1
Colorado (831.0 points; SRPR: 2)
Second fiddle no more, the Buffs won big.
2
Utah (750.5 points; SRPR: 3)
Maria Graefnings was the team’s leader all season, and that continued with
a win and a second-place finish at Trapp’s. Props, too, to Miles Havlick for
capping a tremendous regular season with bronze in the 10K free and sec-ond-team All-American honors in the 20K classic (even with a big crash).
Leaders aside, the Utes climbed to number two at the 2011 Champs — their
best result since 2004 — because they also boasted a well-rounded team
effort that featured a total of 14 All-American results.
3
Dartmouth (643.0; SRPR: 5)
Did Big Green overachieve by making the team podium in 2011? Nope, it did
what it’s done all season long: complement phenomenal nordic results with
solid alpine skiing. Dartmouth was superb in the 5K and 10K free events,
landing all three ladies in the top 10 an hour before all three of its men
squeezed into the top five — a day, of course, punctuated by Sam Tarling’s
victory. Add that to All-American alpine performances by Trevor Leafe and
Courtney Hammond, and you’ve got a strong third-place team.
4
New Mexico (632.0 points; SRPR: 4)
The Lobos, a quality squad, looked poised to bring things to another level
after winning their own carnival in February. It never really happened, but
another top-five finish this year — on the strength of 11 All-American performances — once more shows they’re perennial contenders.
5
Denver (592.0 points; SRPR: —)
The streak of consecutive national championships ended at three. Still, the
week was not without highlights: Denver skiers won three of four alpine
events. Seppi Stiegler won the men’s GS, Ida Dillingoen the women’s GS,
and Sterling Grant the women’s slalom as teammate Lindsay Cone leapt
from bib No. 29 to second place.
6
Vermont (575.5 points) (SRPR: 1)
See the story on the previous pages for more, but in general the Cats didn’t
have the luck or finishes needed to make a run at the title (something other
top contenders can say, too, of course). Nevertheless, credit UVM for a tremendous regular season, and look for it to learn from this year’s successes
and challenges as it builds on a 2011 winter that returned it to EISA glory.
7
Alaska-Anchorage (488.5 points)
Cross country skier Jamie Bronga was the Seawolves’ brightest star at this
year’s Champs, powering to third in the 15K classic and seventh in the 5K
free. Erik Bjornsen skied a smokin’ 20K classic, finishing in silver position
by a mere four seconds. Alpiner Alex Parker, who rode a podium-laden hot
streak into the champs, also sped to a third-place finish in the ladies’ GS.
8
New Hampshire (344 points)
Zach Clayton capped a strong EISA season with a pair of All-American finishes, comfortably securing bronze in wicked-tough conditions at the men’s
slalom and finishing 10th in GS. Alpine teammate Sam Coffey was also an
All-American in slalom, finishing eighth.
9
Middlebury College (246.5)
Panther alpine pups Robert Cone and Andrew McNealus were among the
youngest All-Americans at the event, helping Middlebury climb a spot from
last season.
Montana State (230 points)
No All-American Bobcats this season, but MSU had an NCAA squad of freshman and sophomore alpiners who’ll have more chances in years to come.
Three of its five nordies at the 2011 Champs also return next year.
10
SkiRacing.com APRIL 7, 2011 | 40
