*Originally posted on the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Website*
USA Water Ski & Wake Sports is pleased to announce that 18 athletes will be receiving $900 each as part of the organization’s Elite Athlete Development Grant program. USA Water Ski & Wake Sports received the funds from the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee in the form of a COVID-19 relief grant.
USA Water Ski & Wake Sports supports elite athletes as they strive to achieve their dream of competing in the Pan American Games, World Championships and other international competitions. USA Water Ski & Wake Sports established this program to aid athletes who meet the grant application criteria (including thresholds and performance standards).
Grant Program Purpose: USA Water Ski & Wake Sports seeks to support the pursuit of world-class performances by American water ski and wakeboard athletes, who have met minimum performance standards, by contributing to their individual financial needs with an Elite Athlete Development Grant.
Recipients: Dayle Cartwright (wakeboard), Samantha Dumala (water ski), Anna Gay (water ski), Brittany Greenwood (water ski), Quinn Haines (water ski), Kennedy Hansen (water ski), Sean Hunter (water ski), Regina Jaquess (water ski), Taylor McCullough (wakeboard), Tarah Mikacich (wakeboard), Chelsea Mills (water ski), Lauren Morgan (water ski), Elisha Nelson (adaptive water ski), Allie Nicholson (water ski), Gregg Stokes (adaptive water ski), Sarah Switzer (adaptive water ski), Jonathan Travers (water ski) and Corey Vaughn (water ski).
Application Eligibility
To be considered, you must be an actively competing athlete with U.S. citizenship status to represent Team USA at all levels of international competition, have a current USA-WSWS membership, AND meet ONE of the following additional criteria:
1. Have been selected as a member of the 2019 U.S. Pan American Games team for water ski or wakeboard.
2. Have been selected as a member of a World Championship team for AWSA in the open or U21 divisions within the past five years (starting in 2016).
3. Currently rank in the top 15 for two event and/or rank in the top ten one event in the latest (October 2020) IWWF Ranking List for open or U21 divisions - http://www.iwsf.com/wrl_1020/index.htm.
4. Have participated in the 2019 Team Trials event for USA Wakeboard or participated as a member on the U.S World Championship team within the past five years (starting in 2016).
5. Have been selected as a member of the 2017 and/or 2019 U.S. Adaptive National team.