Bobcat Nordic in Running for Overall Team National Championships

After two days of racing at the USCSA National Championships, Paul Smith’s College sits in first and second in the men’s and womens’s team competitions, respectively.

Sisu Lange (left) and Phil Matthews (right) go 1-2 in Wednesday’s Skate Sprint. (Photo provided by Matt Dougherty)

March 11, 2026

Lake Placid, NY ~ After the first two days of the United States Collegiate Ski Association (USCSA) Championships, the Paul Smith's College Nordic ski team have delivered an exceptional start with one team national championship, two individual national champions, and 11 All-American performances.

Day 1 – 7.5k Classic Individual Start

The women opened the championships with a strong showing. Rowan Tanguay, racing just hours after returning from the Junior World Biathlon Championships, led the Bobcats with an impressive fourth place finish. Teammate Greta Dickman followed closely in fifth place, helping the women secure a second-place team finish on the day.

The men's race continued the momentum. Philip Matthews captured on the Individual National Championship, delivering a standout performance to lead the Bobcats. Teammates Gabriel Lloyd (11th) and Sisu Lange (12th) also scored valuable points. The men finished the day third overall, sitting just two points out of first place in the team standings.

Day 2 – Skate Sprint

The second day featured the Skate Individual Sprint under challenging conditions.

The women's team battled crashes and difficult racing, but still produced strong results. Rowan Tanguay again led the Bobcats with a 6th place finish, followed by Katya Koshkareva in 13th, helping the team secure another second-place team result.

The men's race produced one of the most exciting moments of the championships. In a thrilling final, the Bobcat men finished first, second, and fourth, nearly completing a clean sweep.

First-year athlete Sisu Lange edged teammate Philip Matthews in the final to claim the National Championship, while Griffin Smith finished fourth.

Team Standings Moving Forward

After two days of racing:

The Bobcat men lead the combined team standings heading into Friday's 15k Mass Start.
The women sit second overall in combined points.

The championships conclude with the 15k Mass Start on Friday and the Classic Team Sprint on Saturday.

You can follow the Nordic team on Instagram at @paulsmiths_nordic or you can head over to @smittynation for schedules, results, graphics, and much more!

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At Paul Smith's College, it's about the experience. As the only four-year institution of higher education located in the Adirondack Park in upstate New York, Paul Smith's provides real-world, hands-on learning in fields such as business and hospitality, culinary management, forestry, environmental sciences, and natural resources. We can draw on industries and resources available in our backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere. Our community of resourceful, enterprising, supportive, and adventurous individuals collectively provides experiential education, student support in the classroom and beyond, and meaningful opportunities for our alumni. We pride ourselves on research and advocacy on issues that improve our planet and the lives of the people who inhabit it. Learn more at www.paulsmiths.edu.