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Steamboat Springs — Alpine ski racer Mary Rachel Hostetter has decided to sign with the national champion University of Denver ski team.

Hostetter was awarded one of two open spots on the six-member Pioneer women's ski team. Andy LeRoy, former Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club coach and a native of Steamboat Springs, will coach her.

"It's awesome," Hostetter said about going to Denver. "There are a lot of Steamboat skiers at the University of Colorado, but I think I'm the only one at the University of Denver."

Hostetter said she wasn't sure whether she had won a spot on the team until a few weeks ago when LeRoy contacted her by phone.

"They were recruiting all over Europe, so I wasn't sure what was going to happen," Hostetter said.

But in the end, Hostetter learned she had earned a spot along with Jennifer Van Wagner, a former U.S. Ski Team member. The Steamboat skier thinks the coach understood her work ethic and thought she would bring that attitude to the team.

Hostetter said she is excited about going to the University of Denver next fall. She said the campus is beautiful and the school offers a strong psychology program - a subject she is hoping to pursue in college.

Hostetter also was considering the University of Colorado and the University of Utah. But she was pleased that her bid to attend Denver was successful.

"I wanted to be close to home, and I wanted to go to a school where I could continue to ski at a high level. They are the best in the country right now," she said.

Former SSHS tennis star moves for Mesa State spot

Former Steamboat Springs High School tennis standout Matt Gadbois will head to Grand Junction next year, hoping to extend his tennis career with Mesa State College.

Gadbois spent last season in Demorest, Ga., where he played singles and doubles for the Division III Piedmont College in the Great South Athletic Conference.

He was named the team's most valuable player, but the team struggled last season and finished with a 1-10 record.

"I made the choice to leave Piedmont midway through the school year," Gadbois said. "I'm stoked to play for coach Dan MacDonald. : I'm excited to make this move, and we will just have to wait and see what happens."

Gadbois said he is looking forward to a change and the chance to fight for a spot with Mesa State next season. Mesa has about twice the enrollment of Piedmont and plays a tougher, Division II schedule. Gadbois, a former Steamboat Springs doubles player, expects to have to fight for a spot with the traveling team next season in Grand Junction.

"I know they have 10 new recruits at Mesa, so it's not going to be easy," Gadbois said.