Article after the Championships' conclusion-
Direct link -
https://cubuffs.com/news/2021/3/13/...-buffs-take-second-at-ncaa-championships.aspx
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JACKSON, N.H. – Sophomore
Magnus Boee capped one of the best seasons in CU history by winning the men's 20K freestyle race, his second individual National Championship in three days and the 100th in Colorado Buffaloes Ski Team history. The Buffs put up a valiant final-day fight for the title and in the end finished second to Utah by 31.5 points here Saturday at Jackson Nordic Center to close out the 2021 NCAA Ski Championships.
The Buffs lead the nation in individual championships and are the first school to reach 100. Boee's win is also the 10th of his historic season, tying the record for all men's skiers in CU history that was first set over 60 years ago by Dave Butts in 1960. Only Line Selnes and Maria Grevsgaard, both women's Nordic skiers, have won more races in a season, each with 11.
The Buffs entered the day 24.5 points behind the Utes, a tall task given the Utes strength in Nordic, particularly on the women's side. The Utah women, which posted a perfect score of 111 points on Thursday, were again boosted again by a 1-3 finish but the Buffs hung with them, as freshman
Weronika Kaleta finished seventh while junior
Ezra Smith took 11th and sophomore
Anna-Maria Dietze 12th. The Utes won the race 86-64 over the Buffs to open up a 46.5 point advantage with the men's race remaining.
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WHAT IT MEANS: It's never the Colorado Ski Team's goal to finish second, but a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships is still a great accomplishment. Along with 20 National Championships (19 NCAA, 1 AIAW), the Buffs have 13 more runner-up finishes at Nationals. Since 2006, the Buffs have four National Championships, seven runner-up finishes and just three other finishes, two third place and one fourth. The Buffs have finished four of the last five NCAA Championships as the runner-up. Given everything that had to happen this season, even having a season is an accomplishment in and of itself, much less staying healthy enough to compete at a high level and prepare for the national championships.
UP NEXT: The 2021 college season is complete, but several Buffs will likely continue to ski competitively. The U.S. Alpine National Championships will take place in April in Aspen, and some more continental cup or World Cup races may be on tap for several Buffs.
RICHARD ROKOS NOTES:
- Today marked the final competition for Richard Rokos as CU's head coach, completing his 31st season at the helm of the program and 35th season at CU. He finished his career with eight National Championships, 20 RMISA Championships and 73 meet wins, compiling an astonishing dual record of 1,547-186 (.893).
- Rokos' skiers have won 46 Individual National Championships, 65 Individual Regional Championships, and 364 race wins while compiling 290 All-America honors.
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NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM STANDINGS (FINAL): 1. Utah 554; 2. Colorado 522.5; 3. Denver 442; 4. Alaska Anchorage 411; 5. Montana State, 385.5; 6. Vermont 351; 7. Northern Michigan 232; 8. Westminster, 212; 9. New Hampshire, 211; 10. Alaska Fairbanks, 163; 11. Plymouth State 134; 12. Boston College 121; 13. St. Lawrence, 100; 14. Michigan Tech 87; 15. St. Scholastica 33; 16. Colby 31. 17. Clarkson 0.
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Richard Rokos: "I was hoping for it. Utah has a women's team that has recruited so good for the next four years. They have girls one through three capable of doing every single race and it is scary. We'll have to do some extra work for the next couple of years. Otherwise, the rest of the team is in good shape. To beat those three or four Utah girls will be tough."
"Second place makes you always a little hungry. There is still room for improvement and goals for us to meet. I am excited that we got to that level and we still have a place to go. There is room for improvement and we can start with a new title, a new place to go and a new team. I think it is well set right now."
"Emotional is not the right word. I just went around because we won here in 1995. Fredrik Landstedt is the Director of Utah skiing and he was my assistant. He was a Nordic coach and we celebrated a national title right in the same place as the Nordic race. There are a lot of good memories. It is more of thinking back and saying, 'That was a hell of a time.' It is not over. I know I'll be around in some capacity helping or advising. We will see. I am not giving any limits to myself. I am done with university, but I still have a place to go to help them. I am excited about that part."
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