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Matthew Butler is a big reason
for the Windham Alpine Ski
Team's success this season. |
ORDER COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE
Matt
Butler is a key member of the Windham
High School Alpine Ski Team.
Butler,
along with teammate Justin LaGassey were
named
skiers to watch by the Portland
Press Herald before the season began.
Butler has
been a big part of Windham's impressive
season, they are undefeated in the SMAA.
He has been the highest finisher in all
but two of their races this season. LeGassey finished ahead of him in one of
those races and David Brackett finished
ahead of him the other time.
Windham
High School Alpine Ski Coach Cal Kendall
points out that Butler's contributions
to the team extend beyond his actual
performance in the races, "He helps
other members of the team improve their
skiing."
We wonder
if he does that by teaching them a skill
he just realized he practices, Butler
said, "I realized a couple weeks ago I
don't focus on the course ahead of me
but I focus on other things that are
happening..."
We don't
blame him for wanting to think about
other things after hearing he has been
clocked at speeds of up to 55 MPH!
When
Butler isn't racing down the slopes he
is policing them as a volunteer member
of the ski patrol at
Shawnee Peak. He will be attending
the student ski patrol
conference/competition March 14-17 with
other student patrollers and two to
three regular patrollers from
Shawnee Peak.
Skiing is
a family affair in the Butler family,
he said he learned to ski at around
3-1/2 years old. His older
brother
Nathaniel is enjoying a
very productive freshman year skiing for
Boston University. Matt hopes to one ski
in college as well.
Congratulations on a great season Matt!
Good luck in the State Championships
this week!
Q&A
WSP: Where do you see yourself in five
years?
Matt:
I see myself on tour with a band doing
lights and sound and seeing the world.
WSP: Who is your role model in sports?
Matt:
Bode Miller.
WSP: Who is your role model in life?
Matt: Jess
Waterhouse.
WSP: How do you prepare for sports?
Matt:
I have a good dinner the night before,
get all of my gear ready and check it
over, then the day of the race I just
enjoy skiing and when it is my time to
go I don't focus on the course ahead of
me but I focus on other things that are
happening and it works pretty well.
WSP: Favorite sports memory?
Matt:
Meeting Bode Miller and skiing with him
at Attitash two years ago.
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