2005 FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

Author: [no author name found]

FOOTBALL

After finishing at .500 for four consecutive seasons, the Panthers look to best that mark this year by fielding a team replete with defensive talent but short on offensive experience. Graduation has taken its toll once again as the team returns only 12 starters from the 2004 campaign - eight on defense but just four on offense.

The Panthers boast experience and talent on defense, despite the graduation of all-NESCAC linebacker Rich Decembrele, and are led by two returning starters who garnered all-NESCAC second team selections: Senior linebacker and co-captain Coleman Hutzler and junior lineman Kevin Ryan. "Our defense will be our strength," said fifth-year head coach Bob Ritter. "We're hoping that the defense rises to the occasion and lets our offense catch up a little bit."

The graduation of the top three offensive players places the task of offensive production on the shoulders of junior quarterback Tiger Lyon, who has only attempted four passes in his college career. "He has a very good arm, is a very good athlete, plays by feel," Ritter said about his unproven quarterback, "and I think he will be very effective." Lyon will be aided by senior wide receiver Tim Sheridan and junior tight end Jamie Staples, as well as senior running back Dom DiDominico, who will lead a rushing attack that averaged 84 yards a game last season.

The team starts at Bowdoin on Sept.24, followed by the vist of Colby on Oct. 1 - Jon Brand



GOLF

After a successful season last year, where the ladies finished second to Division-I Harvard at the Northeast Championship, the Lady Linksters look forward to signing more low scorecards this autumn. While Captain Heather Gallagher '07 is abroad at the "Home of Golf" in St. Andrews, studying both the Old Courses' greens and for her psychology courses, sophomore Karen Levin and junior twins Allison and Kerry Ortega will look to carry the load. If the team plays as well as they have this preseason, the load, even without Heather, should be manageable.

Golf Digest's September 2005 issue ranked Middlebury as the 11th best school in the country combining golf with academics, and the ladies will look to back this ranking up when they compete this weekend at the Dartmouth Invitational. The men's team is ranked 22nd in the same category ahead of rivals Colgate and Amherst. Coach Bill Beaney felt that the men's team has worked hard in preseason, and if they stay focused, and keep the ball in the fairway, this season has the making of being "one of the best in a long time."

The men have their sights on an NCAA bid and can get closer to their goal: the Firethorn Golf Club in Lincoln, Nebraska, if they finish well in this weekend's Duke Nelson tournament. The top Division-III teams in the Northeast will be on our own course, with good weather forcast for the weekend. - Jeff Patterson



MEN'S TENNIS

The Middlebury men's tennis team is preparing to hit the court swinging this Saturday and Sunday at the Middlebury Invitational after a few weeks of rigorous preseason practices. The Invitational is the only home match of the fall season for the Panthers, who will host Bates, Bowdoin and Trinity, the NESCAC competition for the tournament, among others.

Captain Nate Edmunds '06 is optimistic about this year's roster, and notes that preseason training has been going very well for the team. Brian Waldron '06, last year's first singles player, returns to the team looking more promising than ever. Edmunds commented that Waldron "sets the bar high" in terms of fitness and in terms of overall playing this year after finishing last season ranked fifth in the country and earning All American honors.

Spectators should also watch out for Conrad Olson '09, the newest addition to the team. "He's pretty solid on the baseline," says Edmunds, "and will definitely improve throughout the season." He speculates that the Panthers can expect significant contributions from Olson this year.

The men will look to recapture the form that took them all the way to the NCAA title match last year starting this weekend in their own backyard. - Sarah Poling Luehrman



RUGBY

Middlebury Rugby teams have become infamous for their intensity, and dedication and this year appears to be no exception. With a wide array of former high school athletes the men's rugby team has once again collected a group of talented, athletic, and charming men. Despite a disappointing loss to the Coast Guard last year in the sweet 16 of national tournament, the men have regrouped and created a cohesive team that has managed to integrate novice rugby players perfectly. "There is a strong core of returning students who are playing at all different levels," said Head Coach Ward Patterson.

Along with the drive to win, the team genuinely seems to enjoy each others company creating a harmonious group chemistry. "The team is not only a competitive athletic group but it has also been a great social group. Everyone on the team looks out for each other," said Calvin Gardner '06.

The women's team will have a team comprised of fairly new players who will be making a strong impact this season. This year they are modifying their tactics to utilize their speed and technical skills effectively. One of the problems the Panthers will face is its lack in number of players.

"We had many experienced seniors graduate last year, and several juniors have gone abroad so it will be a building year for us. However, we are hoping for a strong freshman turnout. Our team is quite a bit smaller than a lot of the other teams we play, both physically and in number of participants, but our speed and technical skill more than make up for it. Everyone has been getting along really well so far and we are all excited for the fall season," said captain Kristen Kling '06. -Eri Nosaka



WOMEN'S TENNIS

Coming off their most successful season in school history, the Middlebury women's tennis heads into their fall season with high hopes for the year. The Panthers have added four strong first-years to a team that went to the NCAA semifinals last spring and they will be looking to take home the top prize this year.

"Every year we break a record or do something extraordinary and I think this year is no different," said Amanda Berck '08. "I feel that this year we're untouchable. There's no weakest player and no strongest player."

The team's first two matches this fall should not prove to be too much of a challenge to the Panthers. The team faces off against Skidmore in their season opener on Sept. 14, a squad they beat 9-0 last year, and then takes on Bates, another 9-0 victim from last year, on Sept. 18. The Panthers' biggest challenge this fall before the winter off-season will be two New England tournaments - the ITA Regional and the New England Women Intercollegiate Tennis Tournament. The Panthers will use the tournaments to tune up and gain confidence for a run at the Division III championship in the spring.

"Amy Roche '07 is going to be really important," said Captain Maren Messing '06. "All our doubles players are going to be really important this year and our freshmen should make up for the loss of two seniors who graduated." - Zamir Ahmed