Central Cross Country Skiing (CXC) offers qualified juniors in the U18 age group and first-year U20 athletes who are still in high school from the Midwest and Great Lakes Divisions the opportunity to compete at the 2026 Nordiq Canada Ski Nationals, held March 9-14 at the Mont-Sainte-Anne Cross Country Ski Centre in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec.

2026 Trip Dates

Both the Midwest and Great Lakes U18 teams will depart on Saturday, March 7th, and return on Sunday, March 15th.

Team Announcement

The Great Lakes and Midwest Division Junior Leadership will announce the team for the CXC U18 Championship Trip at the end of the final CXC Cup race of the season.

Coaches

The Trip Leader/Divisional Co-Head Coach and Assistant Trip Leader/Divisional Co-Head Coach are usually appointed at the CXC Spring Congress, with additional assistant coaches chosen from applications in the fall.

2025 Teams

Each year, CXC organizes a team of U18 skiers to compete nationally or internationally and represent two Central Region divisions: Midwest and Great Lakes.

2025 CXC U18 MIDWEST TEAM

U18 Men
August Capps, North XC
Andrew Berndt, Sartell
Peter Schulz, EU
Jack Malec, LNR

U18 Women
Zoe Sumner, LNR
Faye Braun, MSC
Carolina Arvold, North XC
Zoe Wagner, LNR

2025 CXC U18 GREAT LAKES TEAM

U18 Men
Theo Kohl, Rails on Trails
Simon Hedlund, Rails on Trails
Henry Plummer, Superiorland
Erik Johnson, ANST

U18 Women
Margaret Friese, Iola
Ida Larsen, Superioland
Rayna Towles, Cooper Ski Tigers
Sophia Locher, MadNorSki

TRIP COACHES / GREAT LAKES

Jon Oestreich, Head Coach, Wausau Nordic/Knicker Nordic
Bruce Manske, Wax Tech, XC North (Duluth Junior Club)
Mike Young, Wax Tech, Houghton Ski Tigers
Christel Kern, Age Group Coach, Lakeland Nordic
Karen Manske, Age Group Coach, XC North (Duluth Junior Club)

TRIP COACHES / MIDWEST

Trip Lead/Head: Jake Stiele, Team Birkie
Wax Tech: Joe Haggenmiller, DXC
Age Group Coach: Grace Erholtz, Brainard HS

Note: All coaches volunteer their time to ensure junior athletes have a rewarding and memorable trip.


2025 Trip Information and Commitment Packet


Great Lakes and Midwest U18 Teams will attend the Nordiq Canada Ski Nationals in Canmore, AB, Canada, at the Canmore Nordic Center.


Team Itinerary and Trip Information

2024 Teams

Each year, CXC organizes a team of U16 and U18 skiers to compete nationally or internationally and represent two Central Region divisions: Midwest and Great Lakes.

- CXC U16/U18 Midwest Athlete Roster
- CXC U16/U18 Great Lakes Athlete Roster

2024 Trip Information and Commitment Packet


Team Itinerary and Trip Information

2023 Teams

Each year, CXC organizes a team of U16 and U18 skiers to compete nationally or internationally and represent two Central Region divisions: Midwest and Great Lakes. This year the team of 32 skiers and 10 coaches will attend the Nordiq Canada Ski Nationals in Thunder Bay, Ontario, from March 10-17.

2023 Trip Information and Commitment Packet


Team Itinerary and Trip Information


2022 Teams

Great Lakes Division - Men
Noah Jahnke, Ashwaubenon Nordic Ski Team
Eric Weiss, Copper Country Ski Tigers
Beckett Chambers, Bay Area Nordic Ski Club
Hunter Kobylarczyk, Bay Area Nordic Ski Club

Great Lakes Division - Women
Sylvia Mesa, Lakeland Nordic Ski Team
Annie Paulson, Vasa Ski Club
Ella Krueger, Bay Area Nordic Ski Club
Eva Koos, Peak Nordic Ski Club

Midwest Division - Men
AJ Hemink, Loppet Nordic Racing
Derek Waddick, Washburn Millers
Evan O'Connor, Loppet Nordic Racing
Sam Folland, South Suburban Training Group

Midwest Division - Women
Courtney Fussy, Loppet Nordic Racing
Jenna Johnson, North XC
Chloe Erickson, Nordicwerks SkiKlubb
Lily Ward, Endurance United

2020 Teams

Midwest Division - Men
Magnus O'Connor, Loppet Nordic Racing
Noah Erickson, NordicWerks SkiKlubb
Cole Johnson, Minneapolis Ski Club
Johnathan Hudrlik, NordicWerks SkiKlubb

Midwest Division - Women
Caroline Peterson, South Suburban Training Group
Emma Bratvold, Minneapolis Ski Club
Kathryn House, Loppet Nordic Racing
Erika Peterson, Loppet Nordic Racing

Great Lakes Division - Men
Nathan Grossklaus, Peak Nordic Ski Team
Joe Thuente, Vasa Ski Club
Ryan Miller, Vasa Ski Club
Rubin Hatfield, Superiorland Ski Club

Great Lakes Division - Women
Avery Tolbert, Peak Nordic Ski Team
Jane Straks, Peak Nordic Ski Team
Hanna O'Brien, Blackhawk Ski Club
KierstenRotar, Lakeland Nordic Ski Team