Junior Kyle Bratrud, an athlete on the men’s Nordic ski team, has high career goals for himself.

“I want to ski professionally after college,” Bratrud said. “I have an Olympic dream and I plan on chasing it. I would love to ski for Sun Valley.”

A third-year student, he has been with the team since his freshman year.

In his hometown, Eden Prairie, Minn., Bratrud was an all-conference, all-state captain of his high school cross-country ski team and named all-conference and all-state in cross country.

Bratrud finished 14th in the nation at the Nike Cross Country Nationals.

Bratrud is a major in criminal justice and minor in history. Bratrud said his time at NMU has made a tremendous impact.

“I am very satisfied with my progress, and hungry to train harder and get faster,” Bratrud said. “I am here to hopefully, someday, make the U.S. ski team and an Olympic team.”

During his career at NMU, Bratrud was part of the U.S. ski team in the World Junior Championships in the 2012-13 season. Bratrud was awarded All-American in 2013 at the NCAA Championships.

Last year, Bratrud was named team’s newcomer and CCSA Skier of the Week for Feb. 21, 2013.

Head coach Sten Fjeldheim said Bratrud has exceeding potential, and is a contender against top NCAA skiers.

“Kyle has come a long way since his freshman year,” Fjeldheim said. “That’s all due to his attitude and commitment to his training and his ability to race hard.”

The ’Cats will host the CCSA Championships Saturday, Feb. 8, and Sunday, Feb. 9, at Al Quaal in Ishpeming.

“Kyle is a pleasure to work with and gives 100 percent all the time,” Fjeldheim said. “I expect him to become one of the top U.S. distance skiers in the country in the future. I am sure we will see Kyle on the USA team some day.”