SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – With a freshman leading the way on the men's side, and a third-year human kinetics major taking charge on the women's side, both Guelph Gryphon's Nordic Skiing teams put forth very good efforts over the weekend at the OUA Nordic Skiing Championships taking place at the Hiawatha Highlands. As the three-day event wrapped up on Sunday after witnessing excellent skiing from all Gryphons involved, Guelph would go on to finish 5th on the women's side, and 6th on the men's.

Making his first appearance at an OUA Championship for the Gryphons, first-year student Alasdair MacLean made a tremendous impression on the conference. Narrowly missing the podium by the slimmest of margins in both the Men's 15km Classic, as well as the Men's 10km Free, MacLean picked up a 4th-place finish in each race while recording a strong time in both. Finishing the 10km Free with a time of 26:08.1, the Oro-Medonte, Ontario native was just twenty seconds away from reaching the podium. Meanwhile his time of 44:41.7 in the 15km Classic had him just 28 seconds from a bronze medal. On the women's side of the draw, Allison Caswell, the team captain for the Gryphon's women's crew showed her leadership with excellent results. Having her best showing of the weekend in the Women's 15km Classic, the Sudbury product came within twenty seconds of finishing in the Top-10 with a time of 56:14.1. In the 10km Free, Caswell led all Gryphon skiers with a time of 32:41.3, good enough for 15th out of 55 racers.

"I really enjoyed the longer race distances this weekend and I was happy to see where I was placing among some of the strongest women in the province," said Caswell. "I think the team had a lot of fun at the OUAs which make it an awesome way to cap off a really successful season."

The Gryphons had a few more athletes showcase their talent and capabilities over the weekend as well. Finishing in the top half of both his individual races, Declan Barber was able to put together times of 29:01.8 (10km) and 47:37.3 (15km). In the Women's 15km Classic, Guelph had two other racers finish in the top half of the results along with Caswell. With a time of 59:32.6 Miriam Lutes placed 21st, while Katja Zbogar came in 25th with a time of 1:02:20.5. Meanwhile in the Women's 10km Free, Lutes' time of 34:31.6 put her in 25th and again in the top half of the event.

Gryphon's Individual Results:

Men's 15km Classic:

4^th- Alasdair MacLean – 44:41.7

20^th- Declan Barber – 47:37.3

39^th- Jonathan Koot – 54:23.3

44^th- Wesley Schlenker – 55:59.1

54^th- Lockhart McMann – 1:02:00.4

Men's 10km Free:

4^th- Alasdair MacLean – 26:08.1

27^th- Declan Barber – 29:01.8

38^th- Wesley Schlenker – 30:59.4

40^th- Jonathan Koot – 31:31.0

58^th- Lockhart McMann – 40:14.8

Women's 15km Classic:

13^th- Allison Caswell – 56:14.1

21^st- Miriam Lutes – 59:32.6

25^th- Katja Zbogar – 1:02:20.5

32^nd- Mariah Hudec – 1:04:57.3

40^th- Jasmin Tuhkasaari – 1:10:10.5

46^th- Kate Mcilraith – 1:14:02.4

Women's 10km Free:

15^th- Allison Caswell – 32:41.3

25^th- Miriam Lutes – 34:31.6

30^th- Katja Zbogar – 35:35.1

36^th- Mariah Hudec – 36:45.6

48^th- Jasmin Tuhkasaari – 41:15.5

50^th- Kate Mcilraith – 43:08.2
 

Prior to the event wrapping up, the Gryphons then took part in the Men's and Women's 3 X 5km Classic Relays. With the team of MacLean, Barber and Koot, the Gryphon's mens team finished in 8th place with a combined time of 45:35.4. Entering a pair of teams on the women's side, the lineup of Caswell, Lutes and Zbogar came in 8th, recording a team of 55:00.5, while the combination of Hudec, Tuhkasaari and McIlraith finished 13th with a time of 1:03:24.1.

Team Standings (Women):

1^st- Carleton Ravens – 48

2^nd- Lakehead Thunderwolves – 54

3^rd- Nipissing Lakers – 179

4^th- McMaster Marauders – 198

5th- Guelph Gryphons – 221

6^th- Ottawa Gee-Gees – 224

7^th- Laurentian Voyageurs – 260

8^th- Waterloo Warriors – 283

9^th- Queen's Gaels – 339

10^th- Toronto Varsity Blues – 393

11^th- Algoma Thunderbirds – 476
 

Team Standings (Men):

1^st- Carleton Ravens – 51

2^nd- Lakehead Thunderwolves – 73

3^rd- Nipissing Lakers – 94

4^th- Ottawa Gee-Gees – 183

5^th- Queen's Gaels – 220

6th- Guelph Gryphons -- 240

7^th- Laurentian Voyageurs – 270

8^th- Waterloo Warriors – 362

9^th- McMaster Marauders – 367

10^th- Toronto Varsity Blues – 431