UW Nordic Ski Teams Sweep Final Conference Races

February 22, 2012

The University of Wyoming Nordic ski teams finished the regular season unbeaten in regional competition, sweeping both weekend races during the Cowboy Chase at Tie City on Happy Jack Road.

The nationally recognized Cowboys and Cowgirls have the weekend off and will prepare for the 34th annual United States Collegiate Ski Association (USCSA) championships March 6-10 in Bethel, Maine.

Representing the UW men's team will be junior Kyle Bochanski of Fairfax, Vt.; Nathan Hough, a Casper sophomore; senior Adam Karges, of Grand Rapids, Minn.; Adam Looney, a senior from Anchorage, Alaska; Devin Oderwald, a senior from Granby, Colo.; Patrick Rodgers, a Casper sophomore; and Willie Via, a junior from Fairbanks, Alaska.

Cowgirls who will compete at nationals are freshman Linnea Dixson and her sister Sarah, a sophomore, both from Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Cody sophomore Sierra Jech; Sarah Johnson, a junior from Duluth, Minn.; Shanna McCleary, a Casper sophomore; Cara Noseworthy, a Medford, N.J., senior; Laramie sophomore Catherine Schmidt; and Bridget Weiner, a Casper sophomore.

The UW men won last Saturday's 10km skate with a team low 10 points. They were followed by the United States Air Force Academy with 24; Colorado Mesa University (CMU) 32; and Western State College (WSC) had 34.

Hough won the competition and Bochanski was fourth. Rodgers finished sixth, Oderwald seventh and Via finished 10th.

Weiner and Jech took the top two positions for the Cowgirls and Linnea Dixson finished fourth. UW women also captured the sixth through 10 spots. Finishing in order were McCleary, Johnson, Schmidt, Sarah Dixson and Noseworthy.

The Cowgirls won the competition with seven points, CMU scored 19 and Air Force had 27.

The Cowgirls put eight women in the top 10 during Sunday's 10km classic, including a 1-2-3 perfect finish for a season-low 6 points. They were followed by CMU with 23 points and Air Force scored 27.

Taking the top three positions for UW were Jech, Weiner and Linnea Dixson. Johnson, Noseworthy, Schmidt, McCleary and Sarah Dixson finished fifth through ninth.

Hough won his second race of the weekend, followed by Rodgers in third, Bochanski placed fourth, Oderwald fifth and Via in sixth.

The Cowboys won the competition with eight points; WSC scored 25; Air Force 30; and CMU had 39.

The season's overall individual top three skiers were announced after Sunday's final race.

UW Cowgirls Weiner and Jech placed first and second, and early-season leader Brooke Brosman of CMU finished third in the season-long standings. Bochanski was the men's runner-up in the overall standings to Air Force's Stefan Zavala.

"For Bridget and Sierra, not bad for their first season as Cowgirls," says UW Coach Christi Boggs. "Kyle is a redshirt freshman, so it also was an amazing showing from him. The future looks bright for the UW Nordic skiers."

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