For alpine skier Emma Woodhouse (Collingwood, Ontario), UNH is a place she will cherish forever because of the friends and memories she made along the way. But she also left a major legacy at UNH which included winning the 2020 Jim Urquhart Student-Athlete of the Year Award, which is the most prestigious student-athlete award at the school. She was also a two-time All-American and is a nominee for the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year Award.Â
Woodhouse discussed what her UNH experience meant to her. Â
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 COMING TO DURHAM
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Heidi Roussin, Lisa Wedsjö, Emma Woodhouse, Ava Mattsson, Rachel Nawrocki,
Geneviève Frigon, Sohvi Virkkula
"I chose UNH because the program is known for being a competitive and tight-knit team throughout the college circuit. I was also encouraged by people that I already knew on the team, so they told me what the UNH ski team is all about."
Woodhouse says knows she made the right choice for many reasons and it holds a special place in her heart.
"I definitely made the right choice in coming to UNH. I made so many memories and friends, and I will cherish that for the rest of my life. UNH is very special because throughout my four years I only grew stronger and wiser. I learned so much since my freshma year and I'm happy with who I'm going to become post-graduation."
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TEAM SPIRIT
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Geneviève Frigon, Sohvi Virkkula and Emma Woodhouse
Woodhouse had a great four years with the team.
"I had an amazing experience with this team. Before UNH, I was on a team but had never felt that sense of team spirit like I had as a Wildcat. It made me realize how important it is to have teammates that support you and help you reach your goals."
Balancing athletics and academics were a priority for her to keep her mind focused on events.
"It was definitely an adjustment at first, but I found that I needed to get into a habit of studying and getting my work done before races or training just so that skiing could be my only focus for that day. Having a proactive approach can help you grow as a student and athlete at UNH."
There were very memorable moments along the way.
"My most memorable moments with the team were during our January camp training session near Cannon Mountain. It's a time where nobody has schoolwork to do and we can just focus on our sport. It's also the opportunity for us to bond and grow stronger as a team which only motivates us for the upcoming carnival season."
There is also a specific moment that she wishes she could relive.
"When I won my first college race this past season at the Harvard Carnival at Waterville Valley. After leading the first run, I wanted to win so bad and I knew that I needed to take deep breathes and just go for it. That feeling I had in the finish with my teammates and parents right there, everything I wanted and dreamed of had become a reality."
Her answer to her favorite spot on campus demonstrates how important the team was to her.
"I would have to say our ski locker room in the field house. It was so meaningful when I had first come to UNH because when I walked in and saw my name above my locker, I really felt like I earned this spot on this team and that I made it. It was also the hardest place to leave when I packed up my things from that locker because I knew that it was coming to an end of an amazing four years."
LOOKING BACK
Woodhouse took away some life lessons from her time at UNH.
"I learned how to be a team player as well as a leader at UNH. My first half of college was all about cheering my teammates on and going with the flow. But my last half was all about being there for my teammates for when they needed guidance or to help them achieve their goals. I was honored to have been given this opportunity to be a captain of the team and I will take that with me through my future endeavors."
As she reflects on her college career, Woodhouse would have nothing but praise for someone considering UNH as a place to ski.
"I would tell them that this is a team that is encouraging and motivating and if you have a goal, UNH can help you reach that goal. Many skiers have become better athletes mentally and physically coming out of college and have got an education while doing it."
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Please check back to UNHWildcats.com as we continue our Senior Reflections series.
