Photo by: Neil Hetherington
Bobcat Skiers Finish 4th at RMISA-NCAA West Region Championships
2/25/2012 6:35:00 PM | Men's Skiing, Women's Skiing
The Montana State ski team picked a good time to have its best performance of the season finishing fourth overall at the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association-NCAA West Regional Championships, Saturday afternoon at Bridger Bowl and Bohart Ranch.
2012 RMISA-NCAA WEST REGION RESULTS (pdf)
The Montana State ski team picked a good time to have its best performance of the season finishing fourth overall at the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association-NCAA West Regional Championships, Saturday afternoon at Bridger Bowl and Bohart Ranch.
For the second consecutive day, the MSU Nordic contingent paced the Bobcats, while the women's alpine team also added crucial points.
Sophomore David Norris guided Montana State placing second in the 20-kilometer classic race in 1:02:05.3, just over a second behind Colorado's Rune Oedegaard.
Norris was followed in MSU's top three by Tyler Reinking, eighth, 1:03:01.3, and Michael Schallinger, 11th, 1:03:47.4.
Casey Kutz led the Bobcat women covering the 15-kilometer course in 1:03:25.4. She was trailed by Ase Carlson, seventh, 1:03:36.5, and Kate Backstrum, 11th, 1:04:19.0.
Combined, the MSU Nordic squad notched 210 points, just behind defending national champion Colorado (232) and No. 1 Utah (218).
“It was another tremendous day for the Bobcats,” said MSU Nordic Coach Grethe Hagensen. “Despite battling the weather, I thought we really excelled. We have a lot of positive momentum heading into the NCAAs.”
The Montana State women's alpine squad also had its best weekend as the duo of Marissa Riopelle and Kelly McBroom combined for 72 points.
Riopelle placed sixth in the slalom with a two-run total of 1:38.87, while McBroom placed seventh in 1:39.48. Stephanie Irwin rounded out the scoring for MSU placing 16th overall.
The top men's finisher in the slalom was Mike Mackie, who finished 14th in 1:57.67.
Top ranked Utah captured the team titles with a commanding 932 points. The Utes were followed by CU 862.5, New Mexico 768.5, MSU 750, Denver 716, Alaska-Anchorage 647, Westminster 251 and Colorado Mountain College 105.
MSU's 750 points was its highest total of the season.
With all qualifying completed for the season, the Bobcats will send 11 of a possible 12 athletes to the NCAA Championships, March 7-10 at Bridger Bowl and Bohart Ranch. The number is the most in MSU history.
NOTES: Unofficially qualifying for national are Norris, Reinking, Schallinger, Carlson, Kutz and Jessica Yeaton in Nordic events...Riopelle, McBroom, Irwin, Michael Radford and Geoff Irwin should make the cut in the alpine disciplines...MSU will look for its first individual NCAA title since Director of Skiing/Head Alpine Coach Dan Brelsford took the slalom crown in 1978...David Norris is one of the top three point earners for NCAA qualifying and RMISA MVP honors.
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