Ripton, Vt. - The Colby College Nordic Ski team opened the final EISA Carnival weekend Friday with the Freestyle at the Rikert Outdoor Center. With three skiers in the top-15, the men placed 3rd and the women 7th. This weekend's events hosted by Middlebury College also mark the NCAA Eastern Collegiate Championships.  

Jack Young, just back from four World Cup starts over the past two weeks, returned to his custom position in the top-10 placing 6th overall.  Zach Nemeth was close behind in 11th and Benjamin Lewis continued his stellar first season with a 17th place result.  Matous Matousek slid into 22nd place for his third-best finish of the season.  On the women's side, Gretta Scholz remained one of the most consistent athletes across the league, with her ninth finish of the season in the top-15.  Her 15th place finish over the 25-minute race was only 30 seconds out of the top-10.  Maddie Hooker and Lili Baer rounded out the scoring for the Mules in 31st and 34th respectively.  

The 2024 EISA Carnival circuit comes to an end after tomorrow's 12th and final race, the 20k Classic Mass Start.  After results are finalized, the league will announce All-East selections as well as NCAA qualifiers to the national event March 6-9 hosted by the University of Colorado.