Members of the Middlebury nordic ski teams took home several honors when the EISA announced its post-season awards. First-year racer Sophia Laukli (Yarmouth, Maine) took home the Bib Leader crown in both the classic and freestyle events, was named the EISA Rookie of the Year and earned First-Team All-East honors. Joining her on the All-East First-Team were juniors Alexandra Lawson (West Burke, Vt.) and Peter Wolter (Hailey, Idaho), while senior Annika Landis (Hailey, Idaho) earned second-team honors.
Laukli had a stellar rookie campaign for the Panthers, holding down the top spot in the east in both the freestyle and classical event lists. She won five races this winter, including four-straight victories over three carnivals. Laukli placed first in the 5K freestyle races at Vermont and Colby, while capturing the 10K classic at Colby and the 15K classic at Bates. She was also a part of Middlebury's winning 3x5 relay team at Williams. Laukli placed in the top five in every individual event she raced in this winter.
Lawson was right behind Laukli in the freestyle rankings at #2, while holding down the fifth spot in classical. She earned wins in 5K freestyle events at Harvard and Bates, while also being a part of the winning 3x5 relay team at Williams. Lawson earned top-five finishes in 9 of 10 races this winter. She and Laukli both missed the final carnival of the season while competing at the World Junior/U23 Championships in Germany.
Wolter moves up a spot to the first-team after earning Second-Team All-East honors a year ago. The 2018 Rookie of the Year had a solid campaign, earning his first-career win in the 15K classic at the Middlebury Carnival. He placed in the top-10 in all 12 races this season, while finishing in the top-five nine times. He also recorded four second-place finishes this winter. Wolter is ranked second in the classical and fourth in the freestyle event.
Landis is now a two-time All-East selection after earning a spot on the first-team a year ago. She ended the eastern circuit ranked seventh in the freestyle and ninth in the classical event. Landis placed a season-best fourth on four different occasions this season, including both the 5K freestyle and 15K classic at the Middlebury Carnival. She was a part of the winning 3x5 relay team at Williams and has placed in the top-eight in all 10 events she competed in this winter.
