(Winter Haven, FL) - The USA Water Ski and Wake Sports Foundation is giving away thousands of dollars in scholarships to young water sports athletes from across the country.
These particular scholarships are awarded annually at the U.S. National Water Ski Championships to the overall winners of each of the Boys and Girls Divisions. The Scholarships will be held in escrow by the foundation until these young people attend the college or university of their choice.
Bode Bulfer from Northfield, Minnesota won the Boys 1 National Overall Points award at the Goode U.S. National Water Ski Championships and has been awarded the Jim Grew Boys 1 Scholarship sponsored by Jim Grew in the amount of $2,000. The 2021 National Tournament was Bode's third time competing at Nationals but the very first time he has won a medal and won the gold in every Boys 1 event.
Grace Lohr from Orlando, Florida won the Girls 1 National Overall Points award and has been awarded the Jim Grew Girls 1 Scholarship sponsored by Jim Grew in the amount of $2,000. Grace is a fourth-generation National Water Ski Champion who started water skiing when she was just 20 months old.
Ty Robbins from Wexford, Pennsylvania won the Boys 2 National Overall Points and has been awarded the Walsh Family Boys 2 Scholarship sponsored by the Walsh Family in the amount of $2,000. Ty set a new Boys 2 National Jump Record of 112 feet in June and in July he set a new Boys 2 Slalom Record of 4 at 35 off.
Alexia “Lexi” Abelson from Gilbert, Arizona won the Girls 2 National Overall Points award and has been awarded the Walter May Girls 2 Scholarship sponsored by Rachel May in the amount of $2,000. Lexi represented the USA as an independent at the under 17 world championships this year. Her goal is to learn more flips and to trick 5200+ next year.
Jake Abelson from Gilbert, Arizona won the Boys 3 National Overall Points award and has been awarded the Dutch Brothers Coffee Boys 3 Scholarship sponsored by Steve Grubbs in the amount of $1000. Jake recently represented the USA at the under 17 and under 21 World Championships where the US Team won Gold in both competitions.
Julie Mishler from Syracuse, Indiana won the Girls 3 National Overall Points award and has been awarded the Gus Johnson Girls 3 Scholarship sponsored by Kelly Li Johnson in the amount of $1000. Julie was named to the 2020-2021 US Junior National Water Ski Team.
Ty Kosek from Buffalo, Minnesota won the Boys 4 National Overall Points award and has been awarded the Dr. JD Morgan Boys 4 Scholarship sponsored by Dr. Mike Morgan in the amount of $1000. Ty is a junior in high school and is also a swimmer and a football player.
Elizabeth “Liz” Hall from Newnan, Georgia won the Girls 4 National Overall Points award and has been awarded the Linda Giddens Girls 4 Scholarship sponsored by Jody Johnson in the amount of $1,000. Liz also excels in tennis and swimming and wants to have a career designing prosthetics.
Blaze Grubbs from Carmichael, California won the Boys 5 National Overall Points award and has been awarded the Dr. JD Morgan Boys 5 Scholarship sponsored by Dr. Mike Morgan in the amount of $1,000. In addition to water skiing, Blaze is a straight-A student, plays high school basketball, and is a private pilot.
Alyssa “Aly” Drake from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin won the Girls 5 National Overall Points award and has been awarded the Linda Giddens Girls 5 Scholarship sponsored by Jody Johnson in the amount of $1,000. Aly trains in Orlando, Florida, and volunteers at a Horse Therapy Barn called Freedom Ride. She’s not sure where she will go to college but she says it will definitely have a water ski team.
Established in 1968, the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation preserves and celebrates the history of all towed water sports and promotes these sports through our Scholarship Programs and the Water Ski & Wake Sports Hall of Fame.
For more information on scholarships go to our website: https://www.usa-wwf.org/ or email scholarshipadmin@waterskihalloffame.com
