The skiing world has been kind to Gretchen Conn.

In four years of competition skiing for Leavitt Area High School, Conn has never been disqualified. She has never failed to finish a race that she started, and you can count the number of times she has finished out of the top five in a race on one hand.

But this year, her senior year, was special. A third-year captain, Conn led her team to the school’s first ever Class A state championship.

“Her poise and her leadership have been outstanding,” said Leavitt alpine coach Marc Thibodeau.

“She skis well all the time, but it’s her consistency that helps more than anything. The is always so calm before a race.”

Despite falling and finishing near the middle of the pack on her first run in the state championship giant slalom, Conn rebounded with the fastest time of the day and vaulted back into the top ten.

“My brother told me after that first run that nobody skis better than an upset Conn,” she said with a smirk “I guess that’s true, and I came back with a good time in the second run.”

The following day, Conn ripped off two stellar slalom runs to capture first place

and cement her team’s hold

on No. 1.

Because of her 19 titles in four years, including a handful this season, and because of her outstanding leadership and dedication to the sport, Gretchn Conn is the 2002-2003 Sun-Journal Girls’ Alpine Skier of the Year.

“It’s definitely an honor,” said Conn. “The part I played on the team over the last few years was an important one, and I’m glad that I was able to create an atmosphere that other felt comfortable in.”

As far as a future in skiing, that’s on hold. Conn says her concentration will be pursuing a nursing degree.

“I know I’ll probably want to get back into it eventually,” said Conn.

“At least that’s what I’ve been told. But for now, school is my main concern.”

jpelletier@sunjournal.com