2023 HS snow sports guide

By BILL WILKINSON

Valley News Correspondent

Published: 02-02-2023 12:00 PM

 

Alpine SkiingHanover

Coach: Gabi Formankova (17th season).

League: NHIAA Division II.

Last year: Boys were state champions, girls were runners up.

Returners: Seniors — Cam Forbush, Mack Levy, Lilly Clapp, Ashley Cotter, Maeve Crowley, Sadie Higgins, Reilly Loughman, Mia Madden, Riley McGuire. Juniors — Adam Goodney, Sam Loescher, Peter Stover, Virginia Adams, Ava Holthoff. Sophomores — Charlie Forbush, Andrew McGuire, Noah Winchester, Willow Clifford, Amelia Holthoff, Campbell Madden, Sadie Ross, Dahlia Fuld.

Newcomers: Seniors — Ethan Munson, Owen Smith, Emilia Torresani. Juniors — Nick Reiss, Zach Tracy, Ben Woods, Emilia Elder. Sophomores — Gavin Munson, Alex Orsino, Henry Steffen, Gus Thompson, Wynn Bushell, Ali Daigle, Maggie Higgins. Freshman — John Taylor.

Analysis: The Bears have a deep team with plenty of varsity experience as they look to repeat as state champs on the boys side and build on a runner-up finish by the girls. Cam Forbush and Mack Levy will captain the boys while Mia Madden and Riley McGuire are the girls captains.

“We are very excited for the new ski season. Both the girls and boys teams are not only strong in numbers, but also in talent,” coach Gabi Formankova said. “They are ready to work hard and enjoy their time on skis.”

Lebanon

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Coach: Mike Anikis (22nd season).

League: NHIAA Division III.

Last year: Girls finished seventh at states, Cassidy Adams qualified for the Meet of Champions. Boys didn’t have a full team, Noah Lamontagne finished 13th in slalom at states.

Returners: Seniors — Noah Lamontagne, Roy Shapard, Sam Hastings, Ean Ray, Adriana Caraeni. Juniors — Olivia Cook, Marin Pearson, Gwyneth Schachtner. Sophomore — Brianna Hastings. 

Newcomers: Sophomores — Brett Thorpe, Hailey Schibuola. Freshmen — Kieran Lord, Abe Pearson, Savannah Therriault, Mariana Utell.

Analysis: A lack of early-season snow hasn’t stopped the Raiders from attacking dryland training with good energy and enthusiasm. The boys team has some good returning experience and a large group of newcomers to varsity skiing has things looking up overall. Overall team athleticism appears to be a strength and longtime coach Mike Anikis hopes multiple skiers will qualify for the Meet of Champions.

Thetford

Coach: Amy Huyffer (10th season).

League: Southern Vermont District.

Last year: Girls had a full team for the first time in seven years, boys had 12 skiers including half as freshmen.

Returners: Seniors — Addyson Holzer, Charlotte Reimanis, Harland Ransom. Sophomores — Willow Slayton, Elie O’Brien, Maya Dixon, Ella Harvey, Alicja Perdrizet, Bianca Pulaski, Oliver Ransom, Oliver Yukica, Isaac Yukica, Hardy Payson, Connor Gaine.

Newcomers: Junior — Anne Hesser. Sophomores — Heidi Hewes, Iris White, Gabe Limlaw, Hugo Billiau. Freshmen — Sophia Harvey, Mavis Downey, Harper Traendly (of Rivendell), Allie Vogelien (of Rivendell), Elijah Renner, Austin Tatham.

Analysis: Senior tri-captains Addyson Holzer, Charlotte Reimanis and Harland Ransom lead a growing and enthusiastic group for the Panthers. Thetford will look to build on a successful campaign for a year ago.

“Thetford focuses on good fundamental skiing and thoroughly enjoying our inherently fun sport. The goal for the year is for both the girls and boys teams to qualify for the state championships at Burke in early March,” assistant coach Paul Dixon said.

Woodstock

Coach: Cheyenne Wood (third season).

League: VPA Division I, Southern Vermont Region.

Last year: Both teams second at state championship meet, Abigail Massilo was state champion in slalom.

Returners: Juniors — Bode Wood, Ben Johnson, Chloe Massilo, Claudia Shoemaker, Olivia Pierce. Sophomores — Levi Halley, Owen Kross, Oliver O’Neil, Maggie Pierce.

Newcomers: Junior — Ilya Bochkov. Sophomore — Jack Quicker. Freshmen — Annesonia Beardsley, Agnes Kardashian, Averill Stevens.

Analysis: The Wasps were hit hard by graduation and now boast a younger team without a senior, but with plenty of talent. Bode Wood and Chloe Massilo are team captains.

“We’re not as deep as we used to be, so the top-4 male and female skiers are going to have to ski well all season for us to make another run at a state title,” coach Cheyenne Wood said. “We’re a young team, but there is lots of talent”

Nordic SkiingHanover

Coach: Tom Masterson (30th season).

League: NHIAA Division I.

Last year: Boys were state champions, girls were runners up.

Returnees: Seniors — Adam Gilbert-Diamond, Lachlan McCann, Lyra Borholdt-Collins, June Clark, Meg Frost, Elsa May, Kate Valentino. Juniors — Will Parker, Anna Healey, Sydney Sandor. Sophomores — Aiden Beyer, Ryan Farris, Alex Valentino, Andrew Valentino, Nicholas Van Citters, Owen Welch, Heidi Davis, Natalie Wainwright.

Newcomers: Junior — Finn Gleeson. Freshmen — Megan Farris, Lizzie Furstenberg, Oona Gleeson, Olivia Liu, Mary Matter, Will Hanaway, Evan Lewandoski, Jack Meyers.

Analysis: The Bears girls and boys will both be looking, once again, to compete for a state title. Adam Gilbert-Diamond and Lachlan McCann will co-captain the defending champion boys team and Elsa May and Meg Frost captain the girls.

“The skiers have been working hard during dryland, building strength and getting excited to get back snow. We should have another good season,” coach Tom Masterson said.

Lebanon

Coach: Les Lawrence (43rd season).

League: NHIAA Division II.

Last year: Boys took second at states, girls were third. The middle school boys and girls teams each finished second overall, so the pipeline of talent seems well-stocked.

Roster: Seniors — Ava Ackerman, Isaac Ager, Alex Blish, Amanda Brooker, Francis Calandrella, Diego Dela-Cruz, Finn Ericson, Ella Gessner, Duncan Green, Angus Hall, Carson Jones, Finn Kopp, Elizabeth Kourbatski, Emily Melkonian, Abigail Pellegrino, Augustin Ramos-Glew, Will Sandman, Griffin Urezis. Juniors — Heidi Ahlgren, James Barnett, Andrew Belk, Carson Boardman, America Carmona, Lea Castell, Connor Chinn, Norah Falcone, Anna Lu Haas, Katherine Herring, Sophie Longacre, Levi Wilmott. Sophomores — Otto Bourne, J Chewning, Kaylee Felch, Reed Ferland, Abigail Gallagher, Marco Getchell, Thomas Kennely, Doyen Kodiweera, Sophia Mladek, Amalia Mladek, Chip Silver, Palmer Susco, Anya Wolcott, Rya Wykes, David Zhou. Freshmen — Alex Boardman, Isabelle Caffrey, Amelia Gallagher, Josh Garcia, Angelo Goodwin, Annie Hannah, Ollie Hermanson, Jacob Maughan, Helena Mielcare, Minji Moeykens, Harper Rancourt, Ester Wilmot.

Analysis: The Raiders graduated a big senior class a year ago but still boast a total of 58 high school skiers, along with another 25 in the wait at the middle school level.

“While we have always had hard workers in our program, last year’s group of seniors really established a new bar regarding work ethic,” coach Les Lawrence said. “This year’s group has picked right up where they left off. Coaching becomes very easy and a ton of fun when you have athletes who want to get better and are willing to work for it.”

Woodstock

Coach: Jeremy Read (third season).

League: VPA Division II, Southern Vermont League.

Last year: Boys were fourth at states, girls took fifth.

Returners: Seniors — Graham Farrington, Zed McNaughton, Aidan Reed, Willy Underwood. Juniors — Mac Abrams, Farren Stainton, Ella Stainton. Sophomores — Izzy Cellini, Graham Fox, Myra McNaughton, Lili Morris, Joey Sluka, Jane Stout, James Underwood, Quinn Uva, Ada Mahood.

Newcomers: Sophomore — Rue Stahl. Freshmen — Schuyler Hagge, Joaquin Jones-Welker, Pea Richardson, Maya Sluka.

Analysis: After not having enough skiers to qualify as a team at states in 2021, the Wasps improved a season ago to finish in the middle of the pack. This year’s team features even further improved depth and experience as skiers.

“This will be our first year since I’ve coached the team in which most members start the season already knowing how to ski,” coach Jeremy Read said. “We’re looking forward to capitalizing on the immense improvements we made last year. We’ve been putting in miles on the trails around Woodstock and building our baseline strength in the weight room.”

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