Nanook Notes

Einar Often, the Nanook skier who sacrificed his own chances at an NCAA berth so that his teammate, Ray Sabo could qualify, was awarded the GNAC’s Sportsmanship award. He and Central Washington University’s Mallory Holtman, are now in the running for the NCAA sportsmanship award.

Often made the news in early March, when, during the final qualifying race of the season, teammate Ray Sabo broke a ski pole. Often, knowing that Sabo was “on the bubble” (as he was himself), and that if Sabo didn’t keep up at that point in the race, he wouldn’t recover his position, gave Sabo his own ski pole. Sabo went on to finish eighth and qualify for the NCAA championships.

Holtman, a softball player, and her teammates, carried a Western Oregon University player around the bases when she tore her ACL rounding first base on a home run. WOU won the game and went on to win the GNAC title.