CCSA NCAA Skiers Announced

The Central Collegiate Skiing Association has announced the names of the 13 athletes who will represent the region at the 2006 NCAA Championships March 8-11 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The athletes and brief biographical information follow.

Women:

Chandra Daw, Gustavus Adolphus College: Daw is a senior at Gustavus and the school's first-ever NCAA Championships qualifier. She is also the first woman from a CCSA Division III school to qualify for NCAAs since 2002. She won both the Feb 10^th and 11^th CCSA qualifiers at St. John's University.

Pavla Havlova, University of Alaska-Fairbanks: Havlova is a senior biology major at UAF. Prior to transferring to UAF this fall, she attended Wichita State University and Czech Agricultural University. Havlova is from Jince, Czech Republic. A standout runner, she competed in the Division II NCCA Cross-Country Championships in 2005.

Tami Kochen, Northern Michigan University: Kochen is a senior, environmental design major. She is from Boulder, Colorado. Kochen won the CCSA Regional Championships 10 kilometer mass-start skate in Houghton.

Kristina Owen, Michigan Technological University: Having red-shirted a year, Owen is a junior in terms of NCAA eligibility. A native of East Wenatchee, Washington, she is majoring in mechanical engineering at MTU. She gained international experience this winter by competing in the Under-23 World Championships.

Johanna Turunen, University of Alaska-Fairbanks: Turunen is a senior from Joensuu, Finland. 2006 marks the third time that Turunen will attend the NCAA Championships; she is a two-time All-American. Turunen is a business marketing major at UAF. She recorded four CSSA qualifier wins this season.

Johanna Winters, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay: Winters is a senior art major from Roseville, Minnesota. A former Saukko skier, she trained with Piotr Bednardski's Go! Training this summer. This is her second trip to NCAAs.

Lindsey Weier. Northern Michigan University: Having redshirted her freshman season, Weier is junior in terms of eligibility. She is a two-time Olympian and a many times World Juniors participant. Besides the Torino games, Weier competed in Canada World Cups in December and Under-23s later in the season.

Men:

Bryan Cook, Northern Michigan University: Cook was an All-American at the 2005 NCAA Championships. A native of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, he is a senior academically. Cook recently returned from Under-23 Championships where he recorded one top-25, top-American result.

Bart Dengel, University of Alaska-Fairbanks: Dengel is a junior mining engineering major from Valdez, Alaska. This is his first trip to the NCAA Championships. Dengel finished fifth and fourth at the CCSA Regional Championships.

Aaron Ditty, Michigan Technological University: From Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, Ditty is a mechanical engineering major at MTU. Ditty placed third at the CCSA Telemark skate race. This will be his first trip to NCAAs.

Marius Korthauer, University of Alaska-Fairbanks: Korthauer is a sophomore from Bonndorf, Germany. He is a business major at UAF. Korthauer won five CCSA qualifiers in 2006 and never placed worse than second. He and Cook should lead the region.

Karl Nygren, St. Olaf College: Nygren is a freshman at St. Olaf and still an older junior in USSA competition. He is from Lakeville, Minnesota and is a double major in math and chemistry. Nygren won the classic race at the St. John's University CCSA regional.

Erik Wickstrom, University of Alaska-Fairbanks: Wickstrom is a senior from Boras, Sweden. He is a biology major at UAF. Wickstrom will be making his fourth trip to NCAAs in 2006. He was fourth and third at the CCSA Regional Championships.

About the author... Corey Coogan reports on U.S. collegiate skiing throughout the season. Coogan has published an updated version of One Week in March: a manual for prospective Collegiate Nordic skiers. A devoted racer, she competes for Alpina/Madshus Racing and Finn Sisu ski shop.