The University of Wyoming Nordic ski teams continued to improve Friday on the cross country course at the United States Collegiate Ski Association (USCSA) championships in Sun Valley, Idaho.
"We had a great day. The youngsters really stepped up and the entire team rocked it," UW Coach Christi Boggs says.
The UW Cowgirls placed third overall in the women's freestyle event, while the Cowboys took fourth in the men's competition. The USCSA national meet concludes Saturday with the 3x5 team relay.
Sarah Dixson, freshman, Steamboat Springs, Colo., placed ninth overall for the UW women during Friday's race. She was followed by Sarah Johnson, sophomore, Duluth, Minn., 13th; Cara Noseworthy, sophomore, Medford, N.J., in 14th; Catherine Schmidt, sophomore, Laramie, was 16th; Elizabeth Eikelberger, freshman, Casper, 23rd; and Kara Rechard, junior, Albuquerque, N.M., 25th.
St. Olaf (Northfield, Minn.) won the event with a team-low 10 points, followed by Clarkson University (Potsdam, N.Y.) with 18. UW scored 30, Mesa State College (Grand Junction, Colo.) had 36 and Whitman College (Walla Walla, Wash.) had 52 to round out the top five.
Casper freshman Nathan Hough had the best individual performance for the UW men, finishing sixth overall. He was followed by Devin Oderwald, junior, Granby, Colo., in 15th; Zach Bochanski, freshman, Fairfax, Vt., 20th; Willie Via, sophomore, Fairbanks, Alaska, 23rd; Michael Fitzgerald, senior, Laramie, 30th; and Patrick Rodgers, Casper freshman, 32nd.
Western State College (Gunnison, Colo.) won the men's event with a team-low nine points followed by St. Olaf with 19, Clarkson University with 27 and UW 34.
"It really was a great day with almost everyone having their best race of the year," Boggs says. "Sarah and Nathan truly showed where they will ski in the future."
After the final event, the All-American teams will be announced for both the women's and men's teams.
