ANCHORAGE – Alaska Anchorage Alpine coach Sparky Anderson announced the signing of U.S. Ski Team Member Vanessa Berther to a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday.

“We're extremely excited to add Vanessa to our veteran women's team,” said Anderson, “She's a fierce competitor and an obvious talent that we expect to make a very positive impact in our 2012 campaign for a championship.”

Berther, a local of Bellevue, Wash., joins the Seawolf squad after spending two seasons with the U.S. Ski Team. A graduate of Skyline High School, Berther won the giant slalom at the U.S. National Junior Championships in Aspen, Colo., in March of 2009, before finishing third overall in the junior division at the U.S. Nationals to help secure a spot on the U.S. Ski Team for the 2009-10 season.

In her first season with the U.S. Ski Team, Berther placed sixth in the super G at the Aspen NorAm after finishing 10th in the giant slalom at the Austrian National Junior Championships. This past season, Berther registered multiple top-15 finishes, including a 14th-place showing in the GS at the National Championships on Jan. 4.

“Vanessa will look great in Green & Gold and I couldn't be more thrilled that she's decided to be a Seawolf,” said Anderson.

Berther is first to sign a letter of intent for the UAA ski team.