ADDISON COUNTY INDEPENDENT
B Section
THURSDAY, Â MARCH Â 6, Â 2014
MATT DICKERSON
SPORTS
ALSO IN THIS SECTION:
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t $MBTTJĂŤFET t 3FBM &TUBUF
Growing  up Nordic To  be  honest,  Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m  not  sure  how  I  got  started  cross-Âcountry  skiing.  I  remember  a  local  cross-Âcountry  ski  FOXE IRU \RXWK LQ P\ WRZQ DQG ,ÂśP IDLUO\ VXUH , ZDV LQ PLGGOH VFKRRO ZKHQ , VRPHKRZ IRXQG P\VHOI SDU- ticipating  in  it.  What  I  donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  remem- ber  is  how  I  got  involved.  I  was  an  avid  Alpine  skier  at  the  time  â&#x20AC;&#x201D;  not  especially  good,  but  addicted  and  willing  to  spend  ORWV RI PRQH\ on  it.  However  I  donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  think  I  ever  H[SUHVVHG DQ\ interest  in  cross- country  skiing.  Still,  there  I  was  one  winter  spend- ing  several  Saturdays  at  youth  clin- ics  and  races  with  my  new  wooden  skies  (that  had  to  be  pine-Âtarred  ev- PANTHER  JUNIOR  HANNAH  Bielawski  gets  off  a  backhand  shot  while  falling  to  the  ice  but  Connecticut  College  goalie  Kelsie  Fralick  gets  a  pad  on  it  Saturday  at  Chip  Kenyon  Arena.  ery  year),  with  three-Âpin  bindings  Middlebury  lost  the  game  in  overtime,  2-Â1. Independent  photo/Trent  Campbell ZKRVH SRLQW RI URWDWLRQ ZDV VRPH awkward  place  several  inches  in  IURQW RI WKH ERRW It  might  be  that  my  parents  sim- ply  signed  me  up  â&#x20AC;&#x201D;  conscripted  me,  to  be  more  accurate  â&#x20AC;&#x201D;  without  any  interest  on  my  part.  Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  altogether  possible  they  did  it  just  to  get  me  RXW RI WKH KRXVH JLYHQ WKDW , ZDV D newly  minted  teenager.  Or  it  may  be  they  hoped  that  cross-Âcountry  skiing  would  become  a  new  passion  that  By  ANDY  KIRKALDY weekend. GLVWUDFWHG PH IURP GRZQKLOO VNLLQJ 0,''/(%85< ² $ â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re third Âł,WÂśV MXVW D TXHVWLRQ RI VLQFH D IDLU ELW RI WKH PRQH\ , ZDV TXDUWHUÂżQDO XSVHW RQ 6DW- in the East, KRZ LW ZRUNV RXW ´ VDLG willing  to  spend  on  the  slopes  was  urday  ended  the  Middle- so if the chips &RDFK %LOO 0DQGLJR DI- my  parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  money.  bury  College  womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  fall the way ter  the  game.  Anyway,  I  arrived  at  high  school,  KRFNH\ KRSHV IRU WKH they should, The  Panthers  are  now  ZHQW RXW IRU WKH GRZQKLOO VNL WHDP 1(6&$& SOD\RII FKDP- URRWLQJ IRU ULYDOV 3ODWWV- P\ IUHVKPDQ ZLQWHU PDGH WKH PLV- pionship  and  the  leagueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  if Plattsburgh EXUJK DQG 1RUZLFK ,I WDNH RI DGPLWWLQJ WR WKH FRDFK WKDW , automatic  NCAA  Divi- wins their the  Cardinals  or  Cadets  RZQHG D SDLU RI FURVV FRXQWU\ VNLV sion  III  tournament  bid,  championship, are  upset  in  their  league  DQG IRXQG P\VHOI RQ WKH FURVV FRXQ- but  the  Panthers  could  then Elmira, ÂżQDOV WKLV ZHHNHQG WKH\ W\ VNL WHDP LQ GHVSHUDWH QHHG RI ERG- still  earn  an  at-Âlarge  bid  theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still not  Middlebury,  would  ies.  to  the  national  champion- DOPRVW FHUWDLQO\ EH ÂżUVW behind us.â&#x20AC;? And  I  do  mean  desperate.  Though  ships  on  Monday.   â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Coach Bill LQ OLQH IRU WKH IHZ DYDLO- I  was  passably  good  going  down  a  Despite  being  outshot  Mandigo able  at-Âlarge  bids.  hill  on  skis  with  metal  edges  â&#x20AC;&#x201D;  good  E\ 1R &RQ- +RZHYHU LI 3ODWWV- HQRXJK WR VFRUH D IHZ SRLQWV HYHQ DV necticut  College  stunned  burgh  and  Norwich  win  D IUHVKPDQ ² , ZDV WHUULEOH DW FURVV the  top-Âseeded  Panthers  on  March  1,  their  leagues,  Middlebury  would  be  country.  The  worst  skier  on  my  team,  LQ RYHUWLPH $W WKH 3DQ- in  good  position  as  the  third  stron- LQ IDFW , ZDV VORZ , KDG QR HQGXU- thers,  whose  only  other  losses  have  gest  Eastern  team  this  winter,  Man- DQFH $QG DW Âś ´ , ZDV WRR VKRUW WR come  to  No.  1  Plattsburgh  (twice)  digo  said,  especially  considering  the  MIDDLEBURY  COLLEGE  JUNIOR  goaltender  Annabelle  Jones  made  18  saves  against  Connecticut  College  have  much  stride  that  would  make  up  and  No.  3  Norwich,  now  must  wait  3DQWKHUV KDYH GHIHDWHG WKH IRXUWK IRU P\ ODFN RI WDOHQW $ERXW WKH RQO\ Saturday. and  hope  things  break  their  way  this  Independent  photo/Trent  Campbell (See  Hockey,  Page  3B) (See  Dickerson,  Page  2B)
Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  hockey  season  on  hold
Panthers  hope  for  NCAA  bid  after  loss
Middlebury womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lax opens with road victory
Middlebury  menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  lax  VSOLWV ÂżUVW WZR FRQWHVWV 0,''/(%85< ² 7KH 0LGGOH- bury  College  menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  lacrosse  team  VSOLW D SDLU RI JDPHV WR RSHQ LWV VHD- son,  dropping  its  home  opener  to  a  1(6&$& IRH RQ 6DWXUGD\ EHIRUH winning  a  non-Âleague  road  game  on  Tuesday.  The  Panthers  will  host  OHDJXH IRH &RQQHFWLFXW RQ WKLV FRP- ing  Saturday  at  1  p.m. On  this  past  Saturday,  visiting  7XIWV GHDOW WKH 3DQWKHUV D VHW- EDFN 7KH -XPERV ZHUH UDQNHG 1R LQ 1&$$ 'LYLVLRQ ,,, SUHVHDVRQ polls,  while  the  Panthers  came  in  DW 1R 7KH -XPERV SLOHG XS shots  to  Middleburyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  33,  and  the  18- JRDO PDUJLQ RI GHIHDW ZDV WKH ODUJHVW IRU WKH 3DQWKHUV VLQFH D ORVV WR +DUYDUG LQ
7KH 3DQWKHUV VFRUHG ÂżUVW ZLWK D FULVS JRDO E\ 7D\ORU 3LULH DW EXW WKH -XPERV VFRUHG IRXU VWUDLJKW WR OHDG E\ DIWHU RQH SHULRG DQG WKHQ IRXU PRUH WR OHDG E\ LQ WKH second.  The  Panthersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  Tim  Giarrusso  scored  twice  in  the  second  period,  EXW 7XIWV XVHG DQRWKHU IRXU JRDO burst  to  take  a  12-Â3  lead  at  intermis- VLRQ 7XIWV GXSOLFDWHG WKDW VXFFHVV LQ WKH VHFRQG KDOI IRU WKH ÂżQDO *LDUUXVVR VFRUHG WKUHH IRU 0LG- GOHEXU\ DQG -RQ %URRPH DQG +DU- rison  Goodkind  had  a  goal  apiece  as  well  as  Pirie.  Brendan  Gallagher  ZRQ RI IDFH RIIV DQG JUDEEHG D WHDP EHVW VL[ JURXQGEDOOV *RDOLH (See  Lacrosse,  Page  5B)
Score
Panther  men   BOARD lose  to  Ephs  in  basketball
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS D-ÂII Hockey Finals at UVM 3/5  #1  MUHS  Girls  vs.  #2  B.&  Burton   ...Late
AMHERST,  Mass.  â&#x20AC;&#x201D;  The  Mid- dlebury  College  menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  basketball  teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  season  ended  on  Saturday  COLLEGE SPORTS ZLWK D ORVV WR :LOOLDPV LQ D Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lacrosse 1(6&$& VHPLÂżQDO SOD\HG DW $P- 3/4  Midd.  vs.  Plattsburgh  ........................  9-Â7 herst  College.  7KH 3DQWKHUV OHG DW WKH KDOI EXW WKH (SKV UDOOLHG LQ WKH VHFRQG KDOI :LOOLDPV IHOO WR KRVW $PKHUVW LQ WKH 1(6&$& ÂżQDO RQ HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS Sunday.  Both  those  teams  received  D-ÂII Hockey Finals at UVM NCAA  Division  III  tournament  bids,  3/6  #1  MUHS  Boys  vs.  #2  Stowe  .......6  p.m. EXW WKH 3DQWKHUVÂś VL[ \HDU 1&$$ streak  was  snapped.  COLLEGE SPORTS ,Q WKH ÂżUVW KDOI 0LGGOHEXU\ VKRW Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hockey SHUFHQW IRU IURP WKH 3/10  ....... NCAA  Playoff  Pairings  Announced ÂżHOG DQG SHUFHQW IRU RQ Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lacrosse three-Âpointers,  but  only  28.6  percent  3/8  Conn.  at  Midd.  ..............................1  p.m. IRU RYHUDOO DQG IRU IURP 0LGG DW 6SULQJÂżHOG  .....................5  p.m. EHKLQG WKH DUF LQ WKH VHFRQG KDOI 3/15  Midd.  at  Wesleyan   .....................2  p.m. 'RZQ E\ IRXU ZLWK OHVV WKDQ VL[ Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lacrosse DQG D KDOI PLQXWHV WR JR LQ WKH ÂżUVW 3/8  Midd.  at  Conn.  ..............................  Noon KDOI WKH 3DQWKHUV ZHQW RQ D UXQ 3/15  Wesleyan  at  Midd.   ...................11  a.m. RYHU D VWUHWFK RI 6HQLRU -DPHV Baseball -HQVHQ JRW WKLQJV JRLQJ ZLWK D MXPS- 3/8  Midd.  vs.  Castleton  in  N.Y.   ...........  Noon Spectators  are  advised  to  consult  school  HU DW EHIRUH -DNH %URZQ GUDLQHG (See  Panthers,  Page  3B) websites  for  the  latest  schedule  updates. Â
Schedule
TIGER  JAMES  WHITLEY  and  Otter  Joe  Palmer  wrestle  during  the  Vermont  State  Wrestling  Tournament  in  Bennington  last  weekend.  Whitley  was  sixth  at  132  pounds. Independent  photo/Jessie  Raymond
Wrestlers  net  title,  podium  slots By  ANDY  KIRKALDY BENNINGTON  â&#x20AC;&#x201D;  The  Ver- gennes  Union  High  School  wres- tling  team  saw  senior  160-Âpound  wrestler  Kaegan  Pearsall  win  the  state  championship  as  the  Com- PRGRUHV WRRN ÂżIWK DW WKLV SDVW weekendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  state  championship  meet.  The  Commodores  scored  102  points  and  were  the  top  team  that  normally  competes  in  Division  II  in  the  standings;Íž  Vermont  wres- tling  does  not  recognize  divisions.  Middlebury,  paced  by  second- SODFH HIIRUWV E\ VHQLRU -DNH 7UDXW- wein  at  182  and  junior  Chris  Gob- EL DW ÂżQLVKHG VHYHQWK ZLWK points.  2WWHU 9DOOH\ OHG E\ IUHVKPDQ 7\VRQ &UDPÂśV IRXUWK SODFH HIIRUW at  120,  took  11th  in  the  22-Âteam  ¿HOG ZLWK SRLQWV 0RXQW $EUDKDP IUHVKPDQ '\ODQ /LWWOH ÂżQLVKHG VL[WK DW WR VFRUH DOO
the  Eaglesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  points;Íž  the  Eagles  were  the  east  and  Mount  Anthony  scored  21st  with  3  points.  SRLQWV WR ZLQ LWV WK VWUDLJKW In  other  news,  the  sun  rises  in  (See  Wrestling,  Page  2B)
MOUNT  ABRAHAMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S  SHANE  Bowen  avoids  a  pin  while  wrestling  Otter  Valleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  Nate  Doty  at  the  state  wrestling  tournament  in  Benning- ton  last  weekend. Independent  photo/Jessie  Raymond
MEDFORD,  Mass.  â&#x20AC;&#x201D;  The  Mid- dlebury  College  womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  lacrosse  team  opened  its  season  on  Saturday  ZLWK D ZLQ RYHU KRVW 7XIWV 7KH Panthers  were  ranked  No.  3  in  the  preseason  NCAA  Division  III  poll  and  will  travel  to  Connecticut  Col- lege  this  coming  Saturday.  0LGGOHEXU\ WRRN WR D KDOI- WLPH OHDG DQG ZLWKVWRRG D 7XIWV UDOO\ in  what  was  the  NESCAC  and  sea- VRQ RSHQHU IRU ERWK WHDPV RQ WKLV past  Saturday.  0LGGOHEXU\ JUDEEHG D OHDG RQ D IUHH SRVLWLRQ VFRUH E\ /L]D +HU- ]RJ WKUHH JRDOV DVVLVW DW RI WKH ÂżUVW KDOI +HU]RJ /DXUHO 3DVFDO and  Bridget  Instrum  all  recorded  two  VFRUHV LQ WKH ÂżUVW KDOI IRU 0LGGOH- bury. .DOL 'L*DWH KDG ERWK -XPER JRDOV in  the  opening  30  minutes,  during  ZKLFK 0LGGOHEXU\ RXWVKRW 7XIWV 8.  ,Q WKH VHFRQG KDOI WKH -XPERV RXW- VKRW 0LGGOHEXU\ DQG VFRUHG WKH ÂżUVW ÂżYH JRDOV 7KH\ QDUURZHG WKH JDS WR RQ 'L*DWHÂśV WKLUG JRDO DW )LYH GLIIHUHQW -XPERV scored  during  the  run,  including  Car- oline  Ross,  Annie  Artz  and  Gabby  +RUQHU LQ D VSDQ RI VHFRQGV 0LGGOHEXU\ VWRSSHG WKH -XPER momentum  with  back-Âto-Âback  goals  IURP +HU]RJ DQG .DWLH 5LWWHU WR UH- JDLQ D ÂżYH JRDO DGYDQWDJH ZLWK UHPDLQLQJ 7KH 3DQWKHUV OLPLWHG WKH -XPERV WR MXVW RQH JRDO IURP WKDW SRLQW RQ 5LWWHU ÂżQLVKHG ZLWK WZR JRDOV IRU WKH 3DQWKHUV DQG &KULVV\ 5LWWHU chipped  in  a  goal  and  an  assist.  The  Panthers  held  an  18-Â6  advantage  on  JURXQG EDOOV LQFOXGLQJ IRXU E\ (ULQ Binotti,  and  Catherine  Fowler  won  VL[ RI WKH 0LGGOHEXU\ÂśV GUDZ controls.  Alyssa  Palomba  made  10  VDYHV LQ WKH 3DQWKHU FDJH ÂżYH LQ HDFK KDOI