Biele and Simmons Make History in Giant Slalom at Whiteface

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – Senior Parker Biele and freshman Zach Simmons each made history in the giant slalom at Whiteface Mountain over the last two days at the St. Lawrence Carnival. Biele became the first Eagle in school history to win an EISA race, while Simmons became the first male skier ever to reach an EISA podium.

Biele had the fastest time in three of her four GS runs on Thursday at Whiteface, winning the first race outright and placing second overall in the second race. The result gives the senior captain three EISA podiums in her last four giant slalom events, the only three in program history.

Simmons also earned second place for Boston College in the opening men's GS on Friday morning with two stellar runs, less than a tenth of a second behind UNH's Crowley Gentile. The rookie followed it up by finishing just off the podium in fourth in the second GS race to give him four top-10's and three top-5's in his first four collegiate events.

The women's team finished second overall at the carnival behind Vermont, while the men placed third out of four schools.

Behind Biele, Haley Castner earned the second-highest BC finish of the event with 12th overall in the second GS race. Emma Birtwhistle, Lauren Geary, Gigi Kranjc and Madeline Davis were 14th through 17th in the first GS race.

On the men's side, captains Chris Bertram and Trent Gutstein finished inside the top-20 in both GS races on Friday. Gutstein (12th) and Bertram (13th) were back to back in the second race, while Bertram (15th) edged Gutstein (17th) in the morning race.

Boston College hosts its first-ever carnival this weekend at Proctor Academy in Andover, New Hampshire. The first of two women's slalom races begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday (Feb. 27) and the men's slalom races follow on Sunday (Feb. 28) at 9 a.m.