World Cup Discretionary Nomination Selection Dates 2025-26

Dear Cross Country Community, 

You can find all finalized selection criteria for the 2025-26 World Cup, the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, the 2026 World Junior and U23 World Champs, and the U18 Nordic Nations Championships here:

https://usskiandsnowboard.org/sport-programs/criteria

The World Cup Coaches’ Discretion Working Group will nominate athletes to World Cup Periods 1-4 on the following dates:

• World Cup Period 1 – FIN, NOR, SUI (Nov. 28 – Dec. 14, 2025)
  • Selection date: Wednesday, June 25, 2025
• World Cup Period 2 – Tour de Ski (Dec. 28, 2025 – Jan. 4, 2026)
  • Selection date: Tuesday, December 16, 2025
• World Cup Period 3 – GER, SUI, (Jan. 17-25, 2026)
  • Selection date: Saturday, January 10, 2026
• World Cup Period 4 – SWE, FIN, NOR (Feb. 28 – Mar. 15, 2026)
  • Selection date: Monday, February 16, 2026 – updated to capture the Wirth SuperTours and the first week of racing at the Olympic Winter Games
• World Cup Period 4 – Lake Placid, USA (see World Cup 25-26 Selection Criterion)

As always, please feel free to reach out if you have questions. 

Chris Grover
Cross Country Program Director
[email protected]
(435) 640-8545

Dear Cross Country Community, 

We are pleased to announce the Team for Period 4 (Falun, Lahti, Drammen, & Oslo) of the 2025-26 World Cup season:

Falun Sprint F & Lahti Sprint F

Men

• Zach Jayne                                Objective          25-26 Overall SuperTour Leader

• Ben Ogden                                Objective          5^th 25-26 Sprint World Cup

• Gus Schumacher                       Objective          21^st 25-26 Sprint World Cup

• Jack Young                                Objective          26^th 25-26 Sprint World Cup

• JC Schoonmaker                        Objective          28^th 25-26 Sprint World Cup

• Kevin Bolger                             Discretion         15^th Toblach Sprint F

• Zanden McMullen                     Discretion         20^th Oberhof Sprint F

• Zak Ketterson                           Alternate          18^th Val di Fiemme TDS Sprint C

• Michael Earnhart                      Alternate          35^th Oberhof Sprint F

Women

• Hailey Swirbul                           Objective          25-26 Overall SuperTour Leader

• Jessie Diggins                            Objective          25-26 Overall World Cup Leader

• Julia Kern                                  Objective          22^nd 25-26 Sprint World Cup

• Sammy Smith                            Discretion         12^th Oberhof Sprint F

• Lauren Jortberg                        Discretion         26^th Oberhof Sprint F

• Alayna Sonnesyn                       Discretion         27^th Davos Sprint F

• Rosie Brennan                          Discretion         15^th Ruka Sprint C

• Ava Thurston                            Discretion         4^th US Nationals Sprint F Qualification

• Emma Albrecht                         Alternate          5^th US Nationals Sprint F Qualification

Falun 20 km Skiathlon

Men

• Zach Jayne                                Objective          25-26 Overall SuperTour Leader

• Gus Schumacher                       Objective          18^th Distance World Cup

• Zak Ketterson                           Objective          26^th Distance World Cup

• John Hagenbuch                       Discretion         14^th OWG 10 km F

• Zanden McMullen                     Discretion         18^th Oberhof 10 km C

• Ben Ogden                                Discretion         20^th Toblach 5 km F

• Hunter Wonders                       Discretion         24^th Oberhof 10 km C

• Luke Jager                                Alternate          29^th Oberhof 10 km C

• JC Schoonmaker                        Alternate          29^th Toblach 5 km F

Women

• Hailey Swirbul                           Objective          25-26 Overall SuperTour Leader

• Jessie Diggins                            Objective          25-26 Overall World Cup Leader

• Julia Kern                                  Discretion         10^th Toblach 5 km F

• Novie McCabe                          Discretion         22^nd Goms 20 km C

• Rosie Brennan                          Discretion         24^th Ruka 10 km C

• Luci Anderson                           Discretion         25^th Davos 10 km F

• Kendall Kramer                         Discretion         27^th Goms 20 km C

• Alayna Sonnesyn                       Discretion         27^th Ruka 20 km F

Lahti 10 C

Men

• Zach Jayne                                Objective          25-26 Overall SuperTour Leader

• Gus Schumacher                       Objective          18^th Distance World Cup

• Zak Ketterson                           Objective          26^th Distance World Cup

• Zanden McMullen                     Discretion         18^th Oberhof 10 km C

• Hunter Wonders                       Discretion         24^th Oberhof 10 km C

• Luke Jager                                Discretion         29^th Oberhof 10 km C

• Ben Ogden                                Discretion         29^th Toblach 20 km C 

• John Hagenbuch                       Alternate          14^th OWG 10 km F

• JC Schoonmaker                        Alternate          29^th Toblach 5 km F

• Reid Goble                                Alternate          1^st Wirth SuperTour 10 km C

Women

• Hailey Swirbul                           Objective          25-26 Overall SuperTour Leader

• Jessie Diggins                            Objective          25-26 Overall World Cup Leader

• Julia Kern                                  Discretion         16^th Goms 20 km C

• Novie McCabe                          Discretion         22^nd Goms 20 km C

• Rosie Brennan                          Discretion         24^th Ruka 10 km C

• Kendall Kramer                         Discretion         27^th Goms 20 km C

• Sammy Smith                            Discretion         3^rd US Nationals 10 km C

• Ava Thurston                            Discretion         4^th US Nationals 10 km C

• Emma Albrecht                         Alternate          1^st Wirth SuperTour 10 km C

• Alayna Sonnesyn                       Alternate          2^nd Wirth SuperTour 10 km C

• Lauren Jortberg                        Alternate          2^nd Anchorge SuperTour 10 km C

Drammen Sprint C

Men

• Zach Jayne                                Objective          25-26 Overall SuperTour Leader

• Ben Ogden                                Objective          5^th 25-26 Sprint World Cup

• Gus Schumacher                       Objective          21^st 25-26 Sprint World Cup

• Jack Young                                Objective          26^th 25-26 Sprint World Cup

• JC Schoonmaker                        Objective          28^th 25-26 Sprint World Cup

• Zak Ketterson                           Discretion         18^th Val di Fiemme TDS Sprint C

• John Schwinghamer                  Discretion         1^st US Nationals Sprint C Qualification

• Kevin Bolger                             Alternate          15^th Toblach Sprint F

• Zanden McMullen                     Alternate          20^th Oberhof Sprint F

Women

• Hailey Swirbul                           Objective          25-26 Overall SuperTour Leader

• Jessie Diggins                            Objective          25-26 Overall World Cup Leader

• Julia Kern                                  Objective          22^nd 25-26 Sprint World Cup

• Rosie Brennan                          Discretion         15^th Ruka Sprint C

• Sammy Smith                            Discretion         19^th OWG Sprint C

• Lauren Jortberg                        Discretion         30^th OWG Sprint C

• Alayna Sonnesyn                       Discretion         27^th Davos Sprint F

• Ava Thurston                            Discretion         3^rd US Nationals Sprint C Qualification

• Erin Bianco                               Alternate          4^th US Nationals Sprint C Qualification

Holmenkollen 50 km F Mass

Men

• Zach Jayne                                Objective          25-26 Overall SuperTour Leader

• Gus Schumacher                       Objective          18^th Distance World Cup

• Zak Ketterson                           Objective          26^th Distance World Cup

• John Hagenbuch                       Discretion         14^th OWG 10 km F

• Ben Ogden                                Discretion         20^th Toblach 5 km F

• JC Schoonmaker                        Discretion         29^th Toblach 5 km F

• Zanden McMullen                     Discretion         18^th Oberhof 10 km C

• Brian Bushey                             Alternate          4^th US Nationals 20 km F

• Hunter Wonders                       Alternate          24^th Oberhof 10 km C

Women

• Hailey Swirbul                           Objective          25-26 Overall SuperTour Leader

• Jessie Diggins                            Objective          25-26 Overall World Cup Leader

• Julia Kern                                  Discretion         10^th Toblach 5 km F

• Luci Anderson                           Discretion         25^th Davos 10 km F

• Alayna Sonnesyn                       Discretion         27^th Ruka 20 km F

• Novie McCabe                          Discretion         22^nd Goms 20 km C

• Rosie Brennan                          Discretion         24^th Ruka 10 km C

• Kendall Kramer                         Discretion         27^th Goms 20 km C

The above discretionary selections were nominated by a 15-person working group that included: 

• James Southam                         Athlete Rep

• Ida Sargent                               Athlete Rep

• Perry Thomas                           Mansfield Pro Nordic Team

• Chad Salmela                            Team Birkie

• Andy Newell                             Bridger Ski Foundation

• Erik Flora                                  Alaska Pacific University

• Pepa Miloucheva                      Craftsbury GRP

• Colin Rodgers                            SMS T2

• Peter Holmes                            SVSEF Gold Team

• Sophie Caldwell                        Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club

• Eliška Albrigtsen                        Denver University                     

• Chris Grover                             Stifel U.S. Ski Team

• Matt Whitcomb                        Stifel U.S. Ski Team

• Jason Cork                                Stifel U.S. Ski Team

• Kristen Bourne                          Stifel U.S. Ski Team

The nominations were then approved by a discretionary selection review group comprised of:

• Tyler Kornfield                          U.S. Ski & Snowboard Athlete Rep

• Anouk Patty                              U.S. Ski & Snowboard Chief of Sport

• Bryan Fish                                 U.S. Ski & Snowboard Development Director

The above discretionary selection process will be repeated for each period of World Cup this coming season.  As always, if you have questions or concerns about this process, feel free to contact me directly.

Sincerely,

Chris Grover

Cross Country Program Director, U.S. Ski Team

[email protected]