UW Nordic Ski Cowboys Take National Lead and Cowgirls Second

Both University of Wyoming Nordic ski teams had rousing starts to begin the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA) Collegiate Championships in Bend, Ore., Tuesday, with the Cowboys claiming the national lead on the opening day, while the Cowgirls were second.

“We knew we had a chance for a win going into the day, but everything had to go perfectly -- from the meals, to the transportation, to the wax, to the cheering, to the race splits and, most importantly, all the skiers had to put together the best races they could on the day,” says UW co-head Coach Rachel Watson. “Each and every one of them skied as hard as they could, and it showed.”

The men’s team took the opening 7.5km freestyle race, scoring an overall low of 18 points, while St. Olaf College of Northfield, Minn., was second with 25. Third went to Colorado Mesa University, from Grand Junction, Colo., with 27 points.

In a field of more than 80 competitors, Lander’s Diego Labotos was the Cowboys’ top finisher, placing third, with Kaleb Simonson, also of Lander, finishing two places behind his teammate, and Austin Quillinan, of Laramie, taking 10th. Other place winners for the UW men were Jack Jendro, of Minneapolis, Minn., 20th; Eliot Kramer, of Minneapolis, 23rd; Matthew Ahrndt, of Casper, 24th; Emmitt Gray, from Laramie, 41st; and Sean Kraemer, of Evergreen, Colo., 53rd.

The Cowgirls tied Paul Smiths College, from Paul Smiths, N.Y., for the runner-up position with 30 points each. St. Olaf College dominated the women’s race with just six points.

Individually, the UW women skied against one of the strongest fields in memory, UW co-head Coach Christi Boggs says.

Casper’s Sammy Veauthier was the Cowgirls’ top finisher, placing eighth, and was followed by Wren Hybertson, of Boulder, Colo., in 13th place; Lander’s Shayla Babbits took 15th; and Eleanor Veauthier, of Casper, was 26th.

“Our women skied incredibly. It was a tough course with some really long hills, and they just kept fighting,” Boggs says. “That grit kept them in the race and took them to a tie for second place as a team.”

The next USCSA race is classic sprint Wednesday.

“For both teams, we just need to focus on improving in each race, and we will be competitive at the end of the week,” Boggs adds.