Rice Skiers Deliver Outstanding Performances at State Championships
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The Rice Memorial High School Alpine Ski Team concluded a remarkable season with an exceptional showing at the Vermont High School Alpine State Championships at Burke Mountain. Over two days of intense competition, the girls’ team secured a 2nd place overall finish, coming within just nine points of winning the state title. Their performance was one of the strongest in recent team history, highlighted by consistent top finishes and a dominant showing in Slalom.
Girls Team: A Championship-Caliber Performance
Leading the way for Rice was Mya Forkey, who won every single run across both Slalom and Giant Slalom through districts and the state championship. Her consistency and dominance secured the individual State Championship title.
Joining Forkey on the podium was Maddie Wright, who delivered an impressive performance to finish 3rd overall in Slalom. The depth of the Rice team was on full display, with six skiers placing in the top 25 across events:
Giant Slalom Results:
- Mya Forkey – 1st place
- Julia Lollis – 8th place
- Taylor Moulton – 10th place
- Maddie Wright – 13th place
Slalom Results:
- Mya Forkey – 1st place
- Maddie Wright – 3rd place
- Ella McCormack – 12th place
- Julia Lollis – 18th place
- Taylor Moulton – 21st place
- Brooke McCormack – 24th place
The team won the Slalom event, demonstrating their technical proficiency and ability to perform under high-pressure conditions. Despite the strong showing, they were unable to make up the necessary points from Giant Slalom to clinch the overall title. Nevertheless, this marks one of the best team performances in Rice Alpine history!
Senior captains Taylor Moulton and Ella McCormack played a crucial leadership role throughout the season, helping to guide and motivate the team to this outstanding finish.
Boys Team: Grit, Determination, and Strong Finishes
The Rice boys faced a highly competitive field but delivered several standout performances. Vega Tariyal led the charge for the team, finishing 15th in Slalom after an exceptional second run that saw him move up from 24th place. In Giant Slalom, Tariyal again posted Rice’s best finish, placing 31st overall.
Additional strong finishes included:
Giant Slalom Results:
- Vega Tariyal – 31st place
- Carson Smet – 38th place
- Waylon Lowe – 40th place
- Zach Haskell – 40th place
Slalom Results:
- Vega Tariyal – 15th place
- Carson Smet – 38th place
- Waylon Lowe – 40th place
- Peter Harris had a strong first run before an equipment issue prevented him from completing the second.
A Season to Remember
Beyond the race results, what stood out most at the State Championships was the team spirit and camaraderie displayed by Rice skiers. Their energy, support for one another, and determination were evident throughout the competition. The cheers from the team could be heard from the top of the course, a testament to the culture of encouragement and excellence within the program.
A sincere thank you to the coaching staff, parents, and volunteers who made this season possible. Special recognition goes to Chris Smet, who served as a dedicated gatekeeper at both Districts and States.
Looking Ahead
Mya Forkey and Maddie Wright will be representing Rice and the state of Vermont at the Eastern High School Championships at Cannon Ski Area in Franconia New Hampshire March 6-9, 2025.
