Current and former members of the Gustavus Adolphus ski team - which has a strong tradition of D-III excellence, having qualified a full team of three women to the 2008 NCAA Championships - were shocked when the team's varsity status was removed last week. They don't believe there is a compelling social or financial reason for the cuts, and say that without a ski team, they wouldn't have picked Gustavus.
Gustavus Adolphus College shocked current skiers and alumni alike, announcing the end of cross-country skiing as a varsity sport. The team will compete as a club for the 2015 season.
While every college coach loves fast recruits, producing such athletes is a task generally left up to high school teams and local clubs. But rather than waiting around, Jed Friedrich has decided to do something about it himself. For the past three years, Friedrich, a Michigan alum and head coach of the Nordic ski team at Gustavus Adolphus College, has hosted a training camp for junior skiers entering grades 8-12. “I try to reach out...