Top 10 Clarkson Highlights - #4 Clarkson Skiers Win USCSA President's Award

The Top 10 Clarkson University Athletic Department Highlights of 2016-17 were carefully selected by the Clarkson Sports Information Staff. Top 10 Clarkson highlights will be posted on Mondays throughout the summer.

Snowstorms were sparse at the start of 2017, but the lack of inclement weather didn't subdue the Clarkson University Alpine and Nordic Ski teams. Just as they did on the East Coast in 2016, the Golden Knights claimed the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association President's Award out in Oregon as the school with the highest combined points in all of the USCSA's disciplines.

Finishing among the USCSA elite has become commonplace for the Golden Knights in recent years. The Golden Knights' Nordic men have finished in the top three eight straight years and the women have finished in the top three for three straight seasons. Clarkson's Alpine men have finished in the top five for six straight years and the women have finished in the top 10 in their last six trips to the USCSA Nationals.

The season of 2017 was no different for either of the programs as both excelled in the week's worth of events at Mount Bachelor. The Golden Knights' Nordic women won their second straight USCSA title (and fourth since 1999) out of eight teams, while the Nordic men came in third among nine participants. Clarkson's Alpine teams did nearly as well against a deeper field, as the Golden Knights' men claimed fourth out of 20 teams and the women finished in a tie for ninth among 20 teams.

Several skiers enjoyed outstanding individual showings at Mount Bachelor, the site of the USCSA Nationals for the second time in the past three years. Sophomore Ana Witkowski finished first in both the 7.5K Classic (44:12.9) and Freestyle Spring (3:54.3) as well as earning third place in the 15K Freestyle (45:24.8). Classmate Sarah Duclos came in second in the overall standings thanks to a win in the 15K Freestyle. On the men's side, sophomore Charles Maitland claimed third in the individual standings with victories in both the Freestyle Spring (3:12.4) and 15K Freestyle (40:11.6).

The downhill contingent was led by MacConnell Division Skier of the Year, Andrew Yoviene. The first-year collegian placed 10th out of 109 skiers to headline Clarkson's run of skiers who finished in the top 20. Junior Greg Murray came in 16th and sophomore Colden Mrak placed 17th, while the women saw two skiers finish inside the top 30 among the 111 participants. Senior Kara Van Herwarde took 21st and freshman Rhiannon Allison's performance saw her take 30th overall.

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Players Mentioned

Sarah Duclos: Sophomore

Charles Maitland: Sophomore

Ana Witkowski: Sophomore

Colden Mrak: Sophomore

Greg Murray: Junior

Kara Van Herwarde: Senior

Rhiannon Allison: Freshman

Andrew Yoviene: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Sarah Duclos
: Sophomore

Charles Maitland
: Sophomore

Ana Witkowski
: Sophomore

Colden Mrak
: Sophomore

Greg Murray
: Junior

Kara Van Herwarde
: Senior

Rhiannon Allison
: Freshman

Andrew Yoviene
: Freshman