Feb. 23, 2008
BRIDGER BOWL/BOHART RANCH, Mont. — Solid individual performances by the University of New Mexico ski team earned 10 Lobos a chance to represent the NCAA West Region and the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association at the 2008 NCAA Championship Meet on March 5-8 in Montana. As a team, New Mexico finished fifth overall with 445 points.
“We had three skiers record career finishes today on the Nordic side, while the men’s Alpine squad had a great day winning the slalom,” said Lobo head coach Fredrik Landstedt. “We had 10 skiers qualify for nationals, which is one more than last season.”
Tor-Hakon Hellebostad and Casey Dyck recorded set career marks in the men’s 20K classic with Hellebostad placing ninth and Dyck 13th. The two-day finishes for Hellebostad and Dyck earned them spots at the NCAAs with the day-to-day Simon Reissmann, who missed regionals to heal a shoulder injury.
After setting a career mark in the freestyle on Friday, Polina Ermoshina matched her career-best finish with second place in the women’s 15K classic. Melanie Zemp earned her spot at the NCAA meet, along with Ermoshina, with a 15th place finish.
The Alpine men will be taking a full party of three to the NCAA meet. Tor Fodnesbergene improved his qualifying rank with a second-place finish in the men’s slalom on Saturday. Joining him will be freshmen Thomas Schwab and Christoffer Norell. Schwab tied his career-best finish in the slalom of fifth place.
On the women’s side, Malin Hemmingsson placed second in the slalom and will return to the NCAA championships to defend her 2007 title in the event. Junior Karin Ohlin will join her at the NCAAs.