GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS COLLEGE
Location: St. Peter, Minn.
Head coach: Jed Friedrich (6th year)
Top male returners: Jens Brabbit, Anders Bowman, Andrew Poffenberger
Top female returners: Erin Eppler, Danielle Burgmeier, Cassandra Brady
Top newcomers: Blake Gust, Zach Wagner, Erica Hett
Web site: www.gustavus.edu/athletics
2008-09 standings: Central Region: 6th (Men) and 5th (Women)

2009-10 outlook:
The Gustavus Adolphus men’s ski team enters this season looking to improve on a 2008-9 campaign that saw the Gusties finish in 6th place in the CCSA. The top two skiers from last year’s team, junior Jens Brabbit and sophomore Anders Bowman, return to lead the team. Jens barely missed qualifying for the NCAA championships last year, and 6th year coach Jed Friedrich expects more success this year. “I expect Jens to compete for a spot at NCAA’s again,” Friedrich said. “He’s a pretty serious bike racer and normally keeps the rollerskis on the shelf for the entire off season. He added some ski training into the mix over the summer and hopefully that will pay off.” For Brabbit to find competition, though, he need look no further than his own team, Friedrich pointed out. “Anders Bowman could challenge Jens in some races this year. He had a couple of top 15’s last year in the region and has a lot of talent. He’s extremely fit, but needs some time to transition from cross country running to skiing. I would not be surprised if he competes for a spot at NCAA’s.”
With two established top skiers, the success of this year’s Gusties could depend on the success of their third skier. Last year that was Andrew Poffenberger, who looks to compete for that spot again this season. He may have competition, though, from first-year skiers Blake Gust, an all-state skier from Andover, Minnesota, and Zach Wagner, Michigan’s 2009 high school state champion. With many key parts returning from last year’s team and new skiers with promise, this could be a strong year for the Gustavus Adolphus men’s team.
The 2008-9 women’s team saw success despite graduating a strong class the year before and managed a 4th place finish in the region. This year the Gusties will again have to overcome the loss of a strong skier, NCAA qualifier Kelly Chaudoin. Coach Friedrich hopes that improvement from returning members of the team will ensure another strong year from his women’s team.
Erin Eppler is the Gustavus Adolphus skier with the most success last year, and returns for her senior season with high hopes. She showed particular success in freestyle races last year, but Friedrich hopes Eppler to compete in every race this season. “I think that she can contend with a handful of women for one of the highly coveted NCAA spots,” Friedrich said. “It will take four really strong races from her, but she showed glimpses last year that she is capable.”
Other returning skiers that should contribute include sophomore Danielle Burgmeier and junior Cassandra Brady. They will be joined by first-year Erica Hett, a skier from Burnsville, Minnesota for whom Friedrich has high expectations. “She will be really tough in the next few years, as she has a lot of potential,” he said of Hett. “But she will be one of our top 3 skiers right away as a first year.” So while the Gustavus Adolphus women’s team could have a hard time measuring up to their success of the last few years, the Gusties will look to surprise some people with strong campaign this winter.

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