Farmington, Maine - UMaine-Farmington is proud to recognize the seniors on the men's and women's snowsport teams. Men's alpine recognizes Charlie De Haas and Ben Higgins with women's alpine recognizing Valery Gills, Jenny Hancock, Mackenzie MacDonald, and Brianna Marquis. Men's snowboard / Freeride is recognizing Avery Boucher and Sam Scheff while nordic's seniors are Jason Labbe and Isaiah Reid. The seniors have answered a few questions below.
1.) What is your favorite movie?
2.) Who is your favorite athlete?
3.) What is your favorite UMF basketball memory?
4.) Why UMF?
5.) What is your favorite UMF memory?
6.) What is your advice to returning players?
ALPINE SENIORS
Valery Gillis Answers
1.) Tomorrow When the War Began
2.) Mikaela Shiffrin
3.) Traveling to Whaleback in New Hampshire for the final competitions of the season with the freestyle and snowboarding teams.
4.) There are lots of great opportunities here and there is a great community.
5.) Spring days when it is warm and sunny, sitting out in front of the library doing homework with friends.
6.) Do what you love, don't get caught up in what the standard path is. But also listen to your advisors.
1.) Aquamarine
2.) Julia Mancuso
3.) I have so many amazing memories with UMF snowsports it is hard to choose just one. Some of my highlights would be Regionals in NY my freshman year with the men's team, my sophomore year podiuming in panel slalom alongside one of my best friends and then men's and women's team won the overall Ricker cup, Nationals Trip being a student assistant coach, and overall just being a family on and off-hill.
4.) From the first day stepping onto the campus when I went for a tour being a senior in high school, you could tell that it was a place that felt like family. Everyone that I have associated with over my college career from my coaches, my advisors, professors, etc they care about your well-being and want to see you succeed. Other than this the individuals that I have met and now have become so close to as friends are just another addition to my family.
5.) Another really difficult one to answer, because I have so many incredible memories. Highlights would be may term canoe class week, hiking the Bigelows, and white water rafting in the Forks! I am going to leave it as going outside on adventures with rad friends.
6.) Find and look at things with a different perspective or lens and that will allow you to have a better understanding of yourself and your teammates. Peeling off the layer and being vulnerable even when it's difficult to, can make not only yourself stronger, but the team stronger too. Never give up and when you feel like you need to, your teammates will always help you and have your back.
1.) Miracle on Ice
2.) Tiger Woods
3.) Nationals 2020
4.) Affordable, ability to play multiple sports
5.) Reggae Fest
6.) You get out what you put in!
SNOWBOARD / FREERIDE
Avery Boucher Answers
1.) The Sandlot
2.) Vincent Gagnier
3.) My favorite UMF Snowsports memory would have to be a freezing cold morning where a group of us spontaneously had decided the night before to skin up Saddleback (as the mountain was still closed) for sunrise. It was negative 14 degrees at the base and by the time we reached the snowfield up top the wind was so strong and it was so cold we had to turn back. Everything that could freeze was frozen, but nothing beats skiing with a great group of people.
4.) I picked UMF because of its unbeatable location in regards to skiing, mountain biking, and fishing.
5.) My favorite UMF memory would be of all the great friends I have met here and the memories I have been able to share with them.
6.) For returning athletes I would just say rip it up and just have a good time!
Sam Scheff Answers
1.) My favorite movie is Level 1's Partly Cloudy.
2.) My favorite athlete is David Garrett.
3.) UMF snowsports memory is all the times that I got to ride with my friends.
4.) I came to UMF because of all the outdoor opportunities, their great outdoor recreation program, and the college campus experience.
5.) My advice to returning players is to relax and enjoy every opportunity that UMF and the surrounding community have to offer.
6.) The nationals trip out to Jackson Hole.
