GRP Snow incoming '22 class
We’re pleased to announce that Jackie Garso is our ‘22 Green Racing Project biathlete. Joining Jackie this summer will be six U23 training partners: UVM’s Waverly Gebhardt, Annie McColgan, Finn Sweet, and Bjorn Westervelt along with St. Scholastica’s Emma Stertz and Utah’s Brian Bushey.
GRP Biathlete Jackie Garso
Jackie has been training the past two years with Auburn Ski Club in California, after graduating from Saint Lawrence University in Canton, NY. The New York local skied all four years for the Saints, qualifying for NCAAs as a junior. After graduating with a degree in statistics, she made the switch to biathlon. This winter, she raced at the European Championships after some IBU Cup starts in 2021.
U23s Repeat as Training Partners
Finn Sweet and Waverly Gebhardt return to the U23 team after last summer’s training helped fuel successful collegiate seasons. Bjorn Westervelt, who previously skied in the Craftsbury junior programs, joins the U23 biathlon squad. Annie McColgan, Emma Stertz, and Brian Bushey step into their first summer at the Outdoor Center.
Annie (left) and Finn (right) with coach Lizze Larkins at the 2022 World Junior Championships in Lygna, Norway
Waverly Gebhardt had a great winter following her time with us last summer, with a win and 3 other EISA podiums earning her a spot on UVM’s NCAA team. In Utah, she finished 16th in the 5k classic and 15th in the 15k FS. The neuroscience major from Steamboat Springs, Colorado brings a steady positivity and daily focus to the U23 training group.
Annie McColgan, hailing from Bend, Oregon, is a rising junior at UVM studying Community and International Development. Last season she raced four carnivals for the Catamounts, finishing in the top 20 in each start and taking her collegiate best 4th place as well. She raced World Junior Championships in Lygna, Norway and had several top 20s on the OPA cup trip this spring. “I am inspired by the super strong women in the GRP program,” Annie says, “and I’m looking forward to spending my summer in Vermont.
Finn Sweet is no stranger to the Center, having grown up in Craftsbury’s junior programs. The UVM rising sophomore and Ecological Agriculture major had a great start to his collegiate ski career this winter, taking the win at UVM’s home carnival 10k classic. Internationally, after a strong 2nd place in the US Nationals freestyle sprint, Finn punched his ticket to the FIS World Junior Champs, taking a top 20 in the same event. Excited to return to train with the GRP, Finn said, “The training experience I have had in the past with the GRP has definitely been some of the most fun, beneficial, and supportive training that I have done.”
Emma Stertz comes to Craftsbury from The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN. Emma currently competes in both the NCAA ski circuit and biathlon. This past year, she raced to a career best international result of 17th at the biathlon Junior World Championships at Soldier Hollow, in Utah. With the goal of becoming a high school teacher, she is majoring in Secondary Social Studies Education and History. Emma says, “I chose Craftsbury because it not only provides a great place to train for the summer but it also has a mission that I am excited about.”
Bjorn Westervelt is a rising junior at UVM, studying Mechanical Engineering. Another dual nordic and biathlon racer, he split his time last year racing the EISA circuit, with multiple top 5 results, and qualifying for biathlon World Junior Championships. At World Juniors, Bjorn raced to 18th in the pursuit with the 8th fastest time of day. "I chose the Craftsbury GRP U23 program for the great training facilities, coaching, and team,” Bjorn says. “And I am looking forward to being pushed in workouts and working to become the best biathlete I can be."
Brian Bushey will be a sophomore at the University of Utah next year, studying Environmental Science. Bushey had a strong first year on the RMISA circuit with a top result of 5th place in the RMISA Invitational 10k freestyle at Birch Hill in Fairbanks, Alaska. Bushey also qualified for World Juniors in Lygna, Norway where he placed 16th in the 30k freestyle mass start. Originally from Montpelier, Bushey rounds out a great GRP U23 summer training group. Bushey chose Craftsbury for its unique atmosphere. “I always find that Craftsbury is an easy place to focus solely on skiing while at training and to be surrounded by a really fun, like-minded group,” he says.
Please join us in welcoming Jackie and the U23s to the Craftsbury community!