The Middlebury nordic skiing team begins its 2026 campaign on Sunday, January 4 at the St. Lawrence Carnival. The Panthers follow a stellar season that included the program’s highest finish at the NCAA Championships in nearly two decades and top-five placements in all six carnivals. Middlebury welcomes back nine skiers and adds seven new faces.

Mason Wheeler represented the Panthers at the NCAA Championships a year ago. In his initial national appearance, Wheeler claimed 18th place in the 7.5K freestyle and 26th in the 20K freestyle. He also earned nine top-15 efforts during the carnival season, including second in the 3x5K relay at Saint Michael’s and fifth in the 7.5K at Dartmouth. Ben Jenkin competed in 10 races last season, highlighted by a 17th-place showing in the 7.5K classic at the Eastern Intercollegiate Skiing Association (EISA) Championship. Peter Warner looks to build on a strong sophomore campaign that included three top-15 finishes in his last four races.

Shea Brams comes off a stellar campaign that featured her first NCAA All-American honor with a ninth-place finish in the 20K mass start at the NCAA Championships. The EISA Second-Team selection tallied three podium placings and finished 10th or better in 10 races. Sofia Scirica also competed on the national stage, cracking the top 20 in the 7.5K classic alongside four top-10 results during carnival season. Quincy Massey-Bierman opened the slate with a victory in the 1.3K freestyle at the Bates Carnival and claimed a top-15 finish in seven races. 

Johnson returns for his 10th season guiding the program. Assistant coach Kate Johnson begins her eighth overall season for the Panthers after a two-year stint as Developmental Team Coach for the U.S. Cross Country Team & Olympic Team from 2020-22.