Heading into her sixth and final year of MIAA competitive skiing, Frontier Regional’s Coriann Delaney had a list of things she wanted to accomplish in her senior campaign. Among the most important: winning the PVIAC individual championships.
Delaney also knew the obstacles in the way of those accomplishments, specifically her fierce competition. Mohawk Trail’s Taylor Loomis and East Longmeadow’s Elyse Donaghue offered strong challenges all year, though it was the beginning of the season that caused Delaney the most trouble.
“It’s frustrating because it seems to happen every year for me,” Delaney said of her slow start. “I just knew that I had to keep fighting to be better every single race … Taylor and Elyse both crushed it throughout the season.”
As her season progressed, Delaney did get better each week, eventually finishing the league with 185 points, second only to Loomis (191). But her improvements didn’t just help her league result, they led to her incredible performance at the PVIAC individual championships.
Delaney took home three top medals: first in the giant slalom, first in the slalom and the overall top finish for both races combined. For her resilience throughout the season culminating in three PVIAC championships, Delaney is the Gazette Girls Downhill skiing Player of the Year.
“I was just really happy with myself, and proud to have done that my senior season,” Delaney said. “To go out like that, it was a nice way to send off my senior year.”
Brian Delaney, Coriann’s father and coach at Frontier Regional, concurred.
“It was quite a day for her, no question about it,” Brian Delaney said. “She’s worked hard for her six years as a varsity skier, and I’m really proud.”
Coriann Delaney’s performance over the season netted her an MIAA state championship berth, finishing her scholastic career with six appearances in six seasons. She finished 21st in the giant slalom and 19th in the slalom for a combined 19th place at this year’s state races.
Now, a few months removed from her high school skiing career, Delaney appreciates the team she had around her above all, knowing that she’s left a memorable legacy.
“I’m just grateful that I did it with the team that I’ve had,” Delaney said. “Especially my time with the fellow seniors. And it was just nice to conclude it all the way I did.”
Added Brian Delaney, “Without question, she’s one of the top girls ski racers in Frontier Regional history. And I feel personally that she’s one of the top ten girls ski racers in western Massachusetts history.”
Her next chapter isn’t too far away, as Delaney plans on attending UMass in the fall, where she’ll be a member of the club ski team. She’ll see a few familiar faces on that squad in fellow incoming freshmen Julia Waal and Chloe Brush, both of whom she competed against at the state level.
“It’ll be more of a relaxed atmosphere, so I’m looking forward to easing it back a little bit from the intensity of high school competition,” Delaney said. “I know some of the girls that are going to be on the team, and I competed against them at states. They’re amazing skiers, so it’s gonna be nice to have known competition so I’ll know exactly how I have to improve.”
Abby Andrews, freshman, Northampton
Isabel Beaudry-Hathaway, senior, Gateway Regional
Vivi Bernier, freshman, Amherst Regional
Coriann Delaney, senior, Frontier Regional
Abby Denhart, senior, Northampton
Summer Duda, eighth grade, Hampshire Regional
Sarah Fardal, seventh grade, Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School
Ella Gander, sophomore, Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School
Talya Gilman-Solomon, freshman, Gateway Regional
Sora Green, senior, Amherst Regional
Sea Kay Leung, freshman, Amherst Regional
Ellie Mahoney, sophomore, Northampton
Maddie Raymond, sophomore, Northampton
Juliet Scott, sophomore, Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School
Dana Warren, seventh grade, Hampshire Regional