Paralympic Team Named

Fri, Mar  5, 2010 - By US Ski Team

VANCOUVER, BC  (Mar. 3) - Paralympic gold medalists Allison Jones (Colorado Springs, CO), Chris Devlin-Young (Campton, NH) and Stephani Victor (Park City, UT) highlight a group of 30 athletes announced by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) that will make up the U.S. Team set to compete at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, BC, March 12-21, 2010, with skiing events taking place in Whistler.

"We are looking for our experienced Paralympians to lead the team to victory," U.S. Adaptive Program Director Sandy Metzger said.

The U.S. Paralympic Team for alpine will begin competing March 13 with men's and women's downhill where, according to U.S. Adaptive Alpine Head Coach Ray Watkins, the team's experience will come into play.

"We have a team with a lot of experience, they all know the drill, now it is their time to go out and execute the skills they have perfected over the years," Watkins said.

The cross country action starts March 14 with men's 15K and women's 10K in the sitting discipline. U.S. Adaptive Cross Country Coach Greg Rawlings said the team is as prepared as they can be.

"After a solid World Cup season the adaptive cross country team is doing the final preparation leading up to the Paralympic Games. With fourth overall in both cross country and biathlon with different athletes, we have our eye on the podium in Vancouver," Rawlings said.

Rawlings also has a few specific athletes in sight to do well at the Games.

"We look for Chris Klebl to wheel onto the podium in one or both of the distance events. Andy Soule may visit the podium in either of the biathlon races or the sprint race. Sean Halsted may visit the podium in the sprint race as well," Rawlings said.

The 2010 Paralympic Games begin in Vancouver on March 12 with Opening Ceremonies, and conclude March 21.

2010 U.S. Paralympic Alpine Ski Team (* denotes previous Paralympians)
Men - Sitting
Carl Burnett (Cape Elizabeth, ME)*
Heath Calhoun (Aspen, CO)
Nick Catanzarite (Winter Park, CO)*
Chris Devlin-Young (Campton, NH)*
Gerald Hayden (Winter Park, CO)*
Joe Tompkins (Juneau, AK)*
Tyler Walker (Franconia, NH)*

Men - Standing
Ralph Green (Vail, CO)*
Ian Jansing (Winter Park, CO)
Monte Meier (Park City, UT)*
George Sansonetis (Leadville, CO)*
Brad Washburn (Highlands Ranch, CO)*
John Whitney (Towson, MD)*

Men's Visually Impaired
Mark Bathum (Seattle)

Women - Sitting
Ricci Kilgore (Reno, NV)
Luba Lowery (Denver)
Alana Nichols (Farmington, NM)
Laurie Stephens (Wenham, MA)*
Elitsa Storey (Sun Valley, ID)*
Stephani Victor (Park City, UT)*

Women - Standing
Allison Jones (Colorado Springs, CO)*
Hannah Pennington (Winter Park, CO)*

Women - Visually Impaired
Caitlin Sarubbi (Brooklyn, NY)
Danelle Umstead (Taos, NM)

GUIDES
Slater Storey (Sun Valley, ID) – guide for Mark Bathum
Rob Umstead (Taos, NM) – guide for wife, Danelle Umstead
Gwynn Watkins (Mt. Shasta, CA) – guide for Caitlin Sarubbi

2010 U.S. Paralympic Cross Country Ski Team
Men
Sean Halsted (Spokane, WA)
Chris Klebl (Heber City, UT)*
Greg Mallory (Portland, OR)*
Andy Soule (Pearland, TX)

Women
Monica Bascio (Evergreen, CO)*
Kelly Underkofler (St. Paul, MN)*

U.S. MILITARY VETERANS
Heath Calhoun (Grundy, VA), alpine skiing – retired U.S. Army (Iraq War Veteran)
Chris Devlin-Young (Campton, N.H.), alpine skiing – retired U.S. Coast Guard
Sean Halsted (Spokane, Wash.), cross country skiing – retired U.S. Air Force
Andy Soule (Pearland, Texas), cross country skiing and biathlon – retired U.S. Army (Veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom)