River Williams, MCS Skier, competes at states

MARGARETVILLE — Margaretville Central School skier River Williams, a tenth grader, capped off an outstanding season by competing at the 2026 NYSPHSAA Ski Championships held Feb. 23–24 at Bristol Mountain Ski Resort in Canandaigua, New York.

Williams was the only MCS skier to qualify for the State Championships and one of just six athletes from Section IV selected to compete at the state level. She earned her spot after a strong performance at the Section IV Championships held February 10 at Belleayre Mountain.

At the State Championships, Williams competed against the top high school racers from across New York and delivered an impressive performance. She placed 39th out of 63 competitors in the Giant Slalom and 38th out of 63 in Slalom, an excellent outcome in a highly competitive field.

Four athletes represented MCS at the Section IV Championships: River Williams, Gabriella Sines, Jasper Nelson, and Calla Norwick. Their performances reflected the hard work and dedication they demonstrated throughout the season.

In addition to Williams qualifying for the Section IV Team, tenth grader Gabriella Sines was named First Alternate and  seventh grader Jasper Nelson was selected as an alternate for the state championships. Calla Norwick, competing in her first season, gained valuable racing experience at a highly competitive event.

In his first year with the MCS ski program, Coach Josh Byer demonstrated outstanding leadership and an unwavering commitment to the team’s success. The team was also supported by student managers Stella Sines, Evie Marks, and Luca Epstein.

Margaretville Central School is incredibly proud of River’s accomplishments and the team’s collective effort this season. River’s success at the state level highlights the strength of the program, and the future looks bright for MCS skiing.