nordic skiing Coaches

Ethan Townsend received an Economics degree in 1998, and a Masters in Education in 2001 while serving as an assistant Nordic coach at St. Lawrence. The Glover, VT native headed west to coach at Whitman College for two years in the fall of 2001. He was head coach of the Nordic ski team at Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA and helped that team make the transition from the US Collegiate Ski Association National Champions to NCAA competition in the 2002-2003 season.

He was named the EISA Coach of the Year in 2007 and again in 2010, and currently serves on the league executive committee as Treasurer/Secretary. He coached Kristen Bednar to the 2009 NCAA Championships, and guided the trio of Eric Wolcott, Ben Knowles and Zach Wetherell to the NCAA Championships in 2010.  Most recently, Leah Hart '12 added her name to the list of student-athletes that have qualified for the NCAA Championships under Coach Townsend in the winter of 2011.

The Northeast Kingdom native has been competing in cross country skiing since age six and led his high school to a state team championship in his senior year.  He now resides in Canton, NY with his wife, Jennifer, and their son Calvin.

Zach Wetherell, a 2010 graduate of St. Lawrence University, joined the Nordic skiing coaching staff in the summer of 2011.

Wetherell, an English major at St. Lawrence, had an outstanding career on the Saints Nordic team. He served as team captain for two seasons and competed in the 2010 NCAA Championships.

Zach recorded six top-10 finishes in his career, including a 5th at the 2010 EISA Championships, leading his team to victory.