It's all downhill for local siblings

Siblings Julia and Mark Marino of Winchester are making names for themselves nationally in freestyle skiing and snowboarding. The two combined to win four medals - two silver and two bronze - at the USA Snowboard Association national championships last month on Copper Mountain in Colorado.

Julia Marino, a 16-year-old sophomore at Arlington Catholic High School, won three of the four medals - silvers in slope style and half-pipe, along with a bronze in skier cross. Although she kept her streak intact of winning medals in every national event in which she has competed since 2006, Marino was a bit disappointed with her performance. "I had won gold in all 14 qualifying events leading up to nationals, so I really expected to sweep," said Marino, who plays varsity soccer and lacrosse at Arlington Catholic.

"I fell on my chest the day before in a practice round and hurt my sternum. With the altitude change and all, it was really painful. I guess, though, when you take the injury into consideration, my overall finish was satisfying, because after I hurt myself, I really wasn't even sure if I could compete."

With her two silver medals and a bronze, Marino was named the event's outstanding performer by the USA Snowboard Association.

Mark Marino, a 15-year-old freshman at Arlington Catholic, was competing in his first national competition. He earned his bronze medal in skier cross, gaining a berth in the final run by winning two heats against more than 80 other skiers.

"I was really nervous because this was my first national, but once I started, I was OK," said Marino, who plays football and lacrosse at the school.

"It was a lot of fun and I met a lot of people from all over the country. Winning a medal in my first try was very exciting."

Both Marinos have been skiing since the age of 5 and represented the Loon Mountain Freeride Ski Team in Lincoln, N.H.

Ken Barer, the winningest coach in the history of the basketball program at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, has resigned to "pursue other professional opportunities."

Barer has compiled a 136-75 record since he succeeded Gary Manchel in 2001. His teams made four NCAA Tournament appearances, including back-to-back Elite Eights in 2003 and 2004, and won Northeast-10 Conference regular-season and postseason titles the same years.

"Ken added his own mark and style of play, enjoyed terrific success, and coached superbly," said UMass-Lowell athletic director Dana Skinner, who added that a search for a new basketball coach would begin immediately. Wright arrived at UMass-Lowell after stints as an assistant at Long Island and Wright State universities.

Chelmsford, Dracut, and Tewksbury will join defending champion Lowell at LeLacheur Park in the third annual Lowell Spinners World Series, with local bragging rights and a 3-foot Canaligator bobblehead trophy up for grabs. Dracut will play Tewksbury in the opener at 5 p.m. May 19, followed by Chelmsford vs. Lowell. The consolation and championship games will be played the following night. The loser of the consolation game will be replaced by Methuen in next year's tournament. . . . Lefty Eric Perrault of Salem High School in New Hampshire pitched one of the most dominant games of the season when he blanked Dover, 6-0, with a 1-hit, 17-strikeout masterpiece. Perrault retired the first 14 batters he faced before Colby Mamigonian knicked him for a bloop single up the middle. . . . North Reading ace pitcher Caroline Gattuso will attend Phillips Academy next year.

The Bentley baseball team won eight of its last nine games to secure a berth in the Northeast-10 Conference playoffs. The clincher was a 4-3 win over Southern New Hampshire when Ross Curley of Lexington singled home Charlie Pagliarulo of Medford with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning. Bentley finished the regular season at 17-13 in conference play and 22-24 overall. . . . Nashua South graduate Lyra Clark, a freshman at UMass-Lowell, won the 3,000 meters at the recent Northeast-10 Conference championships and was honored as the conference's top freshman. . . . Bentley junior All-American Alyssa Ritchie of North Andover was named to the all-Northeast-10 first team in lacrosse for the third straight year. . . . Dan Holbrook of Lexington, a senior center on the basketball team at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, landed a berth on the ECAC Division 3 New England All-Star team.

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