Gould Academy Contingent Competing in U.S. National Freestyle Championships

One current student-athlete and three recent Gould grads competing with nation's best in Montana this weekend

BETHEL, Maine (March 18, 2003) - Four current and former Gould Academy freestyle skiers have earned spots in the U.S. National Freestyle Championships this coming weekend (March 21-23) at the Montana Snowbowl in Missoula, Montana.

Kelly Price, a Gould senior from Nashua, New Hampshire, along with Gould grads Kevin Hanian '02 of Newry, Eddie Keiser '01 of South Paris, and Jackie Paaso '00 of Newry, qualified for the prestigious event with strong efforts at the National Qualifier at Alpine Meadows, California last week (March 14-16).

Price, 17, who has been accepted at the University of Colorado-Boulder, placed ninth in the women's Dual Moguls event at Alpine Meadows.

Paaso, 21, who trains at Sunday River Ski Resort, won the women's Moguls event. She is taking the year off from Colby-Sawyer College to focus on competition.

Hanian, 19, the 2003 U.S. Junior Champion in Dual Moguls, won the men's Moguls event at Alpine Meadows. He is a freshman at the University of Colorado-Boulder.

Keiser, 20, one of the top competitors from the Rocky Mountain Freestyle Division this year, placed fifth in Moguls at the National Qualifier.

Founded in 1836, Gould Academy provides a traditional and innovative college preparatory education to about 220 students in grades 9-post grad, plus a limited number of eighth graders in a winter term program. Nearly half the students are from Maine, another 15 percent from throughout New England, and the remaining from other parts of the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

Long known for its competitive skiing, outstanding college preparatory curriculum, and arts, computer technology and outdoor programs, Gould's mission is to inspire young men and women to achieve high standards in their academic, artistic, and athletic pursuits; to demonstrate responsibility to the community; and to explore the natural world. For more information on Gould, go to www.gouldacademy.org.

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