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ENLARGE
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ENLARGE
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It was a tough decision for Branko Zagar. Two freshmen, Gunnar Gottschalk and Jonathan Cherry, were competing for the last spot on the five-member contingent the Sierra Nevada College Ski team is sending to the United States Collegiate Skiing Association's regional final at Mammoth Mountain, Calif.
The pair had two weeks to shine, to show Zagar, their coach, they were worthy of the final spot on the team.
In the end he couldn't decide, so he took both.
The pair had two weeks to shine, to show Zagar, their coach, they were worthy of the final spot on the team.
In the end he couldn't decide, so he took both.
"They both really stepped up and competed. They skied really well and showed a lot of work ethic. I didn't think I should leave either of them home," Zagar said.
So Cherry will compete in the giant slalom and Gottschalk in the slalom this weekend at Mammoth and in the USCSA championship at Sunday River Mountain, Maine on Mar. 3.
"Gunnar is a little stronger in slalom and Jonathan is really good at the GS, so we'll be fine," Zagar said. "Personally, I'm confident both of them will handle the pressure well. They have been in enough big races by this point to handle it."
So Cherry will compete in the giant slalom and Gottschalk in the slalom this weekend at Mammoth and in the USCSA championship at Sunday River Mountain, Maine on Mar. 3.
"Gunnar is a little stronger in slalom and Jonathan is really good at the GS, so we'll be fine," Zagar said. "Personally, I'm confident both of them will handle the pressure well. They have been in enough big races by this point to handle it."
The other four members of the team include sophomore Mickey Ross, freshman Matyas Mleziva, senior Geoffrey Goodman and freshman Kevin Sheehan.
"We shouldn't have a problem winning there - I think Sierra College has been giving us our best competition but all our skiers are racing really well right now," Zagar said.
Ross and Mleziva are expected to anchor the team in the slalom, though both will race in the giant slalom. Zagar said Sheehan is the team's best giant slalom racer and should lead the team in that category.
Zagar said the women's team was a little easier to finalize going into this weekend's regional race. Juniors Jessica Bouleau, Martina Hulten and Caroline Bergstrom will be joined by freshmen Laura Hoff and Malin Ericksson on the bus to Mammoth.
"We shouldn't have a problem winning there - I think Sierra College has been giving us our best competition but all our skiers are racing really well right now," Zagar said.
Ross and Mleziva are expected to anchor the team in the slalom, though both will race in the giant slalom. Zagar said Sheehan is the team's best giant slalom racer and should lead the team in that category.
Zagar said the women's team was a little easier to finalize going into this weekend's regional race. Juniors Jessica Bouleau, Martina Hulten and Caroline Bergstrom will be joined by freshmen Laura Hoff and Malin Ericksson on the bus to Mammoth.
"I've had the girls team in mind for a little while so I gave them last week off of training to rest, they had been showing signs of being a little tired," Zagar said.
Bouleau, who recorded multiple first-place finishes this season, is who Zagar is looking at to lead the team competitively.
"Jessica is skiing really well right now, she has been racing hard and the rest of the team sort of looks to her," Zagar said.
Bouleau, who recorded multiple first-place finishes this season, is who Zagar is looking at to lead the team competitively.
"Jessica is skiing really well right now, she has been racing hard and the rest of the team sort of looks to her," Zagar said.
Zagar said he'll be leaning on Hulten in the GS and Hoff in both events to round out the team.
"Laura really stepped up in an important time for us and I'm really happy to see her doing so well," Zagar said.
The women's team owes most of its success, including multiple 1-2-3 finishes this season, to competition, Zagar said.
"Oh year, there is no doubt about the fact that they all want to beat each other. When they aren't skiing you don't really see it, they all act like friends and don't care. But when they are on the mountain there are no friends," Zagar said. "They all look to see who is winning and are trying to beat each other."
"Laura really stepped up in an important time for us and I'm really happy to see her doing so well," Zagar said.
The women's team owes most of its success, including multiple 1-2-3 finishes this season, to competition, Zagar said.
"Oh year, there is no doubt about the fact that they all want to beat each other. When they aren't skiing you don't really see it, they all act like friends and don't care. But when they are on the mountain there are no friends," Zagar said. "They all look to see who is winning and are trying to beat each other."
