In the spring of 1903, Barnard’s inaugural Greek Games — including high jumping, archery, and wrestling — comprised some of the first athletic events at the College. As the decades rolled on, the growing fight for women’s rights increased the ability of women to participate in a wide array of collegiate sports.
Then, in 1983, Barnard established a distinct partnership with Columbia Athletics that greatly expanded the athletic possibilities. The Columbia-Barnard Athletic Consortium is a collaboration that supports Barnard’s student-athletes competing alongside Columbia undergraduates in the Ivy League Athletic Conference and NCAA Division I athletics — making Barnard the only women’s college to offer this opportunity.
Barnard Athletics: Through the Decades
Ranging from the Posture Award of 1956 to the women’s basketball team’s historic March Madness debut in 2024, the College’s long-standing commitment to athletics and wellness continues to make headlines.
As Women’s History Month concludes, and the College celebrates the return of Spirit Week (April 21 - 25) and the Greek Games (April 26), take a look at Barnard’s legacy of empowering students in all pursuits — on and off the court.
For more Women’s History Month content, check out “10 New Reasons to Celebrate Barnard Women.”
March Madness 2025
Women’s Basketball Participates in March Madness, as head coach Meg Griffith ’07CC — who has coached many Barnard players, including Emily Montes ’27 and Blau Tor ’27 — was named a finalist for the 2025 Kathy Delaney-Smith Mid-Major Coach of the Year Award, presented by Her Hoop Stats. “The women’s basketball team truly has created a second family for me,” said Montes.
This March, Fencing Earned 12 Bids to NCAA Championships. Two Barnard students are on the championship roster for women’s sabre: Chloe Gouhin ’25 and Tamar Gordon ’26. “I may not be able to fence my best for myself, but fighting for my teammates comes naturally,” said Gouhin.
Women’s Squash Earns Wins at National Team Championships with two of Barnard’s own: Nourin Khalifa ’26 and Andreea Ghiorghisor ’28, who defeated Drexel University’s Lijana Sultana. “My excitement to train with the team is balanced with a love for reading romance books, watching television series, going out [with friends], and drinking iced coffee,” said Ghiorghisor.
Archer Judith Gottlieb ’25 earned bronze with a score of 572 in the Collegiate Recurve Female Division of the 2025 Vegas Shoot. Briana Moore ’28, who finished 23rd in the compound, shared that “the opportunity to [shoot archery] through the Columbia-Barnard Athletic Consortium is one for which I am most grateful.”
