Michigan Technological University alumni Deedra Irwin and Alex Petan, showcased Husky talent on one of the world’s biggest stages, competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina and bringing attention back to Houghton.
At this year’s Olympics, Irwin competed in five different biathlon events. She jumped 12 positions in the women’s ten-kilometer biathlon pursuit to finish 35th out of 58 after starting in 47th place and recorded the 17th fastest ski time of the day. Irwin also placed 34th in the women’s 15-kilometer individual and 47th in the 7.5-kilometer sprint. In relay competition, Irwin helped the U.S. women’s four by six kilometer team to an 18th-place finish and was part of the mixed 4×6 kilometer relay that finished 14th, the team’s strongest result of the games.
Irwin’s path to the Olympics was anything but direct. After missing the 2018 games and spending time living in her car while chasing a professional skiing career, she discovered biathlon through a talent identification camp. The switch led to a place on the U.S. development team and the Vermont Army National Guard’s athlete program.
Meanwhile, former Husky Hockey Captain Alex Petan represented host nation Italy in the men’s ice hockey tournament. Italy opened group play with a 2-5 loss to Sweden on Feb. 11 and fell to Slovakia 2-3 on Feb. 13, a result that left the host nation on the brink of elimination from the preliminary round. Italy then fell 0-11 to Finland on Feb. 14, finishing winless in group play and moving into the qualification playoff, where they were shut out by Switzerland and lost 0-3 on Feb. 17 to end their Olympic run.
Despite the early exit, Petan’s addition to the roster marks a significant achievement for the former Michigan Tech captain, who got the opportunity to compete on one of hockey’s largest international stages.
The Olympic appearances by Irwin and Petan continue Michigan Tech’s legacy of producing student-athletes who reach the highest levels of competition, connecting the university’s small UP campus to the global spotlight.
