Niess is beginning his second season as a student assistant Senior (2013): Struggled with a lingering injury and is done competing…participated in a few preseason races but no RMISA competitions.
Junior (2012): Earned All-Academic Ski Team honors from the United States Collegiate Ski Coaches Association…finished 22nd in the 10K classical and 28th in the 15K freestyle at the University of Denver Invitational Jan. 20 and 21…placed 28th in both the 5K classical and 10K freestyle at the Alaska Anchorage Invitational Feb. 4 and 6.
Sophomore (2011): recorded a 10th-place finish (28:43.8) in the men’s 10K at the Denver Invitational (Feb. 13) … finished 10th in the men’s 10K classic at the Lobos’ home event, the Jade Enterprises/UNM Invitational (Feb. 5) …had an eighth-place finish in the classical Nordic event at the Utah Invitational (Jan. 22).
Freshman (2010): Earned All-America honors for a seventh-place finish in the 10K classic at the NCAA Championships in Steamboat, Colo.,…named to the RMISA second team All-Conference Nordic Team… earned RMISA Nordic Skier of the Week honors after finishing second in the 10K classic and third in the 10K freestyle at the Jade Enterprises/New Mexico Invitational…placed eight in the in the men’s 20K freestyle and seventh in the 10K classic at the Utah Invitational.