Cowboys Finish Second, Cowgirls Third at Nordic Nationals

The University of Wyoming’s men finished second and the women third in the overall team races following the concluding team spring relay race Saturday at the U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association’s Collegiate National Championships in Lake Placid, N.Y.

The last day of competition brought a huge snowstorm that made racing challenging. The athletes fought cold hands and deep snow that accumulated nearly 3 inches during the race.

“Over the course of one week, our team raced through rain, snow, wind and ice. And they did it brilliantly,” Assistant Coach Andrew Siegel says. “Focused and professional, they executed Saturday’s team sprint exactly as they had planned. It was the mark of a seasoned group of athletes, and I am incredibly proud of their performance.”

The Cowboys jumped to second overall after finishing third in Saturday’s relay. Silas Goetz, of Lander, skied the first leg and handed off to Kaj Taylor, of Palmer, Alaska. Anchoring the lineup was three-time sprint champion John Henry Palusek, of Farmington, N.H. They finished behind only Paul Smith’s College, of Paul Smith, N.Y., and Clarkson University, of Potsdam, N.Y. Paul Smith was the overall team champion.

The women’s team -- Annie Miller, of Minneapolis, Minn.; Krisanna Andrews, of Laramie; and Samantha Veauthier, of Casper -- fought hard with eventual second-place Paul Smith College and Cornell University, before ending up in fourth. The Cowgirls retained a podium spot by taking third overall for the week.

More than 500 student-athletes, representing 53 colleges and universities, competed at various skiing events at the same site that hosted the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.