PREVIEW: Nordic Ski Opens Season at NMU Open
HOUGHTON, Mich. – The 2019-2020 season will officially begin this weekend for the Michigan Tech Nordic ski team, as the Huskies will compete at the NMU Open. The two-day event, held on December 14-15, will be hosted from the Al Quaal Recreation Area in Ishpeming, Michigan.
The competition will begin on Saturday with the 10K/15K Freestyle, followed by the 5K/10K Classic on Sunday. The Al Quaal Recreation Area, the site of this weekend's NMU Invitational, will also be home to the 2020 NCAA Central Region Championships, giving Michigan Tech an opportunity to get an early look at the trails they will be skiing on in late February.
"This is a really good opportunity for our student-athletes to preview those courses," said Tech head coach Thomas Smith. "Being able to race the same courses that they'll be skiing on in February will really help build their confidence."
Sophomore Oda Hovland was a strong skier for the Huskies in 2018-19, as the Norwegian advanced to the semifinal of the Junior Skate Sprint at the 2019 U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships and finished ninth in the 15K Classic at the CCSA Championships.
On the men's side, junior Patrick Acton was two-time All-Region skier as he finished in the top five in both events at the 2019 NCAA Central Region Championships and picked up an All-CCSA First Team selection.
Joining the 15 returning Michigan Tech skiers will be six incoming freshman student-athletes, including two international skiers, who will all be representing the Huskies in their first collegiate Nordic races.
Michigan Tech is hosting the 2020 U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships from January 2-7 at the Michigan Tech Trails. Click here to volunteer for the event, and follow the news on the Championships on Facebook and Instagram.