Molly Burke has a positive attitude. Most student-athletes would find it difficult to stay optimistic while battling illness. Not to mention that the Nordic ski season has been compromised because of the lack of snow. But that doesn't bother Burke. She takes it all in stride. "Although I was discouraged by my sickness I recognized that I needed to take time to heal my body and that's what kept me going," she said. Champlain Valley Union (CVU) Nordic head coach Sarah Strack concurs, "Molly has had a tough start to the season battling illnesses. She raced her first race, for JV, last week and won. We're hoping she will continue to improve through the remainder of the season."

Born and raised in Shelburne, Burke will turn 18 on July 12, 2012. Her family includes parents Laurie and Tim, younger sister Kate, a freshman at CVU, and a black Labrador retriever named Maggie. 

Burke credits her parents for her interest in Nordic. "Cross country skiing began as a family thing," Burke reminisced. "We used to go to Trapp Family Lodge a lot when I was little. We probably started when I was about five years old."

It may be surprising to note that this four-year Nordic skier still hasn't developed a pre-race ritual. "I'm not superstitious. Besides drinking a lot of water, I don't do anything special," she noted.  Regardless there is something special about this team. With only four competitions under their belts, the team has won three. And with only four more races to go before the state meet, the team looks to capitalize on its skill and depth.

In addition to cross country skiing, Burke was a three-year varsity field hockey player. In fact, it is her field hockey prowess for which she is most proud. "I guess my greatest achievement is that I made the field hockey team as a sophomore," she shared. "Not only that, I played." 

And play she did. CVU head field hockey coach Kate McDonald chimed in about this upbeat senior, "Molly was a pleasure to coach. She has a strong game sense and a knack for being in the right place at the right time," she commented. "She was hindered by injury this season and that limited her game play. But her enthusiasm and teamwork never waned, and when she was healthy she was an impact player on the field," McDonald continued. "I will miss her positive attitude and energy, her constant smile, and her strong work ethic."

Gainfully employed by TimberNest Loft Beds for the past two summers, there's more to Burke than athletics. "At TimberNest I answer the phones, file, I do a little of everything." And that's not all. Burke understands the importance of giving back. "Over spring break I joined Volunteer Vermont and worked on projects in Summerton, S.C. We worked hard but it was a positive experience," she noted. 

Another positive experience for Burke is her Grad Challenge Project. "I'm learning sign language. It's actually pretty difficult. I don't think people realize how challenging sign language is," she said.

Her acceptance to college wasn't as challenging. "My top choice was Denison University. I applied Early Decision II and was just waiting to hear," she said during our interview. Yesterday, Jan. 31, she heard and shared the good news, "I will be going there [Denison] next fall," she said enthusiastically. 

With her positive mind-set, there's no doubt that Burke's many talents will enable her to easily traverse the trails of life.