MIDDLEBURY, Vt. â€Ã‚“ The NMU alpine ski team iscompeting at the Middlebury College Winter Carnival this weekend.  After the first day of competition on theslalom course the â€Ã‚˜Cats are in eighth place with 53 points as the University ofVermont is leading with 116 points. This is the best finish ever for the â€Ã‚˜Cats at the NCAA Eastern RegionalChampionships.

Kate Hosking led the â€Ã‚˜Cats on the slopes with a 24^thplace finish.  Her second run time of47.76 was the 13^th fastest of the day.  Hoskingâ€Ã‚™s total time was 1:45.29.  Danielle Denbleyker was 30^th in the event with a totaltime of 1:48.17.

The skiers for NMU will compete in the giant slalom onSaturday (Feb. 22) at the Middlebury College Winter Carnival.