With three All-American titles previously earned, the NMU Nordic skiing team tallied three Junior All-American titles following a week of competition in Alaska.

Last week, four skiers from the team traveled to the USSA Junior National Championships at the Birch Hill Ski Resort in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Freshmen Felicia Gesior, Hannah Boyer and Megan Edic took away Junior All-American titles after three top 10 appearances at the competition. Also skiing in the events for NMU was freshman Sam Elfstrom.

NMU head coach Sten Fjeldheim said the conclusion of the events in Fairbanks were good examples of the work his athletes have put into getting to the competition.

“I was pretty pleased with the results,” Fjeldheim said. “We had three girls in the top 10, which was a good way to finish the week. They put on a good show”

On Monday, March 11, the team earned two top 10 appearances in the freestyle. Boyer took third place in the event, followed by Gesior in 10th and Edic in 16th.

On Tuesday, March 12, the team took part in the 3×3 classic relay, earning three more top 10 finishes. Boyer’s relay team took first place in her age division, while Gesior’s and Edic’s team took ninth place finishes.

Elfstrom also made an appearance in the 3×3 classic relay, taking ninth place. Elfstrom competed in the freestyle race, taking 31st, and in the classic, finishing 21st.

“Sam has a really bright future,” Fjeldheim said. “He had some solid results, but probably not the results that he was looking for. I think he knows that he can do a lot better.”

Boyer said the atmosphere at the USSA Junior National Championships helped her to perform at a higher level while on the road.

“It was my last race in the division, and I got to do it in my hometown,” Boyer said. “The event was pretty big, and there were a lot of fans, friends and family there. I tried to do my best to make it a good race and it worked out well.”

On Thursday, March 14, the Wildcats continued earning top 10 finishes when Gesior won the freestyle sprint with a time of 3:16.36. Boyer, Edic and Elfstrom also competed in the event, with Boyer taking 10th, Edic placing 16th and Elfstrom finishing in 27th.

On Saturday, March 16, the ’Cats concluded their appearance in Alaska with three more top 10 finishes.

In the 10K classic, Boyer took first place, while Gesior followed behind her, taking second. Edic also competed in the event, taking 10th for the Wildcats.

Gesior said the races leading up to her Junior All-American title were exciting for the team.

“Overall, it was a good week,” Gesior said. “It was an awesome experience, the courses were good and the races were fun. It’s definitely an achievement for me. Hannah and I got to finish together, so it was cool to finish with my teammate in the end. It was a great day for the whole team.”