WASHINGTON, D.C. President George W. Bush welcomed the 2008 NCAA Champion University of Denver ski team at the White House on Tuesday, as part of Champions Day with 19 other NCAA Division I national championship teams from the 2007-08 season.

 

“It is an honor to be here with so many fine student-athletes, now known as national champs,” President Bush said. “I appreciate the fact that you showed incredible discipline, skill, perseverance. It's hard to become a champ, and that's why we love to honor people here at the White House when you become one. And one of the things I tell people is, is that if you work hard and become a repeat champion, I look forward to welcoming you back to the White House. However, this time it's not going to work. My eligibility has run out. But I do wish you all the very best, so the next President can welcome you to the White House. But in the meantime, we're going to honor the folks here today.”

 

After a tour of the White House, the President met with DU’s coaches and student-athletes in the East Room, posing for a picture with the team. Additionally, the team presented the President with a custom-made belt buckle, commemorating the 2008 national championship.

 

All of the 20 teams were introduced on the South Lawn, where President Bush addressed the athletes, paying extra tribute to the Pioneers which won the skiing title despite having only 11 of the maximum12 possible skiers competing.

 

“The University of Denver Men's and Women's Ski Team competed with one fewer skier than their rivals, making them only the second ski team in NCAA history to win the title shorthanded. And we congratulate you,” President Bush said.

“We are grateful that President Bush found time in his busy schedule to welcome the DU ski team as well as the other Division I NCAA champions to the White House,” said DU alpine head coach Andy LeRoy, who previously visited the White House as a member of the U.S. Olympic team in 1998.

 

“It was inspiring seeing so many great teams that won championships in their respective sports,” DU Nordic head coach David Stewart said. “We are proud that the President honored the accomplishments of our ski team along with those of the other champions.”

 

Earlier in the day, Senator Ken Salazar met with the team after his staff gave the Pioneers a tour of the Capitol.

 

“It was a big year for Colorado skiing big snows, big competition, and a big-time come-from-behind win from the Pioneers to set a new record for NCAA skiing championships,” Senator Salazar said. “I am very proud of the DU Ski Team and with the tenacity, hard-work, and discipline that they showed in their race to their national championship.  It was a pleasure to meet with them and I wish them continued success as they rack up the championships and make history.” 

 

Although Denver has won 19 NCAA championships in skiing, this was the first time the team had been honored at the White House.

 

“Everyone on the team is thankful to everyone who made this trip possible,” LeRoy said. “Every student-athlete contributed to the championship, and I am proud that they were all recognized for their efforts.”

 

The 2008 University of Denver ski team claimed its 19th team title at the NCAA National Championships in Bozeman, Mont. A pair of individual titles by John Buchar (Ostersund, Sweden) in the slalom and giant slalom marked only the second time a Pioneer skier has swept the two alpine events, matching the feat of Adam Cole (Park City, Utah) in 2007.

 

For the second consecutive season, the Pioneers headed into the NCAA Championships with 11 of the maximum 12 qualifying positions filled, and trailed Colorado by 17.5 points heading into the final day of competition.

 

However, the alpine men dominated the slalom on the final day, as Buchar completed his sweep with another first, Seppi Stiegler (Wilson, Wyo.) took second and Francesco Ghedina (Cortina, Italy) was eighth to overtake the Buffs. The DU win marked the first time in 13 years a team had come back to win after trailing entering the final day.

 

Denver’s 19 team championships in skiing are the most in NCAA history, ahead of Colorado’s 16 and Utah’s 10. The 2008 title also marked the Pioneers’ fifth championship since 2000. DU also won in 2000, ’01, ’02 and ’05.

 

Along with claiming the national title, nine Pioneers earned All-American honors.

 

Annelise Bailly (Ruffieu, France) made First Team All-American in both classical and freestyle, while Antje Maempel (Stuelzerbach, Germany) earned First Team honors in classical and Second Team in freestyle. Three-time NCAA individual champion Rene Reisshauer (Erfurt, Germany) was a First Team honoree in freestyle, and 2006 classical champion John Stene (Trondheim, Norway) earned Second Team All-American honors in both classical and freestyle, making Stene an All-American in all eight career races in the NCAA Championships.

 

In alpine, Jenny Lathrop (North Conway, N.H.) and Buchar were First Team All-Americans in both slalom and giant slalom. Ghedina made the First Team in giant slalom and the Second Team in slalom, while Stiegler earned First Team honors in slalom. Molly Ryan (Big Sky, Mont.) joined Lathrop in representing the alpine women, earning Second Team honors in giant slalom.