Glacier Nordic qualifies two for Junior Nationals in West Yellowstone

The Glacier Nordic Ski Team traveled to West Yellowstone, Montana, last weekend for the third and final Junior National Qualifier of the season. Seventeen Glacier athletes competed in two distance races and represented the club well. 

THE JUNIOR National Team was named, and Findley Dezzani and Kendall Dye were both selected. They will head to Cable, Wisconsin, in two weeks to compete against the top juniors in the country.  

“We are incredibly proud of them, and of everyone on this team who has helped them get there and worked so hard this season,” wrote Coach Olivia Skillings. “We had many athletes in contention for these spots, with Marin Gignoux being only four points away from being an alternate.” 

Saturday featured a skate sprint race for everyone. Kendall Dye led the U16 girls with a strong 12th-place finish. Marin Gignoux finished 19th, and Noelle Svennungsen in 32nd, Ellie Ward in 37th, and Addie Nerdig in 39th. All skied amazing races in what was the most competitive race of the day. 

In the U18 race, brothers Liam Browne and Euell Browne finished 37th and 44th, respectively. Peter Schram led the way for the U16 boys, finishing 32nd. Boden Dezzani finished in 33rd  and Luke Bork was 39th, in another deep field. 

Hanna Bork in the U14 division had an incredible race, finishing second in the sprint. Teammate Senya Johnson placed 27th in her first sprint race. The U12 crew saw Heidi Bork finish in 33rd, Kaijia Johnson in 42nd and Ava Nerdig in 51st. They each raced exceptionally well in their first sprint competition. 

Sunday brought the excitement of mass start classic races for all athletes. Findley Dezzani, fighting through illness, managed an impressive 15th-place finish in the U20/U18 women’s 10K. 

In the U16 girls’ 7.5K mass start, Dye led the charge again with a ninth-place finish, followed closely by Gignoux in 12th, Nerdig in 24th, Svennungsen in 27th, and Ward in 29th. 

The Browne brothers skied together throughout the 10K classic, finishing just seconds apart, with Liam in 32nd and Euell in 34th. The U16 boys were led by Boden in 24th, followed by Schram in 31st and Bork in 36th. 

In the U14 race, Hannah Bork earned another podium spot, finishing second in the 2.5K mass start. Senya finished 29th after fighting her way through a crowded field in her first mass start experience. 

The U12 athletes had another great day, with Bork finishing 4th, Kaijia 10th, and Ava 13th. Claire Scott, a U8 racer, also earned a second-place finish.
 

The team also celebrates two seniors, Findley Dezzani and Liam Browne, and everything they have done for the program.  

“Their leadership, support, drive and motivation have helped grow this team from about six traveling athletes to seventeen,” Skillings wrote. “Their legacy will last long beyond this season, and we can’t wait to watch them crush it in life.” 

    Glacier Nordic Club athletes recently competed in West Yellowstone. (Photo provided)
  

    Glacier Nordic Club athletes recently competed in West Yellowstone. (Photo provided)

    Glacier Nordic Club athletes recently competed in West Yellowstone. (Photo provided)