From left are Paul Smith’s Nordic skiers Edison Byrum, Griffin Smith, Diego Schillaci, Philip Matthews, Isaac Kristich and Gabriel Lloyd after winning the team sprint national championship trophy at USCSA Nationals on March 12. (Provided photo — USCSA)

BEND, Oregon — For Paul Smith’s College’s Nordic skier Philip Matthews, Wednesday, March 12 will be a day that he’ll remember forever.

Matthews, of Half Moon, claimed an individual national championship, and helped the Bobcats secure the 1.5-kilometer team sprint national title at the 2025 United States Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association Nationals in Bend, Oregon.

The victory win was an emotional moment for Matthews, as his father died following a year-long cancer battle just days before the team left for the national championships.

This year the team has had to experience two firsthand battles with cancer, as teammate Jacob Alberga of Saranac Lake and a 2024 All-American is also currently in treatment.

Matthews said.

The Paul Smith’s women’s Nordic team kicked off the week off with incredible racing. First-year skier Bridget Reusch of Farmington, Maine secured a fifth place finish followed by senior Jessie Church of Bethlehem, New Hampshire in ninth and Kaisa Bosek of Alexandria, Minnesota in 19th. The performance lifted the Bobcats into second place on the day, and Reusch and Church recieved first and second team All-American honors, respectively.

The men were in a tight battle, finishing fourth on the day, just nine points out of first. Matthews led the team on the day with a fourth place finish, followed by Diego Schillaci in 14th. The duo took also home All-American awards.

head coach Matt Dougherty said.

Church led the women’s squad the following day with a 12th place finish in the Class Sprints. She was followed by Reusch in 14th. Church was named to the second team All-American list for her effort.

The men’s race was a classic battle of wills as five Bobcats made it into the qualifying rounds. Matthews, Schillaci, Gabriel Lloyd, Isaac Kristich and Edison Byrum were in the mix going into the knockout rounds. Matthews and Schillaci were able to advance to the A Final, putting two Bobcats in the final six racers.

With Schillaci finishing sixth and Kristich finishing 14th, the Bobcats were also able to repeat as team sprint national champions. Matthews and Schillaci earned first team All-American honors, and were joined by Kristich as a second team All-American.

In the A Final, Matthews followed Colorado-Mesa skier Ivar Skaseth and a Wyoming skier up the final climb. Matthews took the inside line on the final downhill turn and caught second place before putting on the gas to catch Ivar in the home stretch just meters before the finish line.

As he pumped his arms and extended through his poles one last time before crossing the finish line in first, Matthews arched his back slightly and let out a primal scream of joy into the snowy Oregon grey light.

Matthews said.

Matthews said.

Dougherty said.

Up next for the Bobcats is the 15K Classic Individual race on Friday.