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By Michael Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
For the second straight season and the 15th time in the last 16 years, the Nobles Bulldogs are ISL champions in alpine skiing.
Of the skiers who suited up for Nobles this season and led the team to yet another conference title, perhaps none were more valuable to the winning cause than Dover resident and Dartmouth-bound Izzy Kocher.
As a junior in 2016-2017, Kocher won six races for Nobles and was named ISL MVP. Annually, Nobles alpine ski has extremely high goals, both within and outside of the ISL, and being a returning All-Scholastic recipient, one can imagine just how high the expectations were for Kocher heading into this winter.
Any idea of a let down year for Kocher was quickly put to bed by early on in the season, however, as the Dover native earned four wins in her first six races (seven total). Along with the seven victories through the season, Kocher earned her second consecutive ISL MVP award, was an All-New England Class-A pick for the third straight year, and was named to the Boston Globe All-Scholastic team for the second consecutive season.
Alpine ski is a sport that often floats under the radar when compared to more popular winter sports like hockey, basketball, etc. However, what Izzy Kocher has done throughout her four years at Nobles, staying that dominant and winning that many awards with the alpine ski team, is something that will likely never be replicated.
For funny and incisive sports analysis, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter at @fLAno0, or read his blog at www.flannylive.wordpress.com.
