Lake Placid, N.Y. - Three current Colby skiers, one Women's Ice Hockey player, and one recent alum will compete for the USA at the FISU World University Games in Lake Placid. The events are set to begin later this week and last through next week (January 12-22). Held every two years, and rotating from nation to nation, this marks the first time since 1972 that the event will be help on US soil.
2022 graduate
Erin Bianco (headline photo) will compete in the cross country events. Currently competing on the professional circuit for Team Birkie out of Minneapolis, Bianco found recent success at US Nationals a week ago, posting results in classic, freestyle, and sprint events, culminated with a 5th place finish in the freestyle sprint. As a Mule, Bianco was an NCAA Championship qualifier, an All-East selection, and raced to multiple finishes in EISA Carnival competition.
A trio of current Mules will represent Colby's Alpine team on the slopes of Whiteface.
Charlotte Maurer and 2022 NCAA Championship qualifier
Ella Spear will compete in the Giant Slalom on January 17th. First-year
Carissa Cassidy will compete in the Team Parallel and Slalom events, held on January 19 and 20 respectively.
Molly Mueller (GS) and
Kendahl Roufa (SL) have been selected as alternates.
"Collegiate skiing in the US has proven to be a breeding ground for a handful of top international skiers over the last ten years," said Head Alpine Coach
Eric Harlow. "The World University Games offers the opportunity for Colby athletes to compete against top skiers from other nations and benchmark themselves against athletes who have had success at the continental cup level. It's a highly selective event, with only eight women and eight men representing the US in each discipline, and we are proud to see so many Colby athletes participating."
Klara Jandusikova of the Women's Ice Hockey team will compete for Team Czechia. "Klara has worked hard to have this opportunity," said Colby Head Coach
Holley Tyng. "As a program we couldn't be more excited to cheer her on from afar. Her involvement at the u18 level along with her play on a day-to-day basis at Colby have allowed her to remain on their National Team's radar."
The Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games will both kick-off and conclude in the Olympic Center's Herb Brooks Arena, home to the "Miracle on Ice" with the opening ceremony taking place on Jan. 12 at 7 p.m.
More information about the
FISU World University Games can be found here.
