Our next state champion spotlight is Fiona Ahearne of Merriconeag who won the Class C Freestyle race. We asked her about Merriconeag's and her 
success and her season goals.
1) What were your preparations leading up to the state meet?
Besides the past six months of training, I made sure I was in good health and mentally prepared to lay down everything I had worked for all season.
2) How did you deal with the pressure and emotions that come along with competing in a state meet?
I didn’t feel much more pressure at States than I felt at other races. I knew most of my competition and I wasn’t expecting or predicted to win so I didn’t have to carry that weight of pressure. Racing under the lights turned my adrenaline into excitement rather than nervousness.
3) What to you contribute your and Merriconeag's ski success to?
There are many factors that contribute to Merriconeag’s success. One of them is that we start skiing in 2nd Grade in our PE class, so by the time we reach Middle School we are more comfortable on skies than most of the other kids. Our high school team has an incredible dynamic between the skiers and our coach, John Tarling. Skiing, although one of the more exhausting sports, manages to be a blast at Merriconeag. I absolutely love it and look forward to gatherings like our December ski camp and States all year long. You obviously have to work hard to do well in the sport, but if you love it, you’ll be even more successful. John trusts our results will come if we love the sport, and his formula seems to be working.
4) Coming into the season, what were your goals and did you achieve them?
Coming into the season, I had a couple goals (such as making the podium at WMC’s) which I did achieve, but I mostly look at each race individually and try my best on that day.