A pair of Kenai Central graduates had solid finishes at the U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association nationals from March 10 to 15 at Mt. Bachelor in Bend, Oregon.

Jayna Boonstra, skiing for Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, finished fifth overall, while her team was sixth.

In the 7.5-kilometer freestyle interval start on March 11, Boonstra was sixth in 21 minutes, 38 seconds, 1:19 behind the leader. In the classic sprint on March 12, Boonstra was 15th. In the 15-kilometer classic mass start on March 14, Boonstra was second in 59:08, 1:48 off the leader.

Tyler Hippchen, skiing for Western Colorado University in Gunnison, finished 14th overall, while his team was fifth. Hippchen also was named a Second Team Scholar All-American for the second straight season. He was a First Team Scholar All-American in 2023.

In the 7.5K freestyle interval start on March 11, Hippchen was 16th in 18:54, 1:27 behind the winner. In the classic sprint on March 12, Hippchen made it all the way to the final and finished fifth. In the 15K classic mass start on March 14, Hippchen was 27th in 55:53, 7:03 behind the winner.