Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Muk UP brings out youth, adults to ski fundraiser

By P.J. GLISSON

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Bessemer TOWNSHIP - Skis were flying last Saturday at the third annual Muk UP, which is a fundraiser for Team Z, an area ski-racing team for kids from age 5 through 17.

Mild weather and plenty of team spirit helped to draw a large crowd at the base of Black River Basin in Bessemer Township.

Although Team Z is for kids, the Muk UP included adult competitors as well, with some coming from as far as Marquette, or from the Wisconsin areas of Rhinelander, Ashland and Washburn.

According to Team Z Director Dan Tregembo, 85 racers participated this year, ranging from age 5 to 70-plus.

Bob Burchell was the lead contender among males, followed by Cody Mukavitz and Barry Jacobs.

Sienna Sandor was tops among females, followed by Lauren Korpi and Hayley Aukee.

Tregembo said the competition consisted of two giant slalom runs - known as GS runs - with one in the morning and one in the afternoon. He added that each GS included two runs, and all competitors participated in all four runs, after which each of their scores was averaged from their total runs.

Brian Geach, 14, of Montreal, Wisconsin, told The Globe that he has raced in the Muk UP every year since it started in 2020. He also has been a member of Team Z since he was 8.

Geach declared Saturday's slope as "a little icy" but assured "it's good."

Luann Mukavitz of Ironwood said that "Muk" is short for Mukavitz, while "UP" is a nod to the Upper Peninsula. The race was created in honor of her husband, Tony Mukavitz, who died in 2020.

"They wanted to honor Tony's memory," she said. "He was very much involved in the community."

Mukavitz said the issue is "still emotional" for her, but that it was great to see the kids out enjoying themselves on the slopes.

Moreover, she added, her family "is very much appreciative" that the memory of her husband has been kept alive. "There are racers here that raced with my husband since high school," she said.

In addition, she said that both of her children - Cody and Jessica, now adults - were in Team Z from the time they were eligible.

Next year, she said that her first grandchild, Croix Mukavitz, 4, will be eligible to join Team Z when he turns 5. "He started skiing at the age of 2," she said of Croix, whose parents are Cody and Taylor Mukavitz of Ironwood.

Saturday's winners in various divisions received awards. There were various raffles including prizes such as season ski tickets and skis. A 50/50 drawing also was held, and food was grilled throughout the day as a fire pit also helped to keep spectators warm while piped-in music played. Corey Carlson later provided live music in the lodge.

Tregembo said that Team Z, which is based at Gogebic Community College in Ironwood, started in the mid-1990s and now has more than 60 members and nine coaches that work throughout the season.

He added that he was grateful to the 20 volunteers involved in Saturday's event and to the more than 100 sponsors, including Snowriver Mountain Resort.

Tregembo said that Team Z is a "developmental team that mainly feeds the high school ski team, the Ironwood Ski Devils."

He explained that funds earned from this year's event will help Team Z members to buy equipment, undergo training and engage in travel to regional competitions.

"There's kind of a club series we race around the U.P.," he said. It includes Mont Ripley in Hancock, Marquette Mountain, and Pine Mountain in Iron Mountain, and - in Wisconsin - Mt. Ashwabay in Bayfield.

For more information on Team Z, see the related website and Facebook page.

 
 
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