Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. (Feb. 24, 2025) - The Carleton Ravens women's Nordic ski team captured their third consecutive OUA title and eighth in the last nine championships on Sunday. The Ravens were all over the podium throughout the weekend earning three of six individual women's medals, two men's individual medals and placing all four relay teams on the podium.
Six Ravens men and five women were named OUA All-Stars as Carleton collected 9 of a possible 18 medals at the event.
The men’s competition saw a dominant performance from the Lakehead Thunderwolves, with Nicholas Randall securing the gold medal (38:35.6) and teammate Joel Haering claiming silver (39:13.9). Carleton’s Kaeden Ward rounded out the podium with a bronze-medal finish (39:20.7). The Ravens would have four more student-athletes in the top ten as Nathaniel Sneyd, Wes Robinson-Shaw, Darion Dillabaugh and Noah Vanderzon finished fifth through eighth.
On the women’s side, Carleton’s Helen McCulligh delivered a championship-winning performance to take home gold (43:50.6), while Lakehead’s Mia Sawatsky earned silver (45:35.0). Carleton’s Sophia Giangrande joined her teammate on the podium with a bronze-medal finish (45:41.0). Bella Mouchet and Maya Abraham rounded out the top ten while four more Ravens finished in the top twenty.
In the para-nordic category, Ottawa Gee-Gees' Emma Archibald raced to victory, securing the gold medal (48:22.5).
Lakehead’s Nicholas Randall continued his dominance, winning his second gold medal (34:10.2) of the championship. His teammate Alexander Randall earned silver (34:19.6), while Carleton’s Noah Vanderzon claimed the bronze (34:20.9). Wes Robinson-Shaw and Kaeden Ward finished seconds behind in fourth and fifth while Raphael Guerout and Darion Dillabaugh also made their way into the top ten.
The women’s mass start event saw a shift in podium positions, with Lakehead’s Mia Sawatsky stepping to the top to earn gold (38:09.3). Carleton’s Helen McCulligh added a silver medal (38:13.2) to her collection, while Ottawa’s Maude Molgat captured bronze (39:31.4). Madelaine Galik and Isabella Pighin joined McCulligh in the top ten as the entire women's roster placed in the top 17 of the event.
Once again, Ottawa’s Emma Archibald demonstrated her skill in the para-nordic category, earning her second gold medal (45:15.6) of the event.
Lakehead's Team A took top spot in the team relay, edging out both Ravens squads who finished milliseconds apart. Carleton Team B (Sneyd, Dillabaugh, Guerout) crossed the line just 0.1 seconds ahead of Team A (Vanderzon, Ward, Robinson-Shaw) placing both squads on the podium.
In the women's race, Carleton secured their dominance of the podiums as Team A (Galik, Pighin and McCulligh) raced to a 1:27.8 victory over Ottawa's Team A. Carleton Team B (Giangrande, Abraham and Mouchet) were hot on the Gee-Gees tails, finishing third in 47:11.3.
