For those of you who follow collegiate skiing you will not be surprised to hear that the University of Vermont’s Patrick Weaver is the 2019 NENSA Coach of the Year. The ever humble Weaver had to get used to winning this winter — to be exact his skiers won 15 of 20 individual EISA races, and topped the team scores of 16 of the 24 EISA cross country team events including winning both of the season’s relays. The Catamounts continued to mount a hardy fight at NCAA’s, finishing third in Nordic competition, en route to a overall second place team finish at the 2019 Championships – and oh yeah, they hosted the event too. UVM skiers received many end-of-season accolades, including Lina Sutro being named EISA Skate Skier of the Year and Bill Harmeyer earning the title of both the Classic and Skate Skier of the Year. Freshman standout and EISA Rookie of the Year, Ben Ogden, was also a member of the historic 2019 FIS Junior World Ski Championship gold medal relay team. All of this success under Weaver’s leadership equated to earning the honors of both EISA and NCAA Coach of the Year for 2019.
“Weave was one of the best coaches I’ve ever worked with and I feel privileged to have been able to ski for him. I feel like in my four years at UVM I really developed from a junior skier into a competitive athlete, in a way that I’m not sure I would have found anywhere else and I owe that to him. Weave’s calm, yet passionate form of coaching taught me a lot about training, balancing life, and how to remain calm in stressful racing situations! It was an honor to ski for Patrick and something that I will always value and remember.”
Alayna Sonnesyn – UVM 2018
For nine years, the two-time Olympian and two-time National Champion, has led his Catamount squad with a soft-spoken confidence. The Lenox, Massachusetts native and alumnus of the University of New Hampshire has a deep love for the mountains and ski trails of New England. Weaver’s experience as a competitive athlete and his approachable demeanor attract top athletes from the east and throughout the world. The 2019 UVM cross country squad consisted of seven Vermonters along with skiers from New York, Minnesota, Colorado, California, Russia, Germany and Norway.
Patrick brought to his coaching the same focus, expectations and work ethic that he had as a student athlete while at the University of New Hampshire. As a coach, he changed the University of Vermont’s team atmosphere to a positive, energetic and goal-oriented team that represents both the state and UVM at the highest level. The team’s results and consistency Weave’s team had this past winter was impressive.
Cory Schwartz, Head Coach UNH Skiing, Weaver’s College Coach
NENSA and US Skiing are so lucky to have coaches like Patrick Weaver involved in our programming. In the past years Weaver has been involved in NENSA coaches clinics, regional camps, helped organize Eastern Cup races, and just this past year took home the first Marty Hall College Cup as the top club in the 2018 NENSA BagBalm Rollerski Series. We look forward to watching the bright future of the UVM Catamounts under the watchful eye of Patrick Weaver. Congratulations – GO Cats GO!!
“I had an incredible first year with Weave. This year was my first year in the program, first year in college, first year away from the parents and everything else, but thanks to Weave’s incredible experience with these things and his quiet yet insightful coaching style, the transition happened relatively smoothly and easily. He is a pro at knowing when to be light and fun and when it’s time to crack down, something that is invaluable in a coach especially in a sport like skiing.”
Benjamin Ogden – UVM 2022, 2019 EISA Rookie of the Year, Junior World Champion