Complete Results

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica men skiers have never lost a Minnesota College Championship since the inception of the program.  As CSS Team 1 and 2 approached the final exchange of the men's 3x5km freestyle relay, dueling Gustavus with St. Olaf also threatening, CSS 2 final skier, sophomore Anders Evenson (Maple Grove, Minn./Osseo HS ), who was tagged first by sophomore Calvin Mehrhof (Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids HS ), and CSS 1's Jake Richards (Callaway, Minn./Detroit Lakes HS ), tagged third and roughly 20 seconds behind, were reminded of that fact by head coach Chad Salmela. Salmela remarked with a smirk, "No pressure!"

In the end, Evenson passed Gustavus 2 early in the final leg, but not long after, Richards then Joel Bransky of St. Olaf 1 went past Evenson.  Bransky threatened in the final kilometers, but Richards hung on by five seconds to take the eighth straight championship for the Saints.

"It was another great race," said Salmela.  "We invited all the colleges in Minnesota, both varsity and club, and we had a great showing.  It was nice to win, but equally great to see Carleton, UMD, the University of Minnesota, and Saint John's/Saint Benedict back at it with the varsity programs of the state.  It was really great to see."

The Saints resume NCAA qualifying next weekend in Cable, Wis.