1
Denver
The Pioneers were second in the preseason power rankings last year. Without a regular season victory,
they didn’t climb into the No. 1 spot until ... uh ... until they won their third-straight NCAA crown in March
(giant foot in Rankings’ mouth). We’ll keep ‘em right here for now.
Middlebury College 10th in 2010
Nickname: Panthers
NCAA championships: None
Coaches: Stever Bartlett, Andrew Gardner, Abigail Copeland
Alpine: “We graduated two senior men last year,” says coach
Bartlett. “But we have built some depth in this year’s class. Our
four very talented freshmen men are Hig Roberts, Rob Cone, Liam
Mulhern and Nick Bailey. On the ladies’ side, we have a promising
freshman from Ontario, Emma Kitchen, who we think will find good
pace this year. Strong returning athletes include Nicole Dvorak,
Lindsay Kraft and Tasha Woodworth. Bronwyn Oatley is on the
mend from a year off due to injury last season; if she’s back to her
normal self on snow, we’ll see some fast skiing from her. Emily
Hammel is also returning from injury and could be a diamond in
the rough.”
Nordic: “This year’s team is a hard-working collection of talented
people,” says coach Gardner. “While NCAA All-American Patrick
Johnson is taking a break from school to ski for the APU program,
we have a dedicated men’s team of similarly talented skiers working
well together. Our men are led by senior Graham Egan and Doug
Debold, [who both had exceptional training experiences this sum-
mer]. On the women’s side, a healthy Sophie McClelland returns
from a year of recovery training in Vail, while sophomore Corinne
Prevot — a winner at last year’s Junior National Championships —
hopes to succeed on the college circuit. Our new recruits include
Stratton skier Austin Cobb, junior standout Ben Lustgarten, and a
pair of Emilys — Stitt and Attwood — who come to us from GMVS
and Cape Elizabeth, Maine, respectively.”
2
New Mexico
Spent a good chunk of time as the No. 1 team in the country last year, only to fade when it mattered most
— Championships season. Make no mistake, though; podium climbers such as Anne Cecilie Brusletto,
Petter Brenna, Martin Kaas and Tor-Hakon Hellebostad — along with an army of speedy recruits — make
the Lobos favorites again. “Overall, this is the strongest UNM nordic team that I’ve coached since we won
NCAAs in 2004,” says program director Fredrik Landstedt. Beware of the Lobos.
3
Vermont
This is the team that ends Dartmouth’s long run atop the EISA ranks. It’s also a team — as NCAA Champs
host — that’s got a shot at winning it all. The Catamounts dominated alpine action on the EISA circuit last
season, and a trio of ripper recruits in Norwegian Jonothan Nordbotten, Canada’s Travis Dawson, and
U.S. Ski Team alum Tim Kelley make that a trend likely to continue. Oh, and Meg Ryley (winner of six EISA
races in 2010) returns with little sister Kate in tow. But the nordic racers will make the biggest difference:
Two, two-time Olympian coaches lead NCAA Champ Franz Bernstein, All-American Caitlin Patterson, NCAA
Champs skier Caitlin Curran, and top-tier recruits Scott Patterson and Bjoern Ahlgrimm.
4
Colorado
The nordies once more look the stronger of the Buffs’ sides, and an possible lack of balance may mean
that the Buffs have a hard time keeping up with DU and New Mexico overall. Then again, it’s the mighty,
storied University of Colorado. You can never count this program out — and we reckon we’ll see inspired
skiing throughout a season dedicated to the late Spencer Nelson.
5
Alaska
The Seawolves made the preseason top- 5 list last year. Then they promptly went away and never returned
— mostly, key injuries and sickness did ‘em in. This year, boasting strong returners and a few skiers who
were part of their 2009 fourth-place team, UAA has a good shot at returning to the upper tier at NCAAs.
Other programs that might just as easily be in this spot — or higher — include Dartmouth, Utah and a
Montana State team primed to improve again this year.
