ALASKA (Fairbanks)
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Head coach: Scott Jerome, 5th season
Top male returners: Jr. John Parry, Jr. Ray Sabo, Jr. Einar Often, So. Robert Pakk
Top female returners: Sr. Anna Coulter, Sr. Julia Pierson, So. Theresia Schnurr
Top newcomers: Tyler Kornfield
Web site: www.alaskananooks.com
2008-09 standings: Central Region: 5th (Men) 2nd (Women); NCAA: 15th

2009-10 outlook: The UAF team and Head Coach Scott Jerome are optimistic heading into this season, with ambitious goals and a strong crop of returning skiers. “We always have a goal to win the regional championship,” Jerome said. “Basically, I have no expectations, but our team does have goals. We have a goal of winning regionals and sending a full squad to NCAA’s.”
The men’s team lost last year’s top performer, Oeyvind Watterdal, but looks to fill his shoes with youth and depth. The men’s team was young last year, and is without a single senior this year. Sophomore Erik Soederstrom is the returning skier with the most success last year, when he posted especially strong classic results. He will face heavy competition from a team that is hungry for success this year. True freshman Tyler Kornfield, off some strong results at U.S. Nationals, could be UAF’s top skier, as could several other skiers in any given race. Redshirt freshman Henri Soom from Tartu, Estonia should be in the mix for a top spot on the team. Junior Ray Sabo of Canada skied at NCAA’s as a freshman and hopes to return to the top this season, as does classmate and countryman John Parry. Junior Norwegian Einar Often and sophomore Alex Morris round out a solid group who hope for a successful and competitive year.
The Nanook women return a number of skiers who have had success in the past, including their three NCAA qualifiers from a year ago: Seniors Anna Coulter and Julia Pierson as well as sophomore Theresia Schnurr. Past qualifiers include seniors Elisabeth Angeles and Aurelia Korthauer, who could surge toward the top of the team in their final year. “The experience is excellent,” Coach Jerome said, “but this is a new season. We have goals, but everyone else has new skiers and is training hard.” Jerome, along with Assistant Coach Matt Dunlap, will try to keep the team on this track to success especially given the conference’s disappointments last season. “We all need to be better,” Jerome said, “UAF included.”

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