Sterling Grant, a junior at Crested Butte Academy, was named to the U.S. Ski Team on Thursday.
Grant, 17, is the No. 1-ranked 17-and-under slalom skier in the United States and Canada, according to the International Ski Federation point system.
She earned a spot on the D team, but one observer sees that as just a starting point.
“She is right on the verge of making this a full-time job,” said Warren Witherell, Head of School at Crested Butte Academy, who has coached 12 athletes who have won a combined 20 world championships.
“There is only one kid in every birth year that gets to make the A team. With my experience I can spot the kid who has a chance, and Sterling is one of the few that I think can do it.”
Grant, who lives in Amery, Wis., is the first student at Crested Butte Academy to be named to the U.S. team. She will return to the college preparatory boarding and day school for her senior season, and Witherell says being named to the national team won’t alter her attitude.
“This is not a big deal to Sterling. Her deal is a gold medal,” he said.
Mustari top wrestler
Three-time state wrestling champion Tony Mustari of Greeley Central High School is the Colorado recipient of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award.
Mustari compiled a 161-11 record while winning state titles at 112 pounds (twice) and 119, and recently won the freestyle and Greco-Roman titles at 119 at the Junior Western Regionals in Las Vegas.
Schulz named coach
Colorado Rush president Tim Schulz has a new job: U.S. under-20 women’s national team coach, U.S. Soccer announced.
Schulz is charged with taking over a team that moves from the U-19 to U-20 level as FIFA shifts its only world championship for youth women up a year.
