A Collegiate Career Culminates in Leadership Award
Alex Clark showed up to ski team his freshman year at Michigan State University having never seen a slalom course, and he is ending his career an outstanding leader in the sport. According to his co-captain and teammate, Sara Condra, there is “absolutely no one more deserving of the Outstanding Male Leader award.”
After joining “on a whim” his freshman year, he is now one of the Top 5 men in the Midwest overall, and his accomplishments don’t stop there. Alex was the men’s captain of the Michigan State team for three years, and he believes this award is an unintentional product of his love for waterskiing. After his freshman year ski season, he says, “I became a student of the sport. I traveled the country for NCWSA tournaments as well as AWSA tournaments, and learned as much as I possibly could.”
Alex’s teammates, Sara Condra and Brad Eick echo this sentiment. He was hooked from Day 1, and a diligent student of the sport. Highlights of Alex’s career as captain include a new sponsorship for their team boat, putting the slalom course in the water each year, and taking it out. Further, Alex created a summer tournament, “Spartan Buoy Bash” –a brand new tournament for the Michigan State team! Sara tells us, “Alex is willing to do anything for the team and has a ‘get ‘er done’ mindset. If Alex strives to do something, he’ll accomplish it, and he’ll do it exceptionally every time.”
Earning the Outstanding Male Leader award clearly takes a lot of work, and, according to Alex, this award is the biggest honor he has ever received. He says, like all collegiate skiers, water skiing is one of his passions, and he was honored to be nominated. Alex reflects upon his collegiate career saying “I wouldn’t be where I am in my life without collegiate skiing. I have grown so much as a result of the last four years, and the memories I cherish from the adventure are enough to last a lifetime.”
Alex is quick to recognize that collegiate skiing is not just about the individual. He delights in being part of all skiers’ performances, whether he is a tournament official, driving the boat, or helping set up the tournament site (at NCWSA and AWSA tournaments). All of these responsibilities have a hand in someone else’s ski experience and perhaps a personal best! This mindset alone shows Alex’s inherent leadership and dedication to our beloved sport.
The Michigan State team certainly would not be where it is today without Alex Clark, as Sara and Brad reflect on Alex’s award. He’s always put others first, ensuring they get and have everything they need to progress in the sport. 
He has also done a tremendous amount of behind the scenes work including fostering connections across the ski community, securing boat leases, and finding sites and skiers for the team to connect with.
Alex just finished his senior ski season with Michigan State’s team, and will (unfortunately, as he says) be graduating from Michigan State University in May. He will be moving to New Orleans, Louisiana to start his career as a manufacturing engineer. Hopefully the weather in Louisiana will allow him to continue skiing regularly, despite having a “real person job.”
Thank you, Alex, for your leadership, and congratulations on the award!
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