Siskiyous impresses in first alpine competition in 5 years

By Reggie Stiteler
Published: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 2:47 PM CST
Mt Shasta News

“We're here now.”

That was the message the reincarnated College of the Siskiyous ski and snowboard team sent to the USCSA Northern California Conference in their first competition since 2003 at Squaw Valley the weekend of Jan. 11.

Jason Graves took first place in the men's freestyle skiing competition and teammate Ryan Cunha was runner-up.

Rebecca Geries raced to first place in the women's snowboarding giant slalom and Nina Akana finished second.

John Villani earned second in the men's snowboarding giant slalom and Levi White grabbed fourth in the men's freestyle snowboarding.

For the most recent results from this past weekend, see the text box on this page.

“On our first trip we didn't know what to expect,” said head coach Dennis Weathers. “But it went smoothly. We came together in a family-like atmosphere. They want to do well and take it seriously.”

The group is not only the Eagles' first ski racing team since 2003 but the first team in school history to compete in snowboard racing, boardercross and freestyle events.

“Villani, Geries and Graves are the anchors of our team,” said Weathers. “They have put in a lot of hours and competed in high school.”

Geries was the state snowboard racing champion for Mount Shasta High School in 2004 and runner up at states for the Bears in 2003, '05 and '06.

Graves raced for Weed High and qualified for states in each of his four years 2002-05 in ski racing. In 2005, Graves was the Division North 1 champion.

Villani was a snowboard racing standout at Etna High School who placed second in the state championships in 2007.

The trio now leads a COS team of about 20 members registered for varsity, of which 14 athletes hop in one of two vans for their weekly road trips.

“We have a broad range of athletes,” Weathers said. “Some are phenomenally talented, and the experienced have been helping those who are new.”

At Squaw Valley, some beginners left quite an impression on their coach.

“Five guys on freestyle have never done it before,” Weathers said. “They were pretty intimidated and fearful, but at the end of the day they made progress. I was amazed.”

Weathers said he had “about two weeks to put the program together” this past Fall, and the experience has kept him “busier than ever.”

In recruiting, Weathers distributed posters and mailed out letters to generate attention, resulting in double the interest he expected. Thirty students attended the program's initial meeting.

“Bringing the snowboarders in is more lucrative for the college, especially for us being a small school,” Weathers said. “We now appeal to a broad number of athletes.”

“We are fortunate College of the Siskiyous is doing this,” Weathers adds. “Not many schools do, because the sport is so specialized.”

The Eagles compete in the Northern California Conference of the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association against four year schools such as Stanford, UC Berkeley and UC Davis, along with smaller schools such as Southern Oregon.

The USCSA includes 175 colleges and universities and holds its national competition in Maine in early March.

“It is hard for a team to go (to nationals), but possible for individuals to make it,” said Weathers.

COS will compete through February, but no USCSA events are scheduled at Mt. Shasta Ski Park for 2008.

“We are still convincing other schools to come,” Weathers said.