Courtesy photo Pictured are Samantha Longo (center), Dale Gartland (left) and Heidi Gartland (right).

Former Escanaba resident Samantha Longo, nee Gartland, recently won the USA Hockey Women’s Senior C National Championship with the Saratoga Storm.

The former Escanaba Hawks and EMP Engineers icer played hockey during her tenure at Western Michigan University.

The Storm went undefeated during the regular season and topped the Chicago Northstars 6-0 for the championship.

Longo “is overjoyed to have won a national title with some of the most extraordinary, strong, dedicated and talented women she has even met.”

She hopes her accomplishments can inspire other female athletes to continue pursuing their passion after their high school and college careers.