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(04/25/19 9:54am)
In a matchup against No. 4 nationally-ranked Tufts, the Middlebury men’s lacrosse team was looking to earn a huge win and gain momentum going into its final week before playoffs. Unfortunately, the Panthers could not keep up with Tufts’ fast scoring offense and lost 23-14. They fell to 7-7 on the year, but remain in sixth place in the NESCAC standings.
The game was very tightly contested throughout the first half. Tufts opened up the scoring, but Middlebury rebounded with a goal by leading scorer Tyler Forbes ’22 at the 8:59 mark. The teams kept alternating goals, but Middlebury’s only lead in the game came halfway through the first, when A.J. Kucinski ’20 rattled off two stifling goals to put the team in the lead 3-2. At the end of the first, Tufts led the Panthers 5-4.
Forbes quickly scored again in the second to tie the game. Again, it was back and forth, with both teams displaying great defense and offense. It is fair to say the game was played at a very fast pace, packed with a ton of action and great scoring plays. Middlebury scored a man-up goal towards the end of the half to put them within one of the Jumbos, after Jack Sheehan ’22 ripped a shot from about 15 yards out. At the end of the half, the Panthers were down 10-9.
In the second half, things started to go the right way for the Jumbos. Their offense really picked up and Midd had a tough time controlling the attack. Middlebury was able to hang around for most of the quarter, with Forbes and Alderik van der Heyde ’21 keeping the scoring going for the Panthers. However, Tufts scored the five goals to put them in the lead 17-13 going into the final frame.
Rain started to fall as the game progressed, but that did not stop the Jumbos. In the final quarter, Tufts outscored the Panthers 6-1 and closed the game out. On the day, Forbes had five goals to keep up with his fantastic season on offense. Kucinski also netted five of his own, with two assists. In goal, Tyler Bass ’21 played most of the minutes at 57:04. He had 13 saves on 36 shots. Although it was a tough game for the Panthers, their offense showed their ability to score and the defense showed some signs of hope.
The Panthers have one game left in conference play, as they will travel to No. 8 Williams on Wednesday. With a win, the Panthers can gain great momentum going into the playoffs. They are excited for what they have in store and know what needs to be done to compete in the incredibly tough NESCAC conference.
(04/18/19 10:34am)
Vermont has been ranked number one overall for 2019 in Bloomberg's annual report on gender equality. This is the third year in a row that Vermont has led the rankings in the yearly report. The state was also ranked number 6 for women in leadership, and received high scores in the report’s five categories -- pay ratio by gender, female labor force participation, college degree attainment, health coverage and women in poverty.
Rep. Linda Sullivan, D-Dorset, attributes this ranking to the priorities of the state legislature. “With a strong focus from the legislature on gender equality,” she said, “Vermont will be driven to be a leader in this area.”
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Vermont’s legislature is 39.4 percent female compared to 28.7 percent nationwide. Vermont boasts 71 female members to 109 male members. The legislature recently passed a bill requiring employers to pay sick leave, and is considering a bill allowing paternity leave -- two pieces of legislation that are aimed at increasing gender equality.
“The legislature is working on bills to provide higher livable wages,” said Sullivan, “as well as to work through issues of providing other benefits to families.”
Representative Mollie Burke from Brattleboro and other policymakers recently proposed a resolution which designates April 2, 2019 as Equal Pay Day, with a proclamation signed by Governor Scott that same day. Advocates for equal pay wore red during legislative sessions.
Sullivan also acknowledged that there are challenges in passing legislation to eliminate the gender-pay gap. “However, these bills need to be thoroughly vetted and weighed against the costs to provide the services,” she said, “so while there are projects in the works, the roadmap to getting there must be well thought-out so as not to create barriers for the very populations they are intended to assist.”
Closing the wage gap would have many benefits for Vermont as a whole. Equal pay reduces poverty, adds money to the overall economy and attracts families to Vermont.
According to a report issued by Change the Story (CTS), a Vermont-based organization working towards gender equality, Vermont does well in the categories considered by Bloomberg. Women have a pay ratio gap of 16 cents, compared to a 20 cent wage gap nationally. For labor force participation, 66 percent of women work in Vermont’s labor force, compared to 58 percent of women nationally.
“Education is a key area of focus,” claimed Sullivan. In terms of education, 33 percent of women earn a bachelor’s degree in Vermont, six points higher than the national average for women’s education.
One of the indicators in which Vermont does poorly is rate of women in poverty, in which Vermont is ranked 17 with a rate of 12 percent. The CTS also found that women are significantly more likely to live in poverty than men, and 3 percent of Vermont women who work full-time do not make enough to cover basic living expenses.
It’s also important to note that the Bloomberg report does not break down statistics in terms of race. For example, Vermont ranked well for the gender pay gap, yet this gap is much larger for women of color. As reported by the Vermont Commission on Women, there is a 46 percent gap for Hispanic and Latina women, a 42 percent gap for American Indian and Alaska Native women,a 40 percent gap for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islander women, a 37 percent gap for African American women, and a 15 percent gap for Asian women.
The CTS found that in Vermont, 13.4 percent of all families with minor children live in poverty, and that this number increases to 37 percent if a women is the single head of the household. CTS also found that the wage gap of women with dependant children increases to 26 percent, as compared to the 30 percent for women nationally.
“Middlebury does well in gender equality, but there are always ways to improve,” said Ellie Broeren ’22, an active member of Feminist Action Middlebury (FAM). The college currently boasts a 48.2 to 51.8 male to female ratio for students, with a staff ration of 49.5 to 50.5 (male to female). Still, such statistics fail to account for some of Middlebury’s underlying problems.
“What comes to mind for me is the lack of transparency about contraception and sexual health on campus, as this is an issue that largely affects women,” said Boeren. To combat this, FAM has created a website at go/sexysources that provides information on sexual health and are currently trying to get Plan B available at Middlebury Express.
Despite the issues in gender equality that are still prevalent in Vermont and at Middlebury College, Sullivan reminds us to also celebrate our successes. “With a strong focus from the legislature on gender equality,” she says, “Vermont [has been] driven to be a leader in this area.”
(04/18/19 9:58am)
The Panther women’s lacrosse team moved to an 11-game win streak, picking up two conference wins this past weekend against Trinity and Hamilton, scoring double digits against two impressive teams. Moving forward, the Panthers are on a blazing trail, hoping to close out the season against Tufts and Williams.
Against Trinity, the No. 3 Panthers cruised into a 7-0 record versus nationally-ranked opponents, beating the No. 12 Bantams 14-8. While the score was tight for most of the game, a spur of Middlebury scoring brought the Panthers the victory.
Senior captain Emma McDonagh ’19 started off the scoring events with a 2-for-2 bout against Trinity’s Mary French. After the teams netted the game at 2-2, McDonagh connected with the back of the net for another goal, heating up the Panther offense. Trinity soon gained momentum back, which created a small 2-3 goal gap between the teams.
The second half, however, proved the Panthers’ resilience. Emily Barnard, Jenna McNicholas and Kirsten Murphy led the Panthers to an 11-6 score, which was then furthered by additional goals on the part of McNicholas. While the Bantams tried to push back, the stellar Middlebury defense held on for a 14-8 win.
The next day, the Panthers also beat No. 24 Hamilton, with a 13-9 final score. Middlebury created an impressive gap in the beginning of the game, setting off the score to 7-2 before the half. The Continentals never caught up to the Panther offense, always in a point deficit that could not be erased.
Jane Earley had an impressive game, putting up seven points (three goals, four assists), while McDonagh also continued her scoring streak to 40 games. Erin Nicholas won the draw eight times, setting up Panther control.
Looking forward, ending the regular season on two conference wins is key for the team’s post-season. With the potential of this year’s squad, Middlebury is looking to work towards ending the regular season well, as a testament to their hard work and strengths.
“We are looking forward to a challenge in the last two games of the regular season. One of the main things we are working on is decreasing the number of turnovers,” senior Sara DiCenso said. “One of our strengths is that we have many people who can score and contribute to our offense. On the other side of the field, our backer defense is high pressure and we have done a good job of winning the ball back.”
If the Panthers can decrease turnovers, keep up the defensive pressure and continually connect with the back of the net, their post-season will be an extension of the regular season’s success.
(04/18/19 9:55am)
After a successful mid-week game against Springfield College, where Middlebury won 15-7, the Panthers tried to ride that momentum into their NESCAC showdown against Trinity on Saturday, April 13. With their highest attendance of the season and a number of Midd alumni coming out to show their support, the Panthers proved how good they can be in a 22-6 triumph over the Bantams. They now hold an even 4-4 record in NESCAC play and remain in the middle of the pack going into the final weekend of play.
Whether it was the surprisingly beautiful weather or the excitement of alumni weekend, Middlebury came out of the gate firing on all cylinders. At the 12:48 mark of the first, Tyler Forbes, leading scorer of the team, found the back of the net on an outstanding shot that earned a loud cheer from the 367 people in attendance. From then on, the Panthers did not stop. Goals from six different Panthers, including three from Forbes, gave Midd a very comfortable 8-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. This was easily their best start to a game and largest lead of the season.
Trinity did not get their first goal up on the board until the 10:41 mark of the second, coming from a man-up situation. Although Middlebury was limited to just two goals, they still held a commanding 10-3 lead going into half. In the third, the scoring appeared to be pretty back and forth, with goals coming from four different Panther players again. The combination of stifling defense and a well-balanced offense was key to Midd’s success throughout the entirety of the game.
In the fourth quarter, even though the game was practically over already, Middlebury never let up. Again, they rallied off eight straight goals and the defense stood their ground. The final score was 22-6.
Tyler Forbes led the scoring with five goals, while juniors Chase Goree and A.J. Kucinski, had four of their own. Sophomore Ryan Feldman, played big minutes and had two assists on the day. In goal, Tyler Bass certainly had one of the best performances of the year. In 52:48 minutes, Bass had 12 saves on 18 attempts. He has moved to 2-0 on the year behind the net.
Although this win was big for the Panthers, their upcoming schedule will prove just how strong they really are. On Wednesday, April 17 Midd travels to Plattsburgh St. to play a non-conference match. This weekend, they will travel to Medford, MA to take on the No. 4 Tufts Jumbos (11-1), arguably their biggest matchup of the year.
(04/18/19 9:54am)
The baseball team (15-8, 3-3) capped the week with a 2-2 record, unable to hold off the Williams College Ephs (3-3, 16-5) in the final game of the week, dropping the rubber match of the series 5-4 in extra innings on Saturday, April 13.
Strong pitching resulted in a midweek 12-2 win for the Panthers on Forbes Field versus Northern Vermont University (10-17, 5-3) on Thursday, April 11.
Leading off the inning, sophomore first baseman Ryan Hanrahan got things rolling in the bottom of the second with a single. First-year right fielder Alec Ritch reached base on a single and first-year shortstop Andrew Gough delivered a two-run double to left center to give Middlebury the lead.
Northern Vermont responded in the top of the third, tying the game up at 2-2, but the Panthers restored a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the inning. The Hornets were unable to respond the rest of the game with the Panthers plating two more runs in the fourth inning, two in the fifth, one in the sixth, and finally two in the seventh.
Gough led the team, going three-for-five with five RBIs and junior left fielder stole two bases. First-year pitcher Jackson Atwood started on the mound for the Panthers, going four innings with four strikeouts. First-year Sam Grace received his second career win on one inning of work, facing four and striking out one.
According to first-year outfielder Jack Stolper, the team was able to adjust well.
“A lot of our success comes from our approach at the plate,” Stolper said. “When we change our approach from hitting fly balls to hitting hard ground balls and line drives, we score and drive in more runs. When we try and lift the ball too much in the air, we tend to fly out a lot more and make it much easier on the defense.”
In a three-game series versus NESCAC West opponent, the Panthers dropped down to second place in the conference after going 1-2 on the weekend. Middlebury dropped the first game 2-1 on Friday, April 12 before splitting a double-header with a 10-0 win and a 5-4 loss in 10 innings at the nightcap on Saturday, April 13.
In Game one, the Ephs jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, after a scoreless first inning from both squads. The Panthers got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth when sophomore center fielder Henry Strmecki lead off with a double down the left-field alley. Junior second baseman was walked to put a man on first and second and junior third baseman Hayden Smith hit a sacrifice bunt to advance runners to scoring position. Junior first baseman Kevin Woodring cut the deficit to 2-1 with an RBI single.
The Panthers struggled to match the performance of senior starting pitcher Colby Morris, who suffered his first loss of the season, after facing 29 batters and striking out a season-high eight and only surrendering one earned run. Sophomore George Goldstein added two innings of scoreless relief.
In Game two, the Ephs were unable to put up a run over nine innings. Middlebury broke out with an early 2-0 lead in the top of the third. The Panthers added five runs in the fifth, to bring the lead to 7-0. Senior designated hitter Sam Graf drove in a runner on an RBI double to left center. An Ephs error allowed a run for Middlebury, along with a two run homerun from Woodring.
First-year pitcher Alex Price threw six innings of one-hit relief to earn the win over Williams, striking out two batters.
The Panthers dropped Game three to the fourth ranked NESCAC West Ephs in walk-off fashion, 5-4, to close the series at Williams.
Middlebury trailed 3-0 after the first but took a 4-3 lead after the fourth inning. Junior catcher Gray Goolsby finished three-for-five with three stolen bases and a run scored and Han went two-for-five with a pair of doubles, two stolen bases and two RBIs.
With his 42nd career stolen base, Han became Middlebury’s all-time leader in stolen bases. Han also hit .412 last week for the Panthers and surpassed 100 career hits.
Senior pitcher Colin Waters took the mound in the first six innings, striking out seven. Sophomore Bobby Sullivan took his first loss of the season with two innings pitched and three strikeouts.
In Game three, Middlebury achieved a season-best nine stolen bases, with 90 on the season, a new school record.
Most recently, Middlebury traveled to face Division I Dartmouth College (11-19, 5-7) out of the Ivy League and won 15-7. They will follow this win with another midweek matchup versus Plattsburgh State (7-15, 3-9) on Wed., April 17 at home. Finally, the Panthers will face top-seeded NESCAC West opponent, Amherst College (14-8, 5-4) starting Friday, April 19.
“We are going into the rest of NESCAC play confident,” Stolper said. “We need to play our game and start driving the ball on the ground or on a line. We have been making it too easy on our defenders by hitting too many balls in the air. A big thing for us going into NESCAC play is to challenge defenses by putting balls hard and in play.”
(04/11/19 10:00am)
The Middlebury women’s tennis team wrapped up one of the most monumental weekends in Panther history on Sunday, knocking off top ranked Emory (6-3) to hand them their first loss of the season. The Panthers also edged sixth ranked Wesleyan (5-4) on Saturday to boot, taking over their hold on the No. 5 national ranking, and cruised past Connecticut College 9-0 on Sunday to top off an impressive trio of victories.
Play began on Saturday inside the Nelson Recreation Center, where the Panthers grabbed two doubles points and three singles points during their match against Wesleyan. At the No. 2 doubles position, the junior duo of Katherine Hughes and Skylar Schossberger secured an 8-2 victory over Venia Yeung and Polina Kiseleva, while the top squad of Heather Boehm ’20 and Ann Martin Skelly ’21 posted an 8-2 victory against Victoria Yu and Kristina Yu.
“At number one doubles, Skelly and I were pretty nervous,” Boehm said. “We are usually a No. 3 or No. 2 doubles team, and this was completely unexpected for us. But we really capitalized on the opportunity, executed all of our plays that we have been working on for the past few months and saw some huge success.” Boehm also noted that “the brutal morning work outs” seemed to pay off on the courts this weekend, as the team was fitter than ever.
During singles play, Boehm eased past Victoria Yu 6-2,6-0, while senior Christina Puccinelli triumphed over Kristina Yu 7-6(5), 6-3 at the third spot. At the fifth spot, Maddi Stow ’20 secured the team’s 4-3 lead with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Alissa Nakamoto.
“We have a saying that ‘we want to win with all 13 of us (including our coaches),’ and we did that in all three of our matches this weekend,” Boehm added. “Whether players were on court or cheering from the sidelines, every single member contributed to our wins over top teams in the country.”
On Sunday against Emory, during what was arguably MWT’s “biggest win ever,” according to Boehm, the Panthers took all three points during doubles play. At the No. 2 spot, Hughes and Schossberger continued their winning streak as they clinched an 8-2 win over Emma Cartledge and Daniela Lopez. Boem and Skelly defeated Ysabel Gonzales-Rico and Defne Olcay in the top spot, while the No. 3 powerhouse duo of Puccinelli and Stow edged Christina Watson and Stephanie Taylor 8-7 (9).
In singles, at the No. 4 spot, Schossberger only dropped one game, beating Lauren Yoon 6-0, 6-1, while Puccinelli clinched a 6-4, 6-3 win against Olcay in the third spot. Boehm solidified the team’s 6-1 lead with a 6-1,6-4 victory over Lopez at the No. 2 spot. The Eagles secured wins at the No. 1, No. 5, and No. 6 spots, but the Panthers posted three consecutive victories to make the final score of the match 6-3. With Emory knocked out of the top seed and Middlebury now ranked fifth, this historic win will propel the Panthers past a significant obstacle on their road to the national championship.
To top the weekend off, the Panthers blanked Connecticut College, dropping only seven games in total during doubles play and achieving straight set wins in each of the singles matches. In doubles, the top tandem of Boehm and Skelly won 8-1 against Mariah Warren and Brooke Scully, while Emily Bian ’21 and Nora Dahl ’22 secured an 8-2 victory against Allison Falvey and Stephanie Simon in the third flight. Puccinelli and Stow defeated Meredith Kenny and Skylar Morgan 8-4 in the second pot.
In singles, Stow swung past Rachel Weiss 6-0, 6-0 at the No. 4 spot, while Hughes blanked Simon at the second spot, and Schossberger cruised past Scully 6-2, 6-0 at the third spot. In the fifth flight, Bian clinched a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Morgan, while Boehm posted a 6-1, 6-2 victory against Emily Migliorini in the top position. First year Ruhi Kamdar was the final scorer for the panthers, triumphing over Paige Braithwaite 6-1, 6-2 at the bottom of the singles lineup.
Coming off of such a successful weekend, maintaining humility will certainly be a key factor in the Panthers’ success. “We still understand that we need to take this season one match at a time,” Puccinelli said. “We will be playing tough teams every weekend from now until the NCAA tournament and we’re not going to underestimate a single one of them. We respect every team we play against and we need to take every match seriously if we’re going to have a chance of going all the way this season.”
Boehm also noted the importance of team trust when it comes to maintaining composure during high-stakes matches like those of this weekend. “We know that if we look to our left and right on the courts, whoever is playing next to us will do whatever they can to find a win,” she said.
The Middlebury women’s tennis team will return to action this Saturday when they host No.7 Tufts at 10:00am. On this current trajectory, it seems there is little that can stand in the Panthers’ way.
(04/11/19 9:59am)
Fresh out of three wins over spring break, the Middlebury women’s lacrosse team has not looked back, securing two more wins this week as they head into the second half of the season. With a dominating 9-1 record, the team has continued to develop their skills and competitive edge.
Over spring break, the Panthers journeyed to Maine, Maryland and Pennsylvania, playing against nationally-ranked teams: Bowdoin (ranked 14th), Salisbury (ranked fourth) and York (ranked eighth). The team swept all three games. Against Bowdoin, five goals scored by Jane Earley ’22 in the first half lifted the Panthers past the Polar Bears, with a score of 21-18. Goalies Julia Keith ’20 and Kate Furber ’19 closed out the game with three saves each. Emily Barnard ’20, Emma McDonagh ’19 and Casey O’Neill ’19 were also among the game’s top scorers. Against Salisbury, after rounding out the first half 6-5, Barnard’s three tallies in the second half pushed the team to a 11-6 win. York brought the heat, but the Panthers rose to the occasion and narrowly defeated the Spartans 7-6. Keith earned a whopping 11 saves, a career high for the junior. The match against York harkened back to the NCAA quarterfinals last season, where Middlebury triumphed 11-10. Returning to campus at the end of break for alumni weekend, the team edged Amherst by two, 11-9. After wrapping up the first period 6-4, the Panthers got down to business. Jenna McNicholas ’19 and Barnard’s three back-to-back goals allowed the Panthers to top the Mammoths, who were able to close the scoring gap towards the second half.
Senior captain Sara DiCenso commented on the team’s success over spring break. “We learned that we can be dangerous against teams that play both man and backer defense,” she said. “Also, we really honed our defense throughout the week and came up with some amazing stops in each game.” However, the team will continue to build on certain skills in their road to NCAAs. “We were happy with our performance but know there is always room to improve, especially when it comes to raising our shooting percentage and turning the ball over fewer times,” she said.
At a home game against MIT last Thursday, the Panthers swept their opponents 20-2, scoring 13 goals in a row in the first half. Lily Riseberg ’22 quickly put the team on the board with an unassisted goal 22 seconds after the first whistle. Bringing out many players on the team’s first-year squad, Erica Barr ’22 scored the first two goals of her Middlebury career and Madeline Riordan ’22 added another four to her tally. Sophie MacKeigan ’22 collected three ground balls.
The Panthers hit the road this past weekend for a NESCAC match against Colby. Scoring eight goals in the first half, including four by Erin Nicholas ’21, the Panthers defeated the Mules 14-5. Earley increased their total by four, while Hope Robertson ’22 netted her first goal.
The team will face a doubleheader this weekend after playing Plymouth State, competing against Trinity and Hamilton on the road.
(04/11/19 9:56am)
The Middlebury baseball team (13-6, 2-1) improved to 13-6 on the season after splitting a double-header with Tufts University (15-4, 2-1) on Saturday, April 6, and picking up a win versus Plymouth State University (9-11, 2-3) on Sunday, April 7.
With no conference matchups this past week, the Panther remain on top of the NESCAC West at a 2-1 conference record.
In its first matchup against Tufts, who rank second in the NESCAC East, Middlebury suffered a 4-3 loss in eight innings.
According to senior catcher Phil Bernstein, the Panthers played great baseball all weekend, despite the loss.
“We were excited to play Tufts who is always a threat to win the NESCAC,” Bernstein said. “Although we lost the first game in extra innings, we played really well and made not just the routine plays, but the championship level ones: outfielders throwing runners out at the plate, two-strike hits to knock in base runners, and pitching out of jams.”
The Jumbos broke out with a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. The Panthers went scoreless until the third inning, and finally took a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth when junior shortstop Brooks Carroll was walked with one out. Sophomore designated hitter Jake Dianno reached base on a single. Both stole bases to get into scoring position and senior right-fielder Sam Graf singled down right field to score two runs. With his 38th career stolen base, Carroll moved into third place in program history.
With the game tied up in the bottom of the sixth, the Jumbos closed out the opener with a sac-fly in the bottom of the eight.
Senior pitcher Colby Morris tossed six innings for the Panthers, only allowing three earned runs with four strikeouts.
“It’s always tough to lose a game where you play that well, but we responded in the second game by putting a lot of runs on the scoreboard and maintaining our lead throughout the game,” Bernstein said.
In the second game of the double-header, Middlebury went up 4-0 by scoring in each of the first three innings. Junior third baseman Hayden Smith began the lead with a single to drive in a run, Bernstein added an RBI single in the second, and sophomore center fielder Henry Stremecki hit a homerun in the third.
The Panthers added insurance with another run in the ninth with a walk to Stremecki, who stole base twice. Stremecki was eventually brought home on a sacrifice fly by Smith.
Junior pitcher Andrew Martinson relieved senior Conor Himstead to strike out one in one inning of work to earn the win, setting up sophomore Bobby Sullivan for his first career save with one punchout of his own.
With a quick turnaround after the doubleheader with Tufts, the Panthers were back on the field hours later for its first home game of the season. According to Bernstein, head coach Mike Leonard stressed the importance of winning their weekends and the team was hungry for a third win.
“We came out loose for our first home game of the season and backed it up with stellar pitching performances and by hitting the ball all over the yard,” Bernstein said. “We put big numbers on the scoreboard and expanded that lead every inning. It was good to end the weekend on that high note.”
In the 15-6 victory, Bernstein finished 3-for-4 with three doubles and three RBIs. Carroll reached base twice and scored two runs; junior first baseman Alad Guild and junior designated hitter Kevin Woodring each went two-for-two.
Sophomore pitcher Michael Farinelli received the win after hurling a strong six innings, surrendering one earned run with eight strikeouts. Coming off Tommy-John surgery in his first game back, junior pitcher Spencer Shores relieved Farinelli, throwing a scoreless seventh inning.
The Panthers will face Northern Vermont University (7-15, 2-2) at 4 p.m. on Wed., April 10 at home, and Williams College (13-3, 1-2) in a NESCAC West three-game series starting at 4 pm. on Friday, April 12.
“Going into our weekend with Williams, we’re trying to play the same brand of baseball we’ve played all season,” Bernstein said. “We’re going to be aggressive in every facet of the game and take advantage of their mistakes. We have an extremely talented group of guys so if we can just continue to play loose and trust our preparation, I think some good things will be in store for us.”
(03/21/19 9:59am)
The Middlebury men’s lacrosse team traveled to Baltimore, MD this past weekend to play in the Mustang Classic. After suffering a 12-6 loss to conference foe, Wesleyan Cardinals, the Panthers rebounded and defeated nationally ranked Dickinson 16-11.
After a 9-2 deficit in the first half of the Wesleyan game, Middlebury tried to surmount a comeback in the latter half of the game. Tyler Forbes ’22 scored quickly at the 12:32 mark to gain some Middlebury momentum. However, the Cardinals’ strong offense responded with two goals in a span of four minutes. Again, the Panthers stayed strong and were able to rattle off three unanswered goals coming from Frank Cosolito ’20 and two from Chase Goree ’20. Down five scores at the start of the fourth quarter, the team was shut down by great goaltending and stifling defense from Wesleyan. Middlebury struggled to get shots the entire game, firing only 17 and scoring six. Forbes and Goree led the team in scoring with two goals a piece. Charles Midgley ’19 played all 60 minutes in goal, saving 17 of the 29 shots coming from Wesleyan.
Despite the loss to start the weekend, Middlebury came out very strong and motivated in the Saturday match-up against Dickinson. To no surprise, the Panthers came out red-hot, scoring the game’s first four goals. AJ Kucinski ’20 tallied two and the other contributions came again from Cosolito and Forbes. After Dickinson responded with three of their own, Forbes and Alderik vanderHeyde ’21 netted each of their own, putting the Panthers up 6-4 at the half.
Just like the start of the game, Middlebury came out shooting in the second half and scored three within the half’s first four minutes. Senior captain Jack Gould scored a beautiful goal at the 13:14 mark, netting one far out and with pace. The goalie had no chance. Dickinson responded with three straight goals of their own yet still remained behind in a 11-7 contest.
At the start of the fourth, Dickinson made it quite a game by closing the gap to just one goal. However, the hot offense of the Panthers picked up and they responded with three of their own, two coming from Forbes. With seven minutes to go in the game, the teams traded goals but Middlebury came out on top 16-11. They never trailed in the game.
Forbes led the team in scoring with five, culminating to a total of 16 goals on the year. Jack Hoelzer ’21 fed the ball and tallied two assists on the day. Again, Midgley played all sixty minutes in goal, this time tallying nine saves on 20 shots.
Men’s lacrosse holds a 2-3 record to begin the year. Their next contest will come against Bowdoin on Saturday, March 23. This is their first home game of the year, and they look to remain in the middle of the pact in the NESCAC conference.
(03/14/19 9:54am)
Following a tough road loss to Bates to open up the season, the Middlebury Men’s Lacrosse team traveled to New London, Connecticut to take on Conn. College this past weekend. The Panthers earned their first win of the season, with a clutch 16-9 victory that will steer them in the right direction for contests ahead.
Middlebury came out hot from the start, taking an early 3-0 lead with the goals coming in a 1:38 time span at the start of the first. Sophomore Eric Jeremiah got things going not only for the team, but also for himself as he netted his first of the season. After a Camel’s goal coming at the 6:17 mark of the first, Tyler Forbes ’22 kept his hot streak going, scoring two stifling shots from the left side to put the Panthers up 5-1. Conn. College rebounded with a last second goal to close out the first quarter but still remained far behind.
The second quarter included a lot of back-and-forth action. While the Camels were able to come within two scores of the Panthers, Forbes struck again to end the opposing team’s momentum and get the Panthers back on track. After contributions from seniors Nick Peterson and Jack Gould, who both scored to end out the half, the Panthers maintained a 9-5 lead.
With quality defense and a save by senior Charles Midgley, Middlebury outscored the Camels 4-0 in the third quarter. Scoring came from four different contributors, both in the early minutes and closing minutes of the third. With a commanding 13-6 lead heading into the fourth, the Panthers continued to press on.
Gould opened up the fourth with a goal at the 9:52 mark, increasing the Panthers lead. After a late push from the Camels, who tallied the next two goals, the Panthers were able to seize back momentum and really put the game out of reach. Trading goals in the final five minutes, Chase Goree ’20 ended all scoring with an unassisted netter to end the game.
Middlebury showed its roster depth in this game, with contributions coming from a large number of players. Forbes kept his streak alive by tallying five goals in the contest, culminating to a team-leading nine goals for the season. Goree, led the squad with four assists, while also netting two goals. Goalie Midgley, played outstandingly, saving 11 of 19 shots in 54 minutes played.
The Panthers enter the weekend with a 1-2 (1-1 NESCAC) record and remain in the middle of the pack in the NESCAC conference. Traveling to St. Lawrence for a non-conference game on Tuesday, March 12, the Panthers fell to the Saints 3-9, with Jack Sheehan ’22 and A.J. Kucinski ’20 scoring two and one goals respectively. They will travel to St. Lawrence to play a non-conference game on Tuesday, March 12. Over the weekend, the Panthers head to Baltimore, MD to play in the Mustang Classic. They will take on nationally ranked and conference foe, #7 Wesleyan Cardinals, as well as non-conference opponent, #8 Dickinson.
(03/07/19 10:56am)
After a long and cold pre-season, Middlebury men’s lacrosse finally began their campaign for the 2019 season. NESCAC conference play started the first weekend of March, as Middlebury drove up to Lewiston, ME to take on Bates. Despite early success, Middlebury was unable to keep up with Bates’ fast-paced offense and lost 17-10, ending their three year streak of opening day wins.
Despite the loss, the team showed many signs of hope as the majority of their goals came from the younger players. The Panthers were able to grab onto an early 2-1 lead after first-year Tyler Forbes scored twice in the opening minutes -- his first ever collegiate goals. He later went on to tally 4 goals in the game, quite an accomplishment for his rookie debut. After Bates was able to tie the game back up at 2, Middlebury went on a run to close out the first quarter. They scored three in a row to take a comfortable 5-2 lead. Bates then went on the attack. The Panthers failed to gain momentum in the second quarter and limped into halftime down 6-5, being shut out in the second.
With the Panthers being within just one score of the 25th ranked team in the nation at halftime, confidence and hopes remained high in the locker room. Although the Bobcats scored the first goal of the second half, Middlebury’s Aldrerik van der Heyde ’21 responded at the 8:30 mark. After the trade of goals, Bates again went on the offensive and scored a commanding 5 straight. Despite a beautiful shot by sophomore Will Brossman for the Panthers, the score entering the 4th quarter was held by the opponent 13-7.
The Panthers closed the gap to 4 after goals by van der Heyde and Forbes but the home team was able to quickly shut any hopes of a Middlebury comeback, tallying the final 3 goals. Middlebury senior Charles Midgley tallied 7 saves on 20 shot attempts. In addition, junior Jake Madnick garnered 5 ground balls, alongside Zeke Emerson ’20 who had 4 ground balls.
Despite the loss, Middlebury has a long and exciting season ahead of them. They saw contributions from every class in their season opener and look to continue to grow as a team as they play up to their potential. Middlebury will travel to Connecticut College next Saturday, March 9, to take on another NESCAC opponent. The Panthers will not host their first game on Youngman Field until March 23, when they take on the Bowdoin Polar Bears.
(03/07/19 10:53am)
The women’s squash season came to an end with a resilient finish two weekends ago at the CSA Team Championships. This past weekend, a few Panthers were selected to compete in the CSA Individual Championships in Providence, Rhode Island. Co-captains, Beatrijs Kuijpers ’19, Alexa Comai ’19 and a first year, Ideal Dowling ’22, were among the many talented players competing for a title.
Comai unfortunately dropped her first match against George Washington but quickly rebounded and took the win in the next round over Cornell in the consolation quarterfinals (11-6, 7-11, 11-7, 13-11). In her last match, Comai battled before losing in five games against Virginia (10-12, 11-8, 4-11, 11-6, 13-11), ending her season with a 13-9 record.
Next up was Kuijpers, who made an amazing run and advanced all the way to the main draw quarter finals before being edged out by Yale’s Aishwarya Battacharya (15-13, 11-6, 11-4). In the first round, she tallied a win for Middlebury by defeating Brown in three games (13-11, 11-9, 11-7). This concluded her season with a 10-10 record and a successful career as a collegiate athlete.
Finally, Dowling’s first time competing at the CSA Individual Championships proved to be a rather challenging experience. Pitted against University of Pennsylvania’s Jamila Turner in the round of 16, Dowling fell 11-6, 11-8, 11-8. In the consolation round, the first-year Panther lost a tough battle to Drexel in four games and brought her first season to an end with a 9-12 mark. Given Dowling’s freshman status, one could only expect her to improve throughout the rest of her Panther career.
(02/21/19 10:54am)
The Middlebury men’s basketball yteam, ranked 25th overall, fell to Tufts this past Saturday in the NESCAC quarterfinals at home, Saturday, Feb. 16. The Panthers were seeded first in the NESCAC and remain hopeful for an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament after the NESCAC tournament comes to a close.
A back-and-forth game from start to finish, Tufts had its biggest lead over the Panthers with seven minutes remaining in the first half, 26-21. The first half alone had eight lead changes and six ties, one tie produced from a free throw from Eric McCord ’19 with five minutes to spare on the clock to make the game 27-27. Middlebury then edged Tufts by a point with 17 seconds in the first half on the clock, with a layup by Hilal Dahleh ’19 that made the game 39-38.
Tufts scored a three-pointer right as the buzzer sounded before the half, leaving the game 41-39 as both teams broke for halftime.
Middlebury came out hot on the court in the second half and held a 72-67 lead over Tufts with five and a half minutes remaining in the game. The Jumbos, ranked eighth in the NESCAC, closed the game with 18 points, holding Middlebury to only four. Tufts pulled off the victory 85-76.
Eric McCord, co-captain of the Panthers, led the team and the game in points and rebounds, 19 and 10, respectively. Jack Farrell ’21 put up 13 points and four assists.
As Middlebury waits for its opportunity at an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, Tufts will advance to the NESCAC semifinals. With an impressive 18-7 record, Middlebury—the top-ranked team in the NESCAC entering the postseason—will anxiously await the NCAA decision.
(02/21/19 10:53am)
The Middlebury women’s hockey team played a crucial home-and-away series against Williams to close out the NESCAC regular season. Going into the first game, the Panthers and the Ephs were tied for first place and vying for the top seed in the NESCAC tournament. Late into the second period, Williams’ Maghan Halloran sent a shot from the circle past junior goalie Lin Han. With twenty seconds left in the middle frame, however, the Panthers tied it up as first-year Jenna Letterie scored her ninth goal of the season. The Ephs would score a goal midway through the third period, with the game ending 2-1 as Williams goalie Chloe Heiting closed out multiple Panther power plays.
In the regular-season finale, Williams rose above Middlebury again, securing the victory with a heartbreaking overtime goal. The Ephs opened scoring in the first period, slipping the puck through Han’s five hole. In the third period, junior Sidney Porter got the Panthers on the board off an assist from sophomore Ellie Barney. Just under two minutes into the overtime period, Williams’ Avery Dunn found the back of the net from low inside the slot.
The loss secured the second seed for the Panthers in the NESCAC tournament.
A rescheduled game against Plattsburgh State on Tuesday, Feb. 19 was the last game for the Panthers before tournament play begins. The two teams have not met since the NCAA quarterfinal last March, where the Cardinals came out on top. Plattsburgh opened scoring early in the second period, getting the puck past sophomore goalie Anna Goldstein. They scored again with 13 minutes remaining in the third. Junior Anna Zumwinkle buried a goal with five minutes left, cutting the deficit to one. However, Plattsburgh sealed the victory with an empty net goal to end the game 3-1.
Middlebury (9-5-2) begins NESCAC tournament play on Saturday, Feb. 23, when they face seventh-ranked Connecticut College (6-7-3). The Panthers, who have won the past three conference titles, hope to shake off the current four-game losing streak. In this season’s matchups against the Camels, the Panthers have skated to a 3-0 win and a tie.
(02/21/19 10:52am)
Following a third-place finish at NESCACs earlier this month, the women’s squash team finally had a weekend off after a long and well-fought three-day tournament hosted by Trinity. The Panthers, entering the tournament as the third seed, clinched out a 5-4 win over Bates in the first round. In the semifinals, Middlebury fell to Williams in a tough 6-3 loss but proceeded to blank Amherst 9-0 in the third-place playoff. The 14th-ranked Panthers look forward to the CSA Team Championships this February 22-24 at Trinity, hoping for a shot at winning the Kurtz Cup.
In their first victory over sixth-seeded Bates, the Panthers posted a narrow victory of 5-4. In the quarterfinal, Bates started with a 1-0 lead, but the Panthers followed close behind and rattled off three wins for a 3-1 advantage. Mira Chugh ’20 defeated Katie Bull at No. 9 (11-6, 13-15, 11-2, 11-7), while Alexa Comai ’19 won in the third spot (11-8, 9-11, 11-9, 12-10) and Natasha Lowitt ’20 was victorious against Molly Brooks at No. 8 (12-10, 11-6, 11-1). The Bobcats leveled the playing field at 3-3 with five-game triumphs at No. 5 and No. 2. In the seventh position, Gwen Davis ’22 made it 4-3 with a three-game win over Natalie Bachman (11-5, 11-5, 11-5). Virginia Schaus ’21 clinched the match with a three-game victory at No. 4 against Katie Manternach (11-5, 11-3, 11-0).
Against the Ephs (14-9) in the semifinals, Williams moved out to a 2-0 advantage with victories at No. 3 and No. 6. Chugh ’20 made the score 2-1 with an impressive 11-7, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9 win over Adrienne Conza in the ninth slot. The Ephs regained their two-point advantage with a three-game victory at No. 2. Lowitt improved to 2-0 for the day, outlasting Alex Pear in five games at No. 8 (9-11, 15-13, 5-11, 11-5, 11-4). Williams clinched the match behind a five-game victory in the middle of the ladder, followed by a four-game triumph in the top spot. Davis tallied the third point for the Panthers, earning a five-game win at No. 7 against Kathryn Wright (8-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-4, 11-2). The Ephs recorded the last point, a five-game victory at No. 4, for the final 6-3 score.
In their sweep over the Mammoths, the Panthers only gave up five games for their 9-0 victory. Chugh tallied the first point with a win at No. 9, followed by Anne Glassie ’20 at No. 6, Comai at No.3, and Ideal Dowling ’22 at No. 2. For the match-clinching fifth point, Natasha Lowitt fought for an 11-3, 3-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5 victory against Margaret Werner in the eight position.
With this past weekend to recover from a long and strenuous NESCAC tournament, the women’s squash team will head into the CSA Team Championships fresh and ready to go.
(02/14/19 10:55am)
Middlebury received a record number of applications during the 2018-2019 admissions cycle, with 9,750 students vying for a spot in the Class of 2023. The applicant pool increased by 5.6 percent compared to last year’s 9,230. With an increase of 13.9 percent, the number of applicants who identify as students of color also reached a new high.
Over the past 10 years, Middlebury’s applicant rates have increased by about 34 percent, according to Dean of Admissions Greg Buckles. Within that same 10 years, the college has seen a 99 percent increase in students of color, and a 75 percent increase in international students.
“Using an incremental, thoughtful, and responsible approach, we want to grow the pool to reach any potential candidate for whom a Middlebury education might be a good fit,” Buckles said.
In a news release, Director of Admissions Nicole Curvin attributed this year’s growth in part to recruitment by Middlebury’s staff in the South and the West, where growth in applicants was particularly strong. Applicants rose by 16 percent in the South, and 10 percent in the West.
The applicants hail from across the country, with most admitted students coming from New York. Other pipeline states include California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Illinois.
International applicants were up 10 percent this year. The six countries with the most applicants were led by China, with 628, followed by Pakistan, India, South Korea, Vietnam and Kenya.
Other NESCAC schools, such as Bowdoin, also saw an uptick in applications. Bowdoin received a total of 9,300 applications this year, an increase over its record of 9,081 for the Class of 2022.
[pullquote speaker="Greg Buckles" photo="" align="center" background="on" border="all" shadow="on"]We are trying to pay more attention to students who may fall outside what some may consider traditional norms or mainstream types of Middlebury profiles.[/pullquote]
For the first binding early decision round, Middlebury said it admitted 297 of the 654 applicants this December. A quarter of early admits were students of color. The second round of early applicants and regular decision applicants will receive their decisions in mid-February and March 23, respectively.
The college is looking to continue the development of a diverse and balanced community in the Class of 2023.
“We are trying to pay more attention to students who may fall outside what some may consider traditional norms or mainstream types of Middlebury profiles,” Buckles said.
Looking to the future, Buckles believes the college will focus on reaching international applicants, as well as tackling affordability.
“Middlebury will want to continue to be accessible to anyone who is qualified and admitted regardless of ability to pay,” said Buckles, who is leaving the college at the end of the academic year to take a job at the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey.
The admissions team is busy reviewing applications for next year’s class, which they expect to total between 610 and 630 students in the fall and another 100 to 110 in February. The projected class size of about 700 is consistent with previous years. Last year’s overall acceptance rate was 18.4 percent, down from 19.7 percent the year before.
(02/14/19 10:52am)
The Middlebury men’s squash team earned third place in the NESCAC Championships. Hosted by the Panthers in the Bostwick Family Squash Center, the weekend was claimed by No. 2 Trinity, who now holds a 14-2 record. Middlebury reached the semifinals by picking up a win over 24th-ranked Tufts on Saturday, Feb. 2 before returning to the courts the same day to fall to 18th-ranked Williams. The squad swept Tufts in a swift 9-0 victory with only three matches requiring more than three games. Back at it against Williams, the team suffered a close 5-4 loss. Middlebury posed wins in the second and third positions by juniors Jacob Ellen and William Cembalest, as well as in the sixth and ninth spots by first-year Teddy Best and sophomore Alex Merrill, respectively. Unlike the match against Tufts, this battle only saw one three-game match. Both Best and Cembalest fought through their five-game matches to claim points for Midd.
The team returned to the Bostwick Family Squash Center this past Saturday, Feb. 9, to challenge 19th-ranked MIT. The first two points were won by a five-game comeback from Cembalest and then another five-game victory by Best. The Panthers then edged the Engineers further by claiming yet another two five-game wins, this time from sophomore Wiatt Hinton and junior Jacob Ellen. Sophomore John Epley clinched the match at No. 7 in a four-game win to round out the match at 5-4 and secure a 13-5 record for the Panthers.
Following this excitement, the team will travel to the CSA Team Championships hosted by Yale from Friday to Sunday, Feb. 15-17.
(01/17/19 10:57am)
The men’s basketball team was on the road this past weekend, competing against two NESCAC rivals on Jan. 11 and 12. Coming hot off of a 20-point win against Widener University on Tuesday, Jan. 8, Middlebury pulled off a 100-93 victory over Bates on Friday. However, the Panthers fell to Tufts by two points on Saturday, 86-84; with seven seconds remaining in Cousens Gym, the Jumbos hit a 15-foot baseline jump shot to lift Tufts two points past the Panthers.
Matt Folger ’20 commented on Middlebury’s loss, saying, “Certainly after this weekend we were disappointed to lose another close NESCAC game because there are only 10, so one loss can be the difference between hosting a first-round conference tournament game and not even making the tournament. However, there are a ton of good teams in our conference so while a 2-2 record in NESCAC play isn’t what we wanted coming out of the weekend, we are still in a position to make the postseason tournament and are still confident we can beat any team on our schedule.”
Both Friday and Saturday’s games were back-and-forth, and despite losing, Middlebury outrebounded the Jumbos 55-40 on Saturday afternoon. Folger himself had 16 points and 13 boards this weekend. “We moved and shared the ball well against both teams this past weekend, which is when we are most successful as a team. The energy and effort was also there, and out-rebounding Tufts on Saturday gave us an opportunity to [keep us in the game] despite our poor shooting percentage,” Folger said.
The Panthers also had many notable accomplishments deep in the roster this past weekend. Jack Farrell ’21 scored 20 points on Friday night against Bates and had a career high of eight assists. Fresh off the start, Middlebury’s Griffin Kornaker ’22 made an early three-pointer, leading the game 10-7 at the 15:27 mark.
When asked what the Panthers would work on in practice this week, Folger mentioned, “We’re going to focus on our defensive rotations and transition defense because a few missed rotations can be the difference in close games.”
The Panthers will compete on the road against at Albertus Magnus College — a team that is skilled in transition on the court — on Jan. 15, and then take on the Williams Ephs on Saturday, Jan. 19.
(12/06/18 10:58am)
The 15th-ranked women’s squash team came out swinging this past weekend, when they began their 2018-2019 season with a home opener on Saturday against Tufts. The Panthers swept with a 9-0 victory, and team captains Bea Kuijpers ’19 and Alexa Comai ’19 led the way.
The Panthers blanked Tufts and continued a streak of dominance that has lasted against the Jumbos for the past couple of years. Mira Chugh ’20 began the sweep with her win at line nine in a four-game victory (10-12, 11-3, 11-2, 11-4) over Chloe Kantor. Natalie Madden ’21 followed close behind in the sixth spot (11-8, 11-7, 11-9), and gave the Panthers a comfortable 2-0 lead. Captain Alexa Comai ’19 tallied another win with a 9-11, 11-5, 11-2, 11-4 at line three against Zarena Jafry.
The next couple of wins followed suit from Natasha Lowitt ’20 in the eighth spot (11-3, 8-11, 11-6, 11-5) and Emily Beinkampen in the fifth spot (7-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9). Ideal Dowling ’22 had an amazing showing at No. 2 over Julie Yeung (11-4, 11-3, 10-12, 11-2), and grabbed her first collegiate win. Dowling, a strong addition to the top line, is a fresh face to keep an eye on. First-year Gwen Davis ’22 also captured the first victory of her college career at line seven (11-8, 11-7, 11-3) over Diya Sanghi.
Head coach Mark Lewis has an optimistic outlook for the rest of the season. “The team looks very strong and deep,” Lewis said. “The addition of the two first-years in the top nine adds strength throughout the lineup.”
Virginia Schaus ’21 made the score 8-0 with an 11-5, 11-4, 11-7 triumph against Rachel Windreich in the fourth position, and Kuijpers completed the sweep with a five-game victory (11-9, 11-13, 12-10, 6-11, 15-13) against Claire Davidson in the top spot.
“The team has been working hard on all aspects of their games — from fitness and the mental game, to tactics and technique. My assistant coach David Cromwell and I try to keep things very simple on all fronts,” Lewis said. The women’s squash team, having had a history of tough injuries, will be especially careful of their physical health. “Our biggest challenge will be to stay healthy and fit. Though we have a very difficult schedule, we relish the opportunities each match provides.”
Hoping to continue their hot start to the season, the Panthers will return to action as they hit the road this weekend, Dec. 8 and 9, against Wesleyan and George Washington in Connecticut.
(12/06/18 10:57am)
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MIDDLEBURY — Snow-capped mountains and pine trees are not the only elements that imbue the Green Mountain valley with an aura of holiday spirit. This past weekend, a surge of holiday-themed events came to downtown Middlebury. With the start of December, the Better Middlebury Partnership (BMP) has again seized the opportunity to revamp and strengthen community interaction with downtown businesses.
The overarching marketing model of this month’s festivities comes with the slogan, “A Very Merry Middlebury.” According to Vermont Book Shop owner Becky Dayton, the tradition dates back nearly 10 years, with many Decembers being devoted to holiday cheer and shopping in the quintessentially Vermont town.
“It’s a nice thing for the community to offer for people who don’t have a lot of money to spend on holiday activities because all of the events are free,” Dayton said.
One of the most popular events is “Midd Night Stroll,” which will take place on the evenings of Thursday, Dec. 6 and Thursday, Dec. 13, for which many downtown businesses plan to stay open later than usual. Originally dubbed “Stag & Doe Night,” the stroll had been targeted at couples. Over the years, it has become more inclusive and is now aimed at a range of ages.
“Downtown businesses really like the Very Merry Middlebury events, in particular the Midd Night Stroll, which provides a significant bump in sales for many restaurants and merchants,” said Karen Duguay, executive director of BMP. “Any time town is filled with people, it feels alive and has energy, and that’s good for businesses.”
Last Saturday, the monthlong event kicked off with a day devoted to Christmas-themed events such as visits with Santa at the Middlebury Inn, a hot chocolate hut on Main St. and horse-drawn wagon rides. The hot chocolate hut boasts steaming drinks for 25 cents. And getting “The Works,” a generous topping of marshmallows, whipped cream and a peppermint stick, is free of charge. According to Duguay, the college has been a large supporter of the group’s endeavors over the years. The college donated the hot chocolate for the hut this season.
With craned necks and cheers, residents and college students lined Main St. to catch a glimpse of Santa arriving in Middlebury by fire truck. Arguably, though, the most festive truck in the state is a less suspecting vehicle — a cement truck affixed with over 25,000 Christmas lights.
The SD Ireland Light Mixer, a now well-known cement truck that makes its way across the western part of the state during the holiday season, is returning to Middlebury on Dec. 6 and 13 for the Midd Night Stroll.
SD Ireland, the construction and concrete company that owns the cement trucks, has worked on a slew of local projects, including the college’s very own Bicentennial Hall. While the company is based in Williston, Vermont, the sparkly, light-adorned trucks make their way across the northwestern region of the state each winter.
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This is not the first philanthropic project of the concrete company, though. The family-run business, founded in 1975, also started a 501(c)(3) nonprofit for cancer research. But Scott Ireland, one of the co-owners, decided he wanted to add another dimension to their community involvement.
Ireland concocted the truck idea on a whim 14 years ago. His wife, Kim Ireland, described the process of dressing up one of the trucks in anticipation of December.
“It takes a good two weeks to do one truck with two to four guys working on it,” she said.
Ireland explained that attaching the lights — even to the rotating cement mixer — requires an unimaginable amount of clear duct-tape. After more than a decade, Ireland said she still feels like a little kid again when seeing the ebullient truck roll down the driveway for the first time each season.
Asked how they keep the 25,000 miniature lights aglow while driving down Route 7, Dayton provided a more cryptic response. “That’s the Christmas magic,” she said.
The lights themselves cost the family-run company around $5,000 per a truck. But beckoning one of the twinkling vehicles to a community event is free. Ireland said that people from across the state call to reserve the trucks during December.
The company even has a “Christmas Mixer Schedule” on their website highlighting where the cement trucks can be found next. This season, they are on the road from Thursday, Nov. 29 to Saturday, Dec. 29, with 37 events already lined up.
Several years ago, they expanded the operation to two trucks, with growing demand at local events. “There were just too many tree lightings going on at the same time,” she explained.
And when the trucks aren’t being featured at holiday pop-ups and tree lighting ceremonies? “The guys just enjoy driving them [along] Route 7,” Ireland said.
