Photo by: Michael Furman

Three Pioneers named skiers of the year

 Ski Racing magazine named senior Nordic skier Antje Maempel and sophomore alpine skiers Leif Haugen and Lindsay Cone to their list of Collegiate Skiers of the Year.

Haugen dominated at the NCAA Championships and was rewarded with the honor of Men’s Collegiate Alpine Skier of the Year.

Before that event, Haugen represented Norway at the Vancouver Olympic Games. He finished No. 28 in the giant slalom.

Despite being limited by his Olympic commitment, Haugen won three out of his six races while finishing in second in two others.

As for the women skiers, Maempel was awarded as Women’s Nordic Collegiate Skier of the Year after her remarkable performance at the NCAA. The senior won both individual titles in the classical and freestyle races.

Maempel won nine of the 12 races she competed in this season and was able to finish second in the other three.

At the NCAA championships, she was named to the All-American First Team for the women’s 5K Classical and for the women’s 15K Freestyle.

Cone, a transfer from St. Lawrence, was named the Women’s Collegiate Skier of the Year to round out the trio of post-season awards.

The sophomore finished No. 2 at the slalom and giant slalom races at the NCAA Championships.

Cone was voted to the All-American First Team for women’s slalom and giant slalom.

DU won its 21st National Championship and third consecutive title in March.

Men’s basketball team hosts fan appreciation night

The men’s basketball team held a reception for their season ticket holders and fans last Wednesday at Old Chicago.

During the event, head coach Joe Scott spoke to a room of more than 100 people about the 2009-2010 season and the success the program has had since he arrived three years ago.

The Pioneers finished with a 15-1 home court record last season and were able to finish with 19 total wins, which was the second most in the schools NCAA Division I history.

In addition to talking about the past season, Scott talked about the 2010-2011 season, which will begin in November.

Before the team begins its regular season schedule, which includes games against Colorado State, Portland and Northern Colorado, they will travel to Europe to play in Italy, according to Scott.

Scott told fans that he had made this trip before when he was the head coach of Air Force and it rendered a 24-7 record, Scott’s career-best.

In Italy, the Pioneers will play six games against a half-dozen professional teams.