she said. “The trail was long, so it was tiring at the end. Giant Slalom it was set so wide, it was fun to slide down.”

No matter the finish, the experience was what mattered for Walsh.

“It was really fun and I’m glad I got this opportunity,” she said.

The eighth-grader knows this will just help her as she goes forward in her career.

“It definitely helped make me more comfortable,” she said. “It definitely makes me feel good about all the work I put in.”

Watching some of the great competition at states, and throughout the season is just making Walsh a better skier.

“It was definitely nice seeing lots of people do really good on the course,” she said. “Especially some of the boys, they just go and do really good.

“At states you couldn’t (watch a lot of the other girls she was competing with) because most of the course was out of your visibility. Other races, I watch other people.”

Making it to states before she is even a high school freshman is special for Walsh.

“Definitely, it’s nice having an extra year just to get used to it,” Walsh said.

The Corning skier was a ski team of one for the Hawks this year, and her success has had her hearing from at least a few other people about maybe wanting to ski in the future.

“A couple of people have been interested in maybe doing a high school team,” she said.

For Walsh it was a busy winter as doing high school skiing, and her club team, was a six-day a week commitment with either meets, or practices.

“That was definitely difficult, because I had a lot of school work to make up for days I missed,” Walsh said. “It was crazy, especially driving that much.

While the time commitment was a lot, it was special for Walsh to be able to compete in the high school season.

At states the Corning skier even got to compete with some of the girls she skis with on her club team, who ski out of Section 5 during the season.

“It was nice that I got to race against some of my friends from club racing and I knew people from other places,” Walsh said.

For Walsh competing with the best high school athletes in the state just gives her added confidence when she competes against athletes her age in the club season.

“It definitely makes me feel better when I’m at races with kids my age and I realize I can place well at those races,” Walsh said.

This year was special for Walsh and getting to states just makes her excited to try and get back and have even more success next year.

“I’m really excited, because next year I’ll be more confident and expecting what will happen there,” Walsh said. “Hopefully place better.”
——
FILE PHOTO. PHOTO PROVIDED.


You've asked about helping ...
here's your chance. Click HERE