For the second time, the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation's Junior Nordic ski team has been named "Club of the Year" by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association.
Bill Marolt, president and CEO of the USSA, notified Nordic team head coach Rick Kapala of the honor April 17. The award will be presented May 12 during the 2006 USSA Congress at Park City, Utah.
Sun Valley's cross-country ski program also won the "Club of the Year" award in 1999. The organizational award goes to the club that has distinguished itself in providing direction to young athletes through high-level competition programs resulting in athletic success.
Also on April 17, the Nordic team held its 2005-06 awards program. Winners were:
Competition Team awards exclusively were: Engl Awards—Mike Matteson and Devyn Parnes. Rookie Boy and Girl—Scott Krankkala and Julia Bowman.
Outstanding Boys: Reid Pletcher (Comp Team); Nicol Wheeler and Andrew Pfeiffer (Prep Team); Danny Graves (Devo Quigley); and Zach Lindahl (Devo Lake Creek).
Outstanding Girls: Alexa Turzian (Comp); Lina Klumpp (Prep); Maggie Williams (Devo Quigley); and Maranda Stopol (Devo Lake Creek).
Most Improved Boys: Rob Hamlin (Comp); Luke Poster (Prep); Luke Verst (Devo Quigley); and Alex Feldman (Devo Lake Creek).
Most Improved Girls: Margii Driscoll (Comp); Dakota Barnes (Prep); Annie Ashfield (Devo Quigley); and Katie Feldman (Devo Lake Creek).
Coaches Awards: Artie Livingston and Mali Noyes (Comp); Nicol Wheeler, Jessica Hamilton and Laura Kunz (Prep); Chandler Gifford and Courtney Ballard (Devo Quigley); Jake Adicoff and Sofia DeWolf (Devo Lake Creek).
