BEND, OR. – The Northern Michigan University (NMU) women’s alpine ski team delivered a strong performance at the National Championships, securing both individual and team podium finishes in the slalom.
Reagan Olli earned a bronze medal in the slalom with a time of 1:33.51, adding another NCAA Championship accolade to her collection. Olli’s impressive runs included the second-fastest times in both heats—46.50 seconds in the first run and 47.01 seconds in the second. She finished just 0.06 seconds behind the second-place skier and 0.62 seconds off first place, earning a spot on the first-team All-America list.
The Wildcats took second place in the team standings with a combined time of 4:49.02. They were outpaced by Rocky Mountain College, who finished with a total time of 4:42.16. Castleton followed in third place with a time of 4:52.65.
Ainsley Kirk earned second-team All-America honors by finishing ninth with a time of 1:36.17. Her runs were solid, with the 10th-fastest time in the first heat (48.31 seconds) and the seventh-fastest in the second (47.86 seconds). Ella Wichert completed the team scoring with a 20th-place finish, posting a time of 1:39.34.
Maddy Stern finished 49th with a time of 1:47.40, while Tommie Springer did not finish the second run after finishing 33rd in the first heat.
Run One: Olli Sets the Stage for a Podium Finish
Olli was the fourth racer to take on the course in the morning and set a strong pace, posting a time of 46.50 seconds that would hold up as the fastest for several runs. By the end of the first heat, Olli’s time was second overall, putting her in a prime position for a podium finish.
Kirk, competing next in bib 44, made her way down the course with a solid run of 48.31 seconds, landing her in 10th place after the first heat. She was just two seconds behind the leaders and well-positioned for the second run.
Wichert, in bib 67, finished with a time of 48.67 seconds, putting her in 14th place after the first heat. While not in the top ten, she was within reach of a strong finish.
Springer, racing in bib 92, had a fast run but finished with a time of 51.19 seconds, leaving her in 33rd place at the conclusion of the first heat.
Stern, in bib 127, had a rough start to her run, taking a fall early on. Despite the setback, she recovered and completed her run in 56.17 seconds, placing her in 74th position heading into the second heat.
As the competition continued, Olli’s consistency and Kirk’s strong performance helped the Wildcats secure a second-place finish in the team standings. Their overall efforts showcased both individual talent and teamwork in a competitive field.