Starting Gate the alumni magazine of stratton mountain school • winter 2014
Olympic Preview: Dreams of Gold
Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts & Student Center
The Starting Gate
Alumni Magazine of Stratton Mountain School Headmaster: Christopher G. Kaltsas Editor: Meredith Morin, (802) 856-1120, memorin@gosms.org Design: Sarah Snell The Starting Gate, the alumni magazine of Stratton Mountain School is published once a year by Stratton Mountain School, 7 World Cup Circle, Stratton Mountain,
Oct. 25, 2012 - Sitework is complete, the foundation is being prepared.
Vt., 05155. Letters and editorial submissions are welcome and should be addressed to Meredith Morin, Director of Communications. Copyright 2013.
Stratton Mountain School Mission Stratton Mountain School provides a unique environment that offers each student the opportunity to pursue excellence in competitive winter sports and college
April 15, 2013 - The foundation is complete and framing is underway.
preparatory academics while developing strong personal values.
Class Notes Parents, are your children still receiving mail at home even though they graduated from SMS years ago? Please write to the address below to update us on their whereabouts. We promise we will continue to send The Starting Gate to you also!
Sept. 4, 2013 - The roof trusses are moved into position by a crane.
Thank you to those of you who have contributed to The Finish Line Class Notes. We’d love to hear from more of you! Please email your notes to Carson Thurber at cthurber@gosms.org or send notes to Carson Thurber, Stratton Mountain School, 7 World Cup Circle, Stratton Mountain, Vt., 05155.
Get the Latest! Nov. 11, 2013 - The siding, roofing, doors and windows are placed, and work begins inside.
Air Awareness Center
www.gosms.org www.facebook.com/strattonmountainschool www.strattonmountainschool.shutterfly.com www.smsalpine.worpress.com www.smsxc.blogspot.com www.facebook.com/SMSsnowboarding www.facebook.com/SMSFreeskiing www.facebook.com/smsfreestyle
Nov. 11, 2013 - At the Air Awareness Center building site, trucks move earth to prepare the site. 2 | Starting Gate - Winter 2014
Follow this link to watch construction live! https://www.dropcam.com/p/gtTcrf
Letter from the Headmaster
Dear Alumni, Parents and Friends, As I enter my 17th winter as Headmaster of Stratton Mountain School, many things have become part of the rhythm of life at SMS – opening our doors to students in the fall, soccer games, parents’ weekend, the beginning of winter competition. One thing that has not diminished over time is the excitement this community feels in the shadow of an Olympic year. The hopefulness and dreams of the many athletes is palpable in a place like this where so many of our student athletes share those dreams. It is particularly present because our students and alumni are also our Olympic hopefuls. In this issue of the Starting Gate, you will find an Olympic preview of some of the students and alumni who are working to achieve the highest level of competition that their sport provides. Please join us in celebrating the incredibly hard-working men and women as they compete for a spot to demonstrate their talent on the world stage in Sochi this February. Within these pages, we are also taking some time to celebrate our triumphs in the classroom. SMS student athletes are graduating and moving on to the most competitive colleges and universities in the world. During our 10-year reaccreditation by the NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges) last fall, the visiting committee commended SMS on its unfailing commitment and execution of our mission. The proof of providing opportunities for academic excellence was clear to the visiting committee when they saw our college acceptance list. They simply couldn’t believe that a school graduating approximately 20 students a year helps its students gain admission to schools including Harvard, Boston College, Dartmouth, Cornell and Middlebury, among many others. We hold ourselves accountable to a high standard of excellence; athletically, academically, socially and as a community. It is with this in mind that we prepare to dedicate our newest buildings on the SMS campus. Construction has continued steadily on the Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts & Student Center, and the Air Awareness Center construction is well underway. Please read on for wonderful ways that you can become a part of this great community who believes in our student athletes – whether their dreams take them to the Ivy League or the Olympics. Sincerely,
Christopher G. Kaltsas Headmaster
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New Stratton Mountain School Staff EMILY DALY
Emily Daly returns to SMS as a Spanish Teacher, a position with which she is familiar, as she formerly served in that capacity from 2007 – 2009. Emily recently completed her master’s degree in international educational development from Boston University. Emily worked for Massachusetts General Hospital in quality assurance. She also worked in the Intergenerational Literacy Program as a teacher. She received her undergraduate degree in Spanish from Smith College. “I am excited to be surrounded by such motivated student athletes again, as they inspire me as much as I hope to inspire them in the Spanish language classroom,” Emily said. “I am very excited to return to such a beautiful place, and I know the students all set high goals for themselves. I am looking forward to getting to know the students and watching them succeed over the course of the upcoming season.”
JOSEPH HEALEY
Joseph Healey is a new Alpine U14 Coach for the winter term. He comes to SMS after coaching at Okemo Mountain School and Loon Mountain Race Team at the FIS level. Joe also worked for The Speed Factory as a ski technician and graduated from Plymouth State University with a degree in business administration. At Plymouth, Joe was a member of the Plymouth State Ski Team and served as captain of the Eastern Division Championship Team in 2011. “I’m looking forward to working with all of the talented athletes and staff at SMS,” Joe said.
KERI IVES
Keri Ives joins SMS as a winter-term math tutor. She graduated from High Point University in North Carolina with a B.S. in computer science and mathematics. She has worked for the past four years as the Recreation Assistant Director for the Leysin American School’s summer programs in Switzerland. She has been a Kindergarten teacher in Korea, a retail associate and a web developer. She has worked as a teacher/social worker in Kitui, Kenya, teaching computer skills as well as life-skills support. “I’ve always been a part of a skiing family whether it be at Miss Porter’s School, Magic Mountain, or Leysin American School, and now I am proud to become a part of Stratton Mountain School.”
Emily Daly
Joseph Healey
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Keri Ives
MARY IVES
Mary Ives came to Stratton Mountain School in November 2012 as the Development and Special Events Coordinator. With more than 17 years experience in independent schools, Mary’s knowledge spans everything from dorm management, to coaching to classroom content. Mary worked at Miss Porter’s School for 16 years, and she has worked for the Swiss Leysin American School’s summer program for 11 years, still serving as Director of their largest program. Mary also has 17 years business experience working for Aetna Commercial Insurance department in a variety of roles that will assist her in her organizational duties. Mary said, “Stratton Mountain School is a very special place because of the dedicated coaches, and teachers and SMS students have a special place in my heart.”
MORGAN KORPI
Morgan Korpi returns to SMS as an Alpine U16 Women’s Coach after graduating from SMS in 1999. He studied at the University of Vermont, and was a collegiate soccer player at Suffolk. He worked as a coach at Bromley for five years. At SMS, Morgan coaches the U16 alpine women, and he is also the Head Boys’ Soccer Coach. Morgan said, “My love of skiing drew me to coaching, and I am really excited that I have the opportunity to be back at SMS with an awesome staff and great student athletes. Working this fall with the boys’ soccer team and the girls in dry land has me amped to get the winter started.”
NAGA KUSUMI
Heading up the U14 Program for the 2013-2014 year is Naga Kusumi. Naga was a U14 coach for SMS last year, and he was the J3 and J4 Head Coach at Stratton Training Center prior to that. Naga has a personal background in skiing, holding the Japanese speed skiing record. Naga brings more than 20 years of business expertise in imports and marketing to his position as the Head U14 Coach. “When I ski, I make two turns: on the lift, off the lift. I will make sure that my athletes will know how to make more than two turns. But fast!”
Mary Ives
Morgan Korpi
Naga Kusumi
STEVE LATHROP
Steve Lathrop has joined SMS as the U14 Development Team Head Coach for the 2013-2014 year. Steve has more than 25 years coaching experience with all levels of junior racing. Steve is a former U.S. Ski Team member, World Championship Team member and National Champion in Downhill and Combined. He and his wife, Rhonda, are parents to four SMS student athletes. “I am very much looking forward to joining the elite team of coaches at SMS this winter, and I’m excited about working with the U14 development athletes. It will be a great group of high-energy racers. The Development Program will have a very aggressive curriculum, and we’ll have lots of fun following it.”
JULIE MACKEY
Julie Mackey comes to SMS as the Health and Nutrition Teacher from the Maryland Pulbic School System. With a master’s degree in instructional technology from the University of Maryland, Julie has extensive experience in implementing educational technology. She received her bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University in secondary education. In Maryland, Julie taught Physics, Biology and coached her tennis team to a state championship, as well as working as a lacrosse and golf coach. She was named Coach of the Year by the Montgomery County Gazette and the Washington Post. Julie moved to Vermont with her husband, who is the golf pro at Ekwanok Golf Course in Manchester. “I really enjoying working with the outstanding staff and talented and motivated students at SMS,” Julie said, “And, I am looking forward to my first Vermont winter!”
CHASE MARSTON
Chase Marston returns as a Nordic Coach after graduating from SMS in 2008. He graduated from Middlebury College, where he was a member of the Nordic Team for four years. He majored in History and Education, and since his graduation in 2012, Chase has taught at the high-school level, helped coach the Middlebury College team and led bike trips around the country. “After being gone for five years, I’m excited to come back to see the school through another lens, and work with some of the best athletes and coaches in the country,” Chase said.
DEB NEWSON
Deb Newson joined SMS in the spring of 2013 to direct the newly created Freestyle Program. Deb has spent the past 18 years at Killington Mountain School (KMS) in a range of positions in the sport of freestyle, but most recently as assistant head of school. As
Steve Lathrop
Julie Mackey
Chase Marston
the SMS Freestyle Program Director and Coach, Deb brings years of experience and success in the sport of freestyle to SMS. She was named the USSA Development Coach of the Year in 2010. She has also served as chairperson of the USSA Eastern Division FreestyleFreeskiing since 2002. With accomplished athletes at every level of the sport, including: EQS Bs, ECS As, Junior Nationals, NorAms, Junior Worlds, U.S. Nationals, World Cup and the Olympics, SMS is surely to continue its tradition of excellence with the freestyle program. “With SMS Freestyle, committed, goal-orientated freestyle moguls skiers now have the opportunity to attend a snow-sport academy with a proven track record of academic success and a true middle-school and high-school experience, as well as have access to a dedicated mogul lane at Stratton Mountain Resort with a professional coaching staff with years of experience.”
CHAD OTTERSTROM
Chad Otterstrom joins the SMS staff as the SMS West Snowboard Coach. He has worked in and around the snowboard community for more than 20 years. As a competitive snowboarder, he won the USASA Slopestyle competition at Nationals, and received the Transworld Snowboard Magazine Rider of the Year award in 2005. A resident of Summit County, Colorado, he has been a local business person, but has always kept his hand in snowboarding as a coach. He worked for the High Cascade Snowboard Camp from 1999-2012 and the Woodward at Copper Snowboard Camp from 2009-2013. He has been a judge for the XGames and the Dew Tour and is a published photographer and writer for Transworld, Snowboarder and Snowboard Magazine.
SAM TARRANT
Sam Tarrant is the Head Freestyle Coach and came to SMS this year after five years at Killington Mountain School and Killington Ski Club. In his most recent position as Freestyle Head Coach and Social Media, Brand Management Coordinator, Sam coordinated athlete management and programmatic plans for the Freestyle Program, as well as created and executed communications strategies. In his new position at SMS, Sam is looking forward to helping lead the new SMS Freestyle Program into its inaugural season. “I am looking forward to this opportunity at SMS. It’s exciting to get in at the beginning and build a strong program from the ground up. Having attended a private school, I understand the unique opportunity that the student athletes have at SMS. I am certain SMS Freestyle will provide a supportive environment where student athletes achieve their athletic goals, excel in academics and grow as young adults.”
Deb Newson
Chad Otterstrom
Sam Tarrant Starting Gate - Winter 2014 | 5
Back (L-R): Tyler Foulkes, Peter Cerulo, Gino Pastore, Josh Cohen, Hamish McEwen, Chip Linton, Zachary Kinsella, Thomas Grant, Ezra Racine. Front (L-R): Serena Shaw, Francesca Occelli, Kate Kerin, Abigail Brown, Mary Kate Visnic, Marian Lobell, Hannah Burwell, Libby Gibson, Chloe Daley, Biba Turnbull, Mollie Hoopes, Brittany Lathrop, Isabella Lynch, Daniel Landy, Brian Mangiacotti.
O
Class of 2013 Awards
n Friday, May 24, Stratton Mountain School graduated 24 students. FOX Sports Senior Producer Bill Brown addressed the class of 2013 as the Keynote Speaker. Brown urged graduates to do what they love. Brown has been in the sports media business for 36 years and has won 19 Sports Emmys as Senior Producer at FOX Sports. He began his career in communications with two degrees from Marquette University and began as a coordinating producer for Major League Baseball Productions. He moved on to produce programming for Home Team Sports and FOX. His experience spans from the MLB, NHL, NFL and NASCAR. Three speakers from the graduating class addressed their peers as well. Co-presidents of the Student Body Dan Landy and Mary Kate Visnic, and Valedictorian Abby Brown. The Class of 2013 has gained admission to top colleges and universities throughout the country including: Boston College, Colby College, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Middlebury College, University of Vermont, Williams College among many others. Graduates have earned several Merit Scholarships, Presidential Scholarships, and five have gained admission to Honors College at various schools. Several awards were given during the ceremony in the Burtscher Fieldhouse Friday morning. The school’s most prestigious award, the Founder’s Award, was presented to 2013 graduate Brittany Lathrop, who was the U18 National SL Champion in 2013. The award was presented by SMS Headmaster Chris Kaltsas and 2012 Founder’s Award recipient Phoebe Novello. 6 | Starting Gate - Winter 2014
Brittany Lathrop is presented with the 2013 Founder’s Award by Headmaster Chris Kaltsas and 2012 Founders’ Award Winner Phoebe Novello.
Founder’s Award • Brittany Lathrop Faculty Awards • Dan Landy & Abby Brown Lisa Tuttle Award • Libby Gibson SMS Alumni Association Award • Mary Kate Visnic Vermont Principals’ Association Awards • Ezra Racine & Isabella Lynch Jay Leach Award • Gino Pastore Academic Achievement • Abby Brown
Honors/High Honors (all quarters) Abby Brown, Dan Landy, Libby Gibson, Brittany Lathrop, Isabella Lynch, Hamish McEwen, Biba Turnbull, Mary Kate Visnic. Kate Kerin received high honors all quarters. Athletic Awards Alpine Men Achievement/Improvement • Brian Mangiacotti Alpine Women Achievement/Improvement • Brittany Lathrop Nordic Women Achievement • Kate Kerin Nordic Women Improvement • Mollie Hoopes Nordic Men Improvement • Tyler Foulkes Nordic Men Achievement • Hamish McEwen Snowboard Women Achievement • Serena Shaw Snowboard Women Improvement • Marian Lobell Snowboard Men Improvement • Josh Cohen Snowboard Men Achievement • Ezra Racine Undergraduate Scholarship Awards Micki Abbenhaus Scholarship Award • Noelle Edwards Mabee-Schlachter Citizenship Award • Alice Merryweather & George Steffey Rebecca Ann McGill Award • Michelle Dreimann
SMS Looks to the Future with New Athletic Programs 2013 has been a busy year for Stratton Mountain School. The school launched the SMS West Snowboard Program in the winter of 2013 and announced the foundation of the SMS Freestyle Program in the spring of 2013. “As a school, we are constantly looking at ways to be responsive to the changing marketplace, while keeping our foundation rooted here in Vermont with our longtime, existing programs,” said SMS Headmaster Chris Kaltsas. The SMS West Program is aimed at helping snowboarders stay close to the competitive snowboarding circuit out west and provide them with a training venue they need to compete at the highest level of snowboarding. Student athletes can be full-time SMS student athletes who train at the SMS campus in the fall and spring, and spend winters in Colorado, or they can be winter-term athletes only who stay in Colorado for the season, while working with tutors. “We are really excited to give kids this opportunity to train and compete in the West, while still providing an SMS experience,” said Ross Powers (SMS ’97), Snowboard Program Director. The SMS West Program will be under the leadership of Chad Otterstrom, a competitive snowboarder, writer and photographer. (See bio p. 5.) In the spring of 2013, SMS announced the formation of a Freestyle Program, under the direction of veteran coach Deb Newson. Deb spent the past 18 years at Killington Mountain School (KMS) in a range of positions in the sport of freestyle (See bio p. 5.). “We are so fortunate to have Deb join the staff at Stratton Mountain School,” said Chris Kaltsas, SMS Headmaster. “As we seek to expand
our freestyle skiing program at SMS, we are glad to have Deb’s significant experience to lead this charge.” Stratton Mountain School currently has a thriving freeskiing park and pipe program, which has been run by Jesse Mallis over the past four years. With the addition of the Freestyle Program, SMS adds another successful program to its list of Olympic snow sports. For the 2013-14 year, nine new freestyle student athletes have joined SMS. According to Newson, “The ultimate goal of SMS Freestyle will be to provide an experience for our student-athletes different from any other program in the country. We will constantly improve our offerings, add value at every opportunity and have a blast in the process!” So far this fall, in addition to dryland and fall sports the freestyle athletes have been at the Lake Placid water ramps training their aerial skills, as well as training on the new Ross trampoline which is temporarily housed in the SMS gymnasium until the Air Awareness Building is completed. “We are committed to providing opportunities for excellence at Stratton Mountain School,” Kaltsas said. “With the addition and expansion of programming, we are ensuring the future of the SMS experience for student athletes for many years to come.” Joining Deb is Freestyle Head Coach Sam Tarrant. Sam brings significant coaching experience and expertise in programmatic marketing and communications to his position.
Skills, Drive, Intellect: SMS Graduates Earn Admission to Top Colleges In Jim Collins’ book Good to Great, he gives us the “hedgehog concept,” advocating that people, businesses and nonprofits, strive to be great at “one big thing.” While this may be a relatively new concept for some, Stratton Mountain School students, alumni, teachers, administrators and friends have been following this axiom for more than 40 years. Strategically, the school devotedly strives to provide opportunities for excellence academically and athletically while instilling strong personal values. With more than 35 Olympians over 40 years, the pursuit of athletic excellence is periodically shouted from the rooftops. But, what about academics?
At every school, there are quite literally hundreds of metrics of success: standardized test scores, math achievement, honors courses, scholarship designations. One yardstick of achievement that independent schools very determinedly track is the college placement of its graduates. In just the past two years, Stratton Mountain School graduates have earned admission to top colleges and universities, including Boston College, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Middlebury College and Williams College, among many other toptier academic institutions (see sidebar). And, 75 percent of recent SMS graduates (classes of 2012, 2013) earned admission to their firstchoice school. With admission figures to Ivy League schools hovering at only 5-15 percent of applicants (and only minutely easier at 10-20
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Graduates continued... percent for other top-tier schools), how is it possible that a school with just 23 graduates in 2013 consistently nabs several of those spots each year?1 It comes back to the hedgehog… or really, to the SMS Mission (which has been around a few decades longer). Stratton Mountain School has found a way to follow its mission and attract student athletes who are single-mindedly devoted to academics and their winter sport.
with state-of-the-art technology in (and out) of the classroom and how it benefits this unique population of traveling scholars. “We continue to raise the bar on the academics here,” Lehmann said. “The partnership between coaches and teachers is also very important on the overall success of our program. Coaches have become major players – both in helping all of us stay on top of kids and their academics, but also in the college recruitment process.” And, Lehmann said, as with any good admissions strategy, SMS knows that its current seniors are going to be the best recruitment tool for the underclassmen looking ahead toward the college process.
“We have such a clear purpose as a school, that an SMS kid brings that ‘X-factor’ to a college admission officer,” said Alex Lehmann, SMS Academic Dean. “It is that alchemy of skiing and athletic achievement that sets them apart. They’re known for working hard, bringing a good attitude and work ethic.” Headmaster Chris Kaltsas said that this X-factor is what makes Stratton Mountain School excel at what it does. “We are in an enviable position as a school today,” he said. “Many independent schools are struggling to make themselves known for something to increase both their attractiveness to prospective families and to college admission counselors. Stratton Mountain School has found the formula that works for us, and we’ve been doing it for over 40 years.” During the school’s 10-year reaccreditation process with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) last fall, the committee who visited the school was “blown away by our college admission list and the dedication of our students, both athletically and academically,” Kaltsas said. Longevity and a proven track record are important, but SMS is not content to rest upon past success. With an eye toward self improvement, the school has introduced honors-level classes this year, beginning with the class of 2015. And, the school is equipped
“Past SMS students’ success at some of the most competitive colleges and universities is paving the way for our current students to gain admission, because the admission officers have confidence that kids coming from SMS are bringing a range of experience and a track record of success,” he said. Lehmann, Kaltsas and all of the teachers and coaches at SMS also know one important thing – most SMS student athletes aren’t going to the Olympics. Most of them are going to go to college, get jobs and make lives for themselves outside of skiing and snowboarding. It is, however, this internal drive, this X-factor, that sets them up with the skills, discipline, drive and determination to succeed in all areas of life. From writing to rock climbing, SMS graduates find a way to parlay their inimitable spirit into success in something that they love. 1. http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/28/ivy-league-college-admissionrates-2013/?_r=0
College Acceptances for the Classes of 2012-2013 and Postgraduates Babson College Bates College Bentley College Boston College Boston University Colby College Colby-Sawyer College Cornell University Dartmouth College Drew University Emmanuel College Hartwick College Harvard University Hobart William Smith Colleges Lewis and Clark College
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Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Middlebury College Montana State University New York University Northeastern University Oregon State University Portland State University Saint Anselm College St. Lawrence University Saint Michael’s College Sierra Nevada College Skidmore College Syracuse University – Newhouse School of Public Communication
University of California – Santa Barbara University of California – Santa Cruz University of Colorado – Boulder University of Connecticut University of Denver University of Illinois University of Massachusetts – Amherst University of New Hampshire University of Rhode Island University of Utah University of Vermont Westminster College Williams College Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Merit Scholarship)
All in a Day’s Work
F
or those who have graduated from Stratton Mountain School (and their parents and friends who understand), you know what it’s like to juggle a challenging academic schedule with a (very) full athletic schedule. For our current SMS student athletes, it’s all in a day’s work.
Students Create Original Programming On campus, SMS students have been busy with many innovative classes, fieldtrips and community service projects. The Digital Production class is in its second year at SMS, and teacher Dwaine Tait has enjoyed the opportunity to share applicable skills with his students. The SMS Digital Production class In 2013, the Digital Production filming their show Ursa, airing on GNAT students produced a television show public access in Manchester, Vt. called Ursa, which will be aired on the Greater Northshire Access Television (GNAT) in Manchester. Cooking segments, interviews with students and other subjects were included. This year’s class is back at work using a variety of applications including Final Cut Pro, Motion 5, Garage Band and Compressor 4 to create their media projects.
Playhouse in Weston, Vt., to watch To Kill a Mockingbird. The book had been assigned as summer reading, and classes across disciplines had woven the book’s themes into the curriculum. In late October, French students traveled to the Clark Museum to view French and European paintings, while Spanish students went to Dartmouth College to view a mural exhibit by Jose Clement Orozco, a Mexican muralist.
Community Service in India Junior Zoe Nelson spent a month in India last summer as part of a Putney Student Travel Program. She was in the northwestern state of Rajasthan, but also visited Dehli Zoe Nelson enjoys a camel ride through and Agra. She stayed for three weeks in a small village, Kotri, and the deserts of India. did community service work there and taught English to elementaryaged students. She built a volleyball court, planted trees and interned with a local seamstress. During her travels, Zoe was able to visit the larger cities of Rajashan and even have tea with the Queen of one of the cities, Udaipur. “I think my favorite part of the trip was playing with the kids in the village and riding a camel through the desert,” Zoe said.
Global Leadership in Tanzania
“The use of digital media has become an important means for receiving, producing, sharing and broadcasting information,” Tait said. “The Digital Production course here at SMS includes an overview of digital production methodologies, fundamentals of digital equipment use, including audio, lighting and editing.”
Environmental Learning along the Hudson In the fall, the senior class traveled to Schuylerville, N.Y. to study engineering on the Hudson River. They learned about the Hudson River Dredging Project, which is “a massive feat of environmental restoration and civic engineering,” according to Clare Smith Wheeler, SMS Environmental Science Teacher. Wheeler said, “SMS students were able to meet with a project manager, to learn details and ask questions about the environmental and technological considerations of this approximately 15-year-long project.” SMS seniors watched multiple dredgers at work on the river. In September, the entire student body traveled to the Weston
Tess Braddish talks with her students at Himo School in Tanzania.
Senior Tess Braddish, Peru, Vt., spent three weeks living and working in Moshi, Tanzania with the service program Global Leadership Adventures. She was among 32 teenagers who participated in this project. She taught English to a class of 80, Form 5 (ages 9-11) students at Himo School.
“Several students were very comprehensive (in English knowledge) and others had absolutely no idea what was going on,” Tess said. “In addition to teaching, we did work service at the school. We planted a thorn bush fence around the property so that the school and the students are more protected, and we planted 90 trees, which should help keep the dust down.” In addition to teaching and getting to know the community, Tess was able to learn the culture from the inside out and explore the country.
SMS students pose outside of a house they are helping to build in Manchester, Vt. as part of Habitat for Humanity.
“One weekend, we went spent the night in a Maasai boma (village). The Maasai are the largest traditional tribe in Tanzania. The first part of the evening was spent singing and dancing with the Maasai people,” she said. “This excursion was my favorite part because lying under the moon and the stars at 4 in the morning, the outline of an acacia tree against the savannah; it hit me that I was in Africa.”
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2012-2013 Program Highlights Alpine
U18 SL Champion; U16 GS Champion; eight qualify for U.S. Nationals; four make top-10 Eastern Cup standings
U21/U18 HIGHLIGHTS US Nationals qualifiers and competitors Brittany Lathrop Libby Gibson Emily Husson Amanda Reilly Morgan Klein Caitlyn Zellif Alice Merryweather Brian Mangiacotti U18 National Championship Qualifiers Brittany Lathrop (1st in SL, 3rd in GS, 10th in SG) Alice Merryweather (1st U18 in SG, 2 x 2nd in DH, 3rd in GS) Brian Mangiacotti Zachary Kinsella U18 National Championships Brittany Lathrop (SL Champion, 10th SG) Alice Merryweather (8th in SG) Hannah Burwell Brian Mangiacotti Eastern Cup Finals Francesca Occelli (2nd in GS, 1st U18) Alice Merryweather (2nd U18 in GS, 2nd U18 in SL)
Eastern Cup Standings Amanda Reilly (4th overall) Emily Husson (5th overall) Alice Merryweather (6th overall) Caite Zellif (7th overall) VT Cup Standings George Steffey (1st overall) Trevor Lennox (5th overall) Amanda Steffey (3rd overall) Isabella Lynch (7th overall) Anne Guarino (8th overall) U16 HIGHLIGHTS U16 Southern VT Council George Steffey (1st) Sebastian Konescney (2nd) Joe DeMuyt (3rd) Spencer Smith (4th) Emma Jo Finfer (1st) Emily Fryer (4th) U16 VT State Championships George Steffey (1st overall) Spencer Smith (3rd overall) Joe DeMuyt (7th overall) U16 Easterns George Steffey (1st overall)
Amanda Steffey (2nd overall) Spencer Smith (11th overall) U16 National Championships George Steffey (GS Champion, Dual GS Champion, 3rd Overall) Amanda Steffey Spencer Smith U14 HIGHLIGHTS Southern VT Council Will Trudeau (1st) John Alpert (2nd) Lane Henry (3rd) Mikayla Lathrop (1st) Hana Kusumi (2nd) Hannah Trudeau (3rd) VT State Championships John Alpert (4th overall) Easterns John Alpert (3rd overall) Mikayla Lathrop (8th overall) Can-Ams Mikayla Lathrop (8th SL)
Nordic World Champs Gold medal – first ever for U.S.; 17th year with Junior National Champion
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Jessie Diggins (SMST2) Gold Medal in Sprint Relay Sophie Caldwell ‘08 (SMST2) 20th in Sprint Andy Newell ‘02 (SMST2) 21st in Sprint OVERALL WORLD CUP RANKING Andy Newell 5th in Sprint WORLD CUP POINT SCORERS Andy Newell Sophie Caldwell
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Skyler Davis ’10 (SMST2) Kris Freeman WT ‘00 Jessie Diggins JR. WORLD TEAM QUALIFIERS Heather Mooney ‘11 Katharine Ogden ‘16 USST U18 TRIP QUALIFIERS Katharine Ogden ‘16 Hamish McEwen ‘13
NE JR. NATIONAL TEAM MEMBERS Jordan Fields PG Gino Pastore ‘13 Tyler Foulkes ‘13 Hamish McEwen ‘13 Brooke Mooney ‘14 Koby Gordon ‘15 Katharine Ogden ‘16 MacKenzie Rizio ‘16 Tegan Thorley ‘16 4 Gold medals, 4 silver medals, 1 bronze medal, 11 All-American performances
Snowboarding 24 SMS athletes qualify for USASA Nationals, 9 SMS Athletes invited to USSA Project Gold Slope/Pipe
Serena Shaw – 1st Sun Valley, Id. Rev Tour halfpipe (HP); 1st Sun Valley Rev Tour slopestyle (SS); 15th Vail US Open HP; qualified for USSA Junior Worlds Julia Marino – 3rd Sun Valley Rev Tour SS; 3rd USASA Nationals SS Open Class Karen Kobayashi – 4th Northstar CA Rev Tour SBX; 4th Montafon, Austria World Cup Team snowboardcross SBX; 26th Montafon World Cup SBX; 27th Sochi, Russia World Cup SBX; 16th at Junior Worlds SBX; 4th Canadian Junior Nationals SBX; 7th Canadian Junior Nationals SBX
Biba Turnbull – 38th Copper, Colo. World Cup SS
Nick Watter – 1st Switzerland Swiss Nationals SBX
Kiersten Edwards – 1st Copper, Colo. USASA Nationals Overall Breaker Girl; 1st USASA Nationals SBX Breaker Girl; 3rd USASA Nationals HP Breaker Girls; 1st Southern VT Snowboard Series SBX Overall & 2nd Halfpipe Overall Breaker Girls
Josh Cohen – 2nd Big White Canada Canadian JR Nationals SBX Noelle Edwards – 1st Southern VT Snowboard Series HP Overall Open Class Women
Hannah Merson – 1st Copper, Colo. USASA Nationals Overall Youth Women; 1st USASA Nationals HP Youth Women; 3rd USASA Nationals SL Youth Women; 1st Southern VT Snowboard Series HP Overall Youth Women
Chris DePaula – 1st Southern VT Snowboard Series SS Overall Youth Men
Madison Barrett – 5th Seven Springs Rev Tour HP; 19th Vail US Open HP; 2nd Southern VT Snowboard Series SS Overall Open Class Women
Kirk Teare – 1st Copper, Colo. USASA Nationals SBX Breaker Boys; 1st Southern VT Snowboard Series SBX , 2nd SS Overall, 2nd HP Overall Breaker Boys
Evan Werner – 2nd Southern VT Snowboard Series HP Overall Youth Men
Tanner Barrett – 9th Sun Valley Rev Tour HP; 1st Southern VT Snowboard SS Overall & HP Overall Open Class Men
Thomas O’Hara – 2nd Copper, Colo. USASA Nationals Halfpipe Junior Men
Maverick Shaw – 9th Northstar, Calif. Rev Tour HP Phoebe Novello – 16th Copper, Colo. World Cup SS; 14th Spindleruv Mlyn World Cup SS; 3rd Leysin, Switzerland NesCafe Champs SS
Freeski
Taiaroa Tait – 2 Copper, Colo. USASA Nationals Halfpipe Menehune Boys; 2nd Southern VT Snowboard Series HP Overall, 3rd SS Overall Menehune boys nd
Rakai Tait – 1st Southern VT Snowboard Series HP Overall, 2nd SS Overall Youth Men
Peter Dimitriou – 3rd Southern VT Snowboard Series HP Overall, 3rd SS Overall Youth Men Mason Geils – 3rd Southern VT Snowboard Series HP Overall Junior Men Dan Landy – 3rd Southern VT Snowboard Series SS Overall Junior Men
Ezra Racine – 1st Loon NH King of the East SS
Regional Ranking, Southern VT with USASA Finn Kennedy (1st slopestyle) Nikita Shchemelev (3rd halfpipe) Bennie Osnow (1st slopestyle; 1st halfpipe)
USASA Nationals at Copper Nikita Shchemelev (16th in halfpipe) Bennie Osnow (7th in slopestyle)
Starting Gate - Winter 2014 | 11
Olympic Hopefuls Share BIG Dreams
A
s the world prepares to watch elite winter sports athletes take the stage in the Sochi Winter Olympics this February, the Stratton Mountain School community feels a collective sense of excitement and anticipation.
Looking down the hallways of SMS on a normal, fall Vermont day, it doesn’t appear that anything particularly big is happening here. But, just below the surface beats the competitive spirit of the SMS athlete. These student athletes are studying, working out, attending camps and preparing for winter. And, they are all exactly where SMS Olympians have been at one time. In fact, it is this measured, methodical (and yes, at times, routine) everyday aspect of athletic development that has helped 35 Stratton Mountain School student athletes achieve their own Olympic Dreams. Over the course of the school’s 42-year history, 102 student athletes have gone on to National Teams after attending SMS and 35 became Olympians (53 Olympic Team placements). Throughout this time, Stratton Mountain School has kept true to its mission of athletic and academic excellence since it began as a full-term program in 1972. Twelve of the SMS Olympians are two-time Olympians, and four are in the rarefied company of three-time Olympians. Here, we catch up with a few of these elite athletes who are putting their hard work to the test to see if they can make it to Sochi. One current athlete who is on the cusp of becoming one of these three-time Olympians with the Sochi Olympics is Andy Newell ’02. Andy finished the 2013 season ranked fifth in the world for Sprint distance including six, top-10 World Cup finishes and a 10th-place at World Championships in the 4X5K relay. “I think going into my third Olympics I’ll be a lot more relaxed out there,” Andy said. “I felt like I had prepared really well leading up to Vancouver but unfortunately crashed out of the Sprint. I’m really looking forward to showing the world what I can do.” Throughout his time on the World Cup, Andy has stayed true to his Vermont roots. For years after he graduated, this Shaftsbury native could always be seen around SMS training with former coach Sverre Caldwell when he wasn’t traveling with the U.S. Ski Team. A founding member of the SMS T2 Elite Team, now in its second year, Andy trains with local athletes and works to educate students on the fun of cross country ski racing. “I’ve tried to put in more blocks of training in Vermont this year, so It’s been really helpful have the SMS T2 Team around.” “Last season was one of my best and most consistent on the World Cup, so that helps the confidence a lot,” Andy said. He scored points at every Sprint race during the 2012-13 season, so consistency was key for Andy. “Now I know that when it comes down to race day at the Olympics, I’ll have as good a shot as anyone at bringing home a medal.” Another SMS grad who is heading into record territory is Lindsey Jacobellis ’03, snowboardcross. With a 2014 Olympic Team nomination, Lindsey would also join the short list of SMS alumni who have gone on to represent their country with 12 | Starting Gate - Winter 2014
Andy Newell ’02
Other new faces to watch in snowboarding are Jackie Hernandez ’10 and Eric Beauchemin ’10. Hernandez is a snowboardcross athlete who won the SBX World Cup in Valmalenco, Italy in March 2012, and took eighth in the Blue Mountain, Canada World Cup last February. She trained in New Zealand and Park City over the summer.
three Olympics. Lindsey has dominated the snowboardcross circuit for nearly a decade, winning a silver at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, winning 26 World Cups, and nine X Games medals, seven of which are gold (more than anyone else). Lindsey tore her ACL two seasons ago, and when she got on snow last year, learned that the surgery didn’t take and needed to go back under the knife. Despite this, she is gunning for gold in 2014. Along with the many storied and seasoned athletic professionals competing for their spot on the Olympic Team, there are so many young skiers and riders coming up through the ranks, ensuring another generation of continued athletic success. Stratton Mountain School’s most decorated Olympian and current Snowboard Program Director Ross Powers ’97 is working to parlay his personal athletic success into helping a new generation find theirs. Ross won bronze in snowboarding’s first Olympics in Nagano, Japan in 1998, and Gold in 2002 in Salt Lake City. For 2014, he’s viewing this Olympic season from a different angle. “This will be the first Olympics I haven’t tried out for since Nagano.” he said. “The pressure is off of me to perform, and now I can focus all my energy on helping SMS athletes accomplish their goals and hopefully be part of the Olympics in the future.” “I’m very excited this year to follow the qualifying events and the Olympics. Knowing the pressure the athletes are under and to see how they perform at the highest level makes it exciting to watch,” Ross said. “This Olympics for me will be all about cheering on my friends and the SMS alumni.” One of the athletes that Ross will be cheering for is current snowboardcross student athlete Karen Kobayashi ’14 of Rye, N.Y. While Karen and Ross admit that 2018 is a more realistic Olympic goal for Karen, making the Sochi team is not an impossibility. Karen has been putting in the work for the past few years, logging 18, top-10 finishes in NorAm Cup (or Australia New Zealand Cup; South American Cup) levels since 2011, including a fourth at the Canadian National Junior Championships, two second-place finishes and a third and fourth this past summer in Chile and Australia. When asked if she had expectations for a spot on the 2014 team, she said, “It would be amazing, but I really just want to improve. I don’t think about what place I want to be, I just want to do well for me.” For now, she is content to vie for World Cup spots (she did four last year), and take her chances to see if she qualifies for Sochi. “(The Olympics) is definitely Jackie Hernandez, ‘10, celebrates what I want to work towards,” she said. her World Cup SBX win at “When I first came here, I just had a lot Valmalenco, Italy in 2012. of fun snowboarding. I didn’t even know I wanted to do snowboardcross. This environment has given me a lot of opportunities and allowed me to solidify my goals.”
Eric Beauchemin, ‘10
Jackie is coming back from an injury that sidelined her at the U.S. Grand Prix at the Canyons last season.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back in the start gate,” Jackie said. “Goal number one is to qualify for the games, and I’ll take it from there. I’m definitely a big dreamer, so of course, I want to be standing on the top step in Sochi, and I’m going to do everything I can to get myself there!” Eric Beauchemin is a new addition to the U.S. Snowboarding Team in 2013, due in large part to his standout year. In 2013, he earned 19th place in the World Snowboard Tour ranking in slopestyle (SS). He has had four slopestyle World Cup starts in his career so far and one, top-10 finish. He took first in the O’Neill Pleasure Jam in Schladming, Austria and 12th in the Burton European Open in Laax, Switzerland. “I am really excited to be a part of the U.S. Team,” Eric said. “I believe they’ll help me bring my snowboarding to a whole new level. Right now, all of my focus is to earn a spot on the Olympic team. I am really pushing myself for the next couple months physically and mentally, so I will be prepared for those runs at the Olympics!” This is the first time slopestyle is an Olympic event, which is another reason to watch, Powers said. “Slopestyle athletes have taken the sport to a whole new level in the last few years ,” he said. Another new U.S. Team addition this year is Cross Country B-Team member Sophie Caldwell, ‘08 and SMS T2 Team member Sophie Caldwell ’08. After graduating from SMS, Sophie went on to ski for the Dartmouth Ski Team, became a five-time All-American and graduated in 2012. Sophie went on to ski at the highest international levels in the 2012-13 season, and proved that she was up for the challenge, earning 14th in her first two World Cups in Canada (individual Sprint and Team Sprint). At World Championships last season, Sophie earned a phenomenal 20th in the Sprint. At U.S. Championships, she finished second in the Sprint, and at U23 World Championships, she finished 9th in the Sprint. “Sochi would be a dream come true,” Sophie said. “That’s definitely my biggest goal, but it’s not going to be easy to accomplish. I have many other races that I can focus on throughout the season. I will hopefully be spending a big block of my time in Europe again, adapting to the World Cup and European racing atmosphere.” Three alpine athletes to watch are Nick Krause ’11, Brittany Lathrop
continued...
Starting Gate - Winter 2014 | 13
Olympic Hopefuls continued... ’13 and Piera Hudson ’14. While Piera isn’t ruling out a lastminute Sochi surprise, she, Brittany and Nick are more focused on 2018. Nick Krause has been on the alpine U.S. Ski Team Development Team since 2011 and was promoted to the U.S. Ski Team C-Team in November. In 2013, Nick consistently placed in the top-5 in FIS races, and had a breakout 3rd-place finish in Giant Slalom at the Vail Nor-Am Cup in Vail in January. He also qualified for the World Junior Championships in Quebec last February. Last season, Krause injured his ankle and was not able to participate in early-season and prep-period training. “I will definitely be more prepared than last year going into November races. My focus for this year is Nor-Am circuit races, a few Europa Cups and my main goal of a podium at World Junior Champs in Slovakia.” “Nick has a great work ethic, which has allowed him to keep focused on his goal of improving his skiing and moving up,” said SMS Alpine Director Mike Morin. Morin is a three-time Olympic coach, spending nearly 15 years coaching for the U.S. Ski Team at the highest levels. Brittany Lathrop ’13, Londonderry, Vt., was a member of the U.S. Development Team in 2011-12, and in 2013, she solidified her name among the country’s most elite junior racers with a goldmedal win in slalom (SL) at the U18 Nationals in Mammoth, Calif. Throughout the season, Lathrop hit her stride, winning FIS races and coming in top-20 at U.S. Nationals. Piera Hudson ’14, Wanaka, New Zealand, left SMS after her sophomore year and has been busy pursuing her own Olympic dreams. She is the youngest member of the New Zealand National Team and has her sights set on the Olympics, whether it’s 2014 or 2018. “It (Sochi) isn’t completely ruled out, but with only a few more months until the closing date for qualifying getting to Sochi (might not happen). My focus this northern hemisphere season is on the World Juniors and Colorado for November/December training and doing the NorAms at Copper and Vail.” Along with some of the newer hopefuls in all disciplines, SMS has a history of success in the snowboard program, and new success with the SMS T2 team, so many seasoned athletes will be ones to watch for in February (see sidebar). For all of the SMS student athletes, both present and past, who have made the Olympics a part of their athletic journey, it is that striving and goal-setting that makes the difference. Ross Powers is in a uniquely knowing position to advise his athletes as they make their way toward their own Olympic dreams. He said, “I tell my athletes to work as hard as possible in everything they do so that they can know either way that they gave themselves the best possible chance for success, and that there will be no regrets.”
14 | Starting Gate - Winter 2014
~ Athletes to W U.S. Snowboard Team athletes Pro Halfpipe Team Ellery Hollingsworth ’09 - Ellery was the first woman to land a 1080, notched top10 finishes in 2011 on the Grand Prix ad Dew Tour circuits and finished 2012 with podiums at the U.S. Open, Candadian Open and third at the U.S. Grand Prix. In 2013, Ellery took fourth at the World Cup in Sochi and third at the European Open. “I feel good about the season I just had. My riding feels better than ever. I’m confident that with a hard training schedule this fall, I’ll be ready for the Olympic Qualifiers come December. It would be an honor to represent USA at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.” Louie Vito ’06 - Louie is one of the most consistent riders on the circuit today. He took top honors at the X Games in 2013 and third at the Copper Grand Prix. He has won four of the past U.S. Grand Prix Overall Championships, four X Games medals, two Winter Dew Tour Cup Overall titles and has made the podium at 17 of the last 20 major contests since his inaugural Olympic run in 2010 in Vancouver. “I was happy with my season this year and was stoked to end it with a gold at X Games,” he said. “Next year I’m going to keep on pushing forward and make my way to Sochi and onto the podium.” Danny Davis ’06 - Danny burst onto the professional snowboard scene in 2004. He is considered a “triple-threat” competitor, competing in superpipe, quarterpipe and slopestyle events. Danny returned from a two-year hiatus, recovering from injury to compete in the December 2013 Dew Tour superpipe in Breckenridge. He finished seventh in the final, and fourth in the qualifier. When not competing, Danny has been joining Mountain Dew and Burton to design a dream playground for him and his friends to shred, which he has deemed the Peace Park. Luke Mitrani ’07 - Finishing the 2013 season in fifth place overall on the World Snowboard Tour, Luke Mitrani was poised for success. An injury that fractured his vertebrae in New Zealand in September sidelined his bid for the Olympics. Rookie Halfpipe Team Serena Shaw ’13 - Serena landed a spot on the Rookie Halfpipe Team in 2011 after winning on the Rev Tour, and taking a ninth in halfpipe and fifth in slopestyle during her first World Cups. In 2013, she finished top-10 at the U.S. Grand Prix and won both slope and pipe at the Rev Tour’s final stop. Snowboardcross A-Team Lindsey Jacobellis ’03 (see main story) Snowboardcross B-Team Alex Deibold ’04 - In 2013, Deibold placed second at the Sochi World Cup and made finals at four out of five World Cup starts in 2013. In 2011, he took seventh and fifth at World Cup races and earned a spot on the World Championship Team. Jackie Hernandez ’10 (see main story) Brooke Shaw ’09 - Brooke Shaw is a fierce competitor in the halfpipe and snowboardcross. In 2013, after recovering from injury, she competed in three snowboardcross World Cups and placed fourth in the U.S. Grand Prix. In 2011, she took a break from snowboardcross after a knee injury but placed top-10 in Grand Prix and Dew Tour halfpipe competitions. Pro Slope Team Eric Beauchemin’10 (see main story) OTHER SNOWBOARD ATHLETES TO WATCH Phoebe Novello ’12 (slopestyle) - Phoebe had her first two World Cup starts in 2013, finishing top-20 in both. Winning slope FIS races, while still taking top-5 in FIS halfpipe events, Phoebe is a well-rounded rider. She attends Dartmouth and won the SMS Founder’s Award at graduation in 2012. Biba Turnbull ’13 (slopestyle) - Australian Biba Turnbull competed in her first slopestyle World Cup competitions in 2013 at Copper Mountain and Cardrona, New Zealand. She is hoping for a spot on the Australian Olympic Team for 2014. Mike Perle ’12 (snowboardcross) - Mike’s laser focus on his snowboardcross racing has paid off for him. For his first World Cup start in Valmalenco, Italy in 2012, he finished a solid 16th. In 2013, he recorded 13, top-10s in NorAm Cups (and South American and Australian/NZ Cups).
Watch in Sochi ~
Letter from the Board of Trustees Chair
U.S. Cross Country Team athletes Cross Country A-Team Andy Newell ’02 (see main story) Jessie Diggins, SMS T2 - Five-time U.S. Champion Jessie Diggins teamed with Kikkan Randall to with the USAs first-ever World Championship gold medal in the team sprint in 2013. She finished eighth in the skate prologue of the World Cup finals and 21st in her first Tour-de-Ski. As a founding member of the SMS T2 team, Jessie spends much of her off-season training time working out alongside current SMS student athletes. Cross Country B Team Sophie Caldwell ’08 (see main story) Simi Hamilton (SMS T2) - Simi Hamilton is a new member of the SMS T2 family. He won a U.S. title and nine Junior National titles. In 2013, he scored five times on the World Cup circuit, and his best finish was seventh. If granted a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team, this would be his second Olympic competition. Other cross country athletes to watch Skyler Davis ’11, SMS T2 -Skyler Davis started last season with a win at the Bozeman Super Tour stop in Sprint. He finished 2013 with some top-10 FIS and National Championship finishes. Kris Freeman ’99 - Kris was a winter-term student at SMS, and over the course of his career, he has earned top-10s in 11 World Cup finishes. Eric Packer (SMS T2) - Eric is a distance specialist, finishing 16th in the 20K Scandinavian Cup Freestyle in Feb. 2013. He is a U23 World Championships qualifier and earned several top-5 FIS finishes, including a win in Craftsbury. ALPINE NATIONAL TEAM ATHLETES U.S. Ski Team Nick Krause ’11 (see main story) New Zealand Ski Team Piera Hudson ’14 (see main story) Australian Ski Team Emily Bamford ’10 – Emily is a member of the Australian Ski Team. During the most recent Southern Hemisphere winter, Emily was second in Slalom (SL) at the National Junior Championships in Australia and has scored several SL top-5 results in the Australia New Zealand Cup this season. She has entered into the Northern Hemisphere competition season with her eye on Sochi and a bid for the Australian Olympic Team. OTHER ALPINE ATHLETES TO WATCH
Dear Alumni, Parents and Friends, We are right around the corner from the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. As a proud member of the SMS Community, I’m looking forward with great excitement to those Opening Ceremonies. Each Olympic year, I’m riveted by the stories of all of the Olympians who have worked and sacrificed to get where they are. I’m also proudly aware of being a member of this wonderful school, where we have gone on to graduate more than 35 Olympians over our short history. This is no ordinary feat, because this is no ordinary school. We are a community with a range of stories and a range of successes, but we all strive to make excellence a part of our daily lives. It is with this excellence in mind that I introduce the 2012-2013 Annual Report of Giving and thank you heartily for your part in this collective success. In the 2012-2013 fiscal year (July 2, 2012 – June 30, 2013), we asked you to give to several SMS initiatives: the Annual Fund, the Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts & Student Center, the Air Awareness Center and the Endowment. Total gifts and pledges this year (July 1, 2012-June 30, 2013) were $610,297 to all funds. The most obvious, visual representation of your generosity is the rapidly concluding construction of the Patti Kaltsas building. We are so incredibly touched by the generosity of our trustees, alumni, parents and friends who have made this possible. Please see p. 19 for naming opportunities in this building and in the Air Awareness Center. The Air Awareness Center has broken ground, and both buildings are on track. We continue to be so grateful for the gifts to our important Annual Fund, which funds programs and materials that are needed each year. Your loyalty and commitment to SMS and its student athletes are so important, and I thank you for being part of this wonderful community. Sincerely,
Brittany Lathrop ’13 (see main story) Libby Gibson ’13 - Libby, a member of the U.S. Ski Team Development Team in 2011-12, finished her 2013 season with several, top-5 FIS race finishes. A top-30 NorAm Cup racer, Libby competed at U.S. Nationals, logging a 21st and 22nd place in Super-G and GS.
Gary Giulietti Chairman, Board of Trustees
U.S. FREESTYLE SKI TEAM ATHLETE Brittany Loweree ’08 - In 2012-13, Brittany’s rookie season on the World Cup was a success, as she finished in the top-15 12 times, including two, top-10 finishes. In 2013, Brittany was recovering from injury, but she’s looking to 2014 strong and ready to compete. “I started competing shortly after my introduction to the freestyle team. Realizing my love for competition, I decided to go from weekend warrior to a winter term student at the Stratton Mountain School,” she says. OTHER FREESTYLE ATHLETE TO WATCH Georgia Wood ’15 - Georgia came to SMS as a member of the new Freestyle Team. A skier for her native Australia, Georgia finished in the top-30 at U.S. Nationals in 2013, and has had several top-20 Australia/New Zealand Cup finishes.
Board of Trustees 2013-2014 Trustees Emeritus David Epstein Benjamin F. Needell Ronald Alvarez Carolyn A. Beckedorff ‘85 Jeffrey R. Bennett ‘87
Gary S. Davis Gary Giulietti James Haffner Dana Hollingsworth Christopher G. Kaltsas F. Graham Luckenbill II TD McCormick
Joanna Miller William G. Morton Todd B. Richter Morton T. Saunders Neal H. Schuman Paul J. Sitarz
Starting Gate - Winter 2014 | 15
Annual Report 2012 - 2013 for fiscal year July 1 - June 30
Annual Fund 2012-2013 World Cup Champion, $25,000 and above
Mr. & Mrs. William P. Scully Mr. Preston L. Smith
Olympic Gold, $10,000 - $24,999 Mr. & Mrs. Robert Alexander Mr. & Mrs. David Epstein Hellman Foundation ‘74 ‘76 ‘79 ‘80 Mr. & Mrs. P. Jack Hoopes Mr. Duncan C. Tenney
World Cup Gold, $5,000 - $9,999
Carolyn Beckedorff ‘85 & Tony DiGangi Kiri Borg & Brian Henry Mr. & Mrs. Dana Hollingsworth Mr. & Mrs. F. Graham Luckenbill Mr. & Mrs. William G. Morton Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin F. Needell Mr. Morton T. Saunders Heinz Paul Memorial Foundation
National Gold, $1,000 - $4,999
Dr. & Mrs. James Abbenhaus Micki Abbenhaus ’87 Scholarship Mr. & Mrs. George T. Abdow ‘84 Mr. Herbert & Dr. Susan Adler The Beckwith Family Bob Bennett Irving R. Fischer Mr. & Mrs. Michael Fische Edward M. Gillis ‘83 Gary & Mary Ellen Giulietti Mr. & Mrs. William Hadden III Susan Cooper Hermanson ‘83 The Mike ‘82 & Laura Kaplan Fund Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Landy Mr. & Mrs. Alex Lynch James Luckenbill ‘04PG Kristin Luckenbill ‘97 Alexa Raether Maddock ‘92 Mr. & Mrs. Robert Mangiacotti Chauncey G. Morgan ‘82 TD & Judi McCormick John ‘85PG & Andrea Ogden\ The Shchemelev Family William & Carolyn Stutt Dan Solaz & MJ Basileo Marsha & Keith Therrien Mr. & Mrs. Fred Weiner ‘75PG
Junior Olympic Gold, $500 - $999 Mr. & Mrs. Marcus Baker Jane & Rob Braverman Mr. & Mrs. Alan Bushell Roland & Shirley Chen Ellen & Gary Davis
For gifts to funds excluding the Building for Excellence Fund, the Patti Kaltsas Memorial Fund, the Air Awareness Fund, the Winter Ball and Beckie McGill Scholarship Fund.
John & Lisa Dimitriou Equipe Sport Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Fowler Mr. & Mrs. Derek Fredrickson Heidi Frost ‘83 Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Kevin Kerin & Marybeth Durkin Thomas D. Mann Pam Finnerty Martin ‘92 Timothy Matthews ‘97 Paul & Dewey McNamara Nam Youth Marketing Specialist Norene & George W. Peck IV Mr. & Mrs. Barnet Phillips Ross & Marisa Powers Rich Ross ‘77 & Family Mr. & Mrs. Neal Schuman Mr. & Mrs. Paul Sitarz Marc Sorel ‘91 Carolyn & Scott Steffey Fritz Wahl ‘77PG EJ & Carol Werner Richie ‘76 & Viki Woodworth Mr. & Mrs. King Wright
Eastern Cup Gold, $100 - $499 Jeff & Darcy ’80 Ahl Mr. & Mrs. Robert Barnes Casper Bjarnason Bobby-Lou Boylan Holly A. Boylan Class of 2013 Joshua Davis Margaret F. deSantis Mr. & Mrs. Michael Doshier Peter & Susie Dow Theodore Dunn, Jr. Tom Elias ‘03 Mr. & Mrs. Charles Feldman Howard Foote ‘03 Mr. & Mrs. Angelo Ghedina Becky Hall ‘82 Ellen Halstead ‘94 Sherry Harper Mr. & Mrs. John Harrer Mr. & Mrs. David Hudson Ingrid Punderson Jackson ‘84 Kaz & Angella Karwowski Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Kinsella Hunter Kaltsas ‘99 John Laserte Steve and Rhonda Lathrop James Le Gros The Lilley Family Marianne Lipa Yvonne C. Lodico Heather Mabee
SMS Support Team, up to $100 Rebecca Abadie Bill & Donna Appenzeller Carol Bailey Jeff Beal Josh Bedard Jay Belanger Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Bencze Cassandra Bender Drew Bergman Matt & Kate Boobar Charles & Poppet Boswell Sverre Caldwell Jay Cherosnick ‘97 Stacie Chiodi Alissa Consenstein Jennifer Culligan Robert M. Davidson Peter & Mia Edwards David Frothingham Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. Donald Gilbert Mr. & Mrs. Rick Gordon The Grossman Family Rush J. Hawkins ‘02 Michael Hughes ‘07 Mary & Tom Ives Scotty Johnston Rick Jones Kate Nolan Joyce
Winter Ball 2013 Benefactors
Air Awareness Center
Mr. & Mrs. Gary S. Davis Mr. & Mrs. Gary Giulietti Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Lennox Sandy & Julie Luckenbill Mr. & Mrs. Douglas MacKenzie Alexa and Fernando Maddock Mr. & Mrs. TD McCormick Ms. Joanna Miller
$75,000
16 | Starting Gate - Winter 2014
Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin F. Needell Mr. Todd B. Richter Mr. Morton T. Saunders Mr. & Mrs. Neal Schuman Mr. & Mrs. Gary Simpson Stratton Resort Mr. & Mrs. Rob Wadsworth
Gus Kaeding ‘02 Liz Kantack Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. Paul Killigrew Ian Kirk Brian Knight Naga Kusumi Megan Kyne A. E. Laidlaw Jr. Micah Lashar Alex & Sandra Lehmann Jesse Mallis Erin Mascolino Frances McGrath Megan Osterhout Judy Paris Dan Pawlak Dave Redden Jessica A. Rizio Charles Robbins Romano Publishing Rob & Katie Rose Wendy Schriebl Shann Senese Clare Smith-Wheeler Matthew & Reid Smith Dylan & Sarah Snell Don Tarinelli Tim & Morgan Taylor Carson Thurber ‘02 Mary Via Suzanne & Alan Waxenberg Holly Wendell Josh ‘02PG & Jamie Wylie ‘02PG
Vivien G. Malloy Sandra & John McCue David & Mimi McGill Hugh & Liz Merryweather Clarence F. Michalis Cheryl & Rob Miller Christine Morace Mike & Meredith Morin Jeff & Tracy Nelson Mark & Jeanne Pastore Herve & Mary Pelletier Rory Petrilli ‘89 Mary Sallah ‘05 Darcy MacClaren Christine Schozer ‘08 John & Mary Sikes Jessie Snyder Mr. & Mrs. John Stichter Richard & Sonja Thorley Jennifer & Jeff Tousignant Cornelia V. Tuttle ~ in memory of Lisa Tuttle ‘78 Vermont Country Store Kevin & Molly Visnic Betsy & Rob Wadsworth Mr. & Mrs. Robert Witkowski
Ana & Phillippe Laffont Gary & Sally Simpson
$50,000
Matching Gift Programs
Pepsico Foundation Bank of America United Way United Way of Los Angeles SAP Matching Gifts Program AIG Matching Gifts Program
Gifts In Kind
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Alexander - timing system and camcorder for alpine race program Kiri Borg pizza for student pizza nights Pete Davis projector screen Joe Green, Valet Park of America valet services at Winter Ball Fred Hartmann books for library
For gifts and pledges as of June 30, 2013.
Greg & Melissa Raith Scott & Kristi Sweitzer
$5,000
$15,000
up to $3,000
Peter & Alexandra Daitch
Max & Miki Kobayashi Jim & Mary Sullivan
$40,000
$10,000
Kevin & Donna McArdle
$25,000
Holly & Ed Boylan-Flego
Joanna Miller Chris Preziosi
Glenn & Laura Callen An SMS Family Landy Family Foundation Marc & Nancy Lobell Dave Redden
Building for Excellence Campaign $250,000 and above
For gifts and pledges received by June 30, 2013.
$25,000 - $50,000
Mr. & Mrs. Gary Simpson
Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Evans Ms. Jody Foote Mr. & Mrs. Ian Jones Mr. & Mrs. Robert Jones Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin Needell Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Smiles Mrs. Jessie Snyder
$200,000 - $250,000
Mr. & Mrs. Gary Davis The Gilo Family Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Duncan Tenney
$150,000 - $200,00
Mr. & Mrs. David Epstein
$20,000 - $25,000
$100,000 - $150,00
Mr. John S. McCormick** Mr. & Mrs. Burton Tremaine
Anonymous (3) Mr. & Mrs. Gary Giulietti Mr. & Mrs. James Haffner Mr. & Mrs. Robert Lemenze Mr. Todd Richter* Mr. Morton Saunders
$10,000 - $20,000
Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Bamford John & Kate D. Krehbiel ‘91 Mr. & Mrs. Scott Steffey Mr. & Mrs. Frederick J. Wahl
$50,000 - $100,00
Mr. & Mrs. James Crowley Mr. & Mrs. Michael Fulton Mr. Michael Hahn The Hollingsworth Family Mr. & Mrs. F. Graham Luckenbill II Mr. & Mrs. William Morton
$5,000 - $10,000
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Alexander Katherine Stutt Brewer ‘76 Drs. Richard & Tricia Gibbs ‘76 Levelwing Media, LLC* Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Malloy
Mr. & Mrs. TD McCormick Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Reilly Mr. & Mrs. William Stutt
$2,500 - $5,000
Andersen Windows The Hadden Family
$1,000 - $2,500
Mr. & Mrs. Brian Henry Ms. Carolyn Blitz* Lisa F. Densmore ‘79 Cindy Oak Goodin ‘79 Mr. & Mrs. Richard C. Grondin Mr. Rick Hube** Mr. & Mrs. Paul McNamara MedImpact Health Care Systems* Mr. & Mrs. DW Porto* Mr. & Mrs. William Thomson* Mr. & Mrs. CB Vaughan*
Gifts up to $1,000
The Ahl Family Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Barclay* Mr. & Mrs. Scott Bergman* Mr. & Mrs. Barry Bernard*
Patti Kaltsas Education, Art & Student Center $250,000
TD & Judi McCormick
$200,000
Jeff & Linda Lennox
$100,000
Robert K. & A. Joyce Jones Foundation David & Lisa Alpert Peter J. Novello & Renee Novello, M.D.
Rick & Laura Grondin Julie S. Hahn Brian Henry & Kiri Borg Susan King & Lu Korte The Lynch Family Cheryl LaFlamme Rothman Neal & Elizabeth Schuman Stratton Resort Jeff & April Wood
$1,000 - $4,000
Gifts up to $500
Ronald & Alice Ruth Alvarez Gary & Ellen Davis Jody M. Foote James & Lynn Haffner P. Jack Hoopes & Vicki Scheidt Bill & Meg Morton Ben & Kathy Needell Andrea & John Ogden William Bo S. Peabody Morton T. Saunders Gary & Sally Simpson William & Carolyn Stutt Virginia & Duncan Tenney
$5,000 - $6,000
$500
$50,000-$75,000
Tom & Joanne Head
$20,000 - $40,000
Robert & Libby Alexander James & Mary Jane Berrien David & Betsy Epstein Tricia H. Gibbs ‘76 Gary & Mary Ellen Giulietti Worthy & Maria Johnson Joanna Miller Chad & Susan Waite Fred ‘75 & Elizabeth Weiner
$10,000 - $15,000
The Beckedorff-DiGangi Family Jeffrey R. Bennett ‘87 Mr. & Mrs. Robert Braverman
Anonymous Jonathan & Cindy Chase Barbara & Peter Deckers Doug & Laney Fowler
Matching Gift Programs
Bank of America Matching Gift Program* Bank of America United Way Campaign* * contribution to Todd B. Richter Endowment Fund ** deceased
For gifts and pledges as of June 30, 2013.
Hellman Foundation The Hollingsworth Family Susan Hunter & Douglas Watson Mr. & Mrs. James K. Duddy John & Kate D. Krehbiel ‘91 Robert & Laura Lemenze Sandy & Julie Luckenbill Scott & Carolyn Steffey Vincent & Ashley Andrews William Benedict, Jr. Susan Brady & Mustafa Abadan Peter M. Britton Roland & Shirley Chen Jeff & Maureen Crowley Robyn & John Davis Bill & Sarah Hadden Kimet & John Hand Nathan R. Johnson Hunter Kaltsas ‘99 Ursula & Paul Lowerre Kristin Luckenbill ‘97 Val & James Luckenbill PG’04 Tom & Suzy Maneggia Paul & Adele Martin Paul & Dewey McNamara Chauncey G. Morgan ‘82 Norse House Lance & Patsy Odden Laird & Freya Pendleton Timothy & Deborah Reilly Todd B. Richter Richard & Jill Sheinberg Paul & Kimberly Sitarz Lois & David Slovik Carlene & Fritz Wahl ‘77 Larry & Kim Wohler Richie ‘76 & Viki Woodworth
Mr. & Mrs. Jack Derby* Mr. & Mrs. Robert D’Loren* Mr. Al Felden* Mr. Brian Kinkaed* Mr. & Mrs. Masakazu Kobayashi Mr. & Mrs. Jim Lanzillo* Mr. & Mrs. William Miller Mr. & Mrs. Michael Morin Mr. & Mrs. Philip Pucciarelli* Mr. & Mrs. Dave Redden Mr. David Rosow Mr. Kenneth Smith* Mr. & Mrs. John Sohikian*
Anonymous (3) Richard & Leigh Adams The Ahl Family Payton Alexander ‘15 Ellen & Lou Amantea William & Donna Appenzeller Jessica ‘93 & Shane Baron The Barth Family Stephen & Susan Bates The Beckwith Family William & Cathy Beerman Sandra S. Bennett Bobby-Lou Boylan Kate Stutt Brewer ‘76 David Charron Stacie Chiodi Paul & Jill Choma Class of 2012 Saul & Patti Cohen Steve & Karen Coombs Peter & Lisa Cusick Lisa F. Densmore ‘79 Margaret & Michele deSantis Kari A. Diamond Dr. Michael Dick & Team Peter & Susie Dow David Edry Betsy Eklof Lucille & David Festa Fitz Vogt & Assoc. Jack & Ann Franzen Sky & Sue Foulkes Warren & Nancy Fuller Glenn & Robbin Gibson Lil & Evan Ginsberg Will Hadden ‘07 Peter Hall
Michael J. Hahn George & Kate Orme Kim M. Hartsen ‘99 The Pelletier Family Paul & Geralyn Heffernan Tyne Pike-Sprenger ‘00 The Hogan Family Dimitrios & Valerie Ptohos Alex & Kate Hood Neiko & Alejandra Razinger David & Suzanne Hudson Dave Redden Miriam Hyman Walter & Karen Rogers Tom & Mary Ives Larry & Andrea Ross Claire Jospe David Rothman ‘02 Susan Jospe Wendy Schriebl Kate Nolan Joyce Mary Ellen & Art Scutro Brooke Kaltsas ‘00 Sara A. Simpson ‘09 Nicholas Kaltsas & Family The Singmaster Family Paige Kaltsas Kaptuch John & Rene Skinner John H. Kells Mark Smith & Donald & Nancy Kendall Sherri Marzario Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Matt & Reid Smith The Kinsella Family John & Ann Spencer Stephen L. Klein The Stichter Family Max & Miki Kobayashi Dwaine & Kim Tait Paul & Joanne Krause Katherine & Edward Van Woert Jamie & Todd Kremin ‘98 Louie P. Vito ‘06 Carole & Dick Lechthaler Paul & Susan Wheeler Alex & Sandra Lehmann Sarah Laidlaw Wilde ‘96 Sally Lewis James & Grace Wu Dr. & Mrs. W. B. Lewis Jamie K. Wylie Yvonne Lodico Paul & Susan Wheeler Ali & Vince Lopez Sarah Laidlaw Wilde ‘96 Joe Lopez ‘00 Williams College Ski Team Jess Lopez ‘98 James & Grace Wu Stephen Love Matching Gifts Program The MacClaren Family Stanley Black & Decker James & Christine Martin Matching Gifts Seth & Debi Marx AIG Matching Grants Francesca Mazzola ExxonMobil David & Mimi McGill Foundation Nancy & Chuck McMahon Patrick & Paula McNamara Jean E. Miller Mountain School at Winhall The Nault Family Jonathan ‘88 & Christine Needell Laura Nesbit Jeff & Karen Nicholson Bradley A. Olch Earl & Bonnie Olson Starting Gate - Winter 2014 | 17 Lorena O’Neill
SMS Winter Ball Raises $120,000 for Scholarships
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he Stratton Mountain School Winter Ball was held on Jan. 26, 2013 and welcomed more than 300 people to an evening of dining, dancing, bidding, and feeling great about supporting the SMS Scholarship Fund. The event raised $120,000, and supports the more than 40 percent of current SMS student athletes who receive scholarship support. The theme was Let it Snow, and the Burtscher Fieldhouse was decorated in shades of blue and silver. The live auction featured a week stay at the Hualalai Resort in Kona, Hawaii (donated by the Dreimanns), a week at the Whistler Four Season (donated by Gary Davis), a Steamboat ski-and-stay package (donated by Stratton Resort and Steamboat Ski & Resort), a Paul Morelli necklace (donated by Von Bargen’s Jewelry), an Aspen ski-and-stay package (donated by Aspen/Snowmass), and an Italian Riviera getaway (donated by the Occellis).
Join us for the 2014 Dreams of Gold Winter Ball on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014. For more information, visit www.gosms.org/dreamsofgold
Since 1972, SMS has been encouraging excellence in its winter sport athletes. The Winter Ball is the school’s single-largest fundraiser for the SMS Scholarship Fund. More than 40 percent of SMS student athletes receive scholarship support each year, and the school awards more than $800,000 in scholarship support annually.
PEAK Building Nearing Completion
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hroughout the summer and fall of 2013, construction on the Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts and Student Center has continued at a brisk pace. At print time, the building was on schedule to be closed up for the winter to continue finish work inside. It will be completed before the end of this school year. “We are so proud of the work that has gone into this building,” said SMS Headmaster Chris Kaltsas. “This building will not only be a showpiece for the campus, it will more importantly serve the needs of our students in important ways.” Through the generosity of so many friends, this wonderful
facility is on track. We still need to raise additional funds to cover the building, and there are some naming opportunities still available, listed below. The SMS Air Awareness Center project commenced this fall and will be completed in early 2014. Naming opportunities are also available for the Air Awareness Center.
Nov. 6, 2013
For more information, or to get involved, contact Development Coordinator Mary Ives at mives@gosms.org or (802) 856-1112.
Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts, and Student Center Naming Opportunities $100,000 - Main Lobby with Fireplace $75,000 - Art Studio $75,000 - Yoga/Dance Studio $50,000 - Auditorium Stage $50,000 - Student Game Room $50,000 - Deck overlooking Luckenbill Field $25,000 - Classroom 1 $25,000 - Classroom 2 $25,000 - Classroom 3 $25,000 - Classroom 4
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$25,000 - Electronic Arts $25,000 - Student Center Entrance $10,000 - Backstage $10,000 - Bookstore $10,000 - Entrance to Student Lobby $10,000 - Greeting Area leading to Art Gallery $10,000 - Media area for Auditorium $10,000 - Hallway $10,000 - Hallway Ground Floor $10,000 - Student Kitchen
$1,000 - Individual seats in auditorium Other Opportunities Still Available • Furniture for Student Center/Deck • TV’s for Student Center and Classrooms • Projector • Sound and Lighting System
The Finish Line
The Finish Line 1974
Fritz Wahl writes, “Over the summer Sasha Rearick, the current men’s head alpine coach for the US Ski Team, was in NYC. I attended a dinner with a small group USSA trustess and friends. He is a very interesting and thoughtful person. We had a long discussion about the challenges the US teams face as well as their strengths. Go USA!”
1976
Carl Erdman writes, “I live in Sacramento and in the past two years have become an avid cyclist, riding all over this fabulous state and participating in numerous organized riding
Camp, Inc., which holds a summer outdoor sports camp for children with amputations, and in 2014 will hold the first winter sports camp. She is married to the same wonderful man, has a daughter, and two grandsons!
1978
Jeanne Hammond Larsen wrote, “I just made my annual pilgrimage to Alyeska for the sunniest spring skiing day of the year and bumped into Brian Burnett while loading the lift. Still commercial salmon fishing off Kodiak Island every summer. Did two, 25k cross country races this winter. Howdy to all 78-ers!”
1979
Richie Ross and Cal Erdman
events. In early August, I renewed ties with Richie Ross ’77, who lives in Mill Valley, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, as he lived very close to the start of an event I had entered, the Marin County Double Century. I stayed the night at his place and met his family and caught up. We were very close coming up through the Stratton Junior Racing program and SMS together in the 70’s, and I even got together with him in 1984 when we both coincidentally were working in Japan, but I had not seen or talked with him since about 1985! It was so great to see him and to meet his family. I rode the double century event and he rode the century - we’ve still got it! Cal also writes about the passing of SMS co-founder Don Tarinelli, “I remember well the first year of the winter school in the Tarinelli’s home at the foot of the mountain and Mr. Tarinelli, as I addressed him at the time, being an important presence during the whole experience.”
1977
Missy Wolff-Burke continues to be a professor at Shenandoah University in the Division of Physical Therapy. A few years ago she developed a program that combines physical therapy and skiing/snowboarding at an adaptive sports center in Virginia. (Yes, there is snow, of sorts, in Virginia.) She writes, “The PT students work with participants who have a variety of physical limitations. The goals are to improve function and independence of the participants, by using typical physical therapy interventions and skiing.” She continues as President of the Adventure Amputee
Heidi Preuss wrote in response to the passing of SMS co-founder Don Tarinelli, “Don was instrumental in my coming to SMS as well as supporting me personally in following years. I have great memories of him and Mary and their home in Jamaica. I owe him a great debt for which I feel I was never able to repay him. What a great heart and soul! He will be missed.
1983
Ed Gillis wrote to send a photo of the latest annual ski trip for early-80s alumni. The crew traveled to Alta in February 2013 for some serious fun and lots of snow.
L to R Barry Woods ’81, Russ Shay ’82, Louis Gordon ’82, Jon Flaherty ’83, Todd Reichelm ’82, Mike Kaplan ’82, Ed Gillis ’83, Tim Flaherty, Matt Lyon ’81, Scott Summers ’82.
1984
Peter Frenchman and Gretchen Everhart announce the arrival of twin girls Eva and Julia Frenchman born in May to join older sister Ashley (12).
Eva and Julia Frenchman
Ingrid Punderson Jackson writes, “I finished a fun winter with my two boys, 7 and 9. They have been cross country racing in Bill Koch league, and I
got to see lots of SMS alumni at events (Sverre at BKL champs and Bread Loaf), John Ogden, Joe Galanes, etc. And, I met lots of recent grads who are now Nordic skiing at Middlebury. I’m about to take a year abroad and live in Bormio, Italy. Susanna Whitcher writes, “I have the good fortune of planning a wedding for July of 2014! I sent a photo of my son and I heading off to a school concert. My son is 10 years old and in 5th grade. He is thriving in school and on the soccer field. Susanna Whitcher He loves to ski, but being on his twin tips is where it’s at! I don’t see any gates in his future. I am very happy, still working as a VP in healthcare. I met my fiancé, Carl, here at the hospital; he is a cardiologist. Life is grand, and I feel very lucky to be where I am with my son and with Carl. Love to all of my former classmates and to the SMS family!
1985
Carolyn A. Beckedorff and husband Tony DiGangi (SMS coach) have opened a luxury-wear and gear shop in Stowe, Vt. It’s called Winterfell and it’s located at 1940 Mountain Road, www.winterfellvt.com. Griff Long wrote, “I moved to Dallas, Texas after finding my dream job as vice president of operations for Equinox Fitness. My passion for triathlon continues. This year I went to France to compete as a member of Team USA at the Long Distance World Championships. I qualified and competed in the 70.3 Ironman World Championships in Las Vegas and completed at the U.S. National Championship in Milwaukee where I qualified for Team USA in 2014. As a proud father, my 11-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son both became black belts in taekwondo.
1988
Krista Schmidinger writes, “Recently, I started a women’s ski apparel company called SAVINE, and we just received our first big press in SNOW magazine. I look forward to skiing Stratton this winter and will stop by SMS.” Check out her company and the SNOW story here: http:// savinesport.com, http://thesnowmag.com/ olympic-skier-turns-designer-krista-schmidinger
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The Finish Line 1989
Tracy Bristol Hiebert is employed at Gould Academy in the Admissions Office. She has four children: Brooke, 15; Ryan, 12; Benjamin, 8 and Kira, 3. She is married to Luke Hiebert. Shayne Lynn wrote, “I am the founder and the executive director of the non-profit Champlain Valley Dispensary, Inc. in Burlington. We are the first medical marijuana dispensary in the state, one of three licenses award by the state. I never imagined I’d be cultivating and dispensing cannabis while attending SMS.”
1990
Heidi Radloff McClellan with sons Max & Luke
Heidi Radloff McClellan wrote to share a new addition to her family. Luke Alexander McClellan was born Feb. 22, 2013 at 9 lbs 1 oz. “His big brother Max is in love!”
1991
Mark Sorel wrote that he’s, “Living the dream!! Golf - travel - skiing friends and running a business. Miss the gang. Great times at SMS (old school). Will anyone be in the Aspen area mid-January to connect? Email me - sorel1@ix.netcom.com or Facebook.
1993
Renny Bloch writes, “My two big updates....I became a dad! On April 8, 2013 Mia Breeze Bloch was born at NYU Langone Medical Center. While there have been many sleepless nights, she makes me and my wife Leslie smile everyday. In July, I accepted a position as Director, Global Talent Development position at The Estee Lauder Companies after working for 10 year at NYU Langone Medical Center.
Mia Breeze Bloch
Sandy Perrins is in Florida doing a surgical residency. He finished medical school at UVM and is moving to Colorado to practice. He is engaged.
1996
Gavin Michael Moore
Katy Czesnowski Moore writes, “My husband and I live in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and we welcomed our first son, Gavin Michael Moore on March 11, 2013, 7lbs 8oz. We are settling in very well as new parents and looking forward to the day we can get Gavin on skis.
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David Lord writes, “Things are great with our family. My girls, Eden (9) and Audrey (7) are both enjoying busy schedules in school, playing soccer, violin, piano and tennis. We had a great summer trip to England, and Tammy and I celebrated our 10th anniversary this year with a wonderful time in San Francisco and Napa. I recently returned from a trip to Argentina and was jealous of the couple seated behind me returning from a ski trip to Chile. We plan to get the girls back on the slopes this winter. Emily Thurber lives in Boise, Idaho with her three children and husband, Matt Carter. Emily was in Vermont for the summer spending time with her family.
1997
John Bainton writes, “I am proud to announce the birth of our son, John Joseph Bainton, III (AKA JJ or JB3). He was born on May 30 and is doing great. We also just moved to John Joseph Bainton, III Darien, Conn. I will continue to work as a realtor in Westport, Conn. If you know of anyone looking to buy/sell/rent any properties in Fairfield County please send them my way. jbainton@wpsir.com or 203-249-5932. Justin Beckwith writes, “I’ve just returned from a two-week training camp in Italy with my GMVS Nordic athletes. Other highlights for me include training for the final race of the King of New York kayak series, which I am in the hunt for the crown. I’m playing golf with other alumni like Carson Thurber ’02. I’m also headed to the NEPGA Pro-Am in Vegas in November. Life is good!”
working as a Chef, I have the opportunity to occasionally work in the film and commercial industry working in production. It has given me the opportunity to meet some amazing people and have some wild adventures. I Liz Sherry recently worked on a commercial where I got to go on my first hot air balloon ride with a few of the GoPro Bomb Squad base jumpers.”
1998
Jess Lopez married Lauren Hare at Smith College in August.
Jess Lopez & Lauren Hare
Sarah Piampiano, wrote “All is good on my end. I am still living in Santa Monica, Calif. and competing as a pro triathlete. It’s been an amazing experience and this year. I had a chance to compete in Chile, Australia, and Europe, which was incredible. Not much else new to report! Just training and racing. Sarah plans to compete in Ironman Arizona on Nov. 17 and maybe do a little skydiving while she’s there.
1999
David Giulietti Life is great with us. We have two boys, Drew is on the left and Mason is on the right. They occupy ALL of our time but we couldn’t imagine it any other way. Mason saw a picture of me skiing the other day and was so excited to go skiing with his daddy, so I’m really looking forward to getting up on the Stratton slopes this winter and teaching him. We are still Ross Powers is the Program living in Canton, Conn. and going up Director of the SMS Snowboard to Stratton most Program. Ross received the Buddy every weekend Werner Award from USSA and was during the recently inducted to the Vermont winter. Can’t Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. wait to see some familiar Gus Kaeding & Ross Powers faces again this Lizzy Sherry wrote, “Things are winter. Wish great. I am living in Jackson Hole, everyone good luck this Wyo. I trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Minneapolis Drew & Mason Giulietti upcoming ski season from in 2011. I had my internship with America’s us! Test Kitchen in Boston, which was incredible. I currently work as a Chef at The Handle Bar Restaurant located in The Four Seasons Hotel at Hunter Kaltsas owns and operates Hunter Jackson Resort. I am enjoying living in Jackson, Excavating in Southern Vermont. His trucks and and it’s a beautiful place to live. I get to ski machines dot the area with his ever-expanding everyday and look forward to camping, climbing business. and fishing in the very short summer! As well as
The Finish Line Morgan Korpi works at Stratton Mountain School as U16 Alpine Coach and Men’s Head Soccer Coach. Morgan has been aggressively hitting the weight room preparing for an epic comeback season! Logan Thurber lives in Caldwell, Idaho. She loves spending all the time she can with her two beautiful girls Reese and Peyton. Kate Whitcomb married Blake Everson last summer in Sun Valley, Idaho. Joining her for the celebration Kate Whitcomb were Brie PikeSprenger ‘99, Erika Hogan ‘02 and Laura Scripture ‘00. Brothers Jake and Matt Whitcomb ’97 joined the family ceremony on July 28.
2000
Brooke Kaltsas resides in Stowe Vermont and owns TruckieLoo Photography. Her website is www. truckieloo.com
Brookie & Hunter Kaltsas
Dave Koop and wife Sydney announce the birth of their daughter, Kaiya Elizabeth Koop, born Jan. 9, 2013. They are living in Madison, Wisc. and ask any alumni in the area to contact them. Tom Wisdom wrote, “I visited Vermont in September visiting with a number of SMS alumni and enjoying being back at Stratton. It was a great trip all around, and it’s always nice to see old friends. I am planning on attending graduate school in the fall after four years in the armed services.”
2001
Matt Macko owns Environmental Building Strategies with Ryan Potvin ‘01. “Recently, we were written up in Forbes and a few other publications regarding our work in the Net Zero Energy and High Performance Building’s space.We are also being listed in the SF/Bay Area’s Fastest Growing 100 Firms. Besides that still not married and no kids on the way.” Margaret Schlachter wrote, “It’s been a year since I quit the ski academy world and jumped fully into the Obstacle Racing World. I am still running my company Dirt in Your Skirt and racing when I can around the world. This past year, I was fortunate enough to be featured in Outside magazine, Trail Runner magazine, and Babson Magazine. I also write a weekly online column for FitnessRX for Women and recently became a contributing editor for Mud & Obstacle Magazine. After almost two years of working on it, my first book is due to be released April 2014 with Tuttle Publishing titled Obstacle Race Training: How to Beat Any Course, Compete Like a Champion and Change Your Life. I am living in Salt Lake City, Utah with my boyfriend and we have an aspiring urban farm. Erin Williams wrote, “We moved to Colorado Springs last November. We just had our first baby, a boy, KJ, born on September 4, 2013. Ken is getting ready to deploy with the 4th infantry division in a few weeks for nine months. I work for the Air Force on Peterson Air Force base for a prosthodontist. Colorado has been a change from North Carolina, but we are adjusting to life in the West!
2002
Dave, Sydney & Kaiya Koop
Bobby Barnes and wife Tina welcomed baby girl Emma in March 2012. Joe Dunn wrote, “I got married to Amanda Dunn Aug. 24. Also, I’m getting hip surgery this year. Sadly, skiing 150 days a year is catching up to me!”
Ryan Foster wrote, “I continue to live in Southern Vermont with my wife Kate. We are looking forward to building a house in Weston, Vermont on newly purchased land.” Rush Hawkins is an independent sales representative for POC, Nordica and Icedot. “My region varies between brands, but I cover Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Arizona. I’m based out of Park City, Utah where I live with my wife Sarah, formerly of the Stratton freestyle team, and our dog Gus. Her father is still a ski patroller at Stratton, so beware. We got hitched this July in Connecticut.”
Erika Hogan wrote, “I live in Sun Valley, Idaho and coach for the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation. My neighbor in Sun Valley is Nate Farrell ’02 – small world! My brother, Brad Hogan ’99 lives in Denver, Colo. and owns a bar.” Additionally, he is co-owner of a baseball training aid, Choke Grip.
Sverre Caldwell & Tom Wisdom
Mike Glita wrote, “I’m currently living in New Jersey and work with musicians and comedians at William Morris Endeavor. I still get up to Vermont a few times a year to ski when I can - hopefully I can catch up with a bunch of you this season. If any of you young alumni are looking to work in entertainment, give me a ring!”
Kurt Hostnik is the father of two snowboarders; Harrison, 4 and Emilia, 2. He’s working as a Chiropractic Neurologist in Long Branch, N.J and
he enjoys making it up to Stratton/ Magic twice per month in winter to ride and “teach my groms to shred.” Kurt, Harrison & Emilia Hostnik
Gus Kaeding was awarded the Domestic Coach of the Year Honors by USSA. Gus coaches the SMS T2 Team and is looking forward to another great winter. Andrew Newell is racing and training as a member of the U.S. Ski Team. He is prepping for Sochi and hoping for a record-breaking season. As a member of the SMS T2 Team, Andy spent most of the summer training at SMS. Molly Rose Gray is completing her third year at Vermont Law School! Dave Rothman resides with his wife, Tyne Pike-Sprenger ‘00 in Southern Vermont. Dave Rothman & Tom Wisdom
Carson Thurber writes, “I am enjoying life in Vermont with my wife, Ali Wassick. We enjoy earning our turns by hiking and skiing mountains around southern Vermont. Our favorite is Prospect Mountain in Woodford, Vt.” DJ Wassick writes, “I currently live in California and am running a ton. I recently completed a marathon in a PR time. I hope to make it back to Vermont this winter for skiing and riding with family.”
2003
Seth Anon is living in Manhattan Beach, Calif. He said, “I’ve been working as a portfolio manager for a quantitative hedge fund. Thanks, Terribly Dashing ‘TD’ McCormick for the intro to finance. Despite early mornings and long weeks I make time to cycle and get outside. Hope to make it back to SMS sometime soon to see all the new facilities.” Josh Bedard wrote, “Currently, I live in Gilford, N.H. with my wife Becca. My current passion in life is CrossFit Training and working to better myself as a person and as an adult athlete. I look forward to spending the winter coaching U16 alpine skiers at Gunstock Resort in N.H.” Tom Elias wrote, “I recently graduated from the University of Detroit School of Dentistry and am serving as an Captain in the U.S. Army at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. I’ve been selected to begin a four-year residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Tripler Army Medical
Starting Gate - Winter 2014 | 21
The Finish Line Center. Currently, I live on the North Shore of Oahu. It’s a far cry from the ski racing lifestyle in Vermont, and it’ll take some adjustment to having no fall/winter/spring, but it shouldn’t be too bad. Cheers to all!” Kelly O’Hear wrote to say that she graduated from the University of Buffalo School of Medicine in May and moved to California to start her anesthesiology residency at Stanford. “I’m going to be slaving away here in Palo Alto for the next four years!” Worthy McCormick writes, “I have recently opened, The Bivouac, in Breckenridge Colorado. The Bivouac is a reinvention of the classic ski lodge designed for outdoor enthusiasts offering food and lodging. The website is www.theBivvi. com, and I look forward to welcoming SMS alumni. Chinon “Chichi Williams” Maria wrote, “No bling bling or wedding bells. No belly or stroller pushing. Just the same old tricks as before, but wait...(drumroll please) after successfully living in four different homes this year, I am proud to announce that I have made the decision to stay and live in Munich, Germany. I have ants in my pants to return back to Hintertux, Austria after almost a decade has gone by since I was last there skiing on the glacier every October and avoiding cow Chinon “Chichi Williams” Maria patties while doing dryland sprints and tuck jumps up the mountainside. I’m feeling very fortunate to be living at the foothills of the Alps, eating piles of meat again for breakfast and to have an excuse to look like I am part of the von Trapp family.
2004
Jason Epstein and wife Cecily welcomed son, Eli Forrest on Nov. 22, 2012 weighing in at 8 lbs., 6 oz.
2005
Rachel Beckwith writes, “I’m living in Hoboken, N.J. with my friend Jessica and working in Manhattan. I’m head manager of the clothing store Denim Habit.”
2007
Chris Beadon graduated from Plymouth State University magna cum laude. He moved on to complete his MBA at Fairfield University in Connecticut, and he still loves ski racing!
Fritz Horst writes, “I’m currently spending my summers on the Salmon River in Idaho working for Rocky Mountain River Tours and my winters coaching youth skiing in Salt Lake City.” Michael Hughes is a small business consultant at Intuit and is living the dream in Denver, Colo.!
2008
Lily Eriksen, PG finished freshman year at Smith College where she plays as starting striker for the varsity women’s soccer team. She is looking forward to competing on the Smith Ski Team. Lily attended the U.S. DH Nationals in Aspen in 2012 and finished 11th. At Thanksgiving last year, Lily’s family was joined by Miyu Nakamura in Seattle.
Former Staff
Cort Ahl, along with Max ’06 and Lucas Winthrop and Christine Schozer reunited on top of Stratton over Christmas last year. A fun reunion for them. Dan Feldman graduated from the University of Colorado and started at New York Law School in the fall.
2012
Cort, Max and Lucas Winthrop and Christine Schozer.
Chase Marston graduated from Middlebury College last spring. He is currently working with the SMS Nordic Team and is enjoying every minute of his time back in Stratton. Catherine Stewart wrote, “I hope the new year at SMS is starting well! Over this past year, I graduated from Brown University with a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology: Brain and Behavior. I am currently living in Providence, R.I. and commuting to Boston Medical Center where I am a research assistant in a General Medicine Unit working in Addiction Studies. I also plan to volunteer with Brown University’s women’s ski team, assisting in any way I can during their race season. I’m excited about this new chapter in my life and all the wonderful things to come! Good luck in the upcoming winter season! Lucas Winthrop graduated from UNH in May and is currently living in Boston. He is working for Winthrop Wealth Management and has already purchased his season pass for Stratton. He plans on poaching SMS training this winter to prepare for a few winter ski races. He often dreams about the old SMS ski trips!
2009
Megan Killigrew graduated from Dartmouth College on June 9, 2013. She was the captain of the women’s Nordic Team last winter. This fall, she began teaching English at the White Mountain School in Bethlehem, N.H.
Peggy deSantis writes to say that she and husband Mike are enjoying life in Lancaster, Penn., and that they “are still upright.” She wrote with news of Yuichiro Miura, father of Gota Miura ’84, who became the oldest person to ever summit Everest in May, at the age of 80. Miura had summitted the world’s highest peak twice before when he was 70 and 75. Peggy said when she Yuichiro Miura and Mike traveled to Japan for Hyogo Seki’s memorial, they went to the Miura’s café and met Yuichiro, who was treated as a local celebrity. “He was a poet, an entrepreneur and an athlete,” she said. “The crowds on the sidewalk outside his establishment literally parted as he ushered us into his realm.” Peggy said, “I think about SMS and all of you so frequently!”
tiger shaw ‘79 Tiger Shaw ’79 was appointed Chief Operating Officer of USSA in 2013 and will succeed Bill Marolt as President/Chief Executive Officer after the Sochi Olympics in 2014. As a twotime Olympian, Tiger brings much practical and athletic experience to his post at the country’s top management position at USSA. A native of Stowe, Tiger spent a term at SMS before graduating from Stowe High School. He went on to compete in both the 1984 and 1988 Olympics and enjoy eight, top-10 World Cup finishes throughout his career. In a recent interview, he said, “The USSA office and the folks who work there are very special – truly world-class in many ways. It’s an honor to serve the organization and its membership. I am looking forward to spring when we get to plan for next year and build on our successes!”
2010
Gage Fichter is at the University of Vermont in the Exercise and Movement Sciences Program in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
You can view other notes and search for alumni online by going to www.gosms.org/alumni and clicking on the Directory link. 22 | Starting Gate - Winter 2014
In Memorium JoJo Weber ’78 died on Nov. 2, 2012, and the
term tutorial program, which expanded to a full-term program in 1972. Throughout the past 40 years, Tarinelli continued to be active in the daily life of SMS, attending graduation each year to present the Founder’s Award, the school’s most prestigious award for graduates.
David Clark, father of Tim and Ben Clark ’79, died
“We are saddened by the death of Don Tarinelli,” said SMS Headmaster Chris Kaltsas. “Don was a great leader and advocate for the SMS experience. He and his wife, Mary were instrumental in the development of the SMS program from its early days of hosting students in their homes, to its current status as an elite ski and snowboard academy program.”
Stratton Mountain School community lost a great friend and classmate.
in June. David established the Ben Clark Memorial Library at Stratton Mountain School soon after Ben died. He continued to take an interest in SMS and visited often. Dave was the General Manager of the Stratton Mountain Inn for many years since its inception. He retired to Wilmette, Ill. near his son Tim and family, and died there early this past winter. SMS is grateful for the many years of books enjoyed due to the Clark family’s generosity. Each year, after purchasing the books most wanted by students, the SMS librarian would put out a sign saying, “The Ben Clark Books are here!”
Don Tarinelli
Stratton Mountain School lost a visionary leader on Dec. 4, 2012 with the death of co-founder Donald Tarinelli. Tarinelli and investor Warren Hellman founded SMS in 1970 as a winter-
Don is survived by his wife, Mary, his four children and their spouses: Deborah Purvin, Donald Tarinelli, Jr., Christina Mauss, and Mark Tarinelli. Donald Tarinelli Jr. and Christina Mauss graduated from SMS in 1975 and 1976 respectively.
Caldwell, Powers inducted into VT Ski and Snowboard Museum Hall of Fame Stratton Mountain School’s own Nordic Program Director Sverre Caldwell and Snowboard Program Director Ross Powers (SMS ’97) were inducted into the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum Hall of Fame at a ceremony at the Stratton Mountain Club on October 26 at 4 p.m. They have joined the illustrious ski and snowboard leaders from the state including Jake Burton, Tiger Shaw, Leslie Thompson Hall (SMS ’81), and Bill Koch, among many others. Alumni parent and father of one of the SMS founding families, Emo Henrich was inducted posthumously.
performance in the HP. Later in 1998 he won two gold medals at the Winter X Games. In 2000 he established himself as the best HP rider on the pro circuit, winning at the Winter Goodwill Games, at the Gravity Games, and the World Championship. At the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, Powers won gold in the HP. In 2001, he formed the Ross Powers Foundation with a commitment to offering assistance to promising athletes with financial need, following the belief that one’s opportunity to achieve excellence in sport should not be limited by economic situation.
“We are so proud that Sverre, Ross and Emo are being honored by the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum Hall of Fame,” said SMS Headmaster Chris Kaltsas. “Their contributions to skiing and snowboarding over the years have helped distinguish SMS as the top program that it is, due in large part to their guidance and leadership.”
“I’m very honored to be selected to join the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum,” said SMS Program Director Ross Powers. “It’s a pleasure to be added to the list of greats who have done so much to influence the ski and snowboard industries, which all have roots in the great state of Vermont. I’m also very excited to be inducted with friend and coworker Sverre Caldwell, as he is a great inspiration to me.”
Sverre Caldwell, the SMS Nordic Program Director, joined SMS in 1980 as the Head Nordic Coach. Caldwell has shaped this program into a nationally recognized leader in preparing athletes for all levels of competition. To date, he has coached at least 28 Junior World Team members, 17 National Team members, 12 Olympians and has had at least one World Junior Team member and one Junior National Champion for 17 straight years. Sverre was named Coach of the Year by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) in 2001, 2003 and 2009. The SMS Program received the Roger Weston Award honoring the top girls and boys high school programs in 2008, 2009 and 2010. He coached the U.S. Olympic Team (1988), US World Junior Championship Team (2000, 2002, 2010) and the was the New England Team coach for Junior Olympics 14 times. “I’m happy to be joining the ranks of those who have been inducted into the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum Hall of Fame,” Sverre said. “Hall of Fame members over the years have elevated skiing in Vermont and the world to great levels. I’m honored to be joining them, alongside my colleague Ross.” Ross Powers, the SMS Snowboard Program Director and SMS alumnus (1997), attended his first U.S. Open at the age 9, competed in nationals the next year and was a world champion before his 18th birthday. While a student at Stratton Mountain School, Powers won the Halfpipe (HP) Gold Medal at the 1996 FIS Snowboarding World Championship. At the 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan, Powers earned a Bronze medal for his
(l-r) Hall of Fame inductees Ross Powers ’97 and Sverre Caldwell share the ceremony with the family of fellow Hall of Famer and SMS founding family member Emo Henrich: Tini Hamilton Henrich, Anne Henrich and Benzi Henrich.
Emo Henrich, brought his talents as a ski racer and instructor to Stratton from Innsbruck, Austria in 1961, and along with his wife Annedore, helped build the reputation and culture of Stratton Mountain Resort. Emo and Annedore were a founding family of Stratton Mountain School, sending their daughters Benzi (SMS’79) and Tini (SMS’84) to graduate from the program. “Emo’s contributions to skiing in Vermont and to helping forge our sports programs at SMS in the early days are legendary,” Kaltsas said. “He is a pioneer and very deserving of this award.” The other Hall of Fame inductees for 2013 included Frederick Pabst, Jr. and CB Vaughan, Jr.
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Stratton Mountain School 7 World Cup Circle Stratton Mountain, VT 05155 www.gosms.org
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Winter Ball 20
Winter Ball - January 25, 2014 Join us at 6 p.m. for dinner, dancing and silent and live auctions to benefit the SMS Scholarship Fund. Can’t make it? You can still make a difference! Consider donating an auction item. Cool condos, ski vacations, fishing trips, sports gear, sporting event tickets. Contact Wendy Schriebl at (802) 856-1101 or visit www.gosms.org/dreamsofgold