Graduating Seniors: 2020

Posted on 04/02/2020 by sswscadmin in

Each week, we will add features of graduating seniors! Are you a senior and haven’t submitted your bio/photos? Please send them to [email protected]

Benton Sherman

“At three, I joined the SSWSC in pursuit of my Olympic career. Little did I know, at that time, that I would learn about more than alpine ski racing as a member of the SSWSC. Participation in the SSWSC played a significant role in creating my identity and how I view myself.

The SSWSC taught me valuable life lessons (for both on and off the mountain), including, organization, preparation, timeliness, consideration, and using my time to meet my academic responsibilities and rigorous training schedule.

At nine I finished races significantly behind my teammates, and many times last, yet something made me feel euphoric when I crossed that finish line, so I continued to race.

The SSWSC provided the opportunity to build strong relationships with teammates and coaches. At thirteen, my coaches emphasized the importance of “teamwork.” I did not realize how much the team concept resonated with me until that first U14 year. I also realized I was not going to distinguish myself as a champion ski racer, but I could excel at being a hard worker, a good teammate, a loyal friend, and by challenging myself. To this day, I have only three (highly coveted) ribbons, one medal, and one qualification for the High School Alpine Ski Team State
Championships. However, my relationships with my coaches and teammates and my ability to
work hard and challenge myself are my most coveted awards and accomplishments.

I broke my back in the first race of my first FIS season. During recovery, I tested the tools I learned while training with the SSWSC. Overcoming my fear of hurting myself again proved to be more challenging than balancing academic responsibilities with college preparation and physical rehabilitation. Nonetheless, a half-year later, I was back in the starting gate. I continued to race FIS with the SSWSC (and with the High School Team) until my season came to an abrupt halt this past week, on Friday, March 13, 2020.

My plans for college do not include ski racing; however, my choices have skiing nearby. My love for sports steered me towards pursuing a degree and, hopefully, a career in sports
management. Last summer I attended a Sports Management and Leadership program at UCLA where I learned about different careers in sports management. This summer I have an internship at Columbia University working for the Associate Athletic Director for Marketing Strategies and Fan Development. My goals for this internship are to acquire knowledge of the NCAA sports industry, build professionalism and improve my communication and multitasking skills.

The colleges to which I have been accepted and am contemplating are the University of Vermont, University of Denver, University of Oregon, and Elon University. All of these schools have sports management programs.”

Kyler Armstrong

I plan on attending Montana State University up in Bozeman, Montana. I am choosing this school because I feel that it still has a mountain and outdoor life that Steamboat has. I plan on studying photography/videography. I am hoping to join the Big Mountain/Freeride team up there. My career goals are very simple: I want to have a job in photography/videography. It’s something that I can do every day on my own and with friends, anywhere. I like to ski and take pictures/make videos. My season went well. Out of three of my competitions, I made it to finals, which were canceled, and the other two, I crashed in.

Annika Belshaw

I started nordic combined when I was 9 years old. I switched to specialize in ski jumping when I was 15. I have yet to decide what college I will attend next year, but it will definitely be one where I can combine school and full time ski jumping. My goals include continuing to compete internationally. When I’m not jumping, I like to slackline, ski, bike and run, preferably with friends and/or my brother. For the past couple of years, I have been able to juggle school and traveling, competing with my team. I hope to be able to do that in college as well.

Leo Davies

For as long as I can remember, the SSWSC has been a part of my life. I’ve skied longer than I’ve been in school. I’ve tried every discipline the SSWSC has to offer: snowboarding, moguls/freestyle, nordic, and of course alpine. It is impossible to describe myself without any mention of SSWSC.

Unfortunately, my time with the club has come to an end. Next year, I plan on attending a four-year college in hopes of earning a degree in engineering. Right now, my top three choices for college are CU, Northeastern University, and Cornell University. The club has provided me with the tools and life lessons I need to not only survive but to thrive in college. I plan on continuing my skiing career by participating in club skiing at college.

I am extremely grateful for the coaches, athletes, and family I have met through the club. Everyone has supported me through the ups and downs that come with competitive skiing, and we all know there’s plenty of both. Steamboat has that amazing ability to make an individual sport feel like a team effort, a quality that very few places have. I want to thank my family, coaches, and teammates for always having my back as I transition into the next phase of my life.

Emily Craig

Emily is a graduating FIS Alpine ski racer at the SSWSC and has been in the club for 14 years. She feels fortunate to have been born in Steamboat, and like other fellow Steamboatians, she loves adventuring in the mountains and the outdoors. Upon graduating, Emily plans to attend college in the fall of 2020 and is interested in studying architecture and interior design. Although the season was cut short due to the COVID-19, she had a blast ski racing with her amazing friends and coaches. She states that nothing is better than being in the mountains doing what she loves!

Cole Gedeon

I moved to Steamboat from the suburbs of Houston just before my 10th birthday. I immediately joined the SSWSC and was instantly hooked on ski racing!

Skiing with the SSWSC, I have made many amazing connections locally, as well as with racers from other clubs. In addition to the valuable life lessons racing has taught me, it, along with service trips abroad with my church each summer, has inspired a love of travel. Skiing has taken me to many places in the U.S. as well as internationally. A trip to the Bahamas for hurricane relief in June was the plan for my last trip with my youth group, but with COVID-19, that is now uncertain.

I have been a multi-sport athlete throughout high school, having lettered in three different Varsity sports in addition to ski racing. Each experience has had a positive impact on my development as an athlete, whether as an individual or teammate.

One of those experiences in sport was the highlight of my senior year. Just before school started, I decided to sign up to play football, something I had not done since 7th grade. My younger brother Cade had already been practicing, and I could not resist joining him. The season with Cade is something I will cherish forever.

Riley Hodges

Participating in the SSWSC has been a significant part of my life. Since I was five, I have been involved in alpine racing, nordic, telemark, the summer biking program and have loved moguls. I switched from racing to freestyle when I was 12 and found my passion. The past 14 years at the winter sports club has helped shape me into the person I am and has taught me so many tools that I need to be successful in life!

I will attend college in the fall, pursuing a degree in nursing and possibly furthering my education as a Nurse Practitioner. When I am not skiing, I enjoy playing soccer, surfing, spending time with my friends and family, attending youth group, going on mission trips and being outdoors. I am proud to have called Howelsen Hill my second home for these important years of my life, and I would like to thank all of my coaches for their guidance and support throughout the years!

Jack Reich

My name is Jack Reich. I am a senior at the Steamboat Mountain School and will be graduating as a four-year senior this spring. Last April I tore both my ACL and MCL and have since had two knee surgeries. I have been battling this injury for almost a year now and am looking at returning to snow sometime this summer. Being injured has given me time to focus on my future, where I see myself becoming an engineer or a physical therapist. For now, those career options will be put on hold as I take a post graduate year and attempt a comeback at ski racing. After this post graduate year, I hope to be skiing for the D1 team. Come back stronger!

Marat Washburn

Little did I know that when I came on vacation to Steamboat when I was three, it would become my home. I lived in Washington DC until I was 10, mainly playing soccer and baseball, but I learned how to ski at a little mountain resort called White Tail in Pennsylvania. When my coach, Rocky, told my mom I should join their ski team, my family decided to move to Colorado instead to help me pursue my dream of ski racing. Coming late to the sport, I knew I had to catch up. With great SSWSC coaches, I won my first two events at the Can-Ams in the 8th grade. The Club gave me great opportunities to ski in Croatia, Slovenia, Norway and all over Colorado and the Northeast. The foundation that SSWSC gave me to strive for excellence will help me for the next chapter of my career. I am elated that I was accepted to Bates College in Maine to ski on their D1 ski team. Before I go, I am taking a year off to ski and travel.

I am so grateful to SSWSC, the coaches, my teammates and my family. Their support has allowed me to pursue my dream. No matter where I go, Steamboat and SSWSC will always be home.

Jacy Werner

Jacy Werner is a senior at Steamboat Springs High School. Jacy transferred from Boulder to Steamboat Springs and attended school part-time when he turned 12 so that he could join SSWSC and compete. Once he hit high school, he went to school full time at Steamboat (except sophomore year) and stepped up his competitive schedule nationally and internationally. In addition to slopestyle, alpine and boarder cross, Jacy is competitive in his school work as well, by taking several AP courses and earning an invitation to the 2018 National FBLA competition in Washington DC. Aside from his competitive nature, Jacy enjoys being with friends, climbing, swimming and being outdoors. This fall he plans to study Engineering or Biomedical Research at CSU.

Noah Riemenschneider

“I am going into a post grad year with SSWSC. I am currently undecided on a major, and I am not set on a college. I moved to Steamboat about 4 years ago, and the club has done so much for me. I thank everyone who has helped me these past 4 years. My goals are to ski World Cups, win Globes, and be an Olympic gold medalist.”

Canden Wilkinson

“I plan to attend West Point, US Military Academy. I plan to study biology. I plan on going to medical school after West Point and becoming an Army Surgeon. I like to ski, hunt, and fish in my free time. The highlight of my season was my competition in Brattleboro VT, I had my best result of the season, and some really far jumps.”
-Canden Wilkinson (Ski Jumping USAJNT)

Bryce Zetzman

“Next year, I plan to attend Western Colorado University to receive a business degree. I have chosen Western so I can also pursue skiing at Crested Butte. I plan on being a part of Western’s Mountain Sports Program for freeride, and compete in Freeride World Qualifiers next winter while focusing on school. In the future I plan to own a company in the ski industry. I enjoy sledding, hiking, and exploring the outdoors. I wouldn’t be here without my family, friends, coaches, and teammates so I also want to thank them for everything they have done. -Bryce Zetzman

Maximus Nye

Hello, I’m Maximus Nye. I grew up in Bend Oregon. I moved part-time to steamboat in June of 2019 to learn to ski jump and to compete in nordic combine. I will graduate from Bend Senior High School and plan to return to Steamboat again this summer to continue skiing. Next year I will take some classes at Colorado Mountain College with plans to attend Otis College the following year. I am interested in apparel and product design. I love learning new things and staying busy!

Cooper Scheel

I competed for SSWSC in alpine snowboarding under the greatest coach ever - Thedo Remmelink. I have been competing in snowboarding since 6th grade and it has been a huge part of my life. I have learned so much and had so many amazing experiences. My best memories and best friends have come from SSWSC. Highlights include winning nationals in 2018, two Junior Worlds invitations, and all the travel with my teammates throughout the US and Canada. I am planning to attend CSU in the fall and to continue snowboarding there on a club level and also competitively on the collegiate circuit.

Nicholas Unkovskoy

My name is Nicholas Unkovskoy. I skied with the SSWSC for the past three years in high school where I attended Steamboat Mountain School as a boarding Student. I am originally from Durango, Colorado. Next year I am taking a PG year to ski race in hopes of qualifying for a Collegiate ski team. The schools I hope to go to include University of Denver, University of Colorado Boulder, or the University of Utah. I am not sure what I want to study yet, but hopefully something related to sports and/or the outdoors. I have really loved my time in the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; I have made so many life-long friends in my last three years in Steamboat. I would like to thank everyone who has helped me during my time here - especially my coaches - from Ben Brown to Mike Bansmer, Scott Wilson, Noah Freed, and Ty Upson. I am appreciative for the family that I found in the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club and all the support they have shown me during my time here.

Winston Vaughan

My name is Winston Vaughan and I have been a part of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club for basically my entire life. It has held the best experience and memories for me and I loved it.

Kai McGuffin

Next year I am attending Montana State University. I am looking forward to meeting new people and diversifying myself in my studies. I am majoring in business and plan on starting and running my own business after college. I am hoping for this business to be outdoor-oriented and in a location where I can ski, bike or hike almost every day. While in Montana I am excited to explore the open mountain ranges, the new ski resorts, and the endless fresh snow. Big Sky Ski Resort is just 30 minutes away and I intend on taking full advantage of that. In other words, I am ecstatic for my future years.

Kyle Kagan

Growing up in Steamboat, the Winter Sports Club has been a cornerstone of my childhood, from Little Vikings and Wednesday Night Jump Nights to my Buddy Werner group and countless Steamboat Cups. The Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club has provided me with memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life. As I move forward into the next stages of my life, I will continue to race for Bates College in Maine, where I’ll head (hopefully) next fall. I plan to further my education in math and science but haven’t yet declared my major. Outside of skiing, I play lacrosse for the high school team, and golf quite a bit in the summer, as well as mountain bike and run.

The Winter Sports Club has taught me so many lessons, and shown me the importance of teamwork and comradery, even in an individual sport. I think it’s fair to say that through the club, I have found some of my best friends, and made relationships that will last beyond my years with the club. I want to thank all of my coaches past and present. All have contributed to my skiing and my development in different ways, and have taught me a lot on and off the hill. From races and training the club has taken me across the country and the world, and I’m grateful for every experience and to be apart of the best club in the country. I’m going to miss this chapter, but look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead.

Nicolas Richeda

My name is Nicolas Richeda. I have been a part of the SSWSC for 8 years. Next year I will be attending the Burke Mountain Academy to race for their Post-Graduate team, the E-Team. My goals in life are to strive to be the best at everything I have passion for and outwork anyone or anything that stands in my way. If I am not skiing, you can find me trying to look for ways to be a faster skier. I want to thank Ryan Wilson, Mike Bansmer, Adam Chadbourne, and Ben Brown for reinforcing these qualities in me. I could not have asked for a better experience to set me up for this new chapter of my ski racing career and the rest of my life. Thank you.

Jevon Hovey

I am planning to attend the University of Colorado Boulder next year but I am unsure what I want to study. I have spent the last three years skiing with the SSWSC pursuing ski racing. They have been some of the best years of my life, but I have decided It is time to move on. I am excited to try new things next year like bike racing or volleyball. I am interested in experiencing trying to be more independent in the coming years and beginning a life of my own. I love to spend time outside whether that is hiking or soccer, and if it is with the right people I am open to doing almost anything.