New England College Adds Nordic Skiing to Its Athletics Offerings

Pilgrims will begin Eastern Collegiate Ski Conference Nordic skiing competition in the 2024–2025 academic year.

The New England College (NEC) Athletics department announced today that the College is adding Nordic skiing to its varsity athletic offerings. Competition will begin in the 2024–2025 academic year.

“We felt it was a natural fit to add Nordic skiing since we already function in the Alpine skiing realm,” said Dave DeCew, Director of Athletics at NEC. “Thanks to the great partnerships we have with Dublin School and Pats Peak, we have tremendous facilities nearby to help support this initiative. We see a great opportunity for this program to thrive. Our student-athletes will receive all they need to develop and succeed, and we will embrace the program within our overarching departmental philosophy of holistic student-athlete development.”

Steve Kraytenberg, NEC’s current head coach of men’s and women’s Cross Country, will have a key role in the program’s implementation. He will take on the role of Director of Endurance Sports and will serve as the lead recruiter and manager of on-campus operations for the Nordic program. Kathy Maddock will serve as the team’s inaugural head coach, bringing a wealth of experience to the program.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to work with collegiate student-athletes and help them realize their potential by guiding them through their training and competitive seasons,” Maddock said. “I think it’s important for high school skiers to have an opportunity to continue their racing careers after they graduate. Most skiers haven’t come close to realizing their potential in high school, and NEC’s program will enable them to keep getting stronger and faster.”

Maddock is the co-founder and current head coach of Dublin XC. Prior to this, she coached at Souhegan High School for many years, leading her team to a state championship and several state runner-up titles. During her own racing career, she earned many medals at Junior National competitions and went on to ski for Dartmouth College where she was captain her senior year and represented her team at several NCAA competitions. She spent the winter of her junior year racing as a member of the United States Ski Team and competed on the World Cup circuit in Europe and Scandinavia.

For continuing coverage of New England College Athletics, visit athletics.nec.edu and follow the Pilgrims on X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

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