March 05, 2015 – New England’s best junior cross country ski racers in the U16, U18, & U20 categories are heading to Truckee, California this week for the 2015 USSA Junior National Championships hosted by the Auburn Ski Club. Click here for the 2015 USSA Junior National Championship website. Click, “read more” for the full press release by Sophie Hodges introducing Team New England.

Since the beginning of winter, racers throughout the East have been competing in NENSA’s EasternCup Series to earn a spot on Team New England for the 2015 USSA Junior National Championship, hosted by the Auburn Ski Club. New England’s top six U16 boys and girls are named to the team, along with the top 15 U23/U18 junior boys and girls. These athletes will head to Truckee, California later this week where they will compete against the top junior racers in the country, and try to defend the Alaska Cup after reclaiming the national title on home snow last year at the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont.

These athletes are eager to show the rest of the country what the East has in store. The rest of the East Coast will be on the edge of its seat as these racers do their best in the Sunshine State.

Without further ado, the New England Junior Nationals team of 2015:

Coaching the U16 boys is Rob Bradlee, the head coach of Cambridge Sports Union, Massachusetts. This age group includes; Russell Boswell of Stratton Mountain School, Vermont, Adam Glueck of Ford Sayre, New Hampshire, Adam Witkowski of Stratton Mountain School, Vermont, Ben Ogden of Stratton Mountain School, Vermont, Walker Bean of Green Mountain Valley School, Vermont, and Marcus Wentworth of Gould Academy, Maine.

The U16 girl’s category will be under the command of Sarah Dominick, who is the assistant coach at Bowdoin College, Maine. In this age group is Mae Chalmers of Stratton Mountain School,, Vermont, Callie Young of Craftsbury Nordic, Vermont, Phoebe Sweet of Craftsbury Nordic, Vermont, Kirsten Miller, an Independent from Vermont, Gabby Vandendries of Cambridge Sports Union, Massachusetts, and Lillian Fisher of Stratton Mountain School, Vermont.

The U20/U18 Women’s category will be coached by Poppet Boswell who is a coach at Stratton Mountain School, and Kate Barton of Burke Mountain Academy, Vermont. From the Stratton Mountain School: Mackenzie Rizio, Katharine Ogden, Pippin Evarts, Tegan Thorley, Ana Witkowski, and Alex Cobb. Julia Kern, Leah Brams, Sonya Jampel, and Hadley Moreau all come from Cambridge Sports Union in Massachusetts. Kaelyn Woods represents Maine Winter Sports Center, Maine, and Halie Lange of Bates College, originally from Vermont. Ellie Hands is from Minnesota and attends Bowdoin College. Tessa Schrupp of Gunstock Nordic Assosciation and Sarah Nadeau of Blackwater Nordic both represent New Hampshire for this age group. Annavitte Rand from Vermont represents the UNH Ski Team, Carmen Bango of the Woodstock Nordic Runners and Vermont, and last but not least, Orli Schwartz of Craftsbury Nordic in Vermont.

Will Sweetser will be coaching the U18 boys this year, and he comes from Maine, where he is the director of racing at Maine Winter Sports Center. This group includes Gavin McEwen of Cambridge Sports Union, Massachusetts, Kamran Husain of Stratton Mountain School, Vermont, Lance Mckenney of Maine Winter Sports Center, Koby Gordon of Stratton Mountain School, Vermont, Zane Fields of the Woodstock Nordic Runners, Vermont, Lewis Nottonson of Cambridge Sports Union, Massachusetts, Bill Harmeyer of Mansfield Nordic Club, Vermont, Daniel Streinz of Maine Winter Sports Center, and Henry Harmeyer of Mansfield Nordic Club, Vermont.

Coaching the U20 Men category is Leif Johnson. This age group includes Ian Moore of Green Mountain Valley School, Vermont, Austin Huneck of Maine Winter Sports Center, Ben Hegman of the UVM Ski Team, Nick Gardner of Green Mountain Valley School from Minnesota, Blaine Ayotte of Saint Lawrence University from New Hampshire, Dustin Ramsay of Maine Winter Sports Center, Maine, Ben Allen of Maine Winter Sports Center, also from Maine, Malcolm Groves of the Bates College Ski Team from Vermont, Parker McDonald from the Bates College Ski Team, Maine, and Max LaChance of Stratton Mountain School from Massachusetts.

Not to be forgotten are the rest of the Junior National staff! Justin Beckwith of GMVS will be the Head Kick Wax Tech, and Nick Mahood of Woodstock Nordic will be the Head Glide Wax Tech. Assisting are Shane MacDowell of GMVS and Brayton Osgood of Putney Ski Club. Amie Smith of CSU will be the Trip Leader. A huge thanks goes out to all of these folks for putting time and effort into the well being of the team.

This combined group of 49 athletes makes up the New England Junior National Team for 2015. They are strong skiers and have shown their dedication, speed, and endurance throughout the season in order to earn themselves a spot on this team, in one of the most competitive nordic skiing regions in the country.

Janice Silbia has high hopes for the skiers as they embark on their journey. “Every year around this time, March Madness sets in among the National mainstream sports, and for our XC ski community it is no different. As the team makes final preparations for Junior Nationals in Truckee, there is a wonderful mix of enthusiasm, excitement and little bit of nervousness all rolled into one Team of athletes, coaches and support staff. We hear so often that “it takes a village”, and it could not be more true here. From Club coaches who volunteer their time, to coaches and parents at home rooting for the team, to the race organizers who play a huge role in providing race opportunities all season long, the list is a long one.”

To the team… “We will all be sending best wishes from New England for you to accomplish your goals and dreams in Cali. Good Luck and ski fast!”