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Clarkson University Athletics

2025 CU Nordic Ski Preview

Charissa Roberts

Nordic Ski | 1/8/2025 10:00:00 AM

Oddly warm weather has caused havoc in recent years for the Clarkson University Nordic Ski team, but the forecast suggests a lengthy stretch of excellent conditions for the Golden Knights as they seek to defend USCSA National Championship from last season.

The Golden Knights men edged out the team title in Lake Placid a year ago by just two points thanks to a consistent run in the 7.5K Freestyle, Classic Sprint, 15K Classic, and Team Sprint, giving them their fourth ever title and first since 2012. Clarkson's women, which have won three USCSA National titles in the past decade and as recently as 2019, came in ninth.

Guided by head coach Torin La Liberte, the Knights will try to claim title number five on the men's side, though it will be an uphill battle without departed grad students Conner Roberts and Kai Richter, as that pair finished second and seventh, respectively, in the individual results in 2024. Graduated senior Noah Payne also will be missed, as he was just outside the top third at the nationals this past year.

Clarkson does return junior Joey Rouhana to the fold, and he will be leaned upon for contributions this winter. He was in the top 10 in all three individual races at the USCSA Nationals a year ago and placed ninth overall among 61 competitors. Rouhana won the 10K Skiathlon during the regular season and had a pair of third place finishes and two sixth place finishes as well before his impressive showing in Lake Placid. Behind Rouhana, Torsten Brickley, Oliver Dolcino, and Adam Jansen were all in the middle of the pack of individuals at the nationals and had plenty to offer during the regular season as well. Derek Ferreira, Andrew Kanclerz, and Konrad Kremzner didn't participate in Lake Placid a year ago, but provided solid results during the regular season.

Adding to the team's depth are junior Patrick Murray, who has participated with the Golden Knights' Cross Country team the past few years, as well as freshmen Silas Bartol, Matthew Clarner, and Finn Payne. Clarner was one of the top performers in New Hampshire a year ago, while both Payne and Bartol had standout finishes in their pre-college days as well.

Clarkson's women will have no room for error this season with just three student-athletes on the team thanks to recent departures. All three skiers do have experience, though, as each was part of the team a year ago. Sophomore Skylar Francis finished 33rd among 60 skiers at the USCSA Nationals a year ago, and had two top 10 finishes during the regular season and seven placements inside the top 20. Classmate Raegan Joly and Clare Janas also skied at the nationals a year ago to get valuable experience, coming in 51st and 54th, respectively.

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Players Mentioned

Oliver Dolcino: Sophomore

Derek Ferreira: Junior

Adam Jansen: Sophomore

Konrad Kremzner: Junior

Noah Payne: Senior

Kai Richter: Graduate Student

Conner Roberts: Graduate Student

Joey Rouhana: Sophomore

Skylar Francis: Freshman

Torsten Brickley: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Oliver Dolcino
: Sophomore

Derek Ferreira
: Junior

Adam Jansen
: Sophomore

Konrad Kremzner
: Junior

Noah Payne
: Senior

Kai Richter
: Graduate Student

Conner Roberts
: Graduate Student

Joey Rouhana
: Sophomore

Skylar Francis
: Freshman

Torsten Brickley
: Freshman