It was all about the Vasa Ski Club and Copper Country Ski Tigers this past Friday and Saturday as they battled against each other at the Michigan High School Cross Country Ski Championships on the Michigan Tech Trails in Houghton, Michigan. Vasa narrowly beat the Ski Tigers by 7 points, 593 to 586. Superiorland Ski Club was third with 335 points.
Vasa Ski Club Champions (Photos from Vasa Ski Club)
Four other teams raced as well: The Ishpeming Ski Club, Petoskey High School, Grand Rapid Nordic Ski Team, and the Roscommon Nordic Ski Team.
The Championships consisted of freestyle and classic races, and a classic sprint. Pursuit points were also given.
Vasa's women took first place overall, followed by the Ski Tigers and Superiorland. For the men, the Ski Tigers took first, with Vasa in second and Ishpeming in third.
Vasa's Arielle Jean and Willam Haapala became the overall State Champions. Vasa's William Haapala was the top male, winning the freestyle, classic, and pursuit races, and finishing second in the sprint. Ski Tiger Michael Fraley was second, finish third in the freestyle, second in both the classic and pursuit, and first in the sprint. Another Vasa racer, Ryan Miller, was third. Miller took second in the freestyle, third in the classic and pursuit, and fifth in the sprint.
Arielle Jean of Vasa was unstoppable, sweeping up first place in all four events. Teammate Annie Paulson took second overall with a second in the freestyle and pursuit, third in the classic, and third in the sprint. Ski Tiger Ingrid Seagren was third with a third in the freestyle and pursuit and a second in the classic and sprint.
State Champions Arielle Jean and William Haapala
Congratulations Vasa Ski Club for the overall win!