Complete Results

COLERAINE, Minn. (csssaints.com) – Just 24 hours after Sarah Allen became the first St. Scholastica woman to win a Central Collegiate Ski Association (CCSA) NCAA qualifier, junior Paul Schommer (Appleton, Wis./Kimberly HS) stepped up to the plate and slam dunked the first CCSA win of his own, and the first individual win at a CCSA event with perennial powerhouse Northern Michigan in attendance.

Schommer drew the first start number of the A seed skiers, meaning he would start first of the favorites in the field, leaving him with little information on how the race was unfolding.  Saints head coach Chad Salmela situated himself in a part of the course where he could see the 4km point, take intermediate times, and give Schommer a "back split" at about 6km as to how he was fairing at 4km against the later starters.

At 4km, Schommer led Northern Michigan's Kyle Bratrud by 10 seconds and his teammate, George Cartwright, by 12.

"I was feeling kind like it was getting hard, but when I heard (the split information), I just said, 'ok, I have to start pushing," said Schommer of his second-lap effort.

The push clearly worked as Schommer pulled another 12 seconds out of Cartwright and 15 out of Bratrud by the finish line, taking the win in convincing fashion by 24.1 seconds over Cartwright, 24:53.5 to 25:17.6. Bratrud finished just another 1.1 seconds back in 25:18.7 to take the final podium spot.

"I didn't really need the split times," asserted Salmela. "Anyone watching the race could see Paul was winning it.  He just cranked it from the get go. It was his best performance this year."

Technically, the win is the second of its nature in program history. In 2012, Jeremy Hecker (Andover, Minn./Andover HS (Minnesota-Twin Cities)) won the first ever CCSA race in program history, but neither Alaska nor Northern Michigan were in attendance.

"This feels bigger, no offense to Jeremy, but when you bring Northern Michigan's team into the picture, and win, that's a bigger deal for sure."

Senior John Wessling (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove HS) posted his career-best freestyle race finishing eighth in 26:50.2, while junior Chris Parr (Eagan, Minn./Eagan HS) finished 12th to round out the Saints scoring.  The Saints finished second to Northern Michigan, 74 points to 64, with Michigan Tech in third with 57 points.

"This was an amazing weekend," said Salmela. "To take home half of the individual wins is unprecedented for us by a stretch. I'm just thrilled with how we did."

The Saints have a week off from CCSA action before heading to Marquette, Mich. for the CCSA Championships, February 8th and 9th.