Spring High School Sports Report

section C

addison independent presents local high school

April 21, 2016

SPORTS

FEATURING:

• team rosters • schedules • pictures and stories

PAGE 2C — Addison Independent, Thursday, April 21, 2016

MIDDLEBURY

MUHS

UNION

HIGH

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Baseball

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — With three freshmen and a sophomore likely to start, Coach Charlie Messenger talks about 2016 as a learning year for the Middlebury baseball program.

“I’m looking for them to grow every day,” Messenger said. “We’re going to go through quite a few growing pains. But these players are here for three or four years, many of them.”

There are four seniors on the roster, but only two will see regular duty, co-captains Liam Smith and Bruce Wright. Smith will play left field, and Wright will be the No. 1 pitcher and start at first base when he is not on the mound.

The other two are team manager Ken Caul, who might be pressed into action as a backup outfielder, and Oakley Gordon, still recovering from a major knee injury suffered this past fall. Messenger said Gordon, formerly the team’s starting shortstop, is serving as an alternate captain and helping coach the team’s young infielders.

Three juniors will probably start, Austin Friend, who will be in the pitching rotation and play third base; Pierson Beatty, the right fielder; and center fielder Patrick Messenger.

Juniors Spencer Newton and Nick Beattie will provide pitching depth, while Newton will also play outfield and Beattie will back up first base.

Sophomore Brian Foote is the

team’s catcher, while classmate Skyeler Devlin is a pitcher and first baseman.

The team’s three freshmen are Wyatt Cameron, Simon Fischer and Jordan Stearns. Cameron will be the starting shortstop and join the pitching rotation, Fischer is the second baseman, and Stearns will play shortstop or third when Friend or Cameron are pitching and will also start some games on the mound.

The pitchers will probably work by committee, Messenger said. Several will probably take the mound during each game, with the possible exception of Wright. He doesn’t expect them to overpower their Metro competition.

“Our whole key to the pitching staff will be to throw the ball over, and location. We’re not going to blow anybody away with our velocity. And we’ve got to play some defense behind them,” Messenger said.

With three freshmen in the infield, Messenger said that defense might be a work in progress.

“They’re working hard,” Messenger said. “They have the potential and the work ethic to get better as the season goes on, and to get better every day.”

Messenger also expects steady improvement at the plate.

“We’ve got some kids that can swing. Our philosophy is going to be let’s get the bat on the ball and go from there,” he said. “They’re going

to have to adjust to the Metro pitching.”

In all, Messenger said his goal is for the Tigers to master their learning curve.

“We’re hoping we’re better tomorrow than we are today,” he said.

“We’re taking it day to day.”

Middlebury Union High School Varsity Baseball 5/10 Mt. Mansfield Date Opponent/Event Time 5/12 @ Milton 4/16 Fair Haven 11 a.m.

5/13 @ North Country 4/19 @ Essex 4:30 p.m.

5/17 St. Johnsbury 4/21 @ CVU 4:30 p.m.

5/19 Spaulding 4/26 South Burlington 4:30 p.m.

5/21 @ Missisquoi 4/28 Vergennes 4:30 p.m.

5/24 BFA-St. Albans 4/30 @ Rice 11 a.m.

5/26 @ Burlington 5/3 @ Mt. Abraham 4:30 p.m.

5/5 Colchester 4:30 p.m.

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Middlebury Union High School Varsity Baseball Team Coach: Charlie Messenger Name Grade Ken Caul 12 Oakley Gordon 12 Liam Smith 12 Bruce Wright 12 Nick Beattie 11 Pierson Beatty 11 Austin Friend 11 Patrick Messenger 11 Spencer Newton 11 Skyeler Devlin 10 Brian Foote 10 Wyatt Cameron 9 Simon Fischer 9 Jordan Stearns 9

MUHS Boys’ Lacrosse

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — A new face, but one familiar to many of the team’s athletes, takes over the Middlebury boys’ lacrosse program this spring: longtime Middlebury youth lacrosse and football coach Brian Carpenter.

Carpenter — better known in some quarters as a business owner, the new Middlebury selectboard chairman and a former Vermont Army National Guard general — inherits a program that has improved steadily from seven wins in 2012 to 15 in 2015, when the Tigers also reached the Division I final.

A half-dozen all-star-level players graduated from that squad, but Carpenter said plenty of talent is back.

“There’s a good core returning from an absolutely competitive team last year,” he said.

Among that group are senior midfielder and tri-captain Ali Abdul Sater, who will anchor the first middie line; senior Jack Hounchell, who will start at attack; senior long-stick middie Jerry Niemo; junior middie Andrew Gleason, who will anchor the second midfield line; and junior defender Nick Wilkerson and sophomore defender Fyn Fernandez, who both saw action in the back a year ago.

Up front, Carpenter said the team has three strong attackers to work with Hounchell: junior Spencer Carpenter, sophomore Jack Donahue and freshman Jake Peluso. Either Carpenter or Donahue could end up flanking

Gleason on the second midfield line along with senior Nick Coe. Joining Abdul Sater on the other midfield line will be junior Trey Kaufmann and freshman Henry Hodde. Senior Joseph Vanacore, junior Eli Tucker and sophomores Lane Sheldrick and Sam Hodges will spot in at midfield, while senior Sawyer Ryan will work as a defensive midfield specialist, Carpenter said.

Junior Brett Viens in the preseason earned the inside track as the third starting low defender, with senior Parker Gross and sophomore Brian Kiernan looking to work their way into the rotation.

Junior Eli Miller saw time in goal a year ago and gets the early nod, while Carpenter said junior Doug DeLorenzo will also get a look.

Helping the team along will be two new assistants, Dave Donahue and Booth Hodde, both of whom worked with Carpenter as youth lacrosse coaches. During practices, Carpenter will spend extra time with the defenders and goalies, Donahue with the midfielders, and Hodde with the attackers.

“The kids will be well served, and they will have individual coaching,” Carpenter said.

Carpenter acknowledged the younger 2016 squad will not carry the same level of expectations the 2015 team had, but he sees that as a potential positive.

“I’m excited about the way this

team will develop. I think it’s all on the upside,” he said. “We don’t have the same pressure that last year’s team did.”

Carpenter is excited about helping the Tigers reach their potential this spring.

“This is a young team,” he said.

“There is nothing more enjoyable than taking a young team and seeing what you can build.”

Middlebury Union High School Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse 5/9 Mt. Mansfield Date Opponent/Event Time 5/11 BFA-St. Albans 4/7 Woodstock 4 p.m.

5/13 @ Essex 4/12 Essex 4 p.m.

5/16 @ Woodstock 4/16 Rutland 11 a.m.

5/18 @ Mt. Mansfield 4/26 South Burlington 4 p.m.

5/21 Champlain Valley 4/30 @ CVU 11 a.m.

5/25 Colchester 5/2 @ BFA-St. Albans 4 p.m.

5/28 @ Spaulding 5/4 @ Burr & Burton 4 p.m.

5/7 @ South Burlington 3 p.m.

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Middlebury Union High School Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse Team Coach: Brian Carpenter Name Grade Nick Coe 12 Parker Gross 12 Jackson Hounchell 12 Jerry Niemo 12 River Payne 12 Sawyer Ryan 12 Ali Abdul Sater 12 Joseph Vanacore 12 Spencer Carpenter 11 Douglas DeLorenzo 11 Andrew Gleason 11 Trey Kaufmann 11 Eli Miller 11 Eli Tucker 11 Brett Viens 11 Nicholas Wilkerson 11 Jackson Donahue 10 Fyn Fernandez 10 Samuel Hodges 10 Brian Kiernan 10 Lane Sheldrick 10 Henry Hodde 9 Jacob Peluso 9

Good Luck, Tigers!

To All Our Area Student Athletes – Have a Healthy and Fun Season!

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Addison Independent, Thursday, April 21, 2016 — PAGE 3C

MIDDLEBURY

MUHS

UNION

HIGH

SCHOOL

Girls’ Lacrosse

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — In 2015, Coach Kelley Higgins’ MUHS girls’ lacrosse program won nine games and lost a close quarterfinal matchup to a Division I No. 3 seed on the road.

A few key players, mostly on the offensive end, graduated from that group, but Higgins in the preseason liked what she saw of a determined group of athletes led by senior cocaptains Emma Donahue and Emma Best.

“They have a great work ethic. The captains are doing a great job,” Higgins said.

She is confident the Tigers will compete well again this year, and they opened by defeating 2015 D-I finalist Burr & Burton and perennial D-II power Woodstock.

“I’m always so excited about the potential we see,” Higgins said.

This season, Higgins will be emphasizing more interchangeability among positions. Best will line up as a midfielder and Donahue as an attacker, but they and most other middies and attackers could easily switch roles if the flow of play dictates.

An attacker who is defending an opposing midfielder will not necessarily stop at the defensive restraining line, while a midfielder with the ball will simply transition into the attack, she said.

“They’re all interchangeable,” Higgins said.

Sophomore Andi Boe will join Donahue as a starter at attack, but Higgins said a number of other players will rotate through the other attacking slot, including senior Molly Campbell, junior Mikayla Robinson, sophomores Ella Nagy-Benson and Tully Hescock, and freshmen Ada Anderson and Lacey Greenamyre.

Joining Best starting at midfield will be senior Claire Armstrong, junior Riley Fenster, and sophomores Isabel Rosenberg and Satchel McLaughlin, who is off to a fast offensive start. Sophomore Abby Gleason, Anderson, Boe, Greenamyre and Hescock can line up at midfield as well.

Higgins is confident her midfielders and attackers will become a productive offensive group once they learn to play together and have more

practice time to develop plays.

“I see growth as we go along, but there’s still lots to do,” she said.

Senior Annina Hare and sophomore Jessie Hounchell return at low defense, and Higgins said sophomore Keagan Dunbar has also earned a starting nod. Junior Rowan Hendy can fill in, and Fenster was an experienced low defender before the switch to midfield. Sophomore Raven Payne, who had 20 saves and 11 goals against through her first two games, takes over in goal.

Higgins said even after a couple

MUHS

Middlebury Union High School Varsity Softball 5/10 Mt. Mansfield Date Opponent/Event Time 5/12 @ Milton 4/16 Fair Haven 11 a.m.

5/13 @ North Country 4/19 @ Essex 4:30 p.m.

5/17 St. Johnsbury 4/21 @ CVU 4:30 p.m.

5/19 Spaulding 4/26 South Burlington 4:30 p.m.

5/21 @ Missisquoi 4/28 Vergennes 4:30 p.m.

5/24 BFA-St. Albans 4/30 @ Rice 11 a.m.

5/26 @ Burlington 5/3 @ Mt. Abraham 4:30 p.m.

5/5 Colchester 4:30 p.m.

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games that the lineup could remain a work in progress.

“We still don’t know where people are going to land in terms of positions,” she said. “It’s evolving,” Regardless of exactly who ends up where, Higgins believes the Tigers should hold their own.

“I haven’t seen the other teams enough to have a sense of the big picture yet,” she said. “In terms of us making progress with practice and having two games under our belt, I am as always optimistic and excited.”

MUHS Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse Team Coach: Kelley Higgins Name Grade Claire Armstrong 12 Emma Best 12 Molly Campbell 12 Emma Donahue 12 Annina Hare 12 Harriet Milligan 12 Riley Fenster 11 Rowan Hendy 11 Mikayla Robinson 11 Andrea Boe 10 Keagan Dunbar 10 Abigail Gleason 10 Tulley Hescock 10 Jesslyn Hounchell 10 Satchel McLauglin 10 Ella Nagy-Benson 10 Isabel Rosenberg 10 Raven Payne 10 Ada Anderson 9 Lacey Greenamyre 9

Middlebury Union High School Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse Date Opponent/Event Time 4/6 @ Burr & Burton 4:30 p.m.

4/8 Woodstock 4:30 p.m.

4/11 @ Rutland 4:30 p.m.

4/25 Burr & Burton 4:30 p.m.

4/27 Champlain Valley 4:30 p.m.

4/30 Burlington 11 a.m.

5/3 Essex 4:30 p.m.

5/5 @ South Burlington 4:30 p.m.

5/10 Mt. Mansfield 4:30 p.m.

5/13 @ Champlain Valley 4:30 p.m.

5/17 @ Burlington 4:30 p.m.

5/19 Rice 4:30 p.m.

5/20 @ Essex 7 p.m.

5/24 South Burlington 4:30 p.m.

5/27 @ Mt. Mansfield 4:30 p.m.

Softball

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury softball Coach Polly Rheaume believes her team is capable of taking a step forward after a solid 8-6 campaign in 2015, even though four senior starters did graduate.

In the preseason Rheaume was even having a hard time deciding on nine starters among the 11 players on her roster.

“We have strong positions everywhere. Because of that versatility it’s going to be tough to make those final decisions as to who is starting,” Rheaume said.

There are some givens. Junior pitcher Payton Buxton and senior catcher Hannah Lawrence are threeyear starters and both hit in the middle of the order a year ago.

Rheaume does want to get sopho-

more Bridget Audet and freshman Abigail LaRock some time on the mound, though, and junior Ally Larocque could spell Lawrence behind the plate.

“Payton is probably going to be doing most of the pitching, but we have the other two girls that are very good, and we are going to try to get them starting some games,” Rheaume said.

Rheaume plans to put senior Cassondra Laroche at first base, where her sure hands can benefit the other infielders, and install quick junior veteran Lily Smith fulltime at shortstop.

“Lily has got the speed to play shortstop,” Rheaume said. “Sondra has the glove to play first base, and that’s going to help us out a lot.”

Senior MaKayla Foster returns at second base, as does junior Darcy

Staats at third base to round out a seasoned infield.

The entire outfield graduated, and Rheaume was less certain of how things would line up there. Larocque is the top candidate in center field, and Buxton can patrol a corner spot when she is not on the mound, as can Audet. Junior Bethany Orvis and sophomore Ella Beattie are also competing for outfield time, and Rheaume said she is confident in all her options.

At bat and on the bases, Rheaume said the Tigers have quickness to put pressure on opponents.

“It’s so nice to be able to have that.

We’ve got MaKayla and Lily and Darcy and Abby and Payton. They all have speed. Get the bat on the ball and away they go,” she said.

Meanwhile, Laroche and Law-

MUHS Varsity Softball Team Coach: Polly Rheaume Name Grade MaKayla Foster 12 Cassondra Laroche 12 Hannah Lawrence 12 Payton Buxton 11 Ally Larocque 11 Bethany Orvis 11 Lilia Smith 11 Darcy Staats 11 Bridget Audet 10 Ella Beattie 10 Abigail LaRock 9

rence bring some thump.

“Sondra and Hannah were homerun hitters last year, so hopefully we can keep that up, too,” Rheaume said.

In all, Rheaume was looking forward to the season.

“We’ve got a team to beat this year.

We’ll see how it goes,” she said. “We had a lot of close games last year.

And hopefully this year we’ll be on the winning side of them instead of the losing side of them. We have a really good chance this year.”

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PAGE 4C — Addison Independent, Thursday, April 21, 2016

MIDDLEBURY

UNION

HIGH

SCHOOL

MUHS

Middlebury Union High School Varsity Track and Field Team Coach: Ed Blechner Name Grade BOYS: David Dregallo 12 Matthew Ferguson 12 Timothy Ferguson 12 Christopher Garner 12 Chris Grier 12 Eric Mathewson 12 Ian McKay 12 Wyatt Norris 12 Kyle Pecsok 12 Nikhil Plouffe 12 Lewis Short 12 Haven Tate 12 James Whitley 12 Tobias Broucke 11 Ross Crowne 11 Henry Ganey 11

Date Opponent/Event Time 4/12 @ BFA-St. Albans 3:30 p.m.

4/27 @ St. Johnsbury 3:30 p.m.

Joshua Girard Josef Langevin Damien Morris Sandro Zihlmann Benjamin Balparda Alexander Beck Duncan Crogan Willem Landis Ezra Marks Julian Schmitt Matt Townsend Garrett Troumbley James Baroz Isaac Buttolph Tristan Durante Ian Fenster Connor Harris Max Hirdler Nanja Horning

4/30 5/3 5/13

11 11 11 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

Ethan Reiderer Camden Schnoor Carson Yildirim

9 9 9

GIRLS: Hannah Buttolph Crystal Doran Gretta Groves Danielle Morris Julia Vorsteveld Anne Garner Hattie Lindert Niquita McNeal Katherine Moulton Fiona Oneil Kiana Plouffe Maria Wiles Helen Anderson

12 12 12 12 12 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 10

Middlebury Union High School Varsity Track and Field @ Burlington Invitational 9 a.m.

5/17 Rice @ UVM 3:30 p.m. @ Mt. Abraham 3:30 p.m.

5/24 Host 3:30 p.m.

Host 3:30 p.m.

5/28 New England @ Essex 9 a.m.

Lucy Groves Greta Hardy-Mittell Chloe Kane Caroline Kimble Katherine Koehler Sophia Marks Georgina Mraz Meilena Sanchez Gaia Sheridan Megan Townsend Aileen Bosworth Trinity Bryant Brenna Cook Audrey Huston Maisie Newbury Virginia Patz Sophie Poppenga Emily Pottinger Katherine Wallace

6/4 6/11

10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

State Championship New England Champs.

TBD TBD

Track

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury track and field Coach Ed Blechner and assistant Aaron de Toledo believe the Tiger program is set to take a step forward in Division II this spring.

About 70 athletes turned out, and many athletes, both girls and boys, who scored at the D-II state meet a year ago are back. Blechner said the Tigers’ goal as a group should be to move up in the standings.

“We were fifth two years ago, and fourth last year, and so this year we want to be in the top three,” Blechner said.

To do so, some of the top Tiger athletes will probably have to increase their versatility to allow the Tigers to score in more of the 18 events on the schedule, de Toledo said, and not just in roughly half of them, as has been the case.

“We definitely have a lot of people who are strong in one event,” de Toledo said. “When we talk about as a team really trying to accomplish a lot at the state championships, what we’re going to be asking for is doing more than one, two events, more in the three-, fourevent range from our rock-solid runners so that we can get as many points as possible.”

Certainly, the Tigers do return top scorers. On the girls’ side, senior Hannah Buttolph won the D-II high jump with a state-best height in 2015.

“I think Hannah will not only break the school record again in the high jump, I think she’s got an outside shot to get the state record,” Blechner said.

Buttolph could also run on what could be a competitive four-by-400-meter relay team, which has plenty of strong candidates, including junior Kess Moulton and sophomores Chloe Kane, Megan Townsend, Helen Anderson and Caroline Kimble.

Kane, Townsend and senior Gretta Groves comprised three-quarters of last spring’s championship 4x100 relay team, and Blechner said junior Kiana Plouffe, sophomore Georgina Mraz or freshman Trinity Bryant could join them this spring.

“I definitely want us to defend that four-by-one,” Blechner said.

The Tiger girls were also competitive in the four-by-800 last spring, and the coaches have plenty of options for that squad, including seniors Julia Vor-

steveld and Danielle Morris, sophomore Katherine Koehler, Moulton, Anderson and Kimble.

Kane also placed in the sprints in 2015, many of those runners will also excel at the middle distances, Koehler finished just out of the points in the 3,000 last spring, while Vorsteveld also excelled in the triple jump.

Others should emerge in different events as the season progresses, Blechner said.

“I think the girls should do well,” he said.

On the boys’ side, senior Wyatt Norris placed in both the 100 and 200 a year ago and should be in for a big year in those events and anchoring the sprint relays. Junior Damien Morris and sophomore Benjamin Balparda will most likely join Norris on the relay teams and in the sprints.

The team boasts a strong group of 800-meter runners for the relay and individual race: seniors Christopher Garner, James Whitley, Matthew Ferguson and Haven Tate, and junior captain Henry Ganey.

Likewise, the Tigers should be competitive in the distance races with runners like senior David Dregallo, Ganey, junior Tobias Broucke, and sophomores Willem Landis and Julian Schmitt.

Senior Chris Grier scored well throwing in 2015, and the coaches are optimistic about senior jumper and hurdler Ian McKay, junior long jumper Josh Girard and sophomore hurdler Garrett Troumbley.

Again, in the preseason it was hard to predict who will step forward and score points once the team could get outside and the coaches could start better matching up prospects with events.

“There are 20 of them we don’t know what we are going to put them in,” de Toledo said. “They’re brand new and with the weather the way it’s been, we haven’t had time to get outdoor practices.”

For sure, though, the coaches expect some points on the board when the dust settles in June.

“One of the things we’ve done this year is we’ve said, look, we expect more from you this year than we have in the past, because we think you’re ready,” Blechner said. “And I think to get in that top three is a good goal.”

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Addison Independent, Thursday, April 21, 2016 — PAGE 5C

MIDDLEBURY

MUHS

UNION

HIGH

SCHOOL

Boys’ Tennis

By ANDY KIRKALDY their experience and size to be the top MIDDLEBURY — Four seniors two singles players, and also to prograduated from the 2015 Middlebury vide valuable leadership. boys’ tennis team, but Coach Ken “They’re very solid,” Schoen said.

Schoen said a number “They’re the captains of of top players return and “They’ve got the team, and they have will be joined by several super focus, both risen to the occatalented newcomers to and they’re sion.” form what he believes Junior veteran Owen should be a competitive really working Hammel and sophomore on their tactics, newcomer Ziven Mcgroup.

First and foremost, techniques Carty had the inside track though, Schoen is most and their at the Nos. 3 and 4 slots. happy about the ap- toughness.

“Owen is a scrappy litproach the Tigers are tle athlete, and he’s got a And they’re taking toward improving good game,” Schoen said. their play, something he doing a stellar “Those two guys play a describes as the team’s job at all of very similar game.” primary focus.

Freshman Jesse Rubin that.”

“They’ve got super — Coach held the early lead for focus, and they’re really Ken Schoen the No. 5 slot, but junior working on their tactics, exchange student J.P. Ritechniques and their toughness,” beiro, senior Ryan Miller or freshman Schoen said. “And they’re doing a Jed Danforth could challenge, the stellar job at all of that.” coach said, while Rubin could also He projected two seniors, Jonathan make a run at a higher spot.

Fitzcharles and Nick Holmes, to use A benefit of a deep team is that

MUHS

there will be internal competition, Schoen said.

“It’s super healthy. I love it,” Schoen said.

To start with, he was looking a Ribeiro and junior Ronan Howlett forming one doubles team, with senior veterans Max Mayone and Ben Silver on the other. But Miller or Danforth could crack that rotation as well.

Schoen will try to make room for another handful of athletes, and he praised his more experienced players for working with them to improve their tennis.

“They’re having fun,” he said.

“The collaboration they have is just over the top.”

As for the wins and losses, Schoen said they would take care of themselves if the Tigers focus on the process.

“I don’t want to make any predictions,” he said. “I want to coach from the perspective of having a good time and increasing your skill level and going point to point.”

Middlebury Union High School Boys’ Varsity Tennis 5/3 @ U-32 Date Opponent/Event Time 5/6 @ North Country 4/9 @ Spaulding 3 p.m.

5/7 @ Montpelier 4/12 Montpelier 3:30 p.m.

5/13 @ Harwood 4/28 Harwood 3:30 p.m.

5/16 BFA-St. Albans 4/29 North Country 3:30 p.m.

5/18 U-32 4/30 @ BFA-St. Albans 10 a.m.

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MUHS Boys’ Varsity Tennis Team Coach: Ken Schoen Name Grade Jonathan Fitzcharles 12 Nicholas Holmes 12 Maxim Mayone 12 Ryan Miller 12 Ben Silver 12 Ian-Tor Bright 11 Raymond Bushey 11 Owen Hammel 11 Ronan Howlett 11 Alexander Marohnic 11 Harlow Punderson 11 Joao Pedro Ribeiro 11 Ziven McCarty 10 Samuel Daly 9 Jedidiah Danforth 9 Drew Kiernan 9 Jesse Rubin 9

Girls’ Tennis

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — Change has come to the Middlebury girls’ tennis program. Coach Laura Rumbough stepped down after several productive years, and a handful of key players also graduated from the competitive 2015 team.

Stepping in to coach the Tigers is experienced USTA league tennis player Carrie Wulfman, who will be assisted by husband Jeff Wulfman, also a veteran adult league tennis player. At times another experienced local player, Deb Kelley, will lend a hand.

Middlebury Indoor Tennis instructors Franz Kollas and Heather Potter have also helped out some of the team’s newcomers, some of them who are also relatively new to the sport, Carrie Wulfman said.

“We have an inexperienced team,” she said. “But they have been improving rapidly.”

The Tigers do have a clear-cut, veteran No. 1 player in sophomore Bree Cotroneo, who enjoyed a successful season in the No. 2 slot as a freshman.

Wulfman said five other players will fill out the other four singles slots in some order, captains Ember Benatti, a senior, and Monroe Cromis, a junior; and juniors Amelia Ingersoll, Charlotte Keathley and Claire Wulfman.

Along with whoever of those five is not playing singles on a given day, the team’s remaining players — juniors Calista Carl and Tasha Hescock and freshmen Elizabeth Chamberlain, Katie Isham and Torey WallDrugg — will play doubles, with the lineups likely to change as Wulfman determines the best pairings.

“They could shift around,” Wulfman said.

While the coaches focus on fundamentals with newcomers, Wulf-

man said they would also work with the top returning players to become more “match-tough and mentally tough.”

Across the board, she said the Tigers have been receptive.

“It’s very rewarding and exciting to see their great attitudes and desire to improve,” Wulfman said.

In all, the new coach is looking forward to an enjoyable spring.

“It will be a good experience,” Wulfman said. “They will learn a lot, and everybody will get to play.”

Middlebury Union High School Girls’ Varsity Tennis 5/3 U-32 Date Opponent/Event Time 5/5 @ Spaulding 4/7 Otter Valley 3:30 p.m.

5/6 North Country 4/9 Spaulding 3 p.m.

5/7 Montpelier 4/12 @ Montpelier 3:30 p.m.

5/9 @ Lake Region 4/15 Lake Region 3:30 p.m.

5/13 Harwood 4/28 @ Harwood 3:30 p.m.

5/16 @ BFA-St. Albans 4/29 @ North Country 3:30 p.m.

5/18 @ U-32 4/30 BFA-St. Albans 10 a.m.

A Partnership Approach to Care

Middlebury Union High School Girls’ Varsity Tennis Team Coach: Carrie Wulfman and Jeff Wulfman Charlotte Keathley Name Grade Claire Wulfman Ember Benatti 12 Brianna Cotroneo Calista Carl 11 Elizabeth Chamberlain Monroe Cromis 11 Catherine Isham Tasha Hescock 11 Victoria Wall-Drugg Amelia Ingersoll 11

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PAGE 6C — Addison Independent, Thursday, April 21, 2016

MOUNT ABRAHAM UNION HIGH SCHOOL

MAUHS

Baseball

By ANDY KIRKALDY BRISTOL — With a pitching staff of up to six hurlers, Mount Abraham baseball coach Jeff Stetson is at least hopeful his Eagles could post their first winning season since 2010, when the program earned its fifth title in a remarkable 10-year run.

Stetson envisions hard-throwing junior George Bailey as his ace, with senior Kenny Marcelle and junior Adam Whitcomb as his probable Nos. 2 and 3, but with sophomore Dustin Whitcomb pushing them for a starting job. Junior Aaron Fanning and senior Kyle Barrows will work in relief.

“I’m feeling pretty good about the depth of our pitching staff,” Stetson said of his starters. “I think I have four guys that appear to be able to throw pretty well and throw strikes.”

Just before the Eagles took off for a trip to Florida, Stetson said there was competition for the key position of catcher. The candidates were senior Anthony Robideau, junior Caleb Bonvouloir, junior Greg Ouellette, and Bailey when he is not on the mound.

“The big question for us at this point is who is going to win the catcher’s job and take control of that

position,” Stetson said. “If we can be solid behind the plate I think we can be a little more successful than we have been recently in the win side of things.”

Stetson expects senior Matt Mullin to play a lot of first base, but not until after an early school trip. Other candidates there include Adam Whitcomb and junior Coleman Russell. Juniors Wyatt Gendreau and Chris Wood are likely to see most of the time at second base and shortstop, respectively, while Dustin Whitcomb and possibly Barrows could fill in there. Third base candidates include Bonvouloir, Bailey and Dustin Whitcomb.

“We have a solid group of guys to pick from for the infield positions,” Stetson said.

Junior Keion Correll is set in center field, and Russell, Marcelle, Robideau, Bonvouloir and junior Zach Hines could patrol the corner outfield spots.

“I’m pretty comfortable Keion is going to be able to patrol center field,” Stetson said. “Then the two outfield corner positions still could be for the guys who can catch a fly ball, but also the guys who are swinging the hot bats are going to

get time in those positions.”

Given the pitching depth and the talented junior class, Stetson envisions a step forward this spring for his program after a few tough seasons.

“I’m certainly hopeful. They’re good kids. They’re working hard,” he said. “There are a lot of juniors on this team that have set goals for themselves that they are ready to turn this program back around the way it should be, and hopefully they’ll make that happen.”

ing the majority of the time there, but is also a good outfielder, and school trips are leaving the Eagles shorthanded there at the beginning of the season. Senior Dani Forand is an experienced catcher, but might be the team’s best third baseman.

Sophomore Emily Aldrich is also a good catcher, but will start at second base, while junior Genysis Berube can catch, but might play right field.

In the infield, senior Macey Ross will probably start at first base, with sophomore Olivia Young available there when she is back from a trip.

Versatile sophomore Jenna McArdle can also play first, as well as third base or the outfield, and Trayah said he might use her as a designated hitter in some circumstances to get her bat into the lineup.

With Aldrich at second, sopho-

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Baseball Date Opponent/Event Time 4/19 @ Mt. Mansfield 4:30 p.m.

5/10 @ North Country 4/21 Rice 4:30 p.m.

5/12 @ Missisquoi 4/26 Burlington 4:30 p.m.

5/14 @ Colchester 4/28 @ Essex 4:30 p.m.

5/17 CVU 4/30 BFA-St. Albans 11 a.m.

5/19 @ Milton 5/3 Middlebury 4:30 p.m.

5/21 @ South Burlington 5/5 @ Vergennes 4:30 p.m.

5/24 St. Johnsbury 5/6 Otter Valley 4:30 p.m.

5/26 Spaulding

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Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Baseball Team Coach: Jeff Stetson Name Grade Kyle Barrows 12 Kenny Marcelle 12 Matt Mullin 12 Anthony Robideau 12 George Bailey 11 Caleb Bonvouloir 11 Keion Correll 11 Coleman Russell 11 Aaron Fanning 11 Wyatt Gendreau 11 Zach Hines 11 Greg Ouellette 11 Adam Whitcomb 11 Chris Wood 11 Dustin Whitcomb 10

MAUHS Softball

By ANDY KIRKALDY BRISTOL — During the preseason, Mount Abraham softball coach Kelly Trayah said he was happy both for the present and for the future of the Eagle softball program.

The next few years look promising, Trayah said.

“We had 32 girls try out this year, and I’m really excited about our younger group,” he said. “Our 9thgraders are going to be really exciting.”

But 2016 doesn’t look too shabby, either, with the majority of the team that won 10 times in 2015, including a Division II playoff game, back in the fold.

“We return a lot of the core of our team, especially the pitching,” Trayah said. “And then we’ve got a core of catching.”

That pitching is junior Rachael McCormick, the top starter and also a dangerous hitter, and No. 2 hurler Audrey Shahan, a freshman who held her own against tough Metro Conference competition a year ago.

Trayah also has plenty of options behind the plate. Sophomore Brooke Perlee might end up spend-

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more Katelynn Ouellette will line up at shortstop, with McCormick available there when she is not pitching. Forand and McCardle are the third basemen.

“We’ve got a bunch of girls who can play infield. Our infield is really solid,” Trayah said.

There are fewer returners in the outfield, but Trayah is confident speedy senior Stacie Sabourin will do a good job patrolling center field, a key job given there are no fences at Mount Abe. Tabby Vincent will probably start in left and Berube in right, but Trayah said there will be more competition and shared time in the outfield when sophomores Jasmin Gile, Ally Hoff and Emma LaRose return from early school trips.

Overall, Trayah thinks the Eagle pitchers will be better with a year of experience under their belts, and the team should be solid defensively and show a little more pop with the bat.

“We’re going to do all right,” Trayah said. “It’s going to be exciting.”

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Softball Team Coach: Kelly Trayah Brittany Sheeran Name Grade Emily Aldrich Britney Callaert 12 Jasmin Gile Dani Forand 12 Ally Hoff Macey Ross 12 Emma LaRose Stacie Sabourin 12 Jenna McArdle Tabby Vincent 12 Katelynn Ouellette Genysis Berube 11 Brooke Perlee Rachael McCormick 11 Audrey Shahan Megan McIntyre 11 Olivia Young

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Softball 5/10 @ North Country Date Opponent/Event Time 5/12 @ Missisquoi 4/19 @ Mt. Mansfield 4:30 p.m.

5/14 @ Colchester 4/21 Rice 4:30 p.m.

5/17 CVU 4/26 Burlington 4:30 p.m.

5/19 @ Milton 4/28 @ Essex 4:30 p.m.

5/21 @ South Burlington 4/30 BFA-St. Albans 11 a.m.

5/24 St. Johnsbury 5/3 Middlebury 4:30 p.m.

5/26 Spaulding 5/5 @ Vergennes 4:30 p.m.

5/6 Otter Valley 4:30 p.m.

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Addison Independent, Thursday, April 21, 2016 — PAGE 7C

MOUNT ABRAHAM UNION HIGH SCHOOL

MAUHS

Track

By ANDY KIRKALDY BRISTOL — There has been change at the top of the Mount Abraham track and field program this year, as Coach Katie Ivory said some longtime coaches had to step aside for family and professional reasons, while Ivory herself, a new mother, said she is “working on finding that new balance.”

Fortunately, Ivory said, Wendy Livingston and Jake Roy have both stepped up to help out after what she called “a bit of a shake-up” in the coaching staff this spring.

“It’s working out,” she said.

The coaches were pleased to see good turnout, at least on the boys’ side, where 30 signed up, half of them freshmen that Ivory said bring hope for the program’s future.

“I’ve been incredibly impressed with them so far,” she said in a preseason email. “These new athletes are eager, dedicated, disciplined, and have worked exceptionally hard.”

Captaining the boys’ team will be two of the older team members, senior Andrew Cloutier and junior Andrew Raymond.

Raymond, a sprinter, is one of the returning qualifiers from last spring’s Division II meet, as is junior Finn Clements, a javelin thrower, hurdler and high jumper. Ivory also believes versatile runner Julian Bunch is ready to break through among the boys’ team’s veterans.

The girls’ team is smaller, but sophomore Lydia Pitts can be counted on to score the lion’s share of the Eagles’ points at the D-II meet this year. Pitts

won both hurdling events at the state meet in 2015 and placed in the long and triple jumps. She also worked on her jumping this past winter, winning the triple and long jump events at the D-II indoor meet at dramatically improved distances. She was named the indoor season’s Female Co-Athlete of the Year after also winning the hurdles.

Also returning after qualifying for the state meet a year ago are two other sophomores, jumper Abby Perlee and jumper, pole vaulter and relay runner Emma Radler. Pitts and junior distance runner Delaynah Leavitt are captaining the girls’ side.

Ivory expects a number of other boys and girls to excel, citing sophomores Aidan May and Vanessa Dykstra, freshmen Nevin Jemison and Patrick Marcotullio and senior exchange student Andrea Rinaldi.

Any number of other athletes could emerge, she said.

“I am honestly excited about many of our young athletes,” Ivory said.

“We also have a large number of young athletes who are interested in a variety of events and haven’t really pinned down what they will ultimately compete in. This is quite exciting — we have lots of options and the kids have a real sense of openness to trying new things.”

Overall, Ivory and the Eagles were looking forward to an enjoyable spring.

“I’ve been really happy with the team chemistry this year,” Ivory said.

“We’re off to a good, strong start and seem organized, focused and motivated.”

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Track Team Coach: Katie Ivory Isaiah Kile Name Grade Sam Kuhns GIRLS’ TEAM: Andrew Raymond Amelia Bruhl 12 Jacob Viera Macie Kittredge 11 Jackson Counter Delaynah Leavitt 11 Brian Cousineau Robyn Arena 10 Derek Jackson Vanessa Dykstra 10 Aidan May Isabel Lucarelli 10 Weston Allred Abby Perlee 10 Ross Carr Lydia Pitts 10 Gary Conant Emma Radler 10 Caleb Hunter Claire Holloway 9 Nevin Jemison Mhairi McMurray 9 Peter Koenig Elizabeth Siminitus 9 Erik McLysaght BOYS’ TEAM: Patrick Marcotullio Andrew Cloutier 12 Takumi Melchior Igor Grecmal 12 Zach Preston Andrea Rinaldi 12 Oliver Roy Will Aldrich 11 Ethan Sawyer Julian Bunch 11 Ethan Venman Finn Clements 11 Nathan Viera Peter Foley 11 William Wright

11 11 11 11 10 10 10 10 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Track & Field Date Opponent/Event Time 5/10 @ Colchester 3:30 p.m.

4/13 @ St. Johnsbury 3:30 p.m.

5/14 Frosh/Soph @ U-32 TBA 4/20 @ Essex 3:30 p.m.

5/19 @ South Burlington 3:30 p.m.

4/28 @ Colchester 3:30 p.m.

5/21 @ Fair Haven TBA 4/30 @ Burlington Invitational TBA 5/24 @ Milton 3:30 p.m.

5/3 Host 3:30 p.m.

5/28 @ Essex Invitational TBA 5/6 @ BFA-St. Albans (boys) 3:30 p.m.

6/4 @ Division II State Meet TBA 5/7 @ Iverson Relays (girls) TBA

MAUHS Boys’ Lacrosse

By ANDY KIRKALDY BRISTOL — Like the area’s other two newer boys’ lacrosse programs at Vergennes and Otter Valley, the Mount Abraham squad finds itself in different territory this spring.

This winter, the Vermont Principals’ Association approved a proposal from the state’s high school lacrosse coaches to create a third division that will include those three schools and a handful of other teams that are still developing the sport.

That decision acknowledged there are really three levels of lacrosse in the state, traditional powers in larger schools, such as Essex, Champlain Valley and Middlebury in Division I; programs in larger schools that are not quite at that level, such as Burlington, along with smaller schools with competitive programs, such as U-32 and Rice, in D-II; and in D-III programs like the three local schools, with good athletes but lower numbers and limited opportunities for younger players to learn the sport.

Mount Abe Coach Ryan Fitzpatrick said it’s the best approach for lacrosse in Vermont. Not only does the move “open up the postseason a little bit,” he said, but it also gives the smaller schools a chance to grow the sport.

“We want kids playing lacrosse,”

Fitzpatrick said.

As for his Eagles, Fitzpatrick notes the team returns a number of key players from the group that was the only lower seed to win a game in the 2015 D-II postseason.

“I feel great. We have a tight-knit group,” Fitzpatrick said. “We can get further into the playoffs.”

In the back, Tucker Paradee returns for his third year in goal, and Fitzpatrick said he worked at the position in the offseason.

Senior Matt George and sophomore Conrad Marsano, who will miss some time early on with an injury, return on defense. Fitzpatrick was weighing his options in the back during the preseason, including the possibility of moving incumbent junior long-stick middie Will White-

Pifer to low defense. Juniors Connor Norland, a newcomer; versatile Pat Davison, who could also move to long-stick middie or attack and is the backup goalie; and sophomore Mason Wood are also options.

Fitzpatrick said he is happy to have 2008 Middlebury Union grad Grant Bolsta aboard to coach the defense, which he also expects to take a step forward.

“I expect my defense to be very different this year,” he said.

Three veterans will comprise the Eagles’ top midfield line, with senior Charlie Meyer as “the anchor,” Fitzpatrick said. Junior Owein Labarr and sophomore Sam Paradee will join Meyer. Senior Sebastian Durante and Ryan Bonar are set on the second line, while Fitzpatrick was

still sorting through candidates for the third position, including sophomore Toby Bunch and freshman Ryan Rougier.

Seniors Lucas Richter and Dylan Weaver return as the top attackmen. Junior Addison King, sophomore Phoenix King and Rougier are also in the attack mix. Junior Sean Danyow and freshman Neo Weaver are also in the attack and midfield mix.

“I’m going to be working a lot of people in until I find my group,” Fitzpatrick said.

In all, Fitzpatrick expects the Eagles to be in the D-III hunt.

“I’m feeling good about the season,” he said. “The kids are hungry.

They want to write history for Mount Abe.”

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Boys’ Lacrosse Date Opponent/Event 4/9 U-32 4/11 @ Otter Valley 4/13 Vergennes 4/16 @ Montpelier 4/27 Otter Valley 4/30 Stowe 5/2 @ U-32 5/6 Randolph 5/10 @ Burlington 5/13 Lamoille 5/17 @ Harwood 5/19 Milton 5/24 @ Vergennes 5/26 Rice

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Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Boys’ Lacrosse Team Coach: Ryan Fitzpatrick Name Grade Sebastian Durante 12 Matt George 12 Charlie Meyer 12 Tucker Paradee 12 Lucas Richter 12 Dylan Weaver 12 Sean Danyow 11 Patrick Davison 11 Addison King 11 Owein LaBarr 11 Connor Norland 11 Will White-Pifer 11 Ryan Bonar 10 Toby Bunch 10 Phoenix King 10 Conrad Marsano 10 Sam Paradee 10 Mason Wood 10 Grady Brokaw 9 Ryan Rougier 9 Neo Weaver 9

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e want to be the paper of record for local boys’ and girls’ results, but we also try to go a little deeper than just reporting scores. In our stories, we look at why games are won and lost and how the teams are trying to reach their potential. We also feature looks at some individual athletes, including why they love their sport and what they have learned from them. And we believe sports is not about winning and losing, but trying to achieve as much as possible individually and collectively.

Andy Kirkaldy, ADDISON COUNTY The Addison Independent INDEPENDENT News & Sports Writer VERMONT’S TWICE-WEEKLY NEWSPAPER Brandon • Pittsford • Proctor • West Rutland

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PAGE 8C — Addison Independent, Thursday, April 21, 2016

OTTER VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL

OVUHS

OVUHS

By LEE J. KAHRS BRANDON — Low numbers in both the junior varsity and varsity softball programs at Otter Valley this season have led to a joining of forces to field a varsity team.

That said, Hall of Fame veteran coach Pattie Candon has five seniors and seven returning players overall.

Senior Maia Edmunds will start at catcher this season, with seniors Amy Jones at shortstop, Katelyn Ketcham in outfield, and Hannah Williams outfield and pitching.

Senior Danielle Eddy, last year’s starting first baseman, is currently sidelined recovering from shoulder surgery.

So, junior Charlotte Winslow gets the start at first this season, with juniors Alyssa Falco at second, Courtney Bushey starting pitcher and Molly McGee backing up Edmunds at catcher and playing outfield.

By LEE J. KAHRS BRANDON — The Otter Valley baseball team is still young, but second-year Coach Mike Howe said his team has come a long way in the last year.

The Otters’ 1-14-1 record last year was deceiving, as OV lost more than a few games by two runs or fewer. Howe said his players learned a lot from their play in 2015.

“We lost a lot of close games last year,” he said. “We now know what it takes to finish a game and that will allow us to be more confident and finish those situations.

We know how to recover from one wrong move and fight back.”

And who will be doing the fight-

Softball Sophomore Gabby Poalino will start at third base. Sophomore Christa Wood will also pitch in relief, and freshman Gabby LaGrange will back up Edmunds behind the plate and play outfield.

“Most everyone else is outfield,” Candon said, “so we’re hoping the pitchers keep the ball low.”

As for her junior varsity players, Candon said she and Athletic Director Steve Keith are working on a very reduced JV schedule. That said, Candon said that not everyone can get guaranteed playing time and the varsity schedule for the Otters is tough.

“It’s really tight,” she said. “We’re hoping that other JV teams will come in and share players so these kids can get some playing time. In the meantime, we play three varsity games a week for the next three weeks after break.”

Candon is looking to senior vet-

Otter Valley Union High School Varsity Softball 5/6 @ Mt. Abraham Date Opponent/Event Time 5/9 Fair Haven 4/9 @ Bellows Falls 11 a.m.

5/11 @ Fair Haven 4/20 @ Springfield 4:30 p.m.

5/16 @ Rutland 4/23 @ Brattleboro Noon 5/18 Windsor 4/26 Leland & Gray 4:30 p.m.

5/20 Mt. Anthony 4/28 Rutland 4:30 p.m.

5/23 @ Hartford 4/30 Brattleboro 11 a.m.

5/25 Springfield 5/2 @ Mt. Anthony 4:30 p.m.

5/4 Hartford 4:30 p.m.

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Baseball ing? OV will be led by three seniors: Tyler Allen, Austin McCullough and Chris Watkins. Howe said he doesn’t pick captains.

“I consider all the upperclassmen leaders,” he said.

The Otters also have five juniors on the team this season, many with playing experience. Junior Derek Aines will start on the mound for OV this year, and Allen will also pitch.

“They know how to pitch,” Howe said. “They’re not just throwing.”

Sophomore Daniel Allen will start behind the plate, and Howe has great expectations, saying Allen caught every inning of every game last season.

“I expect him to be more of a field

general,” the coach said.

The Otters have also been hitting the ball well, Howe said in an early season interview, and shown steady improvement since last season.

“I expect us to be more confident at the plate,” he said, “and that will allow us to be more aggressive and competitive.”

As for his expectations for the season, Howe was hesitant to put a number on the record he hopes his team can achieve.

“We’re working toward an end result,” he said simply. “Every year is an opportunity. I hate to put a special number of wins, but I think everyone knows the end goal and the hard work it takes to get there.”

eran Edmunds to control the game for the Otters.

“Maia (Edmunds) will be key for us behind the plate,” she said. “But if I can bring the others up, she can go back to the outfield and will really solidify us out there.”

Last season, the Otters went 5-11; Candon is hoping for more wins this season. “.500 would be good,” she said.

“I’d like to see us improve on our last season, and I think we will. We have to just work every day and improve on that and keep going.”

Otter Valley Union High School Varsity Softball Team Coach: Pattie Candon Name Grade Danielle Eddy 12 Maia Edmunds 12 Amy Jones 12 Caitlyn Ketcham 12 Hannah Williams 12 Courtney Bushey 11 Alyssa Falco 11 Molly McGee 11 Charlotte Winslow 11 Kathryn Coolidge 10 Savannah Diaz 10 Gabriela Poalino 10 Laura Wentworth 10 Christa Wood 10 Gabriella LaGrange 9

Otter Valley Union High School Varsity Baseball 5/12 @ Brattleboro Date Opponent/Event Time 5/13 @ Fair Haven 4/8 @ Burr & Burton 4:30 p.m.

5/16 Springfield 4/11 @ Mill River 4:30 p.m.

5/18 Hartford 4/25 Windsor 4:30 p.m.

5/20 Bellows Falls 4/28 Rutland 4:30 p.m.

5/23 @ Springfield 5/2 @ Mt. Anthony 4:30 p.m.

5/26 Fair Haven 5/4 @ Windsor 4:30 p.m.

5/28 Mill River 5/6 @ Mt. Abraham 4:30 p.m.

5/10 @ Bellows Falls 4:30 p.m.

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Otter Valley Union High School Varsity Baseball Team Coach: Michael Howe Name Grade Tyler Allen 12 Austin McCullough 12 Christopher Watkins 12 Derek Aines 11 Dominic McCullough 11 Angelo McCullough 11 Colby McKay 11 Gregory Whitney 11 Daniel Allen 10 Payson Williams 10 Joshua Beayon 9 Patrick McKeighan 9 Reilly Shannon 9

Addison Independent, Thursday, April 21, 2016 — PAGE 9C

OTTER VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL

OVUHS

By LEE J. KAHRS BRANDON — First-year head coach Jesse Milliman is bringing a new culture of lacrosse to Otter Valley, and if he’s successful, there will be more wins for the Otters.

Milliman was the assistant coach last year under former head coach Randy Stewart, and he said Stewart taught him a lot about coaching at the high school level.

“I love it,” Milliman said. “Lacrosse has done so much for me in my life, it’s just giving back, honoring the advantages I had as a player.”

Milliman hails from Auburn in central New York, a historical hotbed of lacrosse. Milliman played for Auburn High School and in college Otter Valley Union High School Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse Team Coach: Jesse Milliman Name Grade Collin Eugair 12 Jared Felkl 12 Francis Hunt 12 Trevor Lear 12 Colton Leno 12 Evan Perry 12 Keenan Pratt 12 Jove Bautista 11 Tyson Cram 11 Sean Martin 11 Collin Parker 11 William Ross 11 Erik Sherman 11 Jonathan McKeighan 10 Matthew Snow 10 David Soulia 10 Cody Young 10 Jack Adams 9 Hayden Gallo 9 Timothy Kittler 9 Colby Smith 9 Alec Stevens 9 Terrance Stone 9 Ethan Sulik-Doty 9

OVUHS

By LEE J. KAHRS BRANDON — With 15 golfers this year, OV Golf Coach Tom Ryan is feeling good about his team’s prospect for returning to the Division II State Championships.

The Otters were a surprise last season as they qualified for the D-II tourney but did not beat a team, finishing sixth out of six teams.

“This year, we expect to qualify again and the goal is to beat a team or two,” Ryan said.

Captains are senior Colin Nicklaw and junior Tom Kingsley. Ryan said he also expects significant contributions from junior Eric Laughlin and sophomore Will Kelly. Newcomers include senior MacGregor Shannon and freshman Sam Buswell, who will get match experience this sea-

Boys’ Lacrosse at nearby Keuka College, a Division III school.

The 37-year-old has the game in his blood, first picking up a stick at the age of three. Now, he’s hoping to turn the OV program around. The Otters have only notched four wins in four years in the Marble Valley League, and Milliman said going forward, it’s all about attitude.

“I have very reasonable optimism,” he said. “My belief is that the wins will come. I’m looking for effort on the field and that the kids believe they can win.”

After a few seasons with more losses than wins, Milliman said losing can be self-perpetuating.

“It’s mostly mental,” he said. “The expectation of walking on to that field and expecting to lose, you can see it in their eyes. The only way to change that is to succeed. I’m trying to create a culture of winning.”

And with 24 players this season — a larger number than ever before — the new coach is getting off to a good start. Moreover, he’s got veterans: seven seniors and seven juniors.

Five of those seniors are his captains this year: Trevor Lear, Keenan Pratt, Colin Eugair, Colton Leno and Jared Felkl.

“We have a nice group of veteran

leadership,” the coach said.

The veterans are the strength of this year’s Otter squad, forming what Milliman says is a strong attack line including Leno, Pratt and junior Eric Sherman.

The coach also has seven freshmen coming out for the team this year, and their work ethic and skill has caught his attention. In a preseason conversation he specifically mentioned Ethan Sulik-Doty and Hayden Gallo at midfield, Tim Kittler on defense, and starting goalie Alec Stevens.

“They are all pushing for playing time and I’ve been impressed with their enthusiasm,” Milliman said.

Another advantage for the Otters this season is that OV will play in the newly created Division III. OV has been playing in D-II for the last four years against schools with much more established programs and youth recreational lacrosse for younger players, making winning difficult against the more experienced teams.

That said, Milliman said OV will still play D-II teams like Burr & Burton, Woodstock and Rutland, and he welcomes the challenge.

“If you want to be the best, you have to play the best,” he said simply.

“We have the talent.”

Otter Valley Union High School Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse 5/10 @ Montpelier Date Opponent/Event Time 5/11 @ Vergennes 4/11 @ Mt. Abraham 4 p.m.

5/13 @ Mt. Anthony 4/19 @ Randolph 4 p.m.

5/16 Randolph 4/21 @ Hartford 4:30 p.m.

5/18 @ Rutland 4/23 Vergennes 11 a.m.

5/20 Montpelier 4/27 Mt. Abraham 4 p.m.

5/25 Woodstock 4/30 @ GMVS 11 a.m.

5/27 Burr & Burton 5/2 Hartford 4 p.m.

5/4 @ St. Johnsbury 4 p.m.

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

OVUHS

By LEE J. KAHRS BRANDON — With 14 players on the Otter Valley girls’ tennis team this season, second-year coach Kate Wysolmerski is sure her team will have more success this year.

That’s because not only does she have more experienced players, but also the sheer numbers will prevent the forfeited matches that occurred regularly last year because the Otters did not have enough players.

The coach said that situation forced her to concentrate on individual match records last year, and she hopes to see improvement in both individual and team wins this season.

“Last year, we went into every match with at least one forfeit,” Wysolmerski said. “This season, we have depth. We have players we can count on to hold their own.”

Captains this year are senior Jonna Keith and juniors Ghislaine Robin and Brigid Enright. Wysolmerski said a lot more is expected from the captains in the game of tennis, and she is happy with her team’s leadership.

“In no other sport do you distrib-

Girls’ Tennis ute your own balls, warm-up against your opponent, stay on the courts and support your players, and stand and formally introduce the players,” she said. “We have excellent leadership.”

The other seniors on the squad include Haley Gearwar, Katelyn Houle and Shana Houle, who are new to the squad. Junior returners are Enright, Robin, Sophie Wood, and Molly Fisher. The lone sophomore is Brittney Danforth. The freshman players are Maddie Fuller, Meghan Chaney, Brenna McCullough and Elizabeth Wright.

All told, Wysolmerski has eight first-year players, but she said they all have the right attitude.

“They have been practicing very hard and showing a lot of teamwork,” she said. “It’s a technical sport with a specific skillset, and they are learning the skills and the etiquette involved.”

Sportsmanship and etiquette are central to tennis, and Wysolmerski makes sure her players know it.

“They are excellent listeners and they strive for sportsmanship and court poise,” she said, “which I feel

Otter Valley Union High School Girls’ Varsity Tennis 5/2 @ Rutland Date Opponent/Event Time 5/3 @ MSJ 4/7 Middlebury 4 p.m.

5/6 @ Bellows Falls 4/8 MSJ 4 p.m.

5/9 @ Springfield 4/12 Bellows Falls 4 p.m.

5/11 @ Mt. Anthony 4/25 Springfield 4 p.m.

5/16 Woodstock 4/27 @ Woodstock 4:30 p.m.

5/18 @ Brattleboro 4/29 Burr & Burton 4 p.m.

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

Otter Valley Union High School Girls’ Varsity Tennis Team Coach: Kate Wysolmerski Name Grade Haley Gearwar 12 Katelyn Houle 12 Shana Houle 12 Jonna Keith 12 Brigid Enright 11 Molly Fisher 11 Katelynne Patten 11 Ghislaine Robin 11 Sophie Wood 11 Brittney Danforth 10 Meghan Chaney 9 Maddie Fuller 9 Brenna McCullough 9 Elizabeth Wright 9

is very important.”

She paused.

Because “you are (just) learning the game doesn’t mean you step on the court not knowing the etiquette and possessing court poise.”

The Otter girls will be challenged logistically this year, however. Because they now have a full squad, home matches will have to be played simultaneously at the Pittsford Recreation Area and at Estabrook Field in Brandon in order to fit in all the games. That means Wysolmerski will be relying on her captains and opposing coaches to properly run the matches she cannot be present for.

“Our team won’t let it be a nightmare,” the coach said. “We’ll have a captain at each location and we have some very supportive parents (to help with transportation). It’s problematic, but I know many of the coaches in the league and there is a certain trust there.”

Wysolmerski said she has faith in her players to not only navigate the home court challenges, but to win some matches this year.

“My girls will make it work,” she said confidently. “They love the game, they love the team, and they’ll do what they can to get through.”

Golf son, Ryan said.

The balance of the team is made up of freshmen and sophomores, almost all newcomers to the sport.

“They will spend the bulk of the season learning the sport and working on their game,” Ryan said.

“What they lack in ability/experience is countered by their enthusiasm to learn a new sport.”

They are Mike Beauregard, Mike Bedard, Nate DePatie, Hunter Eddy, Angelina Elliott, Ben Fox, Hayden Hull, Hunter Johnson, and Orion Ladd.

Ryan said his role as coach is twofold: develop and prepare a competitive team while simultaneously introducing others to the sport and growing the game.

“It can be a tricky balance,” he

said, adding that he is very fortunate to have his assistant, OV boys’ basketball coach Greg Hughes “Additionally, we are very lucky to have the unwavering support of Neshobe Golf Course and everyone there is to be thanked for their help and graciousness,” Ryan said.

“We’re excited for the year and our season gets under way on April 25 at Rutland Country Club.”

Otter Valley Union High School Varsity Golf 5/17 @ Equinox 3:30 p.m.

Date Course Time 5/18 @ Crown Point 9 a.m.

4/25 @ Rutland 3:30 p.m.

5/23 @ Rutland 1:30 p.m.

4/27 Neshobe 3:30 p.m.

5/24 @ Proctor 3:30 p.m.

5/2 @ Okemo 3:30 p.m.

5/25 Neshobe 3:30 p.m.

5/3 @ Woodstock 3:30 p.m.

5/31 @ Rutland (D-II Sect’ls) 9 a.m.

5/6 @ Green Mountain 3:30 p.m.

6/7 @ Middlebury (States) TBD 5/10 Neshobe 1:30 p.m.

5/11 @ Lake St. Catherine 3:30 p.m.

Otter Valley Union High School Varsity Golf Team Coach: Tom Ryan William Kelly Name Grade Michael Bedard Colin Nicklaw 12 Samuel Buswell MacGregor Shannon 12 Nathan DePatie Thomas Kingsley 11 Angelina Elliott Orion Ladd 11 Benjamin Fox Eric Laughlin 11 Hayden Hull Michael Beauregard 10 Hunter Johnson Hunter Eddy 10

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PAGE 10C — Addison Independent, Thursday, April 21, 2016

VERGENNES

UNION

HIGH

VUHS

Vergennes Union High School Varsity Softball 5/10 @ CVU Date Opponent/Event Time 5/12 St. Albans 4/19 @ St. Johnsbury 4:30 p.m.

5/14 Rice 4/21 South Burlington 4:30 p.m.

5/17 Missisquoi 4/23 Randolph 11 a.m.

5/19 @ Colchester 4/26 Mt. Mansfield 4:30 p.m.

5/21 @ Essex 4/28 @ Middlebury 4:30 p.m.

5/23 @ Milton 4/30 Burlington 11 a.m.

5/25 North Country 5/3 @ Spaulding 4:30 p.m.

5/5 Mt. Abraham 4:30 p.m.

VUHS

By ANDY KIRKALDY VERGENNES — The Vergennes softball team returns many of the players who helped the team win eight regular season games against mostly Division I Metro Conference competition, but has a new coach this year, Mike Martin.

Martin assisted former coach Mike Sullivan in 2015, and is familiar to many of the athletes from before then, having coached at the youth, middle school and JV levels before working with Sullivan last spring.

“I kind of worked my way up through the ranks,” Martin said. “I paid my dues.”

The Commodores return seven seniors from the squad that finished strong last season.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

11 a.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

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4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

Vergennes Union High School Varsity Softball Team Coach: Mike Martin Name Grade Felicia Armell 12 Tamara Aunchman 12 Jaymee Fulcher 12 Megan Martin 12 Nikkilette Salley 12 Nicole Stearns 12 Karina Tarte 12 Rebecca Maloy 11 Sophie Rippner-Donovan 11 Megan Tarte 10

Softball “With a senior-heavy team, things look good,” Martin said. “We should have a pretty solid team.”

Senior Tamara Aunchman returns both as the top pitcher and as a powerful batter who hits the ball as hard as anyone in the state and will anchor the batting order.

Martin said Aunchman has worked hard to improve her mound work.

“She’s really come into her own pitching,” he said.

Senior Megan Martin is the team’s No. 2 hurler, but will start most of the time at second base. Aunchman can shift over to third base when Martin pitches.

Senior Felicia Armell returns behind the plate, senior Nicole Stearns will see most of the time at third, and seniors Jaymee Fulcher and Nik-

SCHOOL

Boys’ & Girls’ Track

VERGENNES — In the spring of strong,” Castillo said. “If we can 2015, athletes picked up points for keep this crew together for the next the Vergennes track and field team in few years, we’re going to do super eight events, and the boys’ four-by- well.”

100-meter relay team won the DiviD’Andrea is the only remaining sion II title. member of the CommoThe news this spring dores’ 7th-place fouris that all those athletes “We’re by-800 team of a year graduated, but 12 fresh- getting ago. This winter, he took men signed on to give right into it. 15th at the state champiCoach Brad Castillo’s onship indoor meet, while program some new life, Thankfully promising freshman runand the team has better a lot of the ner Spencer Hurlburt was gender balance than in group is 10th. many years.

Also back from the inreturning “It’s probably the bigdoor team are all four gest girls’ team we’ve from indoor, of the members of the had in a very long time. so we can girls’ sixth-place fourIt’s probably 22 or 23 pick up by-200 team, junior Alyse showing up, and half of Beauchemin, sophomore them are girls,” Castillo where we Munro McLaren and left off.” said. freshmen Ashley Cray and Castillo’s young group — Coach Bess Gramling. Cray also also has just two seniors, Brad Castillo posted the Commodores’ distance runners Quinn best individual finish at D’Andrea and Silas the indoor title meet, takMullin, and he is confident that al- ing 9th at 1,600 meters; she will run though the Commodores might not the 400 and 800 as well as relays this be a powerhouse scoring team this spring. spring, they have time to develop Those athletes and others from the their potential. indoor team were helping the Com“We’re losing two good seniors, modores set a good preseason tone, but everyone who is left is just as Castillo said.

“We’re getting right into it.

Thankfully a lot of the group is returning from indoor, so we can pick up where we left off,” he said.

They also did some recruiting that Castillo believes will pay off, citing distance runners Zeke Palmer and Wade Mullin.

“They’re also bringing in a couple exceptional freshmen boys that are kind of taking off in the distance world,” he said.

Castillo said it is only a matter of time before others emerge from the dedicated group of new female athletes.

“They’re excited to be here,” he said. “They’re full of energy, which is wonderful.”

Vergennes Union High School Varsity Track Date Opponent/Event Time 4/14 @ Burlington 3:30 p.m.

4/28 @ Colchester 3:30 p.m.

4/30 @ Burlington Invitational 10 a.m.

5/3 @ Milton 3:30 p.m.

5/10 @ Colchester 3:30 p.m.

5/24 @ Harwood 3:30 p.m.

5/28 @ Essex Invitational 10 a.m.

6/4 D-II State Championships TBA

kilette Salley will patrol center and right fields, respectively.

The final senior, Karina Tarte, can play either shortstop or left field, but will be dueling for playing time with junior Rebecca Maloy in left and with sophomore Megan Tarte at short. The team’s final full-time member, Sophie Rippner-Donovan, will back up at infield and catcher.

Coach Martin said the team might be shorthanded early on because of school trips and would call up JV players to fill in.

Martin said he is confident in his team defensively, and believes they will score runs this spring.

“I think we have a pretty solid mix of speed, power hitters and contact hitters,” Martin said. “I think we’ll be pretty solid all the way around.”

Vergennes Union High School Varsity Track Team Coaches: Brad Castillo Name Grade Quinlan D’Andrea 12 Silas Mullin 12 Alyse Beauchemin 11 Brandon Cousino 11 Caroline Johnston 11 Sadie Kass 11 Sophia Parker 11

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Addison Independent, Thursday, April 21, 2016 — PAGE 11C

VERGENNES

VUHS

UNION

HIGH

SCHOOL

Baseball

By ANDY KIRKALDY VERGENNES — Vergennes baseball Coach Dwight Burkett has a bit of a pleasant problem this year — better numbers for the school’s program.

Fifteen athletes signed up. It’s still not enough for VUHS to have a JV baseball team, but it’s a far cry from having to pull the plug on the varsity program, as administrators did just two years ago.

Still, Burkett does have to balance player development for his five freshmen and five sophomores with the reality of being competitive in the state’s toughest league, the Metro Conference, in which most teams are Division I. But he said he doesn’t mind the task, especially given the approach to the game the Commodores are taking this spring.

“Across the board, numbers are up. We have 15 kids this year, and it’s a great bunch of kids. I can’t say enough about the great attitudes and work ethic,” Burkett said. “The chal-

lenge I have, and it’s a good challenge, will be making sure everyone gets sufficient playing time, and sufficient time to progress the way they need to progress. Again, we’re challenged without having a JV team.”

Even with so many newcomers, the Commodores return a veteran core. Senior Josh Sickles will play second base, while versatile senior Nate Rowell will start somewhere, center field, catcher or possibly some at shortstop, and could take a turn on the mound if needed. The team’s third senior is newcomer Dylan Bougor, who will back up at first base.

Two veteran juniors also return, No. 1 pitcher Hunter O’Connor, who will probably start at shortstop when not on the mound, and Devon Kimball, who might be the No. 1 catcher and can also play first base or outfield.

Four sophomores will probably also start, all returners. Casey Kimball can play first or third base or the outfield, Ethan Sausville will play one of the outfield corners, Samir Kadric can catch or play third base,

and Will Wormer is the No. 2 pitcher and can play outfield or first base.

The fifth sophomore, Tom Roberts, is a middle infielder.

The five freshmen are Gabe Quinto, the probable No. 3 pitcher and an outfielder; Jacob Gonyeau, an outfielder; Ethan Bissonette, a pitcher and shortstop; Cyrus Devine, a third baseman and outfielder; and Cooper O’Brien, a first baseman and outfielder.

Burkett said during the preseason he will be keeping an open mind on playing time.

“We have some young players that show a lot of potential, and if they can show me they deserve to play, they will,” he said. “A lot of it will depend on what I see day to day.”

Burkett believes pitching should be a strength.

“Hunter is a rock, and he’s only a junior. Will, as a freshman, I thought performed exceptionally well in the Metro last year, and he’s worked hard in the offseason,” he said.

A year ago, the Commodores were

seeded No. 14 entering the playoffs and defeated the No. 3 seed in the first round and nearly knocked off the No. 6 seed in the next round.

Burkett is not predicting a title, but believes no one will look forward to a postseason matchup with his team.

“I like the group, and I like our chances if we progress and do what we’re capable of doing,” he said.

VUHS

VUHS Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse Team Coach: Ed Cook Name Grade Lathrop Brownell 12 Broc Clark 12 Tyler Crowningshield 12 Kyle Dow 12 Jack Eisenhower 12 Aaron Gaines 12 Eddie Haskell 12 Jeb Hodsden 12 Alex Krumrie 12 Tyler Kepes 12

Hunter Mashak Ethan Reardon Gunnar Sonwaldt Bradley Sturtevant Brett Woods Max Ratti-Bicknell Schuyler Coyle Aaron Welt Philip Armell Brody King Devon Coleman Nathan Wojciechowski

12 12 12 12 12 11 11 11 10 10 9 9

VUHS Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse Date Opponent/Event Time 4/6 @ Mt. Abraham 4 p.m.

4/11 Randolph 4 p.m.

4/25 Montpelier 4 p.m.

4/30 @ Randolph 11 a.m.

5/3 @ Lamoille 4 p.m.

5/6 Milton 4 p.m.

5/7 @ Otter Valley 3 p.m.

5/10 @ Rice 4 p.m.

5/11 Otter Valley 4 p.m.

5/13 U-32 4 p.m.

5/16 @ Burlington 4 p.m.

5/20 Harwood 4 p.m.

5/24 Mt. Abraham 4 p.m.

5/27 @ Stowe 4 p.m.

VUHS Varsity Baseball Date Opponent/Event Time 4/19 @ St. Johnsbury 4:30 p.m.

4/21 South Burlington 4:30 p.m.

4/23 Randolph 11 a.m.

4/26 Mt. Mansfield 4:30 p.m.

4/28 @ Middlebury 4:30 p.m.

4/30 Burlington 11 a.m.

5/3 @ Spaulding 4:30 p.m.

5/5 Mt. Abraham 4:30 p.m.

5/10 @ CVU 4:30 p.m.

5/12 St. Albans 4:30 p.m.

5/14 Rice 11 a.m.

5/17 Missisquoi 4:30 p.m.

5/19 @ Colchester 4:30 p.m.

5/21 @ Essex 11 a.m.

5/23 @ Milton 4:30 p.m.

5/25 North Country 4:30 p.m.

VUHS Boys’ Varsity Baseball Team Coach: Dwight Burkett Name Grade Dylan Bougor 12 Nathan Rowell 12 Josh Sickles 12 Devon Kimball 11 Hunter O’connor 11 Samir Kadric 10 Casey Kimball 10 Thomas Richards 10 Ethan Sausville 10 Willem Wormer 10 Ethan Bissonette 9 Cyrus Devine 9 Jacob Gonyeau 9 Cooper O’Brien 9 Gabriel Quinto 9

Boys’ Lacrosse

By ANDY KIRKALDY VERGENNES — Vergennes boys’ lacrosse coach Ed Cook was feeling optimistic for a couple of reasons during this preseason.

For one, the Vermont Principals’ Association agreed with the sport’s coaches this past winter that boys’ lacrosse needed three divisions — that some of the smaller schools with less established programs in Division II should be grouped into D-III. VUHS, along with Mount Abe and Otter Valley locally, is part of that new division this spring, and Cook believes the change is healthy for the sport.

“I think it’s great because the teams in D-III are all schools that are our size, usually don’t have a JV team, are in that 20 or 30 range number-wise, and it wasn’t a lot of fun to be that 14, 15 or 16 seed and have a good season for your school and then play Rice or Burlington or Stowe in the first round and

get pounded,” Cook said. “It doesn’t help build programs.”

Now, the D-III teams are together on a level field, including a Commodore group that counts 15 seniors among its 21 members — another reason Cook is hopeful.

“Everybody’s got an equal shot of winning a playoff game or even winning a championship, which I’ve talked to these guys about,” he said.

“They’re all seniors, and they have a chance to do something that will put Vergennes on the map lacrosse-wise.”

Team pluses will range from one end of the field to the other. In the back, senior goalie Broc Clark; senior defenders Jack Eisenhower, Jeb Hodsden and Hunter Mayshak; and long-stick middies Bradley Sturtevant and Lathrop Brownell comprise a veteran unit, with senior Eddie Haskell in reserve.

Up front, senior Ryan Crowningshield opened the season closing in on 100

goals and will run regularly with junior veteran Max Ratti-Bicknell, with seniors Brett Woods and Alex Krumrie and midfielders rotating through the third spot.

“I think we’re going to be very good. Our defense has been together for four years,” Cook said. “Our attack is going to be strong.”

At midfield, seniors Tyler Kepes, Gunnar Sonwaldt and Ethan Reardon are set as the top unit, with senior Kyle Dow, junior Schuyler Coyle and sophomore Philip Armell the likely No. 2 grouping. Sophomore Brody King and freshman Nathan Wojciechoski will spell the middies.

Cook said he is confident in all the Commodores.

“All the kids that I have this year can pass and catch, and we can move the ball around the field,” Cook said.

“They’re ready. Practices have been going really well. The intensity’s there.”

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