The GRP Ski team is pleased to announce several new additions for 2021, as well as its summer U23 training partners. Joining the GRPSki team are UVM skier Margie Freed and University of Alaska Anchorage skier Michaela Keller-Miller. Summer training partners will be a pair of familiar faces, Middlebury College's Alex Lawson and UVM's Evelina Sutro.

Margie Freed makes the short drive from Burlington to her new home in Craftsbury after graduating UVM with a degree in Business Analytics with minors in Applied Design and Sports Management. Winter 2020 saw the Catamount from Apple Vally, MN end her college career third in the EISA, capitalizing on a late season run of form and a gold and silver at EISA Championships in the 15k classic mass start and 5k skate at Middlebury to cement her status on the All-East First Team. Freed also scored a top 10 at the Covid-shortened NCAA championships this spring.

“I can’t imagine a better place than Craftsbury to begin skiing full-time," said Freed. "I’m looking forward to learning from Pepa, being challenged by and having fun with my new teammates, and finally seeing what summertime in Vermont is like!”

Michaela Keller-Miller wraps up a successful career at the University of Alaska Anchorage to join the Green Team on the east coast. 2019 was her high water mark as a Seawolf, qualifying for NCAA's in Stowe after a very consistent season - 11 of 12 top 25s in the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association. 2020's season-best results were a pair of top 20s as US Cross-country National Championships in Houghton, Michigan. Keller-Miller graduated with an Accounting Major, Economics Minor.

Keller-Miller writes: "I'm psyched to join the GRP this year and to train with such a driven, high-level group. I'm also excited to be based out of the Center with so many great outdoor opportunities right out the door."

Our 2020 Summer training partners are quite familiar with the Center.

Alex Lawson grew up skiing with Craftsbury's junior program, a relatively short commute from her Burke home. Alex had a great 2020 winter, tying for first in the EISA rankings with her Middlebury teammate Sophia Laukli, taking two carnival wins along the way to being named All-East First Team and ending 6th in the 2020 NCAA championships. She qualified for and competed in U23 Worlds in Germany this winter as well. Alex is studying Neuroscience/Computer Science at Middlebury College.

"I am looking forward to having the opportunity to train with a group of really talented and inspiring athletes, as well as getting to know them beyond purely as skiers," Lawson wrote in an email interview. "Despite being part of the junior program for several years, last year was the first year I really got the chance to meet the full Craftsbury community (skiers, rowers and staff), and I really enjoyed it. It is hard not to be stoked to return to such a close-knit, unique, and caring group…I am pretty excited about the new rollerski loop too!"

Lina Sutro has been part of the GRP's summer programming for several summers now. After a tough early start to the season, Sutro tied for second in EISA, with an end of season carnival win at Middlebury in the 5k skate and findshing 5th at NCAA's in Bozeman, MT. Lina is majoring in health science at UVM, and is especially psyched for the new rollerski loop at Craftsbury this summer.

Welcome to our quartet of new skiers!