Denver Pioneers win 23rd National Championship title in Steamboat

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Denver Ski Team won its 23rd National Championship after completing competition at the 2016 NCAA Championships in Steamboat Springs, Colo. this past week. Denver finished first overall in the team standings with 567.5 points, ahead of the University of Colorado (491.5) and the University of Utah (485). The Nordic team showed a strong finish on the last day of racing to help the team claim their record 23rd national title.

“I am so incredibly proud of the young men and women on our team,” head nordic coach Dave Stewart said. “They came into this championship knowing that it would take nothing less than their best to win a title for DU, and they did just that. The conditions were challenging today with rising temperatures through the morning, but everyone brought such composure and focus to the race that I believe the tough conditions worked in our favor

“Alpine set us up with a lead that we were able to build on, so this was a balanced team win with both alpine and nordic adding almost the same points to the team total. Alpine has had a dominant season and it was very special to put it all together this week at NCAAs.”

“I did not expect the emotion that would come with this title,” alpine head coach Andy LeRoy said. “Each one has become more special than the last and the reason behind it is our ever growing Pioneer family. From our alumni who write in with memories of the rings they’ve captured to the faces on our freshman and their parents who seem nearly speechless. I want to thank everyone who has been associated with DU Skiing, today you have left the coaches speechless too.”

Junior Moritz Madlener finished second overall in the men’s 20K classical race, just 1.7 seconds behind first-place finisher Mads Stroem of Colorado.
The women were led by sophomore Linn Eriksen with her dominating first-place finish in the women’s 15 classical race. Eriksen won the last race of the 2016 NCAA Skiing Championships with a commanding 19.9 second lead.

“Moritz and Linn have led the team all year and they did it again today,” Stewart said. “Moritz just missed his first individual national title in a close sprint finish, but his two podium performances this week were huge for the team. Linn skied a masterful race, leading from start to finish, breaking away on the last lap to ski to a solo win.

“Our alpine team outscored all other alpine teams this week,” LeRoy added. “Then along came DU Nordic who left us all in the dust. Great job everybody, truly a team championship!”

“I also have to mention that the championship coincided with winter quarter exam week at DU,” Stewart remarked. “Every member of our team took final exams in the days before the races and then went out and competed like champions. These guys are truly model student-athletes and it is my pleasure to be able to coach them. We are thrilled to be bringing our 23rd national title back to DU! To end the championship with two exceptional Nordic performances, with both men and women winning the team score, was the best ending to the five championships wins I have been a part of over the last 10 years. This one tops them all! To have all six of our nordic athletes earn All-American honors is just incredible. I’m speechless.”

Denver finished the 2016 NCAA Skiing Championships with a total of 15 All-Americans, the most of any team.

See complete final results from the 2016 NCAA Skiing Championships here.

Release and photo courtesy of Denver Athletics