According to NMU Sports Information, a one-run slalom was held on March 9 despite the enormous accumulation of snow that prompted the cancellation of the remainder of activities.
By of Friday, the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area’s website said that the main lodge had gotten 702 inches of snow and the mountain peak had 879 inches.
NMU SI reported that coach Eric Lundteigen was pleased with the Wildcats’ performance despite the worsening soft snow conditions as the meet progressed.
With 36 teams competing, the Northern ladies placed second while the men came in third. Castleton and Rocky Mountain College were the only teams to finish ahead of the Wildcat men.
Four All-American awards were bestowed upon Northern Michigan University, highlighted by junior and national champion Reagan Olli, who won the slalom and overall combined titles for a First Team All-American distinction.
Three other Wildcats, all juniors at Northern Michigan University and graduates of Marquette Senior High School, were named to the All-American Second Team.
In the women’s slalom, Ainsley Kirk placed 10th, while Aaron Grzelak placed sixth and Brad Seaborg placed 11th.
Five skiers from NMU placed in each slalom race.
Ella Wichert, a sophomore, was 27th, Abby Schierholz, a junior, was 35th, and Katie Brust, a senior, was 39th among the women.
Andrew Truman, a junior for Northern, placed 20th, Reed Heathman, a freshman, placed 41st, and Connor Abraham, a freshman, placed 75th.
On February 18-19, the Wildcats participated in the USCSA Midwest Regionals at their home mountain, Marquette Mountain, which qualified them for the nationals by virtue of their victories in both the men’s and women’s competitions.
At the regionals, Seaborg won both men’s slalom and giant slalom, while Grzelak placed second in slalom and Heathman placed third in men’s GS.
Olli led NMU with a second-place performance in the women’s slalom, while Wichert finished third and Kirk led the Wildcats in the women’s giant slalom with a fourth-place finish.