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Graphic on a blue background with an action shot of a Carleton Ravens women’s skier with the OUA Nordic Skiing Championships logo and event details next to the photo.
February 20, 2025

Banner Season: Skiers aim to make their mark in the snow at the OUA Championships

Burlington, Ont. – Banner season makes its snowy appearance at the Hiawatha Highlands in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. where student-athletes from across the province will look to break from the pack and claim their place on the podium at the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Nordic Skiing Championships from February 21 to 23. The Carleton Ravens and Lakehead Thunderwolves have raced to prominent provincial glory over the years and will look to add another banner to their respective collections amidst a determined crop of fellow conference skiers.

EVENT DETAILS

When: Friday, February 21 to Sunday, February 23
Where:  Hiawatha Highlands
Participating Schools (11): Algoma Thunderbirds (host), Carleton Ravens, Guelph Gryphons, Lakehead Thunderwolves, Laurentian Voyageurs, McMaster Marauders, Nipissing Lakers, Queen’s Gaels, Ottawa Gee-Gees, Toronto Varsity Blues, Waterloo Warriors
Defending Champions: Carleton Ravens (W); Lakehead Thunderwolves (M)

STUDENT ATHLETES TO WATCH

Cormac Adams, Laurentian Voyageurs | The Voyageurs’ fourth-year team captain, after a strong performance at the Ontario Cup in North Bay last month, is looking to build off that to push Laurentian towards a podium spot this weekend.

Emma Archibald, Ottawa Gee-Gees | Archibald has put together another incredible year at both the university and international level. She is currently in Toblach, Italy, representing Canada at the FIS Para Cross-Country World Championships. In December, she represented the country at the Para Nordic World Cup in Finland where she placed fourth in the sprint classic. Last season, Archibald out of Fall River, N.S., earned a pair of gold medals at the OUA Championships, winning the Para Mass Start 15km free and Para Interval Start 7.5km Classic.

Ruby Cheeseman, Algoma Thunderbirds | Rookie Cheeseman has had quite a successful start to her Thunderbirds tenure. A standout on the team, the Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. product has done well in her races thus far, which includes an eighth place finish in her category on both days of the OCUP, and achieving a time of 2:06:50.0 in the 30km race, placing fifth in her division and eighth in the women's overall at the Muskoka Loppet.

Anna Heffernan-Wilker, Ottawa Gee-Gees | A leader and veteran on the Gee-Gees team, the Ottawa, Ont. product continues to find success at the university level. At the Coupe Skinouk 15km Skiathlon, she placed second overall and first amongst Canadian college and university athletes. Last season, the environmental science student was a member of the relay team that earned silver at the OUA Championships.

Trysten Kahtava, Algoma Thunderbirds | A rookie on the team, Kahtava secured an eighth place overall finish in the men's 17km race and a fourth-place finish in his division at the Muskoka Loppet. The computer science student is also a dual athlete and competes on the Thunderbirds’ cross-country team.

Japhy Kai-Crookham, Nipissing Lakers | Crookham has been a very strong addition to the Lakers squad, having started his varsity career winning the Ontario Cup #3 Junior men’s category and was just outside of qualifying for the FISU World University Games earlier this season.

Helen McCulligh, Carleton Ravens | Fresh off being the top Canadian at the FISU Winter University Games, McCulligh has posted another dominant season as she continues to place in pre-championship competitions. The third-year business student will look to keep that successful stretch going in Sault St. Marie.

Cara Pekos, McMaster Marauders | Pekos competed in biathlon, representing Canada at the 2023 FISU World University Games in Lake Placid. Heading into her fourth OUA Championships, the fifth-year physiotherapy student has plenty of experience with a strong showing at the 2023 finale, a sixth place in the skate interval and the women’s team bronze medal for the Marauders  

Nicholas Randall, Lakehead Thunderwolves | Bringing international experience to the OUA stage, Randall competed for Canada at the 2025 FISU Winter Games in Torino where he helped Canada to a 12th-place finish in the mixed relay. The first year out of Thunder Bay, Ont. will look to build on his experience as the Thunderwolves eye another title defence.

Mia Smith, Nipissing Lakers | Smith, out of Parry Sound, Ont., has had a strong start to her varsity career, winning the Ontario Cup #3 Junior women’s category. The rookie will hope to continue her success on the course at her first OUA Championships.

Mia Sawatsky, Lakehead Thunderwolves | From Altona, Man., Sawatsky finished 12th at the Canadian World Junior Trial Races in Quebec. At this year’s OUA Championships, the second-year arts student will look to improve on her seventh overall finish from 2024, a result that earned her an OUA all-star nod.

Thomas Storer, Waterloo Warriors | The first-year student from the nation’s capital is coming into the OUA Championships fast and continues to get faster. He looks to build off his sixth-place finish at OFSAA last year.

Sophie Tremblay, Laurentian Voyageurs | Tremblay has represented Canada in each of the last two FISU Winter University Games and will be striving to get on the podium in her fourth OUA Championships outing in Sault Ste Marie.

Kaeden Ward, Carleton Ravens | Ward was a surprise OUA all-star last year in Thunder Bay in his debut. He scored key points for the team as two racers were sick that weekend. From Sudbury, Ont., he has made consistent improvements in training and race performance, particularly in his classic race results. With the mass start and relays at the OUA Championships being in classic technique, he is excited to be key performer this weekend.

Marika Wechsler, McMaster Marauders | In her second year with the Marauders, Wechsler brings a wealth of high school experience to the varsity stage, with two OFSAA gold medals in the women’s team event and the overall team medal.

BURNING QUESTIONS

  1. Can the Carleton women’s team build on their international competition experience at the FISU Games and rely on a strong rookie contingent to defend their gold medal?
  2. Will the Lakehead Thunderwolves men’s team complete the four-peat in Sault Ste. Marie?
  3. Can a strong first-year core and experienced senior skiers help the Nipissing Lakers men’s team push past their fourth place finish a year ago to claim an OUA medal in 2025?
  4. Will the Waterloo Warriors, a team loaded with OUA Championships experience, find their place on the podium this year?

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

“We are so thrilled to work with Soo Finnish Nordic and host the Nordic ski competitors from all across Ontario. The team is so excited to compete on our beautiful home trails and showcase what our city has to offer!” - Logan Bach, Head Coach, Algoma Thunderbirds

"There's always pressure with competing, but you've just got to focus when you're in a race, like 'I'm going to do my best going around this corner, I'm going to really do this climb and pass as many people as I can, then I'm going to cruise down this hill." - Trysten Kahtava, Student-Athlete, Algoma Thunderbirds

"It was very competitive to make the selection for the men’s and women’s teams. It was more competitive than in previous years. This year, we have a large first-year group on the team, and nine first-year athletes made the OUA team. So, this very young team is getting their first OUA Championship experience." - Kevin Shields, Head Coach, Carleton Ravens

“Our team has an inclusive group dynamic that enables an elite level of development. I’m fired up to see how the squad can perform” - Nick Sammon, Student-Athlete, Waterloo Warriors