Sam Stertz

About Sam

Sam Stertz grew up in Grand Rapids, MN, and started biathlon at 13 at Mount Itasca. He raced for the U.S. at two IBU Youth World Championships, placing 21st in the sprint in Switzerland in 2020 and fifth in the relay in Austria in 2021, when he skipped his final high school state meet to race in Europe. That same year he won the youth super sprint at the U.S. Biathlon National Championships. He finished high school in Norway, then switched his focus to cross-country skiing at Michigan Tech, where he studies economics. In 2026 he posted his best FIS results, fourth in a 10K interval start and eighth in a mass start in Duluth. Skiing has introduced him to great people and cool places, and he aims to be a friendly face in the endurance community for all ages.