Following the social distancing mandates and travel restrictions made during the pandemic in the summer of 2021, USA Bobsled & Skeleton coaches were concerned about how they were going to find new athletes.
Normally, the staff would recruit from the growing pool of former college athletes and invite top talent to test their metrics on a local track. But, in the midst of COVID-19 restrictions, that wasn't going to be possible.
So, the USABS staff thought fast and discovered a way to test athletes virtually - and find motivated young people who could train and submit film from home.
That idea quickly became the USA Bobsled & Skeleton Digital Combine, a free online event inviting Olympic hopefuls from across the country - no matter the climate - to train from home, submit a video tryout, and be evaluated by Team USA coaches.
After the Virtual Event was live for a few months, the USABS coaches had collected videos from over 100 athletes from every corner of the U.S., most of which had never considered bobsled as a career option.
Of those 100 athletes who submitted a tryout on GMTM, nine were selected to training camps in Park City and Lake Placid. In December of 2020, following their first runs in a sled, all of the athletes were invited to the USABS Development Program, where they will train with Team USA & take part in international competition.
Some of these athletes even contended with the best in the country to represent the United States in the 2020 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
So, since you may very well see them on TV one day, let's learn a little about each of these recent additions to Team USA:
Lauren Brzozowski: Former Collegiate Track & Field Athlete
"Brzozowski was top 3 at the rookie push competition and just completed a two-week-long drivers school in Park City. Did very well and impressed the coaches and will be invited back for the second phase of driving school in Lake Placid."
- Event will be women’s Monobob.
Riley Compton: U.S. Marine & Former Collegiate Softball Player
"Completed a total of 4 weeks driver school in Park City. Did very well and impressed the coaches and will be entered into the NAC race in Park City."
- Events will be 2man & Monobob
Jenna Weidner: Former College Volleyball Player
"Completed a total of 3 weeks driver school in Park City. Did very well and impressed the coaches and will be entered into the NAC race in Park City."
- Event will be women’s Monobob
Isabella Burns: Former College Soccer Player
"Completed 3 weeks of skeleton driving school in Park City. Did very well and impressed the coaches and will be entered into the NAC race in Park City."
- Event will be women’s Skeleton
Erin Brumley: Former College Basketball Player
"Completed 3 weeks of skeleton driving school in Park City. Did very well and impressed the coaches and will be entered into the NAC race in Park City."
- Event will be women’s Skeleton
Manteo Mitchell: Former College Track Athlete & Olympic Medalist
"Was first at the rookie push competition and just completed a two-week long training camp for bobsled. This was Manteo’s first trips on the ice as a push athlete.
Manteo will be competing on the NAC circuit as a full-time push athlete this season. Will continue the remainder of the season with team trials. Manteo is a former track and field Olympian and medalist."
Tanner Grzesiek: Former Pac-12 Football Player
Completed one week of driving school in Park City. Did very well and impressed the coaches and will be invited to Lake Placid for the next phase of driving school.
Alan Cohen: Pursuing Masters Degree In Sports Performance
"Attended our national team trials as a push athlete. He was able to take his first rides on ice in Lake Placid. Alan will be an alternate push athlete during the NAC races this season and for team trials."
Charlie Volker: Former Ivy-League Football Player & Track Athlete
"Attended our national team trials as a push athlete. He was able to take his first rides on ice in Lake Placid. Impressed the coaches and went on to secure a position on one of the competing teams. Was named to the national team his first year."
Cameron Kissick - Former College Track Athlete
Completed 3 weeks of skeleton driving school in Park City. Did very well and impressed the coaches. Will be invited to the next phase of skeleton driving school in Lake Placid.Andy Whittier -Completed 3 weeks of skeleton driving school in Park City. Did very well and impressed the coaches. Will be invited to the next phase of skeleton driving school in Lake Placid.
To put yourself in front of the USA Bobsled & Skeleton coaches in 2022, head to the USA Bobsled & Skeleton Digital Combine event page.
