DULUTH, Minn. — As the world prepares for the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games in Italy, St. Scholastica Athletics proudly celebrates a remarkable group of Saints whose impact will be felt across the international stage through Olympic competition, officiating, broadcasting, coaching, and Paralympic participation.
Paul Schommer '15 – Olympic Biathlon
Saints alum
Paul Schommer '15 will represent the United States in biathlon, bringing one of the most accomplished international résumés ever produced by a St. Scholastica student-athlete to the Olympic stage.
A one-time Olympian, Schommer competed at the Olympic Games Beijing 2022, where he helped the U.S. post a seventh-place finish in the 4 x 6km Mixed Relay and a 13th-place finish in the 4 x 7.5km Men's Relay, while also placing 35th in the 20km Individual and 74th in the 10km Sprint.
Schommer has also been a consistent presence at the Biathlon World Championships, highlighted by a ninth-place finish in the 4 x 7.5km Men's Relay at the 2025 World Championships, along with finishes of 24th in the 20km Individual, 39th in the 12.5km Pursuit, and 56th in the 10km Sprint. Over the course of his international career, he has competed in World Championship events across multiple cycles, including the sprint, pursuit, individual, men's relay, mixed relay, and single mixed relay. His top World Championship result came in 2020, when he placed eighth in the 4 x 7.5km Men's Relay.
Before ascending to the global stage, Schommer authored one of the most decorated collegiate careers in Saints Nordic history. He earned NCAA All-America honors, was a two-time NCAA All-Central Region selection, and received First Team All-CCSA recognition. He was named CSS Male Athlete of the Year, the team's Most Valuable Skier, and a USCSCA All-Academic Team honoree.
Schommer was responsible for multiple program firsts, including the first individual St. Scholastica victory with Northern Michigan or Alaska Fairbanks present, and became the first Saints skier to finish every regular-season race inside the top 10. His collegiate highlights include an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Championships (20km freestyle), a win at Mt. Itasca (10km freestyle), runner-up finishes at the CCSA U.S. Championships (30km freestyle) and Wausau JOQ College 10km classic, and multiple podium and top-four finishes across the Central Region and national collegiate schedule.
Alexandra Clarke '15 – Olympic Women's Hockey Official
Former Saints student-athlete
Alexandra Clarke '15 (formerly Alexandra Blair) will serve as an official for women's hockey at the Olympic Games. Clarke's Olympic assignment reflects both her excellence as an official and a standout, multi-sport collegiate career at St. Scholastica.
In addition to her success with Saints women's ice hockey—where she earned AHCA All-America, All-NCHA, Academic All-NCHA, All-Region, and NCHA All-Rookie Team honors—Clarke was also a key contributor to the St. Scholastica women's track and field team. She was a multiple-time Outdoor All-UMAC and Academic All-UMAC selection, helped the 4x800m relay capture a UMAC Championship, placed second in the high jump at the UMAC Championships, and finished second in the 800m run at the UMAC Championships, while earning Dean's List recognition throughout her career.
Chad Samela – Olympic & Paralympic Nordic Broadcaster
Current Saints cross country coach
Chad Samela will again represent St. Scholastica on the global stage as a Nordic skiing broadcaster for NBC, covering both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This will be Samela's 6th Olympics as a broadcaster. His continued presence underscores the depth of expertise within St. Scholastica Athletics and its connection to the worldwide Nordic skiing community.
Max Nelson (Grant, MN/Mahtomedi HS) – Paralympic Nordic Skiing
Former Saints Nordic skier
Max Nelson, who competed three seasons for St. Scholastica from 2023–25, will represent the United States once again on the Paralympic stage in Italy.
Nelson previously competed at the Paralympic Games Beijing 2022, finishing ninth in the 4 x 2.5km Relay Open, 13th in the 12.5km Freestyle (Visually Impaired – Men), and 14th in the 1km Sprint Freestyle (Visually Impaired – Men).
Diagnosed at a young age with a rare congenital retinal disease—later identified through genetic testing as a previously undocumented condition studied at the Carver Laboratory at the University of Iowa—Nelson overcame significant visual impairment following retinal detachments in both eyes at age two. Introduced to a wide range of adaptive sports, he discovered Nordic skiing in first grade and has since risen to the highest level of international competition.
Known as "Maxy" to friends and teammates, Nelson cites winning his high school conference championship against sighted skiers as his most memorable sporting moment and says his favorite part of Nordic skiing is the people he has met through the sport.
Jason Kask – Paralympic Coaching
St. Scholastica men's and women's Nordic skiing head coach
Jason Kask has played an active role in training Paralympic Nordic skiers in preparation for the Games and was invited to coach at the Paralympics in Italy. He was present at races in Alberta, Canada and Germany in recent months training multiple athletes ahead of the games.
While Kask will be unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict with NCAA Nordic Skiing Regionals, which will be hosted in Duluth, Minnesota during Paralympic competition, the invitation itself reflects the national and international respect he has earned and highlights the caliber of coaching within St. Scholastica Athletics.
From Olympic competition and officiating to broadcasting, coaching, and Paralympic representation, St. Scholastica Athletics will be proudly represented across multiple facets of the Winter Games in Italy. These Saints exemplify the College's commitment to excellence, resilience, and leadership on the world stage.
As the global spotlight turns to Italy, Saints everywhere will be watching with pride.
