Featured Image: Cardigan Middle School Ski Team/Photo Credit: C.Adams/CMS
How Cardigan’s youngest team stunned the field—and each other. What it looks like when a middle school program develops athletes ahead of the curve.
“Look how small they are.”
The comment came from behind the finish as the youngest members of Cardigan’s ski team climbed onto the podium. Within seconds, the tone of the crowd shifted.
“What’s a junior boarding school?” someone asked.
“Did we just get beaten by middle schoolers?”
They had.
Racing against older and more experienced high school athletes, the Cardigan Cougars didn’t just show up to compete. They controlled the race. The middle school squad swept both the slalom and giant slalom to claim the Class A Championship in February at Mount Sunapee.
Seven athletes led the charge, including Cam Blatz ’25 and Thomas Choi ’25, with contributions across the lineup. Just as important, the rest of the team created an environment that carried through every run.
Director of Skiing Julia Ford credits that culture.
“What makes this team special is how they push each other every day,” she said. “They work together, support each other, and grow as a team. That is what makes the results meaningful.”
From Sunapee to the National Stage
The result at Sunapee was not a one off.
Blatz and Choi carried that momentum to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard U16 National Championships at Sugarloaf, where both delivered in giant slalom. Blatz finished second. Choi followed in fifth against one of the deepest junior fields in the country.
Both athletes also stepped onto the international stage, representing their countries in elite competition.
Development Beyond Results
Blatz’s transition to Cardigan came with its own challenges.
“Not having my phone was a big adjustment,” he said. “I had been doing online school, so I was used to being home and connected all the time.”
Support from coaches, teachers, and older teammates helped him find his footing quickly. “Mr. Turcotte helped me a lot in math when I was struggling. Ms. Ford was there from day one. Older guys in my dorm checked in on me.”
Balancing academics with ski racing and other sports became part of that growth. “My teachers stayed in touch when I traveled. They made time for Zoom calls and helped me keep up. Everyone supported me.”
That multi sport environment played a role in his skiing as well.
“Football helped with conditioning. Learning plays improved my focus and footwork. Lacrosse gave me a mental reset. When I came back to skiing, things clicked again.”
Moments That Stick
When asked what he will remember most, Blatz doesn’t hesitate: a rain-soaked lacrosse victory against rival Eaglebrook School, with the entire student body lining the sidelines.
He also points to his final home game against Eaglebrook—knowing it would be the last time he would take the field in a Cardigan jersey.
A gold medal at the Whistler Cup and the recognition that followed back on campus. And his final Eaglebrook Day, knowing it would be the last time in a Cardigan jersey.
“I cried,” he said. “It meant everything.”
Why They Won
For Blatz, the championship at Sunapee stands out because of how the team performed together.
“I have never seen us work like that,” he said. “Everyone was at the bottom cheering. People on course could hear us.”
That energy showed up on the clock. “We were a team. That is why we were fast.”
Competition That Builds
Blatz and Choi spent the season pushing each other, often separated by tenths.
“People compare us all the time,” Blatz said. “But we make each other better.”
Off the hill, the relationship stays simple. “At the end of the day, we are just friends.”
The Next Step
Blatz will attend Stratton Mountain School next year while training with the U.S. Regional Development Team, while his teammate Thomas Choi will attend Burke Mountain Academy.
“I am ready,” Cam said. “Cardigan prepared me.”
Leaving, however, will not be easy.
“This place is family.”
The Bigger Picture
Cardigan’s result at Sunapee says something bigger about development.
Talent matters. But environment, culture, and daily training habits often decide who actually improves.
This group showed what happens when all three align.
**This article reflects the 2024–2025 season and athlete results from that period.
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