Michigan Tech Lode
SPORTS
Tuesday, February 25
13
Sidelines Intramural Deadlines
The deadline for soccer-tennis is rapidly approaching. Make sure to sign your team up for the soccertennis tournament by Feb. 26 at 5 p.m. Men’s, women’s and co-rec divisions are available. The tournament is scheduled to begin on Feb. 28. The next intramural deadline is March 5 at 5 p.m. for men’s and women’s volleyball. Sign up today for some fun intramural action!
Nordic Ski Club Lessons
Both Men’s and Women’s Basketball are preparing for their final season matchup against rival Northern Michigan University.
Photos by Maxwell Curtis
Tech basketball heads into GLIAC tournament JOHN REYNOLDS Lode Writer The women’s basketball team is approaching their final regular season game against the Northern Michigan Wildcats this Thursday, February 27. This game could end up deciding the GLIAC champion, as the Huskies moved into a tie with 21st-ranked Wayne State after a win against Lake Superior State this past Saturday. Mackenzie Perttu and Danielle Blake led the team in scoring with 22 and 19 points, respectively, in the 12-point win over the Lakers. The Huskies faced some difficulties getting to the game and ended up stranded in Mackinaw City, which delayed the game by five hours. Despite the tough ride, Tech managed to get the win against a young Lake Superior State team. The win could be the kick start the team needs to head into the GLIAC Tournament, especially considering they dropped three of their previous four games. Tech struggled defensively over the rough streak. The team allowed nearly 79 points a
game, which is over 12 points worse than their season average. The Huskies have clinched a home game in the quarterfinals of the GLIAC Tournament and will need to win this week at Northern to have a chance at being the top seed in the tournament. Wayne State, who holds the tiebreaker over the Huskies, will face Lake Superior State in their last game of the regular season. Tech will visit a tougher team than Wayne State will host, so it might be tough to overtake them, but the Warriors are struggling. They have dropped four of their last five matches. Their only win in the streak came against Tech. The men’s team is coming off of a loss against the 18th-ranked Lake Superior State. Austin Armga led the Huskies with 23 points in the loss. Armga was recently overtaken as the leader of the GLIAC in points per game by Findlay’s Greg Kahlig, who has scored an astounding 121 points in the last three games. All the teams in the men’s tournament have already clinched their berths, with the distance between the eighth and ninth place teams too great to overcome.
Michigan Tech is more than likely going to play against Grand Valley State in the first round barring two losses by Walsh and a Tech win at Northern. Tech has clinched a home game in the quarterfinals of the men’s tournament as well. They hold the tiebreaker over Grand Valley State, who could potentially end up tied with the Huskies with a win and a Husky loss. The Huskies swept the season series over Grand Valley, which bodes well going into the tournament. The tournament has a different look this year, losing the number one seed Wayne State from last year and fifth seed Hillsdale. Malone and Walsh are more than happy to pick up the mantle and are both in their first year of eligibility for the GLIAC Tournament. Both Tech teams have a lot to work to do in these upcoming weeks with a lot on the line. They each have the defensive capability and the offensive firepower to win it all, but the GLIAC is a tough division. Both teams should not be surprised to be challenged this year, but with a good start on home field advantage, these teams could go far.
Nordic ski lessons are offered weekly at the Tech Trails on behalf of the Nordic Ski Club. While these sessions are available for members only, the cost for membership is only $10. This fee includes free equipment use at the Tech Trails for the academic year, which makes learning how to cross country ski a bargain. Lessons for beginners are available four days a week. There are also training sessions for intermediate to more advanced skiers led by elite skier Joanie Rundman. Both skate and classic techniques will be taught for all levels. Visit (forest.mtu.edu/ski/) for more information about the Nordic Ski Club as well as a complete lesson schedule.
Armga Earns Academic AllAmerican
Last week, leading scorer of the Michigan Tech Men’s Basketball team Austin Armga was named to the Capital One Academic All-American First Team. Members, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America, are honored for their hard work both as athletes and students. Currently, Armga leads the GLIAC as the leading scorer and is ranked eighth in the nation for averaging 23.3 points per game. His 1,376 career points make him 13th in Michigan Tech Men’s Basketball history for all-time scoring. Armga holds one school record—most points scored in a debut game—and will end his career in the top-ten in school history for field goal, three-point and free throw percentages. The senior guard owns a 3.78 GPA in Exercise Science.