The men’s and women’s alpine ski teams at Northern Michigan University show off some of their hardware, including individual medals, they earned as both won championships at the U.S. Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association regional meet held at Marquette Mountain on Feb. 14-15. (Photo courtesy NMU)

MARQUETTE — To the victors go the spoils, especially when they’re triumphant at the regional level.

The men’s and women’s alpine ski teams at Northern Michigan University will each send a half-dozen skiers for 12 in all to the U.S. Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association National Championships after winning the USCSA regional meet held at Marquette Mountain three weeks ago.

Next week, they’re heading to Lake Placid, New York, for six days, the final five days in competition at Whiteface Mountain. First will be the opening ceremonies and a chance at training runs on Monday, with alternating women’s and men’s events from Tuesday through Friday. Finally on Saturday will be a men’s and women’s dual slalom.

With events scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, the women’s giant slalom opens competition on Tuesday, then men’s GS on Wednesday, women’s slalom on Thursday and men’s slalom on Friday. In addition to the dual slalom Saturday is the final awards ceremony that evening.

Fans can follow along on a live stream on the USCSA Broadcast YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/@USCSABroadcast1, along with staying up to date with live results at Live-Timing.com at https://www.live-timing.com/.

Representing the Wildcats for the women will be seniors Maddy Stern and Kaylee Byrne, junior Tommie Springer, sophomore Onalee Wallis, and freshmen Ashley Schaffer and Blanca Srock.

The Northern men going are senior Reed Heathman, sophomores Kyan Hopke and Anthony Petkov, and freshmen Noah Bindas, Cashton Jaeger and Eli Heathman.

Stern is a Marquette Senior High School graduate, while the Heathman brothers are from Houghton.

Springer and Stern are NMU’s two returnees on the women’s team this winter, both having competed at nationals a year ago. Springer earned Second Team All-America status after finishing sixth in GS, just one position out of a First Team honor.

Reed Heathman, Hopke and Petkov also return from last year, with Heathman going to his fourth nationals and Hopke and Petkov at their second. Last year as a freshman, Hopke was a First Team All-American in GS and Second Team in slalom, coming in sixth in slalom to just miss doubling up on First Team awards.

Last year’s 27 teams battled harsh weather the whole week, with the Wildcat women placing 22nd on the first day with several skiers not able to finish, but rebounding in slalom to come in 11th overall.

The NMU men were third in both GS and slalom and also finished third overall.

Between them, the Northern teams claimed three First Team All-Americans, five on the Second Team, and a pair of individual third-place bronze medals.

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release previewing the meet. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.