Jan. 20, 2006

2006 University of Vermont skiing preview

By John A. Fantino
Free Press Staff Writer

University of Vermont skiers were on the slopes of Stowe Mountain 
Resort at 8 a.m., on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Jamie Kingsbury didn't mind awakening early, even though most of her 
peers were sleeping in.

"I prefer practicing in the mornings," she said Monday.

The Waitsfield resident is just as eager to start her senior season. 
One of the most accomplished skiers in Catamount history, Kingsbury is 
a two-time national champion in the giant slalom and a three-year 
All-American.

Kingsbury, who won the giant slalom in 2003 and 2005 and is gunning to 
become UVM's first three-time GS champion, is just one component of a 
Catamount team that finished second to Denver University at the NCAA 
Championships a year ago at Stowe.

Seniors Hilary McCloy and Amy Cochran and sophomore Jilyne McDonald 
were also All-Americans last year and will vie for crowns.

The Cats crowded the podium in the GS and slalom at the TD Banknorth 
Eastern Cup in Waterville Valley, N.H., last month, a tune-up for the 
carnival circuit that begins today at Sugarloaf Resort in Maine.

"The women are just as strong as they were last year, if not stronger," 
said Bill Reichelt, UVM's director of skiing and head alpine coach. 
"They should dominate the east."

The Vermont men alpiners should also be a force. Last year, they were 
in the middle of the pack during the carnival season but burst loose 
and prevailed at the NCAAs. Sophomore Greg Hardy of Stratton was the GS 
winner and has his sights set on becoming UVM's first back-to-back 
champ.

Senior Paul Epstein notched a pair of top-10 finishes at the 2005 
nationals and has been racing fast during preseason practices. Zac 
Brown and Sam Beck should also be impact skiers for the Cats.

"After last year's NCAAs, our men realized they can do it on the big 
day," Reichelt said. "The men's competition is fierce so they have to 
be going for it every day, but when you are going all-out all it takes 
is a split-second mistake and you are done for the day."

The UVM Nordic team has a pair of gaps to fill after the graduation of 
All-Americans Lowell Bailey and Ethan Foster.

Seniors Anders Osthus and Kate Crawford are the leading returners. 
Reichelt said several freshmen will be relied upon, including a few top 
recruits from Europe.

"The new guys are super-talented," Reichelt said, "and we have some 
home-grown talent."

All four disciplines of the team will have to click if the Cats hope to 
snag their sixth national title and first since 1999. This year's NCAA 
Championships will take place March 8-11 at Steamboat Springs, Colo.

"This weekend will be our first test to see how we stack up."

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Chris Wojcik
Assistant Director of Athletic Communications
University of Vermont
Phone: 802-656-1110
Fax: 802-656-8328
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http://www.uvmathletics.com