The women's ski team was all smiles after placing fifth overall in the nationals.

After a strong 2025 regular season, the Colgate women’s downhill alpine ski team marched into the nationals hoping for a top-five finish. The club team went on to achieve its best performance in program history. 

Colgate placed fifth out of 27 teams in the overall standings, which combines slalom and giant slalom results in the U.S. Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association National Championships, held from March 8-15 on Mt. Bachelor in Bend, Ore.

As icing on the cake, Colgate also finished as the top club team in the competition. The four teams ahead of Colgate — Rocky Mountain College, Vermont State, Babson, and Clarkson — are varsity programs. 

Todd Enders, a co-head coach along with Jim Longo, said fifth place in the combined was the team’s best finish in his 25 years at the helm.

“This was an incredible finish for what has been a great season for the women,” he said. “As the head coach I have yet to work with a team as well-rounded as this one. Each of these young women has a strong amount of competitiveness as well as being respected for their sportsmanship.

“They have earned their place as some of USCSA’s best skiers,” he said.

The Colgate skiers were rejoicing as well. 

“I am so proud of the team’s performance at USCSA nationals,” said Kate Goodrich ’27, an environmental economics major from Oldwick, N.J. “It was truly icing on the cake after the amazing season we had this year. We went into nationals with the goal of finishing top five and we achieved that. Everyone was over the moon about achieving our goal.” 

Goodrich credited the team culture for the performance at the nationals. 

“We are an exceptionally close knit group of people,” she said. “Everyone is kind and wants to help one another succeed. This is critical to a healthy team dynamic. I feel very fortunate to be a part of this team of incredible young women. The friendships we have made will last forever.”

The outcome at the nationals wrapped up a banner year for Colgate. The women finished No. 1 in the Mideast Conference while Goodrich finished as the conference's fastest skier.

While the team is a club program that’s open to all, regardless of experience, it draws seasoned skiers like Goodrich, who began racing down slopes in Vermont at age nine. 

The team goes through a short, but grueling regular season that runs from January through March. 

The skiers practiced twice a week on Song Mountain in Tully, N.Y., competing at a high level in tough winter conditions. Then they traveled to competitions across New York State each weekend.

Enders applauded the team for its strong work ethic, which prepared them for challenging conditions on Mt. Bachelor, where trails were steep and long, with many terrain changes, Enders said.

“It’s a rugged race with adverse conditions,” Enders said. “Our lady Raiders stepped up and skied their best.”