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BURLINGTON, Vt. – University of Vermont alpine skiers
Griffin Brown and
Sandy Vietze have been named to the newly implemented National University Team by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA).
USSA introduced the National University Team to provide support for athletes as well as a stronger post-university transition to the U.S. Ski Team. The program aims to provide continuity of elite-level programs while athletes attend college.
Brown and Vietze will continue to ski for the Catamounts, but through the National University Team Program they will have access to summer conditioning at the Center of Excellence in Park City, Utah, on-snow camps in the summer and fall in New Zealand and Colorado, as well as additional support during the season from the U.S. Ski Team coaching staff.
Brown finished in the top-10 in five of six races he competed in during the 2015 season, his first at UVM. He won the giant slalom race at the Dartmouth Carnival and earned a podium appearance at the UVM carnival as the runner-up in the giant slalom. Brown was named to the EISA All-East First Team and the National Collegiate All-Academic Ski Team in his rookie season.
Vietze was a 2015 EISA All-East Second Team selection in his first season at Vermont. He earned a podium appearance in the giant slalom at the Dartmouth Carnival and wrapped up his rookie season at UVM with a third place finish in the slalom at the EISA Championships.
Additionally, UVM alums
Tim and
Robby Kelley have been nominated for the U.S. Alpine C Team. Tim placed 23rd in the men's slalom at the World Alpine Ski Championships in Beaver Creek, Colorado this past February. He competed in six FIS World Cup races and won a pair of Nor-Am Cup races at Panorama, British Columbia.
Earlier this month
Jonathan Nordbotten '14 and
Kristina Riis-Johannessen '15 were selected to the Norwegian Ski Federation World Cup and Europa Cup teams for the 2015-16 season, respectively.
