January 14, 2016 (Park City, UT)  – After the 2016 U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships presented by L.L. Bean concluded on January 9th, 10 athletes were named to the FIS U23 World Ski Championships Team and 12 U20 athletes were named to the FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships Team. The U23 team and Junior Worlds team will represent the U.S. in Rasnov, Romania February 22-28.

“The U23 and Junior World Ski Championships are our most coveted and most critical development trips of the year,” said U.S. Ski Team Development Coach Bryan Fish. “Our developing American athletes are gaining momentum. This has been a competitive U.S. Nationals with faster race paces and tighter time gaps.”

Patrick Caldwell (Lyme Center, NH) is one of 22 athletes, U23 and junior, who will represent the U.S. at the FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships taking place in Rasnov, Romania Feb. 22-28. © USSA

The FIS Junior Worlds is traditionally run over a week period. The event brings over 400 athletes ranging in age from 16 to 20 years old, from 30 nations to compete in 17 events in cross country skiing, ski jumping and nordic combined. The FIS U23 World Ski Championships include three additional cross country events for both men and women ages 21 to 23.

If skiers perform well at the U23 Championships, they will have an opportunity to join the U.S. Ski Team in Canada for the World Cup, March 1-12.

“The World Junior and U23 Championships are the proving grounds for future World Cup stars,” said U.S. Ski Team Head Coach Chris Grover. “Many of the current U.S. Ski Team athletes have made their marks at these important races. As a national team staff, we’ll be watching the results closely and cheering our talented young skiers on. We have a strong squad this season and we’re looking for some results that surprise the competition.”

HIGHLIGHTS
• The FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships (athletes 19 and under) and U23 (under 23) World Ski Championships are taking place in Rasnov, Romania Feb. 22-28.
• Athletes were selected based on results at the U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships presented by L.L.Bean in Houghton, MI.
• The 2017 FIS Nordic Junior World Championships and FIS U23 World Cross Country Championships will be held at Utah’s Olympic venues in Park City and Midway.
• The Junior Worlds has been held only once previously in America, on the Olympic venues of Lake Placid in 1986. It will be the first time in the USA for the U23 Championships.
• The National Nordic Foundation provided support for these teams.

2016 FIS U23 WORLD SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM
Name, Hometown (USSA Club)

Men
– Patrick Caldwell, Lyme Center, NH (Stratton Mountain School)
– Kyle Bratrud, Eden Prairie, MN (CXC Team)
– Logan Hanneman, Fairbanks, AK (Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks)
– Akeo Maifeld-Carucci, Bozeman, MT (Bridger Ski Foundation)
– Adam Martin, Marquette, MI (Northern Michigan University)

Women
– Kristen Bourne, Lake Elmo, MN (Northern Michigan University)
– Felicia Gesior, Marquette, MI (Northern Michigan University)
– Mackenzie Kanady, Anchorage, AK (University of Alaska Anchorage Ski Team)
– Heather Mooney, Craftsbury Common, VT (Craftsbury Nordic Ski Club)
– Kelsey Phinney, Middlebury, VT (Middlebury College Ski Team)

FIS U23 WORLD SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS COMPETITION SCHEDULE
Feb. 21 – Official Training
Feb. 22 – Freestyle Sprints
Feb. 23 – 15/10k Classic
Feb. 24 – Official Training
Feb. 25 – Skiathlon

2016 FIS NORDIC JUNIOR WORLD SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM
Name, Hometown (USSA Club)

Men:
– Cully Brown, Durango, CO (University of Vermont)
– Henry Harmeyer, S. Burlington, VT (University of Vermont)
– Leo Hipp, Wyoming, MN (Northern Michigan University)
– Zak Ketterson, Bloomington, MN (Loppet Nordic Racing)
– Thomas O’Harra, Anchorage, AK (APU Nordic Ski Center)
– Ian Torchia, Rochester, MN (Northern Michigan University)

Women:
– Sarah Bezdicek, Plymouth, MN (Northern Michigan University)
– Vivian Hett, Burnsville, MN (Northern Michigan University)
– Julia Kern, Waltham, MA (Stratton Mountain School)
– Leah Lange, Park City, UT (Utah Olympic Park Sports Clubs/Park City Nordic Ski Club)
– Katharine Ogden, Landgrove, VT (Stratton Mountain School)
– Nicole Schneider, Plymouth, MN (Northern Michigan University)

FIS NORDIC JUNIOR WORLD SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS COMPETITION SCHEDULE
Feb. 21 – Official Training
Feb. 22 – Freestyle Sprints
Feb. 23 – Official Training
Feb. 24 – 10/5k Classic
Feb. 25 – Official Training
Feb. 26 – Skiathlon
Feb. 27 – Official Training
Feb. 28 – 4×3.3 k Relay