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The University of Utah Athletics
Skiers Ranked Fifth In Ski Racing Preview Poll
12/9/2005 12:00 AM | Skiing
Dec. 9, 2005
SALT LAKE CITY -- After compiling the opinions of head ski coaches across the country, Ski Racing magazine ranks the University of Utah fifth in the NCAA preview poll for the 2006 campaign. The defending national champions, University of Denver are the clear favorite come March in Steamboat, Colo.
"We have great tradition here at Utah and we are coming off a third-place finish last season," said head coach Eli Brown. "We had a big turnover from last season, but with the strong leadership we have and great fall training behind us, our goals are the same. Our focus is to get on the podium and I believe that is very realistic."
Ski Racing magazine ran the poll of 29 coaches of the leading Division I skiing programs in its December issue. The coaches were asked to go through a list of the top-15 teams from the '05 NCAA Championships and pick their top-10 finishers for 2006.
Although the ski team will be challenged this season after losing ten top skiers from last season's roster, Utah is expecting great success in all disciplines. The Utes return two-time NCAA giant slalom champion Ben Thornhill to lead a strong downhill team.
The women's alpine team loss all three NCAA medalists, but are relying on senior All-American transfer Erika Hogan and sophomore Kim Stephens to fill the void of three All-Americans.
The men's nordic squad is excited to add freshman Fabian Figi to a already stacked group of talent in junior NCAA competitor Casey Simons and fellow junior NCAA qualifier Jess Kiesel. Figi was a triple bronze medalist at the 2005 Swiss championships. Junior Norwegian Erik Gjomle will also add needed depth this season.
The women's cross country team returns Nicole Naef, 11th in the freestyle at the NCAAs, as the only NCAA competitor this season. Utah also returns three senior top skiers in Ashley McQueen, Linda Pettersson and Anna Sprague. The Utes will also add Sara Schweiger, a former German junior spring and pursuit champion.
"We are extremely excited about our upcoming season and we feel we are going to surprise a lot of teams," said head alpine coach Jaka Korencan.
The Utes officially open the 2006 season by co-hosting the Utah/Alaska-Anchorage Invitational, Jan. 7-12.
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS: 11 (1978, 1981, 1983-84, 1986-88, 1993, 1996-97, 2003)
RETURNING NCAA CHAMPION: Ben Thornhill, GS 2003
TOP NORDIC RECRUITS: Fabian Figi, Erik Gjomle, Sara Schweiger
TOP ALPINE RECRUITS: Mikaela Grassl, Erika Hogan, Kyle Kung, Chelsea Laswell, Scott Veenis
2005 NCAA Skiing Preview
1. University of Denver2. University of Colorado3. University of New Mexico4. University of Vermont5. University of Utah6. University of Alaska-Anchorage7. Middlebury College8. Northern Michigan University9. University of Nevada10. Darmouth College
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