The 2025-26 Vermont high school sports year is in the books. Now, it’s time to vote for the best team 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 9.
Read on and then vote away!
Essex girls volleyball runs win streak to 86 straight
The Essex girls volleyball team remained dominant, racing to its fifth straight undefeated season while sweeping BFA-St. Albans in the state championship game. The Hornets (17-0) only dropped five sets all season with their senior-heavy roster and pushed its unbeaten streak to 86 straight matches.
BBA boys soccer wins its first D-I crown
Despite 22 combined wins over the previous two seasons, Burr and Burton fell short come tournament time. But not in 2025: The Bulldogs outscored teams 65-11, went unbeaten at 16-0-1 and claimed the program’s first Division I championship with an overtime victory over two-time reigning champion Champlain Valley in the title match. BBA also became the first non-Chittenden County program to win the D-I crown in 25 years.
Rice field hockey perfect again
With four Division I college commits, Rice field hockey (17-0) is the state’s most talented team and it showed. The Green Knights defended their state championship with a 4-2 win over Champlain Valley to complete a second straight perfect season. The Green Knights offense was particularly potent outscoring opponents 90-5. Bella Walsh, a UVM commit, scored twice in the win.
BFA-St. Albans girls hockey reclaims top spot
BFA-St. Albans had a ton of depth and numerous waves of offensive-minded forwards that includes the BFP girls athlete of the year in Marah McGinn. That depth helped the Comets beat every single in-state team they faced. The Comets (20-1-2) knocked off Essex 3-1 to win their first title since 2022, finishing the year on an 18-game winning streak.
Spaulding wrestling ends Mount Anthony’s long reign
After years of near-misses to fuel motivation, Spaulding rose up to dethrone Mount Anthony wrestling and the Patriots’ 36-year title reign during the championship meet held at Champlain Valley Union High School. The Crimson Tide clinched their first crown since 1984 before the start of the finals and scored wrestlers in 12 out of 14 weight classes. MAU’s run was a national record for wrestling; it also ranks sixth all-time for consecutive state titles among all high school sports in the country.
MMU girls basketball captures first state title
Mount Mansfield went 22-1 and toured through its first championship season in program history with 26-point average margin of victory. Then the Cougars went the comeback route in the D-I title game, erasing a 22-point deficit late in the third quarter and outscoring Rutland 24-6 in the final period in one of Vermont’s greatest championship games of all time. Aly Dorman, who dropped 34 points on 14 of 29 shooting, bagged the game-tying and winning shots.
BFA-St. Albans softball continues unblemished run
Back-to-back state titles is hard enough to do, but two straight undefeated in softball is quite impressive. That’s what BFA accomplished with its 2-1 win against Colchester in the D-I state championship, extending its winning streak to 35 games. The Comets paired their dynamic pitching duo of Megan Gonyeau and Irie Shedd with a high-powered lineup. BFA outscored teams 186-22.
Essex baseball completes rare undefeated season
The Essex Hornets started their season with a near perfect game. They ended their championship season with a perfect record. The Hornets went 17-0 for D-I’s first unbeaten season in 19 years and just the third in at least 50 years following a 5-0 win over Mount Anthony in the title round. They outscored teams 116-15 and trailed in just four innings all spring.
Rice girls lacrosse races to perfect season
Rice girls lacrosse faced some adversity in the D-I championship game trailing at halftime. The Green Knights (17-0) rallied playing shutdown defense in the second half to defeat Burr and Burton 8-7 to complete an undefeated season. It was Rice’s first lacrosse title as D-I team, snapping a 13-year championship drought. The only game Rice did not score at least 11 goals was in the state championship.
BHS boys tennis perfect for 3rd title in 4 seasons
Burlington had the individual singles champion, the singles runner-up and the doubles state championship tandem. The Seahorses players also went a combined 97-8 over the duration of the season, capped by a 7-0 team victory over Middlebury in the title match to complete a perfect campaign (15-0), the second of back-to-back crowns and third title in four seasons.
