The chipped paint on the gymnasium walls of Champlain Valley Union High School felt particularly stark last Friday night. Not because of disrepair, but because of the quiet intensity radiating from the court as Zoey McNabb dropped 16 points, leading her team to a decisive 46-18 victory over Rice. It wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. A statement about a season beginning under the weight of expectations, about a generation of Vermont athletes stepping onto the stage after years shadowed by pandemic restrictions, and about a quiet shift happening in the state’s high school sports landscape. The scores, dutifully reported by coaches to the Burlington Free Press – Alex Abrami and Judith Altneu diligently tracking every point and postponement – tell a story of games played, but beyond the headlines lies a deeper narrative about rebuilding community and rediscovering the rhythm of competition.
A Season of Re-Engagement
The 2025-2026 winter season isn’t simply a continuation of previous years; it’s a relaunch. After seasons truncated or altered by COVID-19, Vermont schools are grappling with the challenge of re-engaging students and families in extracurricular activities. Participation numbers are still fluctuating, and the ripple effects of lost developmental years are visible on the court and ice. The sheer number of postponements – BFA-St. Albans at Essex, Milton at Middlebury, Williamstown at Blue Mountain all pushed to Saturday, February 21st – speaks to the ongoing vulnerability of schedules to illness and the logistical hurdles schools face. But the games are happening, and the energy is palpable. Aly Dorman’s 17-point performance for Mount Mansfield against South Burlington, coupled with Maysa Long’s impressive 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 steals, isn’t just about individual stats. It’s about a team finding its footing, a community rallying around its athletes, and a return to a sense of normalcy that felt distant for so long.
Original reporting: burlingtonfreepress.com.
The Rise of the All-Around Athlete
What’s striking when scanning the results isn’t just the winning scores, but the versatility of the players. Maysa Long’s stat line – a near triple-double – exemplifies a trend increasingly visible in Vermont high school sports: athletes who aren’t defined by a single skill. This isn’t necessarily new, but the emphasis on multi-sport participation, driven in part by a desire to avoid burnout and foster well-rounded development, is becoming more pronounced. The schedule itself reflects this, with championships already underway for gymnastics, cheer, and dance alongside the more traditionally highlighted basketball and hockey. This diversification isn’t just about offering more opportunities; it’s about recognizing that athletic talent manifests in many forms. The state championships at St. Johnsbury (gymnastics) and Vergennes (cheer and dance) are drawing crowds and attention, demonstrating a growing appreciation for these disciplines.
Beyond the Scoreboard: Community and Connection
The reliance on coaches and team representatives to report scores directly to the Free Press – a system that feels almost quaint in the age of instant updates – underscores a crucial point: high school sports in Vermont are deeply rooted in local communities. This isn’t a professionalized system driven by media contracts and massive sponsorships. It’s a network of dedicated individuals, volunteering their time to ensure these young athletes have a platform. The fact that Alex Abrami and Judith Altneu are actively soliciting results via email and X (formerly Twitter) highlights the collaborative nature of this coverage. It’s a reminder that these games aren’t just entertainment; they’re a vital part of the social fabric of Vermont towns and cities. The cancelled and postponed games, while frustrating, also reveal the interconnectedness of these communities – a single outbreak can disrupt schedules across multiple schools.
What This Season Signals for Vermont Athletics
The 2025-2026 winter season is more than just a collection of scores and schedules. It’s a barometer of Vermont’s recovery, a showcase of emerging athletic talent, and a testament to the enduring power of community. The question now isn’t simply who will win the championships, but whether schools can sustain the momentum of re-engagement and address the lingering challenges of participation rates and developmental gaps. Will the emphasis on all-around athleticism continue to grow, and will Vermont schools find ways to provide equitable opportunities for athletes in a wider range of disciplines? As the season unfolds, keep an eye not just on the scoreboard, but on the stands – and on the conversations happening in the hallways and town squares about the role of sports in shaping the next generation of Vermonters.
