January 14, 2011 (Seefeld, Austria) – A rebuilding U.S. Ski Team was seventh in a FIS World Cup Nordic Combined team event Friday in Seefeld. Young Bryan Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO) led the four-man American squad which also saw the return of three-time Olympic silver medalist Johnny Spillane to action after a six month rehab from a knee injury. Norway came from behind on the last lap to beat the home Austrians by nearly 12 seconds

The four-man team event had originally been scheduled for last Sunday in Schonach, Germany, but was rained out. The delay allowed both Spillane and Lodwick to join the team of both Bryan and Taylor Fletcher, in Seefeld.

In the morning jump, both Bryan Fletcher and Lodwick were a strong third in their respective round. Jumping in the number three round, Bryan Fletcher went 101.5 meters. Lodwick came back in the final round to soar 98.5. The USA was seventh after the jump, putting them a minute back in the cross-country ski event behind the jump-leading French team.

Taylor Fletcher led off the cross country for the U.S. Ski Team, running seventh but posting the fastest cross country time for the four Americans. Norway’s Magnus Moan had the fastest time, battling Felix Gottwald of Austria. The two quickly erased a nearly 30-second lead by the French to take control of the race early. Despite Moan’s efforts, though, the Norwegians still trailed Austria by an eyelash going into the handoff.

In the second round, Bryan Fletcher held position for the USA while the race continued between Austria and Norway, with the Norwegians taking over the lead. Fletcher was fifth fastest for the round. Spillane took the handoff for the third leg, holding seventh for the USA in his first time back. Lodwick ran the final leg posting the sixth fastest time.

The race came down to a final round battle between Austria and Norway. The Austrians had taken the lead again after the third leg, leaving it to Norway’s Mikko Kokslien and Austria’s Bernhard Gruber to battle it out. Gruber did a great job in holding his own against the faster Kokslien, but the Norwegian quickly overcame the slim one second advantage and building a nearly 12 second margin for the win.

The athletes will battle again Saturday and Sunday with a pair of individual events in Seefeld.

Full results HERE.

Results (brief)

1. Norway, 47:31.2
2. Austria, 47:43.1
3. France, 48:19.1

7. USA, 50:08.6