Colorado Mesa University Claims Two National Titles in 15 km Freestyle at USCSA Championships
Bochenek and Sumner Lead Historic Day in Lake Placid
Lake Placid, NY, March 13, 2026. Colorado Mesa University delivered a historic performance at the U.S. Collegiate Skiing and Snowboarding Association (USCSA) National Championships, with Greta Bochenek and Wesley Sumner both winning national titles in the 15 km freestyle mass start races at Mt. Van Hoevenberg.
On a demanding 3 × 5 km course featuring approximately 1,700 feet of climbing, both races brought together some of the strongest collegiate fields in the country, including athletes from St. Olaf College, Paul Smith’s College, Clarkson University, University of Minnesota-Duluth, Clarkson University, University of Wyoming, Western Colorado University, UW–Madison, Cornell University, and the U.S. Air Force Academy.
In the women’s race, freshman Greta Bochenek delivered a composed and tactical performance against a deep field led by St. Olaf College, which placed four athletes in the top eight. Racing head-to-head with Amaeli Kam-Magruder and Anna Peikert of St. Olaf, as well as strong contenders like Greta Dickman (Paul Smith’s College) and Ayla Bodach-Turner (UMF), Bochenek stayed patient through the early laps before making her move on the final climb. She broke clear of the field and skied alone into the stadium, crossing the line in 44:01.7 to secure the national title.
In the men’s race, Wesley Sumner delivered a dominant effort in one of the deepest fields of the championships. Competing against top athletes such as Phil Matthews (Paul Smith’s College), Paavo Rova (St. Olaf College), Matthew Clarner (Clarkson University), and Lucas Fassio (U.S. Air Force Academy), Sumner attacked the race from the start. By the final lap, he had fully separated from the field, skiing alone into the finish in 37:01.5 to claim gold.
The dual victories highlight the continued rise of the CMU Cross Country Ski Team on the national stage.
Beyond the wins, CMU athletes delivered strong performances across both races. In the men’s field, Griffin Gracey (20th) and Jack Lackman (21st) worked together throughout the race to secure top-25 finishes in a competitive field that included skiers from UW–Madison, University of Minnesota Duluth, and Cornell University.
On the women’s side, Ruthie Richardson (18th) led the CMU group, competing alongside athletes such as Anne Straka (UW–Madison), Madyson Rosenberger (Western Colorado University), and Rowan Tanguay (Paul Smith’s College). Jane Malouf (26th) and Mya Taylor (32nd) rounded out the CMU results in a field representing programs from across the country.
“These performances reflect not just individual talent, but the depth of competition across collegiate skiing and the strength of our team culture,” said Head Coach Marcin Wiesiolek. “To see both races come together like this, against fields this strong, is something truly special.”
The 15 km freestyle races marked one of the defining moments of the championship week, with Colorado Mesa University emerging as one of the top programs in the nation, and the only team to claim both men’s and women’s titles in the event.
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