The Northern Michigan University (NMU) men’s and women’s Nordic ski teams will send five athletes to the NCAA National Championships. Representing NMU at the event are Henriette Nilssen and Greta Leitheiser for the women, and Luke Fricker, Adrik Kraftson, and Jonathan Clarke for the men.
The championships will take place at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center in Midway, Utah. The schedule includes a 7.5km Classic Individual Start on Thursday, March 12, followed by a 20km Skate Mass Start on Saturday, March 14. Both races begin at 10 a.m. Mountain Time (12 p.m. Eastern Time). Fans can follow live timing through MyRaceResult.
Recently, NMU won the team title at the NCAA Regional Championships. The women scored 135 points while the men finished with 134 points, surpassing Michigan Tech in both categories. In the men’s mass start race, Kraftson, Fricker, and Clarke took all three podium spots; Fricker also placed second in the 7.5k race. On the women’s side, Nilssen secured first place in both events.
Coaches Andy Keller and Ruth Oppliger received recognition as CCSA Coaching Staff of the Year after guiding NMU to regional and conference titles.
“Both Andy Keller and Ruth Oppliger were honored with the CCSA Coaching Staff of the Year Award after leading the ‘Cats to NCAA Regional and CCSA Conference titles.”
Henriette Nilssen was named CCSA Female Skier of the Year for her performance throughout the season.
“Junior Henriette Nilssen was named CCSA Female Skier of the year after pacing the conference on the women’s side. Nilssen won gold in all four events at the CCSA Conference Championships and NCAA Regional Championships, leading the CCSA with 160 overall points and 192 from all races.”
Multiple NMU skiers earned All-Region honors across different distances during regionals: Luke Fricker (1st Team), Henriette Nilssen (1st Team), Lauren McCollor (1st Team), Adrik Kraftson (2nd Team), Jonathan Clarke (2nd Team), Greta Leitheiser (2nd Team), Emma Klevenberg (2nd Team) in 7.5k; Adrik Kraftson (1st Team), Luke Fricker (1st Team), Jonathan Clarke (1st Team), Henriette Nilssen (1st Team), Greta Leitheiser (1st Team), Caden Albrecht (2nd Team), Lauren McCollor (2nd Team) in 20k Mass Start.
According to rankings from Central Collegiate Ski Association competition finals:
– For men: Luke Fricker ranked second overall among seniors with notable performances; Adrik Kraftson was third.
– For women: Henriette Nilssen led senior rankings with top scores; Greta Leitheiser placed fifth.
Northern Michigan Wildcats Women’s Nordic Skiing competes in NCAA Division II within the Central Collegiate Ski Association. The program operates out of Marquette, Michigan at Northern Michigan University’s campus and has a history that includes national titles in 2001 and 2007 as well as an eleventh-place finish at last year’s NCAA championships (source). The coaching staff focuses on athlete growth within collegiate athletics centered on Nordic disciplines (source).
