Senior Erich Ziegler competes in a classical race.
The Gustavus Adolphus College men’s Nordic ski team ended its 2005 season at the CCSA Central Regional Championships on February 19-20. The Gusties compiled 84 team points and placed sixth out of eight teams. The championships were hosted by Michigan Technological Institution at the Tech Trails in Houghton, Michigan. Northern Michigan University won the regional championship with a final team score of 169 points.
Head coach Jed Friedrich’s squad compiled 40 points and finished seventh out of eight teams in the 10k classical race on Saturday, February 19. Senior Erich Ziegler (Crystal Falls, Mich.) led the Gusties with a time of 35:00.1 to place 29th overall. Freshman Lorin Skoglund (Marine on St. Croix) and junior Andy Rishavy (Alexandria, Minn.) placed second and third on the team, respectively. Skoglund placed 35th overall with a time of 32:37.1, while Rishavy placed 36th with a time of 32:39.5.
In the 15k freestyle race on Sunday, February 20, the Gusties placed sixth out of seven teams with 44 points. Ziegler also led the team in the freestyle race. The senior placed 16th overall with a time of 43:20.3. Other top finishers were seniors Dan Kueffer (Shoreview, Minn.) and Nate Porath (Shoreview, Minn.). Kueffer placed 35th overall and second on the team with a time of 45:41.0, while Porath placed 37th overall and third on the team with a time of 46:01.7.
Gustavus’ top performance of the season came in the fourth NCAA Qualifier of the season. The qualifier took place on February 12-13 at Camp Ripley Trails in Little Falls, Minn. The Gusties compiled 107 team points to place fifth out of eight teams. Coach Friedrich’s squad compiled 46 points in the 10k classical race on Saturday, February 12.
The following day, the Gusties featured four skiers in the top 20 and scored 61 team points to place third overall in the 16k freestyle race. “The skate race at Camp Ripley was definitely the highlight of our season,” Coach Friedrich stated. “Beating Michigan Tech and all MIAC schools was a good feeling for our guys.”
Ziegler led the team recording a time of 41:09.4 to place eighth overall. Porath placed 11th overall with a time of 41:33.2, Skoglund placed 19th overall with a time of 42:53.8, and Rishavy placed 20th overall with a time of 42:57.3.