Two Former Wildcats Compete in Olympics

Former Northern Michigan University student and Wildcat football player Nick Baumgartner is competing in his fifth straight Olympics at age 44 as part of the USA snowboard cross (SBX) team, following his gold-medal win at the last Winter Games. Former Wildcat Nordic skier and 2020 economics alumnus Zak Ketterson is appearing in his first Olympics as a member of the U.S. cross-country ski team.

Baumgartner won a gold medal in 2022 with Lindsey Jacobellis in the debut of the mixed-team SBX event, becoming the oldest snowboarder to win an Olympic medal and the oldest U.S. gold medalist since the Winter Games in 1948. Read a recent feature story about the Iron River native's journey, including the homemade backyard snowboard track he has trained on, here.

Ketterson was one of the best collegiate skiers in the nation as a member of NMU's team from 2016/2017 through 2020/2021. He earned multiple All-American and All-Conference honors, regional victories and a CCSA Skier of the Year award. He was also named the male recipient of NMU's Gildo Canale Outstanding Senior Award in recognition of his Nordic skiing excellence and leadership.

Since graduating in 2021, he has enjoyed a successful professional skiing career. He joined the U.S. Ski Team, winning a World Cup relay gold and competing at World Championships and World Cup events for the United States. Read a feature story on Ketterson's patient journey to the Olympics here.

Ketterson's content provided by NMU Sports Information