Mules Among Nation’s Best in NCAA Ski Racing Championships
Five of Colby’s own began the prestigious challenge of the NCAA ski racing championships today. Erin Bianco ’21 and Marin Coletta ’21 represent Colby Nordic while Colbey Derwin ’21, Sandy Schoepke ’20, and Rosie Hust ’21 race for Colby alpine. The group had been training in Bozeman, Mont., this week in preparation for the races at Bohart Ranch (Nordic) and Bridger Bowl (alpine), also in Bozeman.
Colbey Derwin, a biology major and studio art minor, is racing for his first time in the NCAA alpine championships. “I am really excited about the upcoming races this week in Montana,” he said, despite the pressure to perform at championship events, he is confident in the team’s preparation. The Colby community has been paramount in helping foster this confidence. “The support we have gotten from our wonderful team and the rest of campus makes sending it down the mountain that much easier!”
A true veteran, Rosie Hust will be heading to the NCAAs for her third straight year. Placing 17th overall and fourth among American finishers in 2019, Hust is confident despite the differing snow conditions that come with racing in Bozeman. In addition to racing in NCAAs or up at Sugarloaf, Hust is a biology major. “I recently went to a field school in Mongolia and loved doing fieldwork. I hope to get more into wildlife/conservation biology in the future.”
Sandy Schoepke ’20 similarly is no stranger to the NCAA championship. Last year she placed 13th overall and was the second American finisher. Schoepke and Hust helped push Colby to first overall among Division III schools. On the Hill, Sandy majors in biology with a concentration in neuroscience.
Marin Coletta races in the NCAAs this week for the second time in her Colby career. Last winter Coletta placed 31st overall in the championship. An English/creative writing major, Coletta plans to continue in this field post-Colby and “explore creative writing and publishing and continue creating art.”
Erin Bianco, a sociology major, takes her first shot at the NCAA championship races this week. Bianco had a strong junior season and made the EISA All-East Second Team after breaking her career-best and placing second in the final EISA carnival of the winter season.
Alpine begins their races today, Wednesday, March 11, with giant slalom and continues Friday with slalom races. Colby Nordic begins their freestyle races March 12 and continues with the classical races Saturday, March 14.
