CHARLEMONT — Following back-to-back state championships, it would be easy for the Mohawk Trail girls alpine ski team to take its foot off the gas during the regular season.

That has been far from the case this winter.

The Warriors have looked every bit their dominant selves thus far during the PVIAC alpine ski season, looking like a team on a mission to win a third state title in a row.

During the third meet of the season on Thursday at Berkshire East, Mohawk Trail had the top two finishers. Addie Loomis, who has won each meet thus far this season, blasted down the slalom course in a time of 44.52 seconds, the fastest time on the day. Teammate Emmy Sisum wasn’t far behind, settling for second with a top run of 47.54 seconds.

While states are of course on the mind of all the Warriors skiers, they’re trying to take things one race at a time and not look too far ahead.

“Everyone is excited to be back,” Loomis said. “Everyone knows states isn’t until the end of the season. It's all in the back of our minds but we’re just trying to take it one race at a time.” 

Sisum agreed with that sentiment, and said she’s working to improve with each race.

“Every year I try to work on my form to get better and faster,” Sisum said. “Obviously the goal is to get back and win states but we have to keep working and keep improving if we want to do that.” 

After winning every PVIAC meet last year, and winning all three so far this season, it would easy for someone like Loomis to rest on her laurels. Still, she’s found ways to improve and get better as she looks to remain unbeaten on the course this winter. 

“I feel good about where I’m at,” Loomis said. “I feel like every year I’ve tried to improve. It felt solid out there. It was nice to have good snow back. It was rough for the first couple weeks. It’s nice having that back.”

Loomis and Sisum weren’t the only Mohawk Trail girls to place high on Thursday. Lydie Pinkham came in fifth (50.41) and Sofiya Slocik-Gritzner finished seventh (51.25) to give the Warriors four top 10 finishers. 

Mae Hoff took 11th (53.79), Brooke Koshinsky placed 16th (59.53), Ohia Dellert finished in 17th (59.83) while Caroline Makosiej came in 29th (1:07.96) highlighting the depth Mohawk Trail has on its roster.

Across the course, the Warrior boys are coming off a league championship last year and look to be right back in contention for a second straight title this winter.

On Thursday, Weston den Ouden was the fastest racer down the giant slalom course, completing it in 30.38 seconds. Fellow Mohawk Trail racer Gage Patenaude was right behind him, taking second with a run of 31.94 seconds.

With warmer weather, rain and a lack of snow in the area through December,the slopes weren’t in the best shape early this winter. With snow hitting the region in the past week, den Ouden noted how much better the course is to ski on right now, helping him earn the first place finish.

“The snow was pretty bad early in the season,” den Ouden said. “It’s great right now. It’s a lot better than it was. It’s going a lot faster. The surface was nice and it was a good day today.”

Grayson Bishop took sixth (33.67), Ben Zarotny placed 23rd (38.63) while Brayden Bishop rounded out the Warriors boys with a 53rd place finish (44.75).

Like the Mohawk Trail girls, the Warrior boys have plenty of depth, highlighted with how many standout performers they had on Thursday. That came while Phineas Tuttman, a typical top 10 finishers, slipped and fell out of the gates.

"It was a bad day for me,” Tuttman said. “I clicked out right on the start. It happens.”

Tuttman noted the dedication he’s seen from his teammates this season and how everyone seems to have made strides forward. That came through hard work, as a longer dry land season was necessary due to the lack of snow on the mountain.

Despite the vigorous training, Tuttman said everyone showed up ready to work, and the results are showing on the mountain.

“So far it’s been going really well,” Tuttman said. “Everyone has been dedicated and showing up on time. It’s been great. Throughout the years you just see the dedication increase. People are enjoying the dry land training and getting stronger. That relates back to skiing where you’re stronger and able to compete better on the course.”