Winter sports preview

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Skiing

Over Thanksgiving recess, members of Middlebury's cross country ski team will go across the country to find snow, stopping in West Yellowstone, Mont., like it has in years past, to train alongside other top collegiate teams as well as the U.S. national team.

This year, the focus of coach Andrew Gardner's team will not only be on northern notables UVM and Dartmouth - it will be on a national scope.

"We have our sight set not just on the East, but on schools out West, like UD [University of Denver], schools we haven't beaten," said Gardner.

While the Nordic skiers are training in Montana, the alpine team will be carving turns up Colorado mountain roads and then down the Copper Mountain and Loveland ski areas.

With Andrew Wagner '09, co-captains Alec Tarberry '08 and Zeke Davisson '08 on the men's roster and Mattie Ford '09 and Dorothy Muirhead '08 returning for the women, both teams have retained their top-finishers from the NCAAs last year.

"We have a large returning class of veterans and a lot of talent in the years below us," said Davisson. "We also have a promising freshman class, namely Jake Lund '11, coming right off the U.S. Ski team."
-Jeff Patterson, Sports Editor


Indoor Track

Led by Alexandra Krieg '09, the strongest suit of the women's indoor track team may be the long and middle distances, as Krieg returns as the NESCAC champion in the 10,000 meters. Kate Hirschboeck '08 (800m, 1500m) and Simone Weisman '09 (400m, 800m) provide veteran middle-distance depth that is supported by, among others, first-year phenom Kaitlynn Saldanha.

"She's coming in as one of our fastest 800 meter runners ever," said head coach Martin Beatty. He hopes Saldanhya can transition quickly to college competition, because the Panthers enter this year without last year's 800 meter national qualifier and NESCAC champion Beth Butler '07.

Jen Brenes '09 and Anjuli Demers '10 are both multi-talented sprinters, Emer Feighery '09 is in the NESCAC's upper echelon in the pole vault and former All-NESCAC hammer thrower Jen Currie '08 returns from abroad to anchor the throwers.

The men are also strongest in the distance events, and the key piece of that puzzle is yet again Jimmy Butcher '08, who will run the 1500m, 5000m and 10,000m.

"He's really our main guy this year," said Beatty, "and right behind him is Ian O'Reilly ['08]." O'Reilly earned his captainship last year through consistent leadership and significant drops in his times, as he became one of the conference's top-flight 800m runners.

Labeling the class of 2011 "one of our most potential-laden ever," Beatty was very optimistic about the prospects of Kristoffer Williams '11, who joins a pole vaulting squad led by Pat Sedney '08.

Darren Small '11, coming off a breakout first-year season as a football running back, will attempt to parlay that success into points in the sprinting events (100m, 200m), and Matt Engel '11 will do the same in the jumps (high jump, long jump).

While every team wants to be competitive during the winter, Middlebury's group is firmly focused on reaching its peak in May, in time for the NESCAC outdoor championships and NCAA national meets.
-Livingston Burgess, Staff Writer


Men's Hockey

For the first time in four years, the Panthers finished their season last year with a loss and without a NCAA championship ring, but the expectations and goals are unchanged.

"Winning a national championship is never really our ultimate goal," said head coach Bill Beaney. "We are more focused on becoming the best team we can be and making sure we enjoy the journey of the season. If you can focus on that aspect, you can become a pretty good team. The more you worry about the final game, the less likely you are to get there."

With even more parity expected in the NESCAC this season, it will be imperative to embrace a one-game-at-a-time approach and not overlook any opponents, because league games will have major playoff implications.

"Last year we learned that wins won't just come to us because we are wearing the Middlebury shirt," said co-captain Scott Bartlett '08.

The graduating class of 2007 tallied 393 career points, won 96 of 121 games and captured three national championships, but losing talent and experience is a common experience for Middlebury hockey - in fact, it seems to be a consistent, yearly occurrence for one of the most dominant athletic teams in all of Division III athletics. Just as the team loses impact players each year, the Panthers bring in fresh legs and plenty of talent. This year, five new first-years will replace the successful class of 2007-Trevor Dodds '11 will wear Eric LaFreniere's '07 #19, Chaz Svoboda '11 will use #22 Evgeny Saidachev '07 old "sweater", Ken Suchoski '11 will try and fill the big skates and jersey (#28) of savvy defender Brett Shirreffs '07, Bryan Curran '11will try and match #29 John Sales' '07 offensive production and Michael Kretschmer '11 will take over Richie Fuld's '07 #34.

"We're very excited about the freshman class," said Beaney. "They will add a lot of skill up front, and fill in some key positions in the back. Even though it's a small class, they will all play a significant role this year."

They will be contributors, but only with the help of experienced players returning to the team. Middlebury has not one, but two of the best goalies in all of Division III who combined to make 1,570 saves last season. Additionally, both of last season's top scorers - captains Mickey Gilchrist '08 and Tom Maldonado '08 - return to the lineup joined by a host of terrific players with an extra year of experience now under their belt.

Game to Watch: Friday, Jan. 18 vs. Bowdoin - a rematch of last year's NESCAC final.
-James Kerrigan, Sports Editor


Women's Hockey

After suffering a disappointing end to the season last year, the women's hockey team is "back with a vengeance," said forward Ashley Bairos '10, who scored nine goals in the 2006-2007 season, her first year on the team.

Although Middlebury had won back-to-back NESCAC and back-to-back-to-back NCAA titles going into last year, head coach Bill Mandigo's squad fell just short in both championships last winter in devastating defeats to Amherst and then Plattsburgh State.

This year, however, the women are determined to keep victory from slipping through their fingers again.

While graduation took along with it the hockey team's two All-American athletes and six seniors total, the returning players are confident that this year's team will bring glory back to the women's hockey program.

This year, Karen Levin '08, Margaret MacDonald '08 and Annmarie Cellino '09 will take over the captains' responsibilities. All three have the experience and leadership qualities for the job.

In light of last year's unfortunate culmination, the spirit of competition has been particularly elevated this season as the players are itching to avenge their losses. With the cannot-get-much-closer scores of 2-1 in triple-overtime against the Lord Jeffs at last year's NESCAC championship and another 2-1 loss to the perennial rival Cardinals in the NCAA finals, the women are determined to reverse their luck.

"We're ready for both those games," said Bairos looking forward to the times the Panthers will face off against these opponents. Bairos believes that this year's eight promising first-year skaters, two of whom are goaltenders, will help revive the team and propel Middlebury to success.

Defeat is almost unacceptable for a program as storied as Middebury, one that has become accustomed to its longstanding reputation as the best in Division III women's hockey.

Accordingly, these players in the white-and-blue jerseys refuse to consider a potent
ial repeat of last season's disappointments this time around. Aware of their immense potential both as players and as a team, the women have been committed to making an impressive comeback, running extra laps around Kenyon Arena.

Considering the fervor with which the women are entering the 2007-2008 season, students will not want to miss what promises to be an exciting winter for women's hockey.

Games to Watch: Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 17-18 vs. Elmira and Plattsburgh State/Williams - Middlebury hosts the Panther Classic and may have a chance to get revenge on the Cardinals.
-Emma Gardner, Staff Writer


Women's Basketball

Experience is the word on everyone's mind as the 2007-2008 Middlebury women's basketball team returns to the court. Last year, the Panthers graduated only two seniors, and all five starters are returning to action this year.

Leading scorer Emily Johnson '09 returns as a junior coming off an impressive sophomore year. Middlebury's three captains also return after getting extensive playing time last year. No doubt about it, Nelson Gymnasium will be alive with excitement if the Panthers meet expectations.

"I am very excited about the upcoming season and have high expectations for this team," said head coach Noreen Pescock. "Not only do we return all five starters, we have six other returnees."

The Panthers finished 12-13 after losing in the first round of the NESCAC tournament as the seventh seed.

"Ask anyone on the team," said tri-captain Katie Fisher '08, "year after year we have talent and a solid work ethic - yet we always seem to under perform. Frustrated and tired of this outcome, we are ready for a different kind of women's basketball here at Middlebury."

Fisher said the team has been working on its full court press extensively in practice. With 11 experienced players returning for action, Middlebury should be able to run with anyone in the conference.

"We definitely have strength in the depth of our bench this year," said tri-captain Lani Young '08. "We have a core group of returnees, as well as five new players, and we are in a position to sub a lot more than we have in years past. This will allow us to use our press and run the floor more, without worrying about people tiring out too quickly."

Although the Panthers record was a game under .500, the team was close to breaking into the top echelon of NESCAC teams. The Panthers lost six games by six points or less last year and are looking to improve on handling themselves late in the game.

"A lot of our losses, particularly within the NESCAC, were within five or so points," said Young. "I think given our experience and the amount of talent we have returning, we should win more of the close games."

The Panthers are anxious to get started with such hig expectations. The season gets underway on Nov. 17, but the first Panthers' home game is Nov. 27 against Castleton State.

Game to watch: Friday, Feb. 8 vs. Tufts - the Jumbos beat Middlebury twice last season, the second coming in the NESCAC tournament.
-Dan Stevens, Staff Writer


Men's Basketball

Coming off its first winning season since 2002-03, the men's basketball team is looking to make it a habit. Coach Jeff Brown has taken the program from having a losing season (6-18) in 2004-05 to a .500 season (12-12) in 2005-06 to a winning season (15-10) in 2006-07, and is looking to continue the upward trend.

The expectations are high for this year's team since only four players - only one of whom was a starter - graduated from last year's team. However, these losses will be felt by the team.

"We will miss Evan [Thompson '07] most," co-captain Andrew Harris '08 said, "but Wil [Hyatt '07], Chris [Dowd '07] and Bobby [Marcoux '07] were important role players on our team. Wil was a good shooter, played good defense and moved really well without the ball. Chris took over at the point. And Bobby played good defense and rebounded well."

Certainly, these four will be missed and the team will need some of the younger players to step up and contribute. Kyle Dudley '09 will be looking at a lot more playing time at the one and the two while Kevin Kelleher '10 will be doing the same at the three or four.

More importantly, co-captain Mike Walsh '08 will need to step up and fill Evan's starting spot.

"We are looking to Walsh to come up big this year," said Harris. He plays good defense, guards the post players well and dishes out of the double team well. He will surely be making a major contribution."

This year's team has the potential to have a good season. Ben Rudin '09 runs the point well and has another year of experience under his belt. Tim Edwards '9.5 is the defensive stopper who always plays the opponent's best perimeter player. Aaron Smith '09 is a strong post presence. Lastly, Harris will be playing the two and looking to score.

Rudin, Edwards, Walsh, Harris and Smith will be a strong starting line-up. But there is also more depth on this team than the Panthers have had in the past. For these reasons, the Panthers should have an even better season than last year.

Game to Watch: Friday, Jan. 25 vs. Amherst - the Lord Jeffs ended Middlebury's nine-game winning streak last season, and finished runner-up in the conference.
-Andrew Schlegel, Staff Writer


Squash

Middlebury squash welcomes new head coach John Illig to the women's and men's programs, bringing fresh enthusiasm and seeing "great potential for a very strong program" at Middlebury.

Sally Hatfield '09, one of six returners, steps into the number one spot leading the women's team with co-captains Brooke Farquhar '08 and Eleanor Buechner '08.

Currently abroad are juniors Caroline Woodworth and Avery Tilney who will join Brooke Beatt '10, Lee McKenna '10, Ashley Manicelli '10 and Abby Hoeschler '10 on the ladder.

Both teams will feature talented first-years. Virginia Shannon and Brian Cady will likely play two for their respective teams.

For the men, John Paul Sardi '09 will assume the top spot. Anchoring the group are senior co-captains Will Carroll '07.5 and Jesse Davidson '08. Gordon McMorris '08.5 will step into the number three spot upon return in January. The ladder will also feature Eliot Jia '10, Simon Keyes '10, Micah Wood '10 and Jack Lysohir '08.5.

Game to watch: Monday, Jan. 14 vs. St. Lawrence - the Saints (17th) are the highest-ranked men's team to ever come to Middlebury.
- Lise Rosenberger, Staff Writer


Swimming & Diving

After a successful 2006-2007 season, the Middlebury swim team seems ready to improve on last year's finish. Despite the loss of three perennial national competitors to graduation - Rob Collier '07, Tim Lux '07 and John Rayburn '07 - several first-year recruits are prepared to fill their shoes. Ryan Marklewitz '11 complements Guillermo Garcia '08 in the distance swimming department, adding to an already potent core of swimmers. The other new face is Matt Vulkich '11, a breaststroker whose performance in high school makes him an already-feared threat throughout the NESCAC. Two veterans expected to have big seasons are Schulyer Beeman '10, who placed 12th in last season's NESCAC championships and Kevin O'Rourke '09, who made nationals and has put up impressive preseason times. Peter Bell '08 had a very impressive performance in last year's conference championship, helping Middlebury secure a fourth place finish.

On the women's team, an obvious superstar is the perennial power house Marika Ross '08. Last year, she was the national champion in the 200-yard Butterfly and was a major factor in the team's eighth-place national ranking. Additionally, she won three separate events at the NESCAC championships, breaking school, pool and NESCAC records in the 200 fly, the first leg of the 800-
yard freestyle relay and the 50-yard fly. Co-captain Sara Cowie '08 has traditionally been one of the hardest workers on the team and she will continue to lead by example. With seven first-years, her leadership abilities will have a profound impact on the future of the team. Katie Remington '10 finished off strong last season in NESCACs as well, with two individual second-place finishes and a first-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay.

Meet to watch: Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 8 and 9: Middlebury Invitational at the Natatorium.
-Jake Cohen, Staff Writer