Complete Results

HOUGHTON, Mich. – St. Scholastica juniors #Mason Bacso# (Jr.-Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) and #Waylon Manske# (Jr.-Bemidji, Minn.) maintained contact with the lead pack for most of the 15km mass start freestyle Sunday at the Central NCAA Regional Championships at Michigan Tech University.

Northern Michigan University's George Cartwright skied clear to win in a time of 39:34.8 seconds, 15.1 seconds ahead of Wisconsin-Green Bay's Santiago Ocariz. Gustavus Adolphus junior Jens Brabbit crossed the line 4.6 seconds later to claim the final podium spot in 40:02.5 seconds.

Then it was a mad dash for spots 4-8, won by John Parry of Alaska-Fairbanks with Bacso crossing the line fifth, 2.3 seconds behind Parry. Bacso edged Northern Michigan's Chris Bowler in a photo finish, posting the same times to the tenth of a second. Manske was edged by Northern Michigan's Kevin Cutts for seventh, with Manske winding up eighth, just 1.2 seconds behind Bacso. Adding #Kasey Bacso# (Fr.-Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) in 21st to round out the Saints scoring, the men posted a program-best day at the NCAA Regionals, finishing third on the day, only one point behind the host team of Michigan Tech. Northern Michigan won. Manske and Bacso earn All-Central Region honors with their performances.

“This was such a great day for the Saints,” said head coach Chad Salmela. “We tied Tech for second at the CCSA Championships last season, but I always want to treat NCAA Regionals like the Olympics-it's the most important race every year because it is the gateway to the NCAA Skiing Championships.”

The Saints program unofficially failed to qualify a male skier to the NCAA Championships for the third straight season. Manske is unofficially the third alternate for the Central Region, Mason Bacso (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata HS (St. John’s University)) the fifth. The official nominations will be made Monday.

“It's hard to come into a season with the best team you've ever had and not meet the same level of perceived achievement we've had in the past,” said Salmela. “But we have fewer quotas this year because we underperformed as a region at last year's NCAAs, and we're paying for that this year with fewer spots, despite a deeper field of racers. I'm hoping we'll gain some of our quota spots back for next year. It's out of our hands now. I just wish all the CCSA teams the best success at NCAAs.”

Sunday's race signals the completion of the Saints' fourth season.

NCAA CENTRAL REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Men's 15km Mass Start Freestyle
Houghton, MI
1 Cartwright , George NMU 0:39:42.8
2 Ocariz , Santiago UWGB 0:39:57.9
3 Brabbit , Jens GAC 0:40:02.5
4 Parry , John UAF 0:40:04.3
5 Bacso , Mason CSS 0:40:06.6
6 Bowler , Chris NMU 0:40:06.6
7 Cutts , Kevin NMU 0:40:06.9
8 Manske , Waylon CSS 0:40:07.8
9 Lund , Oskar MTU 0:40:16.4
10 Smith , Jesse MTU 0:40:38.1
21 Bacso , Kasey CSS 0:42:04.2
24 Hupperts , Stefan CSS 0:42:30.1
25 Nistler , Matt CSS 0:42:51.9
37 Hecker , Jeremy CSS 0:44:35.6
40 Wessling , John CSS 0:44:42.4
41 Wright , Ryan CSS 0:44:47.3

Team Scores
1 NMU 30 25 24 79
2 MTU 22 21 20 63
3 CSS 26 23 13 62
4 UAF 27 19 14 60
5 GAC 28 18 10 56
6 UWGB 29 11 7 47
7 SJU 17 15 12 44
8 STO 16 9 8 33

Combined Classic/FreestyleTeam Scores
1 NMU 159
2 MTU 139
3 UAF 132
4 CSS 118
5 GAC 110
6 SJU 92
7 UWGB 74
8 STO 64