UW Nordic Teams Stay Atop Fields at Nationals

The University of Wyoming Nordic ski teams continued their drives toward national championships with strong performances at the 38th annual United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association national championships at Lake Placid, N.Y., Wednesday.

In the 7.5km freestyle race, UW’s Will Timmons (Anchorage, Alaska), Sam Wiswell (Jackson) and Mason Vincent (Laramie) went 1-2-3 to dominate the event. UW’s other men also competed well, with Ben Noreen (Ironwood, Mich.) finishing seventh, Taylor Vignaroli (Casper) 14th and Trevor Willoughby (Casper) 19th in a field of 53.

“The conditions were super rough, with man-made snow that looked like it came out of a snow-cone machine,” co-head Coach Christi Boggs says. “They all skied amazing and with heart, and it showed.”

UW’s men sit comfortably in first place in the team standings midway through the competition, leading second-place Western State University, of Gunnison, Colo., by 28 points.

For the women, UW’s Elise Sulser, of Casper, won her second national title with a victory in the 7.5km freestyle by more than a minute. She also won Tuesday’s 15km race.

Meghan Kent (Laramie) finished seventh, Yara Thomas (Jackson) 11th, Bridget Weiner (Casper) 13th, Britta Schroeter (Ironwood, Mich.) 20th, Leann Bentley (Laramie) 22nd, and Victoria Hollingsworth (Jackson) 32nd in a field of 47.

As a team, UW’s women tied with Clarkson University, of Potsdam, N.Y., on Wednesday, but the Cowgirls won the tie-breaker by having the fastest fourth skier (Weiner).

“It was super tight the entire race,” Boggs says. “They were amazing and fought for every place they could.”

UW’s women lead Clarkson University by three points in the overall standings.

More than 500 skiers nationwide are competing for national collegiate titles in alpine and Nordic skiing, and snowboard/freeski events, at Lake Placid this week. UW’s Nordic club teams compete in Division II at the national meet.

After taking Thursday off, the athletes resume action Friday with the 1.8km classic sprint, and the week ends with Saturday’s freestyle team relay.