Team Summit is proud to continue recognizing this season’s standout athletes with our next round of Year-End Awards. These honors celebrate not just results, but the work ethic, sportsmanship, and passion that define what it means to be part of this team.
Gene Gillis Award – For Outstanding Athletics
The award goes to
Anya Leunig (Alpine),
Lainey Steen (Park & Pipe), and
Maeve Niemkiewicz (Nordic). These athletes delivered standout results in their respective disciplines, rising to the top of a very competitive field across Team Summit’s programs.
This award celebrates athletes whose competitive results truly stand out over the course of a season. Anya, Lainey, and Maeve consistently brought strong performance and composure to training and competition, helping set the standard in Alpine Racing, Park & Pipe, and Nordic competition.
Runner-up recognition: Nadia Leunig and Jevin Palmquist in Alpine, and Forrest Woodard and Tyrn Lifgren in Park & Pipe. Both strong fields made this year’s selections especially competitive.
About the Gene Gillis Award
This award is presented to a single athlete in each discipline for outstanding results. Gene Gillis was an Olympian and a founder of the Copper Mountain Race Team in the 1970s.
In 1980, along with Mark Jones, Corky McDonald, and Fred Turner, Gene started the Summit Race Team, which provided full-time Alpine ski training for the first time in Summit County. His wife, Ina, passed away in March 2019. Until her death, she lived in their house, which is now surrounded by development in River Run Village at Keystone.
Learn more about Team Summit’s programs.
Peter Witter Award – For Outstanding Sportsmanship
The award goes to
William Walker (Snowboard),
Julian Miller (Alpine),
Teigen Searcy (Park & Pipe), and
Lucy Taylor (Nordic). These athletes stood out not just for what they did on snow, but for how they consistently lifted up teammates and represented Team Summit with a positive, community-minded attitude.
This award celebrates athletes who bring steady positivity and support to their teams. William, Julian, Teigen, and Lucy consistently demonstrated the kind of sportsmanship that strengthens Snowboard, Alpine, Park & Pipe, and Nordic culture. They encouraged others, handled adversity well, and modeled what it means to be a great teammate.
Runner-up recognition: Matteo Pacini and Brooke Bjorklund in Alpine, and Cash Thwaites and Luke Van Allen in Park & Pipe.
About the Peter Witter Award
This award is presented to a single athlete in each discipline who has shown a consistently positive attitude toward the team and the community.
Peter Witter was a founding Summit Race Team parent and an architect involved with the initial planning and development of Keystone Resort. His son, Ian, has a home in Frisco and was himself a member of the Summit Race Team. He was described as “an all-around super nice kid,” epitomizing the qualities of outstanding sportsmanship.
Learn more about Team Summit’s programs.
George Hufsmith Award – “Love & Passion” for the Sport
The award goes to
Henry Hickam (Snowboard),
Malie Dieterich (Alpine),
Leo Merhige (Park & Pipe), and
Nellie Greenwood (Nordic). These athletes bring an unmistakable love for skiing and riding to every training session and event, making it clear that their passion runs deeper than results alone.
This award honors athletes whose enthusiasm and commitment to the sport are obvious in everything they do. Henry, Malie, Leo, and Nellie consistently showed up eager to learn, compete, and be part of the Team Summit community, embodying the “love and passion” this award is meant to recognize.
Runner-up recognition: Ayliana Smith and Natalie Krip in Alpine, and Max Tapper and Maksim Golovach in Park & Pipe.
About the George Hufsmith Award
George Hufsmith’s wish was for a scholarship to be established in his name to assist Copper Mountain Ski Team athletes who demonstrated his same love and passion for the sport.
George was once a kid who showed promise as an elite athlete, but because he lacked resources, he was unable to pursue his dreams. Prior to his death from a rare disease, the Club had no knowledge of George, but George knew about the team because he often skied at Copper Mountain and “loved watching the kids in the red coats training very hard.”
His widow established the award in memory of George. At one time, the award also included a scholarship for summer camps or projects. It is presented to a single athlete in each discipline who has shown a consistent love and passion for the sport.
Learn more about Team Summit’s programs.
Bob Craig Award – For Excellence in Alpine Skiing
The award goes to
Lia Dieterich. She earns this year’s Bob Craig Award for Excellence in Alpine Skiing from a strong group of nominees that included runners-up Nadia Leunig and Katelyn Lemon.
This award honors athletes whose work ethic and dedication to Alpine skiing stand out across the season. Lia’s commitment to the process, from daily training to race preparation, reflects the kind of excellence, competitive spirit, and drive that define Team Summit Alpine Racing.
About the Bob Craig Award
This award is presented to one Alpine athlete whose work ethic and dedication, not necessarily results, are consistent with excellence, competitive spirit, and drive.
Bob Craig is the founder of the Keystone Science School and has dedicated his professional career to youth development. Bob was a patron of the Summit Race Team and a friend of Mark Jones, who also spent his career supporting Alpine ski racing and youth development.
Learn more about Team Summit’s Alpine Racing programs.
Congratulations to This Season’s Honorees
Congratulations to all of this season’s award recipients, runners-up, and nominees. Your dedication, sportsmanship, performance, and passion continue to make Team Summit stronger.