CMU Cross Country Ski Team Shines at 2025 USCSA Nationals in Bend, Oregon
What a week it has been for the CMU Cross Country Ski Team! Racing in their signature maroon and yellow suits, CMU athletes landed on the podium multiple times in both individual and team events at the 2025 USCSA National Championships, held in Bend, Oregon.
The championship featured four scheduled events:
- March 11: 7.5 km Skate Interval Start
- March 12: 1.3 km Classic Sprint
- March 14: 15 km Classic Mass Start
- March 15: Team Relay (canceled due to weather)
CMU was represented by three full teams (each consisting of three racers):
- Women’s Team: Jayna Boonstra, Modesty Manion, Ruthie Richardson
- Men’s Team 1: Iver Skaarseth, Jack Lackman, Wes Sumner
- Men’s Team 2: Garret Moehring, Eli Lammers, Kelly Martin
This year’s Nationals highlighted just how far USCSA competition has come. The gap between top finishers continues to narrow, leading to high-stakes, elite-level racing. Tight packs, strategic drafting, and race-day tactics made for exciting, unpredictable finishes in every event.
Despite limited on-site facilities and challenging snow conditions—including fresh snow and inconsistent grooming—CMU athletes met the moment with resilience and skill. Familiar with tough mountain conditions, the team embraced the challenges with characteristic grit.
In total, 18 universities fielded teams at this year’s Nationals, with 54 women and 79 men competing. CMU’s strong presence and standout performances proved that the Mavs belong among the best in collegiate ski racing.
🏆 CMU Men Win First-Ever Team Title at USCSA Nationals
The CMU Cross Country Ski Team made history at the USCSA National Championships, as Iver Skaarseth delivered a stunning performance to claim gold in the men’s 15K classic mass start. His dominant finish in 48:49.7 secured not only an individual victory but also CMU’s first-ever team championship win in any event at Nationals.
Wesley Sumner also delivered a standout performance, finishing 4th in 49:29.9, solidifying CMU’s dominance. Meanwhile, freshman Jack Lackman placed 11th, securing the team’s victory and positioning himself as a future podium contender.
With these top-three finishes, CMU’s men’s team amassed enough points to claim the national championship title—a historic first in CMU’s 17-year history of ski racing!
The 15K classic race featured exciting pack racing, where athletes worked together, rotated leads, and maintained a strong pace throughout. The battle for the top 15 was as exciting as it gets!
🥈 CMU’s Jayna Boonstra Claims Silver in the Women’s 15K Classic at USCSA Nationals
In Women's 15K Classic Mass Start race Jayna Boonstra of CMU secured a silver medal in an incredibly competitive field.
Jayna fought through a pack of five St. Olaf skiers who dominated the top positions, often skiing alone with no one to set the pace for her or to draft behind. Her ability to push through solo made her podium finish even more impressive and inspiring. Watching her cross the line in second was an emotional moment—a testament to her hard work and determination to excel in distance events.
Top 5 Finishers – Women's 15K Classic:
- Gold: Lily Hubanks (St. Olaf College) – 57:20.2
- Silver: Jayna Boonstra (Colorado Mesa University) – 59:08.9 (+1:48.64)
- Bronze: Amaeli Kam-Magruder (St. Olaf College) – 59:20.1 (+1:59.90)
- 4th: Liesl Cope-Schaeffer (St. Olaf College) – 59:30.7 (+2:10.51)
- 5th: Lily Ward (St. Olaf College) – 1:00:45.5 (+3:25.27)
With this historic podium finish, CMU continues to solidify itself as a top contender in USCSA cross country ski racing.
🥇 Iver Skaarseth is the 2025 USCSA National Champion in the 7.5K Skate!
This was a huge race for Iver and the entire team. The CMU men’s squad placed 3rd overall out of 18 universities, and Jayna Boonstra fought hard for an impressive 6th place in the women’s field.
Individual Highlights:
- Iver Skaarseth
🥇 Gold medal – 7.5K Skate
🥇 Gold medal – 15K Classic
🥈 Silver medal – Classic Sprint - Jayna Boonstra
🥈 Silver medal – 15K Classic
All-American Honors
- Iver Skaarseth – 3× First Team All-American
- Jayna Boonstra – 1× First Team, 2× Second Team All-American
- Wes Sumner – 2× Second Team All-American
- Jack Lackman – 1× Second Team All-American