NMU Nordic preview
Fri, Dec 3, 2010 - By Calvin Larson
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan University men’s and women’s nordic ski teams will open their 2010-11 season December 4-5 with events hosted by Michigan Technological University. The Wildcats had planned on hosting the season opening event on Saturday, December 4, but with the weather conditions the races have been moved to Houghton where the trail conditions are race ready.
The race schedule for the weekend has been adjusted with both races taking place in Houghton, Michigan. Saturday’s races will be freestlye and will feature an individual start. The women will ski a five kilometer race with the men following in a ten kilometer race. Saturday’s events are scheduled to start at noon. On Sunday both the men and women will compete in a classic race using a mass start. The men will race a ten kilometer event with the women following in a five kilometer event.
The 2010-11 women’s Nordic ski team features three upperclassmen that they will look to for leadership throughout the season. Senior Chistina (Gillis) Turman (Fairbanks, Ala.) has been a consistent top performer for the ‘Cats over her five year career and teammates Ingrid Fjeldheim (Senior from Marquette, Mich.) and Marie Helen Soderman (Junior from Njurunda, Sweden) have been consistent assets to the Wildcats in their time as well. The 2010-11 Wildcat women’s roster features one new face in Jordyn Ross from Lakeville, Minn. who will debut in her college career this weekend.
On the men’s side of things the Wildcats welcome back senior Martin Banerud (Oslo, Norway) to the competitive front as he redshirted in 2009-10. Banerud finished in the top 20 in both the classic and freestyle at the NCAA Championships in both 2008 and 2009. The Wildcats will also look to Juniors Kevin Cutts (Townshend, Vt.) and Andy Leibner (Soldotna, Alaska) for leadership in the coming year. In Banerud’s absence in 2009-10, George Cartwirght (Sophomore from Lander, Wyo.) made a big splash in opening his collegiate career as he qualified for the NCAA Championships along with teammate Chris Bowler (Sophomore from Wausau, Wis.).