Farquharson, local athletes earn spots on USA Luge national team

Track in Park City where USA Luge athletes train and compete. Photo: TownLift // Michele Roepke

PARK CITY, Utah — USA Luge announced the members of its fall 2026 national team Monday from headquarters in Lake Placid, N.Y. The roster features 12 Olympic athletes hoping to build on last season’s success, which included 10 medals, 38 top-10 World Cup finishes and an Olympic bronze medal won by Ashley Farquharson at the Milan Cortina 2026 Games.

Park City is home to one of only two luge tracks in the country — the other is in Lake Placid — and several local athletes made the cut.

In women’s singles, Milan Cortina bronze medalist Farquharson will lead a contingent of U.S. women with a combined nine Olympic Games appearances among them. In addition to her bronze in Cortina, the two-time Olympian won bronze at the 2025 World Cup in Park City  and silver at the 2025 World Cup in Lake Placid. She finished 12th in the overall World Cup standings after competing in seven of nine races. Also from Park City, Emma Erickson finished 36th overall last season.

In men’s singles, 2026 Olympian Matt Greiner placed 20th in his first Winter Games appearance in Cortina and 25th overall on the season.

“We are extremely excited about the team that will be representing the United States this coming season,” USA Luge CEO Scott Riewald said in a statement. “It is great to return the majority of our Olympic Team and be able to draw from the veteran leadership they bring to the team. But at the same time, it’s wonderful to welcome a group of younger athletes who get a chance to build experience and show what they can do on the international stage. There is a lot to look forward to this coming season.”

Locally, Orson Colby has been named to the junior national team and Paul “Quattro” McDonald to the youth national A team. Park City athletes named to the youth B team who train with the Youth Sports Alliance at Utah Olympic Park in the Wasatch Luge Club include Patrick Butcher, Hawker Craig, Isaac Miller, James Quady, Corbin Short, Axton Zahniser, Greta Hayes and Miriel Schomaker.

The 2026-27 World Cup season kicks off in Winterberg, Germany, with the 2027 World Championships set for Feb. 1-7 in Innsbruck, Austria.