MWSC has announced new coaches
CARIBOU — Maine Winter Sports Center has announced the hire of two new coaches.
Lauren Jacobs, a recent graduate of Bates College, joins MWSC as a coach in the Healthy Hometown programs. She will be responsible for community development projects throughout northern Maine.
Sarah Kamilewicz is joining MWSC as a development coach. She will work specifically with junior racers from across Maine.
Jacobs, born and raised in Kennebec County, went to Bates College where she skied on the Nordic team for four years. After graduating with a degree in English, she moved to Farmington and helped coach the Mt. Blue High School Nordic ski team to a state championship. It was there that Jacobs began developing a love for working with younger skiers.
A desire to become fluent in French sent her to Laval University in Quebec for a year of graduate school. While in Quebec, Jacobs raced for a local club team, Skibec. She then moved on to biathlon and Nordic racing full time on the Craftsbury Green Racing Project, where she spent two years training, working, and living in northern Vermont. In Craftsbury Jacobs helped run the year-round BKL program and summer camps.
In making the decision to step back from competing as a full-time athlete, Jacobs wanted to return home to Maine and find a job that would incorporate both her love of skiing and the outdoors and her desire to work with kids. Jacobs says she was attracted to MWSC because she “wanted to be part of an organization that does on-the-ground day-to-day work, while also remaining focused on a broader vision of providing healthy recreation opportunities across Maine.”
“We are incredibly lucky to have someone of Lauren’s caliber joining our community development staff,” said Mike Smith, director of the Healthy Hometowns program for MWSC. “Lauren brings a love of the outdoors, and a true passion to work with Maine communities to our staff. Her skills as an athlete and coach will be of immediate value.”
Kamilewicz started her skiing career on the trails and backwoods of northern Minnesota. She skied through high school before attending the University of Minnesota Duluth. Following her initial years of undergraduate work, she was selected to attend the Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, where she focused her attention full time on biathlon.
From NMU, Kamilewicz made the jump to the U.S. Army’s Biathlon program. She served her country in the National Guard and regular Army for a total of eight years. During that time, Kamilewicz was a member of the National Guard Biathlon Program, World Class Athlete Program and the United States National Biathlon Team. She has a total of nine years of IBU Cup and IBU World Cup experience. She was a multiple IBU World Championship Team member and was the alternate for the 2006 Olympic Biathlon Team.
Following the 2006 Olympic games in Torino, Kamilewicz received a bachelor’s of science in life science education and then pursued a teaching and coaching career in western Maine at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School. She enjoys all types of skiing and outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, biking and hiking. “
“Sarah will bring a wealth of experience to our entire program,” said Will Sweetser, MWSC competitive programs director. “Her racing career compliments that of David Chamberlain, and gives us a comprehensive background for all of our young skiers and biathletes.”
