For the past six years, the Snyder sisters have been a dominant force in Summit High School athletics. 

Before graduating in 2022, Olyvia Snyder played multiple sports, won four state championships with the rugby team and was crowned a back-to-back individual state champion in skiing in 2021.

While earning academic and athletic accolades, Olyvia also stoked a fiery spirit of competition between her and her Class of 2024 sister, Ella. 

The two sisters competed alongside one another for two years at the high school, driving teams to triumphant wins and attempting to outdo the other.

“I followed in her footsteps, but if anything it made me more competitive,” Snyder said of her older sister, Olyvia. “Because we are so close in age, we often played together and sometimes even against each other. The competitive drive was always there for both of us, especially against each other which was kind of fun. 

The ambition of both sisters ultimately set up Olyvia with the chance to play rugby and ski at Harvard University, and gave Ella the opportunity to commit to Dartmouth College as part of its Alpine ski team. 

Much like her older sister, Ella Snyder’s background in all things sports began at an early age. Snyder started skiing when she was around 3 years old and then got into organized team sports when she entered elementary school.

Throughout the years, Snyder became a more well-rounded athlete and, instead of focusing on one or two sports in high school, decided to play four sports in an academic year. 

With rugby in the fall, skiing in the winter and soccer and track in the spring, Snyder has never had much downtime throughout her four years at Summit, but has still managed to excel both in athletics and in the classroom.

“I think the reason that I do quite a few sports is the different environment that each of them brings,” Snyder said. “With balancing school and sports, you have to make sure not to waste too much time doing other things and try to stay on top of things.”

To say Snyder’s senior year has been massive is an understatement. 

In the fall, Snyder helped lead the Summit girls rugby program to its 16th-consecutive state title, contributing to the team with all-out sprints to the try line and crushing tackles. 

A few months later in February, Snyder won her second individual state title in the slalom portion of the 2024 state Alpine skiing championships. With Snyder, Elodie Olsen and Ella Hagen all winning individual state titles, the Summit girls Alpine and Nordic ski teams scored enough points to secure the 2024 state championship trophy. 

Most recently, Snyder has lent her hand to the Summit girls soccer team, scoring seven goals and earning 15 points. On the track, Snyder claimed the 4×100-meter relay school record for a couple of weeks, before the time was topped by another Tigers’ relay team. 

Despite being talented at a host of sports, Snyder’s love for downhill skiing was unparalleled, leading to her decision to pursue the sport at the collegiate level.

“Skiing has always kind of been my No. 1,” Snyder said. “I have grown up around it, I have done it for so many years and I have put so much effort into it. To see it come to fruition and to see it better my future is really important to me. I love skiing so, so much.”

Throughout the recruitment process, Denver University and Harvard University piqued the interest of Snyder, but she ultimately decided on Dartmouth because of its proximity to Olyvia and the strength of its skiing program. 

“Dartmouth has always kind of been the dream,” Snyder said. “I have been out there a couple times. I have family out there, the campus is just gorgeous and I am close to Olyvia, which is really important to me. The ski coach, I feel like we will work really well together. I am looking forward to attending there.”

With Dartmouth having a nationally-recognized rugby program that features former Summit teammate, Paola Arredondo, the prospect of juggling two sports in college enticed Snyder. For the time being, though, the high school senior has decided to just focus on skiing and school. 

In terms of her favorite moments while being in one of her many Summit High School jerseys, Snyder is especially fond of her senior night soccer game on Tuesday night and the moments she got to share with Olyvia.

“This week with senior night I was super emotional and it is super cool to be part of a sport for four years,” Snyder said. “A lot of other memories come from Olyvia and just being able to have my big sister in high school with me is super cool. To have her to look up to and try to follow in her footsteps, because her footsteps weren’t too shabby.”