The state of Wisconsin has 14 athletes competing in the 2022 Winter Olympics that are currently underway in Beijing, China. There are more competing that graduated from the University of Wisconsin. This article features some of these athletes and their previous accomplishments.
Women’s Hockey
Alex Cavallini, Delafield
Cavallini is a 30-year-old goalie for the United States Women’s National Team. Born in Delafield, Cavallini is a graduate from the University of Wisconsin and is a returning member of the 2018 U.S. national team where she won gold. Cavallini holds many other accolades: a collegiate national champion, CWHL goaltender of the year in 2018-2019, Clarkson Cup winner and a top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award in 2012, which goes to the top player in NCAA Division I Women’s Ice Hockey. In addition, she earned a spot on seven International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championship teams.
Brianna Decker, Dousman
Decker is a 30-year-old forward for the United States Women’s national team. Born in Dousman, Decker graduated from University of Wisconsin in 2013 where she went on to play women’s professional hockey. She is returning to the Women’s National Team for the third time, having won gold with the U.S. team in 2018 and silver in 2014. Decker was also a member of nine International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championship teams with the United States. Also, she has an extensive list of accolades as a two-time winner of the Bob Allen Women’s Player of the Year Award in 2015 and 2017, two-time CWHL Clarkson Cup winner in 2015 and 2019, 2016 NWHL Isobel Cup winner, two-time NWHL MVP in 2016 and 2017, 2012 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner and a national champion with the University of Wisconsin in 2011.
Unfortunately, Decker will not be able to continue with the team’s quest for back-to-back gold medals as she suffered a broken ankle in United States’ 5-0 win over Russia on Saturday.
You can catch Cavallini and Team USA back on the ice Friday, Feb. 11 against Czech Republic at 12:10 PM Central Standard Time.
Women’s Snowboarding
Courtney Rummel, West Bend
Born in West Bend, Rummel is an 18-year-old snowboarder for the United States Women’s National Team. Rummel is the youngest member of the U.S. women’s snowboarding team, having recently graduated from West Bend West High School. Born and raised in Wisconsin, Rummel is no stranger to snow and is ready for the Olympic course.
This is Rummel’s first Olympic games, but she finished in 17th place in slopestyle at the 2022 World Cup in Laax, Switzerland, took home silver at the 2021 U.S National Championships in slopestyle, and took home silver in the 2020 Nor-Am Cup in the big air event and finished seventh in slopestyle. Unfortunately, Rummel failed to qualify for the final of Snowboarding Slopestyle. However, she will have a shot at qualifying for the big air event on Feb. 14.
Speedskating
Emery Lehman, Marquette University
Born in Oak Park, Illinois, Lehman is a 25-year-old long track speedskater for the United States who graduated from Marquette in 2020. This is Lehman’s third time on the Olympic team returning from the 2018 and 2014 teams. Lehman is yet to win a medal at the Olympics finishing in 8th place in Team Pursuit and 21st in the 5000m in 2018 and finishing 10th in the 10000m and 16th in the 5000m in 2014. Also, Lehman has won events in previous Junior World Championships with a gold medal from the 5000m event and a bronze medal from the 3000m in the 2012-13 World Junior Championships Team.
He also has four other bronze medals from the 2013-14 and 2014-15 World Junior Championships Team finishing third in the 1500m, 3000m and two times in the 5000m. This year Lehman finished 16th in the Men’s 5000m and 11th in the Men’s 1500m. Lehman will be back on the ice Sunday, Feb. 13 for the Men’s Team Pursuit Quarterfinals.
Jordan Stolz, Kewaskum
Born in Kewaskum, Stolz is a 17-year-old speedskater for the United States Men’s National Team. Stolz has a chance to take the Olympics by storm, as he won the Olympic trials at the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee for both the 500m and 1000m. This is Stolz first time on the Olympic Team, but he has experience in World Championships finishing 28th in the 500m, 28th in 1000m, and 40th in the 1500m at the 2020 World Junior Championships. Stolz is a World Junior Record Holder in the 500m and 1000m, he holds the National Record for the 500m and holds the Track Records at the Pettit National Ice Center in the 500m and 1000m. Stolz will be competing in the Men’s 500m on Saturday Feb. 12 and the Men’s 1000m on Friday, Feb 18.
Ethan Cepuran, Glen Ellyn, Ill
Born in Glen Ellyn Ill. Cepuran is not a Wisconsinite, but he still has ties to Milwaukee as he grew up skating with his family at the Pettit National Ice Center. Cepuran is a 21-year-old long track speedskater for the Men’s National Team. This is Cepuran’s first time on the Men’s National team. However, he has prior experience in World Championships finishing 15th in the 5000m and 22nd in the 1500m in 2021. He also finished fifth in the Team Pursuit event at the 2020 World Single Distance Championships. Cepuran finished 17th in the Men’s 5000m and will join Lehman on the ice for the Men’s Team Pursuit Sunday, Feb. 13.