Shortly after returning from winter break, Husky Ski Jumpers traveled to the Midwest to compete in the first leg of the 2025 Midwest tour. Northwood athletes Mitchell Penning ‘25, Jack Kroll ‘25, Henry Loher ‘26, and Eli Larkin ‘27 were part of a strong NYSEF (New York Ski Education Foundation) contingent that swept multiple podiums and fought off frigid temperatures.
The NYSEF Team in Ishpeming. Left to right Cadel Cox (NYSEF Winter Term), Duncan Van Dorn (NYSEF), Jack Kroll ’25, Schuyler Clapp (NYSEF), Eli Larkin ’27, Mitchell Penning ’25, and Henry Loher ’25. Photo provided.
The first stop on the tour was at the Ishpeming Ski Club in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The club has been hosting the tournament for 138 years and can draw crowds numbering in the thousands. This year, the turnout was hindered by frigid temperatures. On the first day of competition, the low temperatures and gusty winds shortened the US Cup competition to one round from the traditional two rounds. Despite the conditions, Northwood’s jumpers prevailed with Henry in 1st, Mitchell in 2nd, and Jack just off the podium in 4th. Jack competed in the US Cup Nordic Combined Race the following day based on his jumps the night before, finishing 3rd. Henry says it was “really cold,” but he is happy to “still get the win.”
NYSEF podium sweep with Northwood’s Henry Loher ’26 1st, Mitchell Penning ’25 2nd, NYSEF athlete Duncan Van Dorn 3rd. Photo provided.
On the second day of competition in Ishpeming, jumpers competed in the Paul Bietila Memorial competition. In the U20 category, Northwood swept the podium with Mitchell Penning ‘25 in first, followed by Henry Loher and Jack Kroll respectively. Eli Larkin ‘27 competed in the U16 category and took 1st place. Following the competition, the team expected to get a couple of days of training during the week, but windchills in the –30s forced the team to move inside for weights and dryland.
Northwood swept at the Paul Bietila Memorial Competition. Mitchell Penning ’25 1st, Henry Loher ’26 2nd, Jack Kroll ’25 3rd. Photo provided.
Eli Larkin ‘27, standing atop the U16 podium. Photo provided.
The following weekend, the team drove 4 hours South to the Norge Ski Club just outside of Chicago in Fox River Grove, Illinois. This year marked Norge’s 120th winter tournament. The tournament draws crowds as big as 10,000, although it was closer to 4 or 5 thousand this year. On the first day of competition, Mitchell took another win in the U20 class, followed by Henry in 2nd and Jack in 4th. Eli ‘27 finished 3rd in the U16 competition. The next day, the team capped off the trip with another sweep of the US Cup, with Henry in 1st, followed by Mitchell and Jack.
Jack Kroll ’25 and the 2025 crowd at Norge. Photo provided.
Northwood swept in the Norge US Cup. Henry Loher ’26 1st, Mitchell Penning ’25 2nd, Jack Kroll ’25 3rd. Photo provided.
The team returned to Northwood and will not be competing in the Midwest tour’s second stage, which kicks off this weekend. Instead, the ski jumpers will travel to Salisbury, Connecticut, for a US Cup and the Eastern Ski Jumping Championships.