NH People

February 22. 2013 3:08PM

New Hampshire Olympians in 2002

Just like the Olympic torch that circled the country before landing in Utah on February 4, 21 athletes with New Hampshire ties hope to shine brightly at the winter games in Salt Lake City.
Of the 15 events that will be staged over a 17-day period (February 8-24), the Granite State will have at least one representative competing in nine of the them.
Outstanding athletes, many of them familiar to Olympic followers across the state, are back.
In women's ice hockey, Tricia Dunn of Derry, Katie King of Salem and Tara Mounsey of Concord join forces with University of New Hampshire's Karyn Bye and Sue Merz and Dartmouth College's Sarah Tueting in hopes of winning the gold medal for the second straight time together.
In 1998 this talented group helped lead the United States past Canada for the gold in Nagano.
Then there's the not-so-familiar names like 18-year-old Scarborough, Maine native Brian Welch, a ski jumper competing out of Gunstock/Lebanon Outing Club, who is making his first appearance with the national team.
To put in perspective what it means to be selected to the national team, cross-country skier Patrick Weaver, an athlete from UNH, said "after a long week of sitting here by the phone and in front of the computer, I finally read my name on an official list of this year's Olympic Team! Phew and Yeah!"
Below is a brief synopsis of the 21 competitors with Granite State ties who will compete in the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.
Marc Pelchat Event: Speed Skating NH Connection: Nashua Previous Olympics:1998He was 45th in the 500-meters of the World Cup Standings in 2000-2001 and also in 1998-99. He was 63rd in the 1000-meters of the World Cup Standings in 1998-99.

February 12: Finished 28^th in the Men's 500 m.

	Bode Miller Event: Alpine Skiing NH Connection: Franconia Previous Olympics: 1998 He went from being a medal contender to being on the disabled list at the 2001 World Alpine Championships in Saint Anton, Austria, when he injured his knee. Before the crash he became the first American in 16 years to finish in the top three in a World Cup giant slalom at Val D'Isere, France. February 13: Won a silver medal in the Men's Combined (Downhill and Slalom). February 21: Won a silver medal in the Men's Giant Slalom. February 23: Finished 25^th in the Men's Slalom.
Joe Pack Event: Freestyle Skiing (aerials) NH Connection: Hopkinton Previous Olympics: none Was the World Juniors champion in 1996. After blowing out his left knee two months before the 1998 Olympic games he won a bronze medal in aerials at the 1999 and 2001 World Championships and was the U.S. aerials champion in 1999 and 2001. February 19: Won a silver medal in Men's Aerials.
	Tricia Dunn Event: Ice Hockey NH Connection: Derry Previous Olympics: 1998 A forward, she played in all six games in Nagano, scoring one goal which was the game-winner in a 7-4 comeback win over Canada in the preliminary round. February 12: Played but did not have any goals or assists in the 10-0 win over Germany. February 14: Was handed a 5 minute major and a game misconduct for body checking. Did not have any goals or assists. February 16: Played but did not have any goals or assists in the 5-0 win over Finland. February 19: Played but did not have any goals or assists in the 4-0 win over Sweden. February 21: Played but did not have any goals or assists in the 3-2 loss to Canada. The team won the silver medal.
	Katie King Event: Ice Hockey NH Connection: Salem Previous Olympics: 1998 Her eight total points (four goals, four assists) tied her with three other teammates for the team scoring lead. She had a hat trick against Japan in the preliminary round. February 12: Had 1 assist in a 10-0 win over Germany. February 14: Had 2 goals and 2 assists in the 12-1 win over China. February 16: Played but did not have any goals or assists in the 5-0 win over Finland. February 19: Had 1 goal in the 4-0 win over Sweden. February 21: Had 1 goal in the 3-2 loss to Canada. The team won the silver medal.
	Tara Mounsey Event: Ice Hockey NH Connection: Concord Previous Olympics: 1998 In six games in Nagano, this standout defenseman had six points with two goals and four assists, recording at least one point in five of the six games. February 12: Had 2 assists in a 10-0 win over Germany. February 14: Played but did not have any goals or assists in the 12-1 win over China. February 16: Had 1 assist in a 5-0 win over Finland. February 19: Had 2 assists in the 4-0 win over Sweden. February 21: Had 2 assists in the 3-2 loss to Canada. The team won the silver medal.
	Sarah Tueting Event: Ice Hockey NH Connection: Dartmouth Previous Olympics: 1998 Playing in goal in four games at Nagano, she had a 3-0-0 record, compiling a stingy 1.15 goals against average and had a .937 save percentage. Tueting's older brother, Jonathan , played hockey and she followed him into the sport. February 12: Was not in goal for the 10-0 win over Germany. February 14: Allowed 1 goal during the 12-1 win over China. February 16: Was not in goal for the 5-0 win over Finland. February 19: Did not allow any goals during the 4-0 win over Sweden. February 21: Was not in goal for the 3-2 loss to Canada. The team won the silver medal.
	Karyn Bye Event: Ice Hockey NH Connection: UNH Previous Olympics: 1998 A defenseman who served as the team's assistant captain, she led the team in goals with five in six games at Nagano, including two against Sweden. February 12: Had 2 goals and 2 assists in a 10-0 win over Germany. February 14: Played but did not have any goals or assists in the 12-1 win over China. February 16: Played but did not have any goals or assists in the 5-0 win over Finland. February 19: Had 1 assist in the 4-0 win over Sweden. February 21: Had 1 goal in the 3-2 loss to Canada. The team won the silver medal.
	Sue Merz Event: Ice Hockey NH Connection: UNH Previous Olympics: 1998 She assisted on the first goal against Canada in the gold medal game in Nagano. A defenseman, she scored at least one point in four of the six Olympic matches. February 12: Played but did not have any goals or assists in the 10-0 win over Germany. February 14: Had 1 goal in the 12-1 win over China. February 16: Played but did not have any goals or assists in the 5-0 win over Finland. February 19: Did not play in the 4-0 win over Sweden. February 21: Played but did not have any goals or assists in the 3-2 loss to Canada. The team won the silver medal.
	Nina Kemppel Event: Cross Country NH Connection: Dartmouth Previous Olympics: 1992, '94, '98 She has the most United States cross-country titles of all time with 15 including three in 2001, four in 2000 and five in 1999. She will be competing in her fourth Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City and will become the first American women's cross-country skier to compete in four Winter Games. February 9: Finished 30^th in the Women's 15 km Free Mass Start. February 12: Finished 40^th in the Women's 10 km Classical. February 15: Finished 32^nd in the Women's 5 km Combined (Free and Classical) Pursuit. February 21: Was part of a four-person team that finished 13^th in the Women's 4x5 km Relay. February 24: Finished 15^th in the Women's 30 km Classical.
	Bradley Wall Event: Alpine Skiing NH Connection: Dartmouth Previous Olympics: None A native of Jindabyne East, Australia, he exploded on the scene at Dartmouth College with 10 top 10 carnival finishes during his freshman season. He's also a former winner in the giant slalom at the North American Junior Championships in Quebec and placed eighth in the Super G at the World Junior Championships in France. He will be competing for Australia. February 21: Finished 33^rd in the Men's Giant Slalom.
	Kristina Sabasteanski Event: Biathlon NH Connection: Milford Previous Olympics: 1998 After missing the cut for the 1994 United States Olympic Team, she used it as motivation for the next four years leading to Nagano. In Nagano, she placed 33rd in the sprint, was the top American, and anchored the relay team to 15th place out of 17 teams. February 8: One of eight U.S. athletes that, during the opening ceremonies for the 2002 Winter Olympics, carried the American flag recovered from the World Trade Center rubble. February 11: Finished 55^th in the Women's 15 km Individual. February 18: Was part of a four-person team that finished 15^th in the Women's 4x7.5 km Relay.
Brian Welch Event: Ski Jumping NH Connection: Gunstock/Lebanon Outing Club Previous Olympics: None A Scarborough, Maine native, 18, is a senior at the National Sports Academy in Lake Placid, N.Y. who first trained for his sport on the hills of New Hampshire and was a late addition to the ski jumping team. February 10: Finished 39^th in the Individual K90 qualification round and just missed advancing to the finals by one point. February 18: Was part of a four-person team that finished 11^th in the Team K120.
	Kris Freeman Event: Cross Country Skiing NH Connection: Andover Previous Olympics: None Brother of All-American Justin Freeman, Kris competed in the 10-kilometer classical race during the 1998 United States Ski Team's Gold Cup and finished 17th at Lake Placid, N.Y. More about Kris Freeman February 12: Finished 22^nd in the Men's 15 km Classical. February 14: Finished 15^th in the Men's 10 km Combined (Free and Classical) Pursuit. February 17: Was part of a four-person team that finished 5^th in the Men's 4x10 km Relay. February 19: Finished 43^rd in the Men's Sprint qualification round and missed advancing by 8.81 seconds.
Hannah Hardaway Event: Freestyle Skiing (moguls) NH Connection: Moultonborough Previous Olympics: None After two seasons of knee problems, she broke through in 2000-2001 when she placed third in the year end moguls standings and created high drama for the United States team at the World Championships. February 9: Finished 5^th in Women's Moguls.
	Jed Hinkley Event: Nordic Combined NH Connection: Andover Previous Olympics: None Making his first appearance on the national team, he finished eighth in the sprint at the 2001 World Junior Championships and was a member of the gold medal winning team at the 1999 World Junior Championships. He was also a member of the silver-medal winning team at the 2000 World Junior Championships.
Carl Van Loan Event: Nordic Combined NH Connection: Webster Previous Olympics: None Hinkley, he is making his first appearance on the national team. He and Hinkley first met on the soccer field as seven-year-olds and were introduced to cross-country skiing through the Bill Koch League.
Patrick Weaver Event: Cross Country Skiing NH Connection: UNH Previous Olympics: 1996 A 1993 graduate of the University of New Hampshire, he is a four-time All-East skier and a 1991 All-American. He is only one of four men's skiers with previous experience in the Olympics. Recently at the United States Cross Country Championships in Bozeman, Mont., he placed seventh and was fifth among the skiers named to the United States National Team. February 12: Finished 16^th in the Men's 15 km Classical. February 14: Finished 47^th in the Men's 10 km Combined (Free and Classical) Pursuit. February 23: Was supposed to compete but did not start in the Men's 50 km Classical.
Scott Macartney Event: Alpine Skiing NH Connection: Dartmouth Previous Olympics: None Winner of six junior national titles and a 1999 Nor-Am super-G champion. February 10: Finished 29^th in the Men's Downhill. February 16: Finished 25^th in the Men's Super-G.

Peter Thorndike Event: Snowboarding NH Connection: Meredith Previous Olympics: None He is making his first appearance on the United States national team. He competed at the 2001 FIS World Championships in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, where he placed 35th in the giant slalom. February 14: Finished 27^th in the Men's Parallel Giant Slalom qualification round and just missed advancing to the next round by 1.36 seconds.
	Carl Swenson Event: Cross-Country Skiing NH Connection: Meredith Previous Olympics: 1994 A 1994 Olympian and a United States Sprint champion in 2001, 2000, 1995 and 1994. In the 2001 World Championships, he was 21st in the 50K and 24th in the Sprint. February 9: Finished 58^th in the Men's 30 km Free Mass Start. February 17: Was part of a four-person team that finished 5^th in the Men's 4x10 km Relay. February 19: Finished 31^st in the Men's Sprint qualification round and missed advancing by 4.69 seconds.
Barbara Jones Event: Cross-Country Skiing NH Connection: Dartmouth Previous Olympics: None In the 1998 NCAA Ski championships in Bozeman, Mont., she placed 12th in the women's 5K classical nordic and fourth in the 15K freestyle nordic. February 9: Finished 44^th in the Women's 15 km Free Mass Start. February 21: Was part of a four-person team that finished 13^th in the Women's 4x5 km Relay. February 24: Finished 35^th in the Women's 30 km Classical.