A championship season is always memorable, but this one was different. For Head Alpine Ski Coach Andy LeRoy, DU’s most recent championship meant true validation.
LeRoy began coaching for DU in 2007, and since winning three national championships in four years between 2007 and 2010, the Pioneers have failed to make the podium the last three years.
“This one is much more rewarding for me personally,” said LeRoy. “Most of the [success] of the team during those championships was a result of the coaches before me. [It was] obviously a very successful team that I inherited. It was more my job just to not mess it up.”
LeRoy and Co. must have done something right, as the team picked up DU’s 22nd overall NCAA Championship Title March 5-8 in Park City, Utah, along with a school-record 16 All-American honors.It is the team’s eighth national championship since 2000 and fourth in the past eight years.
“I’m batting .500. It’s a good end,” added LeRoy.
Big contributions came from junior Espen Lysdahl, who earned NCAA Individual Champion honors in slalom, and sophomore Kristine Haugen, who did the same in giant slalom. Haugen and junior Trevor Philp accounted for four of the team’s 16 total All-American honors. The alpine ski duo received First Team awards in both the slalom and giant slalom.
“So many things have to go our way to bring home a championship,” Lysdahl said. “It’s really important that everyone contributes, and competes and performs at their best, and I think throughout this week we showed that we’re all capable of skiing to top ten finishes.”
DU found itself tied for second place after one day of competition behind only Utah, thanks to top ten performances from Haugen, Lysdahl and Philp in the giant slalom.
“To have somebody so clutch and so successful in her races to start our championship, we were confident from the beginning,” said LeRoy, speaking of Haugen’s championship race for the giant slalom crown.
The second day of competition saw DU launch itself into first place with second place outings in Nordic events from freshman Sylvia Nordskar in the Women’s 5K Classical and sophomore Pierre Guedon in the Men’s 10K.
The final day of the NCAA Championships was postponed until Saturday, March 8, due to warm and rainy weather.
Despite the delay, Lysdahl and Philp went one-two in the men’s slalom on Saturday, while both sophomore Tianda Carroll and junior Devin Delaney raced to top ten finishes in women’s slalom. DU finished the NCAA Championships with 556 points, 68.5 points more than runner-up Vermont.
“Starting the season, I knew we had a strong team, and it may sound conceited, but I expected to win every race of the season,” said LeRoy. “It eventually turned out that way for the championship.”
Apart from a few departures on the Nordic side of the team, all Pioneers that competed this year in Park City will return to the team next year, including individual alpine champions Haugen and Lysdahl.
With so many returners, LeRoy is confident.
“No question we should be the best team and we should win this thing again.”
