PAUL SMITHS — A familiar name is starting to make her presence known at the international level of competitive biathlon. Paul Smith’s College student Rowan Tanguay of Fort Kent, Maine, was recently selected to compete for the U.S. Biathlon at international events for the upcoming season.

“Being named to the U.S. team is really an honor, and I’m so happy that the hard work paid off,” Tanguay said.

Tanguay will represent the United States in Bayerisch Eisenstein, Germany, from Feb. 23 to March 8 at the IBU Youth and Junior World Championships.

She becomes the second member of her family to have competed for Paul Smith’s College and the U.S. Biathlon. Her sister, Dolcie, a Bobcat alumna, represented the USA at the 2023 World University Games in Lake Placid and was the 2023 United States Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association Individual Nordic National Champion.

Tanguay earned a spot on the U.S. Youth and Junior teams with strong performances in the early biathlon season. At the U.S. Junior trials in late December, she shot clean and finished second overall in the 6K sprint. She followed that up with seventh overall at the mass start event the following day before regaining her second-place finish during the classic sprint to close out competition, earning second place overall at the U.S. Junior Trials.

“I’ve been competing at these trial races for many years now and finally, after some consistent training at Paul Smith’s College this year, I was able to have some good results,” Tanguay said. “I can’t wait to represent not only Team USA but Paul Smith’s College.”

“Rowan representing the U.S. at Junior Worlds is an exciting step for her and a clear sign of where biathlon is headed at Paul Smith’s,” PSC head coach Matt Dougherty said. “Our goal has been to build a program that removes barriers for biathletes and supports their development, and Rowan’s success shows what’s possible when that structure is in place.”

It marks Tanguay’s first selection to the U.S. National Team, while she is the fifth Bobcat to be named to the team in the last four years.

“Paul Smith’s College has some awesome training opportunities with the range being so close by with tons of trails at the VIC … and I’d just like to add that I didn’t get to this point without all the support from the Fort Kent Outdoor Center back home, coaches who always wanted the best for me and my wonderful family, espcially my sister Dolcie who has always been my inspiration,” Tanguay said.