I attend Dover-Sherborn High School and I am a senior this year.

I have been skiing since I was 3 years old and have been on the DS Varsity Alpine Ski Team since freshman year. I also started Track and Field when I was a sophomore after switching from lacrosse. Before high school, I was a competitive gymnast for 10 years and also a field hockey player from grade 5 until my sophomore year. While I love both ski racing and track, skiing is my favorite because it has always been a strong passion of mine since I was very young. 

For as long as I can remember, my family has packed up our bags on Friday afternoons and driven to Burke Mountain every weekend during the winter. I started my skiing career in my little Explorer’s group, moving from U8 all the way to U16 in the Burke Mountain Academy Junior Program and then onto high school skiing. As I grew older, I appreciated my time up north more and more and it was awesome to take what I had learned in Vermont and then apply those skills to races back home.

I have always had a passion for anything fitness related. When I began running track, I immediately loved it because I was working to improve my personal performances. My favorite event to run is the 200m because it focuses on both speed and stamina. I also took interest in the long jump because it involves both power and technique, two essential skills I learned from gymnastics. My ultimate goal was to break the long-standing long jump school record this Spring, but unfortunately, I sustained a shoulder injury this past January and will be unable to compete.

What I enjoy most about skiing is how it provides an escape from reality. Whether I am racing or freeskiing, I am always in the present moment where all other responsibilities are put on hold. I also love the team aspect in both of my sports. Anyone who has been on the Alpine Ski Team in the past will tell you that what we have built is something profound. We spend so many hours together traveling to and from resorts, eating Blue Hills lodge food and changing in and out of our bulky equipment in small school bus seats, so by the end of the season we are like family.

My proudest moment was my first ski race this season. I was a little nervous to use my GS skis in such a treacherous, Massachusetts race course but I overcame my fears this season and got 1st place! It made me realize how much I have improved over my four years on the team and how my hard work has paid off. I would love to thank my ski coaches, my parents and all of my teammates for making me a better skier and making my experience on the ski team as fulfilling as it has been. 

I admire my DS Ski Team coaches Mark Gray and Dave Laidman because they are not only incredible skiers but also incredible mentors. They make the team such a fun and supportive community. Their endless commitment to every racer is evident and ultimately makes the team so successful. Their enthusiasm, empathy, and attitude not only inspire me to become a better skier but makes me a better person as well.

Unfortunately, I will not be able to run this upcoming season because I recently had surgery on my shoulder, but I still look forward to being a reliable captain to the rest of the team. Although I am disappointed that I cannot compete, this injury has taught me resilience. I am excited to help out at practices and meets, be a good role model for younger athletes, and hopefully, inspire them to love track as much as I do! 

Outside of sports, I love spending time with my family and friends. I cherish my time both freeskiing at Burke Mountain during the winter and boating in Cape Cod during the summer! In terms of extracurricular activities, I have enjoyed coaching middle schoolers in field hockey for the past two years, and being a camp counselor and ski instructor. I also volunteer at the Pilgrim Church in Sherborn and am a member of the Peer Leadership Club!