News Detail
Wildcat Spring Sports Roundup
An April snowstorm kept teams inside longer than they would have liked, but with the snow finally gone and the sun getting stronger every day, spring sports are now in full swing. Vermont Academy (VA) coaches are enthusiastic about their players’ attitudes and teams’ chances for winning seasons.
GIRLS LACROSSE
On the girls’ squad, returners Whitley Neumeister ’16, Mackenzie Curtis ’17, Fred Creighton ’18, Holly Meredith ’18, and Brianna Wood ’17 will bring a wealth of experience, knowledge, skill, and leadership to a team looking to make quick improvements before tackling a challenging schedule. “We start out with all Lakes Region Games, which will be really tough,” said second-year head coach Susan Schmitt, “but the experience we gain will be really helpful when we get into the second half of the season and play teams in our division.” In addition to the returners, the team will count on contributions from a slate of newcomers. Danielle Malarney ’19 has been impressive early, and Addie Doherty 19’ and Maddie Paydos ’18 have looked good in net. Freshmen Gwen Coger, Sydney Henry, and Ani Kapral have picked up the game with amazing speed.
BOYS LACROSSE
Boys’ Lacrosse coach Caleb Florence, in his first stint as a head coach, is excited to see the growth of a team built around a combination of returning experience and new talent. “We are hoping to get a big year out of Max McLaughlin ’16, last year’s leading scorer,” Florence said. “He is our most well-rounded player and the quarterback and leader of our offense.” Florence also expects the Wing brothers, Noah ’16 and Ethan ’17, to be significant contributors on offense, while Houston Wilson ’16 should be a force on defense and in transition. Post-grad Brian McKeon will add depth at mid-field, while fellow newcomers Connor Morton ’16 and Ryan Damren ’16 will add scoring punch at attack. Junior James Gallagher will fill a big void at goalie left by the graduation of Will Sanger, anchoring a defensive unit that includes Ka Ho Leung ’17, Henry Denee ’17, Mackey O’Keefe ’17, and Tyus Watson-Tummings ’17.
BOYS BASEBALL
With only two players returning from last year’s Lakes Region finalist team, head baseball coach Russ Williams is facing several question marks. He’s expecting seniors Ryan Strickland and Jack Derwin to provide leadership and championship experience, in addition to filling various roles. “Ryan has a good bat,” Williams said, “so we’re looking for him to drive in a lot of runs this spring, most likely from the middle of the line-up. Jack is the ace of the pitching staff, and he’ll be counted on to pitch deep into his games and play infield positions when not on the mound.” Nathan Smith ’17 will also split time between the infield and the mound, and freshman John Peloso will do most of the catching. Contact hitter Conrad Dalton will put his strong arm to use in center. PG Marc Catanese will fill another of the outfield positions. Basketball star Bruce Brown ’16 will put his speed to use on the base paths and has been working hard to improve his baseball skills. Back-to-back games against Kimball Union, a game against defending champion Tilton, and a double-header with New Hampton punctuate an always-difficult slate of Lakes Region games.
GIRLS TENNIS
Girls’ tennis coach Laura Frey has the unenviable task of replacing four-time team MVP and last year’s Lakes Region champion Elkanah Linder. She has two very strong returners, however, in Dariel Echanis ’17, whose game is built on tenacity and grit, and Yilin Yan ’18, whose cool and calm demeanor belies a fierce competitiveness. Annabella Zanini is a new sophomore who has played well early, and French twins Anais and Chloe Aurard ’17 bring exceptional athleticism and competitiveness to the team.
BOYS TENNIS
Boys’ tennis coach Alexei Sotskov returns an experienced and athletic group. He expects Luis Rodriguez ’17, Aaron Wang ’17, and Arm Temsartis ’16 to play one, two, and three singles respectively. Returner Lloyd Wilson ’16 is much improved over last year, while new juniors Dan Zhou, Hayden Dalton, and Leighton Nimey will make up for their relative lack of experience with raw athleticism. Freshman Danny Williams rounds out a group that has really impressed Sotskov. “Everyone is working hard,” he said. “We are definitely a team in terms of supporting and pushing each other to get better. We will be competitive because of our effort. It’s a joy to work with these guys, and I look forward to seeing how much they improve.”
GIRLS CREW
Head coach Amanda Levit predicts big things this spring from her seasoned team. Senior returners Abigail Bogovich, Kelsey Parker, and Jocelyn Trendell will make significant contributions and continue to be leaders and mentors on the team. Junior Allegra Wu and freshman Sarah Jacobelli will add another layer of talent and support on the water. Freshman newcomer Maureen Hughes has posted some impressive scores on the erg, and Levit expects she’ll be up to speed the with returners early in the season. "Our spring opener against Lincoln in Rhode Island will certainly be a jumping off point for the rest of our regattas this season," said Levit. "Our home race is a great opportunity for our girls' boats to show how competitive they are. We surprised a few historically strong programs in the fall, and I expect we'll continue to do so."
BOYS CREW
For the first time in his tenure, boys’ crew coach Thom Collins has a team at full capacity with four boats. He also has an upper echelon race on his schedule against St. Marks in mid-April. That race will be the team’s focus, and Collins expects it will increase the chances his team will earn a spot at the NEIRA post-season regatta. He has high hopes for a group that had some very close races in the fall. Collins will look to senior Christian Nimey and junior Paul Jensen, in particular, to lead the way. Henry Burns ’17 and John Henry Paluszek ’16 are new to the team but have arrived fresh off their respective ski seasons with a high level of fitness, positioning themselves as two of the strongest on the team. Burns also brings a wealth of experience. Sophomores Will Svensson, Nik Johnson, and Jordan Savad will add depth to the team and compete for a spot in the varsity boat.
GOLF
Coach Jon Edwards has what he expects will be one of his strongest golf teams in recent years. Seniors Tanner Dalton and Ian Li will lead the way and set the example with their play and work ethic for younger players and new arrivals including Tyler Jury ’16, Chris Lehman ’16, and David Huber ’16. Sophomores Ian Fenn and Logan Cota round out a group that will compete for match play spots, ensuring VA will field six strong players when they tee up against difficult Lakes Region competition.
EQUESTRIAN
The Equestrian program returns to Winchester Stables after a winter hiatus. The silver lining to a mild winter has been the immediate availability of the outdoor ring. The team has a range of riders with four returners, one beginner, and one newcomer with some experience. Last season’s co-captains Ale Villalvazo Salinas ’17 and A-In Kim ’16, along with returner Tricia Whitehill, are creating an energized and positive vibe for everyone. Chelsea Jiang ’17 has returned after a year off and is looking good early on. The team’s newest member, Chaera Lee ’16, has learned to do a posting trot in a record one week of riding. PG Izzy Tuggle brings years of experience to the team. Soon the jumps will be up and the river will be low enough for trail rides. In the meantime, everyone is enjoying being around horses and back on horseback.
ROCK CLIMBING
The rock climbing team is bubbling with excitement. In just their second year on the team, Carly Huston ’17 and Aiko Saito ’17 have impressed head coach Nate Williams, proving their off-season training has paid dividends. Mid-year transfer Scott Restivo ’17 also put in a lot of time on the wall over the winter, training twice a week. “His power for difficult climbs has wowed us all,” said Williams, “and his dedication to the sport is some of the highest I’ve seen in four years coaching at VA.” This year the team will compete for the first time in at least one USA Climbing sanctioned event. They’ll also participate in a climbing collaboration with other Lakes Region schools, which Williams expects will build community and help VA climbers sharpen their skills through climbing unfamiliar walls. Williams expects to see big improvement. “The team has already exceeded one of my expectations by climbing and belaying every day. They are a passionate group and to see them work on their technique on their own accord is something to behold.”
Back
On the girls’ squad, returners Whitley Neumeister ’16, Mackenzie Curtis ’17, Fred Creighton ’18, Holly Meredith ’18, and Brianna Wood ’17 will bring a wealth of experience, knowledge, skill, and leadership to a team looking to make quick improvements before tackling a challenging schedule. “We start out with all Lakes Region Games, which will be really tough,” said second-year head coach Susan Schmitt, “but the experience we gain will be really helpful when we get into the second half of the season and play teams in our division.” In addition to the returners, the team will count on contributions from a slate of newcomers. Danielle Malarney ’19 has been impressive early, and Addie Doherty 19’ and Maddie Paydos ’18 have looked good in net. Freshmen Gwen Coger, Sydney Henry, and Ani Kapral have picked up the game with amazing speed.
BOYS LACROSSE
Boys’ Lacrosse coach Caleb Florence, in his first stint as a head coach, is excited to see the growth of a team built around a combination of returning experience and new talent. “We are hoping to get a big year out of Max McLaughlin ’16, last year’s leading scorer,” Florence said. “He is our most well-rounded player and the quarterback and leader of our offense.” Florence also expects the Wing brothers, Noah ’16 and Ethan ’17, to be significant contributors on offense, while Houston Wilson ’16 should be a force on defense and in transition. Post-grad Brian McKeon will add depth at mid-field, while fellow newcomers Connor Morton ’16 and Ryan Damren ’16 will add scoring punch at attack. Junior James Gallagher will fill a big void at goalie left by the graduation of Will Sanger, anchoring a defensive unit that includes Ka Ho Leung ’17, Henry Denee ’17, Mackey O’Keefe ’17, and Tyus Watson-Tummings ’17.
BOYS BASEBALL
With only two players returning from last year’s Lakes Region finalist team, head baseball coach Russ Williams is facing several question marks. He’s expecting seniors Ryan Strickland and Jack Derwin to provide leadership and championship experience, in addition to filling various roles. “Ryan has a good bat,” Williams said, “so we’re looking for him to drive in a lot of runs this spring, most likely from the middle of the line-up. Jack is the ace of the pitching staff, and he’ll be counted on to pitch deep into his games and play infield positions when not on the mound.” Nathan Smith ’17 will also split time between the infield and the mound, and freshman John Peloso will do most of the catching. Contact hitter Conrad Dalton will put his strong arm to use in center. PG Marc Catanese will fill another of the outfield positions. Basketball star Bruce Brown ’16 will put his speed to use on the base paths and has been working hard to improve his baseball skills. Back-to-back games against Kimball Union, a game against defending champion Tilton, and a double-header with New Hampton punctuate an always-difficult slate of Lakes Region games.
GIRLS TENNIS
Girls’ tennis coach Laura Frey has the unenviable task of replacing four-time team MVP and last year’s Lakes Region champion Elkanah Linder. She has two very strong returners, however, in Dariel Echanis ’17, whose game is built on tenacity and grit, and Yilin Yan ’18, whose cool and calm demeanor belies a fierce competitiveness. Annabella Zanini is a new sophomore who has played well early, and French twins Anais and Chloe Aurard ’17 bring exceptional athleticism and competitiveness to the team.
BOYS TENNIS
Boys’ tennis coach Alexei Sotskov returns an experienced and athletic group. He expects Luis Rodriguez ’17, Aaron Wang ’17, and Arm Temsartis ’16 to play one, two, and three singles respectively. Returner Lloyd Wilson ’16 is much improved over last year, while new juniors Dan Zhou, Hayden Dalton, and Leighton Nimey will make up for their relative lack of experience with raw athleticism. Freshman Danny Williams rounds out a group that has really impressed Sotskov. “Everyone is working hard,” he said. “We are definitely a team in terms of supporting and pushing each other to get better. We will be competitive because of our effort. It’s a joy to work with these guys, and I look forward to seeing how much they improve.”
GIRLS CREW
Head coach Amanda Levit predicts big things this spring from her seasoned team. Senior returners Abigail Bogovich, Kelsey Parker, and Jocelyn Trendell will make significant contributions and continue to be leaders and mentors on the team. Junior Allegra Wu and freshman Sarah Jacobelli will add another layer of talent and support on the water. Freshman newcomer Maureen Hughes has posted some impressive scores on the erg, and Levit expects she’ll be up to speed the with returners early in the season. "Our spring opener against Lincoln in Rhode Island will certainly be a jumping off point for the rest of our regattas this season," said Levit. "Our home race is a great opportunity for our girls' boats to show how competitive they are. We surprised a few historically strong programs in the fall, and I expect we'll continue to do so."
BOYS CREW
For the first time in his tenure, boys’ crew coach Thom Collins has a team at full capacity with four boats. He also has an upper echelon race on his schedule against St. Marks in mid-April. That race will be the team’s focus, and Collins expects it will increase the chances his team will earn a spot at the NEIRA post-season regatta. He has high hopes for a group that had some very close races in the fall. Collins will look to senior Christian Nimey and junior Paul Jensen, in particular, to lead the way. Henry Burns ’17 and John Henry Paluszek ’16 are new to the team but have arrived fresh off their respective ski seasons with a high level of fitness, positioning themselves as two of the strongest on the team. Burns also brings a wealth of experience. Sophomores Will Svensson, Nik Johnson, and Jordan Savad will add depth to the team and compete for a spot in the varsity boat.
GOLF
Coach Jon Edwards has what he expects will be one of his strongest golf teams in recent years. Seniors Tanner Dalton and Ian Li will lead the way and set the example with their play and work ethic for younger players and new arrivals including Tyler Jury ’16, Chris Lehman ’16, and David Huber ’16. Sophomores Ian Fenn and Logan Cota round out a group that will compete for match play spots, ensuring VA will field six strong players when they tee up against difficult Lakes Region competition.
EQUESTRIAN
The Equestrian program returns to Winchester Stables after a winter hiatus. The silver lining to a mild winter has been the immediate availability of the outdoor ring. The team has a range of riders with four returners, one beginner, and one newcomer with some experience. Last season’s co-captains Ale Villalvazo Salinas ’17 and A-In Kim ’16, along with returner Tricia Whitehill, are creating an energized and positive vibe for everyone. Chelsea Jiang ’17 has returned after a year off and is looking good early on. The team’s newest member, Chaera Lee ’16, has learned to do a posting trot in a record one week of riding. PG Izzy Tuggle brings years of experience to the team. Soon the jumps will be up and the river will be low enough for trail rides. In the meantime, everyone is enjoying being around horses and back on horseback.
ROCK CLIMBING
The rock climbing team is bubbling with excitement. In just their second year on the team, Carly Huston ’17 and Aiko Saito ’17 have impressed head coach Nate Williams, proving their off-season training has paid dividends. Mid-year transfer Scott Restivo ’17 also put in a lot of time on the wall over the winter, training twice a week. “His power for difficult climbs has wowed us all,” said Williams, “and his dedication to the sport is some of the highest I’ve seen in four years coaching at VA.” This year the team will compete for the first time in at least one USA Climbing sanctioned event. They’ll also participate in a climbing collaboration with other Lakes Region schools, which Williams expects will build community and help VA climbers sharpen their skills through climbing unfamiliar walls. Williams expects to see big improvement. “The team has already exceeded one of my expectations by climbing and belaying every day. They are a passionate group and to see them work on their technique on their own accord is something to behold.”
Vermont Academy is a coed college preparatory boarding and day school in southern Vermont, serving grades 9-12 plus a postgraduate year.
