This year’s roster for the New Mexico ski team knows what it’s like to be successful, returning several skiers from last year’s team that finished fifth at NCAAs.
The Lobos, who kick off their season opener at Park City for the University of Utah invitational on Jan. 4-6, bring backEmilie Cedervärn and Eva Sever Rus, both champions on the women’s side. Cedervärn, a winner of last year’s classical race, is in her senior year. Sever Rus is entering her junior season.
They aren't the only two women skiers with experience returning to action for the Lobos. Heleene Tambet returns alongside Cedervärn and Sever Rus in Nordic competition while five alpine participants are back.
Four women alpine skiers have NCAA tournament experience, according to a UNM release. Sydney Staples and Sara Ottosson were at NCAAs last year while Karoline Søvik Myklebust and Courtney Altringer competed at nationals in 2014. Also back among the alpine skiers is Taylor Grauer.
The men’s group, meanwhile, returns six: Aljaž Praznik and Kyle Beling in Nordic, and Carl-Johan Öster and Patrick Brancher in Alpine. Praznik and Öster were NCAA qualifiers last season but Praznik did not compete because of an illness, the release stated.
The Lobo men will be seeing a bunch of new faces with the addition of seven freshmen. They are Nordic skiers Austin Huneck and Niklas Rombock with alpine skiers Alex Barounos, Rob Greig, Youri Mougel, Tyler Theis and Nick Veth.
Brancher and Mykelbust both return from injuries a year ago. Brancher missed all missed all but the opening meet in 2015, the release stated, and Mykelbust skied in just two meets last year after breaking her foot.
The Daily Lobo Sports Desk can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @DailyLoboSports.
