U.S. Biathlon Names 2018/2019 National Team, Development and Junior Teams

Emily Dreissigacker tags off to Joanne Reid in the women’s World Cup biathlon relay in Ruhpolding, Germany. Both women are on the roster for the U.S. for the next year of international biathlon. (Photo: USBA/NordicFocus)

The United States Biathlon Association has named a 10-member senior national team for the 2018-2019 season.

For the first time in years, the roster features more women than men. Following the retirements of Lowell Bailey, Russell Currier, and Tim Burke, Alex Howe (Craftsbury Green Racing Project) netted his first senior national team nomination, and joins 2018 Olympians Sean Doherty and Leif Nordgren, as well as Paul Schommer (Moose Nordic).

On the women’s team, all five members of the 2018 Olympic team have been renamed: Susan Dunklee, Clare Egan, and Emily Dreissigacker (all Craftsbury Green Racing Project), Joanne Reid (Colorado Biathlon), and Maddie Phaneuf (Polar Bear Ski Club). Dunklee and Egan recently said that they were not certain yet about retirement, but appear on the roster. The newest addition to the women’s senior team is Chloe Levins, who finished all three individual races at 2018 World Junior Championships in the top seven.

The “A” team athletes will be primarily based in Lake Placid, New York, while designated “B” team athletes (Phaneuf, Schommer, and Howe) will be based at regional training centers or with clubs, according to national team selection documents.

The federation has also named a development squad of Deedra Irwin (Wisconsin Biathlon), Travis Cooper and Jake Ellingson (National Guard Biathlon), Jake Brown (Loppet Nordic Racing), and Max Durtschi. All saw international race starts last season.

In addition, an 11-member Junior Development Group has been named, many of whom we interviewed this winter – see the links below to read about their experiences at World Youth and Junior Championships.

High Performance Team – Women

Susan Dunklee (Barton, Vt./Craftsbury Green Racing Project), A1 Team
Clare Egan (Cape Elizabeth, Maine/Craftsbury Green Racing Project), A2 Team
Chloe Levins (Rutland, Vt.), A3 Team
Joanne Reid (Boulder, Colo./Colorado Biathlon), A3 Team
Emily Dreissigacker (Morrisville, Vt./Craftsbury Green Racing Project), A3 Team
Maddie Phaneuf (Old Forge, N.Y./Polar Bear Ski Club), B Team

High Performance Team – Men

Sean Doherty (Center Conway, N.H.), A1 Team
Leif Nordgren (Marine, Minn.), A3 Team
Paul Schommer (Appleton, Wisc./Moose Nordic), B Team
Alex Howe (Gilford, N.H./Craftsbury Green Racing Project), B Team

Development Team – Senior Women

Deedra Irwin (Pulaski, Wisc./Wisconsin Biathlon)

Development Team – Senior Men

Travis Cooper (Kenai, Alaska/National Guard Biathlon)
Max Durtschi (Sun Valley, Idaho)
Jake Brown (Houghton, Mich./Loppet Nordic Racing)
Jakob Ellingson (Minnetonka, Minn./National Guard Biathlon)

Youth and Junior Development Group – Women

Helen Wilson (Eagle River, Alaska/Alaska Biathlon Club) – 20-for-20 interview
Lexie Madigan (Truckee, Calif./Auburn Ski Club) – 20-for-20 interview
Emma Stertz (Grand Rapids, Minn./Mt. Itasca Biathlon) – 20-for-20 interview
Grace Gilliland (Eagle River, Alaska/Alaska Biathlon Club) – 2017 20-for-20 interview
Sarah Beaulieu (Fort Fairfield, Maine/Outdoor Sports Institute)
Arianna Woods (Bozeman, Mont./Bridger Biathlon Club)

Youth and Junior Development Group – Men

Vasek Cervenka (Grand Rapids, Minn./Mt. Itasca Biathlon) – 2017 20-for-20 interview
Garrett Beckrich (Grand Rapids, Minn./Mt. Itasca Biathlon) – 20-for-20 interview
Tim Cunningham (Springfield, N.H./Saint Lawrence University) – 20-for-20 interview
Eli Nielsen (Stehekin, Wash./Methow Valley) – 20-for-20 interview
Marcus Gore (Vail, Colo./Casper Mountain Biathlon Club)