ADDISON COUNTY INDEPENDENT
B Section
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2013
MATT DICKERSON
SPORTS
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Heinecken  to be  honored  for  service
Watching  the  squirrels  beats  firing  my  gun Every  November,  Vermont  has  a  popular  squirrel  watching  season.  Tens  of  thousands  of  us  avid  squir- rel  watchers  take  to  the  woods  and  spend  two  weeks  just  sitting  or  qui- etly  walking  around  watching  squir- rels.  We  watch  big  fat  old  squirrels  skitter  around  in  the  leaves  looking  for  nuts.  We  watch  young  yearling  squirrels  play  tag,  chasing  each  other  around  the  trunks  of  trees.  We  watch  daring  squirrels  perform  d e a t h - d e f y i n g  feats  of  agility  and  grace  as  they  scramble  along  precariously  thin  branches  and  leap  from  tree  to  tree,  using  their  bushy  tails  as  emer- gency  grappling  hooks. These  are  the  gray  squirrels.  The  ones  we  watch.  There  is  also  a  co- inciding  squirrel-Âlistening  season  involving  red  squirrels.  While  the  gray  squirrels  run  around  playing  and  digging  in  the  leaves,  largely  ignoring  the  squirrel  watchers,  the  red  squirrels  just  get  up  in  a  tree  —  somewhere  nearby  where  we  are  stationed  watching  gray  squirrels  —  and  then  start  incessantly  scold- ing  us. It  is  an  addictive  activity.  Us  squir- rel  watchers  and  squirrel  listeners  will  go  to  great  lengths  to  enjoy  our  sport.  We  rise  earlier  in  the  morning  than  we  are  willing  to  rise  for  any  other  activity.  We  freeze  off  various  parts  of  our  anatomy.  We  climb  up  into  trees  with  seats  strapped  to  our  butts.  We  traipse  through  swamps.  We  spent  money  and  hours  to  build  squirrel  watching  platforms  out  in  the  woods.  We  repeatedly  risk  the  wrath  of  our  spouses.  Between  16  days  of  squirrel  watching  in  Novem- ber,  and  another  nine  in  December,  I  MOUNT  ABRAHAM  UNION  High  School  senior  Cale  Thygesen  is  the  2013  Addison  Independent  High  School  wouldn’t  be  surprised  if  there  were  Boys’  Soccer  Player  of  the  Year. ,QGHSHQGHQW ÂżOH SKRWR 7UHQW &DPSEHOO Vermonters  who  spent  a  hundred  or  more  hours  in  the  activity  every  fall.  A  hundred  hours  when  there  is  often  nothing  else  happening  in  the  woods  except  for  squirrels  running  around  us,  scolding,  making  noises  in  the  leaves,  and  leaping  from  branch  to  branch. By  ANDY  KIRKALDY  After  graduating  a  dozen  play- of  them  timely  in  close  games  —  On  the  opening  eve  of  squirrel  ADDISON  COUNTY  —  The  ers  from  the  best  team  in  Middle- DQG XVHG KLV H[FHOOHQW ÂżHOG YLVLRQ watching  season  this  year,  I  spent  2013  Mount  Abraham  Union  High  EXU\ KLVWRU\ ÂżUVW \HDU &RDFK %UHW and  passing  skills  to  rack  up  a  local  the  night  out  on  my  newly  con- School  boys’  soccer  team  made  Weekes’  Tigers  went  through  a  high  of  10  assists  ‌  Smart  and  de- structed  squirrel  watching  platform,  history,  not  only  winning  the  pro- 1-Â10-Â1  season  that  included  six  WHUPLQHG GHIHQGHU DW PLGÂżHOG DQG 16  feet  up  in  the  tree,  so  that  I  would  gram’s  third  championship,  but  losses  by  one  or  two  goals.  Two  at  times  moved  back  to  central  de- (See  Dickerson,  Page  4B) also  setting  a  record  for  victories  players  who  helped  fense  when  Mount  Abe  at  17-Â1. keep  the  Tigers  on  an  was  nursing  leads  ‌  The  Eagles’  best  player,  senior  even  keel  made  the  In- Added  leadership  and  PLGÂżHOGHU &DOH 7K\JHVHQ EH- dependent  squad. motivation  skills  to  his  comes  our  2013  Addison  Indepen- Playing  a  less  chal- toolkit  this  season  as  the  dent  Boys’  Soccer  Player  of  the  lenging  schedule  than  Eagles  developed  great  Year.  But  Coach  Mike  Corey’s  Ea- the  other  local  teams,  chemistry  ‌  Recruited  HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS gles  were  so  deep  they  won  the  Di- &RDFK 0XIÂżH +DUYH\ÂśV to  play  D-ÂI  college  soc- Hockey YLVLRQ ,, ÂżQDO HYHQ DIWHU 7K\JHVHQ Otter  Valley  group  cer  at  the  University  of  12/14  MUHS  Girls  at  Bratt.   ..........  4:45  p.m. left  the  game  with  an  injury  with  played  hard  and  made  Vermont.  12/18  Hartford  at  MUHS  Girls   ......  4:45  p.m. the  score  tied  at  0-Â0.  Unsurprising- the  most  of  its  opportu- Corey’s  Quotes:  “I  12/18  St.  Albans  at  MUHS  Boys   .......  7  p.m. THYGESEN O\ ÂżYH RI 7K\JHVHQÂśV WHDPPDWHV QLWLHV WR ÂżQLVK ZLWK ÂżYH think  he  is  likely  the  12/21  MUHS  Girls  at  B&Burton   ...  5:45  p.m. join  him  on  the  2013  Addison  In- wins.  A  versatile  and  best  high  school  player  12/21  MUHS  Boys  at  Lyndon   ......  4:15  p.m. dependent  Boys’  Soccer  All-ÂStar  high-Âscoring  senior  makes  a  return  in  Vermont  ‌  Cale  is  exception- Boys’ Basketball team. appearance  here. ally  technical  in  all  aspects  of  ball  12/14  Montpelier  at  VUHS   ..........11:30  a.m. Coach  Kevin  Hayes’  Vergennes  Selections  were  made  based  on  control,  passing  and  shooting  ‌  12/14  OV  vs.  B&Burton  at  MSJ   ........  6  p.m. team  went  5-Â9-Â2,  a  record  that  in- observation,  statistics  and  consul- He  also  takes  his  understanding  12/14  Mt.  Abe  at  Fairfax   ...............3:30  p.m. cluded  one  road  playoff  win,  a  tation  with  the  coaches.  Congratu- of  the  game  to  the  defensive  side  12/17  Fair  Haven  at  MUHS   ..............  7  p.m. TXDUWHUÂżQDO ORVV WR WKH 1R VHHG lations  to  the  following:  by  being  in  the  right  space  to  sup- 12/17  Mill  River  at  Mt.  Abe   ................  7  p.m. on  penalty  kicks,  and  two  one-Âgoal  CALE  THYGESEN,  MOUNT  port  his  teammates  ‌  What  I  think  12/17  OV  Boys  at  MSJ  Tourney   ....  6/8  p.m. setbacks  to  the  Eagles.  Two  senior  ABE  SENIOR,  PLAYER  OF  has  been  the  most  impressive  part  12/17  Fairfax  at  VUHS   ......................  7  p.m. defenders  who  helped  keep  the  THE  YEAR.  Notes:  The  highly  of  Cale’s  season  has  been  his  lead- 12/19  VUHS  at  S.  Burlington   ............  6  p.m. Commodores  in  almost  every  game  skilled  engine  that  made  the  Eagles  ership,  his  ability  through  his  ac- 12/19  Mt.  Abe  at  Randolph   ........  12:30  p.m. (See  All  stars,  Page  1B) are  honored  here. run  ‌  Scored  nine  goals  —  many  12/21  Mt.  Abe  at  Winooski   ................  7  p.m.
Eagle  tops  soccer  all-Âstars Mt.  Abe  champs  well  represented  on  Independent  squad
Schedule
Girls’ Basketball 12/14  Winooski  at  MUHS  ............12:30  p.m. 12/14  VUHS  at  Harwood   ...........  12:30  p.m. 12/16  Mill  River  at  MUHS   .................  7  p.m. 12/17  VUHS  at  Montpelier   ...........  7:30  p.m. 12/17  Mount  Abe  at  OV   ...............  7:30  p.m. 12/19  OV  at  Proctor   ..........................  7  p.m. 12/20  Burr  &  Burton  at  MUHS   ..........  7  p.m. 12/20  VUHS  at  Mill  River   ..................  7  p.m. 12/20  CVU  at  Mt.  Abe   .......................  7  p.m. Wrestling 12/14  VUHS  at  Alvirne,  N.H.   .............  9  a.m. 12/14  Mt.  Abe/OV  at  St.  J.   ...............10  a.m. 12/18  Rutland  at  OV   .........................  6  p.m. 12/18  Mt.  Abe  at  Spaulding   ..............  6  p.m. 12/19  MUHS  at  Spaulding   ................  6  p.m. 12/19  VUHS  at  Milton   .......................  6  p.m. 12/21  MUHS/OV/VUHS  at  Granville,  NY, Tournament   ......................................10  a.m. Nordic 12/18  OV/MUHS  at  Mt.  Top   .........  2:30  p.m. 12/21  MUHS  at  S.  Burlington   .........  10  a.m. Gymnastics 12/18  Randolph  at  MUHS  ..................  6  p.m. Indoor Track 12/14  VUHS  at  UVM   ..........................  Noon 12/21  VUHS  at  UVM   .........................  9  a.m. Spectators  are  advised  to  consult  school  websites  for  the  latest  schedule  updates. Â
ALSO IN THIS SECTION:
MIDDLEBURY  —  Former  Middlebury  College  football  coach  Mickey  Heinecken  will  receive  the  George  C.  Carens  Award  for  contri- butions  to  the  game  of  football  from  the  New  England  Football  Writers.  Heinecken,  the  All-ÂNew  England  teams  and  several  others  will  be  honored  at  the  organization’s  annual  banquet  this  Thursday,  Dec.  12,  in  Stoneham,  Mass.  The  Carens  award  has  been  given  annually  since  1952. Heinecken  took  over  the  football  program  at  Middlebury  in  the  fall  of  1972.  Twenty-Âeight  years  later,  he  retired  at  the  age  of  62  with  a  ca- reer  record  of  126-Â95-Â2,  ranking  him  eighth  all-Âtime  in  wins  in  the  history  of  New  England  Division  III  college  football.  He  has  coached  more  games  (223)  and  has  more  wins  (126)  than  any  other  coach  in  school  history  and  is  one  of  only  13  coaches  in  New  England  to  have  amassed  more  than  100  wins  in  his  career.  Following  the  1977  and  1981  seasons,  Heinecken  was  named  the  All-ÂDivision  New  England  Coach  of  the  Year. Heinecken  has  been  instrumental  in  the  development  of  the  Vermont  Chapter  of  the  National  Football  Foundation.  He  founded  the  Ver- mont  group  in  1993  and  has  served  as  its  chairman  ever  since.  The  foun- dation’s  purpose  is  to  promote  the  positive  aspects  of  high  school  foot- ball  in  Vermont.  He  also  served  for  12  years  as  a  member  of  the  Middle- bury  Union  High  School  board. Prior  to  his  arrival  at  Middlebury,  Heinecken  spent  10  years  as  an  as- sistant  coach  at  the  University  of  Delaware.  There  he  coached  both  (See  Heinecken,  Page  2B)
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Sports
BRIEFS
Women’s  hoop  falls  to  Skidmore SARATOGA  SPRINGS,  N.Y.  —  The  Middlebury  College  women’s  basketball  team  dropped  a  non- league  contest  to  host  Skidmore,  63- 50,  on  Saturday  as  Amber  Holgate  scored  a  career-Âhigh  15  points  off  the  bench  for  the  Thoroughbreds.  Middlebury  (2-Â4)  jumped  out  to  a  four-Âpoint  lead  in  the  opening  min- utes  of  the  contest  and  clung  to  the  OHDG IRU PRVW RI WKH ÂżUVW KDOI SXVKLQJ it  to  17-Â12  with  four  minutes  remain- ing  on  a  layup  from  Sarah  Marcus.    The  Thoroughbreds  (2-Â4)  re- sponded  with  an  11-Â0  run  to  end  the  ¿UVW KDOI ZLWK +ROJDWH VFRULQJ HLJKW straight  points,  to  give  Skidmore  a  26-Â17  lead.    The  Thoroughbreds  continued  to  dominate  defensively  to  start  WKH VHFRQG KDOI DOORZLQJ RQO\ ÂżYH SRLQWV RYHU WKH ÂżUVW VHYHQ PLQXWHV But  the  Panthers  battled  back  with  a  14-Â5  run  midway  through  the  sec- RQG KDOI FXWWLQJ WKH GHÂżFLW WR on  a  Laura  Lowry  three-Âpointer  at  11:24.    Skidmore  scored  the  next  seven  points,  building  a  44-Â34  lead.  Low- ry  hit  another  three  with  8:40  to  play  to  put  Middlebury  within  seven,  but  Skidmore  put  the  game  out  of  reach  with  back-Âto-Âback  threes  that  made  it  53-Â37  with  8:48  left.  For  Skidmore,  Jordyn  Wartts  re- corded  10  points  and  12  rebounds,  while  adding  four  steals.  Lowry  led  the  Panthers  with  12  points  and  six  rebounds,  while  Alexis  Coolidge  and  Marcus  each  scored  11  points.  The  Panthers  are  off  until  a  Dec.  29  home  game  vs.  Oberlin. Â
Women’s  soccer  players  chosen  as  all-ÂAmericans MIDDLEBURY  —  Middlebury  school’s  all-Âtime  mark.  Favorito  College  women’s  soccer  players  ¿QLVKHG WKH VHDVRQ IRXUWK RQ WKH Julia  Favorito  and  Elizabeth  Foody  squad  with  four  goals  and  second  have  earned  All-ÂAmerican  honors  with  17  points.  The  tri-Âcaptain  from  the  National  Soccer  Coaches  played  in  72  games  as  a  Panther,  also  scoring  eight  goals. Association  of  America. Foody,  a  second-Âteam  The  duo  helped  lead  the  The duo selection,  is  now  a  two- team  to  its  most  successful  helped time  All-ÂAmerican  after  season  in  school  history,  lead the holding  down  a  spot  on  advancing  to  the  NCAA  team to WKH ÂżUVW WHDP D \HDU DJR 'LYLVLRQ ,,, ÂżQDO IRXU IRU its most She  is  also  a  two-Âtime  WKH ÂżUVW WLPH ZLWK D VFKRRO record  17  wins  to  go  along  successful ÂżUVW WHDP $OO 1(6&$& choice.  with  a  pair  of  losses  and  season The  senior  goalkeeper  two  ties. in school surrendered  just  11  goals  Favorito,  a  senior,  history. this  year  for  a  0.60  goals  HDUQHG ÂżUVW WHDP KRQRUV after  being  named  the  NESCAC  against  average,  placing  her  Player  of  the  Year  as  a  forward/ fourth  on  the  school’s  single-Âsea- PLGÂżHOGHU 7KH WKUHH WLPH $OO 1(- VRQ OLVW 6KH ÂżQLVKHG WKH VHDVRQ SCAC  selection  led  the  league  with  14-Â2-Â2  with  six  shutouts  and  has  nine  assists  this  season,  second  on  a  career  mark  of  29-Â4-Â5.  Foody  is  Middlebury’s  all-Âtime  single-Âsea- the  school’s  all-Âtime  leader  with  a  0.49  goals  against  average,  while  son  list.  6KH ÂżQLVKHG KHU FDUHHU ZLWK ranking  second  with  an  .876  save  23  helpers,  just  one  behind  the  percentage.    Â
Men’s  hoop  outlasts  Skidmore SARATOGA  SPRINGS,  N.Y.  —  from  Medunjanin  to  take  an  early  Freshman  Matt  St.  Amour  scored  16-Â11  lead.  Middlebury  eventually  a  career-Âhigh  27  points  to  help  the  WRRN LWV ÂżUVW WZR SRVVHVVLRQ OHDG Middlebury  College  men’s  basket- ZLWK PLQXWHV WR SOD\ LQ WKH ÂżUVW RQ ball  team  get  past  host  a  three-Âpointer  by  Joey  Skidmore,  89-Â84,  on  Vergennes Kizel.  Middlebury  con- Saturday,  in  the  Pan- tinued  to  knock  down  Union High WKHUVÂś ÂżQDO JDPH RI WKH VKRWV RYHU WKH ÂżQDO IRXU School graduÂżUVW VHPHVWHU PLQXWHV RI WKH ÂżUVW The  Panthers  (6-Â2)  ate Connor closing  the  half  with  a  built  a  comfortable  lead  Merrill scored 14-Â7  run  to  take  a  42-Â34  late  in  the  game  be- 11 points and lead  into  the  break.    fore  the  Thoroughbreds  picked up The  Thoroughbreds  made  it  a  one-Âposses- cut  the  Middlebury  lead  VLRQ JDPH LQ WKH ÂżQDO Ă€YH UHERXQGV to  two  with  an  8-Â2  run  seconds  before  a  Jack  for the 3-2 to  start  the  second,  in- Roberts  dunk  with  eight  7KRURXJKEUHGV cluding  a  Merrill  layup  seconds  left  gave  the  IRU WKH ÂżUVW EDVNHW RI WKH visitors  some  breathing  room.    half.   But  St.  Amour  hit  back-Âto-Âback  Vergennes  Union  High  School  threes  to  give  the  Panthers  a  53-Â44  graduate  Connor  Merrill  scored  11  lead.  SRLQWV DQG SLFNHG XS ÂżYH UHERXQGV After  Skidmore  came  within  one  for  the  3-Â2  Thoroughbreds,  who  at  56-Â55,  the  Panthers  countered  with  were  led  by  Aldin  Medunjanin’s  31  a  15-Â4  run  to  take  71-Â59  lead  with  points.  seven  minutes  remaining.  St.  Amour  6NLGPRUH XVHG ÂżYH VWUDLJKW SRLQWV increased  the  Middlebury  advantage Â
to  a  seemingly  comfortable  14  points  ZLWK OHVV WKDQ ÂżYH PLQXWHV WR SOD\ driving  in  from  the  wing  for  a  layup.   Medunjanin  brought  the  Thor- oughbreds  back  within  striking  dis- tance  with  less  than  three  minutes  remaining,  rattling  off  seven  straight  SRLQWV WR FXW WKH GHÂżFLW WR While  Skidmore  was  forced  to  foul  late  in  the  game,  Middlebury  con- verted  on  its  free  throws  down  the  stretch,  but  threes  by  Merrill  and  Tanner  Brooks  made  it  87-Â84  with  17  seconds  left  to  play. Skidmore  tried  to  double-Âteam  the  inbounds  pass,  but  Middlebury  beat  the  press  and  fed  Roberts  for  the  clinching  dunk.  St.  Amour  hit  eight  of  14  from  the  ¿HOG DQG VHYHQ IRU VHYHQ IURP WKH line.  As  a  team  the  Panthers  con- nected  on  23  of  27  from  the  charity  stripe.  Kizel  added  24  points,  includ- LQJ IRXU IRU ÂżYH IURP WKUHH SRLQW range,  and  Hunter  Merryman  scored  11.
MIDDLEBURY  COLLEGE  SENIOR  Julia  Favorito,  seen  here  play- LQJ LQ )ULGD\œV 1&$$ VHPL¿QDO DJDLQVW 7ULQLW\ RI 7H[DV DQG WHDP- PDWH (OL]DEHWK )RRG\ KDYH HDUQHG $OO $PHULFDQ KRQRUV IURP WKH National  Soccer  Coaches  Association  of  America.  3KRWR FRXUWHV\ 0LGGOHEXU\ &ROOHJH -RVKXD 0RF]\JHPED