Central Athletes Excel at US Junior National Championships

Eleven athletes competed for the Central Division in the 2025 US Junior National Championships for ski jumping and nordic combined. The competition was held in Park City, UT at the end of February. All the athletes competed well, including some great podium finishes in individual and team events.

In the Boys U16 bracket, Jacob Larson, from the St. Paul Ski Club, flew his way to the top of the podium, winning the individual title for Ski Jumping. Teammate, Isaac Larson, from Ishpeming Ski Club, also made the podium, securing a third place finish in the U20 Boys Individual Ski Jumping competition. Not to be out done, Kaija Copenhaver, also from the Ishpeming Ski Club, won second place in the U16 Girls Individual competition.

Elisa Whiting, from the Black Hawk Ski Club, placed 8th in the individual competition and then teamed up with Kaija for a second place podium finish in the Girls Team Ski Jumping event the next day. Jacob and Isaac combined their jumping scores with Isaac Danielson ( 6th place U20 individual) from Itasca Ski Club, and Simon Langer ( 4th place U16 individual) from the Cloquet Ski Club to earn a third place finish in the Boys Team Ski Jumping event. Central had a second group of boys that placed 9th in the Team Jumping event. Central's Team 2 were Evan Giese (21st in U16 individual), from Norge Ski Club; Cormac Hofmann-Geye ( 14th U20 individual) from Minneapolis Ski Club, Simon Walker (19th in U16 individual) from Black Hawk and Isaiah Langer, (16th in U16 individual) from Cloquet.

Nordic Combined Individual results included brothers Isaiah and Simon Langer finishing 6th and 10th respectively, while Evan Giese was 16th in the U16 Boys bracket. Isaac Danielson finished in 5th place in the U20 bracket. The Nordic Combined Team event consists of two athletes combining their jumping scores and then competing in a relay format for the cross country part of the event. Our U16 Male Team of Evan Giese and Simon Langer placed 8th in their bracket while the U20 Male Team of Isaiah Langer and Isaac Danielson made the podium with a second place finish.

Congratulations to all our athletes that competed and represented the Central Division so well at the 2025 US Junior National Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Championships.