McLoon will continue her duties as women’s captain, while sophomore Ross Feller remains the men’s Nordic captain.

Up on the hill, the alpine squad benefited from the experience of veterans in captain Ryan Myers, junior Matt Perone and senior Bryan Bellmare.

In the final race of the season at the Middlebury Carnival, their combined efforts helped provide the alpine team with its highest score in four years, despite the fact that the Crimson was three skiers shy of the maximum contingent of 10.

“We skied as a tighter team this season,” Myers said.

Instead of determining who would make the team by observing the skiers on the slopes, as had been done in previous seasons, alpine coach Lisa Smyth made cuts early in the year. Doing so ensured a close-knit group of athletes, many of whom possessed previous racing experience.

“It put us all at similar levels of training,” Myers said.

He added that the opportunity for some team members to attend the first race of the season, which usually occurs during finals, was a definite factor in helping to prepare for the rest of the schedule.

Myers will hand over the captaincy to Perone.

Three members of the women’s team improved drastically as the season progressed, particularly freshman Susannah Dickerson, who could anchor the team for the next three years.

Myers said that three experienced incoming freshmen have already committed to the program, and current athletes who are looking to switch sports have also demonstrated interest. With sophomore Molly Simmons assuming the captain’s role, the women’s ski team—as well as the men’s—has the potential for significant progress in the next few years.

—Staff writer Lisa J. Kennelly can be reached at kennell@fas.harvard.edu.

SKIING

Record 11th/15 at EISA Championships, 19th/22 at NCAA Championships

Coaches Lisa Smyth (alpine), Peter Graves (Nordic)

Captains Ryan Myers (Alpine), Anna McLoon and Ross Feller (Nordic)

Highlights Junior Nordic captain Anna McLoon wins the 10K Classic at the UVM Winter Carnival. McLoon qualifies for her third consecutive NCAA Championships.