The Bobcat ski team will compete at the 2013 NCAA Championship, March 6-9, in Middlebury, Vermont.
Photo by: Neil Hetherington
NCAA Skiing Championship: Bobcat Skiers Field Complete Team for Title Chase
3/5/2013 3:47:00 PM | Skiing
For the first time in school history, the Montana State ski team will field a full 12-member squad for the 60th NCAA Skiing Championship, March 6-9 in Middlebury, Vermont.
For the first time in school history, the Montana State ski team will field a full 12-member squad for the 60th NCAA Skiing Championship, March 6-9 in Middlebury, Vermont.
Leading the MSU contingent will be Nordic standouts Tyler Reinking and David Norris. Reinking earned All-America accolades in both 2010 and 2011, while Norris captured two All-America honors last season in both the classic and freestyle races. Norris was the NCAA runner-up in the classic race last March.
Rounding out the Montana State men's Nordic team is Pat Madden, who along with Reinking, garnered Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association All Second-Team honors, this week.
The MSU women's Nordic squad will be led by Jessica Yeaton, who has been the Bobcats' top performer this winter. Yeaton also received RMISA Second-Team kudos this week, as well. Annie Liotta and Isabella Smith complete the squad, each making their first NCAA appearance.
The men's alpine team featured Michael Radford, who was named RMISA First-Team. Radford also garnered All America Second-Team honors at last year's NCAA meet. Rounding out the team is former NCAA qualifier Mike Mackie, and newcomer Sam Monsen.
All three athletes on the women's alpine side return for their second NCAA Championships. Qualifying for the national meet are Stephanie Irwin, Kelly McBroom and Marissa Riopelle.
Montana State will be looking to improve on its seventh place finish last year, the best for the Bobcats in the modern-era. The team racked-up a school-record 502.5 points, including 200 points from the men's Nordic squad.
MSU will also look to claim its first individual champion. Former director of skiing and alpine coach Dan Brelsford won the slalom title in 1978, while Tor Fageraas captured a Nordic crown in 1962.
The 2013 NCAA meet will begin on Wednesday with the giant slalom event at Snow Bowl. The slalom races will be held on Friday morning. The Nordic races start on Thursday with the classic event, with the freestyle concluding the championship on Saturday morning. The Nordic venue is at the Rikert Nordic Center on the Tormondsen Family Race Course.
Colorado, who won the NCAA West Regional two weeks ago at Bridger Bowl and Bohart Ranch, along with NCAA East Regional and defending national champion Vermont, will be the favorites to win the team title this week.
Wednesday, June 10
Thursday, November 12
Saturday, March 10
Thursday, March 08
