Alec Daigle was confronted with a choice many times when he got into the starting gate this season: Ski conservatively and help the team win or go all out, taking risks trying to win an individual title.

Each time, Daigle picked team glory over individual success.

“Sometimes you just want to go for it,” the Maranacook sophomore said. “But the team comes first.”

Daigle won the Class B slalom title and finished 10th in the giant slalom to help the Black Bears win the Class B Alpine title. At the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference championships, he finished second in the slalom and third in the giant slalom.

For his outstanding season, Daigle has been named the Kennebec Journal Boys Alpine Skier of the Year. Teammate Matt Delmar was also considered.

“Alec has a passion for skiing. His many hours on his skis and his extremely competitive nature have jelled into a ski racer that is always looking to improve, so he can move up the result list,” Maranacook Alpine coach Ronn Gifford said. “Although he is always looking to improve his own skiing, he also knows that his as well as his teammates success is what defines the success for the team.”

Daigle is one of several young Alpine skiers at Maranacook who have developed into a solid team.

“Winning the states as a team was exciting,” Daigle said. “Everyone contributed to the win in both races. We swept the states because we worked together.”

Daigle was also a leader this season. Gifford wasn’t able to attend one meet this season because of illness, leaving assistant coach John Whitney alone with the team. Daigle stepped forward to help Whitney at the race.

Gifford said Daigle would make his way to the top of the course after his runs to tell his teammates course conditions.

“Alec and his teammates are always discussing their success or difficulties in an attempt to improve each other’s technique and results,” Gifford said. “These efforts have really helped raise the maturity, confidence and consistency level of this team to a new high which produced winning scores in nearly all the meets they competed in this season right through the Class B state team championship.”

Copy the Story Link