Bascue named to Youth Team; Sweeney continues to perform at high level

Codie Bascue was officially selected to represent the United States at the Youth Olympic Games next month in Igls, Austria.

The United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation formally announced its roster on Tuesday and Bascue was one of five athletes named to the team.

Bascue and teammate Jake Peterson of Princeton Minnesota will compete in the two-man bobsled event at the first winter version of the Youth Winter Olympic Games from Jan. 13-22, 2012.

Bascue and Peterson have dominated qualifying events for the games, winning gold in every race, and the federation expects the duo to compete for gold.

“I expect Codie and Jake will give the world a run for gold in Igls, Austria next month,” Amanda Bird, marketing and communications manager for the federation said Tuesday.

Bascue and Ryan Sweeney were part of a U.S. Team that captured 15 medals in an America’s Cup stop at the track on Mount Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid.

Athlete in all five disciplines competed in two races Dec. 1-4 and Bascue was one of three U.S. male pilots who combined to earn eight medals.

Bascue teamed with Nic Taylor of Hayward, CA in the first race as they captured a bronze medal.

Their two run total of 1:56.08 helped complete a American sweep.

Nick Cunningham and Dallas Robinson captured gold while Cory Butner and Caleb Pelger earned silver. Butner and Cunningham both appeared in a charity basketball for Bascue last spring.

In the second race, Bascue teamed with Jeremy Ware for a fifth place finish.

His two-run total of 1:54.93 was actually faster than that of his third place finish but times were a little quicker across the board.

Ryan Sweeney continued his development in the men’s skeleton. Sweeney competed in both skeleton races, finishing 13th with a two run total of 1:55.20 in the first race, and 12th with a time of 1:55.04 in the second race.

The next America’s Cup event will take place in March following an international driving school in Lake Placid, where the America’s Cup champions will be decided.

Bascue and Sweeney are part of a U.S. team that has captured more than 60 medals this season in international competition.