Dear Cross Country Community,
We are pleased to announce the Team for Period 4 (Falun, Lahti, Drammen, & Oslo) of the 2025-26 World Cup season:
Falun Sprint F & Lahti Sprint F
Men
Zach Jayne Objective 25-26 Overall SuperTour Leader
Ben Ogden Objective 5th 25-26 Sprint World Cup
Gus Schumacher Objective 21st 25-26 Sprint World Cup
Jack Young Objective 26th 25-26 Sprint World Cup
JC Schoonmaker Objective 28th 25-26 Sprint World Cup
Kevin Bolger Discretion 15th Toblach Sprint F
Zanden McMullen Discretion 20th Oberhof Sprint F
Zak Ketterson Alternate 18th Val di Fiemme TDS Sprint C
Michael Earnhart Alternate 35th Oberhof Sprint F
Women
Hailey Swirbul Objective 25-26 Overall SuperTour Leader
Jessie Diggins Objective 25-26 Overall World Cup Leader
Julia Kern Objective 22nd 25-26 Sprint World Cup
Sammy Smith Discretion 12th Oberhof Sprint F
Lauren Jortberg Discretion 26th Oberhof Sprint F
Alayna Sonnesyn Discretion 27th Davos Sprint F
Rosie Brennan Discretion 15th Ruka Sprint C
Ava Thurston Discretion 4th US Nationals Sprint F Qualification
Emma Albrecht Alternate 5th US Nationals Sprint F Qualification
Falun 20 km Skiathlon
Men
Zach Jayne Objective 25-26 Overall SuperTour Leader
Gus Schumacher Objective 18th Distance World Cup
Zak Ketterson Objective 26th Distance World Cup
John Hagenbuch Discretion 14th OWG 10 km F
Zanden McMullen Discretion 18th Oberhof 10 km C
Ben Ogden Discretion 20th Toblach 5 km F
Hunter Wonders Discretion 24th Oberhof 10 km C
Luke Jager Alternate 29th Oberhof 10 km C
JC Schoonmaker Alternate 29th Toblach 5 km F
Women
Hailey Swirbul Objective 25-26 Overall SuperTour Leader
Jessie Diggins Objective 25-26 Overall World Cup Leader
Julia Kern Discretion 10th Toblach 5 km F
Novie McCabe Discretion 22nd Goms 20 km C
Rosie Brennan Discretion 24th Ruka 10 km C
Luci Anderson Discretion 25th Davos 10 km F
Kendall Kramer Discretion 27th Goms 20 km C
Alayna Sonnesyn Discretion 27th Ruka 20 km F
Lahti 10 C
Men
Zach Jayne Objective 25-26 Overall SuperTour Leader
Gus Schumacher Objective 18th Distance World Cup
Zak Ketterson Objective 26th Distance World Cup
Zanden McMullen Discretion 18th Oberhof 10 km C
Hunter Wonders Discretion 24th Oberhof 10 km C
Luke Jager Discretion 29th Oberhof 10 km C
Ben Ogden Discretion 29th Toblach 20 km C
John Hagenbuch Alternate 14th OWG 10 km F
JC Schoonmaker Alternate 29th Toblach 5 km F
Reid Goble Alternate 1st Wirth SuperTour 10 km C
Women
Hailey Swirbul Objective 25-26 Overall SuperTour Leader
Jessie Diggins Objective 25-26 Overall World Cup Leader
Julia Kern Discretion 16th Goms 20 km C
Novie McCabe Discretion 22nd Goms 20 km C
Rosie Brennan Discretion 24th Ruka 10 km C
Kendall Kramer Discretion 27th Goms 20 km C
Sammy Smith Discretion 3rd US Nationals 10 km C
Ava Thurston Discretion 4th US Nationals 10 km C
Emma Albrecht Alternate 1st Wirth SuperTour 10 km C
Alayna Sonnesyn Alternate 2nd Wirth SuperTour 10 km C
Lauren Jortberg Alternate 2nd Anchorge SuperTour 10 km C
Drammen Sprint C
Men
Zach Jayne Objective 25-26 Overall SuperTour Leader
Ben Ogden Objective 5th 25-26 Sprint World Cup
Gus Schumacher Objective 21st 25-26 Sprint World Cup
Jack Young Objective 26th 25-26 Sprint World Cup
JC Schoonmaker Objective 28th 25-26 Sprint World Cup
Zak Ketterson Discretion 18th Val di Fiemme TDS Sprint C
John Schwinghamer Discretion 1st US Nationals Sprint C Qualification
Kevin Bolger Alternate 15th Toblach Sprint F
Zanden McMullen Alternate 20th Oberhof Sprint F
Women
Hailey Swirbul Objective 25-26 Overall SuperTour Leader
Jessie Diggins Objective 25-26 Overall World Cup Leader
Julia Kern Objective 22nd 25-26 Sprint World Cup
Rosie Brennan Discretion 15th Ruka Sprint C
Sammy Smith Discretion 19th OWG Sprint C
Lauren Jortberg Discretion 30th OWG Sprint C
Alayna Sonnesyn Discretion 27th Davos Sprint F
Ava Thurston Discretion 3rd US Nationals Sprint C Qualification
Erin Bianco Alternate 4th US Nationals Sprint C Qualification
Holmenkollen 50 km F Mass
Men
Zach Jayne Objective 25-26 Overall SuperTour Leader
Gus Schumacher Objective 18th Distance World Cup
Zak Ketterson Objective 26th Distance World Cup
John Hagenbuch Discretion 14th OWG 10 km F
Ben Ogden Discretion 20th Toblach 5 km F
JC Schoonmaker Discretion 29th Toblach 5 km F
Zanden McMullen Discretion 18th Oberhof 10 km C
Brian Bushey Alternate 4th US Nationals 20 km F
Hunter Wonders Alternate 24th Oberhof 10 km C
Women
Hailey Swirbul Objective 25-26 Overall SuperTour Leader
Jessie Diggins Objective 25-26 Overall World Cup Leader
Julia Kern Discretion 10th Toblach 5 km F
Luci Anderson Discretion 25th Davos 10 km F
Alayna Sonnesyn Discretion 27th Ruka 20 km F
Novie McCabe Discretion 22nd Goms 20 km C
Rosie Brennan Discretion 24th Ruka 10 km C
Kendall Kramer Discretion 27th Goms 20 km C
The above discretionary selections were nominated by a 15-person working group that included:
James Southam Athlete Rep
Ida Sargent Athlete Rep
Perry Thomas Mansfield Pro Nordic Team
Chad Salmela Team Birkie
Andy Newell Bridger Ski Foundation
Erik Flora Alaska Pacific University
Pepa Miloucheva Craftsbury GRP
Colin Rodgers SMS T2
Peter Holmes SVSEF Gold Team
Sophie Caldwell Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club
Eliška Albrigtsen Denver University
Chris Grover USST
Matt Whitcomb USST
Jason Cork USST
Kristen Bourne USST
The nominations were then approved by a discretionary selection review group comprised of:
Tyler Kornfield U.S. Ski & Snowboard Athlete Rep
Anouk Patty U.S. Ski & Snowboard Chief of Sport
Bryan Fish U.S. Ski & Snowboard Development Director
The above discretionary selection process will be repeated for each period of World Cup this coming season. As always, if you have questions or concerns about this process, feel free to contact me directly.
Sincerely,
Chris Grover
Cross Country Program Director, U.S. Ski Team