March 31, 2008
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico ski team presented its annual post-season awards recently at its annual banquet held at the Albuquerque Convention Center. The team also spent the evening thanking team supporters and support staff for a successful season.
Head coach Fredrik Landstedt announced the 2008 team honorees, as well as recognizing this year’s all-conference team members, All-Americans, and National Ski Coaches Association All-Academic Team members.
The 2008 team Most Valuable Players were Karin Ohlin, Malin Hemmingsson, Tor Fodnesbergene, Polina Ermoshina, and Simon Reissmann.
Ohlin, a junior, and Hemmingsson, a sophomore, shared the women’s Alpine honor as Ohlin earned All-America honors in the slalom and Hemmingsson in the giant slalom. Hemmingsson was also presented with the Pat Abruzzo Scholarship, while freshman Thomas Schwab was honored with the Ben Abruzzo Scholarship.
Fodnesbergene, a junior, earned the men’s alpine honor with the sixth collegiate win of his career and his second-place regional finishes in the slalom and giant slalom. He is now tied with Lars Loseth and Stefan Lanziner for first on the UNM Alpine wins list.
Ermoshina, a sophomore, was the National Runner-up in the women’s 15K classical race and earned all-America honors in the 5K freestyle to be named the women’s Nordic MVP. Reissmann, a freshman, earned the men’s Nordic honor for his performances this season.
Tor-Hakon Hellebostad earned the Freshman Award for his All-America performance in the men’s 20K classical race after battling illness all season.
Junior Gary Beresford, an Alpine skier, was presented the Coaches Award for his commitment to the team, assisting the coaches and his teammates and playing a big part in the ski team’s success. Beresford also serves as the UNM Student-Athlete Advisory Committee president.
Other post-season honors presented at NCAA Regionals and National Championships:
2008 All-Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association
Alpine – Malin Hemmingsson, Karin Ohlin, Tor Fodnesbergene, Thomas Schwab
Nordic – Polina Ermoshina, Simon Reissmann
2008 NCAA All-America
Alpine – Karin Ohlin, Malin Hemmingsson, Thomas Schwab
Nordic – Polina Ermoshina, Tor-Hakon Hellebostad
2008 NSCA All-Academic Team
Alpine – Amy Beresford, Malin Hemmingsson, Karin Ohlin, Tor Fodnesbergene, Christoffer Norell, Olivier Lacaille
Nordic – Polina Ermoshina, Melanie Zemp, Casey Dyck, Tor-Hakon Hellebostad, Simon Reissmann