Nine current Olympians have ties to Colorado Mountain College
By Suzie Romig
Although U.S. snowboarding team member Zack Black may travel across the world to compete, that doesn’t mean the 19-year-old missed out on starting college.
Last fall, Black was signed up for distance learning classes through Colorado Mountain College’s Breckenridge site, with plans to start his studies while he trained in New Zealand. His Internet connection was not as reliable as he had hoped, so he called Summit Campus college counselor Jean Kramlich for help.
The counselor switched the snowboarder to eight-week abbreviated distance learning classes, and when Black came back to the States, he was able to complete courses in English Composition, Early Civilization, World Geography and Logic.
“It really did help to not have to worry about school,” said Black. “It was really convenient.”
Black is one of a number of competitive athletes across the college’s mountainous district who study at Colorado Mountain College and juggle their schedules to be able to train intensively and take classes at the same time. Black plans to continue toward his associate degree at the college, but he took the spring semester off in his quest to make the Olympic team. As a member of the 2010 U.S. Snowboarding Freestyle Rookie Roster, he just missed qualifying for the halfpipe event in Vancouver.
Black’s older brother, Jake Black, is another competitive snowboarder attending Colorado Mountain College. In fact, three Black brothers, including Zack’s twin, Hunter, deferred their acceptance to the University of Colorado to begin their college career in Summit County while still training.
“The biggest thing is the class schedules are really convenient because the classes start in the afternoon, so you can concentrate on training in the morning,” said Jake, 21, a semiprofessional competitor with multiple sponsors who attends Colorado Mountain College each summer and fall.
“The teachers are usually really flexible; they are there to work with you,” he said. “It’s a lot more personal with the teachers (than at larger colleges), so it’s not as difficult to catch up on things if you do miss classes. It’s easy to stay in touch with teachers through e-mail and Blackboard (educational software) if you are on the road.”
At least nine current Olympians, competing in Vancouver for the U.S. or Canada, have attended classes or graduated with a degree or a certificate from Colorado Mountain College: Gretchen Bleiler, Chris Del Bosco, Bill Demong, Taylor Fletcher, Simi Hamilton, Chris Klug, Johnny Spillane, Katie Uhlaender and Jake Zamansky.
Elite athletes study, train
CMC counselor Kramlich, who has worked at the college for five years, has helped at least one current Olympian with a flexible college experience through distance learning courses.
“These athletes are an absolute pleasure to work with because they take the focus, dedication and commitment to their sport, and then transfer those characteristics into their learning experience,” Kramlich said. “To have a college that is so accessible to their coaching and training is a good fit for these high-level athletes. They are so appreciative of the higher-education experience that Colorado Mountain College has been able to provide for them while they are pursuing their dreams.”
Professor George Bagwell, who teaches psychology and anthropology at the campus in Steamboat Springs and via distance learning, has taught several current Olympians.
“Elite winter athletes often have schedules that don’t fit well with typical academic semesters,” Bagwell said, noting that these students interact with him from throughout the U.S. and Europe. “Distance learning helps them get on with their education in spite of their unusual schedules and the pressures of international competition.”
Colorado Mountain College student Courtney Cox, who competes on both the amateur and professional level in snowboarding, is simultaneously working on her associate degree and her athletic career. She moved to Breckenridge from Illinois to try to turn pro and study to become a teacher or work in the hospitality industry.
“I’m able to ride during the day, which is not what a lot of schools are capable of supporting,” said Cox, who works in advance with her instructors for flexibility in turning in assignments when she travels to compete. “All the teachers are great, and they all know what our passion is and why we are out here.”