Flanders Fifth in Freestyle at Regional
HOUGHTON, Mich. – The NCAA Central Region Championships, hosted by Michigan Tech, wrapped up on Sunday (Feb. 16) with the freestyle races. Alice Flanders led the Huskies for the second day in a row with a fifth place finish in the women's 10-kilometer. She qualified for the NCAA Skiing Championship, but the official announcement won't be made until Feb. 25.
Sunday's races wrapped up the collegiate season for most of the Huskies. The men finished third in the freestyle and fourth overall on the weekend. The women were fourth Sunday and fourth overall. Northern Michigan won both team titles.
"Alice has done the work to get to the NCAA Championships and had a great weekend," Tech coach Joe Haggenmiller said. "We're proud of how she's done this season, and I'm sure she'll represent Michigan Tech very well out in Utah.
"At times she dictated the pace of the race today. She just skied so well all weekend after feeling a little under the weather earlier in the week."
Flanders crossed the line in 33:19. Lynn Duijndam (16th/35:05.8) and Deedra Irwin (18th/35:22.9) were also in the top 20, scoring for Tech.
Also skiing in the women's race were Sarah Daniels (24th/36:04.2), Lisa Koenig (27th/37:05.7), Ulrika Axelsson (30th/37:47.7), Erin Mathews (42nd/42:11.9) and Ruth Oppliger (45th/42:471).
Daniels, Duijndam were the two seniors on the women's team who wrapped up their careers in the Black and Gold.
Matt Dugan led the men's team in his final race for the Huskies, finishing the 15K course in ninth with a time of 42:04.3. Kyle Hanson was one spot and 13 seconds back. Matt Wong (43:36.1), also skiing in his final race, wrapped up scoring for Tech.
"It was really exciting to see Kyle and Matt come out with good days and sneak into the top 10 and get some all-region honors," added Haggenmiller. "For Matt, it was the last race of his college career, and it was good for him to go out on a high note."
Raphael Bechtiger (21st/44:07.5), Sam Holmes (31st/45:45.8), Jay Woodbeck (36th/46:47), David Joda (43rd/48:15) and Thomas Kendrick (44th/49:14.1) wrapped up Tech skiers in the men's race.
"All of our volunteers do a great job," Haggenmiller said. "They've been doing this for so many years and know how to run a top-notch meet and provide the coaches and student-athletes with an outstanding competition."
The NCAA Championships are March 6 and 8 at Soldier Hollow Resort in Midway, Utah.
