Alpine Team Replete with Talent

Author: Sean Breen

While winter has yet to make its mark on Middlebury's campus, the alpine ski team's preparation for the 2003-2004 season is well underway. The Middlebury Snow Bowl does not open until Friday, Dec. 5, but Killington Mountain is already open, with hundreds of skiers and boarders packing the slopes last weekend.

The Middlebury alpine team has been training for months for the approaching season. Workouts have ranged from strength training, circuits, sprints, trail runs and hikes to biking, intervals, flexibility drills, roller skiing, soccer and speedball. The first on-snow training commences with a five-day camp over Thanksgiving Break at Sugarloaf/USA resort in Maine.

The Alpine Team is one of Middlebury's only Division I sports. Its top six men and six women compete in the "carnival" intercollegiate events, while the remaining members compete in USSA and FIS sanctioned events. Middlebury's skiers compete all the way up to an international level, with several skiers having been selected for the last four Olympic Teams.

The dynasty is sure to continue under new coach Forest Carey. Carey graduated from Middlebury in 2000 and acted as assistant coach two years ago. He was also a member of the U.S. Ski Team from 1993 to 1997. "I am honored and happy to be coming back to Middlebury to try to continue the great success and tradition of the Middlebury ski program," commented Carey about returning to Middlebury.

The team has all it's skiers returning from last year, and expectations are already high. The men's team will be led by 2003 All Americans Eric Rygg '04 and David Coriell '06. John Rusten '05 is also a member of the team to watch, having won the University of New Hampshire Carnival slalom event last year, and finishing a member of the All-East team.

The team is packed with talent and there should be strong competition to make the carnival team. Last year the carnival team consisted of Fred Emich '04, Peter Phillips '05, Josh Transue '06, Rusten, Rygg and Coriell. All six skiers had top 10 finishes in 2003. This year competition will be higher as brothers Andrew '06 and Will '05 McConathy, along with Andy Peters '04, Jon Schaefer '04 and Derek Shields '05 push for the carnival team.

Going into the season, Dave Coriell is ranked 30th on the USSA Giant Slalom National points list, and 67th on the Slalom list. Rygg is 45th in Slalom and 51st in Giant Slalom. Rusten in 37th in Slalom and 41st in Giant Slalom.

The women's team, led by senior Laura Scripture, is also very competitive. She will be backed by a strong team that includes three other seniors, Missy Krempa '04, Brie Pike-Sprenger '04 and Nina Porcelli '04. The competition within the team for the six carnival spots should also be tight.

Last year, Middlebury's best finish was second at the Middlebury Invitational, but the team also posted 3rd at the Dartmouth and UNH Carnivals. While last year was a strong one overall, the team has even higher hopes for the coming season.

"If we ski up to our potential," commented Coriell, "there is no reason why we can't be the best team in the East." While the spring is far off, the team can't help but think about NCAA's in March, held this year in Lake Tahoe, Calif. The team is stronger than ever, it is physically and mentally ready for the season, and it is ready to show the nation what Middlebury is made of. The first carnival race, the St. Lawrence Carnival, will take place Jan. 18th and 19th in Ottawa, Canada.