Five GNA Junior Skiers Named to the NENSA 2021 Eastern Regional Championship Team and Season Wrap Up
Gilford, NH – April 4, 2021 – Gunstock Nordic Association – GNA would like to congratulate Catherine Stow, Katie Watt, Mitchell Townsend, Aiden Bondaz, and Tyler Watt for being named the NENSA’s Eastern Regional Championship Team! The team represents a list of New England’s top-performing skiers within the U16, U18, and U20 age categories (boys and girls) from each state. Named skiers would have participated in a season-ending championship at the Olympic trails in Lake Placid, NY. However, due to the complexity of travel during the COVID pandemic, the event was unable to proceed as planned. NENSA is hopeful that by June, all skiers who qualified for the team will be able to attend an Eastern Elite Regional talent camp.
Of the 110 qualifying skiers from the New England Team, 28 came from New Hampshire, and five of those were GNA athletes. Stow led GNA with an overall New England ranking of 8th among the U20/U18 Girls (4th U18). Watt’s consistent skiing had her ranking 25th in the U20/U18 category (16th U18 skier). On the boy’s side, Townsend ranked 23rd (16th U18 skier). In the U16 Boys category, Bondaz finished 12th and Watt placed 13th.
These are impressive results considering the unique challenges of training and racing during a pandemic—and considering the depth of competition within the New England region.
A complete list of New England Junior rankings can be viewed here »
The 2020/2021 season brought several challenges and GNA made the most of it.
Other season accolades and team highlights include:
GNA ranked eighth among 121 NENSA clubs
The overall team ranking is based on results from all of our skiers: BKL, Juniors, and Masters. Stay tuned for a season wrap-up on a very successful Master’s racing season—which features several wins and podiums, and top NENSA rankings in their respective age categories.
NENSA NH Eastern States Championship at Dublin (3/13/21)
Catherine Stow and Aiden Bondaz ski to top spots while Mitchell Townsend and Tyler Watt continue strong with consistent skiing and more podium finishes.
Girls U18/U20 5k Classic
· Catherine Stow 1st
Boys U18/U20 5k Classic
· Mitchell Townsend 2nd
Boys U16 5k Classic
· Aiden Bondaz 1st
· Tyler Watt 2nd
Boys U16 Freestyle Sprint
· Aiden Bondaz 2nd
· Tyler Watt 3rd
NHIAA Meet of Champions at Proctor (3/9/21)
GNA took first and second in BOTH the Girls and Boys 7.5km races!
Catherine Stow earned the top spot with Katie Watt taking second. In the Boy’s race, Tyler Watt took first and Mitchell Townsend took second.
About the NHIAA Meet of Champions
At the conclusion of each high school ski season, the top ten ranked skiers from each division (4 divisions) in classic and freestyle qualify to race in the NHIAA Meet of Champions. The top 6 finishers in each event are awarded with medals.
NHIAA Divisional Championships at Great Glen Trails (3/4/21)
Stow, Watt, Townsend, and Bondaz win NHIAA titles!
And GNA Skiers finish strong with top results.
D2 Girls Classic
· Catherine Stow 1st
· Vanessa Genakos 2nd
D2 Girls Skate
· Catherine Stow 1st
D1 Girls Classic
· Katie Watt 1st
D1 Girls Skate
· Katie Watt 1st
D2 Boys Classic
· Mitchell Townsend 1st
· Aiden Bondaz 2nd
D2 Boys Skate
· Aiden Bondaz 1st
· Mitchell Townsend 3rd
D1 Boys Skate
· Tyler Watt 3rd
The Gilford High School Boys Nordic Team wins the NHIAA Division Championships!
With GNA’s Nina Gavrylyuk now coaching and mentoring both Belmont and Gilford’s Middle and High Schools, our Junior program now includes athletes from those communities.
Both teams had strong seasons, highlighted by the Gilford High School Boys winning the NHIAA Division Championships. The Gilford team consisted of Mitch Townsend, Aiden Bondaz, Patrick Gandini, Henry Stow, Carter Forest, Alden Townsend, Scott Kulcsar, and Haukur Karlsson.
Wins and Podiums at the Fast & Furious Eastern Cup at Proctor (2/28/21)
U12 Girls – Caitlin Craddock 1st
U14 Girls – Georgia Eckhardt 2nd, Maria Tilley 3rd
U18 Girls – Cat Stow 1st
U16 Boys – Tyler Watt 2nd, Aiden Bondaz 3rd
U18 Boys – Mitchell Townsend 3rd
Masters Men – Rob Riley 2nd