UVM Skiing - A Matter Of Attention

Given the success of UVM's basketball and hockey programs it isn't surprising that they receive the most attention from the athletic department. However, as close as these programs are to competing for conference titles and NCAA tournament bids, there is one team on campus competing for a national championship annually. Any guesses?

The UVM men's and woman's ski team might be the most unsung program on campus. Considering they are the closet to winning a NCAA title, it's puzzling why UVM Athletics doesn't put more effort into marketing UVM skiing. The department's effort last year, a season in which two UVM skiers won individual national titles, only included a  welcome banner on the skiing website - talk about shooting yourself in the foot.

First of all, UVM has the facilities. The indoor strength and conditioning center built in 2005 is one of the largest in the Northeast. The center is state-of-the-art and includes eight Olympic platforms, 19 working stations, a 30-yard turf sprint track, as well as ample room for core strengthening activities. UVM's strength and conditioning center should grab the eye of any recruit, whether they raced for Burke Mountain Academy, GMVS, or a school abroad.

UVM's ski teams also race at one of the finest resorts in the country, one with plenty of big name cache - Stowe.

As far as recruiting, Vermont produces some of the finest young skier in the country. Burke Mountain Academy, Green Mountain Valley School, Stratton Mountain School to name a few have all produced Olympians and there's no reason why students from these schools wouldn't want to attend UVM.

UVM also has a terrific coach, Bill Reichelt. In both 2003 and 2005, Reichelt helped lead the Catamounts to a second place finish at the NCAA Ski Championships.

All that separates UVM skiing from a national championship is marketing support by the athletic department. UVM already has elite on campus training facilities, relationships with the nation's best ski academies, access to Stowe, and a winning coach. It's time for UVM Athletics to play their part.