Brighton Seniors Lucia Samper and Giovanni Bucci Aim for State Ski Championships

The high school athletes reflect on their journeys and the lessons they've learned ahead of the big competition.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 4:39pm

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Brighton High School seniors Lucia Samper and Giovanni Bucci are preparing to compete in the New York State Ski Championships at Bristol Mountain. Both athletes have faced challenges throughout their high school skiing careers, including injuries and mental health breaks, but are now focused on enjoying the experience and the camaraderie of the state competition rather than just the results.

Why it matters

High school sports can provide valuable life lessons for student-athletes, and Samper and Bucci's stories highlight the perseverance, perspective, and passion that skiing has instilled in them over the years. Their journeys also showcase the importance of maintaining a healthy mindset and work-life balance, even at the competitive high school level.

The details

Bucci has dedicated his weekends over the past two months to training and preparing for the state championships, which he sees as a potential senior sendoff. Samper qualified for states as a freshman but faced setbacks with two concussions and a mental health break during her sophomore year. Now, both athletes are focused on savoring the experience rather than just the results, having learned from past state championship experiences.

  • The New York State Ski Championships are scheduled to begin on February 23, 2026.
  • Sectionals, the qualifying event for the state championships, are approaching.

The players

Lucia Samper

A senior at Brighton High School who qualified for the New York State Ski Championships as a freshman, but faced challenges with injuries and mental health during her sophomore year.

Giovanni Bucci

A senior at Brighton High School who is dedicated to training and preparing for the opportunity to compete in the New York State Ski Championships, which he sees as a potential senior sendoff.

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What they’re saying

“States has been something that I've been working toward my whole high school year.”

— Giovanni Bucci

“It was really disappointing. I had gone to states the past year, so I was hoping to do it again.”

— Lucia Samper

“I had a ton of fun, cuz you get to become friends with a bunch of people in the Section that you don't always get to talk to because you're racing.”

— Giovanni Bucci

“I'm just really looking forward to enjoying the moment. I think back then I was really just like ah I need to perform, I need to perform. But all my goal this year is just to get there.”

— Lucia Samper

“This sport is hard. If anyone's getting into it I'm so sorry. But it's so fun. It takes a lot of time and there's a huge learning curve, but if you stick with it, it's a sport you can do for the rest of your life.”

— Lucia Samper

What’s next

As Sectionals approach and the New York State Ski Championships begin on February 23, 2026, both Lucia Samper and Giovanni Bucci will be in the final stretch of their high school skiing careers.

The takeaway

Samper and Bucci's stories highlight the valuable life lessons that high school sports can provide, including the importance of perseverance, maintaining a healthy mindset, and finding joy in the journey rather than just the results. Their experiences showcase the passion and camaraderie that can come from dedicating oneself to a challenging sport like skiing.