Four of the five team members are from Marquette County — Torrey Cookman, Katie Cookman and Zane Farnsworth are from Marquette and Kurt Bates is from Ishpeming — while the fifth member, Henry Anderson, is from Appleton, Wisconsin.

All but U.S. Senior Team member Farnsworth are on the U.S. Junior Team.

On Jan. 6-7, the four Juniors competed at a Federation of International Luge Junior World Cup event in Latzfons, Italy, according to information submitted by Becky Cookman of Marquette.

Katie Cookman had the highest finish, 18th place in the women’s division in 1 minute, 16.33 seconds.

U.S. natural luge Junior Team member Torrey Cookman of Marquette competes in a Federation of International Luge World Cup race at Latzfons, Italy, that was held Jan. 6-7. He placed 30th in the men's division. (Photo courtesy @photolove Miriam Jennewein)

For the Junior men, Torrey Cookman was 30th in 1:09.17, Anderson 39th in 1:14.50 and Bates 40th in 1:15.85.

Following that race, Anderson and Torrey Cookman were invited to a Senior World Cup event in Umhausen, Austria, where they met up with Farnsworth as all three competed at a track billed as the most difficult in the world.

Cookman and Farnsworth qualified for the actual World Cup race with Cookman coming in 21st with a two-run time of 2:41.49 and Farnsworth 26th in 2:55.87.

Anderson didn’t qualify for the World Cup race, but did place seventh in the Nations Cup event with his one-run time of 1:25.24.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.

The U.S. National Team members in natural luge are, from left, Torrey Cookman, Katie Cookman, Henry Anderson, Zane Farnsworth and Kurt Bates. Farnsworth is a Senior Team member while the others are on the Junior Team, and all are from Marqeutte County except Anderson, who is from Appleton, Wis. (Photo courtesy @photolove Miriam Jennewein)