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Not many teams get to have their school mascot at waterski tournaments, but with the help of Isac Veers, the skiers of Wisconsin Madison can proudly say that we do. Bucky Badger was with our team through the freezing cold mornings at Conference, the brutal winds at Regionals, and even the hundred-degree heat of Texas Nationals. Isac Veers brings Bucky (and a whole lot of team spirit) to every event he attends, and it’s safe to say that he is the #1 hype man we know. He’s always the loudest voice on the dock when sending off a skier, and he’s the first person to arrive at the U-Rah-Rah circle at the other end of the lake. Isac makes sure that every skier feels amped up and ready to ski, even if that means running around in a badger costume for hours at a time. For all of the hard work and sweat he puts in for us, Isac absolutely deserves to be called the Ultimate Hype Man.
I would like to nominate Lucy Kneeley from Wisconsin-Madison for the beacon of light award! If you’ve been to a waterski tournament in the past 4 years, I can almost guarantee that you know Lucy. She represents Team Midwest in all the best ways; Between her iconic hot pink hair and her constant positive attitude, Lucy brings the spirit of Midwest collegiate skiing everywhere she goes! She always has a compliment and smile at the ready for anyone who needs it, regardless of what team they may be on, and I’ve never seen someone leave an interaction with her without a smile on their face. Lucy embodies everything that makes Midwest collegiate skiing so incredibly special, and I know that tournaments just wouldn’t be the same without her positivity and neon pink head of hair.
Out of all the skiers I know, Jake Artang is definitely the most likely to go pro. It’s an easy choice; He’s a phenomenal all around skier, and he continually shocks both himself and our team with massive PB’s. Jake landed his second in-tournament flip at 2024 nationals, and decided to throw the reverse, which he had never even landed, for fun. He landed the reverse on his first try, adding 1000 points to his trick pb in about 5 seconds. . Jake has a drive for self-improvement, a real love for the sport of waterskiing, and a natural talent could absolutely lead him to go pro.
I would like to nominate Noah Lazzara for this season’s Most Supportive Alumni! Noah has stayed the most involved of any of our alumni, not only with our team, but with the NCWSA and AWSA as well. Noah is UW-Madison’s “guy to call” when we have questions, or such crises as: “How do we dial in a jump course?” “What should the wing setting be on my slalom fin?” or even “What’s the best method for waking up hungover skiers?” He’s always ready to jump in and lend a hand, and he has been instrumental in keeping our team running for as long as I’ve known him. But Noah’s unwavering commitment to the sport of waterskiing extends far beyond just our team. He’s put countless hours into getting his ratings as a scorer, judge, and driver, and he has used those credentials to give back to collegiate water skiing on both a regional and national level. Noah has been an official for almost every single tournament we have skied in the past four years, and at 2024 Nationals he won an award for most hardworking official. Some people live to ski, but as far as I can tell, Noah Lazzara skis to live. For all the time he puts in, and the support he gives us, you would be hard-pressed to find anyone more dedicated, or more deserving, than Noah.