Complete Results

MINNEAPOLIS – #Jeremy Hecker# led the St. Scholastica men's Nordic skiing efforts for the second day in a row, finishing 21st in the men's 15km mass start classic in the Central Collegiate Ski Association (CCSA) portion of the USSA SuperTour at Wirth Park in Minneapolis.

Hecker finished in a time of 43:26.0, three minutes and 47 seconds behind CCSA winner, Northern Michigan's Martin Banerud. NMU took second as well with Andy Liebner finishing in 39:54.0, while Alaska Fairbanks' John Parry rounded out the podium in 40:08.6.

CSS freshman #Scott Johanik# finished in 23rd in a time of 43:47.4, while sophomore #Kelin Dunfee# rounded out the Saints team scoring in 32nd with a time of 44:42.4. The Saints finished sixth on the day as a team. Northern Michigan won, Fairbanks finished second, and Michigan Tech finished third, respectively.

“We had a rough start to the weekend with our top skier, #Waylon Manske#, coming down with a cold and sitting out,” said head coach #Chad Salmela#. “It was a good weekend for the underclassmen to step up and carry the team, and I think many of them skied well.”

Hecker struggled today compared to his earlier performances this season. “My back just tightened up and I just couldn't ski normal,” said Hecker of his classic performance.

“Jeremy and Scott were really solid yesterday, but today we struggled, there's just no getting around it,” according to Salmela. “It is just hard to be off your game at all, let alone without one of your top two skiers, and be in the top three teams as I know we can be. We just have to adjust to what we're seeing in the guys and come back swinging next weekend.”

The Saints head to Houghton next weekend for the third straight weekend of NCAA Skiing Championship qualifying.