UW Nordic Ski Club Competes against Division I Teams

February 10, 2009

The University of Wyoming Nordic Club placed several individuals while competing against scholarship Division I teams at last weekend's Denver University Invitational.

Nine NCAA-sanctioned schools, along with UW's men's and women's teams, competed at Devil's Thumb Ranch in Tabernash, Colo.

In the men's classic race last Friday, the UW men placed seven racers among the top 50 finishers, led by Evgeniy Panzhinskiy, senior from Russia, who placed 25th. Lander freshman Eliah Pedersen, placed 32nd in the race followed by Cowboy teammates Daniel Lewis, junior, Jackson, 36th; Casper junior John Kirlin 41st; Matt Hall, freshman, Casper, 43rd; Jacob Peterson, Lander junior, 46th; and in 50th place was Grigory Kolesov, graduate student from Russia.

The University of Colorado won the race with 76 points, while the runner-up Montana State University men scored 68. Five more Division 1 teams finished ahead of the Cowboys, who placed eighth with 29 points.

Gracey Lewis, freshman, Jackson, had the best finish, 28th, among the UW women. Finishing among the top 45 individuals for the Cowgirls were Kari Boroff, senior Daniel, 33rd; Gwynn Barrows, junior, Laramie, 36th; Casper freshman Morgan Cropsey, 41st; and Marie Cartwright, sophomore, Lander, 45th.

The Cowgirls also placed eighth in the women's competition with all the teams ahead of them NCAA-sanctioned squads. The host Denver University women won the overall title with 72 points, while the University of Colorado team had 64 and the UW women scored 24.

Both UW teams finished eighth in their respective divisions in Saturday's skate race.

Denver University again won the women's competition with 77 points, while the Cowgirls scored 28. The University of Colorado took the men's title with 80 points, while the Cowboys had 31.

Panzhinskiy again led the Cowboys by placing 17th overall followed by Kirlin in 31st place; Pedersen 35th; Daniel 36th; and Lander graduate student Joe Howdyshell, Kinner, Peterson and Hall placed 38th through 41st, respectively. Also placing among the top 45 were UW skiers Grigory Kolesov, graduate student from Russia and Willie Via, freshman, Fairbanks, Alaska, who were 44th and 45th, respectively.

Lewis again paced the UW Cowgirls with her 19th place overall finish. Boroff took 26th place and taking 28th and 29th were teammates Cartwright and Barrows.

"We had a fantastic weekend," said Coach Christi Boggs, a UW Outreach Credit Programs assistant lecturer. "It was an NCAA Division I competition and UW had it best performance since Nordic skiing was brought back."

The UW teams will host the annual Cowboy Chase Feb 21-22.

Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2009

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