Michigan Tech Nordic skiers (from left) Bridget Burns, Greta Hansen and Julia Junkkala are all smiles after the U.P. Opener race in Marquette. (Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech University)

MARQUETTE — The Michigan Tech Huskies Nordic ski teams began their 2025-26 season at the U.P. Opener on Saturday, racing a 10K skate. The Huskies earned team wins in the men’s, women’s, and combined standings, while freshman Markus Groethe and junior Greta Hansen won their individual races at the Forestville Trailhead.

“What a way to start the season,” said Huskies coach Tom Monahan Smith. “We’re so psyched to see everyone have great competitive energy by really being able to ski hard and fast today.

“That’s even more important than the outstanding individual and team results we achieved today, because the best way to learn and grow as a competitor is by truly testing yourself in races. That’s how you grow as a competitor.”

The women swept the podium with Hansen earning the first CCSA win of her career. Sophomore Julia Junkkala placed second, and junior Bridget Burns was third. Freshman Alex Pundsack (sixth) and sophomore Erica Kazin (ninth) were also in the top 10.

Groethe took the individual win by 29 seconds in his first race in black and gold. Senior Wes Campbell was also on the podium in third, while senior Sam Stertz had his career-best CCSA performance in fourth. Freshman Noa Kam-Magruder (sixth) and fifth-year Henry Campbell (10th) were also in the top 10.

Up next

Tech gets back to racing this weekend at the Duluth Super CXC Cup. The competition will be a skate sprint on Saturday and a skate 7.5K on Sunday. The event will feature all CCSA teams and will be staged at the Grand Avenue Nordic Center–the same location as the NCAA Central Regional Championship later in the season.