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(10/28/21 9:54am)
Middlebury’s ultimate frisbee team — known as the Pranksters — are recognized for their national acclaim and vibrantly-colored outfits. This fall, the Pranksters are competing in the first ever fall collegiate frisbee season, which makes up for the lost season of spring 2021.
(10/14/21 9:56am)
After opening their season with 14 straight wins, women’s volleyball (15-1-0) has secured their spot in the history books. The team has compiled their best start to a season in program history, sitting tied for first in the NESCAC with a 0.938 win percentage.
Volleyball started their season with four consecutive sweeps, winning three straight sets in every match. Their dominance continued throughout their first month of play, before Wesleyan finally broke Middlebury’s win streak on Oct. 11. In a tightly contested match, the Cardinals narrowly prevailed, 3–2.
Still unbeaten on their home court at Pepin Gymnasium, volleyball is tied with Amherst, Bowdoin and Williams at the top of the league — although the Panthers still rank first among NESCAC teams in overall win percentage.
While volleyball’s stunning record may come as a slight surprise to some, it has not been a shock to the players. Top scorer and senior captain Maggie Wise ’22 cites the team’s excellent chemistry on and off the court as a key ingredient to their success this season.
“We have established a high level of trust in one another that I haven’t had with many other teams while playing the sport,” Wise said. “I have the utmost level of confidence in this group and wouldn’t trade them for anyone else.”
Wise also credited her fellow seniors in fostering the sense of community and teamwork that has been pivotal for the team thus far.
“The seniors have done a really great job of building a good team culture,” Gabbie O’Tool ’25, who leads the team in assists, said. “As a freshman, being able to have the team’s trust in my abilities has been really encouraging.”
“We’re really focused on approaching each game with the same intensity and on playing clean Middlebury volleyball to finish out the regular season the best we can,” Lexi Linafelter ’24 added. Linafelter also credited the team’s incredibly “competitive yet supportive” practice environment in playing a key role in the team’s strong performances.
The team’s chemistry and teamwork is also largely derived from their incredible depth across the starting lineup and bench, with multiple players ranking among the conference’s best in their respective positions. Corley Doyle ’22 is second in the NESCAC in hitting percentage (.410), while Kelly Ferrero ’25 is third in digs per set (4.67). The aforementioned O’Toole ranks second in assists (9.25 per set).
Looking ahead, the team sees no reason for its success to stop. Wise, O’Toole and Linafelter all agree that the team aims to win the NESCAC conference and host the tournament with home court advantage. The trio also has high hopes for the NCAA tournament as the team looks to capitalize on its current momentum.
Women’s volleyball continues its season Friday, Oct. 15 as they travel to Bowdoin College. The Panthers haven’t beaten Bowdoin since 2016.
(10/07/21 10:00am)
The men’s and women’s varsity soccer teams are no longer the only Panthers on the soccer pitch. As of this fall, Middlebury now has a fully operational men’s club team.
Founded by Blaise Siefer ’23.5 and Marco Fengler ’23, the club took to the field for the first time this fall, after spending months in the works.
According to Fengler, the process of getting the team off the ground began two years ago, when he and Siefer first arrived on campus and the college had recently cut its junior varsity men’s soccer team. But even though the program was gone, interest in soccer remained high.
“We had a lot of guys interested in soccer, but we lacked organization and infrastructure,” Fengler said.
Seeking to create a more structured program, Fengler and Siefer reached out to the Middlebury Director of Club Sports, Doug Connolly. Although he supported the vision for the club, he explained that there were still many obstacles, some of which included medical supervision, budgetary restrictions and field time.
Just as things looked like they were finally starting to get going, the Covid-19 pandemic brought club soccer to a screeching halt.
“It was tough,” Fengler said. “We got sent home in the spring, and in the fall we realized the school had a lot going on, so it wasn’t the right time.”
Not to be deterred, the pair continued to operate behind the scenes throughout the spring semester of 2021. After long talks with the Student Activities Office, they finally got the green light in May.
“We still had a lot to do, but we knew we finally had a team,” Fengler said.
Middlebury men’s club soccer took its fully fledged form this fall, donning navy and white jerseys on the pitch. Led by Fengler and Siefer as co-presidents, the club now has a full executive board, consisting of three class captains (Otis Miliken ’24, Ben Knudsen ’23, Hugo Bocker ’22), the two aforementioned presidents and social chair Captain Rudolph ’23.5. The team consists of a 27-man travel roster that practices regularly and plays away games in addition to a practice squad that trains several times per week as well.
“There is fluidity between the two [the travel roster and the practice squad], however,” Fengler said. “If guys are working hard in practice, then they can potentially make the travel team.”
The team has been in fine form on the field with an unbeaten start to the season. Following a statement victory over UVM’s club side in their season opener, the team played to a hard-fought draw against Clarkson before earning back to back victories against University of Massachusetts Lowell and Brandeis.
The team is currently listed as a provisional outfit for this season, so they will not be allowed to compete at regionals, but they have big goals for the year nonetheless.
“We want to have an unbeaten season,” Fengler said. “We play a fast-paced yet composed game, so fans can expect a lot of goals too.”
You can stay up to date with the club’s schedule on the team’s Instagram page as well as on the club’s page on Presence. Middlebury club soccer takes on UVM B and Dartmouth B at 9:30 AM and 4:45 PM this Sunday at Middlebury.
Editor’s Note: Blaise Siefer is the Senior Sports Editor for The Campus.
(09/30/21 9:58am)
There must be something special about Kohn Field, home of the Middlebury field hockey team, for it is there that the Panthers have won 40 straight games.
This miraculous home win streak dates back to Sept. 27, 2017, when the Panthers bounced back from a 2–3 loss against Hamilton (one of just two losses of the season) with a 6–2 drubbing of Skidmore. (That year, field hockey would go on to claim its third-ever NCAA championship.)
With a 4–1 win over Babson on Sept. 19, that win streak now stands at 40 games. The team has won many collective and individual accomplishments during this span, including three NESCAC Championships and three NCAA National Championships. On the individual level, Erin Nicholas ’22 has won National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Player of the Year the past two seasons, and Katie George ’23 was named NESCAC Rookie of the Year and All American in 2019.
While field hockey’s dearth of all-star talent has played a key role in their success, much of the credit is owed to Head Coach Katharine DeLorenzo, who has won NESCAC Coach of the Year the past three seasons (2017–19). Now in her 21st season of coaching this year, DeLorenzo has amassed a 316–62 record for a win percentage of .836, the highest in program history. Known for her excellent eye for recruits and her attacking style of play, the coach is inextricably connected to the team’s success.
Among the team’s current, super star-filled roster, Nicholas, Audrey Lazar ’23 and George stand out as the top scorers, while Charlotte Marks ’23 and Joan Vera ’22 have anchored the defense in front of Grace Harlan ’22.5 in goal. With a well-balanced and talented roster, only time will tell how far the Panthers can stretch their home win streak.
Field hockey (8–0) returns to Kohn Field on Sunday, Oct. 3, when they play host to Amherst College (7–0). Game time is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
(09/23/21 2:30pm)
Men’s cross country continued its perfect start to the season last weekend, sweeping St. Michael’s College, Clarkson University, and Norwich University en route to a home win at the Aldrich Invitational. Every Middlebury participant placed in the top 20 out of a field of 58.
Team captain Quin McGaugh ’22 took home first prize, finishing the 8k course in 26:24 (5:25 per mile average). Alec Gironda ’24 finished eight seconds later in second, and Zander Kessler ’22.5 came home in third. Those three finished with a substantial margin over the rest of the field, with fellow Panther Drew Donahue ’25 just missing out on a sub 27-minute performance. Peter Burke ’24 snagged the final scoring spot in fifth place to make it a perfect score for the hosts, and Luke Lorenz ’23 grabbed sixth place for good measure.
Other top Middlebury finishers were Noah Whiting ’22 (10th), Oscar deFrancis ’24.5 (11th), Diego Rey ’23 (12th) and Will Lavey ’25 (13th).
The Panthers will look to continue their perfect start to the season on Saturday, Sept. 25 at the Purple Valley Classic, a meet hosted by Williams.
(09/16/21 9:58am)
With the academic year underway at Middlebury, fall sports are back in full swing — and in typical fashion, the Panther squads carry high expectations this season. Here are previews for each of the 11 fall varsity sports teams competing this season.
Women’s golf season preview
by Josh Rosenstein
Head coach: Bill Mandigo (33 years at Midd)
Captains: Maddy Cordeiro ’23, Katie Murphy ’23
Players to watch for: Audrey Tir ’25, Kayla Li ’23, Jacqueline Slinkard ’24
Background: Women’s golf didn’t have the best of seasons last spring, finishing fourth among five teams in the 2021 NESCAC Championship. There are positives to take away from last semester, though, including the play of captain Katie Murphy ’23. Last spring, Murphy led the Panthers in finishes in every tournament. With her paving the way, how far can the Panthers go? Are there any first-year players who can step in and immediately compete for a top spot?
Key matches: George Phinney Classic (Home; Sept. 18–19), Williams Invitational (Away; Oct. 2–3)
The Middlebury women’s golf team kicked off their season last weekend at the Hamilton Invitational at Yahnundasis Golf Club in New Hartford, New York. The opener was the first of five tournaments of the fall season.
The Panthers are also excited to travel together as a team in a more normal manner, as far as Covid-19 restrictions are concerned. The players still get tested every Monday, and remain cautious when interacting with other teams, but their travel schedule is that of a typical season.
Besides the tournament at home next weekend, the NESCAC qualifiers on Oct. 9 and 10 are marked on all the players’ calendars. The top four teams qualify for the NESCAC Championships in the spring, and the winner gets the privilege of hosting the tournament.
“We are so beyond grateful and just so pumped to be able to compete this season,” Murphy and Cordeiro said in an interview with The Campus. “There is still a lot of uncertainty in the world, so [we are] thankful Midd and the NESCAC did everything possible to make this happen.”
Men’s golf season preview
By Charles Crounse
Head coach: Bill Beaney (34 years at Midd)
Players to watch for: Colin McCaigue ’24, Anthony King ’23, Sean McGarrity ’23, Hogan Beazley ’23, KJ Dieker ’22
Background: Men’s golf won the NESCAC Championship last spring, giving them some momentum ahead of this season. The Panthers will certainly miss the contributions of recently graduated captain Jordan Bessalel ’21, the reigning NESCAC Player of the Year, but the team has the pieces to restock the lineup. One key player will be Hogan Beazley ’23 — the junior was an All-NESCAC First Team player last year.
Key matches: Williams Fall Invitational (Away; Sept. 18–19), Sap Bucket Challenge (Away; Oct. 12)
Men’s golf opened its season this past weekend with a home match against 22 other teams, with the Panthers taking fourth over the course of the two-day event. Beazley took home the individual honors with an impressive score of 140 over the two 18-hole rounds, finishing a comfortable three strokes ahead of second place.
The team will turn to their returning seniors for leadership this year, with Phin Choukas ’22 and Chris Thompson ’22 among those returning to the team after taking the past year off due to Covid-19. Thompson and Choukas were among those competing for Middlebury’s first team this weekend, with both set to play key roles this season. Returning NESCAC Freshman of the Year Colin McCaigue also looks set to star, as do Hogan Beazley ’23 and Sean McGarrity ’23. The team has also added four first years to its all-star lineup as they look to blend youth with experience.
Men’s cross country
by Charles Crounse
Head coach: Nicole Wilkerson (19 years at Midd)
Captains: Quinlan McGaugh ’22, Noah Whiting ’22
Players to watch for: Drew Donahue ’25, Alec Gironda ’24, Zander Kessler ’22.5, Max Cluss ’23
Background: Men’s cross country has depth in every class this season, from first years to seniors. The question is, as usual: How do the Panthers stack up against other leaders in the NESCAC? How well could they do against Williams, a perennial national contender, for example? Middlebury always finds a way to compete, but could they vault to the top of the NESCAC this year?
Key matches: Aldrich Invitational (Home; Sept. 18), Purple Valley Classic (Away; Sept. 25), Connecticut College Invitational (Away; Oct. 16)
Men’s cross country kicked off their season this past week with a win at the Maple Syrup Challenge. The Panthers nearly swept the top ten with just three rivals sneaking in in second, seventh and eighth respectively. Alec Gironda ’24 earned an impressive victory in his Panthers cross-country debut.
The team looks primed for a strong year this season, hoping to improve on their third place in the NESCAC back in 2019. They will look to top their sixth place finish in the NCAA Regionals and 29th place at the NCAA Championship.
Captains Noah Whiting ’22 and Quin McGaugh ’22 are excited about the team’s prospects this season. Whiting says the team is particularly excited about the first-year and sophomore classes, all of whom had yet to race a proper college 8k coming into the season. Alec Gironda ’24, Peter Burke ’24, Drew Donahue ’25, Oscar deFrancis ’24.5 and Will Lavey ’25 all look set to play big roles as part of the up-and-coming cast of untested runners. Other key runners will include Zander Kessler ’22.5, who placed 57th at the last edition of the NCAA Regional race, and captain Quinlan McGaugh ’22, who placed 62nd at the same race.
The team remains under the leadership of coach Nicole Wilkerson, who has led the team to the NCAA Championship race in every year of her coaching tenure, which spans back to 2011.
Women’s Field Hockey - Blaise Siefer
Head coach: Katharine DeLorenzo (20 years at Midd)
Captains: Isabel Chandler ’21.5, Danielle Brown ’21.5, Erin Nicholas ’22
Players to watch for: Katie George ’23 (F), Grace Harlan ’22.5 (GK), Meg Fearey ’21.5 (D)
Background: Is there a better D-3 women’s field hockey team in the nation? The answer is probably no. Women’s field hockey has won the NCAA National Championship the past three seasons — 2017, 2018 and 2019 — and return a core group of top players. It would be silly to bet against this team in any game this season.
Key matches: Bowdoin (Home; Sept. 18), Tufts (Home; Oct. 10), Williams (Away; Oct. 26)
Women’s Soccer - Blaise Siefer
Head coach: Peter Kim (17 years at Midd)
Captains: Eliza van Voorhis ’21.5, Isabelle Hartnett ’21.5, Simone Ameer ’21.5
Players to watch for: Fanny Lodge ’24 (F), Elizabeth Peebles ’23 (M), Eliza Robinson ’21.5 (M)
Background: After an early exit in the 2019 NCAA Tournament, how well can women’s soccer respond this year? They are a perennial juggernaut, last making the NCAA Championship game in 2018, when they fell in dramatic fashion to Williams. The Panthers will have firm tests against Tufts, Williams and Amherst this fall, which could go a long way in determining the ultimate course of their season.
Key matches: Amherst (Home; Oct. 3), Tufts (Home; Oct. 10), Williams (Away; Oct. 26)
Men’s Soccer - Blaise Siefer
Head coach: Alex Elias ’08 (6 years at Midd)
Captains: Liam Sloan ’22.5, Raffi Barsamian ’21.5, Michael McFarlane ’22
Players to watch for: Ryan Grady ’23 (GK), Jordan Saint-Louis ’24 (F), Ben Powers ’23 (M), Brandon Reid ’21.5 (F)
Background: Men’s soccer hasn’t finished atop the NESCAC since 2008 — could this finally be the year that breaks that streak? The team would need to get past the likes of Tufts, Amherst and Connecticut College first, which won’t be an easy task. But there is a lot of promise among the first-year and sophomore classes, and the Panthers have no shortage of experience; Liam Sloan ’22.5, Raffi Barsamian ’21.5 and Michael McFarlane ’22 are all All-NESCAC caliber players when healthy. Don’t bet against men’s soccer turning a few heads this season.
Key matches: Connecticut College (Away; Oct. 2), Amherst (Home; Oct. 3), Tufts (Home; Oct. 10)
Men’s Tennis - Blaise Siefer
Head coach: Andrew Thomson ’10 (3 years at Midd)
Captains: David Vilys ’22, Stan Morris ’22, and Zach Hilty ’22
Players to watch for: Robby Ward ’23, Aidan Harris ’23
Background: It’s been two years since men’s tennis competed, as the team didn’t have enough players to field a team last spring. After all that time off — and with a relatively new head coach — it’s hard to predict how men’s tennis might fare this season. Will their senior leadership help propel them to success?
Key matches: Middlebury Invitational (Home; Sept. 18–19), Panther Classic (Home; Oct. 2–3), Wesleyan Invitational (Away; Oct. 16–17)
Women’s Tennis - Blaise Siefer
Head coach: Rob Barr (interim head coach)
Captains: Brinlea La Barge ’23, Amanda Frank ’23, Caitlin Neal ’23, Nora Dahl ’22, Ruhi Kamdar ’22.5
Players to watch for: Gena Huang ’24, Amy Delman ’24
Background: Many sophomores and juniors on women’s tennis took the spring semester off — how strong will they return? Also, with former head coach Rachel Kahan taking the head women’s tennis coaching job at Yale several months ago, the team enters an adjustment period as they search for a permanent head coach.
Key matches: Williams Invitational (Away; Sept. 24–26), Middlebury Invitational (Home; Oct. 8–10)
Women’s Volleyball - Sam Lipin
Head Coach: Sarah Raunecker (26 years at Midd)
Captains: Corley Doyle ’22, Maggie Wise ’22, Jane Nelson ’22
Players to Watch: Laney Sullivan ’23 (OH), Gabbie O’Toole ’25 (S), Kelly Ferrero ’23.5 (L)
Background: After jumping out to a 5–0 start to the season having only lost one set in total, the volleyball team is primed for a big season. The squad went 15–10 two seasons prior, and those sophomores and first-years (five players total) have worked tirelessly to rebuild their team. Senior Jane Nelson ’22 claimed she has never been a part of a team as closely knit as this one. The Panthers will look to stay undefeated when they play their first NESCAC opponents of the year this coming weekend.
Key Matches: Amherst (Home; Sept. 24), Wesleyan (Away; Oct. 8), Tufts (Away; Oct. 16)
Women’s Cross Country - Sam Lipin
Head Coach: Nicole Wilkerson (19 years at Midd)
Captains: Emily Bulczynski ’22, Cassie Kearney ’22, Grace Kirkpatrick ’22
Players to Watch: Sophie Nardelli ’23, Eliza Broughton ’22, Katelyn Pease ’22
Background: Cassie Kearney ’22 has dominated the field during her time at Middlebury, once again doing so when she broke a course record in the 5k at Vermont Tech this past weekend. She leads an experienced team poised to build upon their fourth place NESCAC finish in 2019. Middlebury hosts their only cross country event of the season this coming Saturday at their annual Aldrich Invitational.
Key Matches: Aldrich Invitational (Home; Sept. 18), Connecticut College Invitational (Away; Oct. 16)
Men’s Football - Sam Lipin
Head Coach: Bob Ritter (26 years at Midd)
Captains: Gordon Pollock ’22, Will Jernigan ’21.5, Jack Pistorius ’21.5
Players to watch: Zander Bailey ’21.5 (LB), Jimmy Connell ’21.5 (TE)
Background: In their last full season in 2019, Middlebury football dominated the field, going 9–0 and winning the NESCAC Championship. However, their games were not won by huge margins, with five games ending in a one-score lead. As players return from their semesters off due to Covid-19 and a large freshmen class steps onto the field, will Middlebury once again prevail as champs?
Key Matches: Williams (Away; Sept. 18), Hamilton (Away; Nov. 6), Tufts (Home; Nov. 13)
(05/20/21 10:00am)
Bill Beaney has coached at Middlebury since the fall of 1986, overseeing four different programs and winning numerous accolades. Beginning as the men’s hockey and women’s soccer coach, Beaney maintained these roles for nearly a decade. In 1994, he stepped down as the women’s soccer coach and began coaching the men’s golf program, which he still coaches today.
Dissatisfied with the gender inequity in golf, Beaney set out to create a women’s program in 1999, coaching the team for several years before finding a more permanent coach. He continued to work with the men’s golf and hockey programs until 2015, when he stepped down from his hockey post to focus solely on the golf team.
Coaching vastly different sports may appear difficult to some, Beaney doesn’t see it that way.
“You have the skill piece obviously — you do have to be comfortable teaching certain skills for each sport,” Beaney acknowledged. “But other than that, it’s really about figuring out how to get to know the players you’re dealing with, how to get the best out of them, and how to help them reach their full potential.”
Beaney has done just that with his teams, securing nine NESCAC championships as head coach of the men’s golf program. When he was first appointed, the Panthers had yet to win a title since the creation of the men’s golf division in 1984. Since then, Middlebury men’s golf has gone on to become the winningest team of the 21st century in the NESCAC. Beaney has also produced a number of star players, including five NESCAC players of the year.
“Each [player] is different,” Beaney said. “You have to learn to ask the right kinds of questions, and then it’s important to listen to be able to take them to the next step in their game.”
Despite his overwhelming success in the competitive aspect of golf, Beaney doesn’t believe that this is his greatest achievement.
“The goal in all these sports is to help these young people be their best and be their best teacher, and thus we want to act as guides so they learn to be self-sufficient.”
Now in his 35th year of coaching, Beaney says that the quality of the student-athletes drives him to return to coaching each season. While his love for competition and his love of sports is a contributing factor, his ultimate joy is interacting with students on a daily basis.
Despite facing many obstacles this past year amidst the global pandemic, Beaney says he’s become even more grateful to lead his team and to get to see them so often, even when not competing for championships.
Earlier this month, Beaney was named NESCAC Coach of the Year as he led the men’s golf team to a NESCAC Championship on Sunday, May 2. When asked about his award — an accolade Beaney has now earned five times — he credited the excellent work his team put in this year. He also attributed much of the team’s success to this year’s captains, John Mikus ’21 and Jordan Bessalel ’21.
“They guided this team in a way that highlighted their excellent work ethic and consistently demonstrated a respect for their opportunity to play,” Beaney said. “They did a fabulous job.”
Beaney believes the team can push to retain their NESCAC title next season, with a number of players set to return after taking remote or gap semesters and a fresh crew of recruits set to join the team in the fall.
Despite all the glory and achievements that Beaney has helped his team earn, he says there is no one moment he considers to be his career highlight.
“I really can’t pick just one moment; I’d probably go on for several paragraphs,” Beaney said. “Every season is different, and each has its own special moments.”
Bill Beaney has coached at Middlebury since the fall of 1986, overseeing four different programs and winning numerous accolades.
(05/20/21 9:56am)
The competitive sports season may have now come to an end, but the sweet taste of victory remains fresh for men’s golf. Despite many obstacles — ranging from a reduced number of players on campus to an abbreviated season — the Panthers staged an impressive come-from-behind win in the NESCAC championship to claim the school’s ninth-ever title.
Only five rostered men’s golf players returned to campus for the spring semester, despite the official roster numbering in the double digits.
Captains Jordan Bessalel ’21 and John Mikus ’21 were greeted with a talented — but young and inexperienced — squad: Hogan Beazley ’23, who had only experienced five days of collegiate competition before the long layoff due to Covid-19; Derek Ban ’24, a first year from Rancho Cucamonga, California; and Colin McCaigue ’24, a first year out of Brookline, New Hampshire.
With the squad of five meaning he would have no available substitutes, coach Bill Beaney recruited Porter Bowman ’21.5 as a walk-on.
The team made its first competitive appearance in nearly 18 months at the Hamilton College shootout, finishing 13 strokes off the pace in third place but still beating both Williams and Amherst. Colin McCaigue’s debut was undoubtedly the highlight as he led the team with a three over par.
The team began rounding into form in their next match at Williams College, finishing second out of five teams behind the hosts. McCaigue once again led the Panthers in scoring with Bessalel and Mikus not far behind.
Just two weeks into the season, the Panthers were given the daunting task of competing against the NESCAC’s best at the conference championship. A two-day, 36 hole competition, the competition would test the skill and composure of the competing teams. Bowman was called upon to join the starting lineup for the contest after impressing in practice.
The Panthers made a strong start, placing third on the opening day, but they still had plenty of work to do in the second round as they finished three strokes back on Tufts and two behind Trinity. Hungry for victory, the Panthers hunted down the two teams in front of them and claimed victory on the second day behind huge performances from Beazley, Bessalel, and Mikus. The second round victory proved to be decisive as Middlebury claimed its ninth NESCAC title, stealing it from the clutches of Tufts and Trinity by a single stroke.
The Panthers then concluded their season with an individual shootout against Hamilton College, sweeping the top four spots with Beazley taking home the individual medalist honors. His award was just one of many for the team, as Bessalel claimed the NESCAC Player of the Year award, McCaigue took rookie of the year distinction, Beaney won the coach of the year award, and Mikus and Beazley were both attributed All-NESCAC honors.
Bessalel becomes Middlebury’s fifth Player of the Year since 2010, while McCaigue followed in Bessalel’s footsteps by becoming the sixth Panther to be deemed rookie of the year. Coach Bill Beaney’s coach of the year award was his fifth ever and his first since his three year streak of winning it ended in 2017.
“It was a special season… the boys went out there, held their composure, and gave it their all,” Beaney said.
The Panthers are expected to begin the next campaign sometime in the fall with the return of the autumn season, while they will look to defend their title next spring.
Editor’s Note: Porter Bowman ’21.5 is the Senior Opinion Editor for The Campus.
(04/08/21 9:56am)
Men’s golf begins their spring season this coming weekend in Clinton, N.Y. after a restless 18 months without competition. With the revised schedule, the Panthers will be in action five times this spring, starting with the Hamilton Invitational this Saturday and concluding with the Middlebury Spring Invitational on May 8.
The team’s main target this season is to win their ninth NESCAC Championship, a title they last won in the 2015–16 season.
“I've been really happy with the work everyone has put in at practice to make sure we're in the right place mentally and physically,” co-captain Jordan Bessalel ’21 said. While there’s 11 players on the practice roster, only six men’s golfers are on campus this semester. Still, Bessalel is confident in the group that’s on-campus.
Bessalel, alongside co-captain John Mikus ’21, will help lead the team under head coach Bill Beaney. Beaney, who spent 28 years as the head coach with the men’s hockey team, enters his 34th year at Middlebury. A five-time NESCAC Coach of the Year, Beaney was recently inducted into the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame.
One of just two seniors on the team, Bessalel also underscored the personal value this season will hold for him. “We're excited to have the chance to represent Middlebury, especially for me personally since I thought my career at Midd was over,” he said.
After a long break in competition, the much-awaited sports season returns this weekend. The Panthers tee off this Saturday at noon.
(03/18/21 9:59am)
After four years on the Middlebury field, Ellie Greenberg ’20 has seen her soccer career flourish following graduation, recently signing a deal with the ASA Tel Aviv women’s team in Tel Aviv, Israel.
“It is really special to be playing in Israel,” Greenberg said. “Most of my family is here right now, and the weather is beautiful so we can continue playing outside safely. Also, I have a really strong Jewish identity, so it is both so comforting yet still surprising when my coach wishes everyone a ‘Shabbat Shalom’ at the end of our last practice before the weekend.”
Greenberg spent four years as a forward in the Middlebury women’s soccer program, even scoring the game-winning goal in the Panthers’ 2018 NESCAC Championship victory. She appeared a total of 66 times for the Panthers, netting 12 times and assisting a further seven.
Greenberg has loved soccer for as long as she can remember, citing an intrinsic appreciation for the sport itself and the mental resolve it requires. She also named her older sister, who she spent many weekends watching on the college lacrosse field, as one of the biggest factors in her love for sports.
Greenberg added that the Middlebury community has been another influence on her career. Throughout her career in Middlebury, Greenberg was a member of both the soccer and track and field teams.
“They took me all over the country from North Carolina to California,” Greenberg said. “And they gave me some of my happiest memories. I will never forget when the clock ran out and the entire team dog-piled on Ursula (our goalie) to celebrate our NESCAC Championship win.”
Now donning the No. 5 jersey for the most successful club in Israeli women’s soccer, Greenberg hopes that her story can inspire many young girls who, just like her, have a natural love for sport.
Greenberg notes soccer as a defining aspect of her life that has not only allowed her to hone her athletic abilities but also her self-advocacy, leadership, concentration and dedication. She hopes that other girls will follow her path and channel sports into empowerment, both as athletes and as women.
“Sports have helped cultivate my voice,” Greenberg said. “Not just on the field, but in the classroom and in life.”
Greenberg’s ASA Tel Aviv team currently sits in fourth place in the Israeli Women’s Premier League as they aspire to add to their league-leading six division titles. Greenberg will next be in action on Thursday, March 18, as ASA Tel Aviv takes on Hapoel Be’er Sheva.