Freestyle

McCargo and Rowley Crowned National Champions

by
USSA
2016-03-18 16:53
 

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO (March 18, 2016) – The competition was fierce as the best mogul skiers in the United States battled it out for the national title at the 2016 USANA U.S. Freestyle Championships. U.S. Freestyle Ski Team athletes Keaton McCargo (Telluride, CO) and Tom Rowley (Long Beach, NY) put down the best runs of the day to come out on top and earn the title of moguls national champion.

It was the first national title for McCargo, who struggled to post top results on the World Cup this year. But her skiing on Steamboat's Voodoo Trail was flawless. She qualified first heading into the 16-skier final. In her last run, she executed a clean 360 and back tuck on her airs and stayed composed in the middle mogul section, earning a score of 88.22 to take the win.

“I really put together my run,” stated McCargo. “I was consistent in qualifying and finals and I decided to give it my all on these last runs of the season. I’m not going to lie, this season was difficult. I struggled with nerves on the World Cup and I didn’t ski my best. It was really nice to put it all together at the end of the season.”


Women's podium (l to r): Olivia Giaccio, Keaton McCargo and Lane Stoltzner.

Steamboat local Olivia Giaccio (Vail, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club), lead the pack until McCargo’s final run. She finished in second with a score of 84.83. U.S. Freestyle Ski Team member Lane Stoltzner (Park Ridge, IL) was third.

With fast skiing and big airs, it was a battle for the top spot on the men’s side. Wasatch Freestyle’s Bryan Zemba (Killington, VT) posted the fastest time of the day and remained in the first position until Rowley, who went for the high degree of difficulty on the airs with a double full on top and a cork seven on bottom, took the win with a score of 91.52. Rowley also took home the 2015 dual moguls national title and has podiumed twice in that event on the World Cup circuit.

“I did my best top air of the week so far,” said Rowley. “I was a little nervous on the bottom air, but it turned out alright. I kept my turns tight and skied fast. It was a tricky middle section, but you just have to trust your technique and what you’ve trained. I’ve had some good results in duals, so it was nice to get a win in singles.”


Men's moguls podium (l to r): Bryan Zemba, Tom Rowley and Dylan Waczyk.

Zemba landed second with a score of 90.61. Dylan Walczyk (Rochester, NY) was third with a score of 89.94.

The 2016 USANA U.S. Freestyle Championships continue on Saturday, March 19 with the men’s and women’s aerials competition.

 

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Keaton McCargo and Tom Rowley were crowned moguls national champions at the 2016 USANA U.S Freestyle Championships.
  • It was McCargo’s first national title and Rowley’s first single moguls title.
  • Olivia Giaccio and Lane Stoltzner rounded out the podium for the women, finishing second and third.
  • U.S. national team member Ali Kariotis finished fourth, Tess Johnson fifth, Mikaela Matthews sixth, Sophia Schwartz ninth, Heidi Kloser 15th and Nessa Dziemian 16th.
  • Wasatch Freestyle’s Bryan Zemba was second and Dylan Walczyk third for the men.
  • U.S national team member Jeremy Cota was fourth, Brad Wilson fifth, Bruce Perry Jr. ninth and Bryon Wilson 14th.
  • The 2016 USANA U.S. Freestyle Championships continues on March 19 with the men’s women’s aerials competition.

 

QUOTES

Keaton McCargo
I really put together my run. I was consistent in qualifying and finals and I decided to give it my all on these last runs of the season. I made a good line choice and kept to the corner of the moguls to stay smooth in the middle section.

I’m not going to lie, this season was difficult. I struggled with nerves on the World Cup and I didn’t ski my best. I would mess up one jump or something and I always felt like something was missing from the equation. It was really nice to put it all together at the end of the season.

All the younger girls are really pushing everybody, especially me and a lot of the older girls. There here to kick our butts, so I have to make sure I’m challenging myself so I can keep up with them.

Tom Rowley
I did my best top air of the week so far. I was a little nervous on the bottom air, but it turned out alright. I kept my turns tight and skied fast. It was a tricky middle section, but you just have to trust your technique and what you’ve trained. It was a pretty good season. I’ve had some good results in duals, so it was nice to get a win in singles.

RESULTS
Women’s Moguls
Men’s Moguls

 


 


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