Three Freestyle Rookies of the Year
MEGEVE, France (Mar. 22) – Bradley Wilson (Butte, MT), K.C. Oakley (Piedmont, CA), and Jonathan Lillis (Rochester, NY) were voted FIS Freestyle World Cup Rookies of the Year. Wilson and Oakley were awarded their cups at the World Cup Finals in Megeve, France. Wilson finished the season ranked eighth in the World Cup moguls standings. K.C. Oakley, who made the finals of every World Cup event, ended her rookie season ranked ninth. Lillis’ honor was announced at the final aerials event in Voss, Norway. He was ranked 25th, making the finals in two World Cups. The threesome joins a long list of past U.S. winners.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Bradley Wilson (Butte, MT) earned the 2012 Freestyle World Cup moguls men’s Rookie of the Year title after a strong, consistent first season. Wilson came out of the Wasatch Freestyle program at Deer Valley Resort.
- Wilson had eight top ten finishes in 13 starts, finishing fourth twice.
- Wilson’s top ten ranking will secure him a position on the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team moguls A-Team for the 2013 season.
- K.C. Oakley (Piedmont, CA) was named the 2012 Freestyle World Cup moguls women’s Rookie of the Year. Oakley skied in the Park City Freestyle Ski Team program.
- Oakley’s World Cup Rookie of the Year comes on the heels of her 2011 NorAm title.
- Oakley is ranked ninth in World Cup moguls. With a top ten ranking she will move up to the moguls A-team for next season.
- Oakley earned one podium finish, a third, and had seven top ten finishes en route to her Rookie of the Year title.
- Jonathan Lillis (Rochester, NY) was the 2012 World Cup aerials Rookie of the Year.
- Lillis made the finals in two World Cups in his first season, finishing the year 25th in the World Cup standings.
QUOTES
Bradley Wilson
It’s sweet, I started off the year with winning Rookie of the Year as one of my main goals.
Midway through the season, I’d been having some success, some top ten finishes and I realized that I could finish the season in the overall top ten and make the A-Team. That became my next goal. It feels great to have accomplished both of my goals for my first season. It began with me just wanted to do well, ski, and get my name out.
K.C. Oakley
I’m feeling really good. Everything I’ve wanted to do this season, I’ve accomplished. My goal coming into the season was making the A-Team. To do that you have to ski well and get either two podium finishes or finish in the top ten on the World Cup.
Making every final this season was big for me. I’m proud of that consistency in my first year on the World Cup.