Posted: 4/27/05
Wright signs letter of intent to UNH
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Joe Drennan
Sports Editor
Sarah Wright had a memorable senior nordic ski season. Along with her teammates on the Forest Lake High School girls nordic ski team Wright won a Suburban East Conference title, section title and finished third at the state meet. Now Wright is headed to Division I University of New Hampshire to major in social work and get a masters degree in education.
The decision to go to UNH certainly was not an easy one for Wright or her parents Kathy and John. Wright was originally leaning towards Gustavus Aldophus College in St. Peter, but once she visited the UNH campus with her mom and teammate Ben Fick she started to think about leaving the state.
ìWe went out to UNH over spring break and I was the one who really wanted her to go to Gustavus,î Kathy Wright said. ìBut this was the first campus we were on that I felt like she belonged there.î
Of course having Wright all the way out in New Hampshire isnít going to be easy on her parents on race day.
ìNot seeing the races is going to be the hardest part,î John Wright said. ìBetween the two of us I donít think weíve missed a race since Sarah was in seventh grade.î
Sarah may be moving on to a new team next year, but her parents will still be around the Rangers program.
ìWeíve been around those kids so long we treat them like theyíre our own,î John Wright said.
One of the aspects of UNH that Wright and her mom liked was coach Cory Schwartz. Schwartz puts the UNH skiers through a rigorous training program but understands the importance of family and makes sure they can make it home over school breaks and holidays.
ìI couldnít be more pleased with the program Sarah chose,î FLHS nordic ski coach Deno Johnson said. ìUNH has a fantastic coach in Cory whoís been there over 20 years. We went through extensive talks with people who have worked with Corey and heís recruited a lot of kids from Minnesota. Heís definitely got a family oriented philosophy and is interested in the all around development of the athlete as a person.î
While Johnson puts his athletes through a tough summer of roller skiing, the proximity of UNH to the coast of the Atlantic Ocean allows Schwartz to have its skiers ski on the sandy beaches.
Wright says she likes UNH and all it has to offer, but if she doesnít like things after a year she can always return to Minnesota and go to Gustavus.
ìI can always come back, whereas if I stay here I couldnít go there the following year,î Wright said. ìI donít want to pass up the opportunity.î
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