Podium placements, top-20 finishes and a tight-knit team culture set the tone for a promising season
With the rise of success and talent from Colorado Mesa University’s (CMU) club athletic teams, CMU’s Cross Country Ski team opened its season with a powerful statement at Snow Mountain Ranch, Colo. at the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA) Ski Racing Festival on Jan. 24, 2026.
The 15 km race demanded excellent fitness and skill to cross the finish line. CMU had many standout athletes that braved the cold and remained composed to come out on top. The team took home the trophy and had two champions that stood on top of the podium in both the men’s and women’s divisions.
Greta Bochenek captured first place overall for the women’s race with a time of 1:01:03.1. Four Maverick women placed in the top 20. On the men’s side, Wesley Sumner edged out the competition with a first-place time of 51:24.9. Two other CMU athletes secured a top 20 finish and one finished in the top 30. With the team taking home gold, Head Coach Marcin Wiesiolek was most impressed with the team’s efforts off the mountain.
“While it may be the athlete's goals to podium, for me as a coach, my goals are to have a cohesive and good team that cares for each other,” stated Wiesiolek.
Wiesiolek prides his team on caring, acknowledging and being there for one another. The skiers that find the podium focus just as much on their race as they do on everyone on the team. This dynamic allows everyone to feel included and motivated not to quit but to keep going and pursue a podium finish for themselves. The team is young, Wiesiolek pointed out. Many freshmen are learning from the examples set by upperclassmen.
“They pull them; they take them and train with them,” Wiesiolek said regarding the upperclassmen. “And that would be difficult to do with a larger team.”
The team's culture is tight-knit, which has led to friendships outside of their sport. Outside of competition, the team will run and climb with each other to both better their shape and become closer. The team is also very involved in their community, not only to fundraise for their team, but to build their brand and bring awareness to their sport.
Before the season, the team did two free clinics at REI for people interested in skiing. The team covered ski equipment and how to wax and take care of them. They have also collaborated with the Grand Junction Veterans Administration’s recreational therapy program. Four or five times a season, the team takes a group of veterans up to the mountains to teach them how to ski or to enhance their current skills. For many veterans, cross-country skiing is a more approachable and accessible form compared to traditional downhill skiing.
CMU’s Nordic Ski team races, trains, eats and even volunteers together to build their team into a successful and cohesive group of friends. Coach Wiesiolek looks forward to this year as he calls the team “brilliant.” Visit the Nordic teams' website for more information on how to support their journey toward a National Title.