(Editor's note: Montana State Athletics Press Release)
BOZEMAN -- Montana State sophomore Tegan Wold has been named the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association Slalom Most Valuable Performer. Wold, a product of Vail, Colo., captured the RMISA slalom title Feb. 19 at Park City Resort in Utah.
In ten races this winter- five slalom and five giant slalom- Wold recorded seven top 10 finishes, five top 5 finishes and reached the podium on four occasions.
“Tegan is a very confident skier and is quick, super consistent, and strong fundamentally,” said MSU alpine head coach Kevin Francis. “The day after last year’s NCAAs, she made the commitment to get better. She skied a lot over the summer, including on the Beartooth, and really focused on this season.”
The MVP awards are given to the skiers who accumulate the most NCAA Qualification points in each discipline during the regular season.
“To me, it’s the most important award out there,” Francis stated. “It goes to the person who contributes the most to the team.”
Wold edged out Westminster’s Julia Toiviainen 134-133. Entering the last slalom series at Snowbird, Wold trailed Toiviainen 77-66, but two podium appearances and fifth and sixth place showing by Toiviainen gave the slalom honor to Wold.
“Tegan is quietly competitive,” Francis added. “It’s awesome to see the strides she has made the last year and to have it all coming together at this time of year is fantastic.”
Toiviainen won the giant slalom MVP award with 154 points. MSU’s Nellie Talbot placed fourth in the giant slalom standings with 113 points.
Both Wold and Talbot will compete in their second NCAA Skiing Championships, March 10-13 in New Hampshire.
