GCC Nordic Ski Team Has Another Successful Weekend

Gogebic's Ben Noren leads a group of skiers in Sunday's Central Collegiate Ski Association meet in Houghton

HOUGHTON, MI - Sunday, January 30, 2011 - The GCC Nordic Ski Team had another successful weekend of racing at the combined Central Collegiate Ski Association and U.S. Ski Association Super Tour races in Houghton. Northern Michigan University's Martin Banerud won both of the Collegiate races, winning Saturday's 10k classic event in a time of 29:44 and Sunday's 15K freestyle event in 41:03.

Freshman Ben Noren led Gogebic finishers on both days. In Saturday's 10K classic, Noren placed 30th in 34:53, while Freshman Leif Gilsvik placed 34th in 35:56, Freshman Kyle Weber placed 42nd in 42:34 and Freshman Sam Kolesar placed 43rd in 43:02. In Sunday's 15k freestyle, Noren finished 25th in 45:45, Gilsvik finished 34th in 50:09, Kolesar finished 39th in 57:39 and Weber finished 40th in 58:38.

Noren and Gilsvik continue to use the Super Tour events to build points in hopes of qualifying for the March 2011 Junior Olympics. In the Junior Olympic Division, Noren placed 16th on Saturday and improved to 9th on Sunday, while Gilsvik finished 20th on Saturday and 24th on Sunday.