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Jonathan Clarke and Greta Leitheiser

Men's Skiing 12/9/2025 1:40:00 PM Braden Golisek - Assistant Director of Sports Information

Wildcat Nordic Ski Begin Season at NMU Opener

Both the men and women finish second with 12 points

MARQUETTE, Mich. -- The NMU men's and women's nordic ski team opened the 2025/26 season at home over the weekend, with both programs finishing second.

The 'Cats welcomed the Michigan Tech Huskies and the College of Saint Scholastica for a 10k skate at the Forestville Trailhead on Saturday. Michigan Tech men and women both claimed first, with 22 and 24 points respectively, followed by both of the NMU men's and women's teams with 12 points. The College of Saint Scholastica men posted 11 points, and the women finished with eight. The full results from the weekend can be found here.

The men were led by senior Jonathan Clarke, who finished in fifth place with a time of 0:25:22. Last season's CCSA Male Skier of the Year, Adrik Kraftson, finished seventh with a time of 0:25:30. Sophomore transfer from Michigan Tech, Caden Albrecht, finished eighth at 0:25:45, and senior Hendrik Peterson finished ninth at 0:25:47 to round out the men competing.

The women were led by senior College of Saint Scholastica transfer Greta Leitheiser, who finished fifth with a time of 0:29.09. Junior Jordan Parent and grad student Lauren McCollor were seventh and eighth, posting times of 0:29:55 and 0:30:06, respectively. Senior Ella Niznik (0:31:21) finished 12th, sophomore Lena Kjelstrup (0:32:16) 14th, and freshman Monet Argeropoulos (0:33:31) 15th.

The 'Cats are back on the trails this weekend, competing in 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.

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Players Mentioned

Lena Kjelstrup: Sophomore

Lauren McCollor: Graduate Student

Ella Niznik: Senior

Jordan Parent: Junior

Greta Leitheiser: Senior

Jonathan Clarke: 5' 11"; Senior

Adrik Kraftson: Redshirt Junior

Hendrik Peterson: Senior

Caden Albrecht: Sophomore

Monet Argeropoulos: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Lena Kjelstrup
: Sophomore

Lauren McCollor
: Graduate Student

Ella Niznik
: Senior

Jordan Parent
: Junior

Greta Leitheiser
: Senior

Jonathan Clarke
: 5' 11"; Senior

Adrik Kraftson
: Redshirt Junior

Hendrik Peterson
: Senior

Caden Albrecht
: Sophomore

Monet Argeropoulos
: Freshman