By Cathy Putman
Special to The Press Times
DULUTH – The Ashwaubenon Nordic Ski Team traveled to Duluth, Minnesota, for Junior National Qualifier races Dec. 14-15.
The Grand Avenue Nordic Center in Duluth hosted the races.
New this year, Wisconsin Nordic skiers have transferred from the Minnesota-based Midwest region to join Michigan in the formation of a Great Lakes team.
Wisconsin athletes now have a better chance of making Junior Nationals in Truckee, California, in March 2020, while still being able to test their performance locally against top-ranked Minnesota juniors.
More than 400 collegiate and junior Nordic ski athletes met their rivals from Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan in a mass start freestyle and classic sprint.
On Dec. 14, Bay Port senior Ryan Thieme placed ninth in the men’s U18 10-kilometer freestyle race in 25.28, a minute behind the winning finish.
Ashwaubenon senior Daniel Huhtala and junior Kevin Johnson placed 25th and 29th, respectively.
Ashwaubenon’s Alex Lukens and Mason Vinoski completed the roster.
In the boys’ U16 freestyle 5k, Grant Rocheleau (Bay Port) placed 12th and Joe Stumpf (Notre Dame Academy) was 24th.
Ashwaubenon junior Kait Behm completed her 7.5k course in 28.06 (49th).
On Dec. 15, Huhtala rode his classic skis through to the final heat in the men’s U18/U20 1,400-meter sprint competition, finishing sixth.
Rocheleau finished fourth in the men’s U16 B Final 800-meter sprint.