Westport’s Reggie Yemma placed third in this weekend’s 13th Annual U.S. Extreme Freeskiing Championships at Crested Butte, Colo.

Reggie Yemma poses with her mother, Eileen, at the end of her final Crested Butte race. Contributed photo

The 17-year-old Staples senior finished a very close third, less than a point behind the winner in the junior girls division. 

The event attracts some of the top big mountain freeskiers from across the world to Crested Butte for adrenaline-charged action held on the resort’s wildest terrain.

The two girls who got judged just ahead of her are both from Colorado ski towns. They skiied an area of the mountain Saturday that had not been skied in several years due to lack of snow. 

“She said it was so scary she nearly cried when she saw it for the first time for her practice run, but she’s quite gutsy and conquered it like a pro,” said Andy Yemma, Reggie’s father.

The FCIAC tournament got underway tonight with Staples losing to top-seeded Trinity Catholic 63-45 in a game played at Fairfield High.

Second ranked Bridgeport Central beat seventh-ranked McMahon, third-ranked Fairfield beat sixth-ranked Harding and fourth-ranked Norwalk beat fifth-ranked Danbury. 

The FCIACs continue Tuesday with Trinity Catholic playing Norwalk and Bridgeport Central playing Fairfield.

Staples next places in the CIAC state tournament which begins on March 9. Matchups and locations will be announced next week.