Although some would say I'm crazy to admit it, winter is one of the best times of the year in Hanover. Next time you want to skip town during Winter term, consider all the fun you'll be missing: pickup hockey games on Occom Pond, skiing and snowboarding at the Dartmouth Skiway, building snowmen on the Green and sledding on the snowy hills of the golf course. Most importantly, you would be missing the great show that the Big Green's winter athletes put on every year here are my picks for the top 10 Dartmouth athletes to watch this term.
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Valeria Wiens '13 (Women's squash): Last season, Wiens became the first Big Green freshman squash player to be named First Team All-America since 1996. She boasted a 7-3 overall record while playing mostly at the number one position. Migrating from Germany, Wiens who is married to head coach Hansi Wiens is poised for a breakout season this winter due to her quickness on the court.
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James Mello '12 (Men's hockey): Mello has solidified his position as the starting goaltender for the Big Green with an incredible season so far. Mello holds a 6-2-2 overall record with a .940 save percentage and a 1.85 goals-against average. Look for him to continue his success this winter, facing off against opponents from the University of Connecticut and the University of New Hampshire later this week.
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Ethan Shaw '12 (Men's track and field): Coming off a track season in which he just missed qualifying for the NCAA Championships for the 10,000-meter event, Shaw will attempt to best his 30:09.90 for the 10,000-meter run.
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Jabari Trotter '12 (Men's basketball): While the team rebuilds after a last-place finish in the 2009-2010 Ivy League season, Trotter continues to be a bright spot for Dartmouth. Having started in all 14 games and averaging 29 minutes per game this season, the 6'1" guard leads the team with nine points per game. He is shooting 41.4 percent from the field and an incredible 43.8 percent from beyond the three-point line. This winter, expect Trotter and the Big Green basketball team to make some noise in Ivy League play under new head coach Paul Cormier.
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Chris Hanson '13 (Men's squash): Competing as the squash team's top player as a freshman, Hanson finished with an 8-3 record and was named to both First Team All-Ivy and First Team All-America. Hanson is 3-1 this season with his lone loss coming against Harvard University's Gary Power in a heartbreaking five-set match. This winter, look for Hanson and his teammates to compete for a top-five spot in the national rankings.
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Brittney Smith '11 (Women's basketball): Despite playing in only seven games this season, the 6'1" forward leads the team with 13.1 points per game, 9.7 rebounds per game and a .486 field goal percentage. If the Dartmouth women's basketball team are to win the Ivy League this winter, they will need Smith to continue to play at a terrific level.
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Molly Scott '11 (Women's tennis): Scott was selected for the All-Ivy First Team in both singles and doubles last season, which gives her a grand total of four First Team All-Ivy selections in three years. Last season, Scott led Dartmouth to its highest national ranking in program history, when the team was ranked 38th in the nation. Look for Scott to have another strong season at the team's number one spot this winter and spring.
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Nils Koons '11 (Nordic ski): As a three-time All-East skiier, Koons has been an important reason for the ski team's success. With Koons at the helm as a key contributor, the team went on to finish fifth at the NCAA Skiing Championships last season. Enough said.
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Sasha Nanji '13 (Women's hockey): After leading all Dartmouth defensemen in goals and assists last season, Nanji is back to work this winter. Nanji currently leads the team in goals scored (10) and total points (18). Earlier in the season, she scored two overtime game winners in back-to-back games for the Big Green. Nanji brings both offensive and defensive skills to the team and will likely continue her contributions this winter.
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Scott Fleming '11 (Men's hockey): After being named MVP last season, the Big Green captain currently leads the team with 17 points. For his distinguished career, the 5'11" forward has tallied 48 goals and 44 assists in 110 games played. As Fleming leads his team through the season, Dartmouth men's hockey is expected to be a contender at the ECAC Championships later this winter.
