Team Photo/History Team Team Photo/History Team
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TEAM PHOTO/HISTORY TEAM PHOTO/HISTORY TEAM PHOTO/HISTORY TEAM PHOTO/HISTORY TEAM PHOTO/HISTORY Team Photo The 2003-04 Utes, Front Row: Alpine Coach Aaron Atkins, Casey Simons, Ashley McQueen, Lauren Lattimer, Lina Johansson, Jenny Hansson, Anna Sprague, Barbro Hatlevik. Middle Row: Student Assistant Kristian Guay, Assistant Cross Country Coach Petter Svendsen, Sandra Gredig, Elisha Stephens, Rowena Hyldahl, Linda Pettersson, Student-Assistant Katrin Smigun, Assistant Alpine Coach Jaka Korencan, Gaspar Perricone. Back Row: Head Coach Kevin Sweeney, Athletics Trainer Bob Toth, Henning Dybendal, Tony Bozzio, Jess Kiesel, Will McDonald, Andi Weiser, Ben Thornhill, Pierre Olsson, Student Trainer Spencer Packer. Missing: April Mancuso. UTE TRACK RECORD UTAH’S DOMINANCE OF COLLEGIATE SKIING The University of Utah has built an impressive track record of skiing excellence. With over 60 Ute skiers becoming NCAA champions, Utah has won 11 national championships. In 1983, skiing became co-ed under NCAA jurisdiction. Since that time, Utah has won nine national titles, was the runner-up six times and finished third twice. 2003 ACCOMPLISHMENTS -Kevin Sweeney, in just his fourth year as Utah’s head ski coach, led the co-ed team to the 2003 NCAA Ski Championship Title -It was the 11th national title in Utah’s ski history and its first since 1997 -Utah’s 131-point victory over runner-up Vermont marked the biggest margin of victory at an NCAA Ski Championship -In her first year of NCAA skiing, Katrin Smigun went undefeated and was the only dual winner at the 2003 NCAA Championships -Also winning gold medals at the NCAA Championships for the Utes were Lina Johansson in the women’s slalom and Ben Thornhill in the men’s giant slalom -10 Utes received All-America honors at the 2003 NCAA Championships -The University of Utah was also the RMISA NCAA Western Regional champion -Eight student-athletes were named Mountain West Conference Scholar-Athletes -Eight student-athletes were on the Dean’s List for the 2002 fall semester, six were on the spring 2003 Dean’s List, 17 student-athletes were on the 2002 fall semester honor roll, 14 were on the spring honor roll -One Verizon Academic All-America Third Team Award recipient-Jernej Bukovec -Two Verizon Academic All-District VIII Awards-Jernej Bukovec and Petra Svet -Katrin Smigun was awarded Skier of the Year by SkiRacing magazine -Governor Mike Leavitt proclaimed Tuesday, April 22, 2003, as Ute Ski Team Day, after the team won its 11th National Championship WWW.UTAHUTES.COM 1 Head Coach Kevin Sweeney, in just respected throughout the world. The the Utes, skiing to an undefeated season his fourth year as Utah’s head ski coach, Utes have been crowned with 11 national by placing first in 12 straight races. “An led the 2003 team to its 11th national title championships, racking up 60 individual athlete such as Katrin comes along once at the NCAA Ski Championships last NCAA titles, and have produced 21 in a lifetime,” says Sweeney. “We were OUTLOOK OUTLOOK OUTLOOK OUTLOOK OUTLOOK season. “That was an unmatched and Olympians and 281 All-Americans. privileged to coach her and we are extremely rewarding experience,” says The coaching staff returns experts fortunate to have her as an assistant.” Sweeney, remarking on last season’s title Aaron Atkins, Jaka Korencan and Petter “The strength of this program is of run. “The spirit of the team blossomed, Svendsen. Head Alpine Coach Atkins, in course the athletes, but I can never give which made the journey an absolutely his second season, participated on the enough credit to my coaching staff,” awesome experience. It was great to see Utes’ back-to-back NCAA says Sweeney. “They do so much that everyone on the team contributing to the Championships during the 1996 and ’97 goes unrecognized and our program overall success in one way or another.” campaigns as an athlete. Prior to Utah, he wouldn’t be what it is without them. Sweeney’s stride for excellence was was involved with the Park City Ski Team, Having each one of them is really well demonstrated last season, as 10 Utes headlining the team as a developmental important to me.” earned All-America honors at the NCAA coach. Championships. Utah was also home to 12 Korencan, a Ljubljana, Slovenia, ALPINE TEAM Academic All-Americans, one Verizon native, will enter his third year assisting Senior Pierre Olsson will be looked Academic All-America third team member the alpine team. Before Utah, Korencan upon to lead the men’s alpine team this and two Verizon Academic All-District VIII was an assistant coach at the Dolomiti season. The All-American has the recipients. Ski Club in Ljubljana. He also was a credentials and experience to really “The coaching staff and I really focus member of the Slovenian national junior explode on the slopes. on maximizing each athlete’s experience team, where he put up countless top-five “We lost several leaders last season while at Utah,” remarks Sweeney. “Our finishes at the National Junior and I feel Pierre will help us fill the gaps,” staff and facilities are arguably the best in Championships. says Sweeney. “Obviously he can win the world. I want all the athletes to take With one year under his belt, and he has proven himself time after advantage of the benefits provided to assistant cross country coach Svendsen time.” Last season, Olsson’s remarkable make them the best they can be.” will continue his assistance with effort earned him the David Novell Sweeney’s quest to uphold the Sweeney. Svendsen, a collegiate All- Outstanding Skier Award. values of the Utah tradition is well intact. American, competed with the Utes for Sophomore Ben Thornhill will be “The tradition of Utah skiing is based three seasons. In his senior season, he returning after an amazing freshman around one word, excellence,” states was awarded the team’s highest honor, season. As a freshman, Thornhill won the Sweeney. “Our tradition involves more the Alf Engen Sportsmanship Award. giant slalom event at the NCAAs, than just skiing at a championship level. I In addition, two-time 2003 NCAA snagging first-team All-America honors. really push our student-athletes in Champion Katrin Smigun will join the Newcomers Andi Weiser, Will regards to academics, friendships and coaching staff this season as a student- McDonald and Gaspar Perricone will overall communication.” assistant after a remarkable transfer join the alpine mix after exceptional non- Utah’s rich skiing tradition is well season last year. The two-time All- collegiate junior careers. “Andi is an known within the national ranks and well American competed for just one year for awesome talent and we hope to get him ALPINE TEAM CROSS COUNTRY TEAM Women: Women: Rowena Hyldahl So. Cooma, Australia Sandra Gredig Fr. Davos, Switzerland Lina Johansson Sr. Leksand, Sweden Jenny Maria Hansson So. Ostersund, Sweden Lauren Lattimer Fr. Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada Barbro B. Hatlevik Jr. Vagstranda, Norway April Mancuso Jr. Lake Tahoe, Calf. Ashley McQueen So. Hailey, Idaho Elisha Stephens Jr. Park City, Utah Lina Pettersson So. Ange, Sweden Anna Sprague Jr. Stockholm, Maine Men: Pierre Olsson Sr. Borlange, Sweden Men: Will McDonald So. Aspen, Colo. Tony Bozzio So. Tahoe City, Calif. Gaspar Perricone Fr. Steamboat Springs, Colo. Henning Dybendal Jr. Skotselv, Norway Benjamin Thornhill So. Whistler, British Columbia, Canada Jess Kiesel So. Sun Valley, Idaho Andi Wieser So. Nova Gorica, Slovenia Casey Simons Fr. Park City, Utah 2 UTAH SKIING group is extremely Ashely McQueen will pilot the team. gifted. With the “The experience and leadership of the OUTLOOK OUTLOOK OUTLOOK OUTLOOK OUTLOOK leadership and youth returners will help counter the loss of on this squad, I feel Katrin,” remarks Sweeney. they will be a force to Three new faces in newcomers watch out for.” Sandra Gredig, Jenny Hansson and Hyldahl 2 Linda Pettersson will be added to the CROSS COUNTRY squad. “Our three new recruits bring With the loss great international, high-level racing of top athletes Ryan experience,” says Sweeney. “They are Quinn, Zack Simons, new to Utah, but not new to the level of Torin Koos and racing in the NCAA. The depth of our Katrin Smigun, the women’s cross country team is Utes will rely heavily formidable. I anticipate a lot of healthy on the experienced inter-squad competition.” Junior Rowena Hyldahl returners and With a balance of experienced talented newcomers. This enormous loss veterans and young, talented recruits, to the nordic team’s roster would panic the Utes expect to show their dominance to ski to his absolute potential,” says most coaches, but Sweeney remains once again in the race for their 12th Sweeney. “Will and Gaspar are thought poised and optimistic about the national championship. Although hungry to be two of the best raw talents in the upcoming season. for another title, Sweeney never forgets U.S., to date. These three could make an “Last season, we had an amazing the people within the program that make immediate impact for us and it will be group, but I’m comfortable and excited it all possible. “Our program owes a great to have them for years to come.” about the group we have coming in,” tremendous amount of thanks to the With the loss of All-American Petra remarks Sweeney. “We have everything coaches, academic advisors, strength Svet, the women will be led by Lina we need in our returners and newcomers coaches and everyone else involved in Johansson, Rowena Hyldahl, Elisha to ski great this year. As coaches, we are helping the team. The success of this Stephens and April Mancuso. This gifted anxious and happy to work with the new team wouldn’t be possible without them.