Complete Results
Overall Team Scores

ISHPEMING, Mich. (csssaints.com) – St. Scholastica's Paul Schommer (Appleton, Wis./Kimberly HS) hung tough with the lead group and finished fourth in the Central Collegiate Ski Association (CCSA) Championship 20km freestyle Sunday, crossing the line in 40:26.7, just 3.3 seconds out of the win.

It was Alaska's Logan Hanneman for the second straight day, and he out-sprinted Northern Michigan's Kyle Bratrud by 1.4 seconds, and Bratrud's teammate, Fredrick Schwenke, by 1.9 seconds, to win in a time of 40:23.4.

After finishing a solid third as a team in Saturday's 10km classic, putting four in the top 10 and five in the top 12, Sunday's long distance freestyle was a more sobering experience for the Saints men, with Scott Johanik (Washburn, Wis./Washburn HS ) and Chris Parr (Eagan, Minn./Eagan HS) finishing 17th (43:18.7) and 20th(43:26.8), respectively, to round out the Saints scoring.

The Saints wound up fourth on the day with Northern Michigan once again winning soundly with 63, Alaska second with 56, Michigan Tech with 47 and the Saints with 44.  The Saints finished the championship, however, in third with 96 points behind Alaska in second with 118, and Northern Michigan taking the conference title with 129.

The Saints drop a spot in the conference championship race from a season ago, when they surprised in second, the first podium finish for the program in conference championship action.  This third place finish for a second straight podium finish signals the coach Chad Salmela, that the program has established itself among the top in the CCSA.

"I don't think there is any doubt that we have depth and on a team level, when we bring our A game, we are to be reckoned with," asserted Salmela.  "It's nice to be on the podium again."

The men's and women's combined scored of 191 placed St. Scholastica third overall behind Northern Michigan and Alaska. That is a first in the skiing program's history.

The Saints end the season with the final NCAA qualifier weekend at the NCAA Central Regional Championship next weekend at Michigan Tech in Houghton, Mich.