Canybody unseat the University of
Vermont? That seems to be the question heading into the 2014 EISA
carnival season. UVM, three-time defending EISA Champion, is coming
off an undefeated EISA carnival season in 2013. Vermont looks to
continue their EISA dominance as NCAA All-Americans Kate Ryley and Kristina
Riis-Johannessen return for the UVM women, and Jonathan Nordbotten returns for
the men. Riis-Johannesen finished third and second at the National
Championships hosted at Middlebury College in the GS and slalom respectively,
while Ryley finished fifth and sixth. On the men’s side, Nordbotten
took first place in the giant slalom and finished fourth in the slalom at the
NCAA National Championships.
The most likely candidate to end Vermont’s EISA reign, would
no doubt be Dartmouth. Dartmouth placed
second in every carnival last season, and were the only team to truly challenge
UVM. Sophomores Lizzie Kistler and Sara
Kikut look to produce for Dartmouth after strong rookie years. Kistler, a NCAA All-American in slalom, was
honored as the EISA Rookie of the Year. Dartmouth’s women have the ability to
contend with Vermont, however for Dartmouth to have success, there will also need
to be top-level production from the men.
Middlebury and New Hampshire also have the potential to threaten
UVM’s dynasty. UNH returns seniors Sam
Coffey and Coley Oliver who both placed well at the NCAA National Championships
last March. Having lost David Donaldson
and Andrew McNealus after last season, Middlebury has a lot of ground to make up.
The remaining teams competing will be showcasing some
familiar faces and some new ones as well.
Colby returns senior Jim Ryan as well as junior Craig Marshall. Williams College has to try to find a way to
recover after the graduation of several seniors. St Lawrence University will likely rely on junior
Graham Scott, who placed eleventh in the giant slalom at the NCAA National
Championships. Bates College puts
forward a very young team with five freshmen.
The season is not a foregone conclusion, but has a definite
favorite. Whether this season becomes
another building year for some of the teams or a surprise breakout, remains to
be seen. It will be exciting whether UVM
keeps its crown or is unseated for the first time in several years.