Seniors Bonney, Dezotell and Smith Rewrite Record Books

Author: Bob Wainwright

Nobody scores more at Middlebury College than seniors Denny Smith, Meg Bonney and Kyle Dezotell. Over the past four years, the three athletes have established themselves in the record books for their respective sports, and there is no telling when their records will ever be so much as approached.

Denny Smith

Last Saturday, Middlebury devoured the Tufts Jumbos 31-6 in the season finale. It was a great way to end the season for the Panthers, who have suffered excruciatingly close defeats in each of their four losses. According to Smith, "It was a great team win. I'm just glad that we put it all together in the culmination of our season."
It was an especially big day for Smith, who on the first play of the game broke A.J. Husband's '98 all-time school record for receiving yards. With 143 receiving yards on the day, Smith finished his Middlebury career with 1,760 yards, eclipsing Husband's mark of 1,621 yards. Smith also ran for 69 yards, and scored the Panthers' first touch down, a 60-yard run on a fake punt.
Asked what such an accomplishment means to him, Smith replied, "It was a relief to get it [the receiving record] on the first play. I was more concerned with it not being a distraction. Smith also owns the single-season yards record, the single-season receptions record, and the single-game yards record, all of which he earned last season. The best game of his career was against Colby last year, when Smith caught 11 passes for 228 yards, including a 74-yard reception that was called back.
Senior captain Christopher Davis discussed his teammate's achievement. "I'm happy that he ended his career on such a high note. But I was even more happy when he finally got his bell wrung in the second quarter."

Meg Bonney

After becoming Middlebury's most prolific scorer in women's soccer during her junior year, Meg Bonney added yet another achievement to her long list of accolades this season, by breaking the single-season scoring record with 16 goals. It was a record she and teammate Leah Cumsky-Whitlock '03 had previously shared with 13 goals.
But if one is interested in learning about Bonney's many records, the one person not to talk to is Bonney herself. "I never know about these things," Bonney explained. "I broke something sophomore year. I know that Dana Chapin's dad told my coach that I broke something sophomore year." That was the extent of Bonney's knowledge of her own statistics. Luckily for us, however, the Director of Athletic Communications keeps track of these types of things. Bonney finishes her Middlebury career as the Panthers' all-time leader in both goals (53) and points (119). Her four-year teammate Cumsky-Whitlock also leaves Middlebury as the College's all-time assists leader with 23. Never before in women's soccer has Middlebury boasted such a duo.
For Bonney though, losing to Williams in the NESCAC tournament was tough to take. "It's hard to go out the way we did. We tied our final two regular season games and then lost 3-0 to Williams. It wasn't the way I wanted it to end." Bonney cited winning the inaugural NESCAC tournament in 2000 as the greatest moment of her career.

Kyle Dezotell

Like Bonney, Dezotell ends his Middlebury men's soccer career as the College's all-time goals and points leader. Going into this season, Dezotell already was Middlebury's all-time assists leader.
Dezotell's record goal occurred during Middlebury's 5-1 win over Trinity in the first round of the NESCACs Nov. 2. Fifty-four minutes into the game, Dezotell scored a left-footed goal from just inside the box. It was the 33rd of his career, which broke Tor Hultgren's record of 32, set in 1960.
Dezotell's final goal, however, proved to be his most joyous and also his most heartbreaking. With four minutes to go in the team's NESCAC semifinal game against Williams this past Saturday, Dezotell broke a 0-0 tie with the 34th goal of his career. Suddenly, it seemed as though Dezotell would leave Middlebury having gotten the best of the team that has always been a thorn in Middlebury's side. With three seconds left to play, however, Williams tied the game at one, and managed to win in overtime. "Their goal at the end of regulation rolled of the goal post, no less," explained Dezotell. "It was very difficult to stomach."
Dezotell plans to continue with soccer beyond this year. Having played two seasons for the semi-pro team, the Vermont Voltage, Dezotell is planning on trying out for a division three U.S. pro team this summer. "I'm not ready to hang it up just yet," he explained.

Remembering Legends

Smith, Bonney and Dezotell each scorched the record books of Middlebury College athletics. But numbers aside, each exemplified the spirit and essence of any true collegiate athlete. Each one recognized the invaluable contributions of their teammates and remained devoted to improving both their individual play and that of those around them.