Rob Spooner won an individual title in boadercross, leading the Missionaries to the team title in that event as well. Looking back on the success of his ski program, Olson has little difficulty explaining where and how it all began. As he began building his ski powerhouse in 1990, one of the keys was finding the right material for a solid foundation. He found the right stuff in Stephanie Palmer and John Finley, a pair of rock solid student-athletes who served as cornerstones as the program developed. Both earned individual All-American honors in the process.
Success breeds success.
Whitman sells itself. Student-athletes learn that Whitman will support them as far as they can go. While trophies and titles are nice rewards, there are no shortcuts to success, Olson tells his skiers. His year-around training program requires dedication to hard work, improvement and the quest for excellence. It's something I've worked very hard to develop.