Congratulations to the 2023 winners of the NCWSA Annual Awards

Each year, the NCWSA community nominates and votes on the prestigious titles of Team of the Year, Outstanding Leader of the Year, and Athlete of the Year. Through these organization-wide awards, we honor those that have put their best efforts towards supporting the sport, on the water and behind the scenes.

We celebrate their successes at the USA Water Ski and Wake Sports banquet in January. Please join us in applause for this year’s winners!

Team of the Year: University of Kansas

Kansas has come a long way since being unable to compete in 2020 and losing team leader Levi Ward in a tragic accident. This team has come together to make this program prosper for years. This season, on the water the Sprayhawks were undefeated walking into Nationals. They placed 1st in the Midwest regional tournament, and went on to place 7th overall at D1 nationals. Their women’s team stood as a powerhouse against the intense competition, earning 6th place overall at D1 Nationals. The whole time our teammates were there to support our skiers on the dock or on the shore.
The University of Kansas Ski team has nearly doubled in size this year bringing in more new members than the team has seen in years. This team has begun to put an emphasis on building a family that is meant to last beyond college skiing. This year KU brought 8 competitors to AWSA Midwest regionals, and they also attended many other summer tournaments around the Midwest together! Many of our skiers have begun the process of becoming a judge, scorers, and or drivers to help each tournament we attend run as smoothly as it can!
Our teammates genuinely enjoy being a part of the Sprayhawk family as they plan massive team snow ski trips, visit each other’s families on breaks, go bowling weekly, study daily together, and, of course, ski on a regular basis. These student-athletes truly embody the belief that skiing should go beyond the scores. Our teammates know each time they hit the water, they are not there to chase numbers, they are there to do their best, and have fun and their teammates will be there no matter the outcome.
KU waterski is a self-funded program that receives very little support from the university. This year, the executive team spent countless hours working to get the team a new boat and upgrade from our 1990’s MasterCraft. The team worked with donors such as the Levi Ward Legacy and sellers to secure our team a new Ski Nautique this fall! The executive team was able to fundraise $10,000 in three weeks to help fund send each skier to nationals for free and to help assist with funding the new boat. This team arranged sponsorship agreements and reached out to alumni, family, and friends to make this happen. This team has come together to make this season a wild success and has set the team up for further success in the future.

Female Outstanding Leader of the Year: Virginia Dozier

Auburn University

In one word, Virginia Dozier is a SUPERSTAR!

Not only does she share a deep passion for waterskiing, but she also has shown an unwavering commitment to leading her team and supporting the growth of collegiate skiing. Virginia has become the spirit of the Auburn team, supporting her team on the water and from the shoreline with a big smile, positive attitude, and the leadership to ensure the tigers keep their stripes.

Virginia has worked tirelessly to recruit new skiers onto Auburn’s team and teach them the ins and outs of being a respectful and useful member of a ski club. As President, she gives the entire team a sense of purpose and enthusiasm, making sure that all skiers are able to get plenty of quality practice time on their home lake. She trains the team beyond the skiing to have knowledge on driving the boat and keeping it maintained. Virginia is adored by the entire SAC family (and beyond) as she gives her full energy to make sure collegiate skiing thrives now and for the future at Auburn University.

Male Outstanding Leader of the Year: Carter Eaton

Arizona State University

Carter has been the unwavering rock of support for the ASU ski team over the past 4.5 years, consistently demonstrating exemplary leadership and dedication. In the face of challenges and adversities, he went above and beyond by bringing team members to his family’s lake in southern Arizona, ensuring they had access to the water. Carter’s commitment extends beyond facilitating water time; he actively coaches, recruits, and competes in all three events for the team, exemplifying the epitome of selflessness and teamwork. His leadership roles, including Social Media, Men’s Captain, and President, showcase his continuous involvement and problem-solving prowess, particularly during tough times for the ASU Waterski Team. Carter’s unique and effective approach to team bonding, organizing events like movie nights and outings at Saguaro Lake, reflects his commitment to fostering a strong sense of camaraderie. Despite the challenges of losing the team ski site, Carter successfully led the relocation of equipment and jump ramp, maintaining high morale and pushing through personal difficulties. His exceptional skills as a skier are matched only by his dedication as a leader, ensuring that all teammates, even those from different teams, receive the support and encouragement they need to excel both in practice and competition. Carter’s outstanding contributions make him a vital and deserving member of the ASU Waterski Team, setting a lasting example for future team members.

Female Athlete of the Year: Neilly Ross

Rollins College

With a new collegiate record, national collegiate podium spots in trick and slalom, and accomplishments on the Worlds level, Neilly’s accomplishments on the water speak for themselves. What I am honored to share is all that happens behind the scenes. Neilly’s dedication to the sport is unmatched. No matter the weather, her motivation, or her schedule, Neilly makes time to train. She is on the water every day, working hard to be at the top of the global women’s trick skiing event, while also holding her ground in the slalom event. With an absolutely absurd schedule (between Worlds, PanAm Games, and collegiate Nationals) that led to her missing all classes in October, Neilly demonstrated her dedication by working ahead in her courses to ensure success both in the classroom and on the water – role modeling the epitome of a collegiate athlete.

No matter their skill level, Neilly makes teammates feel welcome and appreciated. This season in particular, Neilly helped two new freshmen ladies as they approached the sport for the first time – passing down her used equipment so that they can begin training as soon as possible and with the highest quality gear, and donating her time so they could receive elite coaching.

On all fronts: scores, dedication, and “pass-the-handle”-ness, Neilly Ross brings great pride to Rollins College and our sport at large: serving as the exemplary honor for the Female Outstanding Athlete of the Year.

Male Athlete of the Year: Arron Davies

University of Louisiana Lafayette

Arron is a dedicated team player, serving as the lake captain and ensuring the smooth operation of the ski lake. His passion extends to coaching and driving in jump and tricks, and he willingly volunteers as a judge and driver in South Central tournaments. Notoriously hard to coax out of the driver’s seat, Arron’s commitment to his team and the sport is truly commendable.

Arron’s journey is nothing short of remarkable, having triumphed over a devastating forearm injury last year where he snapped both his Radius and Ulna. Despite the setback, he produced outstanding scores this fall. Arron’s resilience and hard work after a career-threatening injury have not gone unnoticed. Over the past six years, he has been a pillar for the Ragin’ Cajuns team, dedicating countless hours to keep the lake running smoothly. Despite missing out on the competition at last year’s nationals due to his forearm injury, Arron bounced back, proving his mettle with an exceptional performance throughout the collegiate tournaments this season. His worst score, 5@38off, is an impressive record. Deserving of the title of male athlete of the year, Arron’s comeback is a testament to his determination and skill.

As a super senior at Lafayette, Arron’s final year culminated in a triumphant achievement—he ran 39 off and scored in 41′ not once but three times in collegiate tournaments, including Nationals. His talent as a skier is matched only by his vocal encouragement that echoes down the lake for every participant.

Honored at the USA Water Ski and Wake Sports Banquet

We appreciate everyone that was nominated, as well as those that voted. The collective efforts of the community uplift this sport at the grassroots level unlike any other.

We look forward to welcoming the winners and supporters to the USA Water Ski and Wake Sports Banquet in Lakeland, Florida on January 27th, 2024.

Winners will be contacted by the awards committee and region leadership to coordinate tickets to the event.