DENVER – University of Denver Skiing announced today that the team has added five student-athletes to its Nordic squad for the upcoming 2024 winter season.
 
The class includes graduate-transfer Henriette Saeterdal Semb (Asker, Norway) from Michigan Tech, as well as incoming student-athletes Anna Espeli (Geilo, Norway), Florian Knopf (Bernau am Chiemsee, Germany), Maja Moland (Andebu, Norway) and Krystof Zatloukal (Karlovy Vary, Czechia).
 
"I am excited to welcome this incredibly talented group of incoming skiers to the University of Denver Nordic Ski Team this season," said DU Head Nordic Coach Rogan Brown. "These student-athletes demonstrate what it means to be a Pioneer and will represent the University of Denver and our program with pride on and off the trails."
 
Below is more information on each skier.
   
Henriette Saeterdal Semb | Women's Nordic | Asker, Norway
5-5 | Asker Videregående Skole | Asker Skiklubb / Michigan Tech

Awards:
2x All-CCSA Second Team (2023, 2020) … 8x All-Central Region Honors … 2022 NCAA Central Regional Champion (15K Nordic freestyle) … 3x NCAA Championship competitor (2021, 2022, 2023) … 4x USCSA All-Academic Ski Team (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023) … 2023 GLIAC Academic Excellence Team … 2020 Harold Meese Sportsmanship Team Award
 
2023 (Michigan Tech Senior):
Earned All-Region Second Team honors in both the 5K freestyle and 20K classic … Won the classic interval start at the Salomon Cup Duluth … Placed fourth in the freestyle sprints at the Salomon Cup Duluth … Came in fourth in both the freestyle sprints and freestyle interval start at the Pre-Nationals CCSA Invite/CXC Cup … Placed fifth in the 20K classic at the CCSA Conference Championships … Was eighth in the 5K freestyle at the NCAA Central Regional Championships … Placed 11th in the 5K freestyle interval start at the GANC CCSA Invite … Was 11th in the 20K classic at the GANC CCSA Invite … Placed 22nd in the 5K freestyle and 38th in 20K classic at the NCAA Championships in Lake Placid, New York … Was 30th in the 10K freestyle at the U.S. Cross Country Ski National Championships … Placed 41st in the classic sprint at the U.S. Cross Country Ski National Championships.
 
2022 (Michigan Tech Junior):
Earned All-Region honors in both the 5K classic and 15K freestyle … Won the 15K mass start freestyle at the NCAA Central Regional and placed first in the 5K classic at the CCSA MTU Invite & GLD CXC Cup … Had a runner-up finishes in the 5K classic in both the NCAA Central Regional and CCSA Championships … Placed second in the 10K freestyle at both the CCSA MTU Invite/GLD CXC Cup and CCSA Mt. Itasca CXC Cup … Placed fourth in the 15K freestyle at the CCSA Championships … Came in 14th in the 15K freestyle and was 23rd in the 5K classic at the NCAA Championships … Placed 16th overall and third collegiately in the 5K freestyle at the Duluth SuperTour … Was 19th overall in both the 15K freestyle and 10K classic (ninth collegiately) at the Gitchi Gami Games … Placed 26th overall and ninth collegiately in the 20k skate at the U.S. Cross Country National Championships … Came in 28th overall and 12th collegiately in the interval start classic at the U.S. National Championships.
 
2021 (Michigan Tech Sophomore):
Recorded All-Region honors in both the 5K classic and 15K freestyle … Placed fourth in 15K freestyle and seventh in the 5K classic at the CCSA Championships ... Was fifth in the 5K classic and sixth in the 15K freestyle at the NCAA Central Regional … Came in fifth in the NMU Invitational 5K classic and was seventh in the 15K freestyle as well at the meet … Recorded an eighth-place finish in the semifinals in the freestyle sprints at the Duluth SuperTour ... Placed 13th in the 15k freestyle and 24th in the 5K classic at the NCAA Championships.
 
2020 (Michigan Tech Freshman):
Recognized with All-Region honors in freestyle and classic and served as an alternate at the NCAA Championships ... Placed second in the 10K freestyle at the U.S. Cross Country National Championships and also in the 5K skate at the UWGB Invitational … Was a sixth-place qualifier in the freestyle sprint at U.S. Nationals ... Clocked in at 14:39.4 to finish 10th in the freestyle race at the NCAA Central Region Championships ... Took sixth in the classic race at regionals with a time of 57:16.1.
 
Before College:
Finished top 20 at the Norwegian National Junior Championships for three seasons (2017-2019) and recorded multiple top-15 finishes at the Norwegian National Junior Cup in 2018-19 … Placed 14th at the 2018 Norwegian Junior National Championships.

Personal:
Full name is Henriette Saeterdal Semb … Daughter of Ole Martin Semb and Ingvil Saeterdal … Has a younger sister, Helene … Graduated from Michigan Tech with her bachelor's degree in engineering management and a minor in economic in 2023 … Intends to earn her master's degree in business analytics at DU … Wants to help Denver the overall standings in 2023 and ski well personally during the season … Graduated high school from Asker Videregående Skole in Norway in 2018 … Hobbies include mountain biking, cooking and knitting.

Why DU:
"The school has an excellent mix of academics and athletics."  
Anna Espeli | Women's Nordic | Geilo, Norway
5-8 | Norges Toppidrettsgymnas  | Geilo Sports Club
 
Before Denver:
Member of the Geilo Sports Club and also competed for NTG Geilo and Team Fosen Yard … Won three individual Norwegian Biathlon Championships in Norway, two on snow and one on roller skis … Placed second in the 2022 overall season cup for biathlon … Came in third place three times in the biathlon national cup in 20221-22 … Placed sixth in a 7.5K freestyle junior cross country national cup race in Lygna, Norway, on Jan. 12, 2020.

Personal:
Full name is Anna Olivia Hagen Espeli … Daughter of Roger Espeli and Lise Marit Espeli … Has two younger siblings, sister Guro and brother Erik, both of whom compete in biathlon … Previously attended college at Oslo Nye Høyskole, enrolled in a one-year program in psychology … Intends to major in business marketing at DU … Graduated high school from Norges Toppidrettsgymnas in Geilo … Career goals is to explore her potential as a cross country skier … Hobbies include watercolor painting and reading … Volunteered with different events in her city, including the Skarverennet ski race.

Why DU:
"Denver has a good reputation, and I have heard a lot of positive things about the school, training facilities and the combination of the two. Now, there is finally an opportunity to go there to further develop myself, combine academics and training, and experience something new. Denver seems really exciting and innovative."
   
Florian Knopf | Men's Nordic | Bernau am Chiemsee, Germany
5-11 | Ludwig Thoma Gymnasium | SLV Bernau/German National Team
 
Before Denver:
Previously competed for SLV Bernau and was a member of Germany's national team for five years … Participated in five Junior World Championships with Team Germany, winning a bronze medal in the 4x5K relay in Lahti, Finland, in 2019 … Placed eighth in the 30K classic at those same Junior World Championships in 2019 … Came in fourth in the 15K classic in the Alpen Continental Cup in February 2022 … In Alpen Continental Cup races, has recorded 12 career top-10 results, five career top-five finishes and a second-place finish in the 15K classic in March 2019 at Oberwiesenthal, Germany … Made his World Cup debut in freestyle sprints in Dresden, Germany, in December 2021 … Recorded a pair of sixth-place results at the 2018 German National Championships in the 15K freestyle and classic sprints … Came in fourth in the 10K classic in the 2020 German National Junior Championships … Has won 11 German championship titles in different age groups.

Personal:
Son of Gerhard and Marcela … Previously attended college classes at the University of Ansbach in Germany, earning his undergraduate degree in international management … Intends to earn his master's degree in management at DU … Career goals is to help Denver win an NCAA Championship … Graduated high school from Ludwig Thoma Gymnasium in 2017 … Father Gerhard passed away in 2022 and credits his father for the reason why he decided to come to the United States … Hobbies include backcountry skiing, biking, hiking and canoeing.

Why DU:
"I chose Denver because DU offers amazing possibilities where I can pursue my athletic and academic goals within a great team."
 

---

Maja Moland | Women's Nordic | Andebu, Norway
5-6 | NTG Lillehammer | Lillehammer Skiklub
 
Before Denver:
Primarily competed for the Lillehammer Skiklub, but was also a member of Stokke IL Ski and NTG Lillehammer … Placed seventh in the 15K freestyle and ninth in the 5K classic at the 2022 Norwegian Junior Championships … Came in third in a 10K freestyle and fifth in 10K classic at 2022 Norway Juniors … Was recognized with the Oppland Skikrets honorary award in 2022 … Came in sixth in freestyle sprints at a junior race in Holmenkollen, Norway, and 10th in the 5K classic in a under-20 event at Lygna, Norway in winter 2020 … Finished 10th overall in the Norwegian Junior Cup … Has participated in seven Scandinavian Cup races.

Personal:
Full name is Maja Kjaeraas Moland … Daughter of Per-Øyvind and Anita Kjærås Moland … Has two siblings, brother Mons and sister Mina … Graduated high school in 2021 … Wants to compete at the international level after college … Hobbies include cycling and ski touring.

Why DU:
"I choose the University of Denver because of the exceptional skiing program, and it gives me the opportunity to compete at a high level while pursuing my academic goals."  
Krystof Zatloukal | Men's Nordic | Karlovy Vary, Czechia
6-0 | První Ceské Gymnázium v Karlových Varech | LK Slovan Karlovy Vary / Czechia National Team
 
Before Denver:
Competed for LK Slovan Karlovy Vary and was a member of the Czech U20 National Team … Nominated for the national team at the both the 2022 Junior World Championships and 2023 World Championship … Represented Czechia at the 2022 World University Games in Lake Placid and came in fourth in the 10K freestyle pursuit …Helped Czechia to 15th in the 4x10K relay at the 2023 FIS World Championship in Plancia, Slovenia … Placed Second in the 30K freestyle in OPA Cup in Oberstdorf, Germany, on Jan. 23, 2022 … Has won several Czech Championships … Participated in the 2020 Youth Olympic Games in Switzerland … Named the most Successful athlete in the city of Karlovy Vary and in the region twice (2021, 2022) and was four times named the top athlete on LK Slovan Karlovy Vary (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023).

Personal:
Son of Vit Zatloukal and Renata Zatloukalova … Has a younger sister, Linda Zatloukalova … Graduated high school from První Ceské Gymnázium v Karlových Varech in 2021 … Attended college at FTVS UK … Intends to major in biological sciences at DU …Wants to win a team and individual national championship while at DU … Career goals after college is to represent the Czech Republic on the international stage … Hobbies include watch sports, cycling, doing other sports, traveling, watching movies, playing board games, going to concerts and festivals and exploring new restaurants.

Why DU:
"Firstly, I wanted to be able to pursue both of my careers in cross country skiing and education at a very high level, and I hope that I will join a determined group of athletes with the similar goals and values. I also wanted to become more independent and improve my English. Overall, this is the best opportunity for me to grow and become the best version of myself."
 

DONATE: Fans interested in making a donation to the Pioneers Athletic Fund can do so by clicking here. Your gift will transform the lives of our student-athletes by giving them the first-class resources needed to excel in the classroom and beyond. Thank you for Building Pioneers for Life!
 
Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of DU's NCAA Division I sports
Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Skiing on Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_Skiing on Twitter
Follow @DenverPioneers and @DU_Skiing on Instagram