2014-15 Ski Season One to Remember
VIDEO: Coach Haggenmiller and Two Seniors Recap 2014-15
HOUGHTON, Mich. — Strong performances by Michigan Tech skiers at both the US and Canadian National Championships highlighted the Huskies' 2014-15 Nordic season. Four NCAA National Championship qualifiers, eight race wins, two World Junior Championship qualifiers, 12 podium finishes and 11 Central Collegiate Ski Association Scholar-Athletes made it one of the most successful seasons in school history.
The first major event of the season came Jan. 4-10 when Michigan Tech served as host for the 2015 US National Cross Country Skiing Championships. The Huskies had several great performances on their home course.
Haakon Hjelstuen advanced to the finals in both classic and freestyle sprints, earning a spot on the podium with a third place showing in the classic. Hjelstuen continued his success with a win in the Twin Cities Championships 10-kilometer freestyle, a first place in the freestyle sprint at the CCSA Sprint Championships in Duluth and a third-place showing in the NCAA Central Region Championships 10K freestyle. The Norwegian qualified and competed at the NCAA Championships in Lake Placid, N.Y., then took part in the Canadian National Championships a week later, qualifying first in the classic sprint before finish on the podium again in third.
Deedra Irwin and Tom Bye both earned spots on Team USA's roster for the World Junior Championships thanks to their results at the US Nationals. Irwin placed ninth and 18th in the classic and freestyle sprint races in Houghton and earned a spot in the U23 team. Bye, an Eden Prairie, Minn., native, was the third junior to finish the 15K freestyle at the US Nationals.
Both athletes competed at the World Junior Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Feb. 2-7, and by virtue of their participation, earned spots in the NCAA National Championship field. Irwin, from Pulaski, Wis., had a win in the 5K classic at Telemark before posting the top finish of any Husky in Lake Placid with an 18th place result in the 15K classic.
Alice Flanders was Tech's fourth NCAA Nationals qualifier and arguably the most consistent all season. The Crystal, Minn., native took second in the opening college points race at Telemark, then proceeded to win every freestyle distance race through a top finish at the NCAA Central Region Championships in Ishpeming on Feb. 28. Flanders, who was an All-American in 2014, took 21st in the 5K freestyle in Lake Placid.
Ulrika Axelsson found herself on the wrong side of the bubble for qualifying for the NCAA National Championships. Nevertheless, she had an impressive season with a CCSA freestyle sprint title and an NCAA Central Region 15K classic crown to her credit. The Swede posted a podium finish (second) in the 10K classic at the CCSA Distance Championships. Her 15th-place result at the Canadian Nationals 30K freestyle was also a feather in her cap.
Other top Tech performances came at the Canadian Nationals. Andrea Lee posted a ninth-place finish in the 30K freestyle and two more top-20 results in the 5K freestyle (16th) and 10K classic (17th). Kyle Hanson had his best career result with a 35th place showing in the 10K freestyle.
"It was an exciting season for our team," said Tech coach Joe Haggenmiller. "It was the first time I can remember having four different athletes win regional races. We had a lot of skiers racing at the highest level all season long.
"Having the US Nationals on campus again was a big thrill for us. Our race crew and volunteers did an outstanding job of putting on the event, and I can't thank them enough."
As for team results, the Tech women were third in the College Cup competition at the US Nationals and won a day of the NCAA Regional Championships. Overall, the Huskies women were second while the men were third of eight teams in the Central Region.