2024 HS snow sports guide

Hanover ski jumper Jai Gregory jumps during a regional ski jumping competition at Oak Hill in Hanover, N.H. on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. (Valley News - Jennifer Hauck) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.

Hanover ski jumper Jai Gregory jumps during a regional ski jumping competition at Oak Hill in Hanover, N.H. on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. (Valley News - Jennifer Hauck) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. Valley News — Jennifer Hauck

Heidi Davis, of Hanover, crosses the finish at the NHIAA Nordic skiing Meet of Champions at Proctor Academy in Andover, N.H., on Tuesday, March 15, 2022. Davis posted a combined time of of 24:33.8 in the classic and skate portions of the event. (Valley News - James M. Patterson) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.

Heidi Davis, of Hanover, crosses the finish at the NHIAA Nordic skiing Meet of Champions at Proctor Academy in Andover, N.H., on Tuesday, March 15, 2022. Davis posted a combined time of of 24:33.8 in the classic and skate portions of the event. (Valley News - James M. Patterson) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. Valley News file photographs

Heidi Hewes

Heidi Hewes

Sam Loescher

Sam Loescher

Cavan O'Brien

Cavan O'Brien

Claudia Shoemaker

Claudia Shoemaker

By BILL WILKINSON

Valley News Correspondent

Published: 12-15-2023 4:49 PM

ALPINE SKIINGHANOVER

Coach: Gabi Formankova (16)

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

League: NHIAA Division II

Returnees: Seniors — Adam Goodney, Sam Loescher, Nicholas Reiss, Peter Stover, Virginia Adams, Emilia Elder, Ava Holthoff; Juniors — Charlie Forbush, Andrew McGuire, Gavin Munson, August Thompson, Noah Winchester, Allison Daigle, Dahlia Fuld, Amelia Holthoff, Campbell Madden.

Newcomers: Juniors — Campbell White, Emilia Williams; Sophomores: Eve McLaughlin, Rachel Kohl, Nora Holmes, Inigo Pascual; Freshmen — Hayden Clapp, Julian Hart, Hopper Kelley, William Ketterer, Hampton Smith, Salome Baertschiger, Samantha Daigle, Ariella Hirschler, Caroline Staats.

Analysis: The Bears look to again have a very strong team with plenty of depth. “We’re ready to work hard and enjoy our time on snow and off the snow,” Formankova said.

HARTFORD

Coach: Ian O’Brien (1)

League: Southern Vermont League.

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Returnees: Senior — Nathaniel Krom; Juniors — Colby Luca, Cavan O’Brien, Lilian Parker.

Newcomers: Juniors — Sebastian Fraser, Wyatt Kustafik, Ivy Rohrbach.

Analysis: The Hurricanes program continues to grow since its return to varsity status in 2016. “Our focus will be building the team’s strength and endurance and working on gate training,” O’Brien said.

LEBANON

Coach: Mike Anikis (23)

Last year: Boys and girls each finished eighth at state meet.

League: NHIAA Division III.

Returnees: Seniors — Marin Pearson, Olivia Cook; Junior: Arlo Hastings; Sophomores — Abe Pearson, Kieren Lord, Marianna Utell.

Newcomers: Seniors — James Barnett, Izzy Rutherford; Juniors: Lenny Rey, Madalyn Parker; Sophomores — Gabe Herring, Peyton Rutherford, Caitlin Hastings; Freshmen — Kyle Grant, Emily Groves.

Analysis: The boys graduated four seniors and will regroup with a young team led by Pearson, who has aspirations of a top-10 finish in states. The girls return a bigger group from last season and could have any of multiple skiers make a run at top-10 finishes. That includes Marin Pearson, who finished 12th in the giant slalom at states a year ago.

THETFORD

Coach: Amy Huyffer (11)

Last year: Boys qualified for state championship race

League: Southern Vermont League.

Returnees: Senior — Oliver Yukica; Juniors: Maya Dixon, Elie O’Brien, Heidi Hewes, Willow Slayton, Bianca Pulaski, Ella Harvey, Isaac Yukica, Connor Gaine, Oliver Ransom, Hardy Payson; Sophomores — Mavis Downey, Sophia Harvey, Elijah Renner.

Newcomers: Freshmen — Reagan Ekegren, Lilian Miller, Hailey Race, Tanner Hardy, Benjamin Nalette.

Analysis: The Panthers return many performers from last season. Maya Dixon leads the girls after representing Thetford in the state championship individual meet. The Yukica brothers lead a deep team on the boys side.

“The progress and growth in confidence across the ladies team over the last few years has been amazing to watch and coach,” Huyffer said.

WOODSTOCK

Coach: Cheyenne Wood (4)

Last year: Won the SVL league title, third at state championship. BOYS OR GIRLS???

League: Southern Vermont League, VPA Division I.

Returnees: Bode Wood, Chloe Masillo, Ben Johnson, Levi Halley, Owen Kross, Claudia Shoemaker, Oliver O’Neil, Jack Quicker, Averill Stevens, Olivia Grasso, Maggie Pierce, Anges Kardashian.

Newcomers: Finley Peterson, Sadie Baulbol.

Analysis: The Wasps benefit from having access to Saskadena Six in Pomfret. The alpine team looks once again to be one of the strongest in Vermont, led by Wood and Masillo, each having multiple appearances representing Team Vermont in the Eastern High School Championship event.

“Woodstock alpine has a long history of producing top skiers and winning titles,” Cheyenne Wood said. “That spirit is still strong in this year’s group. We start doing the hard work of crying at the beginning of the season so that we’re smiling at the end.”

NORDIC SKIINGHANOVER

Coach: Tom Masterson (30)

Last year: Boys and girls finished second in the CVC championship and fourth at states.

League: NHIAA Division II

Returnees: Seniors — Finn Gleeson, Will Parke, Anna Healey, Sydney Sandor; Juniors: Nicholas Van Citters, Heidi Davis, Natalie Wainwright; Sophomores: Will Hannaway, Evan Lewandoski, Jack Meyers, Ryan Faris, Megan Faris, Lizzie Furstenburg, Oona Gleeson, Olivia Liu, Mary Matter.

Newcomers: Seniors — Carson Jaacks, Noah Glenney. Juniors: Charles Harris, Diego Lee, John Scherer, Anjana Chetan, Wyethe Murray; Sophomores: Nathaniel Picconi-Eakin, Bennett Squires, Varenya Modugula; Freshmen: Nelson Barabas, Max Brown, Isaac Fellow, Ben Groves, Luke Harreld, Rohan Novosad, Lane Puleo, Will Sandor, Donovan Van Citters, Grace Healey, Greta Mancini, Sophia Mancini, Evie McBride, Tobi Mueller, Cailin Stauth.

Analysis: Senior captains Healey, Sandor, Parker and Gleeson lead another big squad in a progran with a longstanding history of excellence.

LEBANON

Coach: George Hanna (1)

Last year: Girls finished third at state championship and boys were sixth.

League: NHIAA Division II.

Returnees: Seniors — Heidi Ahlgren, James Barnett, Carson Boardman, Lea Castell, Conner Chinn, Norah Falcone, Levi Wilmot; Juniors: Rya Wykes, Anya Wolcott, Augustin Ramos-Glew, Abigail Gallagher, Reed Ferland, Otto Bourne; Sophomores — Alex Boardman, Isabelle Caffrey, Amelia Gallagher, Angelo Goodwin, Annelies Hanna, Ollie Hermanson, Jacob Maughan, Minji Moeykens, Harper Rancourt.

Newcomers: Seniors — Mykhaylo Starodubtsev, Caroline Horak; Junior — Lenny Rey. Sophomore — Sarah Joudeh. Freshmen — Graham Achmoody, Andrew Berndsen, Koen Christie, Olivia Hanna, Rachel Horak, Ren Huston, Annabelle Norris, Alistair Smith, Mallory Eshbaugh.

Analysis: George Hanna succeeds longtine coach Les Lawrence, but there are other volunteer coaches who have been with the program for years. Both the boys and girls are expected to perform well at states, with the latter especially promising. The Raiders will join Hanover in being able to use Dartmouth College’s new course, which includes snow-making capability and George Hanna expects consistent access to good conditions will help his performers. Hanna’s daughter, Annie, is one of the best in the country for her age group.

WOODSTOCK

Coach: Jeremy Read (4)

Last year: Boys were third at state championship and girls took fourth.

League: Southern Vermont League, Vermont Division II

Returnees: Seniors — Maxwell Abrams, Farren Stainton, Ella Stainton; Juniors: Graham Fox, Joseph Sluka, Rue Stahl, James Underwood, Quinn Uva, Isabel Cellini, Ada Mahood, Myra McNaughton; Sophomores — Schuyler Hagge, Priscilla Richardson, Helen Maya Sluka.

Newcomers: Sophomore — Sophia Rosenbach; Freshmen: Nicholas Cellini, Caleb Enser, Logan Martes, Luke Pomeroy.

Analysis: The Wasps return a big group and look to be competitive again at season-ending meets. Underwood was the division champion in the classic event.

SKI JUMPINGHANOVER

Coach: Tom Dodds (12)

Last year: boys and girls were state champions.

League: NHIAA Division I

Returnees: Seniors: Adam Goodney; Juniors: Charlie Forbush, Schuyler Clapp, Jai Gregory.

Newcomers: Seniors — Sean Smith, Zach Tracy; Freshman: Hayden Clapp.

Analysis: The boys returning jumpers are among the best in the state. All four members of last season’s girls team, including individual champion Jhala Gregory, graduated. So did dual individual state champion Schuyler Clapp.

“We have a small team, but the returning jumpers are highly motivated,” Dodds said. “The three newcomers on the boys side were skilled contributors on the soccer pitch this fall and all seem to be picking up jumping skills quickly.”

SNOWBOARDINGWOODSTOCK

Coach: Alyssa McDonough (1)

Last year: Girls won state championship.

League: Vermont Division I.

Returnees: Seniors — Cormac Farrell, Jonas Wysocki, Zev Wysocki, Skye Cully, Amelie Fabre; Junior — Sam Gomes; Sophomores — Sierra Bystrak, Marlena Farinas, Lia Gigliotta, Bonnie Kranz, Kyler Eaton, Ian Hewitt.

Newcomers: Senior — J.D. Cross; Sophomore: Chiara Winawer-Stein; Freshmen: Julie Barry, Santino Bohren, Des Early, Camden King, Jada Ruch.

Analysis: The Wasps return the core of last season’s state title girls team, which is led again by Cully, Kranz and Gigliotta. The boys, second a year ago to Burr & Burton, will be spearheaded by seniors Zev and Jonas Wysocki. Eaton was a key part of last season’s team as a freshman.

“Returning most of our girls from last year, we’ll be looking to repeat for another state championship,” said McDonough, an assistant coach the past nine years. “The boys are hungry after being edged out last year.”