Colorado State University Athletics
Sunday, September 13
Fort Collins, CO
7:00 AM
Colorado State
vs
Horsetooth Open Water
Rams Undertake Rite of Passage
9/13/2026 10:35:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Horsetooth open water stands as season wake-up call
The event is a lot of things, some of which run counter.
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Officially, the Horsetooth Open Water counts as a competition on the schedule, though it really isn't. For Colorado State women's swimming coach Christopher Woodard, it is a workout, one that won't train his team for any particular event. It is a race, but he's not asking his squad to go for the gold. There is adversity, but not the kind they'll face during the season.
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Even still, being able to adapt is relatable. It's a mindset, regardless of the circumstances.
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What he does know is it creates bonding and memories. Duals will come and go through the years, results which will fade over time due to their abundance, but the Horsetooth swims on an early Sunday morning create lasting memories. He knows this to be true because some former swimmers still come back to compete, others to just cheer on their former teammates.
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"A lot of them remember this race, getting up early and doing it together," he said. "Most of them remember these swims because they do it together."
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The buddy system is real. In open water swimming, there can be strength in numbers if you know the people around you, so many of the Rams stuck together. There becomes less chance of taking a heel to the mouth – as happened to Evie Munz – when you're with your teammates, all trying to make it through together.
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Not that Bevin Toews or Alaina Biebl had that explained to them, but they were the first two Rams to finish the race, doing so together. Both are veterans of open water races, and while they didn't set out together, Toews eventually found her freshman teammate and joined forces.
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"I found her in the last part," Toews said. "From the yellow buoy, and I could see a green cap, and so I just chased after her for a bit."
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For Toews, it was a shorter race than she's used to, longer for Biebl. None of them really like it, but they kind of do. They dread the thought of it but enjoy the feeling of accomplishment.
Â
Not in terms of time. In terms of doing something and completing it as a team, no matter if you're the first two out, or a group of five at the end, all exiting for land hand in hand.
Â
"Â I think it's fun because we all kind of just come together. Some people don't want to do it or they're nervous," Biebl said. "I think us all doing it together just makes it a lot better. It's, 'OK, this is fun.' We're not worried about times or anything, we're just getting in, swimming something different."
Â
Woodard, who has joined his team in the water before, understands. There are no lane lines. You can't see the bottom of the pool, even if the water level was low. So low, in fact, race officials put a kayak above a tree, because it was only one foot below water level. This warning announcement before the start of the race led to a bit of concern for a few Rams, one or two who may have let out a yelp.
Â
The race is two laps around buoys, and Biebl said it is necessary to have a plan in place. Hers is to be more on the outside, because inside you get pushed back. Except on turns. Closer to the marker is better or you lose your way.
Â
What gets them all on track is the smell. The organizers serve pancakes after, and many of the Rams said when the scent of those replaced that of the water, they found a renewed bit of life.
Â
It signaled they were almost done and gave them a reason to close it out.
Â
It also signaled the season – the real one – was just around the corner.
Â
Â
Officially, the Horsetooth Open Water counts as a competition on the schedule, though it really isn't. For Colorado State women's swimming coach Christopher Woodard, it is a workout, one that won't train his team for any particular event. It is a race, but he's not asking his squad to go for the gold. There is adversity, but not the kind they'll face during the season.
Â
Even still, being able to adapt is relatable. It's a mindset, regardless of the circumstances.
Â
What he does know is it creates bonding and memories. Duals will come and go through the years, results which will fade over time due to their abundance, but the Horsetooth swims on an early Sunday morning create lasting memories. He knows this to be true because some former swimmers still come back to compete, others to just cheer on their former teammates.
Â
"A lot of them remember this race, getting up early and doing it together," he said. "Most of them remember these swims because they do it together."
Â
The buddy system is real. In open water swimming, there can be strength in numbers if you know the people around you, so many of the Rams stuck together. There becomes less chance of taking a heel to the mouth – as happened to Evie Munz – when you're with your teammates, all trying to make it through together.
Â
Not that Bevin Toews or Alaina Biebl had that explained to them, but they were the first two Rams to finish the race, doing so together. Both are veterans of open water races, and while they didn't set out together, Toews eventually found her freshman teammate and joined forces.
Â
"I found her in the last part," Toews said. "From the yellow buoy, and I could see a green cap, and so I just chased after her for a bit."
Â
For Toews, it was a shorter race than she's used to, longer for Biebl. None of them really like it, but they kind of do. They dread the thought of it but enjoy the feeling of accomplishment.
Â
Not in terms of time. In terms of doing something and completing it as a team, no matter if you're the first two out, or a group of five at the end, all exiting for land hand in hand.
Â
"Â I think it's fun because we all kind of just come together. Some people don't want to do it or they're nervous," Biebl said. "I think us all doing it together just makes it a lot better. It's, 'OK, this is fun.' We're not worried about times or anything, we're just getting in, swimming something different."
Â
Woodard, who has joined his team in the water before, understands. There are no lane lines. You can't see the bottom of the pool, even if the water level was low. So low, in fact, race officials put a kayak above a tree, because it was only one foot below water level. This warning announcement before the start of the race led to a bit of concern for a few Rams, one or two who may have let out a yelp.
Â
The race is two laps around buoys, and Biebl said it is necessary to have a plan in place. Hers is to be more on the outside, because inside you get pushed back. Except on turns. Closer to the marker is better or you lose your way.
Â
What gets them all on track is the smell. The organizers serve pancakes after, and many of the Rams said when the scent of those replaced that of the water, they found a renewed bit of life.
Â
It signaled they were almost done and gave them a reason to close it out.
Â
It also signaled the season – the real one – was just around the corner.
Â
Players Mentioned
BK, IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FR, FLY
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FR
/ Women's Swimming & DivingWednesday, March 18
Monday, September 29
Monday, August 16
Monday, November 18