Colorado University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Three Buffs To Compete At World Juniors
January 23, 2009 | Skiing
BOULDER - Three University of Colorado Nordic skiers, Matt Gelso, Karl Nygren and Alexa Turzian will be representing the United States in the upcoming 2009 U-23 World Junior Ski Championships in Praz de Lys, France.
Gelso, Nygren and Turzian have qualified and will be representing the U.S. on behalf of the U.S. Ski Team in the event, which takes place Jan. 29-Feb. 1.
"It is an honor for these athletes to represent the U.S .and it is very difficult to make this team," said head Nordic coach Bruce Cranmer. "Only five men and six women under 23 years old qualified for the team. From a coaching standpoint, it is very exciting to have this caliber of athlete on the CU Ski Team. To have one athlete on the U-23 Team would be great but to have three is fantastic."
Gelso has already kicked off the season with five straight top-three finishes, including his second career win in the 21K freestyle race on the final day of the CU Invitational in Aspen, Colo.
Nygren will take three top-15 finishes in collegiate races into Junior Worlds and look to make a strong impact for the U.S. Ski Team.
Turzian, in her first year as a Buff after transferring from Middlebury College, has already made a name for herself in the West, kicking off her career as a Buff with a freestyle win at the University of Alaska Anchorage Invitational. Turzian has finished in the top-10 in all but one race this season, including a second place finish in the 21K freestyle race at the CU Invitational in Aspen.
"Karl prequalified by skiing well at the Super Tour races in West Yellowstone in November and Matt and Alexa qualified from the U.S. Nationals in Anchorage," added Cranmer. "All three have been to the World Junior Championships before and this is Karl's second trip to the U-23 Championships. These are all great athletes and should represent the University of Colorado and the U.S. well. I could not be more proud of these skiers.
Another Buffalo Nordic skier, Reid Pletcher, has also competed of the collegiate circuit this season. Pletcher recently attended the Pre-Olympic World Cup in Vancouver, Canada last week (Jan. 16-18).