Bobsled and Skeleton Athlete Award Winners Announced

Contact: Amanda Bird, USBSF Marketing & Communications Manager

(518) 523-1842, ext. 106, abird@usbsf.com

For Immediate Release

July 6, 2009

 

Bobsled and Skeleton Athlete Award Winners Announced

The U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation (USBSF) celebrated a successful 2008-09 season at a gala event during the national team camp in Colorado Springs, Colo. on Saturday, June 27^th.   Athletes were honored in twelve categories during an award ceremony to recognize their accomplishments from the season. 

Steven Holcomb (Park City, Utah) was awarded the Men's Bobsled Athlete of the Year.  Holcomb broke a 50-year medal drought after leading his four-man bobsled crew to the finish for the 2009 World Championship crown in Lake Placid, N.Y.   Holcomb also drove his two-man sled to a World Championship bronze medal finish, and helped the USA claim bronze in the World Championship team event.  Holcomb enters the 2010 Olympic season as a medal favorite after claiming the four-man silver medal on the challenging Whistler, British Columbia course.

"Winning the Men's Bobsled Athlete of the Year award was actually kind of a surprise," said Holcomb.  "There are so many great athletes on the national team who have done some great things this season, so I'm sure it wasn't easy to pick just one.  I'm truly honored the coaches and staff chose me, and it's a title to be worn proudly." 

The Women's Bobsled Athlete of the Year trophy was awarded to Michelle Rzepka (Novi, Mich.).  Rzepka teamed with driver Erin Pac to break three start records, and pushed her way into the top ten standings in seven of eight World Cup competitions over the last two years.  Rzepka and Pac set the standard on the 2010 Olympic track in Whistler by setting the start record before racing to the finish for the bronze medal.  Rzepka was not only honored as the athlete of the year, but she was also honored with the Women's Bobsled Athletes' Choice award by her teammates. 

"I was more than honored to have received both the Women's Bobsled Athlete of the Year and the Athletes' Choice award," said Rzepka.  "I would like to thank my coaches and teammates for supporting me.  I am confident that our success from last season will continue through the Olympic year."

Matt Antoine (Prairie du Chien, Wisc.) was honored with three awards during the gala event, including the Men's Skeleton Athlete of the Year, Men's Skeleton Athletes' Choice and the Skeleton Rookie of the Year award.  Antoine shocked the international field by claiming bronze on the daunting 2010 Olympic course in Whistler in his first-ever men's skeleton World Cup competition.  Antoine moved up to the World Cup circuit after winning gold in the Lake Placid Intercontinental Cup, and finished his rookie World Cup season ranked as USA I. 

"I was honored to win all three awards," said Antoine.  "It was a great way to cap off last season's accomplishments and something to carry me into this coming season."

Women's Skeleton Athlete of the Year was awarded to Keslie Tomlinson (Potomac Falls, Va.).  Tomlinson was selected to race in the Whistler World Cup just days prior to the competition, where she slid to an impressive 8^th place finish, proving she is a 2010 Olympic team contender.  Tomlinson had several personal bests during the year, including her first Intercontinental Cup medal, silver, in Calgary, Alberta, and two bronze medals during the America's Cup season. 

"What an unexpected honor," said Tomlinson.  "I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to join the World Cup team and make an impact this season.  There were a lot of people that supported me along the way including our coaches, the U.S. Olympic Committee, and my friends and family."

Curt Tomasevicz (Shelby, Neb.) received the highest number of votes from his teammates to win the Men's Bobsled Athletes' Choice award.  Tomasevicz continued to add to his sliding resume last season, pushing Holcomb to two gold, two silver and one bronze World Cup medal.  Tomasevicz was also a member of the 2009 four-man bobsled World Championship team and propelled Holcomb to the World Championship bronze medal in the two-man event. 

"I'm thrilled to receive the Athletes' Choice Award," said Tomasevicz.  "I'm just excited to be in the company of some of the greatest athletes in the world.  I love training and competing with the team, and to receive an award chosen by those teammates is a real honor."

The U.S. team selected Courtney Yamada-Anderson (Boise, Idaho) to receive the Women's Skeleton Athletes' Choice award.  Yamada-Anderson, who was recently married in June, finished the season ranked 16^th in World Cup standings and had her best result of the season, 8^th, in Igls, Austria. 

"It was truly an honor to receive this award," said Yamada-Anderson.  "Knowing I have the respect and support of the athletes and coaches after a very trying season and that the team believes in me is very powerful."

Cory Butner (Yucaipa, Calif.) was honored with the Men's Bobsled Rookie of the Year award.  Butner teamed with driver John Napier for the 2009 U.S. National Championship title, which qualified the duo for the second half of the World Cup tour.  Butner made his World Cup debut on the 2010 Olympic track, finishing tenth with Napier in the four-man competition.  The following week, Butner pushed Napier to his personal best World Cup finish, fifth, in Park City, Utah. 

"Receiving this award was an honor," said Butner.  "It was awesome making my World Cup debut on the 2010 Olympic track.  I was definitely nervous walking into the big show, but we had a great season.  I'm working hard this summer and look forward to improving even more next year."

The Women's  Bobsled Rookie of the Year award was given to Bree Schaaf (Bremerton, Wash.).  In her World Cup debut, Schaaf proved she's a force to be reckoned with by finishing sixth on the challenging 2010 Olympic course.  Schaaf followed up her Whistler performance with a fifth place finish in Park City the following week.  In addition to her World Cup performances, Schaaf added 2009 America's Cup Champion and 2009 U.S. National Champion to her growing list of bobsled accomplishments. 

"It was truly an honor to be recognized for what could be considered a breakout season this year," said Schaaf.  "But the term 'breakout' does not do justice to the amount of work that was put into getting to that point.  The season started off slow, but thanks to my brakemen Emily Azevedo and Ingrid Marcum for sticking by me, things really took off after winning national championships.  I was also fortunate enough to spend a lot of time with coach Janis Skrastins, known by our team as the 'yoda' of bobsled, who I learned so much from this season.  Our whole team had a fantastic season last year, which will provide great momentum going into this Olympic year."

The Team of the Year was awarded to the "Night Train" four-man bobsled crew.  Driven by Holcomb and pushed by Tomasevicz, Steve Mesler (Buffalo, N.Y.), Justin Olsen (San Antonio, Texas), the "Night Train" made history by claiming the 2009 World Championship crown. 

 "I love the chemistry and the dynamic of this team," said Tomasevicz.  "Each one of the four of us brings a unique personality to the team as well as physical characteristics necessary for a successful team." 

 In addition to the World Championship medals, the team won five World Cup medals during the season, including double gold in Park City, silver in Whistler, silver in Igls and bronze in Winterberg, Germany. 

 "Winning the 2009 World Championships was easily the highlight of the year for me and my team," said Holcomb.  "It was an interesting season leading up to the World Championships, especially when I didn't return to the World Cup in the beginning of January so that I could train in Lake Placid.  After a few races to get back on our feet, we rolled through Park City with a double gold in four-man followed by a World Championship bronze in two-man and the World Championship title in four-man.  Coming away with Team of the Year award was the cherry on top of the whipped cream on top of the icing on the cake."

The U.S. bobsled and skeleton team will reunite again for team selection races in Lake Placid, N.Y. the first week of October.  The 2010 Olympic team will be announced on January 20^th. 

For additional information, please contact Amanda Bird, USBSF Marketing & Communications Manager, at (518) 523-1842, ext. 106, or abird@usbsf.com. 

About the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation

The United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation, based in Lake Placid, N.Y., is the national governing body for the sports of bobsled and skeleton in the United States. The USBSF would like to thank its sponsors, suppliers and contributors for their support: Allianz Life, Under Armour, Vilter Manufacturing, KBC Helmets, and Luminox Watch Company. The USBSF would also like to thank the following sponsors and suppliers for their partner, the Bo-Dyn Bobsled Project:  Whelen Engineering, PPG, Columbia Sportswear, JEGS Automotive, Lucas Oil, Mac Tools and Racing Electronics.  For more information, please visit the USBSF website at http://bobsled.teamusa.org/.

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