Woo Crew Off To Nationals

DAYTON - Local athletes will compete at the United States of America Snowboard Association's Snowboard and Freeski National Competitions at Copper Mountain, Colorado, this week and next.

Dayton resident Alex Naylor, 16, will compete in the men's 16-18 age group. He is currently ranked 6th nationally in ski cross. Naylor is one of 22 finalists competing on Monday, April 11. He was undefeated in all qualifying races this winter. Naylor is a sophomore at Dayton High School, plays football and is an Eagle Scout.

Jaymin Morgan, 14, improved his national standing from 45th to 25th on Sunday, April 3, in snowboard slalom. This is Morgan's sixth season at Nationals. Morgan, of Kennewick, competes in youth men snowboard age group 14-15 year olds in slalom, giant salmon and boarder cross. He is a member of the Woo Crew, a regional group of local youth snow riders who compete in the Inland Northwest Series of USASA.

Other Woo Crew national finalists include Sarah Koehler, 22, of Cheney. She is ranked first nationally in the Open Skier, 19+ event for ski cross. She has consistently finished first in all qualifying races this season in ski cross. Koehler studies biology at Eastern Washington University.

BreAnna Morgan, 18, of Kennewick is currently ranked 4th in the women's 16-18 ski cross age group. Ten women from around the country will compete in her age group. Morgan was undefeated this season in all qualifying races. She graduates from Southridge High School this spring and will be attending Eastern Washington University this fall .

Troy Cecie competes in the 13-15 age group of boys' ski cross. This is his first time to compete at nationals. He lives in Nine Mile near Spokane.

Blake Morasch will compete with teammate Cecie in the boys' 13-15 age group. Morasch is a freshman at Walla Walla High School and can be found in the trees at Bluewood every weekend during the winter season.