Dec. 15, 2005
The University of New Mexico Ski Team was picked to finish third in the preseason top-10 published in the December 13th edition of Ski Racing Magazine. The Lobos are coming off a fourth place finish at the 2005 NCAA Championships and return six All-Americans for the 2006 season. The collegiate season begins on Jan. 7, 2006, in Park City, Utah, with the Alaska-Anchorage meet.
The Lobos are one of four Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association teams in the top-5 with defending champion Denver grabbing the No. 1 slot. Colorado (2nd), Vermont (4th) and Utah (5th) round out the upper half of the rankings. The bottom five teams include Alaska-Anchorage, Middlebury College, Northern Michigan, Nevada and Dartmouth.
Three of the 2005 Lobo All-Americans return this season, including senior Gladys Weidt and juniors Lars Loeseth and Dirk Grimm. Also returning are 2004 All-American seniors Geir-Endre Rogn and Kathrin Spendier and junior Peter Roering.
Head coach George Brooks begins his 36th year leading the Lobos, continuing the longest tenure of any member of the New Mexico athletic department. He won the school’s only NCAA Championship in any sport in 2004.
Ski Racing Magazine Preseason Top-10
1. Denver
2. Colorado
3. New Mexico
4. Vermont
5. Utah
6. Alaska-Anchorage
7. Middlebury
8. Northern Michigan
9. Nevada
10. Dartmouth