US Ski Team Announces Period 3 Starts

Dear Cross Country Community,

We are pleased to announce the Team for Period 3 of the 2025-26 World Cup season:

Oberhof Sprint F

Men

Zach Jayne Objective 25-26 Overall SuperTour Leader

Ben Ogden Objective 4^th 25-26 Sprint World Cup

Jack Young Objective 21^st 25-26 Sprint World Cup

Gus Schumacher Objective 27^th 25-26 Sprint World Cup

JC Schoonmaker Objective 36^th 25-26 Sprint World Cup

Kevin Bolger Objective 40^th 25-26 Sprint World Cup

Zak Ketterson Discretion 18^th Val di Fiemme Sprint C, 36^th Toblach Sprint F

Zanden McMullen Alternate 1^st US Nationals Sprint F qualifier

Owen Young Alternate 2^nd US Nationals Sprint F qualifier

Michael Earnhart Alternate 3^rd US Nationals Sprint F qualifier

Women

Hailey Swirbul Objective 25-26 Overall SuperTour Leader

Jessie Diggins Objective 25-26 Overall World Cup Leader

Julia Kern Objective 20^th 25-26 Sprint World Cup

Alayna Sonnesyn Discretion 27^th Davos Sprint F

Rosie Brennan Discretion 15^th Ruka Sprint C, 32^nd Davos Sprint F

Sammy Smith Discretion 1^st US Nationals Sprint F qualifier

Lauren Jortberg Discretion 3^rd US Nationals Sprint F qualifier

Ava Thurston Discretion 4^th US Nationals Sprint F qualifier

Emma Albrecht Alternate 5^th US Nationals Sprint F qualifier

J.C. Schoonmaker (USA) racing in Oberhof (GER) in 2024. (Photo: Modica/NordicFocus)

Oberhof 10 km C & Goms 20 km C Mass Start

Men

Zach Jayne Objective 25-26 Overall SuperTour Leader

Gus Schumacher Objective 15^th 25-26 Distance World Cup

Zak Ketterson Objective 29^th 25-26 Distance World Cup

Ben Ogden Discretion 29^th Toblach 20 km C Pursuit

Hunter Wonders Discretion 1^st US Nationals 10 km C

Luke Jager Discretion 2^nd US Nationals 10 km C

John Hagenbuch Discretion 4^th US Nationals 10 km C

Zanden McMullen Alternate 5^th US Nationals 10 km C

JC Schoonmaker Alternate Historic WC Distance C Results

Women

Hailey Swirbul Objective 25-26 Overall SuperTour Leader

Jessie Diggins Objective 25-26 Overall World Cup Leader

Julia Kern Objective 30^th 25-26 Distance World Cup

Rosie Brennan Discretion 24^th Ruka 10 km C

Novie McCabe Discretion 2^nd US Nationals 10 km C

Sammy Smith Discretion 3^rd US Nationals 10 km C

Ava Thurston Discretion 4^th US Nationals 10 km C

Kendall Kramer Discretion 5^th US Nationals 10 km C

Alayna Sonnesyn Alternate 27^th Ruka 20 km Mass Start

Samantha Smith (USA) racing the World Cup individual sprint in Goms (SUI) in 2024. (Photo: Modica/NordicFocus)

Goms Sprint C

Men

Zach Jayne Objective 25-26 Overall SuperTour Leader

Ben Ogden Objective 4^th 25-26 Sprint World Cup

Jack Young Objective 21^st 25-26 Sprint World Cup

Gus Schumacher Objective 27^th 25-26 Sprint World Cup

JC Schoonmaker Objective 36^th 25-26 Sprint World Cup

Kevin Bolger Objective 40^th 25-26 Sprint World Cup

Zak Ketterson Discretion 18^th Val di Fiemme Sprint C, 36^th Toblach Sprint F

John Schwinghamer Alternate 1^st US Nationals Sprint C qualifier

Will Koch Alternate 2^nd US Nationals Sprint C qualifier

Owen Young Alternate 3^rd US Nationals Sprint C qualifier

Women

Hailey Swirbul Objective 25-26 Overall SuperTour Leader

Jessie Diggins Objective 25-26 Overall World Cup Leader

Julia Kern Objective 20^th 25-26 Sprint World Cup

Rosie Brennan Discretion 15^th Ruka Sprint C

Sammy Smith Discretion 1^st US Nationals Sprint C qualifier

Ava Thurston Discretion 3^rd US Nationals Sprint C qualifier

Erin Bianco Discretion 4^th US Nationals Sprint C qualifier

Lauren Jortberg Discretion 5^th US Nationals Sprint C qualifier

Alayna Sonnesyn Alternate 27^th Davos Sprint F

Jessie Diggins (USA) and Frida Karlsson (SWE), (l-r) coming to the line in Goms (SUI) in 2024. (Photo: Modica/NordicFocus)

The above discretionary selections were nominated by a 15-person working group that included:

James Southam Athlete Rep

Ida Sargent Athlete Rep

Perry Thomas Mansfield Pro Nordic Team

Chad Salmela Team Birkie

Andy Newell Bridger Ski Foundation

Erik Flora Alaska Pacific University

Pepa Miloucheva Craftsbury GRP

Colin Rodgers SMS T2

Peter Holmes SVSEF Gold Team

Sophie Caldwell Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club

Eliška Albrigtsen Denver University

Chris Grover USST

Matt Whitcomb USST

Jason Cork USST

Kristen Bourne USST

The nominations were then approved by a discretionary selection review group comprised of:

Tyler Kornfield U.S. Ski & Snowboard Athlete Rep

Anouk Patty U.S. Ski & Snowboard Chief of Sport

Bryan Fish U.S. Ski & Snowboard Development Director

The above discretionary selection process will be repeated for each period of World Cup this coming season. As always, if you have questions or concerns about this process, feel free to contact me directly.

Sincerely,

Chris Grover

Cross Country Program Director, U.S. Ski Team

chris.grover@usskiandsnowboard.org