H.S. GIRLS’ ALPINE SKIING ALL-STARS
Athlete of the Year: Ava Bachta, Shaker
It is very safe to say Section II is the top spot in the state right now when it comes to girls’ alpine skiing. The results at the 2024 state championships held at Whiteface Mountain back up that notion as area competitors emerged with titles in the slalom, giant slalom and combined competitions.
Ava Bachta came away with a state title in the giant slalom with a two-run time of 1 minute, 52.31 seconds as Section II swept the top four spots in the race with Shayla Byrne (South Glens Falls) placing second, Klaudie Berry (Saratoga Springs) finishing third and Muirenn Talbot (Glens Falls) coming in fourth.
“I was expecting to win the slalom and I ended up winning the GS,” Bachta said. “Last year, I got second in states (in the slalom) and I won a title this year. Hopefully next year, I can win both of them. I want to get better each year.”
Bachta, who won the Section II title in the slalom and finished second in the giant slalom, ended up finishing seventh at the state championships in the slalom — the event she believes is her strongest.
“I think I had a pretty good season this year. I can definitely do better,” Bachta said. “I am happy with what I did overall. Winning a state title meant a lot because it is very hard to win races. It was nice to finally get a win (at states) after all those races.”
Piper Dock from Glens Falls, who is a freshman along with Berry and Talbot, won the state title in the slalom and Byrne, a junior, earned the combined championship. All return next season for what should be a highly competitive area season prior to the 2025 state championships.
“There is definitely a lot
of competition, so you can’t get comfortable being that we are always going back and forth at the top,” Bachta said. “You just have to keep working hard and see what happens. They are all really good skiers and my friends.”
First team
Ava Bachta, Fr., Shaker: Selected to the Times Union first team for a second straight year, Bachta accomplished even more in her second varsity season as she captured a Section II championship in the slalom, earned a state title in the giant slalom and came in seventh in the slalom.
Shayla Byrne, Jr., South Glens Falls: After finishing third in the giant slalom and ninth in the slalom at the Section II championships, Byrne delivered big time at the state championships as she came in second in the giant slalom and third in the slalom to secure the combined championship.
Piper Dock, Fr., Glens Falls: Earned the Section II giant slalom championship and came in third in the slalom. Dock (a 2023
Times Union second-team selection) went to Whiteface Mountain and emerged as the state slalom champion with a tworun time of 1 minute, 38.98 seconds.
Muirenn Talbot, Fr., Glens Falls:
Finished second in the slalom and fourth in the giant slalom at the Section II championships. The freshman did not finish her second run at the state championships in the slalom but she came in fourth place in the giant slalom.
Coach of the Year
Rich Burnley, Shenendehowa:
The team, led by Sarah Macfarlane and Alison Bach, captured the Section II title and headed to Whiteface Mountain seeking a state championship and ended up finishing second behind Cornwall.
Second team
Klaudie Berry, Fr., Saratoga Springs
Taylor Dennis, Jr., Schuylerville
Sarah Macfarlane, Jr., Shenendehowa
Makenna Morehouse, Fr., Queensbury