Salt Lake City, UT - All eyes on the Salt Lake City campus of Westminster College will be focused on the 2010 Olympic Games as 14 of the school's students head to Vancouver to compete for the gold next month. From snowboarding to freestyle skiing, the college will be cheering on their student-athletes who have been named to the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team.


“We are absolutely thrilled to have 14 students named to this year’s team,” said Safia Keller, Westminster’s USSA-grant program liaison. “For a college that boasts just over 3,000 students, it’s quite an achievement to have so many phenomenal athletes here.”

One third of the 18-member 2010 U.S. Olympic Freestyle Ski Team is comprised of Westminster students. They include:
  • Lacy Schnoor (Aerials Women) – Westminster sophomore/marketing major; Hometown: Draper, Utah

  • Jana Lindsey (Aerials Women) – Westminster sophomore/communication major; Hometown: Blackhawk, S.D.

  • Heather McPhie (Moguls Women) – Westminster junior; Hometown: Park City, Utah

  • Ryan St. Onge (Aerials Men) – Westminster sophomore/business major; Hometown: Winter Park, Colo.

  • Dylan Ferguson (Aerials Men) – Westminster sophomore; Hometown: Amesbury, Mass.

  • Bryon Wilson (Moguls Men) – Westminster freshman/art major; Hometown: Butte, Mont.
Westminster students named to the 2010 U.S. Olympic Cross Country Team are:
  • Liz Stephen (Women) – Westminster freshman; Hometown: East Montepelier, Vt.

  • Torin Koos (Men) – Westminster Master of Professional Communication graduate; Hometown: Leavenworth, Wash.

  • Morgan Arritola (Women) – Westminster freshman; Hometown: Ketchum, Idaho
Westminster student named to the 2010 U.S. Olympic Snowboarding Team (Men):
  • Graham Watanabe – Westminster sophomore/business major; Hometown: Sun Valley, Idaho
Westminster student named to the 2010 U.S. Olympic Skeleton Team (Men):
  • Zach Lund – Westminster senior/aviation major; Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah
Westminster students named to the 2010 U.S. Olympic Alpine Ski Team (Women):
  • Megan McJames – Westminster freshman; Hometown: Park City, Utah

  • Kaylin Richardson – Westminster freshman; Hometown: Edina, Minn.

  • Leanne Smith – Westminster sophomore; Hometown: Conway, N.H.
Westminster has more than 35 U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding athletes who attend the college through the Westminster/USSA (U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association) grant program. Because Westminster believes in supporting athletes who want to pursue their athletic dreams as well as their academic endeavors, the program allows all A, B and C Team (USSA) athletes who qualify to attend the college tuition-free. Westminster’s U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association athletes study a variety of subjects at the college and have an average cumulative G.P.A of 3.65. These student-athletes must balance their rigorous training and competition schedules along with their academic courses.

“Because of the close proximity to the mountains and world-class training facilities, Westminster is really the ideal institution for these athletes to pursue their education,” explained Keller. “Our faculty and staff understand the dedication it takes to compete at their level and they work closely with these students to help them balance their tough schedules.”