Northern Michigan remained on top in the second day of the CCSA Championships, as both the Wildcats’ top relay teams earned victories in both the women’s 3 x 5K classic race as well as the men’s 3 x 10K event.

The Wildcat women’s team, made up of Rosie Frankowski, Jordyn Ross and Mary Kate Cirelli, each turned in the top times of their respective legs to cruise to a comfortable 25-second victory. Alaska’s team of Marit Rjabov, Julia Ebner and Heidi Brook proved to be NMU’s toughest competitors, taking second with a time of 39:53.1.

Michigan Tech’s squad of Deedra Irwin, Sarah Daniels and Rachel Mason took third in the relay, while Northern Michigan’s second relay team, made up of Malin Eriksson, Elizabeth SImak and Megan Edic, took fourth among CCSA skiers.

On the men’s side, the Wildcats’ team of Kyle Bratrud, George Cartwright and Erik Soderman stormed out to an early lead and never looked back, completing their 30K in 1:07:19.1 – nearly a minute and a half better than their closest competitors.

St. Scholastica’s team of Scott Johanik, John Wessling and Jeremy Hecker took silver in the event, crossing the line in 1:08:43.2, followed closely by a pair of Michigan Tech squads. The Huskies first squad, made up of Sondre Sandvik, Matt Wong and Luke Gesior, took third in 1:08:43.4, and the team’s second grouping (Matt Dugan, Thomas Kendrick and Jay Woodbeck) finished fourth in 1:10:45.2.

With their wins today, the Wildcats extend their lead in the CCSA Championship standings, as the NMU women topped the table on Sunday with 78 points. Alaska’s 69 point haul put them in second place on the day, while Michigan Tech took third with 60.

On the men’s side, NMU again took top honors with 78 points, followed by St. Scholastica in second with 69 points. Michigan Tech’s 60 points put them in third place on the day, followed by Alaska with 51.

The CCSA skiers now enjoy a weekend off before the deciding events of the CCSA Championships – an individual start 10K classic race at Mt. Itasca on Feb. 16, followed by a 20K mass start freestyle on Feb. 17.

Full results and team scores from relays

Northern Michigan’s George Cartwright and Alaska’s Marit Rjabov kicked off the first weekend of the CCSA championships in style, earning the top spots in the A finals of their respective skate sprints at the Al Quaal Recreation Area in Ishpeming, Mich.

“It was a good day for us today,” Northern Michigan head coach Sten Fjeldheim said. “We had three guys in the A final, and I was really happy with the way George raced today. He just had a very controlled, smart race.”

After showing his sprinting ability by edging out a photo finish in the Saints Invitational classic race last weekend, Cartwright once again came out on top in the men’s final Saturday. Michigan Tech’s Raphael Bechtiger stormed out of the gates to an early lead, but Cartwright quickly closed the gap over the 1,650 meter course, eventually winning by a comfortable margin.

Saint Scholastica’s Jeremy Hecker edged past Bechtiger as well, taking the silver medal spot for the fourth straight CCSA event: a remarkable display of consistency from the senior Saint skier. Bechtiger would take third in the event, followed by NMU junior Ben Hugus.

On the women’s side, Alaska’s Rjabov earned her first CCSA win of the season, holding off second-placed Green Bay’s Kailey Mucha in the women’s A final. Northern Michigan’s Elizabeth Simak took third in one of her best performances in Wildcat colors to date, followed by Michigan Tech’s Sarah Daniels in fourth, and NMU’s Jordyn Ross in fifth.

“Jordyn looked as good as anyone in the semifinal, and I thought she was going to be tough to beat,” Fjeldheim said. “Unfortunately, she just ran out of gas a little bit.”

Cartwright’s win and Simak’s performance ensure that Northern Michigan ends the first day of the CCSA Championships with a slight edge in both the men’s and women’s standings. The Wildcat men sit on top of the CCSA table with 73 points, followed by Saint Scholastica in second with 65 points with Michigan Tech just a point behind in third.

The NMU women, with 67 points, sit just about Michigan Tech’s 63 points – the Huskies sitting in second thanks to solid performances from Daniels, Lynn Duijndam and Deedra Irwin. Alaska sits third on the women’s side with 60 points.

The CCSA championships continue tomorrow with a classic relay event. The women’s 3 x 5K race kicks things off at 10 a.m. EST, followed by a men’s 3 x 10K at noon.

Complete results

Full team scores

Women:
1. Northern Michigan: 67 points
2. Michigan Tech: 63 points
3. Alaska: 60 points
4. St. Scholastica: 48 points
5. Green Bay: 47 points
6. St. Olaf College: 40 points
7. Gustavus Adolphus College: 8 points

Men
1. Northern Michigan: 73 points
2. St. Scholastica: 65 points
3. Michigan Tech: 64 points
4. Alaska: 54 points
5. Green Bay: 41 points
6. Gustavus Adolphus College: 33 points
7. St. Olaf College: 27 points