Jack Kroll ‘25 stands on top of the podium at U20 Ski Jumping Junior Nationals. Photo provided.
Last week, Husky Ski Jumpers Eli Larkin ‘27 and Jack Kroll ‘25 traveled to Park City, Utah, to compete in the 2025 Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Junior National Championships. After four days of jumping, the pair took home an impressive total of five medals.
Due to warm weather, open training sessions were canceled, meaning jumpers only had the three official training jumps to adjust to the new hill before competition. Kroll won two of the three official training rounds and had a jump of 69.5 meters, which would be the furthest on the hill for the week.
The first day of competition was the individual events. Kroll won an intense back-and-forth with Steamboat Springs athlete Arthur Tirone. After the first round, Jack was only ahead by two-tenths of a point. After the second round, it was announced that Arthur had won by just one point, but NYSEF coach Colin Delaney quickly realized an error in the scoring that put Jack ahead by three points, making him the 2025 U20 Junior National Ski Jumping Champion. The two athletes were left in shock after the error gave them devastation and false hope, but in the end, they shook hands and celebrated their accomplishments.
“I was really sad when they announced that Arthur had won,” Kroll said, “ and even started crying while in equipment control.” When he emerged from equipment control, his coach was waiting with the news of the error. “I was ecstatic. I felt that I had had my best jumps, and it was really fulfilling that my best was enough to take the win.”
In the afternoon, Jack competed in the Nordic Combined race, again dueling with Arthur Tirone. After a five-kilometer race, Arthur Tirone won over Jack, who took second.
Jack Kroll ‘25 on the Nordic Combined podium after finishing 2nd. Photo by Seth Rothchild Photography.
The second day of the competition was the team events. Eli and Jack were part of a four-man East Team One. Their team would place second in the team jumping event after two rounds of competition. In the afternoon, Jack competed in the Nordic Combined team event. The teams consisted of two people. Jack’s partner was fellow NYSEF (New York Ski Education Foundation) teammate Cadel Cox. They took home the win in the U20 team event, and Jack went back to back after he and his partner won it last year in Anchorage, Alaska.
Jack Kroll ‘25 and Eli Larkin ‘27 in second place for team Ski Jumping. Photo provided.
Jack Kroll ‘25 and partner Cadel Cox on top of the podium as the lead East Team in a East one three for the Nordic Combined team event. Photo provided.
Jack Kroll ‘25 at the start line of the team sprint. Photo provided.
