Berkley/Athens/Troy United Ski Race Team Caps Historic Season

Girls Team Dominates Regular Season

The girls squad finished the regular season undefeated in head-to-head competition in the Pine Knob League, setting the tone for a postseason run that would test both their talent and resilience.

Leading the charge were Berkley standouts Tessa Rontal and Emma Pollock, along with Troy High’s Alexis Phillips. The trio consistently placed in the top 10 throughout the season, with both Rontal and Phillips capturing multiple race victories.

At Divisionals, the girls team claimed first place in both Slalom and Giant Slalom, continuing their dominant run. Regionals brought both triumph and adversity. The team opened the day by winning the Slalom overall, with Phillips finishing third and Rontal fourth. Rontal also placed third in the Giant Slalom.

However, the Giant Slalom portion of Regionals proved challenging. After Phillips suffered an injury, the team was left needing every remaining racer to finish in order to qualify. Despite the pressure, the girls rallied and secured the four finishes required, earning a third-place overall finish and qualifying for the State Championships as a team.

Boys Show Grit and Perseverance

On the boys side, Berkley’s Patrick Oatley, Troy High’s Jack Horvath and James Mihelich led the way with consistent top-20 performances throughout the year.

Oatley’s season was especially notable for his resilience. After earning a top-10 finish early in the season, he underwent an emergency appendectomy that sidelined him for a month. He returned in time for Regionals and delivered a remarkable performance, finishing in the top 10 once again. His sixth-place finish in Giant Slalom qualified him for the State Championships. Mihelich also earned a state berth with an eighth-place finish in Slalom.

The boys team finished fifth overall at Regionals, with two individual state qualifiers representing a strong achievement for the program.

A Season to Remember

For Coach Lining, this season stands out as a defining one — particularly for the girls program.

“Finishing the regular season undefeated and having several wins by Alexis and Tessa will be memorable,” Lining said. “Also, the fact that the girls qualified as a team and we had two boys qualify for the state championship — this has been the best girls team I have coached.”

Throughout the season, one message remained central to the team’s identity.

“You’re always part of a team, even when you’re on the course by yourself,” Lining said. “Don’t forget what you do affects the team.”

That mindset was on full display this winter, as BAT United combined individual success with collective determination — carving out a season that will be remembered as one of the program’s finest.