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(01/14/10 4:00am)
Middlebury squash has proven nothing short of dominant as both teams close out the first third of their seasons. After both squads opened with losses to NESCAC powerhouse Williams, the 18th-ranked men and 13th-ranked women have been on a tear.
During this streak of 12 straight combined victories (five by the men and seven by the women), the teams have yielded a total of seven games to their opponents. While this stretch has come against weaker opposition, it is good to see that the teams are not playing down to opponents and that they are progressing for the better competition that is ahead.
For the men, the new year has not yet begun. Inclement weather cancelled the first match of January and extended the break between matches to over a month.
“The team hasn’t had a match a while so everyone is chomping at the bit, said captain Simon Keyes ’10.
“We’re all really ready to see our hard work pay off. It is annoying how infrequently we have played.”
While this gap in competitive play can lead to relaxation, the team has kept up its competitive spirit with challenge matches amongst one another. These internal matches help battle test the players and they are equally important for coach Jon Illig to help to iron out his ladder.
This first part of the season has helped answer some of the questions about the men’s team coming into the season. For one, Jay Dolan ’13 and Spencer Hurst ’13 have already emerged as top-of-the-ladder caliber guys that create depth right now and are the future of the team. Brian Cady ’11 and William Piekos ’11 are both returning from abroad to help add to the already deep men’s team.
While other young players like Addi Disesa ’12 and Val Quan ’12 round out the top of the ladder, senior leadership cements this team together. Tri-captains Simon Keyes ’10, Eliot Jia ’10 and Micah Wood ’10 guide the talented youth and bring the experience of having played in some big matches. This group is ripe with talent and ready for their next match.
Wednesday’s match against Amherst “will be one of the biggest of the year” said Keyes. “They are 16 and we are 17. This has huge implications for team nationals and is a chance for Middlebury to ascend to the highest ranking in program history.”
The women opened 2010 with a bang. The 7-2 domination of 16th-ranked Amherst shows just how dangerous this team can be. Though the top two struggled a bit, the rest of the lineup refused to lose a single game.
Third-seeded Kathryn Bostwick ’12 turned in an especially exhilarating win, coming back from a 2-0 game deficit to win the next three games for a 3-2 match win.
This was definitely a performance to build on for the women.
While their break was not as long as the men’s, the women’s team also kept up its edge with challenge matches and competitive practices. The women added three first-years — Lindsey Becker ’13, Annie Ulrich ’13, and Molly Hubbard — who have already worked their way onto the ladder.
With only nine players competing, the team counts upon these three first-years a for critical individual matches if this team is going to succeed.
Though 2010 opened on a rough note for co-captains Avery Tilney ’10 and Virginia Shannon ’11, they are still the leaders of the team as well as a formidable one-two punch at the top of the bracket.
They both put together breakout individual performances during the 2008-2009 campaign and have really stepped up to fill the shoes of graduated number one Sally Hatfield ’09.
This weekend is a big one for the men and women, as they look to continue their torrid start with five more matches at the Yale Round Robin.
(12/07/09 7:30pm)
Jen Anderson wakes up every weekday at 2 a.m. to begin work at 4:00 a.m. as leader of custodial team 7 at the College. The three members of team 7 clean and maintain Hillcrest, the Robert A. Jones ’59 House, Sunderland, Chellis House, Farrell House and Gifford Hall. The Sisyphean task of the custodians is arguably one of the most important and challenging responsibilities on campus, yet Anderson’s easy laughter and full smile downplay this fact.
Anderson, 47, is a mother of three, a grandmother of one and a lifelong Vermonter. She grew up on her father’s apple orchard on Lake Champlain.
“It was right on the lake, so you got to see bald eagles and deer and hawks,” she said. “It was such an awesome spot.”
After having the orchard in the family for 35 years, Anderson and her siblings sold it in 1999. “It got to be so expensive. It was hard to sell that,” she said.
After holding jobs at a diner in Shoreham, Vt., and the Vites and Herbs Shoppe in the Marble Works, Anderson began work as a custodian at the College in 2004.
“It’s a really nice place to work, nice campus, good benefits, pay is pretty good,” she said.
At the same time, however, Anderson described “the whole custodian thing” that she found hanging over her head.
“Some people just look at you like ‘You’re a custodian? Oh.’ You can imagine,” she said, her warm laughter making light of the situation.
I asked her if such disrespectful behavior troubled her. “Well, it depends,” she said. “Obviously, if people walk by you and...” she shielded her eyes with her hand. “But that’s only a few [people]. It’s an important job. The College wouldn’t be the College [without custodians].”
Anderson is right. The custodians are integral members of our community and it would behoove us to acknowledge them when we see them (to prevent any hypocrisy on my part, I should note that I lived an entire year in Gifford without introducing myself to Anderson. Better late than never, though, I figure). Both faculty and students depend on custodians in so many different ways.
Who reorganizes classroom chairs after they’ve been moved for meetings or study groups?
“They’ll put the chairs in little circles — they love the little circles — or they’ll push all the chairs back and it takes forever to put them back,” said Anderson, chuckling.
Who has to repair the shattered windows and broken vending machines that result from the detestable, destructive machismo of drunken fools?
“Most of the stuff I don’t mind, the beer cans or whatever, but when they start smashing stuff, I want to say, ‘Have a little respect for the building. It’s been here forever.’ I want people to have a good time; just don’t smash up my building,” Anderson said, laughing again.
Who is responsible for stemming the spread of infectious diseases by maintaining the strictest hygienic standards?
“If someone in a suite has flu symptoms, we have to go into the suite and clean it everyday, the kitchenettes and the bathrooms and the doorknobs,” Anderson said. “It’s like, ‘Oh God!’”
I asked Anderson whether she receives the respect and kindness she deserves. “On the whole, the kids in this dorm are really awesome. You have the really friendly ones, the not so friendly ones. It’s a whole gamut,” she said.
There are about 100 custodians divided into 13 teams on campus. “We all hate each other,” Roger Miro, another member of team 7, said jokingly. “No, it’s just like anything else. There are some you get along with and some you don’t,” Anderson said.
Miro, 43, is tall man with a voice as smooth and deep as Baloo the Bear’s in “The Jungle Book.” He grew up on Long Island, moved to Vermont when he was 21 and then relocated to North Carolina where he began a successful cleaning business. He returned to Vermont after he got married and became the father of two stepchildren and a daughter.
“I like being able to walk outside and breathe the fresh air, no neighbors. Down in North Carolina it was neighbor, neighbor, neighbor, neighbor. They were all lined up like maggots,” Miro said. “The first time I came up here there was a little bit of culture shock.”
Miro is a talented guitarist. “If I would’ve taken the right road, if I wasn’t so stubborn, I would’ve made it a business,” he said. I asked him about what he’d like to do now. “I’d like to win the lottery and just do nothing,” Miro said, laughing deeply. “I’ve been working since I was 12. I just want to travel the world on a yacht or something.”
The college custodians are important figures in our lives as members of the Middlebury community. We should reach out and connect with them not just because we are all indebted to them for their constant, difficult work, but also because they are interesting, wonderful people. Even the simplest hello can make a mutually positive difference.
“If you get kids that are really awesome and they talk to you, it makes the day go nicer,” Anderson said. “Custodians, on the whole, really appreciate a friendly smile, a thank you, a ‘hey-how’re-you-doin’?’”
(12/03/09 6:41pm)
The Panthers’ quick and dominant start to the season — four wins against non-conference teams in one week — has been characterized by large margins of victory and an impressive depth from the injury-plagued team.
“Sweep the week,” said Bill Greven ’10, one of the team’s senior players, when asked to comment on the team’s most recent victory against Johnson State.
It was clear from this response that he was far too focused to provide any further insight. Regardless, any worries that the Panthers would struggle out of the gate, playing without injured co-captains Kevin Kelleher ’10 and Tim Edwards ’10 and losing three starters from last year’s team, were quickly put to rest.
The Panthers began the season with two wins at the Equinox Classic, where both Nolan Thompson ’13 and Jamal Davis ’11 received All-Tournament honors. Since then, the team posted a blowout victory at home against St. Joseph’s before the equally impressive 28-point win over Johnson State to round out the first two weeks of the year.
“We have faced adversity this year so far with injuries, but our first-years have really stepped up,” said Ryan Sharry ’12. “We look to get stronger as the year moves on and are excited to defend our NESCAC championship.”
Undoubtedly, Sharry was referring to the backcourt duo of first-years Jake Wolfin ’13 and Nolan Thompson ’13, who have already made strong contributions to the team. Sharry currently leads the squad with 12.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, and is part of a talented starting front court along with Ryan Wholey ’11 and Davis that also features the 6’11” Andrew Locke ’11 coming off the bench. Locke finished the first four games with 11 blocks, establishing himself as a defensive presence in the paint reminiscent of a young Manute Bol — the legendary 7’7” Sudanese NBA player who scorched the courts in the ’80s and ’90s.
Indeed, the squad seems to be faring well despite the considerable setbacks of having both captains out of commission. The team, which completed a record season last year, taking part in extensive post-season play and capturing the NESCAC title, seems fully capable of living up to its recently-minted reputation this winter. From the number of fans packing the Pepin bleachers to Davis’s recent dunk at Swarthmore, it is clear that Panther basketball has become a team to watch this season, giving hockey a run for its money as the crowd-pleasing winter sport.
In the upcoming week, the Panther team has home games tonight at 7 p.m. against St. Lawrence and Saturday at 3 p.m. vs. Union, who are 2-2 and 1-2, respectively. Both teams should present a worthy challenge, however, as St. Lawrence showed in its last outing with a momentum-grasping 71-41 win against a hapless New York City Tech team. Following the St. Lawrence game, Middlebury won’t play another game until the end of the month, when they play Rensselaer on Dec. 30.
(12/03/09 6:15pm)
Drolet ’12 earns NESCAC player of the week honors
Following an impressive showing against some of the best teams in the nation at the PrimeLink Great Northern Shootout at Norwich, men’s hockey forward Martin Drolet ’12 was named NESCAC player of the week on Monday. The sophomore, who started his season with both a goal and assist in the Panthers’ 5-3 victory over the Connecticut College Camels, played a part in six of the eight Panther goals tallied in tournament play last weekend.
The Quebec native, who led the Panthers last season with 19 goals and was second only to former teammate Jamie McKenna ’09 in terms of total points, with 33, has resumed his characteristically prolific play early in the season.
The forward’s presence was less evident in the team’s first game, tallying an assist in the Panther’s disappointing loss to third-ranked Plattsburgh State last Friday, but made up for a missable performance with two goals and three assists in the squad’s dominating 7-3 win over Wisconsin-Stout the following day.
After last weekend’s play Drolet has reclaimed his place at the top, leading the team with eight points total. With three goals, he ranks second on the team behind fellow forward Mathieu Dubuc ’13, and with five assists he leads the squad at this point in the season.
As results have already proved, Drolet has avoided any sophomore slump, making a name for himself in the conference early on in regular season play. Expect him to continue playing at a high level, matching, if not surpassing, his rookie success.
Jane Handel ’12 brings home postseason awards
Recognized earlier in the season as a NESCAC player of the week, women’s volleyball player Jane Handel ’12 has again earned conference recognition in the postseason.
The outside hitter has amassed quite a collection of accolades in her Panther career, being named NESCAC rookie of the year and American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) New England rookie of the year last season, as well as earning a place on the all-NESCAC second team and an honorable mention on the 2008 AVCA all-American list.
This season, Handel has been named to the first team all-NESCAC and the New England Women’s Volleyball Association second team. For the second consecutive season she was honored as an AVCA honorable mention all-American, leading the Panthers to one of their more successful seasons in recent memory, finishing 20-6 and earning their 16th straight trip to NESCAC tournament play.
The sophomore quickly climbed record boards this year, holding the third-place record for most kills in a single season with 346 and second-place record for all time kills per game with 3.6, placing her fifth in the NESCAC this season on the kills/game list. Averaging .45 service aces per game, Handel was an important asset offensively for the Panthers, and stood out defensively as well, averaging 2.98 digs/game and finishing the year with 39 blocks.
Truly one of the Panthers’ most valuable players, her prolific play throughout the season is certainly worthy of such profuse praise and the team is undoubtedly grateful to have such a kep player returning for two more exciting years.
(11/19/09 7:31am)
The 14 graduating seniors of the Middlebury football team ended the season, and their careers, on Saturday with a dominating win over the Tufts Jumbos. Unfazed by the downpour and the muddy conditions, the Panthers exhibited their strength and talent with a 26-7 victory.
“After starting 1-3, I feel we all really came together and found an identity as a team, said tri-captain Jamie Millard ’10. “[We] battled through lots of adversity with our game against undefeated Trinity, and our two games in the pouring rain at Bates and Tufts.”
Similarly, tri-captain Paul Bennett ’10 was satisfied with Middlebury’s ability to execute a “well-rounded and complete game against a tough Tufts team [after] a rough start to the season.” After struggling with completing the big plays and playing to potential for 60 minutes earlier in the season, the performances in the final four games demonstrated Middlebury’s potency and proved that Middlebury remains one of the strongest teams in the NESCAC.
The dire conditions tested both teams, and forced an atypical amount of errors. Middlebury fumbled a three times, while the Jumbos fumbled twice. A Middlebury fumble led to the Jumbos’ only touchdown. However, Middlebury’s handling of the adverse conditions and ability to capitalize on the Jumbos’ errors proved to be the differential.
Tufts quarterback Tom McNamara was intercepted twice by Charlie Taft ’11 and Bill Greven ’10. As Middlebury took advantage of these mistakes, Tim Monaghan ’10 put the first points on the board after pass interference and personal foul was called against the Jumbos. Millard found that “[quarterback] Donnie [McKillop ’11] was great in managing the game and passing the ball in such awful conditions.”
Once again, the defense was nearly impenetrable. Millard noted that “the defense was absolutely dominant, as [Eric] Kamback [’10] had a beast of a day with 20 tackles.” Kamback’s second 20-tackle game tied the school record.
Taylor Robinson ’10 also had a strong defensive performance. In his final game, he was responsible for two of Middlebury’s six sacks of McNamara.
Offensively, McKillop completed 336 passing yards for three touchdowns, nearly three times the amount of McNamara’s 130 yards performance. Once again, McKillop’s performance earned him NESCAC player of the week. With a year remaining, he owns all of Middlebury single-season and career passing records, as well as the NESCAC single-season records for completions (262), attempts (405), yards (2873), touchdown passes (22) and total offense (2967).
Erik Rostad ’10, Billy Chapman ’13 and Millard were the major offensive contributors. Rostad finished his impressive career with an equally impressive game, as he had 78 rushing yards and six catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Chapman had two catches for 24 yards and a touchdown. Millard’s four receptions lifted him over Tom Cleaver ’04 to become Middlebury’s single-season reception leader with 64 catches.
(11/19/09 7:19am)
Skiing
After placing eighth in the 2009 NCAA Skiing Championship, the Middlebury Nordic and Alpine ski teams are gearing up for another successful run in the Eastern Carnival Circuit this winter. Each team can field six men and six women in the events, and hope to qualify all six participants in the NCAA Championships at the end of the season. The teams have survived grueling preseason workouts this fall, featuring a diverse range of activities, including “bounding,” numerous time trials, log rolling and car-pushing.
The fall preseason features many team bonding events that simultaneously strengthen the teams physically and contribute to positive team chemistry, as teammates motivate each other through the workouts and push each other to improve. At the Sunset Orchard Challenge, for example, the teams split up and competed in an obstacle course of sorts that involved carrying logs up a mountain. At the end, they spelled out 350 with sticks to show their support for international climate control.
“Everyone came back [this fall] fitter than I’ve ever seen since starting to coach at Middlebury,” wrote four-year Nordic team coach Andrew Gardner on the ski team’s blog. Alpine coach Steve Bartlett has also coached at Middlebury for four years with extremely successful results, which the team hopes to build on this winter. Both the Nordic and Alpine teams have a strong batch of new talent in their first-year class that will hopefully make a significant impact on the team’s performance.
Middlebury’s ski teams are traditionally fierce competitors in the Northeast region, dominating the other Division-III NESCAC teams and consistently challenging their perennial D-I rivals Dartmouth, UVM and UNH. In last season’s carnivals, Middlebury earned several fourth-place finishes behind these three powerhouses as well as a second-place finish and two thirds. This year the team has set their sights on solidifying their position at the top of the Eastern Circuit rankings.
Men's Bastketball
The Middlebury men’s basketball squad is looking to bounce back after last season was frustratingly cut short. The Panthers made their second straight national tournament appearance last year after winning a school-record 24 games and dropping only four over the course of the season. During the tournament, however, Bridgewater State’s clutch long-range shooting in a sold-out Pepin Gymnasium handed Middlebury its first home loss of the season and denied the team’s advancement to the sectional round.
Despite losing second team All-American Ben Rudin ’09, starters Kyle Dudley ’09 and Aaron Smith ’09 and reserve Matt Westman ’09 to graduation, the Panthers expect success again this season. However, it may take some time for the team to jell.
“We’ll become much stronger as the season goes along,” remarked coach Jeff Brown, last year’s NESCAC coach of the year. “Captain Tim Edwards ’10, last year’s NESCAC defensive player of the year, is out three to four weeks with a fractured hand, and [last year’s starting center] Andrew Locke ’11 will return after his semester abroad in South Africa. With both of them back in the fold, we’ll be much more competitive.”
In addition, key reserve Ashton Coughlin ’11 has yet to practice, while others have intermittently suffered from injury (including Bill Greven ’10, who has a fractured foot) and illness, all contributing to a relatively slow early-season start. But the Panthers appear to be stacked at all positions.
The front-court duo the 6’10” Locke and Jamal Davis ’11 will be a force to be reckoned with throughout the season. The Panthers are counting on length and athleticism up front to cause problems on the defensive end. Coach Brown will also look to skilled post players Ryan Sharry ’12 and Peter Lynch ’13 for quality minutes off the bench.
In addition to Edwards and Coughlin, Kevin Kelleher ’10 and Ryan Wholey ’11 will provide Middlebury with perimeter threats while Nolan Thompson ’13, who has been impressive in practice, is expected to share minutes at the shooting guard position. Henry Butler ’12 and Jake Wolfsin ’13 are expected to share minutes at the point guard position.
As each Panther finds his role, the team will become a dangerous competitor. Middlebury begins its season at the Swarthmore Invitational on Nov. 20, but be sure to catch the Panthers for their home debut Nov. 24 against St. Joseph’s.
Women's Basketball
The women’s basketball team has returned to Pepin Gymnasium this year with a newfound confidence and a positive attitude, following a disappointing season last year.
Last season the team finished with a record of eight wins and 15 losses, going only 2-6 in conference play. Despite being an intense and competitive squad, certain things did not go their way last winter.
The players responded to last season’s setback by working incredibly hard during the off-season. After recognizing what was not successful in the past, the women have spent last spring and this fall working incredibly hard to solve these problems.
“Our hard work in the off-season has already given us a great jumpstart,” said Brittany Perfetti ’12.
The team this year will be led by captain Kaitlyn Fallon ’10. Fallon is described by Perfetti as “one of the most hardworking people” she knows.
“Fallon’s heart and passion has really motivated and connected us as a team,” said Perfetti. This leadership will be a defining feature of the women’s squad this year.
The women’s team this year is incredibly young. It is composed of four first-years, four sophomores, two juniors and three seniors. The incoming class has proved to be an incredibly talented group that is expected to contribute much to the team.
Women’s basketball returns with an optimistic outlook and lots of potential for success this season. This weekend will be the team’s first test as they travel to Pennsylvania to play Haverford and Swarthmore in their first games of the season.
“I think we’re going to bounce back,” says Perfetti. Her confidence is inspiring, and indicative of the high hopes the program has for the 2009-2010 season.
Indoor Track
With several ‘crossover’ cross country-track runners every year, the tremendous success of the cross country program this fall is bound to spill over into the indoor track season. For the men, a solid seventh-place finish in NCAA regionals marked the end of competition, while the women, who finished the event tied for first with MIT, are still running, on a quest for their sixth NCAA championship in nine years.
If the success of the cross country program is any indication of what the indoor track and field season will shape up to be, impressive results are almost guaranteed. The perennially powerful women’s squad, which sent five athletes to nationals last spring, is expected to make its presence known, while the consistent growth of the men’s squad could usher in an improved season over last year.
Under the tutelage of last year’s NESCAC coach of the year Martin Beatty, the squad, short a few key graduated seniors, among them co-captains Ben Fowler ’09 and Chandler Koglmeier ’09, and women’s co-captain Kelley Coughlan ’09, is looking to mimic last year’s success. Relying heavily on young talent last season, the loss of leadership will give a very talented younger generation the chance to assume a greater role on the team.
Because the indoor season is acknowledged by many to be a glorified warm-up for the trials of the outdoor track, don’t be surprised to see runners stepping outside their usual roles, running new races and maybe even trying their hands at a field event or two.
The youth and talent of the women’s team, captained this year by Laura Dalton ’10, Anjuli Demers ’10, and Anne Sullivan ’10, and the improvement of the men’s squad, led by Micah Wood ’10, Michael Waters ’10 and Victor Guevara ’10 would indicate a successful season in the offing, but look to the spring for runners abroad to return and the real fun to begin.
Men's Hockey
Since setting their skates on the ice at the beginning of October for captain’s practices, the men’s hockey players have displayed renewed determination to get the program back to where it once was — at the top of the NESCAC and Division III NCAA rankings. As last season came to a close, the squad suffered two blows: falling short of a NESCAC championship at Amherst and missing a bid to the NCAA playoffs.
Though the Panthers ended the season with a 19-7-1 record, the players put their skates away for the spring with a feeling of missed opportunities. Today, they are eager to prove they still have what it takes.
With 13 new players joining the roster, the team has a new face — and with it, a new desire to dominate the competition on the ice at Kenyon and on the road.
To be sure, the stick skills of the team’s seniors from last season will be missed, having graduated second team All-American Jamie McKenna ’09 along with a solid group of experienced players. Nevertheless, the near future looks bright for this historically successful team, which includes last year’s NESCAC Rookie of the Year, Martin Drolet ’12.
As the 13 first-years make their debut on the ice this weekend at Conn. College and Tufts, the team will look to show off its new and old talent with high hopes for the season.
Women's Hockey
The women’s hockey team is all about bonding this season — both within the squad and with the Middlebury community at large. After having spent an evening with residents of the town at a Community Supper at the Congregational Church recently, the Panthers got to know their fans — a group that, at many times over the years, has proven to be more die-hard than the College’s own student body.
After collecting both the NESCAC Championship and NCAA Division III third place trophy last winter, the women deserve a little celebrity status. This year, many of the players are back for another season of strong play — with seniors hungry for an NCAA title and the seven first-years eager to prove themselves on the ice.
At the helm of the program remains head coach Bill Mandigo, who enters his 22nd season with the team. A coach whose tenure with the program is older than most of the women on the squad have been alive, Mandigo brings a history of success to the ice that is unparalleled in the NESCAC.
The trifecta of captains Lani Wright ’10, Marjie Billings ’10 and Heather McCormack ’10 (who enters the season fresh off the field hockey turf) also promises to deliver impressive results as it guides the team through a competitive schedule of matches, starting at home on Nov. 22 against Conn. College.
The real event to watch, however, will be the Panther-Cardinal Classic, which will bring Middlebury’s two biggest rivals — Plattsburgh State and Amherst — to Kenyon Arena to battle it out with the Panthers on Jan. 3.
Swimming and Diving
The Middlebury swimmers and divers are highly anticipating and preparing for their first meet this upcoming weekend. The team will compete against Connecticut College and Tufts on Nov. 21 and against Springfield on Nov. 22.
Swimmers on the men’s and women’s side had impressive results in the NCAA meet last year, but the team ended the season on a fairly even keel; the men’s team finished with a record of 4-5 and the women 5-4. The team looks forward to move up from there this year.
“We look forward to continuing the momentum we have started during preseason,” said co-captain Katie Remington ’10.
Although the team graduated a handful of key contributors including Catherine Suppan ’09, Zach Woods ’09 and Kevin O’Rourke ’09, the class of first-years has the potential to fill their shoes.
The depth of the 2013 class is promising, and their performance this weekend will greatly impact whether or not the Panthers come out victorious.
In addition to the deep first-year class, the return of co-captains Katie Soja ’10 and Katie Remington ’10 from abroad will help bring the team to the next level. Both girls were abroad for part of last year, and therefore missed half of the 2009-2010 swim season.
On the men’s side, John Dillon ’10 arrives back at Middlebury stronger than ever and looks forward to making a large contribution in the swimming lanes this year.
With strong team chemistry combined with individual determination and hard work, the Panthers have the chance to be formidable in the pool this winter.
It will be exciting to see them compete this season, and interesting to see which rookies make an impression in this upcoming meet and throughout the season.
Squash
Middlebury squash has progressed drastically over the past four years. First, the program stole longtime rival coach John Illig from Bowdoin. His enthusiasm and recruiting prowess have fueled this recent success. Along with Coach Illig’s arrival, the program made the transition from club to varsity. While the change was mostly superficial, the name change reflects the increasing dedication and focus of the team.
Last year, both the men and women pushed Middlebury to new heights in the national rankings. Middlebury’s mens team went from the bottom of the C-flight (24th) to the top (17th) during the 2008-2009 season, while the women jumped from 18th to 13th. While the Panthers look to continue their previous success, the focus is all on the future.
“The goal is to maintain this upward trajectory and move up to the B-flight,” said captain Simon Keyes ’10. “The preseason kept everyone in good shape and thirsty to play, while an individual tournament two weeks ago at Bowdoin gave everyone a taste of what they have been thinking about all off-season. I think everyone is really excited.”
Coach Illig has placed continued development of the talent pipeline as a top priority. There is no junior varsity squash and, as such, even the lowest players on the bracket get the same exposure to Coach Illig as the players at the top. Theses “vagues,” as they are known on the team, range from new first-years trying out the sport to seniors who are trying to make the jump from recreational to competitive play.
Both the men and the women are losing their top players from last season in JP Sardi ’09 and Sally Hatfield ’09, but the infusion of new talent is apparent. Both teams boast four new first-years, including several that may be expected to make immediate contributions near the top of the ladder. This talented crop of young players on both teams really stands to benefit from the hard work and determination exuded by their elders.
This year, the teams play host to several key matches against teams like Amherst and St. Lawrence. The program has high hopes as it continues to scale the ranks of college squash.
(05/07/09 12:00am)
Author: Kevin Carpenter The Pranksters were unable to quell their opponents at New England Regionals this past weekend at Dartmouth as the Middlebury men's and women's ultimate Frisbee teams both fell short of receiving a bid to Nationals. The top two teams from each tournament received a bit to Nationals, which takes place at the end of May.The men entered New England Regionals riding a 14-game winning streak and kept their momentum going through the first three games. The experienced squad rolled through their first two games, beating New Hampshire and MIT 15-6 and 15-5, respectively. The Pranksters met Harvard, who finished fifth at Nationals last year, in the semifinals."The game that stands out in my mind as our best of the tournament was our semifinal against Harvard," said Tri-Captain Peter Prial '09. "People made great plays, both on the offensive and defensive ends, at critical times which allowed us to escape from a 3-0 deficit to 8-7 at the half."The team was performing at their peak against Harvard, noted Prial."In the second half," continued Prial, "we worked as well as I've seen us work with the disc, maintaining a very patient offense and taking the underneath cuts which Harvard gave us and not forcing any deep throws. On defense, we maintained a high level of intensity and channeled that intensity into a patient offensive game."The satisfying win was merely a prelude to the final match against a ferocious Tufts squad. Prior to the game, Tufts boasted a 21-9 record coming into the game against a 31-5 Middlebury. Unfortunately for the Pranksters, Tufts had no intention of clowning around and came out strong."We ran as hard as we could every single point of every game, and it was a joy to be a part of the team," said Prial. "We played very well the whole weekend, and just were a little fatigued on Sunday. There were also a few injuries that hurt us."Middlebury ultimately lost the finals but still had a chance to go to Nationals with a win against Williams in the second-place bracket.The squad had beaten Williams twice, yet with the injury of Joe MacDonald '10, Middlebury's mismatch on offense was no longer an advantage. In a highly contested match, the men ultimately fell 15-14 and missed finals in a one point loss. The women put up an equally valiant fight in their quest for a spot to Nationals. The lady Pranksters entered the tournament in the third seed and destroyed Connecticut and UMass in the first two matches."I think that the team did a great job of combining both intensity and a great spirit to make the weekend not only successful, because we placed fourth, but also a whole lot of fun for everyone on our team," said Hannah Waite '11.The squad fell, however, in the semifinal match against Dartmouth, the host team and second seed in the bracket. The loss brought Middlebury to the second-place bracket where Middlebury met top-seed Harvard."Having played five games already in the weekend," said Waite, "we were all completely exhausted against Harvard, but we pulled together as a team and really gave it our all. Even though we lost, we put up a really great fight, and all of our girls played incredibly."Middlebury lost a contested 15-13 match to Harvard, yet the close score reflected a truly gritty battle for that spot to Nationals.Both the men's and women's programs have experienced incredible success this season. The teams have managed to increase their skill and stamina while still sticking to the outrageousness of the Prankster doctrine. In looking to the future, both teams foresee solid teams."I think the team has a bright future, not only for next year but the years to come," said Prial. "The juniors and sophomores on the team this year improved dramatically over the course of the season, and I fully expect that improvement to continue next year."The women will likely lose no players this year and look to have a lethal roster going into the fall. ? "Considering more than half of our roster consists of freshman, we have great potential for the future," said Waite. "Those freshmen will definitely improve over the summer and with most of our players returning next year, the future of the Middlebury Lady Pranksters looks very bright."Despite falling short of Nationals, the Pranksters have established a winning program that is sure to experience unbounded success in future years.
(05/07/09 12:00am)
Author: Becca Fanning Staying in Middlebury this summer? With gas prices expected to rise, don't head to Burlington or Lake Champlain to beat the heat. Middlebury and Addison County offer more than enough to keep you busy this summer, from outdoor adventures to musical performances. The best part? It's all within biking distance!Helles Alt Release PartyKick off summer on May 22 with the release party for Otter Creek's newest beer, Helles Alt, from 4-7 p.m. in the brewery tasting room. Sample new beer, eat local cheese and chat with brewers. Proceeds from beer purchases benefit the Open Door Clinic.A&WPull up and head back in time. Order a burger or milkshake from car-hops on roller-skates. Take advantage of this while you can: the A&W is only open in the summer! Triathlon SeriesWant to get noticed in the gym this September? Get a head start and stay in shape this summer by entering one (or all) of these local triathlons! Visit www.rushtonsports.com for details.Vermont Sun Triathlons - June 28 and July 12 at Branbury State Park in Salisbury, Vt. 600-yd swim, 14-mile bike, 3.1-mile run. Start time: 8:00 a.m.Lake Dunmore Triathlon - Sunday, August 9 at Branbury State Park in Salisbury, Vt. 0.9-mile swim, 28-mile bike, 6.2-mile run. Start time: 8:00 a.m.Half Vermont Journey - Sunday, August 30 at Branbury State Park in Salisbury, Vt. 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, 13.1-mile run. Start time: 8:00 a.m.Shelburne MuseumExplore a 19th century jail building, Steamboat Ticonderoga or check out Impressionism-era paintings. Visit the museum during the day and admission includes access to weekly 'Sunsets at Shelburne,' a Thursday evening series beginning June 18 with a barbecue and live music from 5 to 7:30 pm.Catch a performance at Town Hall TheaterFriday, May 29 at 8 p.m. - The Burlington Chamber Orchestra. Tickets are available for $20.Friday, June 5 at 8 p.m. - "The Barber of Seville." Tickets are available for $35 or $40 on the balcony.Friday, June 26 at 8 p.m. - The National Theater Live performance of "Ph
(05/07/09 12:00am)
Author: Julia Ireland After a season of highs and lows, the Middlebury women's lacrosse team ended their NESCAC run with a loss to rival Colby College in the semifinals this past Saturday.The first half saw back and forth action from both sides. Middlebury struck first with two goals by Sally Ryan '11, but Colby wasted no time in responding, tying it up with two goals within one minute of each other. Middlebury took another two-goal lead in the first half, but again, Colby tied the game at four and then gained a two-goal lead. Chase Delano '11 and Caroline Kirkendoll '09 scored in the final minutes of the first half to tie the game once again.The game was tied 6-6 at halftime, but Colby's offense ignited a six-goal scoring streak in the second half that decisively shifted the momentum in their favor. The teams traded goals in the first minutes of the second half, but Colby then tallied six times in 10 minutes to go up 13-7."Colby got a lot more aggressive in the second half. They dominated draw controls which really made the difference," said senior goalie Blair Bowie '09, who recorded 10 saves on the afternoon. "Lacrosse is such a game of momentum that once one team gets on a big scoring run, it's very difficult to turn the game back around." "You need possession of the ball to score, and by not gaining control of draws we were not giving our offense enough opportunities to score," added Kate Barton '09.Delano tried to break Colby's momentum with a goal off of a pass from attacker Lindsay McBride '09 with thirteen minutes remaining, but the Mules remained strong defensively and threatening offensively through the duration of the contest. The teams traded goals in the remaining minutes to finish the game with a 17-12 score in the visiting team's favor."Colby exploited any tiny mistakes we made on defense, so if we get another chance to play we will have to limit our mistakes and keep capitalizing on all of our offensive opportunities," said McBride.Ryan and Delano provided the majority of the Panther offense. Ryan had five goals and an assist while Delano tallied four goals and an assist in the game. Taryn Petrelli '09 provided solid defense for the Panthers, causing a game-high five turnovers. Despite the loss to a very tough competitor, Middlebury will have the chance to play again as they received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. Not much about their strategy will change as they look toward competing at the national level. "The cause of our success going forward will not be changing our game, but it will be rediscovering the things that we already do well. We are a team with one of the best defenses in Division III and an incredibly potent offense that features some of the leagues' very best players," said Bowie.The Panthers are looking forward to another opportunity to take the field with confidence and prove what a talented and cohesive unit they have."We still have a lot of confidence in ourselves and everyone on the team would love another shot to prove ourselves," said Barton."We've definitely had some ups and downs this season but I think we've learned a lot along the way. Everyone is really hoping for an NCAA bid because we are just reaching the peak of our season and we don't want it to end," added McBride.The end of the 2009 Middlebury women's lacrosse season will mark the end of seven seniors' great careers at Middlebury. The team will graduate offensive threats Caroline Kirkendoll, McBride, Barton, Alice Demmerle and Katie Sparkes in addition to Bowie and defensive anchor Petrelli. Petrelli, a two-sport standout athlete in field hockey and lacrosse, saw action in every possible game of her career with the exception of two.The senior class will walk away with two NESCAC titles in their careers, two NCAA Final Four appearances and 53 wins against just 14 losses.The Panthers hosted their first-round NCAA game against Keene State on Wednesday, May 6. The winner of the game advances to the NCAA regional round, held at Colby College.
(04/30/09 12:00am)
Author: Amy Francisco This past Sunday, students waking up before noon may have noticed the yellow flags, cheering supporters and almost 200 racers participating in the newly created "Middlebury Maple Run - The Sweetest Half." The name refers both to one of Vermont's quintessential winter activities - maple syrup-making - and to the race's half-marathon distance. A nine-person committee, including Middlebury swim coaches Peter Solomon and Andy Weinberg, women's cross country coach Terry Aldrich and Special Assistant to the President David Donahue, organized the event. "It is a great way to promote the Middlebury area and the run itself while also promoting one of Addison County's - and Vermont's - best known products: maple syrup," said Angelo Lynn, another committee member and publisher of the Addison Independent. "It's just the kind of race that could eventually bring hundreds of people to the area from around the Northeast and Montreal areas. It's the right distance for the right time of year - and the picture we paint of the race, with its quaint Vermont theme, just sounds fun." Runners began the 13.4 mile racecourse in the Porter Hospital parking lot, running through downtown Middlebury, across the Pulp Mill Covered Bridge and through Weybridge past the UVM-owned Morgan Horse Farm before eventually ending back at the starting point at Porter. Local runners Benj Deppman and Keith Wilkerson put together the course, one designed to be relatively flat and fast, while offering gorgeous views of the Adirondacks, the Green Mountains and other Vermont scenery, including Otter Creek and the Middlebury campus. While there were no huge prizes for overall and age-group winners, they did receive small containers of locally produced maple syrup. Also, all runners who registered by April 15 received a t-shirt and gift certificates to local businesses, such as Two Brothers Tavern and the Vermont Book Shop. A portion of the race's proceeds go toward the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.Despite the gray, drizzly weather and the newness of the race, 185 participants turned out this year to run the half marathon, including a good number of Middlebury students. Weinberg anticipates double or triple this number in future years, and judging from the reactions of several college participants, such numbers should be no problem. Both Mike Graham '12, first-time half marathon runner, and Katie Siegner '12, who ran a half marathon in Shelburne, Vt. earlier this year, emphasized the importance of the support of local townspeople and students all along the course. "It was definitely harder than the first half marathon I ran, but being in Middlebury was awesome because of the people you know cheering, and also the support of the townspeople," said Siegner. "On the racecourse we kept passing little kids with signs saying 'Go Mom,' and through the town people turned out in pretty big numbers. Some people even brought their cars out to play music for us. The fan support was definitely a huge factor." Graham described the atmosphere of the race as being very "relaxed and friendly," despite the mix of runners training for full marathons and college students who had never run even a half marathon before. For photos of the race, see page 7.
(04/23/09 12:00am)
Author: Dillon Hupp Because only division games count toward the playoff standings in NESCAC baseball, this past weekend's series versus division rival Amherst was especially crucial in determining Middlebury's playoff fate. The Amherst series was the first NESCAC action for the Panthers since their series with Tufts two weekends ago, in which Middlebury took only one of four games. Head Coach Bob Smith cited inconsistency in the defense and pitching as one of the reasons Middlebury struggled in the Tufts series. "We are trying to be more consistent with all phases of the game and have yet to put it all together," he said. However, that consistency appeared to be lacking this weekend, when Middlebury was swept by the Lord Jeffs in a three-game series at Amherst.The first game of the series, which took place on Friday, was a tightly-contested, low-scoring affair, with the outcome in question until the very end. Middlebury tied the game at one apiece in the third inning when Danny Seymour '10 drove in Pete Bourdon '09 after Bourdon's double. The Panthers would have scored more if not for Amherst's diving catch of a Donny McKillop '11 shot to right field. After Amherst took a 3-1 lead in the seventh, Middlebury struck again in the eighth when Andrew Matson '09 drove in Captain Mark Shimrock '09 on a sacrifice fly, cutting the lead to one. However, Amherst added two more runs in their half of the eighth, making the tally 5-2. Middlebury scored again in the ninth when McKillop drove in Seymour, but the rally was not enough, as the Lord Jeffs held on for the 5-3 victory. Nick Angstman '11 was the losing pitcher for Middlebury, falling to 1-3 on the year.The remaining games in the series were played in a doubleheader on Saturday. Game one of the doubleheader, much like the first game of the series, was a close, hard-fought contest. The game started well for the Panthers, as they added five hits to an Amherst error to score five runs in the top of the second inning. McKillop, Seymour, and Erich Enns '10 all recorded RBIs in the inning. However, Middlebury would score no more runs in the game.Amherst added one of its own in the bottom of the second and three more in the fourth to make it 5-4, and eventually took the lead in the fifth when Angus Schaller doubled in two runs, making it 6-5 in favor of the Lord Jeffs. After Amherst scored its final run in the bottom of the sixth, the Panthers came tantalizingly close to tying the game in the last inning. Shimrock reached on an error with one out, and pinch runner Murph McCurdy '12 reached third after Enns singled and advanced to second. However, the next two batters flied out, preserving the 7-5 victory for Amherst. Steve Shortle '09 got the loss for Middlebury after giving up three earned runs in four and one-third innings of work.The second game of the day and the final one of the series, unlike the previous two, was not a close contest. Amherst led 5-1 after the fourth inning and then exploded for 12 runs in the bottom of the seventh to make it a 17-1 final. Middlebury managed only four hits and one run, that run coming in the third when Seymour drove in Zach Roeder '12 on a sacrifice fly. Matt Joseph '09 recorded the loss, going six and a third innings and giving up seven earned. After the three-game sweep, Middlebury's record stands at 9-14, with a 1-7 record in NESCAC play. The 3-4-5 hitting combination of McKillop, Shimrock and Enns performed extremely well for the Panthers, as they went a combined 13-34 in the series.
(04/16/09 12:00am)
Author: Julia Ireland The eighth-ranked women's lacrosse team lost to Union for the first time in the program's history last Thursday and similarly could not get on track Saturday as they were defeated by Tufts, 12-7.Middlebury had previously held an unblemished 33-0 record over Union, who is currently ranked 15th, but could not make it 34 straight against the Dutchwomen. Union tallied the first goal of the game just one minute in when Kristin Joyce scored her 23rd goal of the season. Middlebury, however, did not waste any time in answering as Sally Ryan '11 scored for the Panthers to tie it. The Dutchwomen scored the next two only to have the Panthers tie it up again. Both teams scored once more before the end of the half, heading into intermission deadlocked at four.The second half was not nearly as close. Union scored four goals to gain a commanding 8-4 lead. Middlebury would trail for the remainder of the game, although both teams would trade goals throughout the half. Dana Heritage '10 made a solid offensive push for the Panthers late in the half to bring Middlebury to within two, but Joyce rescued Union with another goal. Elizabeth Garry '12 scored her 16th goal of the season toward the end of the half, but Union once again managed to keep the lead despite Garry's goal and another Middlebury goal from Chase Delano '11. Late goals by Dutchwomen Jill LaForest and Chelsea Charette ensured that Middlebury did not make a late comeback.Six different players scored for Middlebury in the contest, yet the game still ended in a 12-8 defeat for the visiting Panthers. Union goaltender Cat Ruggiero made 13 saves for the Dutchwomen while Panther Blair Bowie '09 made seven."The loss to Union was definitely a wake-up call, and we worked really hard at practice on Friday to prepare for Tufts," said attacker Lindsay McBride '09. "The heart and aggressiveness we lacked against Union was there at Tufts, but we still had trouble executing on attack."Although they brought a reinvigorated effort against Tufts on Saturday, Middlebury was nonetheless unable to upset the seventh-ranked Jumbos, falling by a 12-7 margin. "Everyone showed up to play on Saturday," said defender Carrie Sparkes '10. "We certainly played a tough game, we just made a few too many mistakes to come home with a win." Unlike at Union, it was Middlebury who opened the scoring, as Delano netted two quick back-to-back goals. However, 20 minutes into the game, Tufts had tied it at three.From this point onward, Tufts seemed to redirect the game's momentum in their favor. Scoring four unanswered goals, with Jumbos Emily Johnson and Courtney Thomas each contributing two, Tufts cruised into halftime with a 7-4 lead.Middlebury generated some offense in the beginning of the second half but another offensive burst from Tufts gave the Jumbos a commanding 11-5 advantage. Amanda Roberts '11 converted a free-position shot to earn Tufts its 11th goal of the game.Middlebury was able to steal two late goals, but the Jumbo defense remained strong, anchored by sophomore goalie Sarah Bloom, who made 11 saves in the game. Allowing only seven Panther goals, Tufts held Middlebury to its lowest goal total so far this season.The win over Middlebury is Tufts' 10th victory of the season against just one loss, making them tied with Colby for first place in the NESCAC."[Head Coach Missy Foote] was disappointed because we did not play to the best of our ability in each game," McBride said of the two losses. "Right now we are just looking to regain our offensive confidence. In these games, the offensive spark was missing, so we will be working to get that back this week.""The team is focusing on [Foote's] mentality that 'all is not lost,'" added Sparkes. "We have a few big games to play this week, and we need to go out and play as we all know how to do."The Panthers have three more regular season games left, all against NESCAC teams. They will take the field next at home against Amherst on April 15 at 4:45 p.m.
(04/09/09 12:00am)
Author: Jeb Burchenal The Panthers continued to impress their fans this past Saturday as they paid the Bowdoin Polar Bears a visit in Maine and came away with a thrilling 14-13 victory. Seventh-ranked Middlebury entered the game on a five game winning streak after losing its second game to Wesleyan, while 13th-ranked Bowdoin came in undefeated in NESCAC play. The NESCAC rivals played a fairly one-sided first half after Middlebury jumped out on a 7-0 run after a 3-3 opening. Tri-captain and face-off specialist Dave Campbell '09 sparked the run by winning eight of 11 face-offs, but All-American Tri-captain Mike Stone '09 was the engine and demonstrated why he is considered one of the best midfielders in Division-III lacrosse. Stone buried five goals in the first half alone to propel the Panthers to an 11-5 lead at the half.The senior from Massachusetts has continued to prove his role as the key to Middlebury's success so far in the season. His ability to score in bunches is obvious, but when he is on top of his game his presence creates shots for other players. Possessing great passing skills along with a rocket shot, he forces defenses out of their comfort zone to create space and shots for himself and his teammates.As the game wore on, the Polar Bears cooled the Panther offense in the third quarter and kept them off the board for nearly 15 minutes of play. During that stretch, Bowdoin was able to crawl back to within three late in the third quarter. After Pete Smith '10 was able to notch his second goal of the day, Bowdoin roared back with a five-goal run continuing into the fourth quarter. After leading all game, Middlebury found itself down 13-12 with 9:09 to go.Skyler Hopkins '09 brought the Panthers even at 7:27, setting the stage for the dramatic ending to an important conference matchup. Pete Britt '09 came up with a crucial save after a lengthy Bowdoin possession and continued to demonstrate strong play as the game wound down. With the game on the line and only 1:04 remaining, a driving Chris Teves '10 found an open Stone, who tickled the twine from 10 yards outside the cage. Bowdoin regained possession with a chance to tie, but again Britt was up to the task.Smith continued to dominate at his role of facilitator, notching two more assists for the game and bringing his total on the season to 26.The Panthers have five games remaining in the regular season with tough in-conference competition from Williams and Trinity continuing to the end of the season. After a brief stumble in the second game against Wesleyan, a beneficial spring break trip and a strong everyday work ethic have brought the Panthers back to near the top of the conference. Though paced by senior standouts like Britt and Stone, the team as a whole is getting the job done. If they are able to maintain this high caliber of play, it is safe to say the Panthers have a bright future as they close out the last weeks of the regular season.The Panthers will play in a home affair this Saturday against NESCAC foe Tufts. The Jumbos are currently tied with the Panthers atop the division with impressive 5-1 records.
(04/09/09 12:00am)
Author: Dillon Hupp After opening the season in Arizona, where they played 10 games in eight days, the Middlebury baseball team returned to Vermont last week to begin the home portion of their schedule. Following an 8-7 victory over Southern Vermont, the Panthers opened a critical three-game series with division rival Wesleyan, their first NESCAC action since being swept in three games by Williams over spring break in Arizona. With Saturday's game postponed due to inclement weather, the Panthers and Cardinals met for the first time this season on what began as a brutally cold and cloudy day at Forbes Field this past Sunday. The doubleheader marked the NESCAC home opener for Middlebury, and the team rebounded nicely from a 9-5 loss in the opening game to win 13-5 in the latter matchup and earn the split. The Panthers started the first game well, taking advantage of three Cardinal errors and a Zach Roeder '12 RBI in the first inning to take a two-run lead. Roeder added another RBI in the third, driving in Erich Enns '10 on a sacrifice fly and giving the Panthers a 4-2 lead. The Panthers maintained that advantage behind solid pitching from starter Steve Shortle '09 until the fifth inning, when Cardinals shortstop Drew Dominguez tied the game on a two-run home run. The Cardinals added another run after Dominguez's home run to take a 5-4 lead. Shortle was relieved in the seventh inning by Scooter Scott '11 after going for six and a third innings, giving up six earned runs on seven hits and three walks and recording three strikeouts on the day. Scott faced three batters and gave up two runs before being replaced by Matt Lowes '10, who recorded the final out of the inning. The bottom of the seventh started promisingly for the Panthers, with Murphy McCurdy '12, Tim Dillon '09 and Danny Seymour '10 all singling and closing the Cardinal lead to 9-5. However, the rally was short- lived as Wesleyan recorded the next three outs in order to seal the victory. Shortle was the losing pitcher for the Panthers; Mones earned the win for Wesleyan in a complete game effort.The sun came out and the Panthers' bats came alive for the second game of the day's doubleheader. Tyler Wark '12 started the scoring by driving in Mark Shimrock '09 in the bottom of the second, and from there the runs kept on coming. The Panthers would add three more in the next inning on hits by Shimrock, Seymour and Enns, followed by two more in the fourth inning when Wesleyan committed three errors and Seymour drove in Dillon, his first of two RBIs in the game.Middlebury really broke the game open in the fifth, however, when they scored seven runs on seven hits to take a 13-4 lead. Peter Bourdon '09 led off the inning with a double to centerfield, and Alex Blair '10, Andrew Matson '09, Donnie McKillop '11, Seymour, Dillon and Enns all had RBIs.Nick Angstman '11 gave the Panthers seven good innings, allowing four runs on nine hits with six strikeouts, and Matt Joseph '09 provided two innings of relief as Middlebury picked up their first NESCAC victory and improved to 6-7 overall on the season. The Panthers played at Plymouth State this past Wednesday and play a four-game series against Tufts this weekend. "It felt really good to get our first NESCAC win today," said Zach Doleac '12. "We're really looking forward to the rest of the season."
(03/19/09 12:00am)
Author: Catherine Ahearn Changes in the application protocol and a six-percent decline in prospective students' campus visits have led to a smaller applicant pool for the Class of 2013, whose members will receive their decision letters on March 27. However, 45 percent of the incoming class has already been admitted early decision."If anything, this year's applicant pool was even stronger than we have seen in the past," said Dean of Admissions Bob Clagett. "Based on SAT scores and the academic and other ratings that we use in the office, this was the strongest pool that we have ever had at Middlebury."Applicants came from all over the country and the world; however the applicant pool was slightly smaller than in recent years. Clagett attributed this variance to a change in the application process, now requiring that the application fee be paid upon submission of an application.In the past, students were able to submit an application and pay the fee at a later time. This resulted in a relatively large number of students who sent in an incomplete application and therefore never received a decision. This year, every application that was processed by the admissions office was complete."The bottom line to keep in mind," Clagett clarifies, "is that we are sending out about as many decisions this year as we did last year, if not a few more."The number of prospective students attending informational sessions and campus tours has declined six percent. Clagett believes that this could be a result of higher gasoline prices and generally inflated expenses of traveling.Despite the economic crisis, however, little has changed with regard to domestic applicants, who are accepted need-blind. Although little can be known about the financial circumstances of admitted students, it is very possible that the economic crisis will have an impact on aid eligibility. The College vows to meet 100 percent of a student's expressed need and intends to do so in order to remain competitive with other colleges' need-based offers."We do not have any reason to believe that the economic crisis will have an effect on our yield," Clagett asserts, believing that the College will welcome the same number of students next fall as it did in 2008.It is no secret that the Office of Admissions has reviewed international students need-aware for the past several years. But, in a recent message to the College community, President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz announced that next year the College will be increasing its total spending for financial aid solely for international students from $7.5 million to approximately $8 million next year."We have a set budget for international grant assistance," Clagett says, "and it is important that we not overspend that budget
(03/19/09 12:00am)
Author: Jeb Burchenal As of Sunday, the buzzword in the sports world has been "bracket." March Madness has returned and everyone is trying to isolate that key 3-14 upset. Division I basketball and Division III lacrosse are clearly quite different, but Wesleyan showed that any upset is possible as the 17th ranked Cardinals won a big, early-season NESCAC match-up against the 4th-ranked Panthers 8-7.Players reiterated that Middlebury played well, "but couldn't capitalize" as Pete Smith '10 put it. "They didn't outplay us, we just didn't take advantage of our opportunities."Wesleyan never trailed on their home turf, but the game was never out of hand either. The Cardinals jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the first half after a 13-minute scoreless stalemate to open the game. The Panther offense came to life in the second half, but costly turnovers with the game on the line proved too much to overcome. With the score 8-7 in favor of the Cardinals, Dave Campbell '09 won a critical draw and Zach Harwood '10 was able to come away with the ball. Matt Ferrer '09 fired over the cage but the Panthers successfully backed up the shot. With only 33 seconds remaining, the Panthers turned the ball over behind the Cardinal goal. This costly turnover was undone as a Wesleyan junior gave the ball back with 15 seconds left. Middlebury got the ball into the hot hand, but Wesleyan's defense stood up to the test and did not allow Ferrer a turn to get another shot.Wesleyan managed to fire 35 shots during the course of the game. That may speak to the "bend, don't break"-style defense the Panthers are running, but also to their opponents' relentless attempts to jump on goalie Pete Britt '09. In his second full season as a starter, Britt is proving his mettle. He made 14 saves while giving up eight goals, but Russ Banker '10, on the sideline due to injury, was quick to point out that "Britt kept us in the game." In a low-scoring contest like this, Banker also praised Mike Quinn '09 as a "pillar out there on defense." Quinn provides the size and strength the Middlebury is lacking in the post-Bambrick and Guay era.On the offensive side, Ferrer was the star for the Panthers as he buried five goals on the game. Russ Folansbee paced the Cardinals with three first-half goals and added another assist in the second half. The general sentiment was that everything was on point except for execution. Containing catalyst Mike Stone '09 might have been one thing that led to this lack of offensive production. Over the years, writers have been trying to identify the "good loss." Many love the idea because of its duality: if they are right, they are geniuses; if they are wrong, nobody remembers. Athletes need to turn every game, practice and workout into a positive experience if they hope to be a champion. They need that fire that that manifests as anger after a loss, and the refuse-to-lose mentality when they win. But turning a negative into a positive does not mean the 'good loss' is anything but a myth. This game should leave the Panthers hungry to prove themselves this coming weekend against Conn. College.
(03/12/09 12:00am)
Author: [no author name found] BASEBALLAfter 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 WriterSOFTBALLThe 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 WriterMEN'S TENNISThe 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 WriterWOMEN'S TENNISPanther 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 WriterMEN'S LACROSSEAfter 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 WriterWOMEN'S LACROSSEMiddlebury 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 GOLFAfter 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 WriterTRACK AND FIELDAnyone 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 distance 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
(03/12/09 12:00am)
Author: Dickie Redmond MEN'S BASKETBALL EARNS TOP HONORS ACROSS THE BOARDAfter 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 CHAMPIONSHIPAfter 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 RECOGNITIONJamie 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.
(03/05/09 12:00am)
Author: Jeff Klein As the last 15 seconds ticked off the clock and Amherst backed off, no longer looking to foul, the Panthers started to hug each other and jump up and down, caught up in a moment of pure joy. They looked toward the crowd - the crazed student section that had exhausted every vocal chord supporting them throughout this amazing run - and put their arms up in a gesture of triumph. Was this really about to happen?The buzzer sounded. Apparently, the answer was yes.Riding the momentum of a tremendous home court advantage, the men's basketball team easily dispatched Bowdoin in the semifinals before outlasting Amherst by a score of 77-68 to win its first-ever NESCAC Championship."We couldn't be happier about our first NESCAC Championship," said Aaron Smith '09. "It has been amazing to see how far the program has come in just four years. Everyone on this team, the players and coaches, just completely dedicated themselves to winning."Bowdoin provided little resistance for the Panthers in the semifinal matchup on Saturday. Knowing that a NESCAC Championship birth was on the line, each team appeared jittery in the early going, misfiring on shots and turning the ball over. As a result, the game remained 6-5 Middlebury - a virtual stalemate - for what seemed like an eternity.Eventually, though, the Panthers got it going and went on one of their patented runs. Sparked by threes from Kyle Dudley '09 and Tim Edwards '09.5, Middlebury scored 10 unanswered points with 5:35 remaining in the first half to take a commanding 29-14 advantage. The Panthers went into the half with a 30-18 lead, paced by Ben Rudin's '09 15 points.Middlebury provided the knockout punch shortly after intermission, as the team opened the second half hitting a scorching 13 out of 15 shots, which established a nearly insurmountable 29-point lead.Bowdoin answered with a 9-0 run, closing within 20 points with 7:37 remaining. Yet it was simply not enough for the Polar Bears, who found that there would be no repeat NESCAC tournament upset from last year.The final 76-46 margin of victory was the Panthers' fourth largest of the season. Still, they knew it would be a moot point if they did not defeat Amherst, which had beaten Williams in the other semifinal matchup. the following day.Despite the early start time of noon (for college students, anyway), the Middlebury faithful packed the bleachers and prepared to do their part to propel the Panthers to championship status.Amherst, though, had other ideas, as the Lord Jeffs raced out to an early 18-9 lead before Head Coach Jeff Brown called a timeout to settle down his squad. Middlebury then began to slowly chip away at the lead. A pair of baskets by Ryan Sharry '12 narrowed the deficit to three. After an Amherst three-pointer, the Panthers asserted themselves with a 7-0 run to take a 24-23 lead, sending the blue-and-white decked crowd into a frenzy.Having found its rhythm, Middlebury started playing like the team that had earned a school-record 23 wins on the season. An 8-0 spurt at the 4:13 mark of the first half increased the Panthers' lead to 42-32. However, Amherst responded with a small run of its own, and Middlebury had to settle for a five-point advantage at the half.Middlebury again seized the upper hand in the beginning of the second half, as a tip-in by Smith restored the Panther lead to 10. However, Amherst showed why it has consistently been one of the elite teams in the NESCAC. Taking advantage of four Middlebury turnovers, the Lord Jeffs went on a 10-0 run to take a 55-54 lead with 9:42 left in the game.The game see-sawed back and forth for the next few minutes, and the contest was deadlocked at 65 with just over four minutes remaining. With the game - and a NESCAC Championship - hanging in the balance, Middlebury went on an 8-0 run to establish a 73-65 lead on a Rudin jumper with 1:27 left.The Lord Jeffs drew to within five, but that was as close as they would get, as the Panthers would not be denied their first NESCAC Championship - not on this day, not in front of this home crowd. When the final buzzer sounded, with the scoreboard reading Middlebury 77, Amherst 68, students stormed the court and elatedly jumped up and down with the rest of the team at center court.After the game, the Panthers basked in the euphoria of being champions. Players and their families hugged one another, numerous pictures were taken to capture the priceless scene and, finally, the team participated in the ceremonious cutting down of the nets. One by one, each player ascended the ladder beneath the basket and cut off a portion of the net - and with it, a piece of history. When Coach Brown stepped up and snipped off the final piece of twine, the players started chanting ,"COACH OF THE YEAR! COACH OF THE YEAR!" This was a moment that the entire team would treasure forever.Yet this latest achievement is especially gratifying for the four seniors who have remained steadfast in their commitment to elevating the Middlebury basketball program to prominence. "It has been such an honor to be a part of this team," said Smith. "We're such a close group of friends that it makes it easy to trust one another on the court. I think that's so important: one family devoted to one goal. My hope is that this is just the beginning of a successful basketball tradition at Middlebury - that people will look back at this season and say, 'That was the team that started it all.'""It is an unbelievable feeling to win this championship and I will cherish it forever," Dudley concurred."As a senior, it's been great to become more successful as a team each year," said Matt Westman '09. "One of the most memorable moments of the season will certainly be the atmosphere in Pepin during the NESCAC tournament and the unprecedented support and enthusiasm from students, faculty, and the greater Middlebury basketball community."Rudin, who earned NESCAC Player of the Week for his outstanding efforts against Bowdoin and Amherst, was ecstatic for everyone involved in bringing a championship to the Middlebury basketball program."Winning the NESCAC championship was one of the most gratifying, memorable and special feelings of my life," he said. "While the victory was obviously a large reason for these emotions, it was more that I was able to share this moment with the three other seniors and the rest of team. The hard work that we have put into basketball since stepping foot onto campus all paid off with the sounding of that buzzer. It's truly an honor to bring Middlebury its first ever men's basketball NESCAC championship and to do it with the guys on this team." For the underclassmen, too, this was a feeling of utter gratification. "Being part of this team has been an amazing experience," said Jamal Davis '11. "I've never won a championship before and it feels great to win one with this team.""The whole experience has been surreal," maintained Sharry, a first-year who was nothing short of outstanding in the decisive game against Amherst. "To win the NESCAC Championship as a first-year, when it had never been done before in school history, is beyond belief. I am especially happy for the seniors who, after coming in last in the league their freshman year, created a winning atmosphere for Middlebury basketball that led to their NESCAC Championship."It's hard to believe after such an emotional achievement, but Middlebury's run is not over yet. On Monday afternoon, the Panthers found out they had received a first-round bye in the NCAA Division III tournament. Even better, the team will once more have the benefit of the Middlebury home crowd advantage, as it will host the winner of St. Joseph's and Bridgewater State this Saturday, March 7 at 7 p.m. With the way the Panthers have been rolling, they are eager to st
art the tournament and hopefully advance to face some of the best D-III teams in the nation."This season has been so much fun, we don't want it to end," said Smith. "I think we're playing our best basketball at the right time. Now it's just a matter of taking one game at a time and continuing to get better. I like to think we're starting a new season this weekend."
(03/05/09 12:00am)
Author: Robert E. Prasch As everyone now knows, the U.S. and the world are in the grip of a tremendous financial crisis. Many banks have failed. Virtually every honest analyst and commentator understands that many of those that are still operating are actually bankrupt by any reasonable measure - all that keeps them breathing is government life support in the form of massive infusions of cash from the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Treasury. As to firms, revenues are falling, inventories are up and orders are down. The American consumer is faced with actual or threatened layoffs, debt loads that are very high by any historical standard, falling house prices, a declining stock market and tight consumer credit. Not a pretty picture. Since, in macroeconomics, aggregate demand is what determines total spending, and total spending determines our national income, we are in a bit of a pickle. As a matter of logic, if businesses and consumers will not spend, and exports show no sign of a sudden increase, then our options are to increase government spending or stand by and watch the economy go over the cliff. The choice is not enviable, but at least it is simple.A sudden and widespread decline in the value of assets - in this case, stocks and houses - induces a reduction in aggregate spending through a mechanism known as the wealth effect. Here is how it works. Let us be optimistic. Let us suppose that American housing wealth will only decline by $6 trillion (that is about $20,000 for every man, woman and child in the U.S.). Since we are on this optimistic note, let us also say that the total wealth lost in the stock market crash will only come to $7 trillion. This decline in wealth (not income, which is another subject) will induce people to cut back on their expenditures. A plausible estimate of spending per dollar of wealth is around 5 percent. If $13 trillion of wealth has been lost then we can anticipate that consumption will decline by $650 billion per annum as a consequence of the wealth effect from declining stocks and housing alone. Again, this does not include reductions in business investment as a consequence of reduced bank lending. Additionally, we have not accounted for the reduced expenditures that will follow from the actual or anticipated loss of jobs. Stated simply, the above estimates are only partial and certainly represent a lower boundary. Let us compare the above number to the recently enacted stimulus package. The total for the latter was $787 billion. Moreover, it is to be spent over several years. Additionally, about 40 percent of it is in the form of tax cuts, and we can anticipate that a lot of this will go into savings. As such, it will not be spent, and what the U.S. needs is spending - and it needs it now. But let us remain optimistic and suppose that all of it will be spent. Even if half of the stimulus is spent this year, a most unlikely scenario, it will not even begin to cover the (likely underestimated) losses that can be attributed to the wealth effect from losses in stocks and housing. This means that, at best, the stimulus will only check the decline in the American economy and will not stop it. That said, it is good that someone is trying to do something.What, you may ask, of the counter-argument? What of the points raised that the ensuing deficit will cause the nation to go broke, or that government spending is largely wasteful, or that it will destroy private initiative? The nation will not "go broke" for a very simple reason: it prints its own means of payment. Suppose, as an analogy, that I could settle my debts by printing up currency with my face on it (call them "Prasch Notes"). In such an event, I would be a perfect credit-risk. No one can doubt that I could pay my bills. As a nation with the world's leading international currency, we have this advantage. We borrow in dollars and pay our creditors in dollars. Now, there are times and places when we might not wish to over-issue currency. But the causes and consequences of inflation are another subject and, either way, a bit of inflation is never as bad as a depression. Trust me, I lived through the inflation of the '70s and my parents lived through the Great Depression - the latter was worse, a lot worse. Can government spending be wasteful? Having served in the U.S. Army, I can assure you that I have seen waste on a scale that staggers the imagination. But is it always wasteful? I would say, compared to what? Personally, I will take roads, bridges, schools, national parks and federal water projects over more subprime loans and silly dot-coms any day, and twice a day on Sunday! Like everyone else I can list a number of projects that are wasteful - although you might not like my list - but frankly, such a conversation misses the larger point, which as summarized above is to quickly ramp up total spending. Even if we exclusively used the stimulus monies for group sing-alongs and the building of large pyramids, it would have the effect we want. It gets people on payrolls. They, in turn, will contribute to the stream of spending. That is the goal. If we find something better than sing-alongs and pyramids to spend money on, then I would say "terrific." Green energy sounds fine; so do improved infrastructure and schools. Even if the final catalog of projects is not what you or I would consider to be "optimal," something is being added to overall spending and that is the objective. Finally, we are told that government spending will destroy private initiative. Personally, I love it when tenured economics professors at public universities make this argument. It reminds us that irony is still alive. But I digress. How much initiative is being destroyed as the unemployment rate moves ever upward? Statisticians have measured the relationship between increased unemployment and rises in divorce, drug abuse, domestic violence, etc. This does not add to initiative. Moreover, we know that businesses are cutting back and banks are not lending. Such tendencies do not present a promising environment for the launching of new ideas. The fact is that new ventures are more likely to prosper in a healthy economic environment. Businesses, banks, and even consumers are more open to new ideas, products, processes and lifestyles when they are flush. In short, the stimulus package is a good start. It will almost certainly not be enough. It follows that we are in for a rough ride. Having graduated from university during the Reagan recession of the early 1980s, I extend my sympathies to the Class of 2009. Do, however, remember that it is not you who are responsible if you have a slow start after college; that culpability lies with the people who constructed this mess over the past decade.
