2011-12 NMU Nordic season preview
Thu, Dec 8, 2011 - By Joe Buczek
MARQUETTE, Mich.– Sten Fjeldheim begins his 22nd winter at the helm of the Northern Michigan University men’s and women’s Nordic ski teams in 2011-12. The Wildcats men’s and women’s Nordic ski teams open the 2011-12 ski season Dec. 3-4 at the Michigan Tech Open (Dec. 3) and the Northern Michigan Open (Dec. 4).
The 2011-12 women’s squad looks to repeat the success it had last season. The Wildcats captured the Central Collegiate Ski Association team title, edging Alaska-Fairbanks by one point. Fjeldheim was also named the CCSA Women’s Coach of the Year
This season’s women’s squad features five upperclassman and five underclassman.
Leading the way for the ‘Cats are juniors Libby Ellis (Minneapolis, Minn.), Monica Markvardsen (Northport, Wash.) and Marie Helen Soderman (Njurunda, Sweden). Ellis placed ninth in the classic and 17th in the freestyle at the NCAA Regional. Markvardsen and Soderman represented the ‘Cats at the NCAA Championship and were named to the CCSA Second Team and First Team respectively.
Returning from redshirt seasons are sophomore Molly Burger (Hayward, Wis.) and junior Rosie Frankowski (Minneapolis, Minn.).
Also competing for NMU are senior Ingrid Fjeldheim (Marquette, Mich.), sophomores Jordyn Ross Lakeville, Minn.) and Karmen Whiteman (Readsboro, Vt.) and freshmen Felicia Gesior (Wauhesha, Wis.) and Ingrid Saupstad (Oslo, Norway).
The 2011-12 men’s squad will also look to repeat the success it had a season ago. NMU captured the CCSA team title and won five of seven events where team scores were kept.
This season’s men’s squad features six underclassman, including four sophomores. Leading the ‘Cars are senior Kevin Cutts (Townshend, Vt.) and junior Chris Bowler (Wausau, Wis.). Cutts placed sixth in the classic and eighth in the freestyle events at the NCAA Regional last season. Bowler was named to the CCSA Second Team in 2010-11. He finished fourth in the classic and eighth in the freestyle events at the NCAA Regional last season.
Also competing for NMU are sophomores George Cartwright (Lander, Wyo.), Ben Hugus (Wausau, Wis.), Tom McFadden (Marquette, Mich.) and Erik Soderman (Njurunda, Sweden) as well as freshmen Kyle Bratrud (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and Kjell-Christian Markset (Oslo, Norway).