Congratulations, Graduates!

Not only is it training season, it’s also graduation season! Congratulations to our athletes on the completion of their course of study, while also successfully balancing Nordic racing and international biathlon competition! 

Grace Castonguay - Saint Michael’s College

Grace graduated on May 12 from Saint Michael’s College with a major in economics and a minor in accounting. During her time as a Purple Knight, Grace received the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award twice (2021-22 & 2022-23) and was named to the 2022-23 USCSCA National Collegiate All-Academic Ski Team. She was named captain of the Nordic ski team her junior and senior year, able to balance racing and her team leadership role for Saint Michael’s College and racing internationally for U.S. Biathlon. Her senior year, Grace made her IBU World Cup debut in Hochfilzen, Austria, traveled home to race the carnival circuit with her Nordic team, returned to Europe to race on the IBU Cup and finished the season winning the U.S. Biathlon Collegiate National Championships’ women’s division in Fort Kent, ME, and placing 2nd in the team division with teammate Evelyn Hudrlik. Grace is currently a member of the U.S. Biathlon Senior National Team.  

Bjorn Westervelt - University of Vermont 

Bjorn will graduate from the University of Vermont on May 19 with a major in mechanical engineering. During his junior year, Bjorn achieved 6 top-15 finishes at 5 carnivals, his best being 4th place at the Bates Carnival. He also became the first U.S. athlete since Lowell Bailey in 2017 to win an international biathlon competition with his gold medal at the 2023 FISU World University Games. To round out his senior year of racing, Bjorn was UVM’s top male finisher in both the skate and classic races at the 2024 NCAA skiing championships in Steamboat Springs, CO. He then went on to place 1st in the men’s division of the U.S. Biathlon Collegiate National Championships in Fort Kent, ME. Bjorn is currently a member of the U.S. Biathlon Senior National Team. 

Dolcie Tanguay - Paul Smith’s College

Dolcie graduated on May 11 from Paul Smith’s College with a 4.0 GPA and a major in environmental science. She is a USCSA National Champion (Women’s Combined Individual) and 9x All-American. During her time at Paul Smith’s, Dolcie was also a member of Paul Smith’s Marathon Canoe Team and part of the record-setting C4 Team in the Adirondack 90-miler. She was also a 2x member of the U.S. Biathlon Junior World Championship Team and raced for the U.S. at the 2023 FISU World University Games. Most recently, Dolcie placed 3rd in the women’s division of the U.S. Biathlon Collegiate National Championships and was a part of the 2024 U.S. Biathlon Collegiate National Championship team. Dolcie is currently a member of the U.S. Biathlon National Development Group. 

Aidan Ripp - Paul Smith’s College

Aidan graduated on May 11 from Paul Smith’s College with a 4.0 GPA and a degree in biology. He competed for the U.S. in Nordic combined at numerous Continental Cups, the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2021 and the 2023 FISU World University Games, where he secured a 4th place finish. Alongside Dolcie, Aidan was also a member of Paul Smith’s Marathon Canoe Team and the record setting C4 Team in the Adirondack 90-miler. Since he transitioned from Nordic combined to biathlon in the fall of 2023, Aidan raced at the 2024 U.S. Biathlon National Championships and was a part of the 2024 U.S. Biathlon Collegiate National Championship Team. 

Brady Miller - Paul Smith’s College

Brady graduated on May 11 from Paul Smith’s College with a 3.9 GPA and a degree in environmental science. He was a member of Paul Smith’s Biathlon Team for four years and had podium finishes at both the 2023 and 2024 U.S. Biathlon National Championships and was a part of the 2024 U.S. Biathlon Collegiate National Championship Team.