It was another day of great conditions at the Cote Dame Marie. Temperatures were in the mid-20s but a bit of light freezing drizzle fell in the hour or two before the race. This increased the speed of the new snow but did not cause any icy conditions.
A big change for the 22k, two-lap race was the elimination of the big uphill at the beginning of the second lap. Historically, if you went over the redline on this climb, you had a pretty miserable second half to your race! This year, the race continued flat along the bottom of the hill for a mile on what was once part of the old Michigan Cup Marathon course, then turned right up a smaller (but still steep) hill.
A big crash just after the start took down multiple skiers, with at least one broken pole and allegedly a binding pulling out from a ski. Watch Doug Cornell's video - the crash starts around 16 seconds in.
Michigan Cup races
For Michigan Cup points, men had to ski the 22k and women the 11k, both freestyle. Jorden Wakeley (Hanson Hills / Cross Country Ski Shop) and Erica O'Hearn (Vasa Ski Club) showed who's boss - both skied away from the competition.
Wakeley skied the 22k freestyle race in 1:01:21. Team NordicSkiRacer's Bradley Baas took second in 1:05:19 followed closely by HHCCSS's Eric Parrott (1:05:31).
Racers under 20 who raced the 22k were Joseph Peng (1:10:52) and Dane Trudgeon (1:15:19).
O'Hearn skied the 11k freestyle in 33:24, followed by Kaitlyn Vanias (35:17) and Rebecca Davis (37:07).
The top three men in the 11k race were Sam Benecke (43:32), Colin Hunter (47:00), and Jeremy Treadwell (50:08). (No Michigan Cup points).
Ten Michigan Cup skiers age 70 and above choose to do the 5k event for reduced Michigan Cup points. The decision by the Michigan Cup Committee to allow shorter distances, albeit with fewer MI Cup point, for skiers 70 and above has been popular and has increased race participation by our most senior skiers. In this senior category, Frank Rynalski was the fastest, followed by Steve Smigiel Sr., and Ernie Brumbaugh.
Junior race
Michigan Cup junior racers skied 5k, freestyle. Liam Crimmins (26:54), Reid Hill (32:09), and Beckham Haberkorn (37:20, Team NordicSkiRacer) were the top junior boys.
Shirel Temkin (Cross Country Ski Headquarters) won the girls 5k in 30:13.
Citizen races
Frank Rynalski (29:16), Steve Smigiel Sr. (35:25), and Zimri Leisher (36:06) were the top three skating citizen racers. No women entered the race.
Mike Appel (31:05), Todd Wilson 35:05), Matt Walling (35:49 ) were the top three classic citizen racers. Paula Dreeszen (41:53) and Linda McGiness (43:17) were the top classic women.
Cote Dame Marie Ski Loppet Results
Saturday, January 17, 2026
Hanson Hills Recreation Area, Grayling, MI
Also: PDF version of the results
22K Freestyle |
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MI-CUP Skate Race (19-under) 22KM |
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| Place | Name | Gender | Gender Place |
Age | Age Place |
Gun Time |
Pace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joseph Peng (# 180) | M | 1 | 18 | 1 / 2 | 1:10:52 | 5:11/mile |
| 2 | Dane Trudgeon (# 179) | M | 2 | 18 | 2 / 2 | 1:15:19 | 5:30/mile |
MI-CUP Skate Race 22KM |
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| Place | Name | Gender | Gender Place | Age | Age Place | Gun Time | Pace |
| 1 | Jorden Wakeley (# 28) | M | 1 | 35 | 1 / 2 | 1:01:21 | 4:29/mile |
| 2 | Bradley Baas (# 140) | M | 2 | 28 | 1 / 2 | 1:05:19 | 4:46/mile |
| 3 | Eric Parrott (# 131) | M | 3 | 33 | 1 / 7 | 1:05:31 | 4:47/mile |
| 4 | Ryan Harris (# 127) | M | 4 | 34 | 2 / 7 | 1:06:02 | 4:49/mile |
| 5 | Milan Baic (# 161) | M | 5 | 66 | 1 / 12 | 1:06:04 | 4:49/mile |
| 6 | John OHearn (# 116) | M | 6 | 45 | 1 / 2 | 1:07:19 | 4:55/mile |
| 7 | Michael Davis (# 153) | M | 7 | 34 | 3 / 7 | 1:07:28 | 4:56/mile |
| 8 | Weston Willoughby (# 137) | M | 8 | 34 | 4 / 7 | 1:08:50 | 5:02/mile |
| 9 | Dennis Paull (# 158) | M | 9 | 61 | 1 / 9 | 1:09:51 | 5:06/mile |
| 10 | Danny Medina (# 167) | M | 10 | 31 | 5 / 7 | 1:10:40 | 5:10/mile |
| 11 | Stephen Smigiel (# 132) | M | 11 | 59 | 1 / 8 | 1:10:46 | 5:10/mile |
| 12 | Glenn Goodman (# 175) | M | 12 | 59 | 2 / 8 | 1:10:50 | 5:10/mile |
| 13 | Yvon Dufour (# 174) | M | 13 | 62 | 2 / 9 | 1:10:50 | 5:10/mile |
| 14 | Craig Hughes (# 157) | M | 14 | 59 | 3 / 8 | 1:11:04 | 5:11/mile |
| 15 | Travis Mecklenburg (# 125) | M | 15 | 22 | 1 / 3 | 1:13:04 | 5:20/mile |
| 16 | Jackson Tucker (# 136) | M | 16 | 29 | 2 / 2 | 1:13:36 | 5:23/mile |
| 17 | John Gravlin (# 173) | M | 17 | 71 | 1 / 7 | 1:13:41 | 5:23/mile |
| 18 | Allen Sorgenfrei (# 126) | M | 18 | 61 | 3 / 9 | 1:13:45 | 5:23/mile |
| 19 | Ken Dawson (# 164) | M | 19 | 75 | 1 / 1 | 1:15:01 | 5:29/mile |
| 20 | Dave Hietikko (# 128) | M | 20 | 61 | 4 / 9 | 1:17:28 | 5:39/mile |
| 21 | Anthony Fisher (# 134) | M | 21 | 21 | 2 / 3 | 1:18:48 | 5:45/mile |
| 22 | Doug Heady (# 122) | M | 22 | 68 | 2 / 12 | 1:19:27 | 5:48/mile |
| 23 | Jonathan Morgan (# 121) | M | 23 | 61 | 5 / 9 | 1:19:34 | 5:49/mile |
| 24 | James Beebe (# 166) | M | 24 | 65 | 3 / 12 | 1:19:42 | 5:49/mile |
| 25 | Patrick Keegan (#160) | M | 25 | 48 | 2 / 2 | 1:20:39 | 5:53/mile |
| 26 | Don Camp (# 159) | M | 26 | 73 | 2 / 7 | 1:20:39 | 5:53/mile |
| 27 | Douglas Cornell (# 177) | M | 27 | 66 | 4 / 12 | 1:20:39 | 5:53/mile |
| 28 | David Sweeney (# 145) | M | 28 | 52 | 1 / 4 | 1:20:49 | 5:54/mile |
| 29 | Blair Zordell (# 169) | M | 29 | 65 | 5 / 12 | 1:21:37 | 5:58/mile |
| 30 | Theo Vonwallmenich (# 155) | M | 30 | 55 | 4 / 8 | 1:21:38 | 5:58/mile |
| 31 | Michael McCoy (# 149) | M | 31 | 43 | 1 / 2 | 1:22:06 | 6:00/mile |
| 32 | steven vreeken (# 142) | M | 32 | 58 | 5 / 8 | 1:22:10 | 6:00/mile |
| 33 | Garrett Ziegler (# 143) | M | 33 | 41 | 2 / 2 | 1:23:55 | 6:08/mile |
| 34 | Robert Smith (# 115) | M | 34 | 52 | 2 / 4 | 1:24:18 | 6:09/mile |
| 35 | Andrew Miller (# 171) | M | 35 | 34 | 6 / 7 | 1:24:37 | 6:11/mile |
| 36 | Mike Temkin (# 138) | M | 36 | 62 | 6 / 9 | 1:24:51 | 6:12/mile |
| 37 | Michael Muha (# 146) | M | 37 | 68 | 6 / 12 | 1:25:05 | 6:13/mile |
| 38 | James Anderson (# 148) | M | 38 | 71 | 3 / 7 | 1:25:19 | 6:14/mile |
| 39 | Shannon Mitchell (# 151) | M | 39 | 53 | 3 / 4 | 1:25:59 | 6:17/mile |
| 40 | Gregory Worsnop (# 139) | M | 40 | 71 | 4 / 7 | 1:27:18 | 6:23/mile |
| 41 | Ben Kangas (# 130) | M | 41 | 33 | 7 / 7 | 1:28:09 | 6:26/mile |
| 42 | Jukka Pietila (# 156) | M | 42 | 61 | 7 / 9 | 1:28:15 | 6:27/mile |
| 43 | Bryce Dreeszen (# 152) | M | 43 | 69 | 7 / 12 | 1:28:24 | 6:27/mile |
| 44 | Jacob Hartman (# 118) | M | 44 | 20 | 3 / 3 | 1:28:46 | 6:29/mile |
| 45 | Mike Foley (# 163) | M | 45 | 71 | 5 / 7 | 1:28:59 | 6:30/mile |
| 46 | Robert Triebold (# 172) | M | 46 | 63 | 8 / 9 | 1:29:11 | 6:31/mile |
| 47 | Karl Klemm (# 147) | M | 47 | 53 | 4 / 4 | 1:33:07 | 6:48/mile |
| 48 | Brian Stauffer (# 144) | M | 48 | 69 | 8 / 12 | 1:35:04 | 6:57/mile |
| 49 | Rick Neier (# 178) | M | 49 | 68 | 9 / 12 | 1:35:16 | 6:58/mile |
| 50 | Ian Kennedy (# 123) | M | 50 | 57 | 6 / 8 | 1:36:37 | 7:04/mile |
| 51 | Brian Olson (# 124) | M | 51 | 55 | 7 / 8 | 1:36:49 | 7:04/mile |
| 52 | Daniel Nolan (# 135) | M | 52 | 74 | 6 / 7 | 1:38:06 | 7:10/mile |
| 53 | Devan Thietfoldt (# 61) | M | 53 | 69 | 10 / 12 | 1:38:07 | 7:10/mile |
| 54 | Mark Smith (# 154) | M | 54 | 62 | 9 / 9 | 1:38:34 | 7:12/mile |
| 55 | Joe Malecki (# 150) | M | 55 | 67 | 11 / 12 | 1:38:55 | 7:14/mile |
| 56 | Dan Wisneski (# 119) | M | 56 | 99 | 1:42:09 | 7:28/mile | |
| 57 | John Harris (# 176) | M | 57 | 71 | 7 / 7 | 1:43:38 | 7:34/mile |
| 58 | Timothy Spencer (# 170) | M | 58 | 56 | 8 / 8 | 1:47:35 | 7:52/mile |
| 59 | John McKeon (# 141) | M | 59 | 65 | 12 / 12 | 1:50:44 | 8:05/mile |
| 60 | Jason Smith (# 162) | M | 60 | 36 | 2 / 2 | 1:56:28 | 8:31/mile |
| Thomas Markley (# 49) | M | 0 | 63 | ||||
| Cyril Grum (# 129) | M | 0 | 73 | ||||
| Anthony Percha (# 133) | M | 0 | 66 | 7 / 13 | 6:26/mile | ||
11K Freestyle |
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MI-CUP Skate Race (19-under) 11KM |
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| Place | Name | Gender | Gender Place | Age | Age Place | Gun Time | Pace |
| 1 | Walter Armstrong (# 202) | M | 1 | 16 | 1 / 1 | 44:53 | 6:33/mile |
| 2 | Brynn Jonker (# 201) | F | 1 | 19 | 1 / 2 | 54:33 | 7:58/mile |
| 3 | Tess Hill (# 200) | F | 2 | 14 | 2 / 2 | 56:52 | 8:19/mile |
MI-UP Skate Race 11KM |
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| Place | Name | Gender | Gender Place | Age | Age Place | Gun Time | Pace |
| 1 | Erica O'Hearn (# 117) | F | 1 | 42 | 1 / 1 | 33:24 | 4:53/mile |
| 2 | Kaitlyn Vanias (# 183) | F | 2 | 35 | 1 / 2 | 35:17 | 5:09/mile |
| 3 | Rebecca Davis (# 194) | F | 3 | 36 | 2 / 2 | 37:07 | 5:25/mile |
| 4 | Mary Schlimmer-Willoughby (# 195) | F | 4 | 34 | 1 / 1 | 41:30 | 6:04/mile |
| 5 | Heather Compton (# 181) | F | 5 | 50 | 1 / 3 | 42:48 | 6:15/mile |
| 6 | Sam Benecke (# 182) | M | 1 | 32 | 1 / 1 | 43:32 | 6:22/mile |
| 7 | Wendy Anderson (# 189) | F | 6 | 64 | 1 / 2 | 43:52 | 6:25/mile |
| 8 | Deanna Spencer (# 198) | F | 7 | 56 | 1 / 2 | 44:27 | 6:30/mile |
| 9 | Cecili Bugge (# 196) | F | 8 | 26 | 1 / 1 | 46:37 | 6:49/mile |
| 10 | Colin Hunter (# 193) | M | 2 | 44 | 1 / 1 | 47:00 | 6:52/mile |
| 11 | Jeremy Treadwell (# 192) | M | 3 | 65 | 1 / 1 | 50:08 | 7:20/mile |
| 12 | Julie Olson (# 185) | F | 9 | 52 | 2 / 3 | 50:48 | 7:25/mile |
| 13 | Linda Weeks-Kaleita (# 187) | F | 10 | 71 | 1 / 2 | 52:24 | 7:39/mile |
| 14 | Lisa Markley (# 39) | F | 11 | 58 | 2 / 2 | 52:37 | 7:41/mile |
| 15 | Bonnie Karas-Foltz (# 188) | F | 12 | 61 | 2 / 2 | 52:44 | 7:42/mile |
| 16 | Melinda Mitchell (# 191) | F | 13 | 67 | 1 / 1 | 54:39 | 7:59/mile |
| 17 | Tove Shere (# 190) | F | 14 | 73 | 2 / 2 | 57:16 | 8:22/mile |
| 18 | Leigh Knaus (# 186) | F | 15 | 45 | 1 / 1 | 1:14:16 | 10:51/mile |
| 19 | Leigh Whetstone (# 184) | F | 16 | 52 | 3 / 3 | 1:59:49 | 17:31/mile |
5K Freestyle and Classic Races |
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Junior Race (Boys & Girls) 5KM |
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| Place | Name | Gender | Gender Place | Age | Age Place | Gun Time | Pace |
| 1 | Liam Crimmins (# 112) | M | 1 | 14 | 1 / 1 | 26:54 | 8:39/mile |
| 2 | Shirel Temkin (# 215) | F | 1 | 13 | 1 / 1 | 30:13 | 9:43/mile |
| 3 | Reid Hill (# 217) | M | 2 | 12 | 1 / 2 | 32:09 | 10:20/mile |
| 4 | Beckham Haberkorn (# 216) | M | 3 | 11 | 2 / 2 | 37:20 | 12:00/mile |
Citizen Skate Race 5KM |
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| Place | Name | Gender | Gender Place | Age | Age Place | Gun Time | Pace |
| 1 | Frank Rynalski (# 214) | M | 1 | 71 | 1 / 1 | 29:16 | 9:25/mile |
| 2 | Steve Smigiel (# 212) | M | 2 | 80 | 1 / 1 | 35:25 | 11:23/mile |
| 3 | Zimri Leisher (# 199) | M | 3 | 25 | 1 / 1 | 36:06 | 11:37/mile |
Citizen Classic Race 5KM |
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| Place | Name | Gender | Gender Place | Age | Age Place | Gun Time | Pace |
| 1 | Mike Appel (# 205) | M | 1 | 54 | 1 / 2 | 31:05 | 10:00/mile |
| 2 | Todd Wilson (# 204) | M | 2 | 50 | 2 / 2 | 35:05 | 11:17/mile |
| 3 | Matt Walling (# 88) | M | 3 | 62 | 1 / 1 | 35:49 | 11:31/mile |
| 4 | Ernie Brumbaugh (# 208) | M | 4 | 79 | 1 / 4 | 37:21 | 12:01/mile |
| 5 | Cass Dorman (# 209) | M | 5 | 40 | 1 / 1 | 39:55 | 12:50/mile |
| 6 | Paula Dreeszen (# 210) | F | 1 | 67 | 1 / 1 | 41:53 | 13:28/mile |
| 7 | Bruce Freeburger (# 203) | M | 6 | 74 | 1 / 3 | 42:22 | 13:37/mile |
| 8 | Gary Kaleita (# 206) | M | 7 | 72 | 2 / 3 | 43:15 | 13:55/mile |
| 9 | LINDA MCGINESS (# 168) | F | 2 | 75 | 1 / 1 | 43:17 | 13:55/mile |
| 10 | Peter Johnson (# 120) | M | 8 | 80 | 2 / 4 | 45:14 | 14:33/mile |
| 11 | Kevin Hayes (# 113) | M | 9 | 71 | 3 / 3 | 46:39 | 15:00/mile |
| 12 | Jerry Shere (# 207) | M | 10 | 82 | 3 / 4 | 58:13 | 18:44/mile |
| 13 | Richard Wells (# 211) | M | 11 | 80 | 4 / 4 | 1:11:30 | 23:00/mile |
