Team NordicSkiRacer takes early lead in the Brumbaugh Cup

Fri, Jan  19, 2024 - By Ernie Brumbaugh

The Brumbaugh Cup is a Senior Team Event of the Michigan Cup. A Team’s to five senior men and top three senior women are scored based on overall placing the team’s skiers. Nonaligned skiers (i.e., skiers who are not on a team or have not registered with the Michigan Cup as an individual) are omitted from the scoring. First place gets one point and the team with the lowest point total wins.

Day 1: Team NordicSkiRacer leads Brumbaugh Cup after Frosty Freestyle

Another year and again the Frosty Freestyle is the opener for the Michigan Cup after the first three races have been cancelled. Last year’s Brumbaugh up winner, Team Nordic Ski Racer again used their hometown race to jump an early lead in the Brumbaugh Cup although not quite as much a last year.The Frosty gave Tram NSR a 35-point lead over Cross Country Ski Headquarters in 2023 which shrank to 21 points in 2024. And last year was the closest finish in Brumbaugh up history.Hold on to your seats, I think we are in for a real ride this year.

Grand Rapids brought it’s horses this year to the men’s race with Eric Parrot and Stephen Smigiel Jr. going first and third, Vasa’s Glen Goodman was second, Hanson Hills/Cross Country Ski Shop saw Micheal Davis some in fourth and the Cross Country Ski Headquarters used Pennsylvania native Josh Zimmerman to take fifth.Led by Allen Sorgenfrei, Team NordicSkiRacer captured five of the next seven places.

In the women’s version, last year Age 20-29 Michigan Cup winner, Ellie Callison and the University of Michigan Ski Club first overall, Rebecca Davis, HHCCSS, took second, and Cheryl Darnton, Vasa Ski Club took third.Again, Team NSR was off the podium but led by Ellen Thompson and Sarah Newmister, took three of the next five places to cement Team NSR the lead in the Brumbaugh Cup 2024.

Brumbaugh Cup Team Results after Day One of the Frosty Festival of Races was a follows:

Rank	Team	Points
1	Team Nordic Ski Racer	61
2	Cross Country Ski Headquarters	82
3	Grand Rapids Nordic Ski Team	83
4	Hanson Hills/Cross Country Ski Shop	91
5	Vasa Ski Club	101
6	University of Michigan Ski Club	116

Day 2: Team NordicSkiRacer extends Brumbaugh Cup lead after Krazy Klassic

Much welcomed snow made the Frosty Festival of Races possible and to organizers and groomer made the most of it. Day 2 of the Festival was the Krazy Klassic hosted by Team Nordic Ski Racer and their skiers showed up in force.

Ellen Thompson took first, Sarah Newmister, second, and Amy Kostrzewa, fourth for Team NordicSkiRacer. Cheryl Darnton of the Vasa Ski Club prevent a Team NSR podium sweep with a third-place finish. Linda Weeks-Kaleita and Gwen Stevenson took fifth and sixth for the Cross Country Ski Shop Team.

On the men’s side Eric Parrot of GRNST was the overall winner and Stephen Smigiel fourth.Team Nordic Ski Racer took 5 of the top 8 places led by Kevin Vasquez, second, and Sean Newmister, third.

At the end of the day, the home team ran away with it. Team Nordic Ski Racer extended its lead to 61 points. GRNST moved up to second just edging the Headquarters’ by 3 points. Vasa moved into fourth just 3 points ahead of HH/CCSS with the U of M bringing up the rear.Brumbaugh Cup moves on to the Cote Dame Marie in Grayling on Saturday and the Boyne 10K Innsbruck Classic in Boyne Falls on Sunday.

Brumbaugh results are as follows:

Rank	Team	Frosty Freestyle	Krazy Klassic	Brumbaugh Cup
1	Team Nordic Ski Racer	61	32	93
2	Grand Rapids Nordic Ski Team	83	71	154
3	Cross Country Ski Headquarters	82	75	157
4	Vasa Ski Club	101	95	196
5	Hanson Hills/Cross Country Ski Shop	91	108	199
6	University of Michigan Ski Club	116	111	227