The Utah Ski Team has finalized its roster for the upcoming 2026 National Collegiate Skiing Championships, which will take place in Utah from March 11 to March 14. The Utes are among seven universities sending a full team of 12 athletes to the event. Other schools with complete lineups include Colorado, Denver, Montana State, Dartmouth, Middlebury, and Vermont.
Utah’s alpine squad includes Melanie Dahlberg, Christina Jacobsen, and Kaila Lafreniere for the women’s events. The men’s alpine team features Pierick Charest, Johs Braathen Herland, and Sindre Myklebust. Harry Hoffman is listed as an alternate.
For Nordic events, Zachary Jayne, Max Kluck, and Mons Melbye represent the men’s team. Erica Lavén, Sofia Pedersen, and Witta Walcher make up the women’s Nordic lineup. Neve Gerard and Ally Wheeler are alternates.
The championships’ alpine competitions will be held at Park City’s Spencer F. Eccles Olympic Mountain Center at Utah Olympic Park. Nordic races are scheduled at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center in Midway. Admission and parking are free throughout the four-day event.
Utah enters the competition having secured 17 national titles historically and has claimed four of the last five NCAA championships.
Regarding individual accomplishments:
Pierick Charest is making his first appearance at the NCAA Championships after achieving seven top-10 finishes this season and being named Skier of the Meet at the Utah Invitational.
Melanie Dahlberg earned her first collegiate win this season in slalom at Nevada Invitational and was named Skier of the Meet there. She has four podiums this season across all races.
Johs Braathen Herland returns as last year’s men’s giant slalom champion with six wins out of 14 starts this year and was Skier of the Meet for the Denver Invitational.
Christina Jacobsen achieved her first collegiate podium with a silver medal in Nevada slalom during her freshman year.
Zachary Jayne qualified for his third NCAA Championships after earning two victories this season and competing in several World Cup events abroad.
Max Kluck captured his first college victory in classic sprints during his debut season with Utah.
Kaila Lafreniere is back for her second NCAA appearance after earning honorable mention honors in RMISA this year and recording six top-10 finishes.
Erica Lavén won all seven of her finished races this season including both RMISA/NCAA West Regional Individual Champion (7.5K Classic) titles; she was also runner-up last year in freestyle events nationally.
Mons Melbye swept multiple events on home snow during his first college season including winning at U.S. Nationals skate sprint outside official RMISA competition.
Sindre Myklebust returns for his third NCAA championship after achieving bronze medals in GS and slalom along with eight top-10 results this season.
Sofia Pedersen reached nine top-five results out of ten starts as a freshman including multiple podiums at regional invitationals.
Witta Walcher posted eight consecutive top-10 finishes during nine starts this season with a best finish of fourth place in Colorado’s 20K freestyle race.
“Additional information about the national meet is available by clicking here.”
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