Utah Skiing Wins the 2021 NCAA Championship

Saturday, March 13

Jackson, NH

All Day

University of Utah

15/20K Freestyle

Photo by: Clarkson Creative Photography

3/13/2021 2:08 PM | Skiing

NCAA Championships Page Final Results

It's the team's 14th National Championship in Program History

JACKSON, NH – A year after having their championship canceled halfway through when they were holding a lead in the team standings, the Utah Ski team came back strong in the 2021 season to win their 14^th national championship in program history.

"It's a great feeling of course, especially after last season being canceled when we were winning it after two days," Director of Skiing Fredrik Landstedt said. "It's been a long year and quite a struggle to get where we are today. It's been tough to get the whole season off with all the testing we've been doing, but it's also been just an incredible year for us. It's just a great way to finish it off and win the championship."

This is the University of Utah's 28^th team national championship in school history, and third national title for Utah skiing in the past four NCAA Championships completed, dating back to 2017.

The Utes are not only leaving with the national championship trophy, but also had 16 All-Americans, nine finish on the podium and two individual wins.

Both individual wins came from Park City native Sydney Palmer-Leger. After winning the 5K Classic on Thursday, she came out strong today again winning the 15K Freestyle by 24 seconds.

"I didn't know what was possible going into today," Palmer-Leger said. "My goal was to ski well and try to get some points for the team so we could get the championship. It feels amazing to be part of this team. All the work was done because we had been working so hard all season as a team so it was fun to just give it everything. I would not be able to win today without the team. They are constantly pushing me to be better at skiing. I am also so appreciative to have amazing support from Utah. Having everyone out there today and this week makes these wins so much bigger."

Palmer-Leger, with two individual national titles, brings Utah's all-time total to 110 individual national champions, and 78 by Utah's skiing program. These are the 32^nd and 33^rd individual championships by a women's Utah skier and 10^th and 11^th by a Utah women's Nordic skier.

Her double victory marks the 12^th time a Utah skier has won two races at a national championship event; first since Martin Bergstrom in 2017 (10K Classical, 20K Freestyle).

Utah came into the day holding a 24.5 point lead over Colorado with the women racing the 15K first. Palmer-Leger came in first and fellow freshman Novie McCabe was right behind her in third to give Utah two spots on the podium. Julia Richter finished the 15K in 19^th place. In the two women's Nordic races, Utah took five of the six podium spots and scored a total of 197 points.

With a team victory in their grasp, the Utah men stepped up in the 20K and Samuel Hendry led the way finishing in second narrowly by only 15 seconds. Bjørn Riksaasen also earned All-America honors coming in 10^th place with Luke Jager finishing in 19^th giving Utah 70 points for the team and clinching the national championship.

Utah's final point total for the week was 554 giving them a 31.5 point victory over second place Colorado.

"The student-athletes have been working incredibly hard all year and their commitment to the team has been unbelievable," Landstedt said. "They just love it and love being part of this team. They want to be in Utah and represent the university well. This team has great camaraderie and it is an incredible team to be part of. It's a lot of fun"

This is Landstedt's second team championship at Utah and fourth overall. Along with Landstedt, this is head alpine coach JJ Johnson and head Nordic coach Miles Havlick's second national championship as coaches at Utah. It's Mary Joyce's first national championship as the Utah assistant alpine coach.

For a season that's been anything but normal, Utah skiing went undefeated winning every single meet they competed in to cap off one of the best seasons in program history.

"It's always tough having a big lead after two days," Landstedt said. "For us to finish it off is always hard to close it and get that win. That's why it's so amazing to win the championship because it doesn't happen that often. For the student-athletes and everyone working so hard, to do it on the last couple of days and really preserve the win to get the championship is unbelievable."

When hard work pays off! WHAT A DAY. pic.twitter.com/2IoB5PSP29
— Utah Ski Team (@utahskiteam) March 14, 2021

Final Team Totals

Utah, 554
Colorado, 522.5
Denver, 442
Alaska Anchorage, 411
Montana State, 383.5

Back like we never left! pic.twitter.com/y3wO74E3wO
— Utah Ski Team (@utahskiteam) March 13, 2021

Additional Notes from the Championship
Fredrik Landstedt's fourth career team championship:
2021 Utah
2019 Utah
2004 New Mexico
1995 Colorado

Women's Utah Skiers to win two national titles at same NCAA Championships:
2021—Sydney Palmer-Leger (5K Classical, 15K Freestyle)
2003—Katrin Smigun (5K Freestyle, 15K Classical)
1995—Heidi Selnes (5K Freestyle, 15K Classical)
1990—Anke Friedrich (Slalom, Giant Slalom)
1984—Bente Dahlum (Slalom, Giant Slalom)
1978—Toril Forland (Slalom, Giant Slalom)
1977—Toril Forland (Slalom, Giant Slalom)
1976—Toril Forland (Slalom, Giant Slalom)

Men's Utah Skiers to win two national titles at same NCAA Championships:
2017—Martin Bergstrom (10K Classical, 20K Freestyle)
2004—Henning Dybendal (10K Freestyle, 20K Classical)
1962—Jim Gaddis (Slalom, Alpine)
1959—Marvin Melville (Slalom, Alpine)

NOTES