Stifel Honors Stifel U.S. Ski Team Athletes, Staff With 2025 Stifel Awards
Stifel Award Recipients - Cross Country
By Leann Bentley
U.S. Ski & Snowboard and Stifel announce the 2025 Stifel U.S. Ski Team Stifel Award winners for the 2024-25 season.
Now in its third year, the Stifel Awards celebrate athletes and staff members from across the Stifel U.S. Ski Teams. Awards range from Athlete of the Year to Best Comeback, Most Improved and Rookie of the Year, as well as Staff Member of the Year, in each sport. Each recipient is awarded $1,000, courtesy of Stifel, as part of their continued commitment to supporting the athletes and staff on and off the snow and upholding their motto that success meets success. Stifel contributed $40,000 through the Stifel Awards.
Winners in each category were selected through a voting process by their teammates and staff and winners were awarded their checks at the culmination of the 2024-25 season.
“Stifel is proud to continue celebrating the outstanding athletes and staff on the Stifel U.S. Ski Teams through the annual Stifel Awards,” said Ron Kruszewski, Chairman and CEO of Stifel. Our Where Success Meets Success motto rings true with the Stifel U.S. Ski Team members, and we’re grateful to have the opportunity to continue expanding the scope of these awards year after year.”
“The winners of the Stifel Awards are more than deserving for what they accomplished this season,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Chief of Sport, Anouk Patty. “The 2024-25 season was successful on all fronts and a large part of that is due to the team behind the team. Thank you to Stifel for honoring our athletes and staff!”
Demonstrating their dedication to the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, the Stifel Awards underscore Stifel's commitment to supporting athletes both on and off the slopes. The following athletes and staff have been recognized as the winners of the awards within each respective team:
Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team
Athlete of the Year: Lauren Macuga, Ryan Cochran-Siegle
Rookie of the Year: Elisabeth Bocock, Stanley Buzek
Most Improved: Lauren Macuga, Ben Ritchie
Best Comeback: Breezy Johnson, Bridger Gile
Staff Member of the Year: Zan Spilar, Women’s Tech Team Coach
Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team, moguls team
Athlete of the Year: Jaelin Kauf
Rookie of the Year: Asher Michel
Most Improved: Charlie Mickel
Best Comeback: Olivia Giaccio
Staff Member of the Year: Jill Radzinski, Athletic Trainer
Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team, aerials team
Athlete of the Year: Chris Lillis
Rookie of the Year: Ian Schoenwald
Most Improved: Karenna Elliott
Best Comeback: Quinn Dehlinger
Staff Member of the Year: Stanislav Kravchuk, World Cup Coach
Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team
Athlete of the Year: Jessie Diggins, Gus Schumacher
Rookie of the Year: Sammy Smith, Jack Young
Most Improved: Kate Oldham, Jack Young
Best Comeback: Julia Kern, JC Schoonmaker
Staff Member of the Year: Kristen Bourne, World Cup Coach
Stifel U.S. Freeski Team
Best Comeback: Grace Henderson, Matt Labaugh
Most Improved: Rell Harwood, Konnor Ralph
Rookie of the Year: Ella Andrews, Matt Labaugh
Athlete of the Year (Women): Rell Harwood, Alex Hall
Coach/Staff Member of the Year: Erin Doyle, Freeski Team Manager/Press Officer
Stifel U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team
Athlete of the Year: Saylor O’Brien
Rookie of the Year: Audrey Crowley
Most Improved: Patrick Halgren