St. Michael’s Welcomes New Head Coach for Nordic Ski Team

Colchester, Vermont – St. Michael’s College is gearing up for an exciting winter as they introduce Annika Martell as the new head coach of their Nordic ski program. Martell inherits a team that has seen a remarkable turnaround, moving from being at the bottom of the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association to becoming strong competitors, regularly ranking in the top five at skiing carnivals and making consecutive appearances at the NCAA championships.

Martell, previously an assistant coach at Williams College, is thrilled to step into her role and highlighted the enthusiasm of her new athletes. “The athletes are excited, they want to be here, they want to be skiing and working hard. That’s something that really attracted me to this place — just to keep this train going,” she shared. Two athletes from Ski and Snowboard Club Vail will play pivotal roles this season, with Keely Hendricks returning for her sophomore year and Andrew Lombardi joining as a new recruit.

Martell takes over from Molly Peters, who coached the team for 13 years and will remain with St. Michael’s as the head cross-country and track coach. The transition is looking positive, with Martell expressing confidence in their collaboration, saying, “I feel like we’re going to work really well together.”

Martell’s team will consist of 25 athletes—13 women and 12 men. While the team lost NCAA qualifier Declan Hutchinson to graduation, they welcome back fellow qualifiers Oliver Miatke and Henrik Wist, both of whom are looking to make an impact this season.

Keely Hendricks is feeling optimistic about the upcoming winter. Having competed in 11 races last season, she recalls a particularly energetic moment as she raced up a hill amid cheering crowds and loud music, describing the carnival atmosphere as something unique to EISA races: “There’s definitely those little rivalries, but it’s not like when we did the college races in the West.”

With the return of many athletes from the Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, the bond among teammates remains strong. Hendricks noted, “There are so many ski club kids racing on the East Coast — Alpine and Nordic.”

Lombardi’s recent performance at Junior Nationals in Utah, where he placed 10th in the U20 individual classic start race, adds even more excitement as he joins St. Michael’s.

As the team prepares for the season ahead, Martell brings a wealth of experience, having worked with the U.S. Ski Team in Europe. Her focus on adaptability with athletes is central to her coaching philosophy, ensuring each skier receives tailored guidance. She remarked about Hendricks, “She seems really ready to go and excited to get back at it with the team.”

Despite a recent collarbone injury, Hendricks is eagerly looking forward to the season and is actively maintaining her fitness. “I think it’s going to be a really good year,” she stated. “The coach brings a lot of good energy and I think the team is really excited.” With their growing enthusiasm and momentum, the St. Michael’s Nordic ski team looks ready to tackle the challenges ahead this winter.