WATERVILLE, Maine -- Junior Hallie Grossman finished 22nd overall in the women's 5K classic technique race and senior Jordan Buetow placed 27th in the men's 10K classic race to lead the Bates Nordic ski team in its opening day of Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association competition Friday at the Colby Carnival.

Both squads ranked 10th out of 14 participating teams in carnival points. Bates' alpine and Nordic teams combined to rank ninth among 16 teams on the day. The carnival concludes Saturday with the 15K women's and 20K men's freestyle mass start races. 

Grossman (South Woodstock, Vt.) was 22nd out of 97 skiers in the women's race, crossing the finish line in 18:26.6. Sophomores Jane McLarney (Lowell, Mass.) and Gracie Wright (Rutland, Vt.) weren't far behind, completing Bates' scoring in 30th and 31st places, respectively, in 18:40.2 and 18:42.2.

Buetow (Fairbanks, Alaska) completed the 10K course in 33:55.5, 27th fastest among 91 competitors. Senior Sean Woods (Gypsum, Colo.) and first-year Nathan Moreau (Falmouth, Maine) rounded out Bates' scoring in 35th (34:14.1) and 39th (34:39.9), respectively.

Bates Nordic Ski Team Season Preview