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(05/06/21 9:59am)
The Middlebury women’s soccer team participated in a virtual walk and fundraiser for the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) last Sunday, raising $1,500 for the organization. While the walk is typically hosted in Burlington, Vermont, women’s soccer relocated its participation to the Trail Around Middlebury (TAM) due to gathering size limits. The walk spanned two miles, starting near the Ralph Myhre Golf Course.
Each member of the team carried a poster on the walk, listing the name of someone in their life who has struggled with an eating disorder. It could be a friend, family member or teammate, intending to show how personal an issue eating disorders are for many people.
“The walk is a way for us to give open ears to athletes suffering from eating disorders who do not feel like they have anyone to understand or help them,” Elizabeth Peebles ’23, a member of the women’s soccer team, told The Campus.
NEDA walks are intended to be inclusive, community-wide events that remove the sense of alienation eating disorders can create. While four out of ten individuals have either had or know someone who has had an eating disorder, these mental illnesses still remain misunderstood and underfunded. This makes battling an eating disorder an overwhelming and frightening experience. The event also aims to decrease the stigmatization surrounding eating disorders, aiming to foster dialogue and transparency. Guest speakers are invited to the events and anyone is welcome to attend, with the intention of creating a supportive environment to productively spread awareness of eating disorders. The money raised from the walks goes toward spreading awareness of eating disorders and funding research initiatives.
“It is important to make sure people feel comfortable receiving help and to spread awareness of eating disorders without stigmatizing them,” Peebles said. “This walk is a way for us to show support for NEDA who is engaging in larger actions to fight eating disorders.”
The money the team raised on their walk will go toward efforts to fund research and group-based interventions to combat the prevalence of eating disorders.
(02/04/21 10:59am)
“I just woke up one morning, and I said, ‘Enough is enough,’” Hig Roberts ’14 told The New York Times in December 2020.
Roberts, who skied on the alpine team at Middlebury and led an accomplished professional skiing career, came out as gay in an interview last year with The Times — the first men’s alpine skiing champion to do so.
He had made 31 starts in the World Cup from 2015–19 and won two giant slalom national titles on the U.S. ski team. But Roberts said hiding part of his identity had held him back.
“Not being able to be who I am and not being able to be openly gay as a professional athlete was truly hindering my performance,” Roberts said in the interview.
Now, Roberts is hoping to lead by example and show younger generations of skiers that sexuality is not a limitation to athletic success.
A Steamboat Springs, Co. native, Roberts grew up immersed in a vibrant skiing culture. He first threw on a pair of skis at two years old, not long after learning to walk. From a young age, Roberts’ talent was clear, and, by age nine, he signed up for his first major competition. That opportunity was thwarted, though, due to a femur injury he suffered before the event. It was an injury that doctors thought would prevent him from skiing again, but with the help of a risky surgery, Roberts got back on his feet and continued to compete.
As Roberts aged, he discovered that alpine skiing was, by reputation, a very masculine sport. He didn’t identify with that status quo, he said, which disconnected him from his teammates and deterred him from coming out publicly.
“I realized I was different from my teammates, and I think they realized it too even if they weren’t sure I was gay,” Roberts said in an interview with The Campus. “However, I took a mature approach to this, and it made me work even harder because I figured I just needed to work harder to make myself equal to my counterparts.”
While his differences from his teammates initially inspired Roberts to work harder and excel, as he grew older, the difference became more of a detractor. Roberts said he felt like an outsider even as he became an established figure in the professional skiing world.
“When skiing became my career, I just thought my brain was playing a trick on me,” Roberts said. “I didn’t think being different was an advantage. It felt like a reversal of maturity to have to hide a part of myself.”
Despite his hidden discomfort, Roberts embarked on a very successful career — although he took an unusual path to get there. He was recruited to U.S. Ski Team B after graduating from Middlebury in 2014, granting him the rare distinction of being a college skier chosen to join the U.S. National Team. His performance in 2013 at the World University Games in Italy, where he placed seventh overall in the giant slalom, propelled him to this achievement..
In 2017, Roberts edged out a seven-time national champion, Tim Jitloff, for a national title in the giant slalom in Sugarloaf, Maine. He repeated that feat in 2018, cementing his place among the most talented skiers of his age.
All the while, Roberts was dealing with intense personal struggles, including grappling with his sexuality and a devastating personal tragedy.
In August 2016, Roberts’ younger brother, Murphy, died from a head injury he suffered after collapsing from a diabetic seizure. The loss was immeasurable for Roberts and nearly ended his career.
“Losing him will never be able to be rationalized,” Roberts said. “It made me realize how short life is. However, I have learned a lot from his example. Murph was always unabashedly himself. I know he would have helped me get through coming out because he taught me how important it was to be authentic and to be yourself. ”
Now that Roberts has come out, he’s been given the chance to kickstart a new chapter in his life — one in which he’s able to be his true self. He had spent his entire life attempting to conform to the standards of masculinity expected from professional male skiers, and his retirement liberated him from those expectations.
“I want my story to reach kids who are fearful of being who they really are, because when I was younger, I didn’t see any kids like me,” Roberts said. “It’s all about adding visibility to the space. It’s important to remember that your story is unique, and that you will find support around you.”
(11/12/20 10:59am)
On Nov. 12, 2005, the Middlebury football team delivered a strong 21-16 victory in the season finale against Tufts. Quarterback Tiger Lyon ’06 — the reigning NESCAC Offensive Player of the Week — helped propel the team to victory with 24 completed passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns. Lyon’s spectacular performance was complemented by an impressive performance by the rest of the Middlebury offense.
The Panthers came out of the gates strong when Ryan Armstrong ’06 received the ball from Lyon on a reverse and tossed it 30 yards to Cole Parlin ’06. Four plays later, Lyon threw a five yard touchdown pass to Jamie Staples ’07 for an early 7-0 lead. The lead was quickly snapped when Tufts quarterback Casey D’Annolfo launched a 70-yard pass to William Forde for a touchdown.
The teams traded sides in the following quarters but weren’t able to create much offensively.
Entering the fourth quarter, the game was deadlocked at 9–9. But a fumble by Derek Polsinello ’08 allowed Tufts to recover the ball, and the Jumbos capitalized as D’Annolfo found Steve Menty on a 10-yard score to give Tufts a 16-9 lead. With 8:34 remaining on the clock, Lyons completed a 43-yard throw to Parlin for a touchdown. However, the extra point by Steve Haushka ’07 was blocked, holding the game to 17-16 in favor of the Jumbos.
The Panthers increased their lead after Lyon found Armstrong in the end zone with a perfect toss, taking the lead to 21-16, but the two-point conversion failed. In the waning moments of the game, defensive back Phil Ford ’06 delivered his second interception of the day, taking the ball from Tufts at the 37-yard-line all the way to the Panther’s 12-yard-line before being stopped. Neither team scored in its final possession, earning Middlebury a thrilling comeback win in the season finale.
Staples finished the game with 10 catches for 123 yards, and Parlin finished with 92 yards and a touchdown in his last game as a Panther. Ford’s two interceptions loomed large on defense, and Coleman Hutzler ’06 and Eric Woodring ’08 picked up 13 and 11 tackles, respectively.
Although the Panthers ended the season with a 3–5 record, they finished on a 3–1 run in their final four games. Leaving the season on a high note certainly gave the team reason to be optimistic that the 2006 campaign could be the first to finish with a winning record in five seasons.
(10/08/20 9:58am)
On this day 37 years ago, a rather injury-battered Middlebury football team resiliently came away with a 16–3 victory over Amherst. The squad was without two starters: junior Rob Bredahl ’85 (just coming off winning Eastern College Athletic Conference Player of the Week) and senior Ken Rapuano ’84. To add to this loss, Amherst came into action riding an 11-game winning streak.
However, Middlebury betrayed no signs of intimidation. On the opening offensive series, Jon Peterson ’86 picked up a huge block, allowing Martin Beatty ’84 to cut behind, avoid several tacklers and ultimately complete a 70-yard run for the touchdown. Peterson secured the extra point, and — 17 seconds into action — the Panthers already led 7–0. Middlebury remained on top when a bad snap over Peterson, recovered in the end zone by Amherst, caused an off-sides penalty. Amherst didn’t score here, but they would cut the lead to 7–3 later on with a 36-yard field goal by Bob Foote. With 15 seconds remaining before halftime, Peterson would respond with a 36-yard field goal of his own, and the Panthers had their seven-point advantage back going into the break.
The second half kicked off with another penalty against Amherst. Receiver Neal Ringquist ’84 fumbled an Amherst punt in his own territory, but a clipping penalty got Middlebury off the hook once again. Middlebury proceeded with a successful drive led by quarterback Tom Mahon ’84 (6–11, 56 yards). Peterson was again in the thick of the action, going on several productive drives, and Beatty and Andy Varney ’84 were both on the tail end of important completions. Peterson’s 2-yard dive made it 16–3, and although the extra point was missed, Middlebury held a very comfortable lead that they never relinquished. The defense stifled any hopes Amherst had for a comeback bid as John Good ’84 picked up several sacks, and Midd’s defensive secondary of Ringquist, Erin Quinn ’86, Andy Lawlor ’85 and Chris Pierson ’84, overwhelmed Amherst’s offense. Even with 33 pass attempts, their offense was shut down. Pierson picked up a key interception, and Quinn broke up three long passes. Although Middlebury led an excellent offensive start, their defense led them to victory.
The 1983 Middlebury football team went on to finish the season at 6–2. Ringquist would topple the single-season interception record with seven catches, and the career interception record with 16. Mahon broke several records for Middlebury quarterbacks with his marvelous season.
(09/24/20 9:57am)
On Sept. 24, 1994, the Middlebury football team dominated in the season opener against Wesleyan, picking up a 20–7 victory. The team went on an offensive barrage early in the game and played solid defense the rest of the way, managing to stay in command of the lead for the majority of the game. Two passing touchdowns earned the Panthers an early lead in the first quarter, leaving the Cardinals’ defense in the dust. Junior quarterback Scott Pokrywa ’96 found running back Justin Burley ’95 on both of these scores, for 35-yard and 15-yard gains respectively.
The offense faltered considerably as the game progressed, but the defense bailed them out. Wesleyan only managed 269 yards on offense compared to Middlebury’s 373, and failed to score a single offensive touchdown. Thanks in large part to aggressive coverage by Middlebury defensive tackle Dan Richards ’95, Wesleyan’s quarterback was limited to 18 completions out of 42 attempts, with only one completion surpassing 14 yards.
Linebacker Bain Smith ’96 led the Panther defense with 13 tackles, a performance which was impressive enough to net him NESCAC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He was aided by defensive back Jeff Mebel ’95, (seven tackles), defensive end Winfield Campbell ’95 (six tackles), and linebacker Shawn Daignault ’95 (eight tackles).
On the offensive end, Burley finished the game with the most receiving yards for the Panthers. The duo of Pokrywa and running back Terrence Bradford ’96 led the running game, combining for 181 of the team’s 289 total rushing yards. Bradford rushed for 102 yards on 20 carries overall.
It was an encouraging beginning to an otherwise lackluster season that Middlebury finished with a 3–5 record.
(09/17/20 9:58am)
For this week’s Throwback Thursday, we revisit a strong performance by the Middlebury men’s soccer team. On this day in 1988, the Panthers capped off a successful weekend in Maine with two consecutive victories. After a commanding 4–0 win over Bates on Friday, the team outlasted Colby in a 2–1 overtime victory on Saturday.
Colby struck first in the contest with a goal 20 minutes into the game, but this lead wouldn’t last after an equalizer from Middlebury’s sophomore forward Tom Murray ’91. Strong defensive stances from both teams kept the game level through the end of regulation and the first overtime period. With 3 minutes left to play in the second overtime, Middlebury finally caught its break. On a Middlebury attack, Andrew Krugman ’90 fired a shot which struck the post and took a bounce in front of the net. Brian Foss ’89 burst onto the scene and sent a shot of his own toward the goal, which deflected off forward Erik Vigsnes ’89 and into the back of the net. The senior co-captain’s goal would prove to be the winning tally.
Despite an 8-4-2 record, the 1988 men’s soccer team would go on to miss the ECAC New England playoffs.
(09/10/20 9:57am)
Four years ago today, the Middlebury Panthers’ men’s soccer team notched its second win of the season on a 1–0 road victory over Connecticut College. Daniel O’Grady ’19 scored the lone goal in the 32nd minute of the match, launching a 14-yard blast into the back of the net after fooling Camel goalkeeper Mark Cameron.
Panther goalkeeper Greg Sydor ’17 aided the effort, particularly in the final 30 minutes. After Connecticut College player Ben Manoogian fired a teasing strike in the 68-minute mark, Sydor responded with an impressive save — but his job wasn’t over. With 8:40 on the clock, Pat Devlin of the Camels managed to rip a shot from six yards out, but Sydor was equal to the task once again. The Connecticut native notched his 17th career shutout after finishing with six saves on the day; during a game in which the Panther offense failed to produce at a high level, Sydor more than compensated with his performance. In the end, O’Grady’s goal sealed the deal for the Panthers, advancing them to 2–0 on the season.
The 2016 Panther side would eventually go on to lose in the NESCAC Semifinals to Hamilton after a dominant 9–3–3 regular season and a thrilling last-second victory in the NESCAC Quarterfinals over Williams. By the end of the season, Sydor added seven more shutouts to his resume for a career total of 24, an all-time second-best in the program.
(03/12/20 9:56am)
After a victory on Friday, the Middlebury men’s basketball team was defeated on Saturday by SUNY Brockport in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Their season is now over.
The two teams stayed close for the entire contest, with Middlebury overcoming an eight point deficit early in the first half and trailing by only two going into the break. They proceeded to come into the second half on a full head of steam thanks in large part to Matt Folger ’20 who provided eight points in the span of a 13-5 run, giving the Panthers a 50-44 advantage.
That lead didn’t last long, as Brockport came back on a 10-0 surge to take the lead right back. A subsequent 9-2 run for the Golden Eagles followed, and suddenly the lead had ballooned to nine. Middlebury wouldn’t be held down either as they would go on a 10-2 run. With the score at 75-74 , the game would go right down to the wire. The score sat at 83-81 in the final seconds, giving the Panthers an opportunity to come away with a miracle victory but couldn’t pull it off, falling by a final score of 84-81.
Griffin Kornaker ’21 contributed a career-high 28 points in the loss, Jack Farrell ’21 had 18 points, and Folger put together an all around solid performance with 16 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 blocks. Middlebury ends their season on a sour note, but with an impressive 21-6 record.
(02/27/20 11:44am)
Middlebury fell to Trinity in the NESCAC Quarterfinals on Saturday. It was a quick start for the Panthers as they started off on a 5–0 streak. However, that was about as good as it got for the boys as Trinity went on a 12–2 run, followed by an 11–3 run later in the half that gave Trinity a 32–19 edge. By the end of the first half, it was 48–34 Trinity.
Trinity did not let up in the second half, enjoying a 20+ point advantage for most of the rest of the game, and would win by a final score of 100–82.
Jack Farrell ’21 accounted for 29 points to lead the team, Tommy Eastman ’21 led in rebounds with 9, and Griffin Kornaker ’21 led in assists with 6. Middlebury will learn their seed in the NCAA Tournament on March 2nd.
(02/20/20 11:35am)
The Panthers’ dominant season was given yet another high note on Friday night as they handed Tufts only their fifth loss of the season and their first in NESCAC play. Tufts took off on a full head of steam in the opening minutes, attaining a 9–3 advantage. Middlebury was not to be stifled, quickly knotting up the score at 9–9. The teams remained neck and neck for a good while until the Panthers attacked for eight unanswered points to give themselves a 44–36 lead. Holding a six point lead at the half, the Panthers were quick to advance their lead by scoring the first five points out of halftime. Middlebury began to creep away until the lead had jumped to 78–60. The Jumbos went on a late 8–0 run, but the game belonged to Middlebury and they won by a score of 86–74.
Max Bosco ’21 had a tremendous offensive performance, leading all players with 26 points. Matt Folger ’20 put up an all-around impressive game with 18 points, 14 rebounds, and a couple of steals as well. Tommy Eastman ’21 added a double-double of his own with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Jack Farrell ’21 was a key part as well with 8 rebounds and 8 assists.
Friday’s relatively easy victory was quickly turned around by a heartbreaker on Middlebury’s senior day. Bates, thanks to a buzzer beater from Nick Gilpin, escaped with a 90–87 victory to end Middlebury’s regular season on a sour note.
Bates was out to a 10–4 lead when the Panthers turned the game on its head with a 10–0 streak. The game stayed tight throughout the first half, but Bates led 40–35 at the break.
Middlebury was able to turn the game around once again and held a five point lead with less than five minutes to play. Bates fought back and with the game knotted up at 87–87, everything came down to the final ten seconds. A Bates-missed shot made it Panther ball, but a turnover gave the ball back to Bates and allowed Gilpin to drain the 23-footer to seal a hard fought victory.
Eastman put up 28 points, a personal best, and Folger put up his second double-double of the weekend with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
It was a disappointing way to end a dominant regular season but on a happier note, Middlebury will play as the fifth seed in the NESCAC Quarterfinals against #4 Trinity at Trinity next Saturday at 3:00 pm.
(01/23/20 11:21am)
The Panthers took on Albertus Magnus, a team in the midst of an 11-game winning streak at the time, on Tuesday, January 14th. This series of victories ended as Midd landed an 84–76 victory over the Falcons. The Panthers trailed by six early, but turned the game around to own an eight-point lead at the end of the half. Middlebury led by as many as 21 points in the second half, which would be cut down to seven late in the game but the Panthers held on for the eight-point victory. Max Bosco ‘21 led Middlebury’s offense, putting up 23 points. Matt Folger ‘20, Tommy Eastman ‘21, Jack Farrell ‘21, and Ryan Cahill ‘21 also turned in double digit point performances.
Middlebury suffered their second loss with an 89–82 loss to an undefeated Colby on Friday, January 17th. The contest began in back and forth fashion with Colby taking a 9–2 lead. Middlebury would comeback to within a point before Colby soared to a ten point advantage fueled by an 8–0 stretch. The Panthers closed out the half on a 7–2 run to cut the deficit to five. This pattern extended into the second half as Colby got back out a double digit lead, which the Panthers cut to four, only to have the Mules stretch the lead out to eleven. In a furious comeback bid, the Panthers sailed into the lead thanks to a 15–2 run. This didn’t last long as Colby turned the game around again to take a ten point lead that they didn’t surrender this time, and Midd lost by seven. In the defeat, Farrell led the squad with a 20 point performance Eastman followed with 14 points, and Folger added 12 rebounds.
The Panthers were quick to make up with an offensive onslaught on Saturday, January 18th against Bowdoin. The game remained tight throughout the first half, going into the break with Middlebury on top 40–34. The Panthers hit the ground running in the second half going on a 31–12 run fueled by three three-pointers by Cahill and two each from Folger and Kornaker. Bowdoin went on a 14–4 run but Midd’s lead only grew from there and they soared to a 93–71 victory. It was the fifth time Midd surpassed the 90-point mark this season and it was led by a 19 point effort from Bosco, 17 points from Eastman, and 16 points and six rebounds from Farrell. Cahill delivered 13 points off the bench. Folger led the team with seven rebounds and Kornaker had eight assists to lead the squad. Middlebury returns to action on Saturday against Williams at 3 p.m. at Midd.
(10/03/19 10:56am)
Middlebury is used to celebrating Bills kicker Steven Hauschka ’07, who transferred from Middlebury to go to NC State in 2007. But there’s another Middlebury alumnus who has found his way to the NFL — not as a player, but as a coach.
This season, Drew Petzing ’09 has begun his sixth year as a coach with the Minnesota Vikings, his first as the wide receiver coach. His former coach Bob Ritter ’82 still remembers him as the hard-nosed upperclassman who would volunteer to work in the office when injuries kept him off the field.
Petzing played as a defensive back on the Middlebury football team his first two years before he was sidelined by injuries which ended his playing career. However, the DB’s injuries may have been a blessing in disguise because his time off the field is what opened the door to his coaching career.
When he suffered his initial injury at the start of his junior year, he essentially took on the role of an extra assistant coach, spending inordinate amounts of time working in the office and watching film with the rest of the coaching staff. The following year when he was injured again, he took on the role of an official assistant coach, receiving a salary for his work —and perhaps taking the job a little too seriously at times as Ritter remembers.
“I went to school with his dad,” Ritter said. “I used to have to pull him aside and say, ‘Drew, you have to go to class. Your dad’s gonna kill me if you don’t graduate on time.’”
Petzing’s love for the game continued to blossom even after he finished his time at Middlebury. Petzing spent six years coaching at the collegiate level, three of those at Ivy League institutions. After graduating from Middlebury in 2009 with a degree in economics and a minor in math and philosophy, he began working at Harvard as a volunteer student assistant. Next, he worked at Boston College in 2010 as a recruiting graduate assistant and later as the defensive graduate assistant in 2011. In 2012, he coached outside linebackers at Yale. 2013 was the year Petzing finally made it to the NFL, working as a football operations intern for the Cleveland Browns. The following year he transitioned to Minnesota, the final stop of his career thus far. He worked with running backs in 2014, one of them Jerick McKinnon, who put up 538 rushing yards, good for third among NFL rookies that year. From 2015–2017, Petzing mainly helped wide receiver coach George Stewart and the offensive coaching staff as well. He helped to foster the young talent of Stefon Diggs who led the team in receptions and receiving yards in 2015 despite missing the first three games of the season. In 2017, Petzing had the honor to be a part of a Vikings team that dominantly finished the season at 13–3 and earned a berth in the NFC championship game. In addition to Diggs, Petzing coached the talented Adam Thielen who put up 1276 yards and 91 catches, sending him to the Pro Bowl. In total, in 2016–2017, Diggs and Thielen combined for 3,995 yards, the most for two teammates that season. In 2018, Petzing worked alongside quarterback coach Kevin Stefanski, the same season that Vikings QB Kirk Cousins came in and set a franchise record with 425 completions.
Ludicrous as it may sound, Pretzing’s injuries may have been a blessing in disguise because his time on the sidelines is what opened the door to his coaching career.
Now, in 2019 Petzing is looking to be a part of a Super Bowl run. The Vikings are off to a 2–1 start, and have a talented core in Kyle Rudolph, Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook, as well as Diggs and Theilen.
Petzing, who now lives in Minneapolis with his wife Louisa, has climbed the organizational ranks one step at a time. One thing has been clear about Drew Petzing for a very long time. From being a student-coach at Middlebury to working towards becoming wide receivers coach on the Minnesota Vikings, Petzing has never run from work in any shape or form. He made contributions on the field as long as he could and then continued to take different coaching jobs which have amounted to his crucial job title today. It’s a model of resiliency and ambition that should be admired.
(09/19/19 10:03am)
Cross country
By JORDAN HOWELL
The Middlebury cross country team competed in the Bates Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 14. The women finished in third place, while the men captured fourth place.
“The men's and women's cross country teams are excited now that the season is underway!” Talia Ruxin ’20 said. “It was awesome to lace up with the first-years this weekend, and we are feeling lots of positive energy.”
On the women’s side, Ruxin was able to capture seventh place with a time of 18:44.5, while Cassie Kearney ’22 came in 10th place with a time of 19:07.8. For the men, Quinlan McGaugh ’22 came in 10th place with a time of 26:34.4, while a time of 26:44.0 propelled Jack Litowitz ’20 to a 13th place finish.
“The Bates Invitational was a fun race and a great opportunity to run against some strong NESCAC competition early in the season,” McCaugh said.
Regarding the upcoming Aldrich Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 21, Litowitz was optimistic.
“A combination of the experience fresh off of a meet this past weekend, spiking up and running on our home course should allow the team to improve this week over last, and carry the positive momentum forward onto the bigger meets where it counts," he said.
Football
By LAUREN BOYD
The Panther football team kicked off their season with a 17–13 win against the Williams Ephs on Saturday, Sept. 14, scoring the game-winning touchdown with less than a minute on the clock.
The start of the second quarter opened up the scoring game. Carter Massengill ’20 put the first points of the game on the board, scoring a field goal from 25 yards out.
Later in the second quarter, the Panthers scored an 18–yard touchdown, gaining a 10–0 lead. The rest of the second quarter, however, was commanded by the Williams offense. Between the second and third quarters, the Ephs scored 13 unanswered points.
With just one minute and 30 seconds left in the game, the Panthers marched down the field behind Jernigan. A series of short passes and 10-yard gains led the Panthers to the 2-yard line, where Jernigan punched in the game-winning touchdown. Massengill tapped in the extra point, making the final score 17–13.
Men’s golf
By JACK KAGAN
The men’s golf team finished at the podium for this past weekend’s Duke Nelson Invitational. The Invitational took place at Middlebury’s Ralph Myhre Golf Course and featured 23 teams from around the region. After a strong start atop the standings at the end of day one, the Panthers finished the tournament in third place, just one stroke behind Williams.
Jordan Bessalel ’21 and co-captain Jeffrey Giguere ’20 shined on day one, coming in at sixth and third place respectively. Giguere finished out day two in first place by one stroke ahead of Williams’ Will Kannegieser. Giguere earned a combined score of 142. Neither Bessalel nor Giguere’s heroics were quite enough to lift the Panthers into second place as a team. New York University finished first.
After a strong showing, the Panthers will have little time to rest before heading down to their rivals’ turf in Williamstown for the Williams Fall Invitational.
Women’s golf
By MICHAEL SEGEL
The Panthers outdid last year’s performance at the St. Lawrence Invitational, this year coming in second place out of nine teams. On Sept. 7–8, five players from the women’s golf team came together to accomplish this feat. Their impressive performance can largely be attributed to the work of Blake Yaccino ’20, who finished third overall out of 47 participants. Classmate Chloe Levins ’20 wasn’t far behind, finishing in a tie for seventh overall.
Coming off the strong showing at the St. Lawrence Invitational, the women then competed in the Ann S. Batchelder Invitational on Sept. 14–15. They came in third overall behind Williams College and Wellesley College. Katie Murphy ’23 finished tied for second overall out of 42 golfers, shooting a two-over par 146 (74–72). Yaccino finished tied for fifth at 154 (76–78), while Levins finished tied for 18th with a 164 (84–80). Elizabeth Kenter ’23 finished tied for 27th, shooting a 169 (85–84), and Kayla Li ’23 finished in 29th with a 170 (85–85). The Panthers will be swinging back in action next week at the Mount Holyoke Invitational.
Men’s tennis
By JACK KAGAN
The men’s tennis team fell just short of divisional titles in four of four singles brackets this past weekend at the Middlebury Invitational on the Proctor Tennis Courts.
Though the squad is currently beginning a rebuilding process after losing its top two players to graduation, a bright future might not be so far away. The top singles flight saw unseeded Stan Morris ’22 blaze through to the finals, taking out the No. 3 and No. 2 seeds in the process.
Robby Ward ’23 also made a run to the finals in the B singles draw, knocking off No. 1 seed Brandeis sophomore Jeff Chen. David Vilys ’22 and Zach Hilty ’22 also made it to the finals in their respective C and D singles draws, and will look to use the momentum to propel themselves into a consistent starting role come spring time.
Surprisingly, the two doubles draws were devoid of Middlebury teams past the quarterfinals, likely owing to sets of entirely new doubles pairings.
The tournament featured teams such as Tufts University and Brandeis College, with whom the Panthers will have to contend if they want to stay at the top of DIII tennis.
Men’s soccer
By ERIK ARVIDSSON
After starting the NESCAC season with a scoreless double overtime tie, the Panthers traveled last weekend to Brunswick, Maine to take on the Bowdoin Polar Bears. For the second week in a row, the Panthers struggled connecting with the back of the net. The team finished with six shots on goal compared to Bowdoin’s 15 and neither were able to score. The game ended at 0–0.
The man of the match was goalkeeper Ryan Grady ’23. Grady made six saves to complete his second shutout of the year. The Panthers remain positive despite not scoring in two consecutive games.
“We have been doing all the right things,” Jack Spiridellis ’21 said. “We just need to put the ball into the back of the net, then we will win games.”
Up next, the Panthers played their home opener against Mt. St. Mary of New York on Sept. 17 (which occured after this issue was sent to print). The Panthers will round out the week with a home double-header this weekend against Hamilton on Saturday and Castleton on Sunday, Sept. 22.
Women’s tennis
By DAN MIGUEL ESPINOSA
The Middlebury women’s tennis team journeyed down Route 7 this past weekend for the Lindsay Morehouse Invitational at Williams College. The invitational followed a round-robin format in which the Panthers competed against three other teams in a full weekend of doubles and singles. No individual team was awarded champion.
On Friday, Sept. 13, three of four doubles pairs picked up victories against Skidmore. The following day, Middlebury swept RPI in three doubles matches, but only took two of three doubles matches against Williams. For singles, Middlebury swept RPI in all five contests.
Middlebury faced Skidmore again on Sunday for singles and won four of six matches. Against Williams, the Panthers won all three singles matches and won their only doubles contest.
The women will use this weekend to prepare for the ITA Regional Championships that kick off at home on Sept. 27.
Women’s soccer
By JENNY LANGERMAN
Women’s soccer had another successful week, winning both of this week’s games to put them at five total wins and zero losses.
The Panthers first faced SUNY Plattsburgh on the road. Despite solid play from their opponents, Middlebury was ultimately able to shut them out two-zip with goals from captain Jinx Charman ’20 and Leah Salzman ’21, and the help of strong defensive play.
Middlebury then hit the road once again to play the Bowdoin Polar Bears, having to put up a tougher fight in their second game of the week. The Bears got an early lead, scoring within the first eight minutes of play. The Panthers matched them with a goal from Salzman, but were unable to pull ahead until the very end. With just a minute and a half of game time left, captain Ellie Greenberg ’20 was able to hook one into the side of the net, securing the win.
The Panthers now have a week to regroup and prepare before their next match against conference-opponent, Hamilton College, on their home turf this Saturday, Sept. 21.
Volleyball
By HEATHER BOEHM
Middlebury Women’s Volleyball fell to an undefeated Clarkson on an unlucky Friday, Sept. 13, and split their weekend contests with a win over Potsdam and a loss to St. Lawrence on Saturday, Sept. 14.
In their first battle of the weekend against Clarkson, the Panthers came out expecting a war. Although they put some numbers on the board, they ultimately fell in straight sets to the 23rd-ranked team in the country. Gigi Alper ’20 led the Panther defense, picking up 13 digs for the night. Jane Nelson ’22 built on her teammates’ efforts and led the offense with six kills.
After a hard loss, Middlebury got back to work. The women triumphed over Potsdam with a decisive 3–0 victory. This time around it was Maggie Wise ’22, who took control of the Panther offense tallying 11 kills.
Although the Panthers were hungry for more, the women fell just short of a victory over St. Lawrence. Middlebury rolled through the first two sets before St. Lawrence stole the next two right back. Middlebury was then defeated by the Saints in the fifth set 15–12.
The Panthers will journey to Maine over the weekend, where they will compete against Colby on Friday, Sept. 20 and Bates on Saturday, Sept. 21.
Field hockey
By DAN MIGUEL ESPINOSA
Field hockey fared successfully on their Sept. 14–15 road trip, defeating ninth-ranked Bowdoin College and 18th-ranked Babson College, 1–0 and 2–0, respectively. The Panthers had difficulty stirring up scoring opportunities during the first half against the Bowdoin Polar Bears. But they gained momentum in the third quarter, outshooting the Polar Bears 3–0. Finally, the Panthers scored 30 seconds into the fourth quarter. The 1–0 score remained until the end of the game.
Against Babson, Middlebury struck early twice in the first quarter. The Panthers struggled scoring for the remainder of the game, but still made some spectacular stops.
Correction: A previous version of the cross country recap included outdated information and dates.
(09/11/19 10:37pm)
To begin their fall season, the women’s golf team will compete in the St. Lawrence Invitational at the Oliver D. Appleton Golf Course in Canton, N.Y. on September 7 and 8. There they will contend with Nescac rivals such as Hamilton, and also out of conference teams such as Vassar and New York University.
The team will attempt to make improvements from last season, when they had difficulty finishing above third place in any of the tournaments, only doing so with a second place finish at the St. Lawrence Invitational almost exactly a year ago. Led by the ever improving Chloe Levins ’20, this year’s team will look to crack their way to a top spot.
Senior captain and last year’s Nescac Player of the Year, Levins will be instrumental in the team’s push for a top spot.
“It’s important for me to enter this season without expectations,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to learning more about myself, building on the competitive base I’ve established over the past three years, and mentoring the four first-years on and off the course.”
Levins can be counted on to finish in the top 10 of any tournament she participates in, and is also coming off a victory in the Vermont State Women’s Golf Invitational. Under her leadership, the team is well positioned to see positive change.
Levins sees a great season in the making, which will be aided significantly by the size of the team.
“In past years, we’ve been limited by our size but with 10 experienced golfers on the roster this year, we’re looking forward to having a great season,” she said. “The depth of our team will be our biggest asset.”
Another potential key contributor on the team is classmate Blake Yaccino ’20. Yaccino participated in all but two events, finishing outside the top 10 only once and never surpassing 79 strokes. Yaccino was an All-Nescac Second Team honoree in 2016 and 2017, and finally became a First Team honoree last year with five top-four finishes.
Coach Bill Mandigo, who is entering his 12th season atop the program, should have a great deal of talent and depth on his roster and looks poised for a great season. With Levins and Yaccino at the reins, this year’s Panthers look to not only improve upon their performance last year, but to make a strong push for the NESCAC championship.