The Gustavus women’s nordic ski team finished in seventh place (70 points) at the CCSA Ski Championships on Saturday and Sunday at the Al Quall Recreation Area in Ishpeming, Mich. Erica Hett was the top Gustavus skier, as she finished 10th (15:27.4) in the 5km classic on Saturday, and 22nd (42:25.3) in the 15km freestyle on Sunday. “That’s the first time I’ve seen a Gustie first year get a top ten finish with all of the regional schools present,” said Coach Jed Friedrich about Hett’s finish in the classic.
Northern Michigan University took first with 162 points, as the University of Alaska-Fairbanks placed second with 158 points, while Michigan Tech University rounded out the top three in third with 120 points.
Other top Gustavus finishers included Danielle Burgmeier, Cassandra Brady, and Erin Eppler. Burgmeier placed 24th (16:10.4) in the classic on Saturday and 33rd (43:44.9) in the freestyle on Sunday. Brady took 39th (45:55.3) in the freestyle, as Eppler placed 41st (16:52) in the classic. Taking first place in both the 5km classic and 15km freestyle was Alaska-Fairbanks’s Aurelia Korthauer with times of the 14:29.1 (classic) and 38:19.3 (freestyle).
The Gustavus women’s nordic ski team will travel to Houghton, Mich. next weekend to compete in the NCAA Central Region Championships on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 20-21.