GRNST only 2 points behind HHCCSS in Brumbaugh Cup

Fri, Feb  14, 2025 - By Ernie Brumbaugh

Six inches of new snow overnight is normally a nightmare for a classic race but it did not phase the Vasa grooming staff. Nice classic tracks and 20 degrees made for a wonderful race on the final day of the North American Vasa Festival of races. GRNST seized the day, placing all five men in the top eight overall scoring 24 points, outscoring Team Vasa. 2nd, by 24 points and Brumbaugh Cup leader, HHCCSS, by 74 points. Team NSR won the women’s division by four points over Team Vasa.

For the men, GRNST conceded first overall to Team Vasa’s Ed Roe but then came, Ryan Harris, 2nd, Eric Parrott, 3rd, Denny Paull, 4th, Stephen Smigiel, 7th, and Glenn Goodman, 8th’ all in the red lightening bolt suits of GRNST. Team Vasa scored, Ed Roe, 1st, Milan Baic, 5th, Peter Hinck, 9th, Bryce Dreezen, 16th, and Paul Crowley, 17th, to finish in second place with 48 points. Team NSR was third led by Yvon Dufor, 6th, Kevin Vasquez, 11th, Bill Bradley III, 12th, Joel Heeres, 13th, and Doug Cornell, 15th with 57 points. Theo von Walllenich, 14th, brought the Headquarters home in fourth with 97 points and John Gravlin, HHCCSS, 10th, led a 3 man team home with a total of 98 points. Given a chance, GRNST, made up 73 points on season long Brumbaugh Cup leader HHCCSS, but would it be enough?

Rebecca Davis, HHCCSS, won the day overall, but with only one skier, Team HHCCSS could only manage fourth with 25 points. Team NSR finished first for the women with 15 points with Karin Rand, 3rd, Ellie Callison, 4th, and Isabelle Salley, 8th, Team Vasa’s women finished the day in second with Erica O’Hearn, 2nd, Karen Kirt, 7th, and Melinda Mitchell, 10th. Deanna Spencer, 5th, Wendy Anderson, 6th, and Gwenn Stevenson, 11th gave the Headquarters third overall with 22 points. Katie Harris led the GRNST team to 33 points only eight points behind HHCCSS

So how close was it? GRNST won the day with 57 points but more importantly gained 66 points to close within 2 points of Brumbaugh Cup leader, HHCCSS. Looks like a real horse race with only four races left. The Forbush Freestyle, this Saturday and the Hanson Hills Classic on Sunday are sure to be attended en masse by HHCCSS and GRNST so the racing should be fierce. These two races will also crown the Michigan Cup Men’s and Women’s Freestyle and Classic Champions. Two weeks after that are the Black Mountain Classic and Freestyle races on courses as tough as they get. The Brumbaugh Cup is up for grabs and will probably be decided at the last race of the season!!!

2025 Brumbaugh Cup Team Scoring to date after the Boyne Mountain Classic

	Team	Forbush Time Trial	Winter Wolf Skiathlon	Frosty Freestyle	Krazy Klassic	Cote Dame Marie	Boyne Classic	Forbush Memorial Classic	Vasa Freestyle	Vasa Classic	Brumbaugh Cup Total
1	Hanson Hills/Cross Country Ski Shop	50	53	86	79	48	57	66	71	123	633
2	Grand Rapids Nordic Ski Team	64	58	71	76	87	78	58	86	57	635
3	Team NordicSkiRacer	123	101	35	35	110	97	101	107	72	781
4	Vasa Ski Club	79	109	125	122	78	101	97	38	67	816
5	Cross Country Ski Headquarters	123	117	92	88	122	85	102	149	119	988

About the Brumbaugh Cup

The Michigan Cup Series has three team awards: The Baic Cup for best junior team, the Brumbaugh Cup for best senior team, and the Michigan Cup for the best overall team.

The Brumbaugh Cup is a team scored competition with each designated race counting each team's top 5 senior male skiers and top 3 senior female skiers. It is scored like a cross-country running event with first place receiving 1 point; down through the max of 35 male skiers (7 teams x 5 skiers) and 21 female skiers (7 teams x 3 skiers). The lowest point total wins each race and the lowest point total of all designated races wins the Brumbaugh Cup. The designated Brumbaugh races include those races where there is a single Michigan Cup points paying event.