US Biathlon Announces National Team Nominations

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by USBA Staff

New Gloucester, Maine - The US Biathlon Association released the nominations for the 2022-23 National Team, Junior National Team and National Development Group.

 

National A Team

Deedra Irwin (Pulaski, WI / National Guard Biathlon)

Joanne Reid (Grand Junction, CO)

Jake Brown (St. Paul, MN / Craftsbury Green Racing Project)

Sean Doherty (Center Conway, NH / National Guard Biathlon)

Paul Schommer (Appleton, WI / Team Crosscut)

 

National B Team

Kelsey Dickinson (Winthrop, WA / Craftsbury Green Racing Project)

Chloe Levins (Rutland, VT)

Vaclav Cervenka (Grand Rapids, MN / National Guard Biathlon)

 

X Team

Vincent Bonacci (Salt Lake City, UT / Team Crosscut)

Maxime Germain (Anchorage, AK / National Guard Biathlon)

Bjorn Westervelt (Stowe, VT / University of Vermont)

 

National Development Group

Tara Geraghty-Moats (Fairlee, VT / Craftsbury Green Racing Project)

Amanda Kautzer (Plymouth, MN / Team Crosscut)

Luke Brown (St. Paul, MN / Craftsbury Green Racing Project)

Scott Lacy (Aspen, CO / Team Crosscut)

 

The National Team will be coached by US Biathlon National Team Head Coach, Armin Auchentaller. Auchentaller is continuing with US Biathlon in his new role as Head Coach after serving as the Head Women’s Team coach for the past four seasons. Federico Fontana will also continue with US Biathlon, now serving as the National Team General Manager where he will manage more of the team operations and partnerships while continuing to organize the ski service program for the team. Fontana’s previous role was as head ski technician and head of research and development, helping manage US Biathlon’s European based-sponsors. US Biathlon is pleased to have both Auchentaller and Fontana returning for another Olympic campaign with the team!


The National Development Group is back for the 2022-23 season, honoring top developing athletes. Their daily training will be based at their home club and their club coaches will work closely with the USBA Performance Group to plan training aligned with the National Team program. Opportunities for side-by-side training camps with the National Team will be available to these athletes’ through their regional clubs.


“As we head into the next Olympic quad, we are thrilled to see so many returning Olympians as well as some new faces joining the National Team,” said US Biathlon High Performance Director, Lowell Bailey. “We are moving into a new phase of the National Team system, with Armin leading both the men’s and women’s programs, supported by a newly-formed Performance Group. Beyond supporting the National Team’s training decisions, the Performance Group will also function as a connection point for National and Junior National programs as well as the regional clubs throughout the country. With just a few weeks until the first camp, we are ready for the training year to begin.”   


Junior National Team

Sidney Bennion (Midway, UT / Team Soldier Hollow)

Wes Campbell (Park City, UT / Team Soldier Hollow)

Matej Cervenka (Grand Rapids, MN / Mt. Itasca Biathlon)

Aurora Cramer (Boise, ID / Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation)

Lina Farra (Heber City, UT / National Guard Biathlon)

Maxime Germain (Anchorage, AK / National Guard Biathlon)

Lexie Madigan (Truckee, CA / Team Crosscut)

Alexandra Rud (Oslo, NOR / Duluth Biathlon)

Thoreson Sheppard (West Yellowstone, MT / Team Altius)

Bjorn Westervelt (Stowe, VT / University of Vermont)

Cale Woods (Bozeman, MT / Team Crosscut)


“We are excited to have eleven athletes qualify for this year's Junior National Team,” said USBA Director of Athlete Development, Tim Burke. “This is by far our biggest Junior National Team since the team was reinstated in 2019.  The size of this group is an excellent indicator that the base of our development pipeline continues to grow. This is a talented group of athletes with tons of potential for future success in biathlon.  I look forward to seeing what this group will accomplish in the years to come.”


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