Mendon brothers place first in Okemo, Nashoba Slope Style competitions

Submitted

SAM GNOZA

The Stratton Mountain School freeski team finished up its regular season at Okemo and Nashoba Valley, Feb. 21 and 22, with Mendon’s Gnoza brothers coming out ahead in freeski events.

At Okemo in the Slope Style competition, sophomore Sam Gnoza of Mendon was first in the Open Class division. Sophomore Henry Robbins, Weston, Conn., was first in the 16-18 bracket, and sophomore Ian Schramm, Randolph, N.J., was seventh in that division. In the 13-15 age bracket, freshman Henrik de Jounge, Fairfield, Conn., was fourth; eighth-grader Nathan Caplan from West Dover, Vt., was ninth; and freshman Bennie Osnow, Londonderry, Vt., was 16th.

In the Okemo Halfpipe, Charlie Gnoza of Mendon, Vt. was first for the 10-12 age bracket.

At Nashoba Valley, the team competed in Half Pipe, Slope Style and a Rail Jam. In the Half Pipe, Charlie Gnoza again took first in the 10-12 bracket. In the Slopestyle competition, Schramm was third for the 16-18 bracket, Caplan was fourth for 13-15 bracket, and de Jounge was sixth in the same bracket. For the Rail Jam, Schramm took first for the 14+ age group, with de Jounge in seventh. For the 13-and-under bracket, Caplan was sixth.

Stratton Mountain School is a ski and snowboard academy located at the base of Stratton Mountain. SMS serves students in grades seven through twelve. The SMS community of students, faculty, coaches and staff share the pursuit of academic and athletic excellence.