US Paralympics Nordic Skiing announces 2025-26 National and Development Teams
U.S. Paralympics Nordic Skiing has announced the 2025-26 National and Development Team rosters ahead of the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, set for March 6-15, 2026. The lineup features a blend of returning Paralympic medalists, seasoned competitors, and promising up-and-comers poised to make their mark in the sport.
After a season that saw U.S. Paralympics Nordic Skiing athletes compete in an unprecedented three world championships – including in the first-ever Para races at the FIS Cross-Country World Championships – Team USA is making its final preparations for Milano Cortina 2026.
Fresh off capturing medals in their summer sports at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games are Oksana Masters (Louisville, Ky.) and Kendall Gretsch (Downers Grove, Ill.), both of whom earned A Team nominations. A 19-time Paralympic medalist, Masters added to her storied resume with gold medals in the WH5 time trial and road race in Para-cycling, while Gretsch captured silver in the women’s PTWC paratriathlon event. Gretsch also had a standout showing on the snow during the 2024-25 season, earning the FIS women’s sitting world cup overall title while adding seven medals at world championships.
They are joined on the A Team by seven-time Paralympian Aaron Pike (Park Rapids, Minn.), Jake Adicoff (Sun Valley, Idaho) and Sydney Peterson (Lake Elmo, Minn.), each returning after successful seasons on the FIS and IBU circuits. On the cross-country side, Adicoff had a standout campaign, earning two world titles at the FIS Para Cross-Country World Championships in Toblach, Italy. Pike, meanwhile, was one of Team USA’s best performers in biathlon, where he took home the second world championships gold medal of his career. Peterson, who is working toward a PhD in neuroscience, earned two medals across Team USA’s world championships competition slate.
The B and C Teams include athletes continuing to make their impact on the global stage. Dani Aravich (Boise, Idaho) earned a spot on the B Team after a season that included her first career world cup biathlon medal, while six-time Paralympic medalist Dan Cnossen (Topeka, Kan.) returns to the C Team.
The Development Team features a dynamic group of emerging athletes, including U20 nominations for Max Nelson (Grant, Minn.), Jack Berry (Missoula, Mont.), Michael Kneeland (Bozeman, Mont.), and Zhenghong Schlechte (Mahtomedi, Minn.). Also returning to the Development Team are Paralympic veteran Josh Sweeney (Bozeman, Mont.), Nicole Zaino (Brookfield, Conn.) and Ty Wiberg (Chippewa Falls, Wis.).
The 2025-26 season will feature a full slate of international competition, including world cup stops across Europe and North America, along with key domestic training and development camps prior to the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in March 2026.
2025-26 U.S. Paralympics Nordic Skiing National Team
National A Team
Jake Adicoff
Kendall Gretsch
Oksana Masters
Sydney Peterson
Aaron Pike
National B Team
Dani Aravich
National C Team
Dan Cnossen
2025-26 U.S. Paralympics Nordic Skiing Development
Team Jack Berry (U20)
Michael Kneeland (U20)
Max Nelson (U20)
Zhenghong Schlechte (U20)
Josh Sweeney
Ty Wiberg
Nicole Zaino.
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