Voting Now Open for 2023 Annual Award Nominees

Leader of the Year

• Cate Wolfe
• Emily O’Connor
• Mandy Lawson
• Megan Silta
• Virginia Dozier
• Carter Eaton
• Garrett Reese
• Harrison Hartzler
• Markus Mortensen
• Sean Freitag
• Honorable Mentions

Cate Wolfe

University of San Diego

Cate Wolfe stands as an extraordinary force behind the resurgence of the USD Waterski team post-COVID, showcasing exceptional leadership, support, and camaraderie. Her unwavering dedication has not only transformed the team into a tightly-knit community of great athletes but has also fostered lifelong memories. Cate’s role extends beyond her prowess as an athlete; she serves as a coach and mentor, contributing significantly to the team’s success. Known for her friendly and helpful demeanor, Cate radiates a positive attitude, ensuring every team member feels welcome and included. Her commitment to the growth and establishment of the west coast’s emerging waterski program is evident in her tireless efforts to introduce newcomers to the sport and instill not only competitive skills but also a lasting love for it.

Nominated for Outstanding Female Leader of the Year, Cate’s presidency and leadership of USD Waterski have made a profound impact. Her inclusive attitude has created a welcoming culture, attracting new athletes to the sport. Patient and encouraging as a coach, Cate’s positive influence has propelled her teammates to flourish, fostering a love for waterskiing that extends beyond their time on the team. Under her guidance, the team has expanded significantly, with over 20 committed athletes attending tournaments, including the Western Regionals Championships. Cate’s behind-the-scenes efforts, negotiating funding, obtaining permits, purchasing equipment, and managing paperwork, reflect her dedication to the team’s success. The legacy she has built ensures the team’s continued thriving at USD.

Cate Wolfe’s exceptional leadership extends beyond athletics; she is a people person who goes out of her way to ensure the team’s happiness. Her meticulous planning of events and practices, seamless organization of tournament logistics, and genuine care for each team member showcase her remarkable skills in balancing academic responsibilities, waterskiing, and other commitments. Her impact on the team’s morale, motivation, and overall success solidifies Cate Wolfe as a truly outstanding leader, deserving of recognition as Female Outstanding Leader.

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Emily O’Connor

University of Kansas

Emily truly embodies the qualities of an exceptional water ski leader, making her an invaluable asset to our team. Her unwavering dedication and passion for the sport shine through in every aspect of her leadership. One of the key traits that sets Emily apart is her willingness to step up and take charge. Whether it’s driving the boat or providing coaching to her teammates, she is always ready to lend a helping hand. Her expertise and experience on the water make her a trusted guide, enabling the team to improve their skills and achieve their goals.
Furthermore, Emily’s contributions extend far beyond the waters of the lake. She played a pivotal role in the acquisition of our team trailer, a crucial element for our water ski endeavors. Not only did she actively participate in the purchase, but she also took charge of designing the trailer to ensure that our skis fit perfectly, showcasing her attention to detail and problem-solving skills. This thoughtful approach speaks volumes about her commitment to the team’s success and well-being.
Emily’s leadership style is characterized by a perfect blend of encouragement and discipline. She motivates her fellow skiers to push their boundaries and reach new heights, all while fostering a supportive and inclusive team environment. Her ability to inspire others is truly commendable, creating a positive atmosphere where everyone feels empowered to excel.
In addition to her technical expertise and organizational skills, Emily possesses a genuine passion for water skiing that is contagious. Her enthusiasm not only elevates the team spirit but also inspires others to share in her love for the sport. With Emily at the helm, our water ski team has flourished, not only in terms of skill development but also in building a strong sense of camaraderie among its members.
In conclusion, Emily’s exceptional leadership as a water ski enthusiast is evident through her selfless dedication, coaching abilities, and meticulous attention to team needs. Her willingness to go above and beyond, from driving the boat to designing the team trailer, exemplifies her commitment to the sport and her fellow teammates. Emily’s influence on the team is immeasurable, and her impact will undoubtedly continue to resonate, driving the team to even greater achievements in the future.”

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Mandy Lawson

University of Nebraska

Mandy epitomizes exceptional leadership both as a student and within her ski team, demonstrating unwavering support for individuals both inside and outside the sport. Serving as a leader in her university’s Sports Club Council, she adeptly allocates $139,000 among 39 different clubs at UNL, offering guidance and assistance during budget cycles. As the VP of logistics in her water ski club, Mandy meticulously plans University-guided trips and ensures her teammates’ seamless participation in tournaments, maintaining the club’s good standing. In the broader collegiate waterskiing community, Mandy has held significant roles such as the VP of USA Waterski and currently serves as the Great Plains Conference Chairwoman, working alongside regional leadership to guide 16 teams, including her own. Despite not being raised in the sport, Mandy, a true Midwest skier, generously imparts her knowledge and support to skiers of all levels, contributing to the success of her team and events at conference, regional, and national championships, often volunteering as a safety officer. Her selfless dedication and strong sportsmanship make her an outstanding leader within her university, ski club, local ski community, and other university club ski teams.

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Megan Silta

Western Washington University

Meg’s impact on our team has been transformative, elevating our community and steering us toward becoming a larger and more formidable group. Amidst her commitments as a full-time biology student and running her own dog-walking business, Meg has dedicated an impressive amount of time to advancing everything waterskiing. Her inclusive and caring approach ensures that every team member feels valued, contributing to the sense of camaraderie within our group. In her role as team president, Meg’s hard work and organizational skills have propelled our team’s growth from a few exiting members to a thriving community of over thirty. Not only has she fundraised the team into financial stability, but she has also steered WWU into national competition across all events. Meg’s journey, transitioning from a D3 hockey player to a passionate waterskier, reflects her resilience and commitment to her chosen sport. Her levelheaded leadership, unmatched by any, serves as the driving force behind our team’s success, making her an exceptional and invaluable leader.

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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. I am not on Auburn’s team, so I cannot give any statistics on how exactly she has affected their team. I can only comment on my personal observations as an outsider. I was a collegiate skier both before and during Virginia’s time at Auburn, and I was able to watch her in her role as President this past season. Not to insinuate that Auburn’s team was not unified before Virginia came, but she has certainly become the glue that holds their team together. As someone who grew up in a waterskiing background, 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. She ensures that all serious recruits have knowledge on driving the boat and keeping it gassed, which, as we all know, is no easy feat. 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 is adored by the entire SAC family, and I’m sure most skiers from the region would agree that Virginia works harder than almost anyone to make sure collegiate skiing lives on at Auburn University.

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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.

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Garrett Reese

University of Alabama

Garrett’s indispensable contributions to the Alabama Water Ski Team have been nothing short of transformative. As the team’s President, his proactive approach over the last two years has played a pivotal role in elevating the team to its current state of excellence. Serving in various leadership roles, including VP/Recruitment Chair and Team Captain, Garrett has demonstrated unwavering dedication, showcasing exceptional management and leadership skills. Under his guidance, the team has not only increased its organizational efficiency but has also witnessed enhanced participation among officers and team members. Garrett’s influence extends beyond Alabama, as evidenced by his collaboration with other schools in the SAC, including Clemson and Auburn. His positive impact on the entire SAC is evident in his willingness to contribute to events where he actively assists with judging and driving, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment. As the most experienced officer on the team, Garrett’s dedication and passion have set a lasting example for the Alabama Water Ski Team and the broader SAC community. Roll Tide.

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Harrison Hartzler

University of Kansas

Harrison Hartzler is a caring teammate, a natural leader and one heck of a waterskier. When Harrison first joined the team, he was a quiet person, but he has grown far beyond the days of him sitting in the back of team meetings with nothing to say. In just under a year after transferring to KU, Harrison Hartzler rose to be the president of our team with a powerful vision. This season Harrison has made leaps and bounds for our program and waterskiing as a whole. To start, over the summer, Harrison spearheaded the process of buying our team a new boat. He set up meetings with donors and sellers, drove hours upon hours shopping around and finally, he was able to find the perfect boat for our team. He did not stop there. At every tournament this season, Harrison was there to support each and every teammate who stepped on the dock to ski. He was able to organize practices with other boats at our lake that had jump switches while our team boat was not set up for that yet. He volunteered to drive and coach practices at reasonable times each week to ensure all members of the team could have time to practice. He signed us up for all the recruiting events possible on campus which allowed us to gain many new members. Harrison worked so well with our sports club director making sure each requirement was met that he earned himself a spot on the Sports Clubs Executive Board for this upcoming semester!
With the help of other executive board members, Harrison was able to secure 4 company sponsorships for our team and fundraise just over $10,000 in three weeks to help send his teammates to nationals for free, and to make a few boat payments too! Harrison was able to sit down with owners of many of these companies and be the face of our organization all while studying to get his bachelor of exercise science, working part-time, and training for nationals. He put in the extra time and effort to make the trip to nationals more enjoyable for all and that’s what a good leader does. Harrison puts the puts the team first always. Even if that means fixing the boat trailer by himself on a Friday night while the team travels to a tournament.
Individuals like Harrison are what this sport truly embodies. He never makes anyone at a lower ski level than him feel as if they do not belong here. He is one of the most welcoming people to meet and train with. He will pick you up when you miss your exit gates and he will be the loudest one cheering when you PB in jump. Harrison is one of the good ones and KU waterski would not be the same without him.

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Markus Mortensen

Southern Methodist University

Markus is has been a HUGE addition to collegiate skiing, especially in the SCR. He is the reason that we had an addition of a new team, Southern Methodist University. For the past three years, Markus has joined in on all SCR meetings and talked closely with Jackson and I about various requirements for starting a team from the ground-up. During this time he had little help from the University and tons of obstacles that were extremely difficult to work around. He had to negotiate with the University just to be able to advertise for the club on campus and went through various name changes for the club due to pushback from the University. After two years of fighting with the University, SMU made their debut at the Polar Bear tournament last March and have grown tremendously since then. At this tournament, SMU showed up with about five people, but the size of their team has grown with each tournament. Every single one of the SMU skiers has gone out of their way to get to know everybody in the region, and a large part of this is due to Markus’s leadership. I can confidently say that every person in the SCR knows who Markus Mortensen is because of his commitment to getting to know every single person in the SCR and development of the SMU team. Because of him, the SMU team is alive and thriving. He has done everything in his power to develop this team, despite the many, prolonged obstacles that made the task seem impossible for two years. Now, the SMU team has shareable equipment, a site to practice on, a boat to use, and are competitive against the other teams in the region. Markus is a true example to collegiate skiing and is someone who should be recognized and looked up to for his commitment to growing the NCWSA and the sport of water skiing as a whole.

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Sean Freitag

Southern Illinois University

I am thrilled to nominate Sean Freitag for the prestigious title of Male Outstanding Leader of the Year within the National Collegiate Waterski Association. Sean’s remarkable dedication, unwavering commitment, and exceptional leadership have not only left an indelible mark on his university organization but have also profoundly impacted the waterskiing community at large.
Sean’s journey as a leader began with a visionary undertaking: the resurrection of the 3-event lake at the fairgrounds in Du Quoin, Illinois. This endeavor was nothing short of Herculean, requiring not only hard work but a deep belief in the sport of waterskiing. Sean’s relentless efforts not only jump-started the lake but also involved extensive renovations. He rebuilt the slalom course and jump course, creating a safe and modern training ground that now stands as a testament to his vision and dedication.
In an era when technology plays a pivotal role in sports, Sean went the extra mile to introduce new camera systems and a jump grid. These technological advancements have significantly enhanced the training and competitive experience for all team members. Sean’s innovative spirit brought the sport into the modern age, promoting its growth and competitiveness. Because of these renovations, Southern Illinois plans to host a tournament in the spring of 2024. This will be the first collegiate tournament hosted at Du Quoin since 2010.
However, Sean’s leadership extends far beyond the physical realm. He is a master of community and alumni engagement. Through his exceptional efforts, he successfully rekindled relations with the owners of the fairgrounds and the old ski team. This revitalized connection has fostered a sense of unity and collaboration that has been instrumental in the continued success of the waterskiing program. Furthermore, Sean has actively nurtured relationships with alumni, establishing strong and lasting connections that benefit the current team and the broader collegiate waterskiing community.
Financial support is often a significant challenge for collegiate sports teams. Sean’s tireless advocacy on behalf of the team resulted in the university providing more financial support than ever before. His ability to secure additional resources has allowed the team to thrive and reach new heights in terms of performance and opportunities for its members.
One of Sean’s most remarkable achievements has been the exponential growth of the team. His charismatic leadership and strategic vision attracted an impressive number of new members, effectively doubling the team’s membership. This influx of talent has not only enriched the team but has also expanded the reach of the waterskiing community.
Team infrastructure is a crucial aspect of any successful sports program. Recognizing this, Sean went the extra mile to secure a trailer for the team, along with many new additions to the team’s gear. This seemingly small but vital asset has eased logistical challenges, enabling the team to participate in more events and competitions, thus furthering their success.
In conclusion, Sean Freitag’s exceptional leadership and his outstanding contributions to the National Collegiate Waterski Association have been nothing short of transformative. His unwavering energy, visionary leadership, and determination have propelled the university organization and the sport of waterskiing forward, leaving a legacy that will undoubtedly endure for years to come.
Sean embodies the very essence of what an Outstanding Leader should be – passionate, dedicated, and committed to the betterment of his team, the sport, and the entire waterskiing community. I wholeheartedly recommend Sean Freitag for the Male Outstanding Leader of the Year award, as he exemplifies the values and aspirations of our association. Thank you for considering this nomination. Sean Freitag’s impact on collegiate waterskiing is truly exceptional, and his recognition as the Male Outstanding Leader of the Year would be richly deserved.

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Leader of the Year Honorable Mentions

• Alyssa Hinden
• Amanda Luttschwager Rose
• Hanna Larson
• Kristen Baldwin
• Whitney Shelhamer
• Brandon McAllister
• Brett Stackpole
• Carter Perez
• Matt Leach
• Sam Murdy
• Sam Weber
• Scott Coyne

Alyssa Hinden – Honorable Mention

University of Kansas

As the Public Relations Vice President of the KU Waterski Club at the University of Kansas, Alyssa has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities and has consistently gone above and beyond the call of duty in her role.

Alyssa’s dedication to the success of our club has been nothing short of extraordinary. She played a pivotal role in securing the necessary funds for our national tournament, raising an impressive $10,000 that ultimately covered all associated expenses. Her tireless efforts and strategic approach were instrumental in making this event a resounding success.

In addition to her fundraising prowess, Alyssa devoted countless hours to enhancing the visual representation of our team. She took the initiative to design captivating logos for our team trailer, ensuring that we make a memorable impression wherever we go. Her creative talents have greatly elevated the overall image of our club.

Alyssa’s commitment to the well-being and unity of our team is evident in her efforts to provide each member with commemorative Nationals tee shirts. This thoughtful gesture not only fostered a sense of camaraderie among us, but also showcased Alyssa’s exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.

It is without question that Alyssa can be classified as the driving force behind our team’s success. Her leadership is marked by an approachability that encourages open communication and collaboration. Whenever a member of our team requires guidance or support, Alyssa is the first person they turn to. Her ability to lead with empathy and grace is truly commendable.

Alyssa successfully manages our team’s social media presence, effectively engaging our audience and promoting our activities with utmost professionalism. Her content is consistently engaging, reflecting her dedication to representing our club in the best possible light.

Alyssa accomplishes all of these feats while pursuing a Ph.D. in Pharmaceuticals, a testament to her exceptional time management skills, determination, and unwavering commitment to her academic pursuits.

Alyssa Hinden’s leadership within the KU Waterski Club is nothing short of exemplary. Her contributions have not only elevated our team’s performance and visibility but have also created a positive and inclusive environment for all members. I wholeheartedly endorse Alyssa for the Outstanding Female Leader of the Year Award and believe that her outstanding achievements make her a truly deserving candidate.

Thank you for considering Alyssa’s nomination. I am confident that her remarkable contributions will continue to inspire and lead others to success.

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Amanda Luttschwager Rose – Honorable Mention

University of Kansas

Amanda represents the athletes of the Midwest as AAC rep. Amanda is an official always helping out and working as an appointed in many collegiate tournaments in the great plains conference. As a teammate Amanda is a skier you can always count on to be at the lake, she is always happy to drive, coach, or lend a hand with lake maintenance tasks. Currently a grad student at KU, Amanda serves as a role model for new skiers, balancing class, being on a new campus and waterskiing at a high level. Amanda has also served as the president of the Iowa State ski team. Helping the club navigate hard times when the university took them off the water, but working with teammates to keep the club active and waterskiing, even if they could not compete.

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Hanna Larson – Honorable Mention

Texas A&M

This is Hanna’s first season on the team. She has expressed over and over again how great the people on this team are and how they have become friends for life! Growing up in a waterski family has given her the background and knowledge to help other skiers on the team. Her leadership skills flared up at the Nationals this year where she tirelessly helped to keep the team up and moving towards each skier, helping to win the Spirit award once again. Her passion for this sport and the people it draws in, is real!

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Kristen Baldwin – Honorable Mention

Arizona State University

Kristen served as Vice President this year and was instrumental to the success of our team! Even though she could not ski this year because of hip surgery, she was so an instrumental part of our team. Vice president is arguably one of the hardest jobs on the team, and she excelled at it without breaking a sweat. She was organized, a great leader, and a great teammate. She would be a great candidate for female leader of the year

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Whitney Shelhamer – Honorable Mention

Clemson University

The Clemson waterski team is a 100% student run organization. With a team of 11 officers, Whitney runs this organization along with the Clemson Watersports Club with 50 team members and 100 club members. Clemson Waterski is the largest watersports club in the nation. The officers all work so hard to help Whitney make this team what it is. Under her leadership, they are the team that is known for our loud cheering, positive attitudes and our fun. Not only that but becoming a team that places in the top 10 in the nation over the past few years. Whitney was instrumental in developing the “spirit award officer” roles to promote the NCWSA spirit with daily themes at Nationals. They take pride in both great skiing and great spirit, with Whitney at the helm.

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Brandon McAllister – Honorable Mention

University of Illinois

Brandon always works hard not only for himself, but also for the team. He has an unmatched level of passion for the sport and the team that gets everyone on the team hyped with him. No matter what happens, he is able to handle the situation calmly and work through it rationally. I admire his ability to be fun when it’s time to be fun, and be serious when it’s time to be serious.

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Brett Stackpole – Honorable Mention

University of Alabama

Well-liked and respected by all of his peers, Brett took over as Team Captain for the University of Alabama Ski Team in 2022 and has been an exceptional and innovative leader ever since. Brett is the driving force in the success of tournaments in the SAC region, leading our conference in multiple roles: event organizer, driver, judge, and everything in between. He is always the first to volunteer at tournaments or at practices when help of any kind is needed. Brett is also responsible for the resurgence in the Alabama Ski Team’s team spirit in recent years, as Alabama was strongly considered for the Spirit Award at the 2023 NCWSA Nationals.
Apart from Brett’s efforts seen by the ski community, his day-to-day leadership and enthusiasm for collegiate water skiing is unparalleled. Thanks to Brett, the Alabama team was able to bring 30 team members to nationals while only 19 were competing for the team. Brett’s selflessness isn’t limited to Alabama skiing. He has served in numerous leadership capacities during the four-years he served a member of the Air Force ROTC at Bama. Moreover, Brett will be serving our country in the Air Force in pilot training school soon after graduation in December. The University of Alabama Water Ski Team’s success on and off the water is largely due to Brett Stackpole’s efforts during his time at the University, and that is why we believe Brett is more than worthy of receiving the 2023 NCWSA Male Outstanding Leader of the Year.

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Matthew Leach – Honorable Mention

Texas State University

Matthew Leach is an exemplary leader on and off the water. He has been an officer of the Texas State Water Ski Team since 2019, taking on the roll as Captain and Treasurer over the course of his time on the board. After a rapid decline in member ship after 2019, the team was struggling to keep afloat. Through his involvement in AWSA and NCWSA he brought the team from only having 5 members in 2021, to a now thriving team on 30 in 2023! This year he led the charge of getting the team to Collegiate Nationals at Bennetts’ Water Ski and Wake School in Louisiana where they placed 6th overall. In addition, Matt coaches and drives for ever member of the team, helping two of the members podium at Nationals! Outside of his officer duties, he has become increasingly involved in AWSA, striving to get more collegiate involvement by combining both seasons of skiing. He put in countless hours of studying and dedication to become a Regular Slalom Judge, Assistant Trick Judge, a Regular Jump Judge, an Assistant Scorer in all three events, and an Assistant Driver in all three events. Additionally, Matthew is a rated Safety Coordinator. He was the Assignments Coordinator for the AWSA South Central Regional Championship in July 2023. After that tournament, he was awarded the Jeffry Armstrong Outstanding Official Award for Extraordinary Performance and Service as Officials. He followed that up with being Tournament Director for the NCWSA South Central Regional Championship in September 2023, as well as the previous two years. Matthew has formed countless relationships along the way, always putting his best foot forward for not only himself, but his teammates as well. Additionally, he volunteers with All Can Ski, a water skiing program for those with physical disabilities, as well as the Great Texas River Clean Up in San Marcos, Texas. Through all of his extracurriculars, his time spent with the team, and personal skiing, Matthew continues to maintain a GPA above a 3.3. Matthew Leach is a true leader as he displays exemplary qualities through his work as captain of the Texas State Water Ski Team, his involvement in AWSA tournaments, and his community service outside of team skiing.

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Sam Murdy – Honorable Mention

Texas A&M University

Samuel Murdy, the President and Head Boat Driver for the TAMU water ski team, has been an exceptional leader since his freshman year at TAMU. Acknowledged for his natural leadership, Sam was appointed as the “head boat driver” in his freshman year, a role he embraced with dedication and skill. His influence goes beyond driving the boat, as he actively encourages teammates in all aspects of skiing and plays a vital role in recruitment efforts, both for high schoolers and current college students. Sam’s tenacity and determination were evident when he successfully advocated for the team to bring the boat on campus, a feat achieved through persistent efforts and personal responsibility assurances. His commitment to recruitment includes organizing fun weekends on campus, introducing prospective members not only to the ski lake but also to the vibrant culture of Aggie life. Voted as team President, Sam has skillfully navigated various responsibilities, from team dynamics to safety emphasis, fundraising, and tournament logistics. His tireless involvement extends to helping set up, clean up, and serve as a dock starter at tournaments, earning him the reputation of being the best dock starter in the South Central region. Sam’s quick and supportive nature, clear communication, and inclusive decision-making style have earned him respect not only within his team but across multiple colleges in the South Central region. His passion for the sport is evident not only in his joy of competition but also in his commitment to encouraging new skiers and supporting current team members in their pursuit of excellence.

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Sam Weber – Honorable Mention

University of Nebraska

It is with great pleasure that I am nominating Sam Weber for NCWSA Male Leader of the Year. Sam has made significant contributions to the Nebraska Waterski Team and the promotion of the sport of waterskiing at the collegiate level.

Sam is a Junior at the University of NE Lincoln. He has been a member of the Nebraska Waterski Team since his freshman year. Sam is an accomplished three event water skier and had many opportunities when deciding where to spend his college career. He chose NE seeing a great opportunity to grow the team from the solid foundation established by his predecessors. Elected President as a Freshman he laid out a framework for building a competitive team with the goal qualifying for Nationals during his college career.

Sam established a strong relationship with Brian Stelzer, Director of Sports Programs at UNL. He worked closely with Brian inviting him to practices and tournaments. With Brian’s help, Sam secured the largest budget of all campus sports clubs in both 2022 and 2023. In Spring of 2023 Sam won the Sport Club Athlete of the year at UNL. This award is given by the Student Leadership, Involvement & Community engagement Committee of Student Affairs.

As an athlete Sam knows the value of quality practice and the time needed to improve at a sport. He saw opportunity to improve team athletes with practice and coaching opportunities. The team needed access to a site for more practice time. Sam worked with the HOA at Championship Lake Estates to establish access to their site for practice. This included talking with each homeowner about rules, ski rotations, and what opportunities would be available for the team to help with lake maintenance. Once established the team started scheduling practice multiple times a week with time slots for each skier. In addition to water time Sam also worked to provide additional coaching to skiers. He coaches himself and has worked with other skiers on the lake to coach as well. Sam also helped spearhead coaching time with Chris Parish at CLE last summer.

The team placed 7th at Midwest Regionals in 2022, qualifying as a Wild Card team and finishing in 4th place finish in D2 at Nationals. At the beginning of the 2023 season the team once again set their sights on qualifying for Nationals. They finished 5th at Midwest Regionals and 3rd at D2 Nationals.

Sam’s leadership has helped NE build discipline and create an environment for team athletes to continue to improve and become more active in the sport. He sets an example for others by his approach to working with University Leadership, NCWSA, Club Sponsors, and other skiers that showcases the best things about the sport of skiing. His involvement and the members of the team have helped him grow as a leader and collectively the team has accomplished things that otherwise would not have been possible. I think for these reasons he is a deserving nominee for Male Leader of the year.

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Scott Coyne – Honorable Mention

University of Illinois

Scott Coyne is well known within the MCWSA for having unmatched passion for the sport. He has been an amazing role model for both our team and our region over the past 4 years, while making a great effort to grow the skiing community.
Over the past 4 seasons, Scott has served as Illinois’ Vice President, Equipment Manager, Treasurer, and is known by all University of Illinois skiers as our unofficial jump coach. Scott’s wealth of knowledge regarding 3 event skiing, particularly jump, has been the main factor in resurrecting the “Flying Illini”. Every member of our women’s and men’s jump team landed their first jump with Scott either in the boat or shouting instructions from the shoreline. His passion is contagious, and Illini Waterski likely would not exist had Scott not taken the reins from his older brother and helped keep the team alive during COVID.
In his role as Vice President this past season, Scott worked with PITS to plan another wildly successful Midwest Regionals, and to add valuable practice slots for our team to hone our skills. He also used his connections to S.K.I. on Lake Decatur to add a second site and host our first ever morning practices. Additionally, Scott played a vital role in bringing MCWSA Winter Conference back to Champaign, where all the Midwest teams will gather in February.
With a massive influx of new members this season, Scott served as a valuable role model, pushing team spirit and explaining the various aspects of collegiate skiing. There is simply no way that Illini Waterski would be where we are now without Scott’s 4 years of hard work and passion, especially in his senior season. For that reason, we believe that he is well deserving of recognition as the 2023 NCWSA Male Outstanding Leader of the Year.

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