HOUGHTON, Mich. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica men's nordic ski team took part in the U.P. Opener, hosted by Michigan Tech University, on Sunday for its first competition of the season.
 
This weekend's event was initially scheduled to take place in Ishpeming, Michigan and hosted by Northern Michigan University, but the lack of snow moved everything to Houghton. Sunday's race was a 10km classic event.
 
Reitler Hodgert (Bend, Ore./Summit HS ) led the eight CSS skiers that competed with a fourth place finish in a time of 29:42. Northern Michigan swept the top three spots led by Adam Martin, who won with a time of 28:32. Martin was an All-American performer last season. Fredrick Schwencke, who placed second to Martin, was the 2015 NCAA Champion in the 20km classic.
 
A cluster of Saints finished 15^th thru 18^th. Dan DeLestry (Eau Claire, Wis./Eau Claire Memorial HS) was 15^th with a time of 32:10. Ryan St. Clair (Bend, Ore./Summit HS (Walla Walla)) was 15 seconds back in 16^th. Isaac Wieber (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Tech HS) finished 17^th with a time of 32:36. Chris Hecker (Ham Lake, Minn./Anoka HS ) placed 18^th in a time of 32:51. Jack Christianson (Arden Hills, Minn./Mounds View HS) posted a top 20 finish in his first collegiate race, finishing in 33:01.
 
Sunday also marked the debut of Maria Stuber as St. Scholastica's men's and women's nordic ski coach. Stuber competed collegiately at rival Northern Michigan and competed at the 2008 NCAA Championships.
 
Up Next
The Saints will be back in Houghton for the Michigan Tech JOQ event next Saturday and Sunday.