Only the Strong Survive Jersey Boy Michael Kirkland Keeps the Pride Alive

Author: Lanford Beard

You may not recognize his booming baritone when he's whipped into a hockey-induced frenzy. Perhaps you won't recognize his face behind all that blue paint, but you will no doubt recognize the hair, the thrift store duds and the unabashedly enthusiastic demeanor every time.

Michael Kirkland '03.5 is one of Middlebury hockey's most valuable players, even though he's painted up in the stands rather than padded down on the bench.

Having cheered for the hockey team with several friends since sophomore year, Kirkland explained, "I love hockey. I love the excitement of the sport and the passion of the fans with whom I am cheering. I only wish my NHL team - the Rangers - were as exciting to watch as Middlebury."

For Kirkland, it's all about pride.

If loud and proud had its own encyclopedia heading, the accompanying photo would surely be of him thrusting his fist in the air and singing, showing scared, young Febs the ways of this world we call Middlebury, or attending a LOGS meeting.

Yes, Kirkland is a Lover of the Garden State.

For some, Jersey Pride is a disturbing phenomenon - the heavily industrialized state is, after all, the butt of countless jokes - but true to his roots, Kirkland is not affected by the derision of elitists from Greenwich to Grosse Point.

Subconsciously painting a self-portrait, Kirkland described people from Jersey as "vivacious, wild and appreciative of the greatness of the Garden State."

He continued, "Jersey is unique, beautiful, active, diverse, inspiring and comforting. It is too bad that so many out-of-staters (who have never actually hung out in the state) allow ignorance to cloud their view of this truth. From beaches to mountains to farmlands to cities to pine barrens to suburbs, Jersey has it all - and Jerseyans are proud people."

By now everyone must realize that if Kirkland can love Jersey, he must not be able to hate anything or anything. And, strangely enough, he doesn't.

He has a passion for activity that is seemingly symptomatic of ADD or multiple personalities. Like Night Ranger's classic theme song from a fine Michael J. Fox film of the same name the "Secret of [Kirkland's] Success" is that he's livin' 25 hours a day.

Speaking of movies, Kirkland shared his love for a fellow '80s film: "Hot Dog, the Movie." It involves "Broomball, nudity, '80s music and dancing, Chinese downhill skiing and great humor" - it's "awesome."

And he takes tremendous pride in his cat even though it is deaf and has a neurological disorder that makes the cat "incapable of walking straight or drinking water without dipping his head in and then licking his face."

Before he matriculated at Middlebury in February 2000, Kirkland spent a semester in North Queensland, Australia, tutoring Aborigines at a boarding school. True to form, he interspersed morning lessons with afternoons on the beach, playing rugby and engaging in a little bit of carousal in the evenings.

Once he hit rural Vermont, Kirkland joined the cross country team, which, he mentioned, "has been one of the highlights of my Middlebury experience."

Kirkland's most memorable night at Middlebury occurred last November with the cross country team. He recalled, "We had a great streaking race around Battell Beach and went to Pearsons, where Pete Newell's Lonely Hearts Club Band was playing all Beatles tunes."

"That was the night I first hung out with my girlfriend Polly," he mentioned. "She's so special to me and has made my life so much brighter."

Another one of the bright spots in his life is his love for all things Feb. Last year he served as senior co-chair of February Orientation.

Kirkland also likes to share his enthusiasm for sports in a variety of ways. He plays intramural broomball in the winter and softball in the spring.

He also combines his Feb semester teaching experience with his varsity experience by coaching middle school cross country in Otter Valley every day before his own practice.

Last but certainly not least, Kirkland extended an all-campus offer for anyone who wants to join him in achieving the ultimate Midd-kid feat this winter.

"My goal is to ski every day of January, February and March - without missing one, he said. "If anyone wants in, give me a call."

For Kirkland, all this skiing is more than just fun. It is his future.

He moves unflinchingly towards graduation without the traditional goals or Wall Street bottom-line-tinged aspirations. He just wants to do what he loves, like he's been doing all his life so far.

"I want to live on the mountainside of an uncommercialized ski mountain with a hot tub, a beautiful view and a gorgeous wife with whom I will go skiing every day," he explained. "It will happen. Oh, yes, it will happen."