Hagenbuch, Thurston Named EISA Nordic Skiers of the Week

HANOVER, N.H. — The Eastern Intercollegiate Skiing Association (EISA) revealed its final Nordic Skiers of the Week, and both the men's and women's honor went to a Dartmouth skier as sophomore John Steel Hagenbuch took home the men's award and freshman Ava Thurston the women's. These are the second such honors for both skiers this winter.

Hagenbuch, a native of Ketchum, Idaho, continued his late-season surge at the EISA Championships this past weekend, winning the 10K freestyle in impressive fashion with more than a minute between him and the runner-up, his second straight victory in a skate race. The following day, he claimed second in the 20K classic for his fourth podium in five individual races this winter. Hagenbuch will enter the NCAA Championships next week as the third-ranked skier in the East.

In the women's races, Thurston nearly matched Hagenbuch's performance, only swapping the results in the freestyle and classic races. The rookie from Waterbury, Vermont, reached the podium in the 5K skate by placing third overall before earning the gold in the 20K classic by just over 30 seconds. She has won three consecutive classic races and earned a spot on the podium in six out of seven individual events this year. Thurston sits atop the regional rankings entering the NCAA Championships.

Both skiers will be in action at Mt. Van Hoevenberg on Thursday, March 9 and Saturday, March 11 for the NCAA cross country races. The championships begin on Wednesday, March 8 with the alpine teams in action before they hit the slopes at Whiteface against on Friday, March 10.

Note: Dartmouth won a total of five EISA Skier of the Week honors this year — two apiece for Hagenbuch and Thurston, and the other for sophomore women's alpine skier Allie Resnick.

Schedules