Ben Murphy and Scott Keyes
Sports Scene
Heritage ski team standout Bobby Leddy has qualified for the state finals every year of his high school career.
This year he can call himself a state champion.
The Heritage senior claimed Division I state titles in the slalom and giant slalom at Nubs Nob in February.
Leddy’s combined time for the giant slalom was 48.72 seconds, edging second-place Ryan Ness of Traverse City West, who finished in 49.34 seconds.
Leddy followed that with a two-run time of 1:11.67 to win the slalom, beating out Kalvis Hornburg of Traverse City Central, who finished in 1:12.88.
Last season, Leddy finished seventh in slalom and ninth in giant slalom. Prior to this year’s finals, Heritage coach Dave Corcoran was hoping that Leddy would go out with his best finish as a senior.
“We’re cautiously optimistic that he will do well,” Corcoran said after regionals. “His goal last year was to finish in the top five. I’m pretty sure that his goal again this year is to at least be in the top five. Ski racing is very unpredictable at this level; when you get to the state finals there are probably six to eight athletes that can be first in either event on any given day. It’s very close at the top.”
Leddy knew as well as anyone how steep the competition is in the state finals, which is why he knew he needed to have one of the top performances of his career.
“I just plan on going there and skiing as well as I can,” he said, while training for this year’s state finals. “We’ll see what the time ends up being and what place I end up, but I’d like to be first. I’ve got to keep my head straight, too. I’ve had times where I’ve been leading the race and I lose focus on my second run and it went downhill from there.”
Leddy qualified for the state finals with a fourth place finish in the giant slalom and a first place finish in the slalom at regionals February 16.
“I’d say that was a pretty good day,” Corcoran said. “The weather wasn’t very conducive for skiing. It was misting and foggy. Visibility was difficult.”
Adding to the prospects of a successful run at the state finals is Leddy’s vast experience in the sport.
“He has a lot more time on the snow than the average high school competitor does because he participates in other race programs,” Corcoran said. “He’s very focused and serious about his ski racing. That is his passion and he devotes a lot of time to training, so he’s well prepared.”
Leddy, who credits his parents and numerous coaches for his success, also hopes that the state finals aren’t his final time competing on the slopes, as he has eyed joining Boston College’s team next year.
“There are very few collegiate leagues; mainly I would like to go to Boston College and ski for them,” he said. “It’s a totally different thing from high school. It’s more national and they have a standardized point system. I need to lower my points a little to get on the team, but if I get into the college there’s a good chance I get onto the team for next year.”