UMass Discontinues Skiing Teams As Varsity Sports The University of Massachusetts, Amherst will discontinue sponsoring its men's and women's skiing programs as varsity sports beginning with the 2010 season. This move is being made as part of a budget reduction and reorganization plan to address an $850,000 shortfall due to a permanent state budget cut of $600,000 and additional expenses. In addition to the action being taken with the ski programs the department will make administrative reductions, across the board operating cuts and use non-base funding to fill the remaining gap. (more)
Five UMass Minutewomen have been named Alumni Association scholarship and award recipients for 2009. Skier Emily Shilletto and distance runner Shiyi Zan were named William F. Field Alumni Scholars. Singles tennis player Laura Danai, rower Erin Kelley, and field hockey middy Erin Parker earned the Senior Leadership Award. (more)
Slalom Results
The UMass Women's Ski Team closed out its season with a sixth place finish in the slalom at the USCSA Nationals. After finishing sixth in the Giant Slalom, the Minutewomen skied consistently in the second event, led by Emily Shilletto's 12th place finish. Shilletto and men's co-captain Alex Zahoruiko were named combined Second Team All Americans. The Minutewomen finished the USCSA Nationals in sixth place overall out of 20 teams. In addition, Shilletto, Heidi Skinner, Jamie Taloumis and Amy Gifford were all named Academic All Americans.
Giant Slalom Results
The UMass Women's Ski Team got underway at the USCSA Nationals on Wednesday, skiing to a sixth place finish in the Giant Slalom in Winter Park, Colo. Emily Shilletto (Toronto, Ont.) led the way for the Minutewomen, finishing 13th. The Women's Team will be back in action on Friday when they will compete in the Slalom.
The UMass Women's Ski Team captured a trip to the USCSA Nationals next weekend after their fifth place finish in last weekend's ECSC Regionals. The Minutewomen placed three skiers in the top-15 during both days of the Regionals. The Men's team, the defending USCSA National Champions, will not be returning to the Nationals after their sixth place finish over the weekend. The Minutemen had a tough day in Saturday's Slalom, finishing in ninth place before recovering with a second place finish in the Giant Slalom.
Slalom Results | Giant Slalom Results
The UMass Ski team competed in the ECSC Regionals this past weekend in Waterville Valley, N.H. The women's team finished fifth overall, securing a spot in the USCSA Nationals in Winter Park, Colo. from March 3-7. The Men's team finished sixth overall after a disappointing ninth place finish in the Slalom before a second place finish in Sunday's Giant Slalom. UMass Skiing will be back in action this weekend when they will participate in the EISA Regionals at Sugarloff.
