Northern Michigan Wins Season Opener
Tue, Dec 4, 2007 - By NMU and MTU
HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Northern Michigan University won the UP Collegiate Season Opener, beating UW-Green Bay and Michigan Tech.
NMU was scheduled to open up the season at home on Saturday (Dec. 1), but because of a lack of snow the event was cancelled. Instead the season opened on Sunday (Dec. 2) at the Husky Open which was held at Michigan Tech.
Men's Race
MNU's Martin Stuge Banerud (picture at right) won the 10K freestyle race with a time of 26:52.8. Three more of his teammates were in the top 10. Bill Bowler was eighth (28:31.1), Phill Violett ninth (28:33.1) and Tim Cook 10th (29:01.3). Three other NMU skiers were in the race as Justin Singleton covered the course in a time of 29:11.6 which was good for 12th, Gus Kaeding 19th (29:48.4) and Anders Gillis 31st (31:49.2).
“We like to start the season off with a win. The men’s team was impressive,” said Sten Fjeldheim. “The conditions were perfect and it looks like our hard summer and fall preparation will pay off.”
MTU Sophomore Jesse Lang (picture at bottom of page) finished fourth while sophomore Jenna Klein finished fifth to lead the Michigan Tech Nordic ski teams at the UP Collegiate Opening Meet.
Lang finished the 10k freestyle course in a time of 28:02.3 and Klein finished the 5k freestyle race in 16:33.4.
“I was pretty happy the way Jesse and Jenna skied today. I would like to see the other skiers move up but I know they are working hard and it is just the first meet of the year,” said head coach Joe Haggenmiller.
Junior Christopher Harvey finished 13th in a time of 29:13.1 and senior Kevin Heglund was eight seconds back in 14th (29:21.0). Senior Adam Airoldi finished in 15th (29:27.2) and sophomore Erik Mundahl rounded out the Huskies top five in 16th place (29:38.4).
NMU won the men's competition with 20 points; UW-Green Bay was second with 14 points and MTU third (9).
Women's Race
The Northern Michigan University women’s Nordic ski team dominated the Husky Open on Sunday (Dec. 2) by taking the first three scoring places. The ‘Cats tallied 24 points to claim the team title with Michigan Tech second (11) and UW-Green Bay third (10).
NMU's aria Stuber (picture at right) won the 5K freestyle race with a time of 15:51.5. Morgan Smyth was second (15:53.7) and Laura DeWitt was actually fourth, but for scoring purposes was third (16:32.2). Christina Gillis, an open racer, was third (16:28.6). Two other NMU skiers competed as Anna Berglund was ninth (17:25.4) and Maria Grossi 11th (17:43.1).
“We like to start the season off with a win, the team dominated the women’s event,” said Sten Fjeldheim. “The conditions were perfect and it looks like our hard summer and fall preparation will pay off.”
MTU's Elizabeth Quinley and Kristen Monahan, who are both redshirting this season, finished sixth (16:48.4) and 10th (17:27.7). Junior Laura Kangas finished 14th in 17:47.8 and junior Karen Jarvey was 13 seconds back in 15th place (18:00.6).
Upcoming Weekend
Various Central Collegiate Ski Association (CCSA) schools will be racing in the UP Collegiate Challenge next weekend. There will be 5/10K Freestyle race in Marquette 12/8 and 10/15K classic event in Houghton on 12/9)