Rye Skiing Caps Off Season With Six Athletes Earning All-League Honors

The Rye Varsity Ski Team completed their 2024-25 season on Wednesday, February 12, as six Garnets took to sectionals. Although none of the athletes earned state qualification, they all contributed team points for Rye, and earned All-League honors in the process.

The closest Rye came to have a qualification for states was senior Kiran Gounden-Kobes, who missed out by just 0.29 seconds. Gounden-Kobes took 9th in the slalom event and 15th in the giant slalom, with a combined placement of 12th. Only the top eleven skiers get a direct invitation to states. Heatbreakingly, the Garnet senior ended as the first alternate.

“In ski racing, tenths of a second can be the all the difference, and unfortunately he was 0.29 seconds between two runs (slalom and giant slalom) from getting his ticket punched,” Co-Head Coach Jeffrey Steinmann said of his star racer. “[Gounden-Kobes] capped off a fantastic high school career for the Rye Ski Team, having skied all four years on varsity, and he should be very proud. He will be missed.”

The two girl competitors for Rye were freshman Emma Stark and junior captain Kira Woolsey. They both raced in the giant slalom, finishing 20th and 25th respectively. “Both girls skied great all season among some very tough competition in our league,” Steinmann told MyRye.com “We are very lucky to have them both returning next season.”

Also returning in 2025-26 on the boys side are junior Carsten Steinmann and eighth-grader Connor Swayne. They, combined with graduating senior captain Harrison Gelinas, finished in the middle of the pack on Wednesday. All three gentlemen earned points for the team in every race of the season. “All three skied well all year,” Steinmann said of his impressive trio. “[Gelinas] will be tough to replace next year especially coming off his best season after 4 years skiing for Rye.”

All six athletes earned All-League recognition for their exceptional seasons.