ADDISON COUNTY INDEPENDENT
B Section
THURSDAY, Â FEBRUARY Â 11, Â 2016
MATT DICKERSON
SPORTS
By  late  morning  the  air  tempera- ture  had  climbed  to  about  42  degrees  Fahrenheit.  It  was  downright  balmy  by  the  standards  of  early  February  VWHHOKHDG ÂżVKLQJ &RFRRQHG EH- neath  my  waders  in  multiple  layers  RI Ă€HHFH , ZDV DFWXDOO\ WRR ZDUP I  would  have  gladly  traded  some  of  that  warmth  IRU D ÂżVK RU WZR %XW WKH ÂżUVW IRXU KRXUV RI ÂżVKLQJ hadn’t  produced  even  a  nibble.  It  was  the  same  all  up  and  down  the  river.  We  passed  a  dozen  or  so  other  anglers,  DOPRVW DOO ZHUH ÂżVKLQJ EDLW FDVWLQJ shrimp  with  spinning  rods  or  center- pin  rigs.  Nobody  we  talked  to  had  FDXJKW RU HYHQ KRRNHG D ÂżVK 0\ guide,  Aaron,  was  about  ready  to  pack  up  and  move  upriver  above  the  GDP 7KH ÂżVKLQJ GD\ ZDV KDOI GRQH and  we  started  to  feel  the  pressure.  But  before  we  hopped  in  the  car,  he  wanted  to  make  one  more  pass  EDFN DW WKH ÂżUVW KROH ZH KDG ÂżVKHG at  dawn.  I  drifted  a  pair  of  nymphs  —  a  Prince  with  a  Copper  John  dropper  a  foot  below  that  —  through  a  run  I  KDG DOUHDG\ ÂżVKHG DW OHDVW WLPHV It  was  a  nice  drift  through  the  sweet  spot,  with  no  drag.  Satisfying  to  ac- complish.  But  I’d  made  plenty  of  good  drifts  earlier  and  none  had  pro- duced.  I  had  set  the  hook  20  times  RQO\ WR ÂżQG P\ KRRN KDG FDXJKW D leaf,  or  a  twig,  or  bumped  along  a  rock  on  the  bottom.  So  when  my  line  stopped  and  twitched,  and  I  instinc- tively  lifted  my  rod  to  set  the  hook  yet  again;Íž  I  wasn’t  really  expecting  anything. Then  the  river  exploded.  Attached  to  my  line  on  the  other  end  was  a  SRXQG KRJ D IDW FKURPH PDOH steelhead  with  a  girth  and  shoulders  as  big  as  any  steelhead  I  had  ever  caught. $QG ZKHUH KDG , KRRNHG WKDW ÂżVK" In  the  very  promised  land  of  trout  MIDDLEBURY  UNION  HIGH  School  junior  Riley  Fenster  avoids  Vergennes  defender  Caroline  Johnston  and  ¿VKLQJ 7KH GHVWLQDWLRQ WKDW WURXW DQ- JOHUV DQG Ă€\ ÂżVKHUV DOO RYHU WKH ZRUOG goes  in  for  a  layup  during  Monday  night’s  game  in  Middlebury.  The  Tigers  won  the  game,  43-Â29. Courtesy  photos  by  David  Fenster GUHDP RI YLVLWLQJ RQH GD\ ,QGLDQD (See  Dickerson,  Page  4B)
Tiger girls stand up to Commodore comebacks
ScoreBOARD
Schedule
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS Girls’ Hockey 6W $OEDQV DW 08+6 S P 1RUWK¿HOG DW 08+6 S P 2/18  3DLULQJV $QQRXQFHG Boys’ Hockey +DUZRRG DW 08+6 S P 08+6 DW 0W 0DQV¿HOG S P 2/18  3DLULQJV $QQRXQFHG Boys’ Basketball 29 DW )DLU +DYHQ S P 0W $EH DW 0LOWRQ S P 08+6 DW 98+6 S P 3DLULQJV $QQRXQFHG Girls’ Basketball &ROFKHVWHU DW 0W $EH S P 0LVVLVTXRL DW 98+6 S P 0LOO 5LYHU DW 29 S P 0W $EH DW 08+6 S P 98+6 DW &ROFKHVWHU S P )DLU +DYHQ DW 29 S P 0W $EH DW 98+6 S P 08+6 DW 1RUWK &RXQWU\ S P 29 DW :LQGVRU S P Wrestling 29 DW 0W $QWKRQ\ -DPERUHH 19$& 0HHW DW 6W -RKQVEXU\ D P 2/26&27 State  Meet  at  Mill  River Gymnastics 6WDWH 0HHW DW (VVH[ S P COLLEGE SPORTS Men’s Hockey 0LGG DW :LOOLDPV S P :LOOLDPV DW 0LGG S P +DPLOWRQ DW 0LGG S P
(See  Schedule,  Page  3B)
t 4DIPPM /FXT t -FHBM /PUJDFT
t $MBTTJĂŤFET t 3FBM &TUBUF
Panther baseball coach Smith to step away
This  place  really  does  have  some  ¿QH ¿VKLQJ DUHDV
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS Boys’ Hockey 08+6 YV 0LOWRQ Boys’ Basketball 0LVVLVTXRL YV 0W $EH %XUU %XUWRQ YV 29 6W $OEDQV YV 98+6 08+6 YV 0LOWRQ Girls’ Basketball 0W $EH YV 0LVVLVTXRL 08+6 YV 98+6 +DUWIRUG YV 29
ALSO IN THIS SECTION:
08+6 QHDUV E\ UHWDLQLQJ HDUO\ OHDG By  ANDY  KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY  —  The  Mid- dlebury  Union  High  School  girls’  basketball  team  took  an  early  lead  against  visiting  Vergennes  on  Mon- day  and  then  held  off  Commodore  rallies  to  earn  a  43-Â29  victory  and  a  season  sweep  of  their  local  rivals. The  Commodores  fell  behind  by  ODWH LQ WKH ÂżUVW TXDUWHU EXW FXW the  lead  to  two  in  the  second  quar- ter.  Then,  after  falling  behind  by  11  MIDDLEBURY  UNION  HIGH  School  junior  Payton  Buxton  charges  up  points  in  both  the  third  and  fourth  the  court  ahead  of  Commodore  defender  Sara  Poirier-ÂThayer  Monday  quarters,  VUHS  sliced  the  lead  to  (See  Basketball,  Page  2B) night  in  Middlebury.
Swimmers  fare  well  at  St.  Michaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s COLCHESTER  â&#x20AC;&#x201D;  Middlebury  $TXDWLF &OXE VZLPPHUV ÂżQLVKHG WKHLU regular  season  competing  in  the  GMA  Vermont  Invitational  Meet  on  Feb.  7  at  St.  Michaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  College.  Many  of  the  teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  swimmers  posted  best  times,  and  nine  swimmers  were  event  win- QHUV 1DWDOLH 5RFNZHOO &LDUD (DJDQ and  Archie  Milligan  each  won  one  event;Íž  Mary  Ann  Eastman  won  two  events;Íž  Meghan  Denton,  Anna  Ra- kowski,  Elinor  Ross  and  Nathan  Stone  each  won  three  events;Íž  and  Thomas  'HQWRQ ZRQ DOO ÂżYH RI KLV HYHQWV Results  for  all  the  MAC  swimmers  follow. GIRLS  <HDUV )UHHVW\OH (PPD 0RU- rissey,  50.83;Íž  6.  Kaitlin  Sulik-ÂDoty,  51.09. (See  Swimming,  Page  2B)
Spring season to be his last after 32 years MIDDLEBURY  â&#x20AC;&#x201D;  Longtime  Middlebury  College  baseball  coach  Bob  Smith  will  retire  in  May  fol- lowing  the  completion  of  the  2016  season,  the  college  announced  last  week.  Smith,  65,  is  now  in  his  32nd  year  as  the  teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  head  coach,  with  over  800  games  under  his  belt.  He  also  served  as  an  assistant  football  coach  at  Middlebury  from  1979  to  1994  DQG VHUYHG DV WKH WUDFN DQG ÂżHOG coach  from  1980  to  1984. Smith  will  retire  in  May  after  38  years  on  the  athletics  staff  at  Middle- bury.  In  that  time,  he  has  also  served  as  the  director  of  club  sports  and  di- rector  of  physical  education,  and  he  currently  presides  over  the  intramu- ral  program. Smith  said  he  felt  it  was  the  right  time  for  the  move. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It  is  time  to  inject  some  youth  into  the  program,  and  it  feels  like  the  proper  time  for  it  to  happen,â&#x20AC;?  said  Smith.  â&#x20AC;&#x153;Middlebury  has  always  been  a  wonderful  place  to  live  and  work  from  day  one  until  now.  The  growth  and  changes  over  the  years  mark  the  importance  of  athletics  in  the  educa- tion  process  here  at  Middlebury.â&#x20AC;? His  tenure  drew  praise.  â&#x20AC;&#x153;Coach  Smith  is  retiring  after  a  ca- reer  marked  by  outstanding  service  to  Middlebury  College  and  Middle- bury  athletics,â&#x20AC;?  said  Director  of  Ath- letics  Erin  Quinn.  â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bob  is  an  excep- tional  athlete  himself,  and  I  believe  his  experience  as  an  athlete  allowed  him  to  adapt  to  the  many  roles  he  has  served  in  over  his  career.â&#x20AC;? Former  Panther  shortstop  and  cur- rent  Amherst  coach  Brian  Hamm  chimed  in. Â
COACH   BOB   SMITH â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not  only  is  Coach  Smith  Mid- dlebury  baseballâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  winningest  coach  over  31  years,  he  has  done  this  in  a  way  only  he  can,â&#x20AC;?  Hamm  said.  â&#x20AC;&#x153;In  an  era  where  a  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;winners-Âtake-Âall  mentalityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  tends  to  be  the  standard,  he  has  maintained  his  integrity,  hu- mility,  kindness  and  passion  for  the  sport  and,  most  of  all,  for  his  play- ers  in  a  way  that  is  emblematic  of  someone  to  truly  emulate.  He  has  put  Middlebury  on  the  map  in  an  increasingly  competitive  college  baseball  landscape,  while  never  los- ing  sight  of  what  it  means  to  men- tor  student-Âathletes  and  encourage  them  to  pursue  their  dreams  both  on  and  off  the  diamond.â&#x20AC;? Hamm  praised  Smithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  longevity  and  values.  â&#x20AC;&#x153;To  spend  three-Âplus  decades  at  (See  Smith,  Page  3B)
Eagle  girls,  Tiger  boys  win  to  highlight  hoop  ADDISON  COUNTY  â&#x20AC;&#x201D;  In  lo- bans  (11-Â8  overall)  remained  unbeat- cal  high  school  basketball  play  this  en  in  the  Lake  Division  by  besting  week,  the  Mount  Abraham  girls  and  the  Commodores,  53-Â42.  BFA  took  a  Middlebury  boys  earned  victories,  SRLQW ÂżUVW KDOI OHDG EHIRUH KROG- while  the  Otter  Valley  girls  and  boys  ing  off  VUHS,  which  will  carry  an  and  the  Mount  Abraham  and  Ver- 8-Â11  record  into  Friday.  Josh  Lor- gennes  boys  came  up  short.  rain  led  the  Commodores  with  11  The  Tiger  girls  also  hosted  Ver- points  vs.  BFA.  gennes  on  Monday;Íž  see  story  on  EAGLE  BOYS Page  1B.  Host  Missisquoi  (11-Â8)  on  Tues- EAGLE  GIRLS day  pulled  away  late  in  a  77- On  Monday,  the  Mount  Abe  53  victory  over  Mount  Abe.  girls  won  at  Missisquoi,  Three  Eagles  reached  dou- 50-Â40,  breaking  open  a  EOH ÂżJXUHV LQ SRLQWV Jack- close  game  by  scoring  20  BASKETBALL son  Counter  (16),  Chris  points  in  the  third  quarter.  Wrap-Up :RRG  (13)  and  &ROHPDQ Emma  Carter  led  the  5XVVHOO  (12).  Mount  Abe  Eagles  with  19  points,  will  seek  to  break  through  and  $EE\ 0DQVÂżHOG  chipped  in  for  a  win  at  Milton  on  Friday.  10  as  the  Eagles  won  their  third  OTTER  BOYS straight  and  improved  to  7-Â10.  MVU  On  Tuesday,  visiting  Burr  &  Bur- dropped  to  1-Â16.    WRQ EROWHG WR D ÂżUVW TXDU- TIGER  BOYS ter  lead  vs.  the  OV  boys,  but  had  to  On  Tuesday,  the  Tiger  boys  fend  off  the  Otters  to  take  a  54-Â40  knocked  off  host  Milton,  50-Â43,  as  victory.  Derek  Aines  (11  points),  -RQDWKDQ )LW]FKDUOHV  (12  points),  Josh  Letourneau  (10)  and  Mac- 1LFN +ROPHV  (11)  and  Trey  Gregor  Shannon  (eight)  led  the  Ot- Kaufmann  (10)  combined  for  33  ters,  who  dropped  to  4-Â15  and  will  points.  The  Yellowjackets,  coming  ¿QLVK DW )DLU +DYHQ RQ 6DW- off  an  upset  of  VUHS,  dropped  to  urday.      8-Â11.  The  Tigers,  who  will  conclude  OTTER  GIRLS their  regular  season  at  VUHS  on  Fri- On  Tuesday,  host  Hartford  outlast- day,  improved  to  5-Â14. ed  the  OV  girls,  38-Â29,  to  improve  to  COMMODORE  BOYS 8-Â9.  *DEE\ 3RDOLQR  paced  the  7-Â10  On  Tuesday,  visiting  BFA-ÂSt.  Al- Otters  with  nine  points. Â
Boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hockey prevails in key contest By  ANDY  KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY  â&#x20AC;&#x201D;  The  Middlebury  Union  High  School  boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  hockey  team  went  a  long  way  toward  earning  a  home  'LYLVLRQ ,, TXDUWHUÂżQDO JDPH RQ 7XHV- day,  when  the  fourth-Âplace  Tigers  domi- QDWHG YLVLWLQJ ÂżIWK SODFH 0LOWRQ MUHS  is  12-Â4-Â2  with  two  games  left  in  the  regular  season,  vs.  Harwood  (8-Â8  as  of  Tuesday)  at  home  on  Saturday  and  DW 0RXQW 0DQVÂżHOG QH[W :HGQHV- day.  The  Tigers  will  be  trying  to  stretch  a  six-Âgame  unbeaten  string  (5-Â0-Â1)  in  those  contests. The  Vermont  Principalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  Associa- tion  will  announce  playoff  pairings  on  TIGER  SENIOR  TYLER  Crowningshield  stays  ahead  of  three  Milton  defenders  during  Tuesday  nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  Thursday,  Feb.  18.  The  Tigers  could  game  in  Middlebury.  Crowningshield  had  a  goal  and  an  assist  in  the  Middlebury  win. Independent  photo/Trent  Campbell (See  Hockey,  Page  4B)