MINNEAPOLIS (csssaints.com) -- St. Scholastica's Reitler Hodgert (Bend, Ore./Summit HS ) used a well-performing pair of skis and hung to the lead group as long as he could to finish eighth in the Central Collegiate Ski Association (CCSA) Championships 15km mass start classic at Wirth Park on Saturday. Hodgert's time of 38:01.9 was the closest he's been to the CCSA winner this season.

Northern Michigan's Adam Martin continued his storybook season, winning in 36:56.4. Teammate Ian Torchia was second in 36:59.1. Alaska's Michael Fehrenbach broke up the NMU dominance in third, in 37:14.4.

Joe Dubay (Coon Rapids, Minn./Andover HS) crossed the line 16th in 38:54.6, while Chris Parr (Eagan, Minn./Eagan HS) finished just behind in 17th, in 38:57.1. The Saints tied for fourth with the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

"I felt really strong up until about two…1.5 kilometers to go," said Hodgert. "I came apart a bit at the end, (but had) one of the best wax jobs I've ever had."

"Reitler has figured out how to race these mass starts the last couple years," said head coach Chad Salmela. "He isn't letting them get away now when things heat up. He's placed better than eighth, but today he was closer to winning than maybe ever before at a race this distance, at just over a minute out of first."

Salmela thinks today was a critical day for Hodgert to be close to the leaders for a bid at the NCAA Skiing Championships. "You can have off days," said Salmela.  "But today, with UAF present and the points getting better every weekend, you really needed contact with the leaders today for qualifying. Regardless of 8th or 6th or 10th, he was in it today and that's good because the points will be good."

The Saints wrap up the CCSA Championships tomorrow with a 10km freestyle at Wirth Park.