Trio of Saints to Compete in NCAA Championships

by: 

Nancie Battgalia

Seniors Eric Wolcott (L) and Zach Wetherell (R) will compete in the 2010 NCAA races.

Mar. 3: The NCAA Men's and Women's Skiing Committee has announced the field for the 2010 National Collegiate Men's and Women's Skiing Championships, to be held March 10-13 at the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club and Howelsen Hill Ski Area in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.  St. Lawrence University will be represented in the Nordic events by the senior trio of Eric Wolcott, Ben Knowles and Zach Wetherell.

This is the first time under head coach Ethan Townsend that the Saints will travel with a three-man team to the NCAA title race.  The trio is also peaking at the perfect time, as they were victorious in both the classic and freestyle races last weekend at the 2010 EISA Championships in Middlebury, VT.

"It was a very historic weekend," said Coach Townsend.  "It was awesome to see each of them perform at such a high level two races in a row.  We'd been knocking on the door all season long, and it was very satisfying to see it come together at the regional championships."

All three St. Lawrence representatives could very well earn All-America honors in either event, as the top-10 finishers in each race is credited with that status.  The Men's 10K Classic race will be contested Thursday, March 11, with the Men's 20K Free to follow on Saturday, March 13. 

"Steamboat Springs is truly one of the best locations for the national championship race that I've been to," added Coach Townsend, who was named the 2010 EISA Coach of the Year last weekend.  "We're certainly looking forward to the trip."

Wolcott has had a fantastic senior year that included six top-10 finishes including a third place showing in the 10K Classic at the EISA Championships.  A Second Team All-East Selection, he has logged five top-5 finishes and has helped propel the Scarlet and Brown to one of the premier teams in the east in 2010.

Knowles boasts one of the best Nordic ski resumes in St. Lawrence history, having logged 19 career top-20 finishes as well as nine top-10's.  A native of Cumberland, ME, he was also named Second Team All-East for his performances in 2010, which included his two best collegiate finishes, a runner-up showing in the 20K Classic at Dartmouth and a fourth place run in the 20K Free at last weekend's EISA Championships.

Finally, Wetherell has also had his best collegiate season in 2010, picking up five top-10 finishes and his best three career races.  The Hinsdale, MA native used a fifth place finish in the 10K Classic at last weekend's regional championship to seal a bid to the NCAA Championships.  It matched Wetherell's career-best race, which came earlier this season in the same event at the Williams Carnival.

Participants for the NCAA Championship are selected on a regional basis from three designated regions for Nordic skiing (Central, East and West Regions). Bids are awarded to regions using a formula determined by the skiing committee. A maximum of 12 student-athletes (three per gender per discipline) may participate from an institution.