Times Union All-Stars: Girls' Alpine skiing

Athlete of the Year: Hannah Klingebiel, Sr., Schuylerville

After overcoming an injury last season, Hannah Klingebiel was determined to end her high school career with a championship.

She succeeded, taking home first place in slalom at the state championship meet and finishing sixth in giant slalom.

"I'm super happy to end my high school career like that," Klingebiel said.

"Last year, I broke my wrist the day after Christmas, so I was super behind," she said, adding that she was disappointed with last year's state results — second in slalom and third in giant slalom.

"She definitely wanted to come back stronger than she was in her junior year," Schuylerville coach Kristen Long said.

Klingebiel started training for the season in November, and Long said she was on the slopes five days a week, "if not more."

"Even when we didn't have training as a high school, she would still be out skiing," Long said.

Klingebiel and Long worked on small changes in technique that made a big difference in the amount of speed she was able to maintain down the mountain, including initiating her turns sooner and moving her hips through the turn.

Although Klingebiel trained for both slalom and giant slalom, she said she kept her eyes on target.

"I was focusing mainly on my slalom training because I knew that was my best shot at a championship," she said.

Klingebiel also was the Section II champion in slalom.

Long described her as a team leader.

"If I ever had to relay information or get anything across to the team, she would be my go-to person," Long said.

First team

Micaela Leonard, So., Shenendehowa: The first Section II finisher in giant slalom at the state championships had a cumulative time of 2:02.63, good for third place overall. She...