Team Announcement for 2025-2026 Season
Sonnesyn, Ketterson, Bolger return; US Biathlon athletes Schommer and Anderson headline expanded roster.
(MINNEAPOLIS, MN) -- Team Birkie today announced its World and Continental teams for the 2025-2026 season, featuring an expanded roster of elite cross-country skiers including several notable additions to both squads.
Team Birkie’s World team retains 2025 U.S. World Championship Cross Country Team members Alayna Sonnesyn, Zak Ketterson, and Kevin Bolger, while Paul Schommer returns to Team Birkie and the U.S. Biathlon Team, after re-establishing himself among the best American biathletes in 2025, after two seasons of setbacks.
Luci Anderson has earned promotion to the World Team following a breakout 2025 season both in Biathlon and Cross Country skiing, in which she posted a remarkable 23rd place finish for the USA in her maiden FIS Cross Country World Cup. Anderson also competed in her first IBU World Championships and the bulk of the IBU World Cup season, all just months after picking up the sport, solidifying her first nomination to the U.S. Biathlon Team for 2026 as well.
As we enter the 2026 Olympic season, all five of these athletes have extensive experience on the FIS and IBU World Cups and are working towards their selection to represent Team USA in Milano-Cortina, Italy, at the Winter Olympics in February.
"This season's World Team represents both continuity and growth," said Jake Stiele, Team Birkie Head Coach. "Alayna, Zak, and Kevin, sustain and highlight Team Birkie’s unprecedented support at the top of the sport in our country, and show other developing skiers the pathway up. Paul and Luci continue the engagement that Team Birkie supports them with a great home base that has proven successful to them, while adding to the ideal environment for continued success, as their home club. It’s a very strong group.”
Team Birkie Ambassadors Jessica Yeaton DPT and David Norris, the "First Couple of the American Birkebeiner," will continue to provide veteran mentorship while still representing Team Birkie at marathon races in North America.
Zak Ketterson, Team Birkie World Team member, expresses his thoughts about the coming season, “I’m really excited to see a lot of new faces on the team for next season— in addition to lots of returning athletes. Thanks to support from our community, Team Birkie has established itself as a world-class environment for skiers hoping to reach their potential.”
The presence of the World Team is a boost for the 2026 Continental Team, featuring ten athletes seeking the same success. Gretta Scholz (Winthrop, WA) and Henry Snider (St. Paul, MN) are returning and will be joined by a highlighted list of newcomers; Karolina Kaleta (Poland), Morgan Richter (Edina, MN), Ben Boelter (Sartell, MN), Roger Anderson (Golden Valley, MN), Eli Gore (Madison, WI), Taiga Moore (Aspen, CO), Skyler Patten (Park City, UT), and Adam Witkowski (Rochester, NY).
"Our expanded Continental Team demonstrates Team Birkie's commitment to developing the next generation of elite skiers," said Chad Salmela, Team Birkie High Performance Manager. "We take a pragmatic, supportive approach to the sport. We focus on the pieces that pile up to create success, but those pieces need to pile up on a foundation Team Birkie deliberately creates–we need to deliver both as a club. These talented Continental Team members are the essence of Team Birkie’s mission, as they look for the kind of breakout year Luci had last season. When that happens, it inspires the whole community.”
WORLD TEAM 2025-2026
Alayna Sonnesyn - Plymouth, MN (Minneapolis Ski Club/University of Vermont)
Luci Anderson - Golden Valley, MN (US Biathlon Team/Loppet Nordic Racing/University of New Hampshire)
Zak Ketterson - Bloomington, MN (Loppet Nordic Racing/Northern Michigan University)
Kevin Bolger - Minocqua, WI (Lakeland Nordic Ski Team/University of Utah)
Paul Schommer - Appleton, WI (US Biathlon Team/Ashwaubenon Nordic Ski Team/College of St. Scholastica)
CONTINENTAL TEAM 2025-2026
Gretta Scholz - Winthrop, WA (Methow Valley Nordic/US Biathlon Project X/Colby College)
Morgan Richter - Edina, MN (Loppet Nordic Racing/Bowdoin College, Montana State University)
Karolina Kaleta - Kasina Wielka, Poland (Zakopane Sports High School/CU Boulder)
Henry Snider - St. Paul, MN (Endurance United/Michigan Tech University)
Ben Boelter - Sartell, MN (College of St. Scholastica)
Roger Anderson - Golden Valley, MN (Loppet Nordic Racing/University of New Hampshire)
Eli Gore - Madison, WI (Madison Nordic Ski Club/University of New Hampshire)
Taiga Moore - Aspen, CO (Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club/Colby College)
Skyler Patten - Park City, UT (Park City Ski & Snowboard/Michigan Tech University)
Adam Witkowski - Victor, NY (Stratton Mountain School (SMS T2/Michigan Tech University)
REGIONAL TEAM 2025 - 2026
Emma Stertz - Grand Rapids, MN (College of St. Scholastica)
Macayla Scheidt - Steamboat Springs, CO (Colorado State University)
David Ronnevik - Fergus Falls, MN (Otter Trail Nordic Ski Association)
Kieran Mullen - Hazelhurst, WI (St. Olaf College)
Joseph Walling - Palmer, AK (College of St. Scholastica)
Jack Meinert - Plymouth, MN (Loppet Nordic Racing/College of St. Scholastica)
Neel Dums - Hayward, WI (Hayward High School Ski Team)
Drew Huotari - Orono, MN (Blueski Health)
AMBASSADORS & MARATHON TEAM 2025 - 2026
Jessica Yeaton DPT - Steamboat Springs, CO (Australia XC Ski Team/SSWSC/Montana State University)
David Norris - Steamboat Springs, CO (FAST/SSWSC//Montana State University)
Sam Holt - Orono, ME (University of Vermont)
