Location: St. Peter, Minn.
Head coach: Jed Friedrich (8th year)
Assistant coach: Andy Rishavy
Top male returners: Anders Bowman , Zach Wagner, Peter Larsen
Top female returners: Erica Hett, Danielle Burgmeier, Marian Lund
Website: www.gustavus.edu/athletics
2011 CCSA Championships: Men – 5th, Women – 6th
2011 NCAA Central Region: Men – 5th, Women – 7th

While the Gusties will be without the services of Jens Brabbit, an NCAA competitor a year ago, there is still plenty to suggest that Gustavus can improve on their mid-table finishes from a year ago.

On the men’s side, Gustavus will look for senior leadership from Anders Bowman. Finishing the year among the top 20 skiers in 2011, Bowman proved he can more than hold his own against the region’s finest, particularly in classic races, where he took 14th at the CCSA Championships last season.

Sophomore Gabe Hanson enjoyed a solid freshman campaign with the Gusties, finishing the year strong with a 25th place finish in the CCSA Championship classic race and a 29th-place result in the regional classic event. Likewise, Peter Larsen and Zach Wagner are both capable of turning in a good race for Gustavus as well.

For the women, Erica Hett showed consistent improvement as 2011 went on, leading Friedrich and her Gustie teammates to have high hopes for the upcoming campaign. Hett stormed to an 18th-place finish in the regional classic race a year ago, following it up with a 21st-place overall result in the freestyle race.

Teammate Marian Lund should also be a major contributor to the Gusties this season as well. Lund, who took 24th in the regional classic race last season, has gotten off to a flying start this season, earning the team’s top spot at both days of the Wolverine Ski Challenge in December.