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Nina Schamberger is one of six athletes with Utah ties expected to compete at the FIS Nordic U23 and Junior World Championships in early February.
Photo by: Eli Rehmer/Utah Athletics
Six with Utah Connections Bound for U23 and Junior World Championships
1/31/2025 8:02 AM | Skiing
Championships run February 3-9 in Italy
SALT LAKE CITY – Six current and former members of the Utah Ski Team will represent the United States in early February at the FIS Nordic Junior World and U-23 Ski Championships. Races are scheduled for February 3-9 in Schilpario, Italy.
Neve Gerard, Nina Schamberger and Lucas Wilmot each were selected for junior worlds, while Brian Bushey, Walker Hall and former Ute Sydney Palmer-Leger are the trio of U23 connections. Events throughout the week include a classic sprint, 20K classic mass start, 10K skate interval start and a mixed-gender relay.
Gerard is in her first season with the Utes after joining the team from Bend, Oregon, and Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation. She has contributed top-nine results in three of her four starts as a Ute, with a seventh-place result in the 7.5K classic during the Utah Invitational. She had five FIS podiums during the 2023 and '24 seasons prior to coming to the U.
Returning to junior worlds after being selected in 2024, Schamberger opened the college season with a top-seven placement in a 10K freestyle during the Alaska Anchorage Invitational. As part of the larger U.S. National Championships, Schamberger's result that day put her second on the junior podium with Gerard right next to her in third. The Leadville, Colorado, native had four top-10 finishes during her freshman season in 2024.
Wilmot made the trek to SLC this year from Jackson, Wyoming, following a stint with his hometown Jackson Hole Ski Club, where Wilmot qualified for the 2024 Junior World Championships. He made two starts in Slovenia last year, and also skied to the 10K classic junior podium during U.S. Nationals in 2024. Wilmot has made four starts this season with the Utes, most recently an eighth-place finish at Montana State in the 20K freestyle.
A senior out of Montpelier, Vermont, Bushey is a past U23 selection as well as NCAA All-American and All-RMISA pick. He has started all six races for Utah this season with two podiums. He won bronze in the 15K freestyle to close out the Utah Invitational before taking silver in his next start, the 20K freestyle at Montana State. His run through U23's last year included a top-10 result as part of the 4x5K relay team. Bushey raced for the first time last year at the NCAA Championships, placing 12th in the 7.5K freestyle and eighth in 20K classic. Bushey made his World Cup racing debut last February in Minneapolis.
Hall departed for Europe following the Utah Invitational; his four collegiate starts this season have each netted a top-five result. The native of Winthrop, Washington, won the 7.5K classic at Utah's home meet and he also took silver in the 10K freestyle at Alaska Anchorage. The latter result at Kincaid Park—host of the U.S. National Championships—put him second on the U.S. podium. Hall was selected for U23's a year ago and has made three World Cup starts.
During her four-year career with the Utes, Palmer-Leger racked up 25 podiums and 11 individual victories, including three NCAA titles. She earned seven All-America citations during her time at Utah, making an immediate mark as a freshman in 2021 when the Park City, Utah, native swept the individual crowns at NCAAs. It earned Palmer-Leger National Nordic Skier of the Year honors. Her World Cup debut came in Winter 2021; all told she has made 16 career World Cup starts.
Next Up | Full Schedule
Although the RMISA schedule is open this week, a busy stretch of racing is right around the corner. It kicks off next Monday and Tuesday, February 3-4, with the alpine half of the Montana State Invitational.
The Utah Ski Team will then hustle home to host the alpine portion of its home meet on February 8-9 from the Spencer F. Eccles Olympic Mountain Center at the Utah Olympic Park. In addition, a giant slalom qualifier race is scheduled for February 7 at the Olympic Park.
Nordic competitions pick back up with the Denver Invitational on February 8-9.
Follow the Utah Ski Team
Follow the Utes on social media @utahskiteam.
Official Mobile App of Utah Athletics – Utah 360
The official mobile app of Utah Athletics is Utah 360. Download it today for access to news and information, schedules, rosters, stats and behind-the-scenes videos directly from your mobile device. The app is available in both the Apple Store (download) and Google Play (download). Add it today, access your game tickets and download them to your smartphone's wallet to make yourself game-day ready!
Neve Gerard, Nina Schamberger and Lucas Wilmot each were selected for junior worlds, while Brian Bushey, Walker Hall and former Ute Sydney Palmer-Leger are the trio of U23 connections. Events throughout the week include a classic sprint, 20K classic mass start, 10K skate interval start and a mixed-gender relay.
Gerard is in her first season with the Utes after joining the team from Bend, Oregon, and Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation. She has contributed top-nine results in three of her four starts as a Ute, with a seventh-place result in the 7.5K classic during the Utah Invitational. She had five FIS podiums during the 2023 and '24 seasons prior to coming to the U.
Returning to junior worlds after being selected in 2024, Schamberger opened the college season with a top-seven placement in a 10K freestyle during the Alaska Anchorage Invitational. As part of the larger U.S. National Championships, Schamberger's result that day put her second on the junior podium with Gerard right next to her in third. The Leadville, Colorado, native had four top-10 finishes during her freshman season in 2024.
Wilmot made the trek to SLC this year from Jackson, Wyoming, following a stint with his hometown Jackson Hole Ski Club, where Wilmot qualified for the 2024 Junior World Championships. He made two starts in Slovenia last year, and also skied to the 10K classic junior podium during U.S. Nationals in 2024. Wilmot has made four starts this season with the Utes, most recently an eighth-place finish at Montana State in the 20K freestyle.
A senior out of Montpelier, Vermont, Bushey is a past U23 selection as well as NCAA All-American and All-RMISA pick. He has started all six races for Utah this season with two podiums. He won bronze in the 15K freestyle to close out the Utah Invitational before taking silver in his next start, the 20K freestyle at Montana State. His run through U23's last year included a top-10 result as part of the 4x5K relay team. Bushey raced for the first time last year at the NCAA Championships, placing 12th in the 7.5K freestyle and eighth in 20K classic. Bushey made his World Cup racing debut last February in Minneapolis.
Hall departed for Europe following the Utah Invitational; his four collegiate starts this season have each netted a top-five result. The native of Winthrop, Washington, won the 7.5K classic at Utah's home meet and he also took silver in the 10K freestyle at Alaska Anchorage. The latter result at Kincaid Park—host of the U.S. National Championships—put him second on the U.S. podium. Hall was selected for U23's a year ago and has made three World Cup starts.
During her four-year career with the Utes, Palmer-Leger racked up 25 podiums and 11 individual victories, including three NCAA titles. She earned seven All-America citations during her time at Utah, making an immediate mark as a freshman in 2021 when the Park City, Utah, native swept the individual crowns at NCAAs. It earned Palmer-Leger National Nordic Skier of the Year honors. Her World Cup debut came in Winter 2021; all told she has made 16 career World Cup starts.
Next Up | Full Schedule
Although the RMISA schedule is open this week, a busy stretch of racing is right around the corner. It kicks off next Monday and Tuesday, February 3-4, with the alpine half of the Montana State Invitational.
The Utah Ski Team will then hustle home to host the alpine portion of its home meet on February 8-9 from the Spencer F. Eccles Olympic Mountain Center at the Utah Olympic Park. In addition, a giant slalom qualifier race is scheduled for February 7 at the Olympic Park.
Nordic competitions pick back up with the Denver Invitational on February 8-9.
Follow the Utah Ski Team
Follow the Utes on social media @utahskiteam.
Official Mobile App of Utah Athletics – Utah 360
The official mobile app of Utah Athletics is Utah 360. Download it today for access to news and information, schedules, rosters, stats and behind-the-scenes videos directly from your mobile device. The app is available in both the Apple Store (download) and Google Play (download). Add it today, access your game tickets and download them to your smartphone's wallet to make yourself game-day ready!
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