Montana State Skiers Ready for 2014 NCAA Championships

Wednesday, March 5

Park City, UT

9 am

Montana State University

NCAA Championship - Giant Slalom

Montana State's Nordic squad of David Norris (l to r), Annie Liotta, Patrick Madden, Jessica Yeaton, Sawyer Kesselheim and Kate Backstrum take time out of training prior to the 2014 NCAA Skiing Championships, which begin on Wednesday in Utah.

3/4/2014 3:41:00 PM | Skiing

The Montana State ski team will begin its quest for a top ten finish at the NCAA Championships, beginning Wednesday, March 5.

By: Tom Schulz

- The Montana State ski team will begin its quest for a top ten finish at the NCAA Championships, beginning Wednesday, March 5. The four-day event will open with women's and men's giant slalom, followed by Nordic classic on Thursday; giant slalom on Friday; and conclude with the cross country freestyle races on Saturday.

The University of Utah will serve as the official host, with alpine races taking place at Park City Mountain Resort and Nordic events running at Soldier Hollow Resort.

The Bobcats, who finished ninth overall last winter, will field a complete 12-member contingent.

In the modern era (1983) of the NCAA Skiing Championships, which has been dominated by Colorado, Vermont and Denver, MSU will look to surpass its best-ever finish of seventh during the 2012 campaign that saw the team rack-up a school-record 502.5 points, including 200 points from its 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 alpine team is skiing well," MSU head alpine coach Kevin Francis said. "We're excited and ready to go. Our goal is to ski our best, and if we do that, we'll be competitive."

The Bobcat women's alpine team features two racers that are making their third straight NCAA Championship appearances. Senior Kelly McBroom, who was named second-team All-Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association, last week, will anchor the contingent along with Stephanie Irwin. Emily Danza will be making her national meet debut.

On the men's alpine side, all three qualifiers – Ryan McConnell, David Neuhauser and David Owsley- will be competing in their first championship.

MSU's strongest group this winter has been the women's Nordic squad that produced numerous top 10 performances s. The team will be led by senior Jessica Yeaton, who garnered second-team All-RMISA kudos, last week. The Anchorage, Alaska product will be making her third straight NCAA appearance. Rounding out the squad will be Annie Liotta and Kate Backstrum.

Two-time All-America performer David Norris will pace the men's Nordic contingent. The Fairbanks, Alaska native was the 2012 NCAA runner-up in classic. Joining Norris will be Patrick Madden and Sawyer Kesselheim.

"Soldier Hollow has only man-made snow on the five-kilometer course and the grass is turning green," MSU Nordic coach Grethe Hagensen said. "We've been preparing and testing wax the last two days. Our Nordic team is healthy, focused and excited to race. The course fits our team well with a lot of big climbs. There is not much rest on the race course due to very fast downhills, turns and transitions. It will be the coach's job to provide fast skis and good kick, but in the end it is the athletes on the skis that will make the difference."

For complete 2014 NCAA Skiing Championship coverage, visit utahutes.cstv.com/ncaa/