(March 1, 2005) - After winning first place in all eight races this season, the University of Wyoming Nordic women's and men's teams hope to end the season unbeaten at next week's United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association National Championships in McCall, Idaho.

The UW Cowgirls are going for their third consecutive national title. The championships begin with a 1.5 kilometer (km) sprint race Tuesday March 8; the 15km freestyle race Wednesday; the 8.5km classic race Friday and the relay on Saturday.

Members of the UW women's team are Pinedale sisters Kristen and Kari Boroff, a senior and freshman, respectively; Erika Edgely, senior, Lake Placid, N.Y.; Christine Robinson, senior, and Melissa Gangl, sophomore, both of Casper; and Ava Bell, junior, Laramie.

"The women's team as a whole is actually faster and has more depth than the teams from the last two seasons so they are looking very good for a three-peat," says UW coach Christi Boggs, technology coordinator in the UW College of Education. "The seniors on this team want to go out on top so they are extremely motivated. Barring any unpleasant surprises they will be hard to beat."

All of the UW women have attended the national meet in the past except for first-year skier, Kari Boroff, who is ranked second on the team behind her sister. Kristen Boroff and Gangl placed second in different races at last year's national competition behind three-time national champion racer, Jennifer Kinner of Casper.

"Kristen has made a huge jump in speed and is looking to be as fast as Jennifer was," Boggs says. "If she can just stay healthy and ski well she'll be hard to catch."

On the men's team are juniors Riley Hopeman and Joe Howdyshell, sophomores Collin McRann and Josh Peterson, and freshmen Ben Miller and Brain Sebade, all from Lander; and Adam Alspach, junior of Casper.

The UW men's team returns all of its athletes, except the two freshmen and Howdyshell, who is a transfer student from the United States Military Academy.

"All of them are skiing faster than last season and with the addition of Joe, who placed second at nationals last year for the academy, we are amazingly solid and seem to have the best shot at the title of any men's team we've had in the past," Boggs says.

Both Hopeman and Kristen Boroff have won every race this season, and Boggs says the pair should win individual titles at the national meet.

For more information, call Boggs at (307) 766-3572.