Troy Murphy at the 2017 Visa Freestyle International World Cup in Utah. After struggling with injuries in 2016, he bounced back last year with six top-10 finishes and was ranked sixth in the world.
Matt Murphy, who works at Gould Academy in Bethel, had a conversation with Woody Hughes in 2010 that started the community effort that led his son to the Winter Olympics in South Korea.
Nancy Murphy poses for a photo last week at the family home in Bethel, where Troy Murphy started learning how to flip off a jump after his father rigged a rope-tow in his backyard to bring Troy and his friends back up the short hill.
Woody Hughes, seen last week in the pottery classroom at Gould Academy, where he was a pottery teacher, came up with the idea to auction off pottery that he and Troy Murphy made, to help raise money for Murphy to compete in international mogul skiing competitions. The auctions spurred other fundraising efforts for Murphy, including a benefit golf tournament.
Brad Jerome, director of sales and marketing at the Bethel Inn, organizes an annual golf tournament to help support Troy Murphy's efforts. Jerome said the event's sponsors "really want to help Troy and the mission he’s on."
Nick Lambert, vice president of sales and marketing at Sunday River, poses for a photo at the ski area last week. Lambert and Sunday River have supported Troy Murphy in his bid to land a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.
Darcy Lambert, director of communications for Sunday River, puts up posters in the South Ridge Base Lodge that congratulate Troy Murphy for making the U.S. men's moguls Olympic team and tell people when the moguls competition will be televised.
Andrew Bishop, director of admissions at Gould Academy, said, "Troy is epitome of what we want our Gould Academy students to be."
Pottery created by Troy Murphy is displayed on a beam in his parents' home in Bethel. Some of Murphy's pottery was auctioned off to help raise money for him to compete in professional skiing.
Troy Murphy competes in a dual moguls competition at the FIS Visa Freestyle International World Cup in Utah in 2016.
Troy Murphy finishes at run in the moguls competition at the 2017 Visa Freestyle World Cup in Utah.
Troy Murphy embraces his supporters Woody Hughes, right, and Lee Hughes at the last World Cup competition, in Tremblant, Quebec.
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