DENVER - The University of Denver skiers start their quest for their 22nd national championship from Bozeman, Mont., beginning Wednesday with the men's and women's freestyle Nordic races. The NCAA Championships will continue through Saturday, March 10.

"Our goal at the championship will be to achieve the best results of the season," Nordic head coach Dave Stewart said. "For every member of this team that will mean aiming for the top 10 in both races."

Denver qualified 10 of the maximum 12 student-athletes allowed to compete at the NCAA's. The Pioneers will attempt to become the first team to win the NCAA Championships with only 10 skiers. The highest finish for a team with 10 qualifiers was fifth, by Alaska Anchorage in 1997.

Amongst the Crimson and Gold representatives this week in Montana are three returners from last year's NCAA roster. 2011 women's Nordic Most Valuable Performer Kate Dolan (Bozeman, Mont.) and second-team All-American Andrew Dougherty (Anchorage, Alaska) return for the women's and men's Nordic team. For the women's alpine team, 2011 slalom national champion Sterling Grant (Amery, Wis.), returns as the favorite to defend her title.

Also competing will be four freshmen, Espen Lysdahl (Asker, Norway), Max Marno (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) and Devin Delaney (North Conway, N.H.) on the alpine side of things. For the Nordic team 2011-12 newcomer Jørgen Brevik (Trondheim, Norway) will make his NCAA debut.

Sophomore Charlie Reynolds (Park City, Utah) fills out the alpine roster, while sophomore Trygve Markset (Oslo, Norway) and junior Makayla Cappel (Sun Valley, Idaho) round out the Nordic team.

Live streaming of the meet will be available through the NCAA: http://www.ncaa.com/liveschedule.

2012 COMPETITION SCHEDULE

WEDNESDAY - March 7 

9 a.m.    - Women's 5k freestyle 

11 a.m.    Men's 10k freestyle 

THURSDAY - March 8 

9:30 a.m.   Women's giant slalom (event will be run to completion) 

1 p.m.    Men's giant slalom (event will be run to completion) 

FRIDAY - March 9 

9 a.m.     Men's 20k classical (mass start) 

11 a.m.    Women's 15k classical (mass start) 

SATURDAY - March 10

9:30 a.m.    Women's slalom (first run) 

10:30 a.m.   Men's slalom (first run) 

11:45 a.m.   Women's slalom (second run) 

1 p.m.    Men's slalom (second run) 

All times mountain