Vermont high school championship game of the year by readers vote

The 2025-26 Vermont high school sports year is in the books. Now, it’s time to vote for the best championship game of the past year powered by Delta Dental.

Covering the fall, winter and spring seasons, Burlington Free Press sports reporters Alex Abrami and Judith Altneu tallied a list of 10 state champions to be included on the ballot. Below, you’ll find quick briefs on each state champion and why they were included.

Voting is unlimited until the poll closes at 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 2.

Read on and then vote away!

Emily Tringe’s 4th quarter goal sends Montpelier field hockey to win

Senior Emily Tringe dishes on her “dynamic” connection with teammate Regan Walke. That connection led to the Solons season opening victory.

Two decorated Montpelier scorers — Regan Walke and Emily Tringe both surpassed 100 career points during their careers — hooked up for the game-winning goal in the second overtime, lifting the Solons to a 2-1 victory over Woodstock in the Division III final. Walke scored the walkoff winner, completing a a comeback and securing a 17-0 campaign and the program’s third title in four seasons.

This game featured a huge switch of momentum in double overtime with Harwood appearing to have scored the game winner only for the Highlander’s goal scorer to be called offsides during the celebration. Rice capitalized on that call with Reese Billings scoring the game-winner in Rice’s 2-1 win. The end of regulation also featured a frenzy with both teams scoring in the final three and half minutes to go to overtime.

Sophomores Brody Allard and Killian Choquette made veteran plays in the D-II title game as No. 6 Milton pulled off the upset of top-seeded Mount Abraham. Allard made a penalty-kick save late in regulation to keep the game scoreless and Choquette ended the affair with an overtime winner on the break for the 1-0 win.

Sophomore Gavin Reece pounced for the second-overtime winner on a rebound finish, clinching Burr and Burton’s 2-1 victory over two-time reigning champion Champlain Valley while ending two long droughts in the process. It was the Manchester program’s first title in D-I and the first non-Chittenden County school to win the D-I crown since Rutland in 2001. BBA toured through 2025 unbeaten at 16-0-1.

Talk about winning your program’s first championship in style. The 2026 Division I girls basketball championship game featured everything between two guards, Rutland’s Brinley Gandin and Mount Mansfield’s Aly Dorman going back-and-forth, a half-court heave, and a game-winning shot from Dorman. Mount Mansfield erased a 22-point deficit with 8:46 remaining in the game while outscoring Rutland 30-6 in the final eight-minute quarter for a 62-60 triumph.

Kelsie Rivard on Hazen OT victory in the D-III girls basketball final

Kelsie Rivard has the game-winning free throws in OT, guiding Hazen past Windsor in the Division III girls basketball title game on Saturday, March 7.

The D-III championship was a tight contest throughout. Neither Hazen or Windsor could gain a bigger lead than four points in the second half or overtime. Hazen came out victorious in a 55-53 win over Windsor on the back of Kelsie Rivard. The junior finished the game with 30 points including the final four points, sealing the Wildcats second title in three years.

Sixth-seeded BFA-St. Albans tweaked its game plan between the semifinals and title game, executed it to perfection, and pulled off the upset to solve No. 1 Rice, 54-48, claiming the program’s first title in 39 years. The Bobwhites slowed the game’s tempo and limited turnovers to turn away high-scoring Rice. Ryan Munger, BFA’s 6-10 center and only senior in the starting lineup, had a double-double.

The Harwood Highlanders erased a two-goal, second-period deficit on two Griffin Nelson goals before Milo Lavit supplied the championship winner in double overtime in the 4-3, drama-filled victory over U-32 in the D-II final. Lavit’s tally came on the power play, the team’s 122nd goal of the winter, as Harwood denied its rival for back-to-back crowns.

The championship featured a Cinderella-esque squad in No. 9 Milton dueling with No. 2 Champlain Valley in a wild contest. CVU earned a hard fought 14-13 sudden death victory in the pouring rain with Julian Olin scoring the game-winning goal. It was the Redhawks first title after losing the three previous championship games which they came back from an early hole.

Rice utilized a shutdown defense and strong goalie play from Bethany Nelson in the second half to snap a 13-year title drought and complete an undefeated season. Gillian Grimes scored the game winning goal early in the fourth quarter and the defense did the rest in the Green Knight’s 8-7 win over Burr and Burton. Rice outscored the Bulldogs 4-1 in the second half.