Skiers Race Classic to Begin CCSA Championships

ISHPEMING, Mich. – The Michigan Tech Nordic ski team began the CCSA Championships on Saturday (Feb. 8) at Al Quaal with the classic races. Deedra Irwin and Ulrika Axelsson led the Huskies with top 10 finishes.

The women's team finished third with 49 team points. Northern Michigan (66) and St. Scholastica (50) defeated the Huskies (49) on the day.

Irwin placed fourth in 12:15.6 in the women's 5-kilometer race. Axelsson skied to a seventh place finish with a time of 12:32.2. Lisa Koenig (12:48.2) also scored for Tech in 18th.

"We were a little flat today," Tech coach Joe Haggenmiller said. "Deedra had a really good day and Ulrika skied well but ran out of gas late. She left it all on the course."

Alice Flanders (21st/12:56.7), Sarah Daniels (27th/13:13.3), Lynn Duijndam (28th/13:16.9), Ruth Oppliger (35th/14:10.3) and Erin Mathews (39th/14:44.4) rounded out Black and Gold skiers.

Raphael Bechtiger led the men's team with a 15th place finish in the 10K race. He crossed the line in 22:12.5. Thomas Kendrick was six seconds back in 17th place. Kyle Hanson (22:25.5) also scored for the Huskies in 20th.

Host NMU (66) led the men's classic. Alaska (62) and St. Scholastica (52) also finished ahead of Tech (41).

Jay Woodbeck (23rd/22:31.1), Matt Wong (25th/22:36.7), Matt Dugan (30th/22:55.8), David Joda (32nd/23:04.5) and Sam Holmes (34th/23:09.6) also skied for the Huskies.

"Raphael and Thomas raced pretty decent today to lead the men," added Haggenmiller. "Conditions were excellent. It was a little chilly but that didn't affect the skiers."

Freestyle races wrap up the championship on Sunday (Feb. 9).

"Hopefully we'll be able to rebound and recover quickly for tomorrow," Haggenmiller said.