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(09/24/20 9:59am)
Gianna Palli ’23.5, a member of the women’s basketball squad, is featured on the podcast this week. In this episode, we ask Gianna about the pandemic’s effect on the women’s basketball season. What has the team been doing to stay in shape this fall? What’s the best-case scenario for this semester? What might the winter season look like? Also, we talk about her first season in the Panther uniform which came to a grinding halt after six games due to an injury. We discuss this injury and her decision to take a gap semester and save a year of eligibility. Finally, we end the episode by exploring her athletic upbringing, her college recruitment process and the goals she has set for herself at Middlebury.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4vCHFyMJz4gpFmbTlBWnzy?si=sW6NF9v-SHGpI_1YgLjGhw
(09/17/20 10:00am)
Noah Whiting ’22, a member of the men’s cross country and track and field teams, joins the podcast this week. In this episode, we ask Whiting about how the pandemic has affected the cross country season. What’s it like to wear a mask while running? Does the team have any upcoming intra-team races? How do runners keep their runs fresh and entertaining when they’re quarantined to campus? Also, we chat about his first two years on the cross country and track and field teams, learning about his favorite aspects of the programs and his fondest memories thus far. Finally, we cap off the episode by asking Whiting why he first began to run competitively and how he was recruited to Middlebury.
[embed]https://open.spotify.com/episode/09mm9Cbzkdyt2AX2E8ZhpD?si=Dok0_y5BTKeAJOHpXMuC7w[/embed]
(09/10/20 10:00am)
The Siefer’s Scoop Podcast is coming to The Middlebury Campus in the 2020–2021 school year! The podcast is hosted and produced by Blaise Siefer ’23 and aims to tell the stories of Middlebury’s varsity athletes. Each week I’ll host a different athlete, learning about their introduction to sports, how they progressed to the collegiate level and the importance of sports in their lives. The Siefer’s Scoop Podcast will also explore the sports landscape amid a pandemic. We’ll ask varsity athletes about how training and competition has changed, how they are managing to stay connected to teammates in a social distanced world and more.
Episodes will run about 30 minutes.
Cole Crider ’23, a member of the men’s football and baseball squads, joins the podcast in its first episode of the school year. A sophomore at Middlebury, Crider was a member of the 2019 football team that set a litany of NESCAC records after going undefeated last year. He also pitches for the baseball team and was set to carve out a role for himself on the squad as a first year.
On this podcast, we ask the Nashville native about how the pandemic has shifted athletics. Why did he decide to return to Middlebury despite the altered athletic landscape? How does training look for both sports? How is he keeping bonds with his teammates strong? We also touch on his experience with the football and baseball squads last year, getting the inside scoop on the 9–0 football record and last year’s (canceled) baseball season.
Also, we explore his past with athletics. How did he first get into football and baseball? What are some of the sacrifices he needed to make to juggle both sports? What are some of his most notable achievements in high school?
Our first episode with Crider offers exclusive information about Middlebury athletics — we hope you enjoy it!
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Pr7qcZHlYTIpvojSB0pWl?si=Ri6NMSShSoGGsxp45VJKHg
(05/07/20 10:48am)
Enthusiastic. Slick. Industrious.
Those are the words that head men's lacrosse coach, Dave Campbell '00, used to describe the team's rookie class. This tight-knit group includes 12 first-years who hail from five different states and cover all positions: attackman, middie, defenseman and goalie.
Due to complications presented by Covid-19, the men’s lacrosse team was afforded just three games this season. “It was really tough for everyone when the news broke,” said first-year player Johnny Kantaros ’23. “We invested countless hours throughout the offseason into prepping for the season, but had little time to display our hard work.”
The truncated season impacted each class differently. While the seniors saw one final chance to win a NESCAC title evaporate, the first-years were left with only three games to introduce themselves to the program. But for a rookie class like this, three games were more than enough time to build a lasting impression. How?
“The most obvious trait [the first-years possess] is talent; however, the most important trait is character,” Assistant Coach Gus Brakeley explained.
The character of the rookies gleamed in multiple areas this past year, including their commitment to preserving team traditions with enthusiasm.
One tradition held by the lacrosse program is to honor former team manager Myron “Peter'' Kohn, who worked for the team between 1981 and 2003. A constant presence from the sidelines, Kohn devoted substantial time and effort into the program; for his efforts, he earned induction into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame — the first manager ever to receive this distinction.
Kohn struggled with a mild developmental disability, but that didn’t dampen his spirits. From keeping the team grounded to sharing an electrifying collection of words before games, he was one of the most influential figures in the history of the men’s lacrosse program.
Kohn died in 2009, but his impact on the program wouldn’t fade. “You enter the program as a first-year, and you’re instantly swarmed by this aura of a guy,” Kantaros said. “You quickly realize how important he was and how vital it is to carry on his legacy.”
It is tradition for one or two members of the first-year class to speak a few words in Kohn’s honor before every game, along with wearing helmets that symbolize him to and from games — practices known as “Keeper of the Kohn.” This year, first-years Finn Muldoon ’23 and Luke Simpson ’23 were responsible for carrying out these rituals. “They did a great job and really cared about what their responsibility represented,” Kantaros said. “They treated their duties with respect and humility.”
Besides honoring Kohn, the rookies have also demonstrated a sense of charity. This year, several first-years opted to shave their heads to benefit children’s cancer research through a foundation known as “Lacrosse for Life.” For every head shaved, the foundation donates $1,000 to the Boston Children’s Hospital.
First-year Luke Simpson was among the participants this year. In early March, Simpson and 17 other teammates picked up razors to set the standard of generosity and civic responsibility for Panther lacrosse. “Men’s lacrosse is committed to giving back in any way we can,” Simpson said. “Whether it is with us shaving our heads or through local Addison County charities, the lacrosse team is very motivated to help out.”
The pattern of giving back and honoring tradition from the rookie class didn’t go unnoticed from upperclassmen. “What was most impressive about this group was their willingness to help the community,” said senior captain Jake Madnick ’20. “Whether it was being a ball boy for the football team or volunteering to do community service, this group was always eager to help.”
While this cohort has made a mark in the community, their contributions didn’t diminish when they took the field; in the short three-game season, the first years contributed seven goals and four assists. Among the point contributors was Will Ryan ’23, an attacker who netted five goals in two games. “The other first-years were extremely supportive [when I scored] along with the rest of the guys on the team,” Ryan said. “I think I’ll remember getting swarmed by teammates when I came off the field more than the goals themselves.”
Other first years also made an early-season impact, including fellow attacker Will Zink ’23. Zink dished the assist to Ryan when he netted his first collegiate goal, and again set up Ryan in the next game. The Massachusetts native also tacked on a goal of his own in Middlebury’s match against Plattsburgh State.
To top off their remarkable character and talent, the rookie class supplied high-spirits and an appropriate dash of comedy to the team this year, both in the locker room and on the field.
Their sense of humor was on full display during their annual Halloween scrimmage. On the last day of October, the lacrosse team traditionally plays an intra-squad scrimmage while donning their costumes — which is a practice some members take seriously. First-year attacker Tom Conley ’23 arrived at his first-ever Halloween game dressed head-to-toe in a Spider-Man costume.
Required to wear a helmet, Conley was forced to fit it over his suit, presenting a slight issue: “He couldn't see that well — it was hard to see through the Spider-Man costume and his mask,” said teammate Johnny Kantaros. “I don’t really know what he was thinking, to be honest.”
Conley’s struggle with sight presented all sorts of issues for the attacker. “A few times, a ball would be thrown at him and he wouldn't react,” Kantaros said. “It’d just fly right by him. He had everyone laughing.”
Despite these challenges, Conley was determined to make an impact. When the two teams tied and the game came down to the next goal, the ball landed in Conley’s hands. “Then, somehow, he managed to fire a rocket into the net, good for the game-winning tally,” Kantaros recounted. “It was hilarious — everyone was shocked.” Conley was even sure to complement his goal with a silly celebration.
“Classic Tom,” Kantaros mused. “That was definitely the highlight of the game for most of us.” From the costume to the celebration, Conley’s game-winning goal in his first-ever Halloween game is just one semblance of the positive energy the first-years have brought to the team.
The immediate, multi-dimensional impact from the first-year class is inarguable, undergirded by a truly remarkable character. “They brought great enthusiasm to the team this year and were willing to do anything that was asked of them,” said Campbell, the head coach. “I think everyone in that class has the potential to play a major role for us down the road.”
Madnick similarly predicts a bright future for this rookie group. “This class is filled with great players that have a ton of talent and a bright future at Middlebury,” he said. “More importantly, they have outstanding character and a bright future beyond Middlebury.”
(03/05/20 11:28am)
A season-long pattern of poor home performances continued on Saturday, as men’s puck was bested by Wesleyan in the NESCAC Quarterfinals in Kenyon Arena. Despite entering the third period with a 2-1 lead, the Panthers conceded three straight goals to the Cardinals, who booked their ticket to the NESCAC Semifinal with a 4-2 victory. The Panthers finish the season 10-12-3 overall, an improvement from last season’s 8-13-4 record.
The Cardinals dealt the first blow with 48 seconds remaining in the first stanza when Cam Peritz punched home a rebound. Senior netminder Brian Ketchabaw ‘20 made a nice effort to save an initial shot, but Wesleyan’s power play was simply too much for the Panthers to handle.
Just under two minutes into the second period, Zach Shapiro ’22 found the back of the net after Emack Bentley ’22 stole the puck and delivered a deftly placed assist. The Panthers seemed primed to grab a second goal after tying the game up, but failed to capitalize on two consecutive power play opportunities. However, they finally snatched the lead with 40 seconds remaining in the second, after a slap shot from Brendan Dawson ’20 smashed into the back of the net.
The third period was one to forget for the Panthers, who conceded three consecutive goals en route to a 4-2 home defeat. Men’s puck were not devoid of chances in the final period; Wesleyan keeper Tim Sestak rarely had a chance to breathe in the last 20 minutes, facing multiple Panthers shots, one of which ricocheted off the post. This marked the second year in a row that Wesleyan defeated Middlebury in the NESCAC Quarterfinals.
Captain Owen Powers ’20, who finished the season with a team-high 22 points, was quick to find the positives in the season. “Although we were disappointed with the end result, I am really proud of the steps this team has taken over my 3 years here at Midd. I look forward to watching their continued success. Cheer boys cheer.”
Co-captain Brett Dineen ’20 shared a similar sentiment. “We accomplished a lot as a group including the team’s first home playoff game in six years. I’m excited to see what the returners continue to achieve in the rest of their Middlebury career.”
The Cardinals head to Williamstown next weekend, where they will face off against the top-seeded Ephs in the NESCAC Quarterfinals.
(03/05/20 11:16am)
Men’s lacrosse opened up their season on Saturday, Feb. 29 in an away tilt against Bowdoin College. The Panthers were deadly on the attack in the opener, outshooting the Polar Bears 52–36 en route to a 16–12 victory. This is the second year in a row that the Panthers have taken down Bowdoin in their regular season matchup.
Middlebury jumped out to an early 6–0 lead featuring two goals and two assists from Tyler Forbes ’22. Last season, Forbes notched 49 goals and 10 assists in an effort that placed him first on the team in total points.
Middlebury’s hot streak was quickly cooled by the Polar Bears, who scored five consecutive goals by the middle of the second quarter. The Panthers responded, finding the net three more times before the break, which they entered with a 9-6 lead.
Bowdoin kept the Panthers on their feet early in the second half, cutting Middlebury’s lead down to two in the third quarter. However, this threat was quickly thwarted by a 3–0 streak by the Panthers thanks to two goals from Michael McCormack ’20. The teams continued to trade goals, but the Polar Bears were never able to get within 3 scores of the Panthers for the rest of the game. In the final ten minutes, A.J. Kucinski ’20 dealt a final blow with a goal and an assist of his own, en route to the victory. Kucinski was second on the team in points last year (54), only five behind teammate Forbes. With these two points, Kucinski notched an impressive feat, hitting the career 100-point mark.
Post game, Johnny Kantaros ’23 offered insight that the scoreline doesn’t illustrate. “I think a highlight for us was how some of our older guys stepped up in new roles this year,” he stated. “Especially Chase Goree ’20, who was awarded the game ball for his hustle and grit after moving from an attackman to a two-way midfielder.”
This versatility should serve the Panthers well in the new season. After a comfortable win in Brunswick, the Panthers have reason to be optimistic for their home opener against Connecticut College on Saturday, March 7.
(02/27/20 11:47am)
The men’s hockey team won both of their home games this past weekend, defeating Amherst and Hamilton in the final two regular season games of the year. With these two victories, the Panthers (10–11–3, 8–7–3) snatched the No. 4 seed in the NESCAC tournament, earning home court advantage in the quarterfinals this weekend.
The past week’s action kicked off on Friday, Feb. 24, when Amhest came to town for the first time of the season. The last time the two teams played, the Panthers narrowly edged out the Mammoths, 3–2. Men’s puck started off the game strong, gaining a 1–0 lead just 2 minutes into the first period. The goal was a career first for Paddy Mangan ’23, whose shot deftly evaded defenders. In the subsequent stanza, the Mammoths tied things up at 1–1, setting the stage for an intense third period. Neither team disappointed. Halfway through the third, Matt Danner ’21 snatched a loose puck out of the air and fed a pass to Mitchell Allen ’20, who beat a defender and skillfully tucked away a shot, giving the Panthers the 2–1 lead. Roughly five minutes later, however, the Mammoths responded, tying the game up at 2–2. The tie lifted the game into overtime, which only lasted a mere 23 seconds; after Antoine Belisle ’23 saw his shot saved by Amherst’s goalie, captain Owen Powers ’20 slid and knocked in the rebound, sending the Panthers into a celebration huddle.
The following day, the Panthers hosted the Hamilton Continentals, who entered the game having won six out of their last seven matches. Despite being outshot (29 to 20), the Panthers managed to tuck away a season-high six goals against the Continentals, while finding a way to maintain a clean sheet, credit to netminder Brian Ketchabaw ’20. The Panthers scored in clumps, netting three goals in the opening eight minutes and two goals in the final half of the third period. Powers was among the goalscorers for the Panthers, who ends the regular season with 22 points, the highest of any Panther.
The NESCAC tournament is slated to begin on Saturday, Feb. 29, when the fourth-seeded Panthers will host the fifth-seeded Wesleyan Cardinals. The Panthers are 1–1 against the Cardinals this season; despite falling 3–1 at home in January, they earned revenge in early February, edging the Cardinals, 4–1. Game time is set for 4 p.m.
(02/20/20 11:50am)
The past two months have been tough for the men’s hockey team, who have garnered just two wins out of 14 games in that span. After falling twice to No. 12 Williams this weekend, the Panthers sit fifth in the NESCAC as they enter their final week of the regular season.
The Panther’s kicked off their back-to-back duel against Williams away from home, where they fell to the Ephs in Williamstown by a score of 3–2 in overtime. Paddy Bogart ’23 quickly put the Panthers ahead, scoring a minute into the game. However, his effort was quickly neutralized by Tyler Scott’s backhander for Williams, which tied the game at 1–1 deep into the first period. After a scoreless second stanza, Williams needed just 34 seconds to earn the lead, thanks to the Eph’s forward Wyatt Glover. After a frustrating third period for the Panthers, a breakthrough finally came with 17 seconds left in the game, after Danny Tighe ’20 knocked in a shot following an assist from Brendan Dawson ’20. Despite their remarkable effort to extend the game past regulation, the Panthers were put to bed just over 2 minutes into overtime, when Williams sealed the win through a goal by Mac Carso.
Both teams headed north for their tie the next day, this time taking place in Kenyon Arena. Despite having home court advantage, the Panthers failed to capitalize, which was consistent with an overall trend this season. While men’s puck have been satisfactory for away games — winning 50% of their matches — they have been dreadful on their home ice, winning just 20% of their duels. After gaining the lead following an effort from Alex Heinritz ’21 at the end of the first stanza, the Panthers proceeded to concede five consecutive goals, suffering a 5—1 deficit by the middle of the final period. The Panthers notched two consolation goals, with both Mitchell Allen ’20 and Owen Powers ’20 finding the back of the net for the struggling home side. With this goal, Owen Powers extended his point total to 17, good for most on the team. This mark includes 5 goals (T-2 on the team) and 12 assists (most on the team).
Men’s puck (8-11-3, 6-7-3) is set to play their final two regular season games next weekend, hosting Amherst (9-9-4, 7-6-3) on Friday and Hamilton (10-8-4, 9-5-2) on Saturday. Game times are marked for 7 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively. Come out and support your Panthers!
(02/13/20 9:06pm)
The 2019-2020 men’s ice hockey campaign is quickly rounding up for the Middlebury Panthers, who recently travelled to Connecticut to face off against NESCAC opponents Trinity and Wesleyan. Despite falling to No. 9 Trinity in a blowout on Friday, Feb. 7, the Panthers found success in their matchup with Wesleyan on Saturday, Feb. 8th.
The Panthers kicked off their series against the Bantams, who narrowly defeated them by a score of 4–3, in early January. This time around, Trinity entered the match-up with a distinguished resume including a top-10 national ranking and a No. 2 standing in the NESCAC. Despite a closely contested first period, the Panthers were never able to find control of the game, conceding six total goals. Billy Dobensky ’23 and Bret Pastor ’22 found the back of the net for Middlebury, but it was not enough to faze the red-hot Bantams.
Middlebury then travelled south for an away match against the Cardinals, who dealt them a loss last month at home. After a scoreless first period, Alex Heinritz ’21 put in a deflected shot to put the Panthers ahead- and they never looked back. Brett Dineen ’20 doubled the Panthers’ lead early on in the third period and the effort was extended by Matt Danner ’21 and Tyler Capello ’22 who also added goals in the third. The game finished 4–1 for the Panthers. “The team really came together for the win on Saturday, and we’re building momentum for the playoffs,” noted Charlie Parsons ‘21. The Panthers begin their double header away at Williams on Friday, Feb. 14th and continue the following day, where they will play at home in Kenyon Arena.
(01/23/20 11:13am)
The men’s hockey team lost both of its matchups this week, falling to Norwich on Tuesday, Jan. 14 and Plattsburgh on Friday, Jan. 17. With these two losses, Middlebury extends its losing streak to four, in addition to altering its season record to 7–7.
The Panthers traveled to Northfield, Vermont on Tuesday evening to face the fourth-ranked Norwich Cadets (14–2–2) in a non-conference tie. After a back-and-forth first stanza, the Cadets struck first in the second period with two goals within 59 seconds. Middlebury captain Owen Powers ‘20 responded quickly, netting his third goal of the season with 4:50 left in the period. In the third stanza, the Cadets added a third, sealing the win.
On Friday, the Panthers hosted Plattsburgh in their final non-conference game of the season, their fifth time playing in Kenyon Arena this month. Plattsburgh started hot, scoring an early goal 6:49 into the first period. They continued to find the back of the net in the second period, tallying two more goals halfway through the period. Just four minutes later, Zach Shapiro ‘22 notched his sixth goal of the season, a team high. Joe Drabin of Plattsburgh earned the final laugh though, finding an open pocket merely 12 seconds after Shapiro’s mark. Neither team was able to get on the board in the third period, as the game ended in a 4–1 defeat for the Panthers.
The men will compete on the road this weekend, facing off against Bowdoin on Friday, Jan. 24 and Colby on Saturday, Jan. 25. Game times are slated for 7:00pm and 3:00pm, respectively.
(11/14/19 6:12pm)
It’s fourth and goal and the crowd rises to its feet. The student section screams so loud the opposing players can’t even hear the play call. The center snaps the ball, and the quarterback rolls out to his right. He throws! The pass is dropped! The football team wins the title! Hundreds of fans rush the field, jumping up and down with excitement for a win they’ll never forget.
Does it sound like Middlebury? Not quite.
At Middlebury, we are pretty fortunate to have some of the top D-3 sports teams in the business. Last year, Middlebury won six NESCAC championships in total, the most out of any school in the conference. Additionally, field hockey and women’s lacrosse both won national championships and women’s soccer finished as national finalists.
Our athletic conquests continued this year; football recorded a 9–0 season and was the first team to ever do so in NESCAC history. Three other teams competed in the NESCAC championship game this past weekend (men’s soccer, women’s soccer, and field hockey).
But these reporters were curious: Does the school spirit at Middlebury match its distinguished athletic profile? To probe the question, we first explored what school spirit means to Middlebury students.
“School spirit means being proud of going to Middlebury,” Jess Cohen ’21 said. Meanwhile, Kelsey Brown ’23 said school spirit entails “a bunch of people getting together, supporting the sports teams, wearing their school colors, and making chants.”
Of course, school spirit isn’t confined to just spectating sporting events; it would be irrational to say that students who don’t attend sports games don’t have school spirit. However, attending sporting events is definitely a facet of school spirit that some students feel has room for improvement. Georgia Ezell ’23 feels a similar way. “I’d like to be at a school with a little more team camaraderie and sense of self,” Georgia Ezell ’23 said. “But maybe that’s my own fault.”
Take Middlebury field hockey, for example. This past Sunday, the team won their third straight NESCAC title, good for their sixth in the past eight years. They will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA D-3 tournament, entering the competition as defending champions. For a squad of such a high caliber, it’s worrisome to think that the average attendance was less than 100 fans per game this season. Keep in mind, attendance includes parents of both teams and local fans that don’t go to Middlebury.
According to S.K. Hurlock ’23, “mostly close friends and parents/family of girls on the team” make up the fan base. Middlebury hosted the NESCAC championships for field hockey this weekend, but still saw relatively meager attendance. At the team’s semi-final matchup against Hamilton on Saturday, only 108 fans attended.
It’s important to note that we are not saying that there are no fans at Middlebury; in fact, there have been times where student support has been incredible. For instance, attendance to the Oct. 12 football matchup vs. Colby (3,333) was the second-highest the football team had in the past six years. Rather, we are arguing that we could use improvement. So how might we accomplish this?
The first idea most people bring up is tailgating. Why don’t we have it at Middlebury? It is allowed, but in 2014, Director of Athletics Erin Quinn officially banned alcoholic beverages at tailgates. According to the NESCAC’s sportsmanship statement, “It is incumbent upon NESCAC host institutions to provide a hospitable environment for contests to be played with an emphasis on fair play and an absolute ban on the consumption of alcoholic beverages by spectators.”
Quinn noted this policy — in conjunction with previous incidents at football games caused by excessive alcohol consumption — in his decision to ban alcohol at tailgates in 2014. So yes, tailgating is still allowed, contrary to popular belief.
There also have been efforts within the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) of establishing a point system respective to attending athletic games, through an app called “SuperFan.” The premise of the app is simple: when you attend games, you log your attendance and gain points. In return, students can use these points to purchase Middlebury swag. This SAAC has brought to the administrations attention, but further action has yet to take place.
Masa Mori ’22 believes that, if there’s a devoted student section “attending games would be much more fun.” If a few students are willing to take charge, they could raise awareness through social media posts, along with an announcement in the newspaper and fliers all around campus.
Besides school spirit, when we think of college sports, traditions cross our mind. Knowing that we’ve only been at Midd for a couple of months, we asked some upperclassmen about the presence of traditions in athletics.
“There are none, literally none,” Emily Kohutnicki ’20 said, when asked about sports traditions at Middlebury.
Obviously, this was concerning knowing that she’s been here for nearly four years. You would expect that at some point in Middlebury’s 229 year history, some kind of annual sporting ritual would arise, but that’s not the case. So, what can be done? As we near the winter season, why not start up some new traditions? Maybe a blue-out at the first basketball game? A pajama psych at one of our hockey games? The possibilities are endless.
Again, we know there is definitely school spirit at Middlebury — that’s not our point. Rather, we believe that as a student body, we can do even better. Our athletes work incredibly hard to perform at a high level, and the least we can do is give our maximum effort as it comes to support. So get off your butt, take a study break, quit watching Netflix, and cheer our athletes on. Trust us, the library is not going anywhere and you can certainly get back to the books after your short break to show some Midd spirit!
Hopefully, we’ll see you at the next game.