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(03/11/10 4:59am)
Members of the Student Government Association (SGA) committed $12,000 to expand Midnight Breakfast this spring at its meeting on March 7.
Based on high student attendance in the fall and positive feedback from the student body, the Student Government Association has decided to continue and expand Midnight Breakfast. For three nights during spring term finals, students, hungry and tired from studying, will be able to fuel up in the early hours of the morning. This one-night expansion will be funded by the SGA. Each night will cost $4,000.
The SGA also discussed the current state of the fitness center. Molly Dwyer ’10, student co-chair of Community Council, commented on the lack of maintenance of the exercise equipment available in the fitness center and the inconvenient hours of operation. During the week, the gym is open from 6 to 9 a.m., but then closes until noon. Although many faculty members use the gym during the early morning hours, Dwyer believes students would make more use of mid-morning gym time. Improved equipment and increased hours of operation would benefit all members of the College community, from professors to varsity athletes, she believes.
Jess Poracky ’13, a member of the Panthers’ varsity softball team, agrees that the current hours are not conducive to many students’ schedules.
“Many times, I am finished with classes before noon, and it would be so convenient to be able to go to the gym then,” Poracky said. “It would also be extremely helpful for the gym to open earlier on the weekends.”
Although the SGA has not decided what course of action it will take because funding for the gym is part of the tuition-based athletic facilities budget. SGA members agreed to appraise the situation to determine whether they can or should make any financial contributions to improve the situation. The SGA plans to contact Director of Athletics Erin Quinn to determine the next steps to be taken to provide new, functional equipment and more convenient hours of operation.
The body also discussed the SGA’s finances at the meeting. SGA President Mike Panzer ’10 reviewed the funds requested by various SGA Cabinet committees. Although final approval must come from SGA Treasurer Tom Brush ’10, the SGA agreed to the allocation of the funding, which Panzer described as “pre-apportioned budgets [that] will facilitate and expedite work that cabinet committees undertake.” The funds include $500 to the Environmental Committee to continue its efforts to increase environmental consciousness on campus, through table-top ads in the dining halls and through the continuation of campus sustainability tours. Additionally, $1,500 will be allocated to the Diversity Committee to help with the cost of hosting speakers and conducting workshops. The bike club will receive $1,500 as well. The money will come from the student activity fees fund. The Finance Committee also has agreed to pay in full the individual entry and registration fees for members of the cycling and equestrian clubs.
(03/11/10 4:59am)
Men’s basketball earns top honors across the board
After winning the NESCAC Championship — decisively — over the weekend, the men’s basketball team could only expect to earn top NESCAC honors. Ben Rudin ’09 was named Player of the Year, Tim Edwards ’10 was named Defensive Player of the Year and head coach Jeff Brown was honored as Coach of the Year.
Rudin, the leader of the Panther offense, averaged 16.7 points per game (4th in NESCAC) while leading the league with 4.52 assists per game. Rudin has also written himself into Panther basketball history with 1,196 career points — seventh all-time at Middlebury — and 453 career assists, topping the all-time Panther charts.
Edwards led the Panther defense, which boasts the nation’s best field goal percentage defense. Individually, Edwards led the NESCAC with 2.26 steals per contest, while also adding 5.7 rebounds per game. Offensively, Edwards contributed with 4.22 assists per game, making him fourth in conference play.
Brown, a graduate of the University of Vermont, was the unanimous choice for coach of the year, as he led the Panthers to their first-ever NESCAC championship.
Women’s hockey players stand out after championship
After a successful 19-3-4 season and winning the NESCAC Championship this past weekend, it was expected that the women’s hockey team would earn honors. Three Panthers were awarded honors. Molly Vitt ’09 and Randi Dumont ’09 were selected to the first team, while Annmarie Cellino ’09 earned second-team honors.
Vitt led the Panther offense with 28 points, earning her a much deserved first- team selection. Vitt capitalized on Panther advantages with four power-play goals, three of which were game-winners. Vitt accrued a total of 69 points in 98 career games.
Dumont has been a leader for the Panther defense, allowing just 1.88 goals per game this season, placing her second in the league. Finishing the season with 14 points, Dumont scored a goal and distributed the puck in key situations, leaving her with 13 assists.
Cellino has earned all-NESCAC honors in all of her four years as a Panther, including rookie of the year and player of the year. She finished the season with 18 assists and nine goals, adding up to a 27-point season and a career point total of 151 in 106 games.
Men’s hockey players earn distinguished recognition
Jamie McKenna ’09 and first-year Martin Drolet ’12 were both named to the all-NESCAC first team, while Drolet also took home the league’s rookie of the year title. Both players were essential in the Panthers’ successful 19-7-1 season, and also led the team to the NESCAC Championships this past weekend at Amherst.
McKenna led the Panthers in points this year with a total of 36, while also recording a team-high 22 assists. Leading the NESCAC with 1.57 points per game, McKenna also shares the first-place spot for game-winning goals. McKenna is a semifinalist for the Joe Concannon Award, given yearly to the best American-born college hockey player in New England playing at the D-II/III level.
Leading the NESCAC with .76 goals per game, Drolet recorded 19 goals and 14 assists this season, combining for a total of 33 season points (second only to McKenna). Drolet has played in all 25 games this year, spending only six minutes in the penalty box — a testament to smart play — while capitalizing on other teams’ mistakes with six power-play goals. Drolet has three game-winning goals and has had four multiple goal games.
(03/11/10 4:59am)
BASEBALL
After what Coach Bob Smith called a “disappointing” season last year, the Middlebury Panthers baseball team is looking to rebound this season and achieve the same kind of success that brought them their first NESCAC championship in 2006. The Panthers finished 14-16 last year.
“Last season was tough,” said P/C Nick Angstman ’11. “We were really hurt by injuries.” Smith also cited injuries as a reason last year’s team did not live up to its own expectations. However, those injuries did force younger players to step into bigger roles than they might have otherwise played, and that could translate into more success this spring. “We have very few guys who haven’t seen significant time at their positions,” said Angstman.
The Panthers are looking to revive last year’s strong offensive performance, when they recorded the second-highest batting average in the conference, finishing only behind eventual national champion Trinity. Key players in the lineup hoping to maintain last year’s hitting success include OF Erich Enns ’10, 3B/P Donny McKillop ’11, and team captain 1B Mark Shimrock ’09, who hit .421 last year on the way to being named to the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association Division-III All-Star team.
Pitching and defense were two areas in which the Panthers struggled last season, finishing seventh in the conference in both team ERA and fielding percentage. However, Smith said that this season the team can improve in both of those categories. “One of our main goals is to reduce free bases, such as those given up by errors and walks,” he said.
The pitching rotation this season is anchored by Angstman and seniors Steve Shortle ’09, Rob Palladino ’09 and Matt Joseph ’09. Other key players on the defensive side include SS Dave Miranowski ’09 and outfielders Enns, Alex Blair ’10 and Tim Dillon ’09. The biggest question the Panthers have this spring involves the catching position, which Smith calls an “open situation.” Angstman will see time at both pitcher and catcher, and other players will compete for the spot. If the Panthers can fill the catcher’s position and improve in the areas where they struggled last year, the squad has the potential for a competitive year. Said Angstman, “If we can throw strikes and make the routine plays this year, I think we’ll fare well.”
“We have been coming to practice with a purpose and we have been getting better every day,” said Shimrock, who hopes to lead his team to NESCAC playoffs. “As long as we continue to come to practice with a desire to get better everyday and maintain a high level of focus, we can achieve this goal.”
—Dillon Hupp, Staff Writer
SOFTBALL
The women’s softball team has an enormous amount of potential this season, with many key returning players and a motivated freshman class.
Led by strong senior co-captains Natalie Komrovsky ’09 and Amelia Magistrali ’09, the team will surely be ready to take on NESCAC competition this season.
The team as a whole gained a lot of experience last season. Specifically, the current sophomore class includes seven of the 14 members of the team and now has a season under their belt.
“We had a lot of young players starting last year and that experience is sure to help us this season,” said Nellie Wood ’11.
Starting a new tradition, the team will travel to Southern California over spring break this year to practice outdoors and play their first 11 games — including their NESCAC opener against Williams — at Pomona-Pitzer.
“While it’s been frustrating playing inside during the preseason, we should be ready to hit the ground running when our season begins over spring break,” said Magistrali. “It’s a really important trip, not only because we finally begin our season outdoors, but we’ll be playing three games against Williams at the end of the week. We want to send a message right from the beginning of the season that we’re ready to compete with the top NESCAC teams this year.”
The competition will definitely be strong in the NESCAC west division, but the women’s softball team will be competitive, vying for one of the top two spots to qualify for the NESCAC tournament.
— Elissa Goeke, Staff Writer
MENS TENNIS
The Middlebury tennis team hopes to come out swinging when the spring season kicks off this Saturday at NYU. Undeniably one of the top D-III programs in the nation, the Panthers won the NCAA national championship in 2004 and have earned six straight trips to the NCAA final four. When asked about goals for the season, tri-captain Andrew Thomson ’10 was firm in his conviction. “There is no denying that our team goal is to win a National Championship this spring,” he said.
The Panthers are also looking to regain their NESCAC crown which they had held from ’04-’07 but lost in the finals last year. This year’s team seems to be poised to do just that. Although the team graduated a top national player in Filip “The Flash” Marinkovic ’08, the tri-captains — Thomson, Andrew Lee ’10 and Conrad Olson ’09 — point to the depth and work ethic of the team as great strengths. The tri-captains also prided the team on their singles play, but said that there was work to be done with the doubles squads.
The incoming first-years will undoubtedly add depth and strength to the program.
“It is refreshing to know that if senior players suffer injuries,” said Olson, “we have excellent first-year players ready to step in and play — [if they aren’t] already playing, of course.”
While many Middlebury students will be stuck on campus over spring break, the tennis team will be in California for some early season matches and training. The trip will allow the team to start their season with some stiff competition from D-III and D-I schools. The matches in California will also set the tone for the season.
“They will be a chance to make an impression on some of the better teams,” said Lee.
Back east, the Panthers will face some tough competitors in the NESCAC from the likes of Williams and Amherst. Although confident, when pressed for predictions, the tri-captains refused to commit to any results; rather, they stressed that the team members will work and play as hard as they can.
— Martin Breu, Staff Writer
WOMENS TENNIS
Panther women’s tennis starts up again this weekend with the Middlebury Invitational, a two-day event in which Middlebury will compete against teams from Brandeis, NYU, Connecticut College and Bates College.
According to senior co-captain Clare Burke ’09, “[the team] has been working really hard during this preseason and I think everyone is ready to have that work translate into solid match play.”
The spring season will be filled with challenging matches against some of the best Division III teams in the country, including the top-ranked Williams College team and the number two ranked squad from Washington and Lee.
The Panthers struggled with injuries in the fall, and once again will be missing some key players for the first few weeks of the spring season due to injuries.
“The diagnoses for the most part have been positive and it seems that none of [the injuries] are super serious,” said Burke. “A couple of players have to take a week or two off. Even so, I think the team is looking good. People worked very hard in the off-season, especially our freshmen, and it shows. I think we are going to have a very good season.”
The team certainly has a great outlook for the season, and hopes that under the guidance of captains Burke and Elizabeth Stone ’09, the players will be able to win their first NESCAC championship this spring.
“We have a fairly young team with five freshmen, but everyone is very talented and dedicated,” said Annie Weinberg ’10. “We certainly have a shot at beating some of the top teams.”
Taking the numerous team injuries into account, the team hopes that its attitude and hard work in the off-season will translate into a successful spring.
— Alex Lovett-Woodsum, Staff Writer
MENS LACROSSE
After being unceremoniously dethroned in the NESCAC semifinals, the date with Williams on April 24 cannot come soon enough for the Panthers. The loss, and the season as a whole, was less an indicator of a slip in Panther skill than of the emerging parody in Division III lacrosse. The men’s streak of eight consecutive NESCAC championships ended last year, but the storied program seems poised to start anew this season. Ranked by InsideLacrosse and LaxPower as preseason #3 and #4, respectively, it would appear that the lacrosse world agrees.
The Panthers are losing several key players from last year’s quarterfinals run. The attack will continue to use a heavy dose of Pete Smith’s ’10 distributing, Matt Ferrer’s ’09 crease work and Tom Petty’s ’09 dodging, but they lose honorable mention all-American Jim Cabrera ’08 and his 23 goals from a year ago. Cabrera’s size, strength and powerful shot complemented others’ strengths and created space for strong midfield dodges. David Hild ’12 took this past off-season very seriously, adding muscle and honing his shot in preparation to fill Cabrera’s large shoes.
On the defensive side, Middlebury has a very young corps of long poles. The Panthers lost honorable mention all-American John Bambrick ’08 and second team all-American James Guay at close defense, as well as long-pole midfield specialist Glenn Bickley ’08. Charlie Schopp ’10 returns at close defense with football standout Mike Quinn ’09, but three first-year players, Matt Rayner ‘12, Briggs Davis ’12 and Henry Clark ’12 will see extensive time. Captain Pete Britt ’09 gained a critical year of experience between the pipes last season, but the success of the defense rides on the ability of youngsters to step up.
After a drought of NCAA finals appearances, the Panthers look to prove that they belong with the likes of Gettysburg, Salisbury and Cortland State as perennial title-contenders. The team has assembled the pieces around NESCAC player of the year and first team all-American Mike Stone ’09, but the real question is if they will fit. Let’s hope that this time when Williams rolls into town with their vertically-challenged goalie, we can remember it as the game that sparked the run, not the game that ended the streak.
— Jeb Burchenal, Staff Writer
WOMENS LACROSSE
Middlebury women’s lacrosse ended last season with a 9-7 loss to Hamilton in the NCAA regional final. That was the first time the team did not make an appearance in the Final Four in 14 years.
This year, they are looking to make history in a different way.
With a new defensive method and some talented offensive threats, the squad has different plans for this season.
Middlebury’s defense seems like it will be the backbone of the team.
Last year Middlebury played with a zone in the defensive end but this year the team is switching to a different plan of attack.
Attacker Chase Delano ’11 commented that “the new ‘D’ we will be using is a lot more intimidating and aggressive and will rattle a lot of the attack that we face on opposing teams this season.”
Anchored by a pair of senior co-captains — defender Taryn Petrelli ’09 and goalie Blair Bowie ’09 — the Panther defense is up to the challenge of adjusting its tactics.
“They are speedy and aggressive and have been working great together in the new defensive system,” Delano added.
Middlebury’s offensive squad has the potential to be some of the fiercest competition in the league.
After losing some high scoring seniors, Middlebury will look to different players to generate scoring opportunities this season, relying on upperclassmen Dana Heritage ’10 and tri-captain Kate Barton ’09.
“We have big shoes to fill after losing seniors like Katherine Entwisle and Mimi Shatz on attack, but we also have some new rookie talent to look forward to, as well as some returners who really know how to light it up,” said Delano, who proved to be an offensive threat last year in her freshman campaign.
Whether on offense or defense, the players on the Middlebury team are well prepared for the exciting challenges that the season will bring.
The Panthers opened the season with a 14-6 win over Bates College and will play their first home game on Friday, March 13 against Babson.
— Julia Ireland, Staff Writer
GOLF
After the long winter hiatus, the men’s and women’s golf teams are ready to break out their clubs and hit the ground running. Both teams had very strong fall seasons, putting them in a great position to go to nationals.
“We’re definitely excited to start the spring season again,” said Courtney Mazzei ’11, who placed first overall in the NESCAC Tournament and led the team as the Panthers clinched NESCACs last October at Williams.
The Panthers are hoping to follow up on last year’s 14th-place finish at the Division III national tournament in Iowa. They are ranked fourth in the nation after their fall season and are poised to make a return.
“We’re going to have to overcome the rustiness from the winter,” she said. “We’re all working back into it and spring break is going to be really important for us.” The team is going to Florida over break to fine tune for the upcoming season.
“We’re really optimistic,” said Liz Hirsch ’11. “We have everything we need; the biggest challenge is going to be putting it together.”
The men’s team is also looking to capitalize on their strong fall and make another run at Nationals.
“Last year in the spring, we made a really big push to qualify for nationals and fell just short,” said Brian Cady ’11. “We know going into this year that we can do it.”
The Panthers hosted the NESCAC qualifier last September and put on a show for the home crowd, coming in first and setting the stage for the NESCAC finals this April.
The key to success for the men is going to be beating these schools again and having a strong spring break.
“Mike McCormick ’09 is going to be the senior we’re going to look to for a solid performance,” said Cady. “We have the people that can shoot the scores to make nationals.”
The season opens up in Florida, at the Division III national course against Williams. The Ephs, Hamilton, and Trinity are going to be the Panthers’ biggest rivals, with all three schools coming to Middlebury for the NESCAC finals. If the Panthers can beat them again, they will receive an automatic bid to Nationals.
— James Schwerdtman, Staff Writer
TRACK AND FIELD
Anyone intimately acquainted with the track and field world will tell you that the indoor season is really more of a buildup to outdoor than a true season in its own right. It essentially serves as a barometer to outdoor success, and if this year’s indoor season is any indication, the Middlebury track and field team should be in good shape making the transition from the bubble to the track this spring. Both the women’s and men’s squads, after 3rd- and 7th-place respective finishes in NESCACs last spring, are looking to build upon last year’s success.
“The competition is going to be harder this year,” said Alice Wisener ’11. “Based on indoor results, it looks like we are going to have a better team and will be able to compete at a higher level.” The women’s middle-distance and distance events in particular look poised for a great season, building off the success of both the women’s cross country and indoor seasons. Kaitlynn Saldanha ’11 will be one to watch in the spring after qualifying provisionally for Nationals in the indoor season in the 800-meter event. Sophia Spring ’11 saw a great rookie season last spring running the 1500 and 3000 and will likely add another dimension to the women’s d aistance success this season. After breaking school records in both the 500 and 600 in the indoor season, Katy Magill ’11 promises to carry the middle-distance team into the spring season, while rookie Becca Fanning ’12, running well in both the 500 and 600m indoors, is hoping to add to the success of this talented bunch in the 400.
A solid core of senior leaders, anchored by co-captains Kelley Coughlan ’09 and Jen Katz ’09, will carry this relatively young team into the season. Jen Brenes, also a senior and current 100-meter hurdles school record holder, should be another invaluable veteran while rookie Mia Martinez ’12, building off success in the 55m hurdles in indoor, represents just one athlete in a very talented class of first-years.
On the men’s side, an excellent jumping crew, led by pole vaulters Adam Dede ’11 and a currently-injured Kristoffer Williams ’11, could shape up to be one of the best in the NESCAC. Leadership should be provided by a good group of seniors including captains Ben Fowler ’09 in the 800 and Chandler Koglmeier ’09 in the hammer throw. Look to Micah Wood ’10, an all-NESCAC and all-New England runner in the 200 and 400, to lead the mid-distance sprinters and keep an eye open for up-and-coming rookies John Montroy ’12 in the 110 hurdles and Mike Schmidt ’12, current school record holder in the 3000.
The goal of the season, according to Martin Beatty ’84, is to “do as best as we can in our conference,” hopefully culminating in a team win in NESCACs. Going into a challenging season, he believes the key to success will be “really good strength across the board,” something such a diverse and talented team seems to have in full supply.
While only time will tell for this Middlebury team, prospects for a successful spring season look good.
— Alyssa O’Gallagher, Staff Writer
(03/04/10 4:59am)
This past weekend, the Middlebury men’s basketball team arrived at the NESCAC tournament venue — Williams — intent on securing its second straight league championship. After striking down Colby and breaking records along the way, the Panthers finally succumbed to Williams, arguably the best D-III team in the nation.
Middlebury took court Saturday as the tournament’s #2 seed with a 23-2 overall record. Despite a slow start, the Panthers eventually found their rhythm and dispatched the Mules by a score of 65-48. With their 24th win on the season, the Panthers tied a school record. Captain Tim Edwards ’10 also entered the record books as Middlebury’s all-time steals leader, breaking John Humphrey’s (’85-’88) school record of 190 with his lone steal of the game.
Colby came out strong and eager to knock off the defending champs, grabbing an early 4-2 advantage. That, however, would be their only lead of the game. The game see-sawed for much of the first half with Middlebury owning a four-point advantage at intermission, but the Panthers then turned their focus to the inside game. Center Andrew Locke ’11 scored the first six points of the second half en route to a game-high of 13, with numerous dunks — including a beautiful one-handed alley-oop jam off of a feed by Edwards — to bolster some Panther momentum. In 15 minutes of second-half play, Middlebury built a 23-point lead that would not be surmounted.
Guard Nolan Thompson ’13 also dropped 13 points on the day. Both Thompson and Locke frustrated the Mules with efficient shooting (both were 5-for-7 from the field) and timely offense. Locke patrolled the paint with the help of Jamal Davis ’11 (four blocks) and Ryan Sharry ’12 (game-high three steals) to help limit Colby to just 28 percent shooting in the second half. Middlebury’s suffocating perimeter defense, led by Edwards and Jake Wolfin ’13 (two steals), forced 19 turnovers and limited the Mules to just seven team assists.
Middlebury’s repeat run came up short the next day, as they faced Williams and its packed home gymnasium. The Ephs (improving to 26-1) quickly justified their #2 national ranking, scoring the first 10 points of the game and eventually building a 30-11 lead with 13 minutes left in the half. Down 10 to start the second half, Middlebury stuck around, cutting the lead to five with a Wolfin three-pointer and a Sharry lay-in. Every time the Panthers made a quick run, though, the Ephs made one of their own. The lead bounced from five to 10 throughout the second half, but Williams, led by star guard James Wang (19 points), managed timely execution and held off numerous Panther runs.
Sharry led the Panthers with 13 points while Wolfin, Edwards, and Locke all contributed 11, providing the bulk of the scoring output for Middlebury. The home crowd was a definite influence; Middlebury battled valiantly, but Williams shot 44 percent against the Panthers’ nation-leading field goal defense. The Ephs also posted a +6 rebounding advantage, with forward Joe Goeghegan grabbing 15.
Despite the loss, the Panthers look forward to what they hope will be a strong showing in their third consecutive national tournament appearance.
“We started slow against Williams,” noted Edwards, “but we played at a high level throughout the game and are confident in our ability to make a deep run in the upcoming tournament.” The Panthers will host Gordon at 8 p.m. this Friday in Pepin Gymnasium. With a victory, Middlebury will take on a team to be determined at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
(03/04/10 4:59am)
This past weekend the Middlebury women’s squash team traveled to Yale to compete in nationals. Ranked 13th in the country, the women were slotted into the B-flight, where they would compete for the Howe Cup. Like the men’s format, this meant that the 13th-ranked women would be competing against the 9th to 16th ranked teams in the country. Undaunted by the challenge, the women made it through the weekend 1-2 and finished 14th in the country, just one spot off their school-record 13th-place finish of a year ago.
Before the weekend even began, the Panthers knew they were in for some tough matchups. Tri-captain Virginia Shannon ’11, who fluctuated between playing #1 and #2 for the Panthers this season, left for her spring term abroad after the NESCAC tournament. This meant that each girl, save #1 Avery Tilney ’10, was asked to play one spot higher on the ladder than usual. It also meant that the team was down one of its best players from the past three seasons. While this put the Panthers at a disadvantage, it also sped up the maturation process for this young crop of talented first-years.
The first match of the weekend pitted Middlebury against 12th-ranked Mount Holyoke College. The Panthers got down early and were never able to recover, as the Lyons went on to win 6-3. The top of the Panthers’ bracket really succumbed to the pressure of losing Shannon. Numbers 1-5 all lost on Friday, but young standouts Lindsay Becker ’13, Annie Ulrich ’13 and Alexandra Boillot ’12 captured victories at the 6, 7 and 8 spots, respectively.
Middlebury rebounded on the second day against NESCAC-rival and 16th-ranked Colby. The Panthers, who defeated the Mules 8-1 earlier in the season, again relied on their talented youth to squeak past Colby.
While Middlebury again lost at the top two spots, Kathryn Bostwick ’12 played quite strong filling in for Shannon. Having had a very solid season playing 3, Bostwick showed she has the potential to fill in for the graduating Tilney near the top of the bracket next season. Middlebury won each of its matches 3-8 before dropping the 9th match. Becker, Ulrich and Boillot again pulled out key wins for the Panthers.
The Panthers squared off with their closest competitor of the season to round out the tournament. Amherst, seeded one rank behind Middlebury coming into nationals, suffered two defeats at the hands of the Panthers earlier in the season: 7-2 during the Panthers’ great 12-win streak to open the season, and then again (6-3) in the NESCAC tournament.
Using the momentum from a big win over Hamilton, Amherst was able to topple the undermanned Panther squad 6-3. The ever-impressive trio of Becker, Ulrich and Boillot again earned Middlebury’s team three wins. Those three ladies went a combined 9-0, while the rest of the Panther squad managed a disappointing 3-15.
With the team season drawing to a close, only individual nationals this coming weekend remain. The Panthers have to be pleased with their 20-9 record, even if they may feel they left a couple of wins on the court. Their 14th-ranked finish, while not above last year, shows just how far the program has come under Head Coach John Illig.
The team can also feel great about next year. While it is losing tri-captains #1 Avery Tilney and #9 Ashley Panichelli, they are adding transfer Elena Laird ’12, who was Bowdoin’s #1 a season ago.
Couple Laird’s experience and skill at the top of the ladder with the development of the outstanding young talent in the first-year and sophomore classes, and the 2010-11 Panther team could be a team to beat.
(02/25/10 5:00am)
While the Panthers had hoped to climb into the B-flight this season, a second C-flight championship in as many years is quite an accomplishment. After a season in which the 17th-ranked Panthers played teams ranging from fourth-ranked Princeton to 50th-ranked Bard, the men traveled to Yale and successfully defended their C-flight crown.
College squash nationals are broken down into flights of eight teams. Unlike NCAA-sanctioned sports, squash does not have divisions that separate David and Goliath. But, in their stead, flights at nationals allow teams of similar caliber to compete for a title, as opposed to the right to lose to a powerhouse somewhere in the bracket. Middlebury entered the tournament as the first seed in the C-flight, looking to repeat last year’s title victory.
The first match of nationals was against 24th-ranked Denison on Friday. More of a warm-up than real competition, the Panthers quickly dispatched the Big Red, 8-1. A day later, Middlebury took care of 20th-ranked George Washington, 6-3, in a match that Middlebury dominated more than the score reveals. While the flights help to group talent, squash is still a very stratified sport.
“We never take anyone lightly,” said captain Simon Keyes ’10, “but we knew Amherst was going to be the real test at the end.”
A test it was.
Having beaten Amherst twice during the regular season — including a 7-2 destruction in the NESCAC tournament — the Panthers knew this team well. But, steeled by revenge and the return of their number-four player on the ladder, Amherst put up a much better fight this time.
“Amherst really came hard this time in pursuit of the title, and even though many of our players were not on their best day, we all worked very hard to win the match,” said #1 Valentin Quan ’12.
The Amherst #4 returned to play after missing the whole season due to injury. Less a play to win the #4 match, this move strengthened the bottom of the lineup. Amherst, it seemed, thought it could sacrifice at the top in order to claim some wins at the bottom. After the first three matches –— #3, 6, and 9 — Middlebury had a 2-1 lead thanks to the consistently superb play from #3 Brian Cady ’11 and a gutsy performance by #9 Will Piekos ’11 that Eliot Jia ’10 described as “dominant, especially against a guy he had lost to earlier in the season.”
Following the games at #2, 5 and 8, the teams were dead even at three apiece. Though all three seniors lost their matches, Quan was quick to point out that “the leadership of Simon [Keyes], Eliot [Jia] and Micah [Wood ’10] was very important to keep us up during the match.” After Spencer Hurst ’13 earned a win at #4, putting Middlebury up 4-3, both Quan and Addi Disesa ’12 found themselves down 2-0. With the match and the championship on the line, both players rallied and forced five games. While Disesa fell in the fifth, Quan showed his mettle as a true #1 and captured the victory for the Panthers.
Claiming a second C-flight championship in two years, Middlebury is establishing itself in the squash world. The end of this campaign truly marks the beginning of Head Coach John Illig’s squash program.
“Simon, Micah and I are the last class that was here for our club squash days, and it’s great to see how much we’ve progressed in the last few years,” said Jia. “Hopefully, by next year we will be able to make it into the B-flight and keep moving up in the rankings.”
(02/25/10 5:00am)
The Middlebury men’s hockey team emerged victorious in the last weekend of regular season play, beating both Skidmore and Castleton State on the road. The Panthers are now skating into the playoffs with a six-game winning streak.
The four-point weekend began with a 3-1 win over the Skidmore Thoroughbreds on Friday night. Saturday afternoon followed as the Panthers garnered a handy win over Castleton, 7-3.
Middlebury completed the regular season with a slim second-place finish in NESCAC standings behind Bowdoin. Had Bowdoin lost this weekend, Middlebury would have taken over the top seed. The Panthers are now slated to contest seventh-ranked Tufts in Kenyon Arena on Saturday as they move into the postseason.
The Skidmore victory was not the Panthers’ greatest match, but they did what needed to be done to come out on top. Skidmore came out strong and took the lead in the first period, but the Panthers went on the rebound to quickly score with a Mathieu Dubuc ’13 goal assisted by Tom Clayton ’13. Clayton led in points for the night, notching the game winner in the third period during a 4 vs. 4 situation.
Charlie Townsend ’10 added an empty net goal late in the third for his 10th goal of the year. John Yanchek ’12 skillfully minded the net, only allowing Skidmore’s first-period goal and saving 25 of the 26 Thoroughbred shots on goal. During a crucial Skidmore power play in the third period, strong defense kept Middlebury ahead in the match, with Yanchek netting five saves during those important two minutes.
The men found their stride on Saturday, soundly beating Castleton State, 7-3. In a game rife with penalties, the Panthers were dominant across the board, seeing five different players score. While on Friday the Panthers went 0-for-5 on power-play opportunities, they went 4-for-10 against Castleton State, a marked improvement from the night before.
The Panthers pulled away from a 2-2 tie to score three straight goals late in the second period, seeing goals from captain veterans John Sullivan ’10 and Townsend as well as from Jak Knelman ’12. Sullivan had two goals on the night, while Nick Resor ’12 rounded out the scoring with two goals in the third period. Yanchek was again impressive in the goal, making 36 saves between the pipes.
As of Feb. 16, when the NCAA Division III Ice Hockey Committee released its regional rankings, Middlebury was ranked fourth in the East Region. U.S. College Hockey Online has the Panthers similarly ranked at sixth.
In both polls, Middlebury men’s ice hockey is the highest ranked NESCAC team on the list, which bodes well for the men’ ‘confidence and playoff hopes. The Panthers have shown an impressive turnaround from two weeks ago when they sat fifth in the NESCAC standings, winning their last five games by a total combined score of 22-8.
The Tufts game will be an interesting showdown, considering that the teams have not met since their season-opening tie. If the Panther winning streak continues in front of the home crowd this Saturday afternoon, Middlebury will move onto the NESCAC semifinals and one step closer to the NESCAC championship that eluded the squad last year.
(02/25/10 5:00am)
The Middlebury women’s swimming and diving team hosted the NESCAC tournament this past weekend, finishing in a solid third place. The meet ran from Friday until Sunday, and the competition was tight throughout the three days. In the days leading up the meet, the ladies were working hard and staying focused.
“There is not much to say pre-meet except that we are on edge and hyped,” said co-captain Katie Remington ’10 and Emma Johnson ’10 the day before competition. The senior leaders on the team kept up their energy throughout the week leading up to the meet, and fed their younger compatriots’ minds with what competing in the NESCAC meet is really all about: competition, excitement and tradition.
Williams came in first place, compiling a tally of 1,954 points. Amherst snuck into second with 1,376 points and Middlebury fell right behind them with 1,148 points.
There were many notable individual accomplishments on the Middlebury squad. Diver Megan Collins ’12 won the three-meter event and received 442.35 points, just missing the pool record of 444.65 points. She also took second in the one-meter dive and received Diver of the Meet honors. Additionally, the Middlebury diving coach, Lisa Gibbs, was named NESCAC diving coach of the year.
Several rookie swimmers turned in standout performances in the meet. Jen Friedlander ’13 had an impressive first NESCAC appearance, seizing the NESCAC title in the 1000-freestyle, finishing in 10:18.30 and breaking the pool record. In addition to capturing that title, she also placed second in the 200-intermedley. Rookie teammate Nora Daly ’13 had a successful weekend as well, capturing second in the 200-freestyle, third in the 50-freestyle, and third in the 100-freestyle.
Audrey Tolbert ’13 also had an impressive meet, as she proved her endurance finishing fifth in the 500-freestyle and sixth in the 1,650-freestyle.
The relay teams upheld this pattern of success as well. Most notably, the 800-freestyle relay team, comprised of Katherine Loftus ’12, Annie Friedlander ’11, Daly and Tolbert, came out victorious with a time of 7:35.33, breaking the school record by six seconds.
“Audrey Tolbert did an incredible job holding off one of the fastest D-III swimmers (from Williams) in the country as the anchor leg of that relay,” commented co-captain Katie Soja ’10. Additionally, the 200-medley relay team, which included Salena Casha ’13, Remington, Yu Wang ’10 and Friedlander, finished in a solid fourth place. The 400-freestyle relay team, comprised of Daly, Tolbert, Remington and Casha, finished in third place, as did the 200-freestyle team made up of Daly, Tolbert, Loftus and Remington.
“It was really incredible,” said Soja of the weekend. “I think we shocked a lot of teams, and beat a lot of people who were beating us earlier in the season.” The women’s team is happy to have had a successful season, and looks forward to cheering on the men’s team who will be competing at Williams in the NESCAC tournament
(02/25/10 4:59am)
Public Safety officers evacuated all residents of Allen Hall after an unknown person sprayed a fire extinguisher in one of the building’s hallways, allowing the release of hazardous fumes into the air, around 2 a.m. on Feb. 20.
Students could not enter the dorm until 8 a.m. because the fumes from the fire extinguisher continued to set off the fire alarm system and Facilities Services had to clean up the extensive damage to the hallway. Many spent the night on chairs and couches in the Chateau and some went to breakfast at Ross at 7 a.m. barefoot or in sleeping clothes.
Director of Public Safety Lisa Boudah said the fumes from the extinguisher could have posed health problems.
“The chemical remained in the hallways and clogged some of the detectors so the system couldn’t be reset without the help of Facilities Services,” she said. “The Facilities Services staff member on call responded and either cleaned or replaced detectors.”
Acting Commons Residential Advisor of Atwater Commons Claire Graves said an unknown resident sprayed a fire extinguisher in a second floor hallway of Allen Hall, which released dangerous fumes into the air.
“I instructed the residents to wait it out in Chateau rather than stand out in the cold, which they did,” she said. “Eventually, we realized this was going to take a while, so I suggested that the residents use their friends in other dorms for any free futons, beds or couches, rather than wait up aimlessly.”
In spite of those efforts, many residents elected to pass the evening in the Chateau.
“Many people went to Chateau, some to the Coffrin lounge, and some to the rooms of friends where they slept on the floor or a futon,” Alec Cooper ’13 said. “Some of us actually didn’t go back to sleep.”
Boudah said the extent of the damage forced Public Safety officers to call Facilities Services, preventing the dorm from opening sooner.
“The alarm system would not reset and smoke detectors needed to be cleaned or replaced,” she said. The chemical that was discharged needed to be cleaned so students could return safely to the building.”
Director of Facilities Services Norm Cushman said his department received a request for assistance at 2:30 a.m. and made extensive repairs.
“Fire alarm components were replaced and the main panel was reset,” he said. “Clean- up activities then followed.”
While the incident disrupted the evenings of Allen residents, Graves said most took the trouble in stride.
“I was incredibly impressed with their response,” she said. “They
were definitely bothered, but they took things in stride and cooperated when necessary. We sort of made the most out of the situation and turned it into a bonding experience and big joke.”
Though students retained their composure through the incident, some were dissatisfied with the College’s response.
“I would have thought that the college would have a plan for housing students in the event that a dorm needed to be evacuated,” Goodwin said. “Even more offensive was the fact that I never got an honest answer to when we would be allowed to re-enter Allen. I am told that the cleanup crew did not even arrive until about 6 a.m., so I am appalled that I was told at 2, 3 and 4 a.m. that the dorm would be closed for at least an hour.”
First-year Counselor Catherine Lidstone ’10 also believes the response could have quicker, especially given the weather conditions.
“Why the custodians couldn’t be working on cleaning while the technician was fixing the issue is beyond me,” she said. “It was a poor use of time, especially on a winter night in Middlebury for a freshman dorm, who don’t have as many resources as upperclassmen do when it comes to finding other places to crash for the night.”
Earlier this year, a fire alarm in Ross Dining Hall forced the evacuation of the complex, in a similar incident. Graves expressed her desire for a more standard protocol to deal with emergencies in the future.
“It’s tough, because no one expects for a harmless fire alarm situation to displace more than 100 students for almost seven hours in the middle of the night, but I wouldn’t mind seeing some sort of protocol put in place in response,” she said. “It would have been great if our students had had somewhere to go. I absolutely understand that people did the most that they could under these circumstances, and we appreciated the help we did get, but clearly, a quicker response would have been best.”
Several students slept through the alarm and did not evacuate the building, Goodwin, Lidstone and Graves confirmed. Public Safety did not find those students when they swept the building, as is the standard practice.
“I did hear about one student sleeping through it the next day, and another one slept through the first 15 minutes of it,” Graves said.
“That’s impressive, and also a little frightening.”
Boudah said that Public Safety officers continue to investigate the incident.
“At this time we do not know who was responsible for the discharge,” she said. “Anyone with information about what occurred or who was responsible should contact Public Safety.”
(02/18/10 5:36am)
The Middlebury men’s hockey team moved closer to the playoffs with a two-win weekend over UMass-Boston and Babson College. The men have won their past four games, including a stellar victory over Williams, the previously top-ranked NESCAC squad. This victory catapulted the men into second place in NESCAC standings, which they hope will lead to a more fortuitous playoff berth.
This second-place spot will also allow the Panthers to contest their NESCAC playoff matches at home in Kenyon Arena, which had proved an advantage for them this season. With only one weekend left in regular season competition, the Panthers are ready to make their mark in the postseason.
“The fun part about this time of year is that every game is a playoff game, even these last couple regular season games,” said Tri-captain Charlie Townsend ’10. “It’s all about preparing the best we can for the playoffs, so getting in that mentality now is key for us. There’s really nothing better than this time of year and we need to play with that joy and commitment.”
The Williams game certainly showcased the grit and determination that the men will need in the playoffs. The Panthers clawed their way back to the victory after trailing 2-0 after the first period. This situation has proved perilous for the Panthers a few times this year, when they have made mistakes in the opening period that have cost them the game despite hard second-and third-period play. This was not the case at Williams, however.
The men fought to gain control and momentum during the second period, impressively taking the lead when they scored three goals in a five-minute span. Tri-captain John Sullivan ’10 and Ken Suchoski ’11 both had a typically productive game, coming home with two goals apiece on the night. But despite the individual play, it was a concerted effort by all Panthers on the ice that allowed the squad to come from behind for the important win.
The men continued their domination last Friday, with a tidy win 5-1 victory over UMass-Boston. Again, impressive upperclassmen performances were complemented by moments of brilliance from rookie players. Martin Drolet ’12 started the scoring early in the first period. Townsend scored twice in the match, with first-years Chris Brown ’13 and Chris Steele ’13 scoring one goal after another late in the second period to put the Panthers up 4-1.
The next night the Panthers traveled to Babson College to contest the Beavers in NESCAC/ECAC East play. The ensuing match was demonstrative of a motivated Middlebury squad that is playing harmoniously as the postseason approaches.
“This past weekend was a great stepping stone for us heading down the stretch because it reinforced the feeling we have that we have an incredible opportunity in front of us as long as we play hard for 60 minutes,” said Townsend.”
The men went 2-for-3 on their power play opportunities, markedly improving after going just 1-for-4 against UMass-Boston and 1-for-7 against Williams. Sullivan again had a strong performance, scoring twice in the win. Townsend also played well, finishing the night with a goal and an assist.
Rookie performances were also strong, with defenseman Mathieu Castonguay ’13 chasing down a Babson breakaway and Steele making an interception on a clear that led to Townsend’s goal.
Looking ahead, the Panthers will spend their final weekend on the road, contesting Skidmore and Castleton State before moving into the postseason.
“I think the biggest challenge this time of year is nerves,” said Townsend. “The games really start to mean a little more than usual but that kind of thinking can hurt us so it’s really just about going out and playing our game. Trusting our game, being confident and working hard is really all we can control so as long as we focus on those things, we’ll be successful.”
NESCAC playoffs start on Saturday, Feb. 27. If the Panthers can maintain their second -place position, they will play at home on that day.
(02/18/10 5:25am)
Seventh-ranked Middlebury men’s basketball continued its NESCAC rampage this past weekend at Trinity and Amherst with two double-digit victories to finish off regular season play against league rivals.
The Panthers, 21-2 on the season, knocked off Trinity, at 10-12, on the road 71-57 last Friday night. The win clinched the #2 seed in the upcoming NESCAC tournament.
The game was a close one for much of the contest, with Trinity trailing by just two, 28-26, at the end of the first half. Trinity took a 36-32 lead after consecutive threes by the Bantams. But Head Coach Jeff Brown’s Panthers then enjoyed a relentless 20-3 run and a terrific shooting performance in the second half.
They connected on 60.7 percent, or 17-for-28, of their field goals and went 8-for-12 from beyond the arc en route to a 43-point second-half offensive barrage. By the three-quarter mark, Middlebury had posted an 11-point lead and never looked back.
Ryan Wholey ’11 and Ryan Sharry ’12 scored 15 points apiece and Jake Wolfin ’13 scored 13 to lead the Panthers. Sharry added six boards in just 17 minutes, and Wolfin also contributed five assists. Captain Tim Edwards ’10 rounded out a solid game with eight points and a game-high eight assists.
“It was a great team victory with three people in double figures scoring,” said Edwards.
As in many of Middlebury’s previous victories, strong team play on both ends of the floor and dominance in the paint proved significant factors. The Panthers outrebounded the Bantams 32-28 and dished out 22 assists to the Bantams’ 16.
“We were able to execute very well, offensively,” continued Edwards, “and we also clamped down on defense.”
The win marked Middlebury’s third consecutive victory against the Bantams after 12 straight losses and also marked the Panthers’ second straight year with 20 regular season victories.
Middlebury then visited rival Amherst on Saturday to finish off regular season NESCAC play. Again, the Lord Jeffs stuck around for the first five minutes of the game, but an electric 11-0 run by the Panthers broke a 12-12 tie. The lead eventually grew to 30-15 as Middlebury utilized a nice inside-outside balance on the offensive end.
During the run, center Andrew Locke ’11 was unstoppable down low. Amherst had no answer for the 6’10” Locke until late in the first half, when Lord Jeffs’ big man Peter Kaasila went to work and dropped 17 on the night to bring the Panther lead back down to eight.
Midway through the second half, Amherst made another run to creep up on Middlebury and cut the lead to five. But the Panthers then began to build an insurmountable advantage, helped by timely scoring from Wholey. The Panther guard made several free throws and played tough defense.
The Lord Jeffs struggled from the floor. Although the Panthers shot just 39.3 percent in the second half, Amherst did not fare better. It shot an abysmal 36.1 percent and struggled from the free-throw line, making only 10-for-17 for the game. Middlebury succeeded in crunch time and came away with an 85-72 victory.
Wholey scored a game-high 22 points for Middlebury and Locke scored 17. The Middlebury center also added five rebounds and a ridiculous eight blocked shots, dominating the paint on the defensive end along with Sharry and Jamal Davis ’11.
Sharry added 14 points and controlled the boards, grabbing a game-high 12, with fellow big man Davis contributing 10 points and five rebounds. Sharry and Davis also blocked two shots apiece.
Middlebury will enter the NESCAC tournament next weekend as the second seed, behind Williams, and will host seventh-seeded Trinity next Saturday at Pepin Gym for a quarterfinal matchup that will, with any luck, play out as a repeat of last weekend. At 21-2 overall, the Panthers anticipate an exciting final few weeks and seem poised to make a big splash in national play.
“We will look to carry the momentum of this past weekend into the NESCAC playoffs,” said Edwards, “and try to defend our NESCAC title.”
After an exciting run last year, in which the Panthers were narrowly defeated in NCAA play by Bridgewater State by just two points, the team is hoping to advance further into national play this postseason. With one of the most successful seasons in recent Panther basketall history, prospects for playoff success look.
(02/18/10 4:59am)
The Department of Public Safety, in collaboration with the Middlebury Police Department (MPD), is conducting an ongoing investigation into a series of thefts, mostly targeting laptop computers and cell phones, from residence halls and public spaces on campus over the past three weeks.
Though no one has yet been charged for the thefts, evidence has been collected and leads are in development.
Since Jan. 23, four laptops have been reported stolen from Forest Hall, two from Stewart Hall, one from Hepburn Hall, one from Jewett House, one from Proctor Dining Hall and two from the library; cash was also reported stolen from Stewart and Pearsons Hall.
Four cell phones and a jacket were reported missing after the 100 Days Party for the Class of 2010 on Saturday, Feb. 13, which took place in Atwater Dining Hall.
Student property was also reported missing from the general locker rooms at the fitness center on Sunday, Feb. 7. Though some of the property has been recovered, the majority remains unaccounted for.
“Obviously what’s really happening is that students are being victimized, and we don’t know at this point, completely, by whom,” said Lisa Boudah, director of Public Safety.
“We’re getting little bits and pieces … The whole time I’ve worked here, in the past 10 years, we’ve had very few incidents of laptops being stolen, and very few incidents of people entering someone’s room and actually taking stuff. So this is unusual.”
The MPD has taken the lead in many of these cases, working closely with Public Safety and the victims of these incidents to collect evidence and develop leads. Several of the cases of burglary were associated with sightings of suspicious persons around the scene of the incident; in the cases of theft from Stewart and Hepburn, for example, a non-student was cited for unlawful trespass.
Kate Burchenal ’12 was the Hepburn resident who reported her laptop stolen on Tuesday, Feb. 9. She had stepped outside to run an errand, and when she returned to her room both her computer and charger were missing, at which point she notified Public Safety. Like many students, Burchenal kept her door unlocked.
“We never had occasion to lock it before now,” she said.
“I’m sure people just began to realize that it is extremely easy to gain access to any building and that no one locks their doors.”
“They’re sort of crimes of opportunity in the sense that people who manage to get into a residence hall seem to be just wandering around to see what they might find,” said Boudah.
“Because of the low crime and the safe nature of our residence halls, students might think ‘Oh, you know, I don’t need to be that concerned.’ But anytime there starts to be a pattern of … crimes where people live, people need to start paying more attention, being more diligent, locking their doors, paying attention to who’s in the building.”
Boudah called attention to the fact that the crimes have occurred at all hours of the day and night, and that the perpetrators in residence halls seem to be employing a tactic whereby they might knock on a dormitory door and pretend to be looking for a student, or simply open the door and, if a student is inside, claim they had found the wrong room and move on.
The MPD is also looking into leads surrounding the multiple thefts at the 100 Days Party. As Boudah described, one of the phones that was stolen was eventually recovered, and as the thief had placed several calls to various outside numbers, the MPD has begun to use these connections, as well as possible connections in the town of Middlebury, to investigate the cases.
Anna McDonald ’10 was one of the victims of phone theft at the party. When the party ended, she returned to the coat-check room to retrieve her belongings.
“My coat was off the hanger on the floor on the other side of the room with just my cell phone missing,” said Anna McDonald ’1l.
“I found two other people who had their phones taken as well, and we talked to security … It was interesting that only my phone, which was really old, was taken and not my cash, credit cards, or gift certificates that were in the same pocket.”
Public Safety urges students to exercise caution in protecting their belongings in all public spaces, and to continue to be diligent in locking their doors when they leave their rooms.
Both Boudah and Dan Gaiotti, associate director of Public Safety, also emphasized the need for students to report any suspicious persons or suspicious behavior at any time, particularly within residence halls.
“The sooner students can report that, the better, in terms of trying to identify the person,” said Gaiotti.
(02/11/10 5:31am)
The Middlebury men’s hockey team showed an impressive response to its disappointing performances on Jan. 23 and 24, emerging victorious in games against NESCAC powerhouses Colby and Bowdoin on Jan. 29 and 30, respectively. The Panthers followed those wins up by topping fifth-ranked Plattsburgh, 5-3, the following Tuesday. This avenged an earlier loss to the Cardinals in the December PrimeLink Tournament. Later in the week, the men fell to the unbeaten Norwich Cadets. The Panthers finished their February break games with a tidy win over St. Michaels.
Hoping to continue their winning streak after earning four important wins on the weekend against NESCAC rivals, the Panthers came out strong against Plattsburgh last Tuesday evening, seeing three of their first four shots elude the glove and stick of Cardinal goalie Ryan Williams.
These goals, netted by Charlie Townsend ’10, Trevor Pollock ’13 and Ken Suchowski ’11, respectively, put the Panthers up 3-0. They kept their lead, holding Plattsburgh to just eight shots for over half of the game. More important than their quick start, however, was their response to Plattsburg’s comeback late in the second and early in the third periods.
Earlier in the season Middlebury had seen its squad seemingly fold under third-period pressure, unable to hold late surges by Southern Maine and University of New England. However, the men showed new grit against Plattsburgh, and a beautiful breakaway backhand goal by Martin Drolet ’12 put the Panthers up 4-2 and allowed the squad to rally. Despite two Cardinal power-play opportunities, strong defensive play ensued and the Cardinals did not score. About six minutes later, a Nick Resor ’12 goal solidified the Middlebury victory. John Yanchek ’12 played impressively in goal, shutting down a few key Cardinal scoring opportunities that allowed Middlebury to keep its momentum.
“During the Plattsburgh game, the team really came together and played as one against an impressive opponent who we lost 3-1 to earlier in the year,” said Chris Steele ’13, who has seen significant time on the ice this year. “The team has matured since the first month of the season when we lost, and it has really shown in the past week,” he continued.
The coaches and team have been pleased with the response to their disappointing losses and hope that they were the nadir of the season.
The Panther squad knew that they had to continue practicing hard for the following three days as they faced a formidable opponent in second-ranked, undefeated Norwich on Friday, Feb. 5. Though they didn’t come out with a win, there were plenty of positive things to take from the game.
“The Norwich game was another step in the right direction. We did put together a 60 minute game,” Steele continued. “Although the end result wasn’t what we may have wanted, we definitely made progress.”
The team contested the match in front of a massive hometown faithful of 2,480 fans. After an entire season in which the Panthers seemed to outshoot their opponents almost two to one, Norwich held the shot advantage that night. Townsend scored his fifth goal on the year with a wrister that found the back of the net.
The intensity never flagged during the second period, but Middlebury could not increase its lead, and Norwich found the back of the goal with 30 seconds left in the period to tie it up. The Cadets then rallied to score during a 4 v. 4 situation, taking a one-goal lead. Middlebury tried without success to rally, backed by stellar goaltending by Yanchek, who tallied eleven of his 24 saves in the third period. It was only after coach Bill Beaney pulled Yanchek during a power-play opportunity late in the third that Norwich was able to go up by two, scoring on an empty net. The Panthers were disappointed by their failure to perform during power plays; they were unsuccessful in that department, going 0 for 7 on the night.
The team returned the next day to beat St. Michaels, 7-3. The team notably improved its power play performances, tallying three of its seven goals during power plays and out-shooting the Purple Knights almost two to one. Performances were strong all over the ice and the Panthers saw even more depth from their bench, with Michael Hilgendorf ’13 scoring his first career-goal and Tom Clayton ’13 notching three assists on the night. First-year standout Mathieu Dubuc ’13 also scored his ninth goal of the season.
The Panthers contest their biggest NESCAC rival, Williams, on the road this Tuesday. Williams is ranked first in NESCAC standings. The day after Norwich defeated Middlebury, the Cadets traveled to Williams. The Ephs pulled out an impressive 2-1 victory, holding on to the win despite being outshot 43-16.
Dubuc said that practice this week has been productive.
“We really took a step back on Monday’s practice and looked at everything we’ve done right and wrong in our past few games,” he said. “If everyone does what they’re supposed to do and we work on the details of our game, that’s the way we can beat them.”
Tuesday’s game will certainly be a test. It will be imperative in determining Middlebury’s spot in the NESCAC rankings, which are becoming more important as February passes and the team moves into the postseason.
(02/11/10 4:59am)
The Panther men’s and women’s track and field teams traveled to Hanover, N.H. last weekend to close out Feb Break at the Dartmouth Indoor Classic, hosted by the Dartmouth College Big Green at Leverone Field House. Competing against several Division I opponents, the Panthers did not find themselves at the head of the pack in every event. However, both the men and women did find ways to succeed against formidable opponents in the events that Middlebury has seemed to specialize in throughout the years.
On the men’s side, Addison Godine ’11, always a consistent runner for the Panthers, had a good showing in the 800m, finishing second behind a UVM runner. Jack Terrett ’11 and Victor Guevara ’10 stood out at longer distances, finishing third and fourth respectively in the men’s 3000m run. The men’s 4x400 team of Connor Wood ’11, Mike Waters ’10, rookie Louis Cornacchione ’13, and Godine finished third in the 4x400 relay, rounding out the men’s success on the track.
For the women, Mia Martinez ’12, continued to excel at short distance hurdles, finishing seventh in the women’s 60m hurdles. Sophia Spring ’11, rookie Addie Tousley ’13, and Margo Cramer ’12 all ran very strong races, finishing 6, 7, 8 in the women’s one mile. Rookie Juliet Ryan-Davis rounded out the mid-distance runners, finishing a very respectable fifth in the 800.
Veteran long-distance runner Alexandra Krieg ’10 shined in the 3000, finishing fourth in a challenging field. Continuing the Panther tradition of relay excellence, the team of Cramer, Tousley, Spring, and Cailey Condit ’11 finished second in the women’s 4x800 relay.
The meet results were peppered with individual performances but the team was satisfied with its overall performance.
“We were competing against mainly D-I programs and I felt we successfully demonstrated that Middlebury can keep up, both on the men’s and women’s sides,” said Alice Wisener ’11. “This meet was definitely an indication of great things to come in the spring as well as in the later championship meets this winter.”
The teams have one more meet at MIT before postseason running commences with D-III New England’s at Bates.
(02/11/10 4:59am)
Most of the campus hears and sees the action powering Middlebury’s Open Queer Alliance (MOQA) in April, with the dynamic Gaypril programming, and in October, during “Coming Out Week.”
But behind the door of Chellis House and on the rest of campus, MOQA is still working, advocating and having fun the rest of the academic year.
Whether through larger activities like the New England Small College Queer Summit at Williams College or with cookies and movies on Valentine’s Day, MOQA is launching into spring semester with fresh ideas and exciting events for students to try out. The organization is also hoping to become a more welcoming resource for questioning students.
“I understand that physically crossing the doorstep into Chellis House and attending a MOQA meeting can be extremely intimidating for a questioning student,” said Jean Lin ’10, co-president.
Lin is working on the Web site (go/moqa) with the goal of shaping the site and the organization to provide better resources for conflicted students. She also encourages anyone who wants to talk confidentially to contact her or co-president Wayu Niederhauser ’12 through e-mail.
The membership of MOQA is composed of individuals who “make up the entire spectrum of outness, from being totally closeted, or out to the world, to somewhere in between,” they acknowledge on their Web site.
This spectrum houses over 100 affiliated members, who also range in their roles: some are regular members and some attend larger events, while others want to stay on the mailing list to keep informed about the organization’s events. Still, some students are wary of coming to Chellis House, fearing that membership has certain connotations.
“Forget everything you’ve heard about MOQA,” said member Chelsea Guster ’11. “If you’re at all interested, just stop by. I feel like MOQA has a stigma as being cliquey or unwelcoming, as if by going to a meeting, you out yourself. Don’t let those things stop you from dropping in.
Though I can’t say everyone’s experience with MOQA will be like mine has been, I’ve found it a great place to get the ball rolling on certain projects, or even just to take a break and have a silly conversation. And with MOQA as part of the Middlebury community, it’s generally a good place to meet new people, just because.”
MOQA is planning to organize and set up a PostSecret, a public display where students can post their thoughts anonymously, focusing on LGBTQ issues and to host an international panel about cultural differences relating to queer topics. In the fall, David Leavitt, a renowned professor and author, came to speak and this spring MOQA will welcome back musician Ezra Axelrod ’08, as its featured speaker.
After studying voice, composition and piano at the College, Axelrod moved to London, where he was well received as a singer/songwriter. In 2009, along with Soho promoter Aubrey Dobson, he launched The Menagerie, a record label, management company and performance series all in one, which is now the only venue in Central London for cutting-edge performance art and music.
Axelrod describes his own music as Vernacular and Realist, and many of his songs raise queer, or more specifically, gay, issues.
MOQA’s membership will also be setting up a booth with information on the Food and Drug Administration policy that discriminates against gay men at the spring Red Cross Blood drive, and, per usual, partaking in the national Day of Silence — a student-led event that raises awareness about the silencing effect of bullying and harassment of the LGBTQ community.
On March 6, about 10 members will be traveling to Williams College for the first ever New England Small College Queer Summit, where there will be sessions on identity, organizational leadership, and policy and activism on campus.
“I think one of the most important steps for GLBT youth up through college students and adults is to know that they’re not alone,” said Jason Mooty ’12.
“A Summit is a great way to congregate with like-minded individuals.”
Though political activism is explored and enforced at such conferences, there is often debate when it comes to MOQA’s political role on campus. Some believe the organization should exist as a resource and space to meet people, work out issues and find support, while others stress action and advocacy for important issues.
Last fall, members spent a night calling voters in Maine to prepare for the casting of the same-sex marriage ballot, working to rally support.
Meanwhile, the organization also hosted tea nights and had plenty of meetings that evolved into simply interesting discussions among students in an open environment, so some members would agree that MOQA maintains its balance.
The organization also balances how it spreads awareness — sometimes it is through non-structured advocacy as opposed to more formal events such as hosting well-known speakers or running politically concentrated booths.
The members will hang random posters dispelling myths and misconceptions about stereotypes, queer issues and other LGBTQ “Fun Facts.”
Other activities will include Colors Week, during which students can show their support for those struggling with their sexual identity by wearing a different color of the rainbow each day of the week.
As for how these events and demonstrations are received on campus, members of MOQA range in their perspective on Middlebury’s level of acceptance: some are both grateful for the climate of tolerance at the College and still pushing for changes, while others find the atmosphere isolating and separate.
“I think GLBT students are very welcomed and integrated in the community, and we are very thankful for that,” said Mooty.
“It’s hard to remember sometimes that the rest of the world isn’t as accepting as this place. I’ve heard that there was some very homophobic behavior the year before I came here, but during my time at Middlebury, I haven’t received anything but support and love.”
On the other hand, acceptance does not always mean comfort and ease to some.
“While the climate for GLBTQ students at Middlebury is accepting, I think there is no real cohesion among the queer community,” said Tony Huynh ’13.
“It can be quite frustrating and isolating, especially as a first-year, to find out that there are not as many out students than expected at a liberal institution in a state that has marriage equality.”
“I feel that the queer community as a whole is more or less invisible,” said Lin.
“Sometimes I worry that there’s a rift between the straight students and the queer students — not necessarily on a daily basis. What I mean is, when MOQA comes together to host events on campus (especially during April), my hope is that eventually, no one will think, ‘Oh, there go the gay kids complaining about discrimination, again’ or ‘Why do they have to flaunt their sexuality?’ A person’s sexual identity is just one part of the whole picture, and it doesn’t make him or her any more or less intelligent, tolerant, liberal, conservative or anything else.”
Mooty expressed his commonly shared vision “to see MOQA as a place for discussion among all students, not just the queer minority.”
MOQA meets every Sunday at 7:30 p.m. in Chellis House, where the membership continues to foster a friendly, welcoming atmosphere open to any interested student.
As Huynh explained, the organization can exist as both a “goal-oriented group and informal way to meet other queer students to find support transitioning into college.”
(02/11/10 4:59am)
Community Bridge game
Feb. 11, 2 – 4 p.m.
Brush up on your bridge skills with local game fanatics at the Ilsley Public Library. Visit http://www.7notrump.wordpress.com or call Gisela at (802) 462-3373 for more information.
MALT open house
Feb. 11, 4 – 8 p.m.
The Middlebury Area Land Trust and the National Park Service will present information on the possibility of extending the North Country National Scenic Trail through Addison County in the Weybridge Congregational Church Cafeteria. Two presentations will run, one at 4 p.m. and one at 6 p.m. More information can be found at (802) 388-1007 or
http://www.maltvt.org.
Sweethearts Ball
Feb. 13, 8 p.m. – 12 a.m.
Bring your special someone to the annual ball to benefit the Orwell Volunteer Fire Department. Step out to the Middlebury American Legion for a night of dancing in your Valentine’s Day bes. Tickets are $15 per couple or $8 per person, and they are available from any Orwell firefighter, at Christine’s Hairstyling, Hawk’s Country Kitchen, Orwell Gas n’ Go or Buxton’s General Store.
5K Run/Walk Benefit
Feb. 13, 1 p.m.
Sign up for this 5k Run/Walk to benefit Doctors Without Borders in Haiti at Middlebury Union Middle School and help the local community help Haiti. The minimum registration fee is $5, and additional donations are appreciated. The start time is 1 p.m., but registration starts at 11:30 a.m. at the middle school.
Marsh, meadow and grassland wildlife walk
Feb. 14, 8 – 11 a.m.
Get your Valentine’s Day started right with the monthly nature walk hosted jointly by Otter Creek Audubon and the Middlebury Area Land Trust. This month’s leaders are Alcott Smith and Ron Payne, and the walk will leave from the Otter View Park parking lot. More information is available at
http://www.maltvt.org.
Ski and Snowboard Sale and Coat Drive
Feb. 13 & Feb. 14, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Donate your clean used coats at this drive hosted by Coats From Slopes, a Vermont non-profit helping to keep Vermonters warm. There will also be new and used ski and snowboard equipment for sale at super discounted prices. For more information, contact Jonathan at (802) 258-0282.
Legislative breakfast
Feb. 15, 7 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Get the scoop on the legal goings-on in Addison County at the Middlebury American Legion. Make your voice heard! Breakfast will begin at 7 a.m., discussion will start at 7:30 a.m.
(01/21/10 9:25pm)
Middlebury men’s basketball opened up NESCAC play last weekend in typically dominant fashion, topping both Bates and Tufts in back-to-back home games this week to improve to 14-1 on the season.
The Panthers remain ranked in the top 10 in the country for Division III programs, but will face a much tougher schedule in the second half of the season. The team hopes to build upon its 2-0 start in NESCAC play in upcoming contests against league opponents.
“The start is a good one,” noted co-captain Tim Edwards ’09.5. “It feels good to come away from a NESCAC weekend with two wins,” he said.
On Friday, the Panthers were led by Edwards, Andrew Locke ’11 and Jake Wolfin ’13 against Bates in Middlebury’s NESCAC opener. Both teams struggled with shooting in the first half, with Middlebury building a seven-point lead mostly from the free throw line.
However, the Panthers found a rhythm after the break, shooting 66.7 percent for the second half. After Bates made an early 10-2 run to start the half, Middlebury countered with a 20-9 run to maintain an eight- to 10-point lead throughout, finally triumphing, 71-62.
Locke posted a career-high 25 points and nine rebounds in an unstoppable performance against the physically outmatched Bobcat front line.
Locke and fellow big men Jamal Davis ’11 and Ryan Sharry ’12 proved simply too long, tall and athletic against a shorter Bates team, whose tallest starter is listed at just 6’7”.
Middlebury recorded 14 blocks on the game — including 7 by Locke, tying a career high — compared to just one by Bates. Davis, Sharry and Edwards each blocked two shots.
Edwards ran the offense smoothly for Middlebury, dishing out nine assists to go along with eight points. Wolfin drilled three three-pointers en route to 10 points.
Middlebury’s defense once again set the tone for the game, as it held the Bobcats to 35.8 percent shooting on just 10 team assists. The Panthers also stole the ball nine times, led by Edwards with three.
Middlebury continued the weekend with an excellent peformance against Tufts last Saturday. The Jumbos struggled against Middlebury’s defensive pressure, shooting an abysmal 25.7 percent on the game, including just 2-for-17 from three-point range. The Panthers forced Tufts into 13 turnovers and clogged up passing and driving lanes, suffocating ball movement and limiting the Jumbos to just seven assists.
Ryan Wholey ’11 scored eight of his 10 points during a 17-2 Middlebury run early in the game. Middlebury maintained a double-digit lead until Tufts came out strong after intermission, cutting the lead to five. However, Middlebury responded with another big 11-2 spurt, this time led by Ryan Sharry’s seven points.
The Jumbos tried to recover a lead through long-distance shooting, but could not connect. Despite crushing the Panthers on the boards 57-40, Tufts could not execute effectively on offense and Middlebury pulled out a 66-53 victory.
Sharry had a game-high 16 points to go along with a team-best nine rebounds and two blocked shots. Wolfin followed Friday’s three-point shooting performance with three more triples against Tufts, scoring 15 points and dishing out a game-high six assists. Nolan Thompson ’13 added 10 points for Middlebury, while Locke manned the paint and contributed six blocked shots.
“I thought that we played great team defense in order to grind out those two wins,” said Edwards.
The Panthers continue NESCAC play next week at Connecticut College, and have two more away games before hosting Williams on Jan. 30.
“We are off to a good start but still have a long way to go with big two big games on the road this weekend in Connecticut,” said Edwards.
“This is a growing process and we look to get better each week in an attempt to host the NESCAC championship again.”
(01/21/10 8:04pm)
In the past week, a small group of Middlebury students has raised approximately $4,900 in donations for Haiti following the earthquake that left the country devastated on Jan. 12.
The earthquake, with an estimated magnitude of 7.0, was the largest to strike the region in more than 200 years, and government officials fear the death toll may reach 200,000, according to BBC News.
Middlebury’s successful fundraising campaign began when Mori Rothman ’11 and Jacob Udell ’12 saw an e-mail sent to the Middlebury Climate Campaign mailing list from Associate Professor of Economics Jon Isham. The e-mail urged interested parties to donate to Partners in Health (PIH), a global health organization founded by Paul Farmer, who spoke in Mead Chapel last spring.
“That e-mail centered my mass of confused feelings, channeled it in a way,” said Rothman.
Rothman and Udell e-mailed their friends on Jan. 13 and began tabling for donations to PIH in Proctor and Ross Dining Halls the following day. They were amazed at how much money they collected in that one day.
“I literally decided to send out one e-mail to a few friends,” said Udell, “and the next thing I knew, we had fundraising schedules through Monday. It’s also been amazing to see the willingness to give of the college community — all you have to say is ‘Haiti relief,’ and most students we encountered were immediately generous.”
“It was unbelievable,” said Rhiya Trivedi ’12.5, who has also played a large role in the fundraising.
“In the lunch rush at Proctor at 12:30, we just could not keep up. Money was exchanging hands everywhere and twenties were being dropped in and we were trying to not have our eyes pop out of our head.”
The generosity was not limited to students — the fundraisers noted that $20-dollar bills and other donations large and small were given by dining hall staff, faculty and other members of the College community.
“I think it’s incredible,” wrote Peggy Burns, associate director of the Alliance for Civic Engagement in an e-mail.
“To have raised more than $3,000 in just a few days really speaks to [students’] commitment to helping — and to students wanting to help.”
Udell and Rothman were also quick to say that they owed Burns “a big thank you” for allowing them to fundraise as well as planning larger fundraisers on campus.
This group of students, while the first to commence fundraising on campus, was joined this week by other organizations and events trying to lend Haiti much-needed aid.
Approximately $1,600 in donations was collected at a Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration concert on Monday, the Pan Caribbean Student Organization has a panel planned for Jan. 26 and Distinguished Men of Color has a poker and pool tournament planned for Jan. 23, with funds raised being donated to the rescue effort.
A meeting was held on Tuesday for the entire College community in McCullough to bring the campus together in an opportunity to reflect and inform about future fundraising opportunities.
The small group that has been fundraising since last Thursday credits their success to the organic nature in which the campaign formed, and the fact that they are fundraising simply as compassionate human beings, unaffiliated with any organization. Also, their placement outside of dining halls make it possibly the easiest way for Middlebury students to give aid to Haiti.
“That’s the brilliance of any successful, well-organized campaign,” said Rothman.
“The easier it is, the more people are going to do it … the ease of it is that you see a box, lots of money, seemingly nice people, and you say ‘yeah, sure, I can spare $5.’”
The cheery demeanor of those stationed outside of the dining halls is also considered a crucial component of their fundraising strategy.
“This kind of campaign is not sustainable if you are wallowing in the misery that the issue itself deserves the entire time you are doing it,” said Rothman.
“Allowing myself to try to feel what I would be feeling if I were there, I don’t think I could get out of bed. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t talk to anyone, let alone fundraise.”
Relying on the tactics they have at their disposal as students with large networks of friends and a considerable quantity of tempered optimism has proved much more beneficial. They write ‘Haiti’ in purple ink on those students who want to give but have no wallets and attract passersby with improvised songs urging donations.
They have also found that simply addressing someone by name almost ensures they will donate.
“Some of us are more aggressive than others,” said Rothman.
“Some people say, ‘can you give, if not, that’s OK.’ Rhiya and I say, ‘can you give? If not, give.’”
For these fundraisers, the stories they can share about the donors paints an even more poignant picture of the situation than the amount of money they have raised. Nial Rele ’12, a first-year counselor in Stewart Hall, said that his entire hall of first-years had donated to Haiti. Trivedi told of the people who volunteered to take a shift, people she had never met before. There were the numerous people who dropped $100 bills in their cardboard box, those who ran back to their room to grab their wallets and one girl who felt compelled to add another $20 to the box the three times she passed by.
“I wish we could give some people superhero capes,” said Trivedi.
However, Rele said that not everyone has been sympathetic and willing to give to the cause.
“On one hand, its comforting to see that so many people are willing to give and are interested in where the money is going,” said Rele.
“On the other hand there are, unfortunately, a whole bunch of people on this campus who won’t even look at you. You try to make eye contact, you try to get their attention, try to get some form of compassion out of them. It has happened to all of us who are tabling, they just walk right by.”
The worst, according to Rele, are the texters — “If you can text and drive, you can text and donate.”
Despite the resistant few who pass the donation box, the fundraisers believe that the overall interest in Haiti on campus has resulted in a boon for the cause and the College community.
Isham, whose e-mail inspired the students to act, said he was “really impressed by what they have done, though not surprised. In my 11 years at Middlebury, I have seen time and time again how our students understand the gravity of 21st-century challenges, and then how they boldly and creatively act in the face of such challenges. What has happened in Haiti is beyond understanding: we each must do as much as we can.”
It makes you proud of our community,” said Rothman. “Everyone says Middlebury is this community of un-activism, and this proves that it is not due to apathy — it’s not because people don’t care about the world.”
“We might not be activists, but this has proved that we are at least active,” said Trivedi.
“And that might even be better because the danger of activism is that you get pigeonholed into your own issue and you don’t care about anything else. Being broadly active, when you are in college, might be a greater contribution to the planet than caring about your own pet issue … I would take active over activism for the community today.”
Udell reiterated this sentiment, and also expressed hope that support for Haiti would be able to continue even when the media fervor ends.
“It’s important for me to believe that Middlebury is not just an ivory tower, and so many people around here are truly moving beyond their individual concerns to focus on alleviating the suffering of others,” wrote Udell in an e-mail.
“My sense is that the Middlebury community has only begun fundraising and figuring out ways to continue to help, and I think all of us involved in tabling were just grateful to be a part of it. If we were able to raise this much money sitting in chairs in front of Proctor and Ross, I’m excited to see what the Middlebury community can do once we are equipped with more formal strategies.”
(01/14/10 4:00am)
The Middlebury women’s basketball team achieved its seventh win of the season this Sunday against non-conference rival Lyndon State.
The Panthers looked very strong in their 70-47 win, which was a testament to the team’s mental and physical strength.
The game marked their fifth game in seven days and the victory over the Lady Hornets was the Panthers’ first win away from home. The win has set a strong precedent for conference play, which will begin in the women’s first NESCAC game against Bates on Friday, Jan. 15.
First-year Leah Kepping ’13 led the Panthers in scoring against Lyndon State, racking up 13 points.
Other big scorers were Stephany Surette ’12 and Elissa Goeke ’12, who each put up 12 points for the Panthers. Senior captain Kaitlyn Fallon ’10 netted 10 points.
The scoring pattern alone is indicative of the contributions that are being made from all members of the squad.
The first-years have been huge contributors to Middlebury’s program so far this season.
This team has a great depth of talent, which has allowed for everyone to contribute in the opening games of the season.
The Panthers currently hold a record of 7-4, which includes a six-game winning streak that occurred over the winter break. After opening the season with three losses away from home, the Panthers bounced back with six wins from Dec. 3 to Jan. 7.
These games included victories over Castleton, St. Joseph’s, Union, Worcester Poly, Plattsburgh and Colby-Sawyer.
Sophomore Brittany Perfetti ’12 described the confidence that this winning streak provided the team.
“The winning streak was important in building momentum for us,” said Perfetti. “It established the presence of our Middlebury team for us, as well as for all our competitors.”
The six-game winning streak was evidence that the team’s hard work and training is paying off.
Additionally, the winter break provided the team with time to focus on certain things upon which they needed to improve.
The winning streak ended with a loss at Skidmore on Saturday, Jan. 9.
The Panthers lost to the Thoroughbreds, 68-52. The game was very close until the end of the second half, when Skidmore went on an impressive 12-1 run, taking a 51-39 lead with 8:12 left to play. The home team held a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game and emerged with a 68-52 victory.
In this game, Perfetti led the Panthers with 13 points, Fallon scored 9 and Surette put away 7 points with 9 rebounds.
The victory against Lyndon State, following their loss to Skidmore, could be the start of another winning streak for the Panthers as they prepare for the heart of their season.
The women host both Bates and Tufts this weekend in the opening of NESCAC play. Perfetti is confident in her team.
“Everything is really starting to build and come together,” she said. This weekend will be an important test for the Middlebury women’s basketball program.
(01/14/10 4:00am)
It has already been an eventful 2010 for Middlebury men’s basketball. After setting a school record with a 10-0 start, the team suffered its first loss of the season to Colby-Sawyer last Thursday in Pepin Gymnasium.
After the first half concluded in a 33-33 tie, the second half featured a 17-2 Colby-Sawyer run which proved to be too much, despite a number of late surges by the Panthers.
Nolan Thompson ’13 led Middlebury in the game with 17 points, and co-captain Tim Edwards ’09.5 recorded a game-high 14 rebounds. However, first-year Colby-Sawyer point guard Corey Willis, who was able to overcome his lack of height at 5’7”, hit some clutch free throws to close out the game.
When asked about how the loss would affect the team from this point on, Andrew Locke ’11 seemed optimistic.
“Losing was certainly disappointing but the loss was a good reminder that we have to show up ready to fight every game,” said Locke. “This will be especially true in NESCAC games, where even teams with poorer records are capable of upsetting a great team on a given night.
It sounds counterintuitive, but losing this past week is going to help us moving forward into NESCAC play.”
“Our goal from the outset has been to successfully defend our NESCAC title,” said Locke. “To do this, we need to string together 40 minutes of strong basketball. We are so deep and so talented that if we do this there isn’t a team we can’t beat.”
Although the game could have been a setback, Middlebury refused to acknowledge this possibility, going 2-0 in games at Skidmore and Lyndon State this past weekend.
“We wanted to get back on track before the NESCAC season started,” said Ryan Wholey ’11. “It’s a whole new season when the conference play starts up next weekend.”
The Panthers put Skidmore away 80-67, but the game was never as close as the score indicated. Ryan Sharry ’12 posted a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds and “The Locke-ness Monster” (Locke) had six send-backs as he continued to anchor a Middlebury defense that leads the country in blocked shots.
Less than 24 hours after the Skidmore victory, in the final game before the commencement of the NESCAC schedule, the team further improved its record to 12-1 with a 97-69 blowout win at Lyndon State. Three first-years lead the team in scoring as Jake Wolfin ’13 finished with 16, Thompson accrued 13, and Luis Alvarez ’13 netted 12.
In the upcoming week, the Panthers will begin their quest to repeat as conference champions as they open up their NESCAC schedule with home games Friday and Saturday against Bates and Tufts, respectively. Bates enters the week at 6-5 having already begun their conference play with an overtime loss to Colby.
Tufts will go into the week at 3-7, though its team Web site claims, “Tufts University features one of the strongest men’s basketball traditions in New England.
Including contributors like the 1949-50 team that won 20 games, Tufts has a well-established reputation as one of the top programs in the region.”
It is unclear whether the Panthers will be intimidated during Saturday’s game by the success of the 1949 team, but the possibility certainly provides an excellent story line.
Any in attendance will surely be entertained.
