Editor’s note: This article was written prior to competition
The Colgate University ski team traveled to Lake Placid, N.Y., this week to compete in the U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association Nationals beginning March 10 and ending on the 14th. Both the men’s and women’s teams qualified for the competition, marking a major achievement for the program after a strong season in the Mid-East conference. Qualifying for nationals represents the fulfillment of a major goal for both the men’s and women’s teams alike.
The women’s team entered the national competition after yet another dominant year. Over the past two seasons, the Raiders have established themselves as one of the strongest programs in the conference, winning every race but one. This year, the team continued that momentum by capturing both the Mid-East conference regular season title and the regional championship.
Last season, the women’s team placed fifth at nationals — the best finish in program history. With the entire roster returning and new additions strengthening the lineup, the team hopes to build on that success this year.
While the women’s team has been a consistent contender, the men’s team took a more dramatic path to nationals. After missing the national competition last season, the men entered this year determined to improve. Throughout the regular season, the men performed consistently and ultimately finished second in the conference standings.
However, the team’s hopes of qualifying for nationals nearly came to an end during the first day of regional competition. After a difficult Saturday that included a crash by one of the team’s top racers, the men’s team found themselves sitting in fourth place — just outside the top three teams that qualify for nationals.
With their season on the line, the Raiders delivered a strong second day of racing. Senior captain Cole Sachs noted the intense nature of the day.
“Sunday regionals felt like some sort of weird movie plot,” Sachs said.
Strong performances from Sachs, sophomore Will Fraser, sophomore Tripp Beltz and first-year Renzo DiGrande helped the team close the gap on Syracuse, which held the third-place position heading into the final runs. The race took another unexpected turn when a Syracuse skier was disqualified after missing a gate, opening the door for Colgate to move up in the standings.
Sachs then found himself in a high-pressure situation during the final run of the race. But a timing issue delayed the competition for 45 minutes, forcing racers to wait at the top of the course before continuing. Sachs said he could feel the importance of his upcoming run during this delay.
“I basically, standing at the top after a 45-minute hold, had the chance to end our season or send us to nationals,” Sachs said.
When the race resumed, Sachs delivered a strong run that helped Colgate surge past both Syracuse and Cornell Universities. The team ultimately finished second behind Hobart and William Smith Colleges and secured a spot at nationals.
Several Colgate skiers also received individual recognition for their performances this season. Sachs was named to the Mid-East All-Conference team, and on the women’s side, juniors Kate Goodrich and Charlotte Morris, as well as sophomore Carissa Dunlap, also earned All-Conference honors.
Beyond the results on the slopes, many of the athletes say the team’s culture has been a defining part of the program’s success. Senior captain Riley Raymond commented on the importance of the team’s chemistry to their success.
“Our team culture is what makes this team what it is,” Raymond said. “We’re all so supportive of each other.”
The team trains together multiple times each week, traveling nearly an hour from campus to reach the mountains. Weekend races often involve long drives and overnight trips, meaning teammates spend a significant amount of time together throughout the season. With all that time spent together, senior captain Rafael Sanchez commented on how the team has been able to get close with each other.
“We definitely have a family dynamic,” Sanchez said.
The team also credits its long-time coaches for helping build that environment. When the Raiders secured their place at nationals, the emotional moment reflected how much the program meant to everyone involved. Sachs said the team’s coaches shared in the emotion of the moment just as much as the racers.
Todd Enders and Jim Longo have coached the Colgate ski team for 26 and 34 years, respectively. This year, Enders received the honor of setting the race course at nationals — a role that individuals must be nominated for and one that reflects his long-standing reputation in collegiate skiing.
“When we qualified for nationals, both of our coaches were sobbing,” Sachs said.
The national competition will take place at Whiteface Mountain’s Olympic race hill, one of the most challenging venues in collegiate skiing. Known for its steep terrain and rough, rutted snow conditions, the course will test even the most experienced racers.
Senior captain Maylia Lohman said she is looking forward to testing her skills on this difficult course this week.
“Seeing where we fare on a national level is going to be really interesting,” Lohman said.
For some members of the team, the event will carry added meaning. Most of the seniors have been racing competitively for most of their lives, making nationals a fitting final chapter to their skiing careers.
Despite the pressure of competing on a national stage, Sachs said the team is focused on enjoying the opportunity they worked all season to earn.
“I’d love to see everyone ski smart and make it down the hill,” Sachs said. “And have a ton of fun.”
