Athletics & Recreation / News

DU skiers speed their way to gold and silver at World University Games

Jennie VanWagner

Jennie VanWagner, a sophomore alpine skier for the Pioneers, won gold in the women's giant slalom event at the World University Games in Erzurum, Turkey.

Six DU skiers competed in the alpine skiing competitions at the 25th annual winter World University Games held in Erzurum, Turkey, Jan. 29–Feb. 6.

Jennie VanWagner, a sophomore from Traverse City, Mich., won gold in the women’s giant slalom event on Feb. 3 with a time of 1:53.26. In addition to her first-place victory, VanWagner finished 11th in the women’s super combined and 15th in the women’s Super G events.

Sterling Grant, a freshman from Amery, Wisc., also earned a gold medal when she finished first in the women’s slalom event on Feb. 5 with a time of 1:44.28. Grant also competed in the women’s giant slalom, finishing in 28th place.

Seppi Stiegler, a junior from Wilson, Wyo., brought home gold and silver medals. He finished first in the men’s slalom event on Feb. 6 with a time of 1:45.71, and placed second in the overall men’s alpine skiing competition. Stiegler also finished sixth in the men’s giant slalom, 11th in the men’s super combined and 32nd in the men’s Super G competitions.          

Other DU student competitors included sophomore Grant Jampolsky of Squaw Valley, Calif., who finished fourth in the men’s super combined; junior Lindsay Cone of Killington, Vt., and junior Ida Dillingoen of Oslo, Norway, who represented her native country.

DU’s Adam Avrin from Park City, Utah, was scheduled to compete but suffered a season-ending injury prior to the event.

The winter World University Games is an international sporting event for university student athletes. Second in importance to the Olympics, the event is held every two years. There were 11 winter sports represented at the 2011 games and participants hailed from 52 countries.

The DU ski team will participate in the RMISA giant slalom qualifier in Winter Park, Colo., on Feb. 10. The Pioneers also will host the Denver Invitational Feb. 11–13. The giant slalom and slalom events will be at Winter Park on Feb. 11 and 12. Classical and freestyle events will be hosted at Aspen, Colo., on Feb. 12 and 13, respectively.

For more information about World University Games, visit www.universiadeerzurum.org.




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