Completed Event: Skiing versus 20K Freestyle (M) on March 14, 2026 , , 1st
Final Score
Skiing
1st
vs 20K Freestyle (M)
The University of Utah Athletics
Photo by: Eli Rehmer/Utah Athletics
Five From Utah Ski Team Named CSC Academic All-District
6/18/2026 1:03 PM | Skiing
Group of Utah Utes lauded for success on snow and in classroom
SALT LAKE CITY – Five members of the 2026 NCAA Champion Utah Ski Team have been named Academic All-District, announced this week by College Sports Communicators. The group includes Johs Braathen Herland, Zachary Jayne, Kaila Lafreniere, Sindre Myklebust and Witta Walcher.
All are in the mix for Academic All-America consideration, with those honorees being announced later this Summer.
A sophomore business major from Kongsberg, Norway, Herland delivered another outstanding season as he repeated as the NCAA individual champion in men's giant slalom. He started all 16 collegiate races, netting 15 results in the top-10, 12 podiums and seven wins. Herland became the first Utah athlete to repeat as the men's GS national champion since Ben Thornhill did it in 2003-04. He also finished third in slalom at NCAAs. Following the college season, Herland won the men's GS individual title at the U.S. National Championships, on the way to being named both the men's overall and GS champion for the Nor-Am Cup season.
Jayne wrapped up his college racing career as a four-time All-American as well as the U.S. SuperTour men's overall and men's sprint champion. The senior mechanical engineering major made nine college starts on the season, racing to seven podiums and two wins. He briefly paused his college season to make his World Cup debut, where Jayne racked up seven starts, including a 27th-place in the Goms classic sprints. Jayne returned in time for the NCAA Championships, placing sixth in the 7.5K classic and ninth in the 20K freestyle mass start.
A junior from Whistler, British Columbia, Lafreniere made her NCAA Championships debut and placed 10th in giant slalom to earn second-team All-America. It was one of seven top-10 results for Lafreniere this past season as she started all 16 collegiate races. A psychology major, Lafreniere was named Skier of the Meet for the RMISA Championships, highlighted by a season-best fourth-place performance in giant slalom. She also scored key points for the Utes at NCAAs with a 24th-place finish in slalom.
Another mechanical engineering major, Myklebust earned All-American honors for his sixth-place performance in giant slalom during the NCAA Championships. A junior and native of Sogndal, Norway, Myklebust added a top-11 finish in slalom at the national meet. He totaled nine top-10 races and two podiums in racing all 16 collegiate events. Following the college season, Myklebust raced at the U.S. National Championships and placed 10th in slalom plus 14th in GS.
Walcher enjoyed a nice comeback season as a junior, after being limited in 2025 due to injury. She made 10 collegiate starts as the Ramsau, Austria, native logged nine top-10 race results. The chemistry major had four top-fives in the final six races of the year, including a season-best fourth in the Colorado Invitational 20K freestyle. She made her NCAA Championships racing debut, placing fifth in both the 7.5K classic and 20K freestyle—earning first-team All-America in both events.
Follow the Utah Ski Team
Follow the Utah Ski Team on social media @utahskiteam. Download the Utah 360 app here.
All are in the mix for Academic All-America consideration, with those honorees being announced later this Summer.
A sophomore business major from Kongsberg, Norway, Herland delivered another outstanding season as he repeated as the NCAA individual champion in men's giant slalom. He started all 16 collegiate races, netting 15 results in the top-10, 12 podiums and seven wins. Herland became the first Utah athlete to repeat as the men's GS national champion since Ben Thornhill did it in 2003-04. He also finished third in slalom at NCAAs. Following the college season, Herland won the men's GS individual title at the U.S. National Championships, on the way to being named both the men's overall and GS champion for the Nor-Am Cup season.
Jayne wrapped up his college racing career as a four-time All-American as well as the U.S. SuperTour men's overall and men's sprint champion. The senior mechanical engineering major made nine college starts on the season, racing to seven podiums and two wins. He briefly paused his college season to make his World Cup debut, where Jayne racked up seven starts, including a 27th-place in the Goms classic sprints. Jayne returned in time for the NCAA Championships, placing sixth in the 7.5K classic and ninth in the 20K freestyle mass start.
A junior from Whistler, British Columbia, Lafreniere made her NCAA Championships debut and placed 10th in giant slalom to earn second-team All-America. It was one of seven top-10 results for Lafreniere this past season as she started all 16 collegiate races. A psychology major, Lafreniere was named Skier of the Meet for the RMISA Championships, highlighted by a season-best fourth-place performance in giant slalom. She also scored key points for the Utes at NCAAs with a 24th-place finish in slalom.
Another mechanical engineering major, Myklebust earned All-American honors for his sixth-place performance in giant slalom during the NCAA Championships. A junior and native of Sogndal, Norway, Myklebust added a top-11 finish in slalom at the national meet. He totaled nine top-10 races and two podiums in racing all 16 collegiate events. Following the college season, Myklebust raced at the U.S. National Championships and placed 10th in slalom plus 14th in GS.
Walcher enjoyed a nice comeback season as a junior, after being limited in 2025 due to injury. She made 10 collegiate starts as the Ramsau, Austria, native logged nine top-10 race results. The chemistry major had four top-fives in the final six races of the year, including a season-best fourth in the Colorado Invitational 20K freestyle. She made her NCAA Championships racing debut, placing fifth in both the 7.5K classic and 20K freestyle—earning first-team All-America in both events.
Follow the Utah Ski Team
Follow the Utah Ski Team on social media @utahskiteam. Download the Utah 360 app here.
Players Mentioned
Alpine
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Nordic
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Alpine
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Alpine
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Nordic
/ SkiingWednesday, March 04
Monday, November 17
Monday, November 17
Monday, October 13