An amazing team is often built on the shoulders of several outstanding leaders. These individuals go above and beyond both on and off the water to raise their team’s level. Their dedication to their team, conferences, and regions is above and beyond. These skiers’ motivational skills and full time commitment to their teams make the 2018 NCWSA Outstanding Leader of the Year nominees the cream of the crop in the NCWSA!
Several amazing skiers were nominated for outstanding leader! Honorable mentions go to two nominees that are ineligible to receive the award as they have graduated, Clemson University alumnus Glenn Barnes and University of Texas at Austin alumnus Jackson Driggs.
If you haven’t read the other award category nominees, make sure you check out the nominees for Athlete of the Year and Team of the Year too! Awards voting will start Wednesday (11/7) afternoon.
Here are the nominees for 2018 NCWSA Outstanding Leader of the Year!
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Ali Mollet – Allison Hinrichs – Amber Aho – Ashley Stevens
Kari McCollum – Nellie Roberts – Sara Condra
Ali Mollet, Bowling Green State University
Ali is a phenomenal water skier. Last year, she suffered a pretty bad ankle injury, and came back with a bang this year! She skied into 35′ off and even hit the jump again so she could help score points for the team. Ali is a constant source of energy, support, and inspiration not only to her own team, but to everyone she meets. Ali really helped turn around her club at Bowling Green State University, because she really understood what college skiing is all about and was able to relate that message to her team. BGSU made a strong run for nationals this year, and they missed the last spot by 110 points. In a time of lots of tears, Ali was still a beacon of strength for her team, and remained focused on how proud of everyone she was for what the DID accomplish this season rather than what they didn’t. Ali along with her brother helped to find a three event lake very close to campus that the team was able to ski on everyday. Ali’s parents also provided a great benefit to the team this season by allowing the team to utilize their promo Mastercraft in addition to attending every tournament to help coach, organize, feed skiers, and officiate and drive tournaments. All a very big step up from an old Moomba on the river with no course; which was the arrangement Bowling Green State University had last year.
Ali & her twin brother Trace were featured in their local paper that outlined their journey this year and throughout their BGSU careers.
Allison Hinrichs, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Allison is extremely valuable to the functions of the University of Nebraska water ski team. Not having participated in 3-event water skiing before joining the team her freshman year, Allie has made training and improvement a priority, driving across the country for opportunities to ski and get coaching. However, this is not what makes Allie a major driving force behind team Nebraska’s growth and success. After a large portion of the team leadership graduated last season, Allie stepped up: accepting the role of captain, learning how to run practice, helping with team activities off the water – including developing important connections in the community and fundraising, and helping redefine the vision for the future for team Nebraska. While one might think Allie would struggle to find time for the team with a full course load, working two jobs to pay for skiing, and helping rebuild her family’s home which was flooded, she constantly finds time for the team and is always excited by her work. Even with her busy schedule, she attends every team function and competition, and practices regularly during the season. Allie may be relatively new to the sport, but she is known for her passion by everyone she comes in contact with. She has already done so much for the future of collegiate skiing at Nebraska, but she is just getting started. This is why Allison Hinrichs should be named the Outstanding Female Leader of the Year.
Allie has been a model captain throughout the season. She has been there for all of the new skiers, all season from talking them through their first jump to helping them out of the water once they have fallen on their face. She has been a model leader and someone to learn from. She has gone above and beyond her scope of responsibilities.
Amber Aho, Iowa State University
Excellence in all aspects of leadership from having the whole board in-check to having the whole team in-check, being on top of money both coming in from the team and going out and getting to where it needs to be, and getting the entire team fired up and infested with spirit
Amber was new to the sport her Freshman year of college. She is now a senior finishing up school early in December. Amber has been president for the Iowa State University team the past 2 years. She has helped put on numerous tournaments, and two of those tournament had over 230 competitors. Amber is always willing to help out at tournaments all over the country; even if it’s not her responsibility she lends a helping hand. She is one of the main drivers at the team lake, and will get up early before class and pull skiers to help them get practice. She cheers on her team and helps coach teammates. She has always worked to recruit new members to a sport she has so much love and passion for.
From spirit everywhere at every event, Amber is the club prez with the most. From coaching her team and handling the club business, Amber has brought Iowa State University to the top. She not only chaired an insane conference tournament, but found boats and judges to help out a fellow club run theirs at the Cyclone’s site. And behind Amber, the site was ready! She also serves as the NCWSA Membership Chair on the Membership & Marketing Committee. No matter what event she’s at, she helps run starts at a dock or has her butt in a boat working the lines. She’s involved, she loves it, and her attitude is fun and infectious. There’s not a club in the NCWSA that would turn her away, her attitude and work ethic would make every club better if Amber were leading it!
Ashley Stevens, Clemson University
Ashley Stevens has been an incredible force on the Clemson University ski team both on and off the water. She has held several officer positions on the Clemson ski team board: Secretary 2017, Vice President 2018 and plans to hold office in 2019. During her tenure, she has planned all travel arrangements for 21 competing team members, and submitted all University required travel documentation for 6 fall semester tournaments and 5 spring semester tournaments. She’s been instrumental in motivating teammates to work on their AWSA Officials ratings during tournaments to decrease the teams’ tournament expenses when hosting. The team now has quite a few scorers and judges. Ashley served as the Tournament Director organizing 3 very successful tournaments at three different sites.
- April 14 & 15 – CU Spring Splash, Roebuck, SC
- August 25 & 26 The Clemson Open, Charleston, SC
- The event included an evening slippery slalom event!
- Sept 22 & 23 Clemson FALLing for Skiing, Greenwood, SC
For each tournament, she was exemplary in organizing housing for all officials (utilizing Airbnb houses for cheaper rates and more comfort), secured sleeping arrangements for all competitors, procured the required 2-3 competition boats, and structured all tournament set-up and break-down efforts. When Ashley attends other tournaments (not hosted by Clemson), she continues to be supportive by driving, judging, and scoring. Rarely will you see Ashley idle on the sidelines. In addition to tournaments, Ashley organizes the recruit weekends for prospective students and provides campus tours throughout the year for anyone interested in Clemson and the ski team. She hosts team dinners year-round to promote team bonding, and even a team Thanksgiving dinner. This year, Ashley also established a new partnership with the Parks Recreation Tourism & Management club at Clemson to develop adaptive ski equipment to facilitate the skiing experience for someone with a physical disability. From all of her contributions to the sport of water skiing, it’s a testament to how much she loves to ski and loves the skiing community.
Ashley Stevens entered the Clemson Ski team as a recruit in Fall of 2016. Spring of 2017 to Fall of 2017 she took on the role of Co-Secretary with Ben Synoground and was elected as Clemson Watersports Club MVP within all Clemson University’s Club Sports (keep in mind this is her end of Freshman Year into her Sophomore Year). Come 2018 (Sophomore to Junior Year), she advanced to Vice President and hosted 3 tournaments during her term. In the upcoming year(s) she will most likely run for President, and may even do a second term as Vice President depending on where she is placed for a Co-Op – yay for the 5th years. While in these positions she has aided greatly in getting Clemson’s team more organized, and run more efficiently (all that behind the scenes work!). She has also started an effort in aiding the Clemson skiers in gaining officials ratings, so each of us is more likely to stay in the sport after graduation. Come every spring, she is planning our team spring break, and introducing all of us to some new spots in Florida where it is only slightly warmer than South Carolina (just warm enough to ski). For the majority of our spring breaks she has hosted (another) tournament at Okeeheelee, to get the team into the tournament mind-set. In addition to hosting Clemson’s tournaments she is usually the Chief Scorer or Assistant Chief Scorer while also advancing her Drivers and Judge’s rating. She was nominated and selected as the 2018 SAC Team MVP for all the work she has done not only for her team to be as organized as they are, but also at all the tournaments she attends. Even at “away” tournaments, she will volunteer for wherever they need an extra body for. In addition to all of this, she still makes time to have fun with her team and to compete out on the water — oh and to study and work as well. She gets out on the water as often as she can, and is not one to say no if called upon to help or coach. Whenever she is asked to help, she will be there.
Ashley is the driving force and master of organization for Clemson. She has organized and run multiple tournaments (3 in 2018 alone), orchestrating everything from securing the site and officials, registration, hosting officials, creating running orders, judge and driver rotations, ensuring there is enough boat gas and food for officials, keeping all the skiers up to date with scores, and making sure her team is tasked with assignments to keep tournaments running smoothly. Multiple officials have commended her for her diligence to ensure a smoothly run tournament, and always treating them with the utmost respect. Ashley is the “team mom” for Clemson, and her team listens to her. She also gets right in there with her team when it comes to having fun both during the tournament, and outside of skiing as well. Ashley doesn’t focus her efforts purely on skiing. She puts forth equally as much effort in the classroom. She is currently a sophomore, majoring in mechanical engineering with a business minor, so one would wonder how she could fit time in for skiing into such a busy class schedule and still maintain above average grades. No matter how you slice it, Ashley is a cut above when it comes to overall leadership in the NCWSA.
Kari McCollum, San Diego State University
Kari has served in a leadership capacity on the San Diego State University water ski team since her freshman year. During her freshman year she was an integral part of the team’s success to win Western Regionals and many other tournaments. She enthusiastically and confidently pitched in at every tournament for judging in all three events. Throughout her college career, she has judged in all three events at every Western Region college tournament. All four years of college she has been played a major role in organizing SDSU’s tournaments which included the 2016 NCWSA Nationals. Kari has been on the team’s executive board since her sophomore year, serving as President and Team Captain during her junior year (2017-2018).
In these roles she has worked very closely with SDSU’s Sports Club governing body, learning to successfully navigate the nuances and bureaucracy. With her leadership as Team President, the team was successful in obtaining additional funding from SDSU Sports Club, work to negotiate the terms of a beneficial contract for a new boat with the Sports Club executives. Her extensive experience with SDSU Sports Club board landed her an elected position as Secretary of the Sports Club Board of Directors. To top it off, the Water Ski and Wakeboard Team was recognized as the 2017-2018 SDSU Sports Club Team of the Year! Kari has served in leadership on the Western Region Collegiate Council, and also serves as WCWSA Marketing Co-chair to the NCWSA. She enthusiastically works to grow the team as well as the sport of tournament water skiing. She has coordinated and worked on countless on-campus team recruiting events, enthusiastically taught and coached many to tournament water ski, and continually teaches and encourages others to judge at tournaments.
In March 2018 she jumped at the opportunity to break the Guinness World Record for the longest distance water skied behind a blimp. She more than doubled the previous record. As a result she was interviewed on a local TV morning news show where she promoted her team, and the sport of tournament water skiing. Most importantly, Kari recognizes that the skiing and non-skiing accomplishments of the SDSU team do not solely fall on her shoulders. She is the first recognize the work of those who came before her and those she serves alongside.
Nellie Roberts, Clemson University
Nellie Roberts embodies determination, passion, and teamwork. Her pursuit of athletic achievements is motivating and impressive in its own measurement. To partner her achievements, her high energy and team spirit creates a contagious spirit of empowerment and support that it truly unique to her. Nellie’s presence is noticeable, and needed as a pillar of the team in every aspect. When Nellie enters a team meeting, arrives to a tournament, or steps on the boat; the team is the best version of itself.
Sara Condra, Michigan State University
The most supportive and caring person I know, outstanding team leader.
Her enthusiasm and dedication and caring is one to none! Also she’s an amazing skier
Never missed anyone’s start, always enthusiastic and genuine, constantly helping Michigan State University skiers grow and encouraging them
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Cullen Parker – Curtis Williams – Harry Spavin
Mark Anderson – Trace Mollet
Cullen Parker, Texas A&M University
Cullen has been president of his team for the past two years. During that time, the Aggies have gone from a Division 2 nationals qualifier to a Division 1 6th place finisher. The Texas A&M University water ski team membership has grown exponentially, and the camaraderie they share is amazing; as evidenced with this year’s spirit award. The team was recognized as TAMU’s club sport program of the year, and Cullen was recognized as the club sport’s leader of the year. While under Cullen’s guidance, the team has made significant improvements to their lake, including implementing a weed abatement program, attaining a new ramp, surveying in a new jump course, and keeping a current year model boat (similar to the national championship contenders and scholarship schools). This did not all happen because of Cullen, but I believe his leadership has paved the way for the team to thrive as a cohesive unit. He has happily served as his team’s leader while continuing his high academic achievements (recent scholarship winner). Those of you that know Cullen, know that he does not look or ask for any recognition making him an amazing nominee for the NCWSA’s Outstanding Leader of the Year award.
Cullen has been president of the team for the past two years and has poured his life into our club and the sport of water skiing. He helps other teams when he can, and offers advice on how they can improve. He is the reason our team has been able to get a new boat for the past two years in a row. Also, he is out at the lake every day he can be coaching our team, which is the reason we took 6th place this year at the Division 1 tournament of the NCWSA National Championships. Cullen inspires each of our team members to do their best, and helps us get new skis and equipment so that we are skiing on nothing but the best, despite the little funding we get from our rec center. I was on the team before Cullen got here, and I cannot even list all the improvements that have come to our team because of him. He made it his mission to win the spirit award this year and even paid for some of our spirit supplies out of his pocket. Basically everything Cullen does is for our team. He is the most selfless president we have ever had, and that is why our team is the best it has ever been.
Cullen is one of the most accepting and understanding people I have ever come across, and as a leader, these two traits are essential. As an incoming freshman, I was nervous enough to join college, let alone about making friends. This being said, joining the TAMU water ski team was one of the best decisions I could have made. Cullen was the first person I spoke too, and I felt accepted from the start and ever since.
Curtis Williams, San Diego State University
Whether it’s tournament planning, coaching, paperwork, judging, driving, or announcing, Curtis is always working to help make West Coast and National tournaments possible. He deserves this award not just for all the work he does, but for the incredibly passionate heart that he has for water skiing.
Before coming to college, I had never water skied. Neither had a lot of other people on our team. I can easily say that Curtis is the reason that I now compete in all three events.
Curtis believes in people, and he fosters a love for the sport in just about everyone that he can. He brings life and motivation to skiing, and has taught myself and many others so much.
Our team isn’t anywhere near professional. We aren’t breaking world records. Our lake isn’t on campus, and most of us can’t ski into 35′ off or jump 120ft. The thing is, Curtis can, he can and he does. Yet, I have never seen someone be so excited about a teammate learning the 660 point trick run or landing a jump for the first time. Though his skiing abilities are impressive, Curtis cares more about those people learning than himself. He celebrates milestones and victories with us that most skiers of his ability probably would not care about. He wakes up early and gives people who didn’t grow up with a boat and a lake the chance to learn how to ski. The chance to experience something new. The chance to achieve, to compete, and to discover collegiate water skiing for themselves.
I would go so far to say that he is the biggest reason why a team of mostly non-skiers prior to college have now become the 6th (last year) and 7th (this year) best team in the nation, just behind those scholarship schools. Curtis has taught us how to work hard, learn new things, and how to celebrate water skiing with a great attitude and a whole lot of dedication.
We’ve built jump ramps, drafted insurance documents, filed mountains of paperwork, hosted tournaments with hundreds of competitors, learned to coach, learned to drive, sometimes even learned to ski. We are our own advisors, our own coaches, we receive no scholarships, no help with admissions, we can’t waive out of state tuition, we aren’t even allowed to host recruitment events. Yet somehow, we prospered, and I think that this is what water skiing is all about. Curtis should be considered for this award not only because he works harder than anyone I know, but because he embodies the sport of collegiate water skiing and has showed so many of us what it truly feels like to be a part of this community.
Curtis dedicates countless hours on and off the water to aid the San Diego State University water ski team. He spends his free time on the water teaching new people how to get up, and he spends a lot of time fixing team gear. He is the person everyone wants to ride in the boat for their trick ride, because he is everyone’s favorite coach. He not only does so much work for our team, he also works so hard at tournaments. He is either a chief judge or chief announcer. Since he is graduating this year, he has been teaching me step by step his ways on running this team and tournaments. I will never be able to execute all of this as perfectly as Curtis does. We love him and will miss him!
Harry Spavin, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Harry Spavin is the current team captain of the Ragin’ Cajun Water Ski Team at University of Louisiana at Lafayette. After the 2016-17 season, the majority of the ski team graduated and left, so Harry was the one who stepped up to lead. Harry had some big shoes to fill following a couple team captains who were well respected around the community; and Harry did just that, he filled those shoes.
The current team is made up of mostly freshmen and sophomores, who do not know a whole lot about the collegiate skiing environment. This past year his goal was to create a more supportive “team” environment where athletes could rely on each other and both look and perform like a team! In the 2018 ski season he was successful in bringing the team together by developing a community where everyone comes together and was interdependent on each other. He took 20 individual athletes/skiers and made them a team. Harry puts in a tremendous number of hours at the ski site, in the boat driving and coaching for anyone who wants as well as ensuring the site maintenance is looked after. He organized and ordered new “team uniforms” and is always willing to put the team first. That may mean that he sacrifices his last ski set of the day so someone else can ski, or he doesn’t get home until after dark because he is pulling skier on the water or working on maintenance at the lake.
This whole season, and even when he was not team captain, Harry was a leader, wanting the best for his team. He lead his team to a very successful 2018 Nationals, only 60 points off of 1st place and a cumulative 14 medals for the team. At nationals, Harry stayed positive and kept the team positive the entire weekend. He never doubted the abilities of his teammates, even when there were a few unfortunate events. Not only did Harry do a great job of leading the team at Nationals, but he skied very well at them too. At every tournament, but especially Nationals, Harry has the ability to juggle organizing and leading the team as well as performing at a high level on the water. He proved this at Nationals by leading the team to a 2nd place finish as well as placing in the top 10 in every event and coming 4th in trick and 3rd in overall; being the best men’s skier on the team.
At SCR tournaments, you will find Harry adding to his juggling act by always volunteering to judge. He leads by example and encourages everyone to get involved and volunteer. Harry is a very selfless person and would do anything to help anyone on the ski team as well as off. He has a love for this sport like none other. Harry is an unbelievable leader and the water ski team at ULL would not have had such a successful year without him. Harry not only manages and coaches the ski team, but he is also a student-athlete majoring in Civil Engineering; he manages to make time for his teammates, his own training, and studying.
Mark Anderson, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Mark’s dedication and value to the water skiing community at University of Nebraska is evident with his popularity with skiers of all ages. Mark is involved with skiing year round, and has lead the team in such a way that it will sustained the team for years to come. Mark is the first team President after the team’s founder graduated, and has become a expert at managing team activities and our relationship with the University. He excels at inspiring leaders, and understands the importance of getting everyone involved. His insightful leadership and quirky personality will be missed by everyone.
Mark has one of the biggest love for water skiing out of anyone in all of USA Water skiing. He has devoted his entire college career to the betterment of the Nebraska team, and in his last year where the team lost over 50% of its members, Mark was able to restock the team with fresh members and still train them to be regional competitors.
One of the other biggest accomplishments that the team has seen under Marky Mark’s tenure is the future possibility of a new boat. He has started a Nebraska tradition of fundraising where the team has the opportunity to make over $4000 every year. Mark’s love for the sport doesn’t just end with his leadership at Nebraska, as he also puts in time as an official and instructor. Mark dedicates time at every tournament to helping out in whatever aspect he can: dock starting, judging, or scoring. He is always asking for more. Marky Mark also takes the time out of his summer to go down to Bennett’s Ski School and teach young kids the sport of water skiing. He has been an inspiration for many of those young pups, and has influenced them to participate in AWSA tournaments. The sport of water skiing would not be the same without Mark’s leadership and this award is the perfect description of how Mark’s time in water skiing has been.
Have you even met Marky Mark Anderson? The man is a legend. After losing almost the entire Nebraski team from 2017 to graduating seniors, he reloaded the team with plenty of new young talent to ensure the team would live on for at least another four years. He also spent the last two summers working his butt off at Bennett’s Ski School helping spread the love of our sport and increasing his already fire skills on the water. If you don’t vote for him because of his outrageous costumes on and off the water, make sure you vote for him because of the true passion he brings to the sport every day. A passion that he instills in every person he meets, on AND off the water.
Trace Mollet, Bowling Green State University
The literal other half of Ali Mollet is her twin brother Trace. We all know Trace for being a constant good time and a staple in college water skiing. Trace is also a great inspiration to his team and everyone around him. He is constantly pushing his team to take risks and to venture out of their comfort zones. He, as a captain, made great decisions on how best to put together a solid team that utilizes everyone’s talents and maximize team points. Trace was the heart behind the balls to the walls passion that we all saw from Bowling Green State University this year and in a way that nobody else can, he always reminds everyone that at the end of the day it’s about having fun. Trace along with his sister helped to find a three event lake very close to campus that the team was able to ski on everyday. Trace’s parents also allowed the team to utilize their promo Mastercraft for ski practices, and were at every tournament to help coach, organize, feed skiers, and officiate and drive tournaments. All a very big step up from an old Moomba on the river with no course – which was the arrangement Bowling Green had last year. Trace has a heart condition that he’s had since birth, and his doctor tells him that he shouldn’t be skiing at all — something most of us didn’t even know until we read it in the article linked below. Clearly college water skiing and his team hold a very special spot in his heart if he chooses to ski when he knows he should not just for them. I cannot think of anyone who loves the sport more, anyone who embodies the sport more, or anyone who deserves this award more than Trace does.
Trace and his twin sister Ali were featured in their local paper that outlined their journey this year and throughout their BGSU careers.
Current Skier and Captain at the University of Cincinnati.
- 2019 NCWSA Awards Nominees & Voting - November 19, 2019
- 2019 NCWSA Awards – Call for Nominations! - October 21, 2019
- Congrats to the 2018 NCWSA Awards Winners! - November 13, 2018
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