ADDISON COUNTY INDEPENDENT
B Section
THURSDAY, Â MARCH Â 3, Â 2016
ANDY KIRKALDY
SPORTS
ALSO IN THIS SECTION:
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Of  NFL  QBs,  FIFA,  and  the  best  gym  in  VT A  few  items,  from  local  to  inter- national,  have  recently  caught  my  attention. Nationally,  NFL  quarterbacks  have  been  in  the  news. Peyton  Manning  got  a  pass  from  WKH PHGLD DIWHU ZDONLQJ RII WKH ÂżHOG following  a  Super  Bowl  loss  to  the  Saints  and  not  shaking  any  hands,  including  that  of  winning  QB  Drew  Brees. He’s  a  competitor,  said  the  talking  heads. After  this  Super  Bowl,  losing  QB  Cam  Newton  sought  Manning  out,  shook  his  hand  with  a  big  smile.  But  later,  while  being  badgered  with  questions,  Newton  walked  out  of  a  post- game  press  con- ference.   Was  Newton  just  being  a  competitor? Nope.  Sore  loser.  Spoiled  brat. Rob  Gronkowski  spikes  the  ball  40  feet  into  the  air  after  scoring  touchdowns  and  bangs  helmets  with  3$17+(5 6(1,25 *+$66$1 *HGHRQ $FKL ULSV SDVW D JDWH GXULQJ 6DWXUGD\ÂśV JLDQW VODORP UDFH DW WKH 0LGGOHEXU\ 6QRZ %RZO *HGHRQ $FKL ÂżQ- his  QB.  Everybody  loves  Gronk. LVKHG KLV ÂżUVW UXQ ZLWK D WLPH RI EXW GLG QRW ÂżQLVK KLV VHFRQG UXQ Newton  dances  and  celebrates  Independent  photo/Trent  Campbell with  his  teammates  after  scores. Nope.  He’s  a  punk. Do  we  live  in  a  post-Âracial  Amer- ica? Nope. On  a  different  Manning  issue,  the  media  and  the  public  around  the  na- tion  slammed  Tom  Brady  for  asking  3DWULRW HPSOR\HHV WR GHĂ€DWH IRRWEDOOV HANCOCK/RIPTON  —  Middle- —  and  I  believe  he  did,  but  within  bury  College  skiers  won  two  events  his  rights,  to  the  lower  end  of  legal  this  past  weekend  and  claimed  fourth  limits.  Cold  air  took  care  of  the  rest,  place  at  the  Panthers’  own  Winter  as  has  been  proven  over  and  over  Carnival,  which  doubled  as  the  East- again  to  anyone  who  will  listen  to  ern  Intercollegiate  Ski  Association  science.  Championship  and  an  NCAA  Re- Meanwhile,  large  quantities  of  gional.  performance-Âenhancing  drugs  were  The  University  of  Vermont  cap- being  shipped  to  Manning’s  home,  tured  the  title  with  989  points,  fol- allegedly  for  his  wife.  And  if  you  lowed  by  Dartmouth  (826),  the  Uni- believe  that,  I  have  some  only  oc- versity  of  New  Hampshire  (749)  and  casionally  damp  land  in  Cornwall  to  the  Panthers  (710).  Middlebury  is  sell  you. now  off  until  the  NCAA  champion- Several  ESPN  announcers  pub- ships,  to  be  held  from  March  9  to  12  licly  refused  to  discuss  those  PED  in  Steamboat  Springs,  Colo. allegations,  which  seem  to  have  van- $IWHU ÂżYH WRS ÂżYH ÂżQLVKHV WKLV VHD- ished  from  the  news. son,  Rob  Cone  broke  through  with  a  Equal  under  the  eyes  of  the  law  too  win  at  the  Middlebury  College  Snow  often  does  not  apply  —  speaking  of  Bowl  in  the  slalom  on  Friday  —  day  Manning,  see  the  University  of  Ten- one  of  the  93rd  carnival.   nessee  vs.  women.  Cone  was  one  of  just  50  racers  to  Equal  under  the  eyes  of  ESPN  and  complete  a  challenging  course  that  the  public  rarely  seems  to  apply. VDZ FRPSHWLWRUV IDLO WR ÂżQLVK +LV Internationally,  FIFA,  the  gov- time  of  1:31.91  was  more  than  one  erning  body  of  what  the  rest  of  the  VHFRQG DKHDG RI WKH QH[W ÂżQLVKHU world  calls  football,  recently  elected  and  the  Panthers  placed  second  in  the  (See  Kirkaldy,  Page  3B) event.  Panthers  Christopher  McKen- QD DQG 5LOH\ 3ODQW ERWK ÂżQLVKHG LQ the  top  20.  McKenna  came  in  with  a  two-Ârun  time  of  1:35.10  for  15th,  and  Plant,  tied  for  16th  place  in  1:35.19. Just  0.23  second  separated  all  three  Panther  women  to  score  team  points  HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS in  the  slalom.  Lexi  Calcagni  paced  Girls’ Hockey the  group  in  15th  place  in  1:39.94.  'LYLVLRQ , 6HPLĂ€QDO Just  one  spot  back  were  Caroline  3/2  #3  St.  Albans  at  #2  MUHS  ...............Late 3$17+(5 6(1,25 1,&2/(77( $PEHU JHWV SDVW %RZGRLQÂśV +DQQDK 0LOOHU GXULQJ WKH 0LGGOHEXU\ &ROOHJH %DUWOHWW DQG (OOH *LOEHUW ZKR ÂżQ- Boys’ Hockey ished  in  a  16th-Âplace  tie  in  1:40.17. :LQWHU &DUQLYDO . FODVVLF 1RUGLF UDFH 6XQGD\ DIWHUQRRQ LQ 5LSWRQ 'LYLVLRQ ,, 6HPLĂ€QDO Independent  photo/Trent  Campbell (See  Panthers,  Page  4B)
Panther  skiers  post  wins  at  carnival Host  Middlebury  is  fourth  overall
ScoreBOARD
3/1 Â #2 Â U-Â32 Â vs. Â #3 Â MUHS Â ........................4-Â0
Schedule
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS Girls’ Hockey 'LYLVLRQ , 3OD\RIIV 3/9  Final  at  UVM  .................................8  p.m. COLLEGE SPORTS Men’s Hockey 1(6&$& )LQDO )RXU DW 7ULQLW\ 3/5  #5  Midd.  vs.  #6  Amherst  ...............1  p.m. 3/5  #8  Tufts.  vs.  #2  Trinity  ..............4:30  p.m. 3/6  Final  .............................................. 2  p.m. Women’s Hockey 1(6&$& )LQDO )RXU DW .HQ\RQ 3/5  #1  Midd.  vs.  #5  Trinity  ...................1  p.m. 3/5  #2  Amherst  vs.  #3  Conn.  Coll.  ......4  p.m. 3/6  Final  .............................................. 2  p.m. 0HQ¡V %DVNHWEDOO 1&$$ 5HJLRQDO DW 6WRFNWRQ &ROOHJH 3/4  Midd.  vs.  Salisbury  ..................5:30  p.m. 3/4  Keene  State  vs.  Stockton  ........7:30  p.m. 3/5  Final  ..............................................7  p.m. :RPHQ¡V /DFURVVH 3/5  Midd.  at  Conn.  College  .................. Noon 3/8  Midd.  at  RPI  .............................4:30  p.m. 3/12  Midd.  at  Tufts  ..............................2  p.m. 3/13  Midd.  at  MIT  ................................2  p.m. 0HQ¡V /DFURVVH 3/5  Conn.  College  at  Midd.  .................1  p.m. 3/8  Midd.  at  Endicott  ...........................5  p.m. 3/12  Tufts  at  Midd.  ..............................2  p.m. Spectators  are  advised  to  consult  school  websites  for  the  latest  schedule  updates. Â
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Men’s  hoop wins  league,  NCAA’s  next By  ANDY  KIRKALDY HARTFORD,  Conn.  —  After  win- ning  the  NESCAC  playoff  champi- onship  by  knocking  off  the  top  two  seeds  this  past  weekend,  the  17-Â10  Middlebury  College  men’s  basket- ball  team  is  back  in  the  NCAA  Di- vision  III  basketball  tournament  this  weekend. The  Panthers  were  assigned  to  an  NCAA  regional  at  Stockton  College  in  Gallaway,  N.J.,  where  they  will  (See  Hoop,  Page  2B)
Sports BRIEFS Pitts  honored  for  track  performance BRISTOL  —  Mount  Abraham  Union  High  School  sophomore  Lydia  Pitts  has  been  named  the  Vermont  Track  and  Field  and  Cross  Country  Coaches  Association’s  Co-ÂAthlete  of  the  Year  for  Indoor  Track.  Rice  Me- morial’s  Sonia  John  shared  the  honor  with  Pitts.  The  coaches  association  chose  Pitts,  who  competes  during  the  winter  indoor  track  season  as  an  indepen- dent,  after  she  set  three  Division  II  re- cords  at  the  D-ÂII  championship  meet  on  Jan.  30  at  Norwich  University.  On  that  day,  Pitts,  already  a  two- time  state  championship  hurdler  in  the  spring  of  2015,  won  the  long  jump  in  17  feet;Íž  the  triple  jump  in  35  feet,  8.75  inches;Íž  and  the  55-Âmeter  hurdles  in  9.15  seconds. Â
Area  footballers  on  Shrine  team ADDISON  COUNTY  —  All  three  local  high  school  football  teams  will  be  represented  on  the  2016  Vermont  Shrine  Maple  Sugar  Bowl  team,  which  will  be  coached  by  Brian  Grady  of  Fair  Haven  and  played  on  Saturday,  Aug.  6,  at  5:30  p.m.  at  Cas- tleton  University. Otter  Valley  led  the  way  with  four  selections,  Tyler  Allen,  M.J.  Denis,  Carson  Leary  and  Trevor  Peduto.  Three  Middlebury  players  made  the  team,  Nicholas  Beauchamp,  Wyatt  Laberge  and  Sawyer  Ryan,  and  Matt  Mullin  will  represent  Mount  Abraham.  The  other  players  are:  Bellows  Falls:  Zachary  Streeter;Íž  BFA-ÂSt.  $OEDQV 7DQQHU &LRIÂż %XUU DQG Burton:  William  Baker,  Jimmy  Lo- Muscio;Íž  Burlington:  Jason  Chris- man,  Connor  Plante;Íž  Brattleboro:  Aleksander  Harrison,  Taylor  King;Íž  Champlain  Valley:  Kienan  Kittredge,  Richard  Lowrey;Íž  Colchester:  Dakota  Navari;Íž  Essex:  Cole  Picard;Íž  Fair  Ha- ven:  Ryan  Alexander,  Lucas  Czar- necki;Íž  Hartford:  Justin  Pero,  Tanner  Potter;Íž  Mill  River:  Dylan  Shelvey;Íž  Milton:  Kyle  Apgar,  Ian  Kandzior;Íž  0RXQW 0DQVÂżHOG 'RPLQLF 0RVFD U-Â32:  Colby  Brochu;Íž  Rutland:  Andy  Kenosh,  Austin  O’Gorman,  Cam  Slade,  Caleb  White;Íž  South  Burl- LQJWRQ &ROE\ %DUUHWW 6SULQJÂżHOG Benjamin  Tubbs;Íž  and  St.  Johnsbury:  Xavier  Giddings.
Cousino,  Beauchamp  stand  atop  podiums NORTH  CLAREN- that  included  three  pins  DON  —  Two  local  and  the  3-Â0  decision  wrestlers  won  titles  on  and  gave  Coach  Ethan  Saturday  at  the  state  5D\PRQG KLV ÂżUVW VWDWH championship  meet  at  champion.  Earlier  Mill  River:  Vergennes  this  year  Beauchamp  Union  High  School  ju- reached  the  100-Âwin  nior  Brandon  Cousino  at  mark.  182  pounds  and  Middle- Adding  to  the  local  bury  senior  Nick  Beau- success  were  MUHS  champ  at  195. senior  Nate  Gebo,  who  Cousino  pinned  set  the  school  record  COUSINO Mount  Anthony’s  A.J.  for  career  wins  while  :ULJKW LQ KLV ÂżQDO ÂżQLVKLQJ VHFRQG DW while  Beauchamp  edged  pounds,  and  VUHS  se- MAU’s  Sebastian  Ro- nior  Jeb  Hodsden,  who  cher,  3-Â0,  in  the  champi- earned  his  landmark  onship  match.  100th  victory  while  tak- Cousino’s  victory  al- ing  second  place  at  152  lowed  him  to  complete  pounds.  a  46-Â0  season  that  in- *HER ÂżQLVKHG WKH cluded  several  victories  season  42-Â7  after  los- in  tough  out-Âof-Âstate  ing  a  7-Â0  decision  to  tournaments.  At  Mill  Patriot  Keenan  Taylor  River  he  racked  up  four  LQ WKH ÂżQDO +LV BEAUCHAMP straight  pins.  Earlier  this  VHPLÂżQDO YLFWRU\ year,  Cousino  earned  his  100th  high  over  Eagle  freshman  Roman  Mayer  school  career  win.  avenged  a  recent  loss  to  Mayer.  It  Beauchamp  completed  a  43-Â6  was  Gebo’s  145th  high  school  vic- season  with  a  4-Â0  state  tournament  (See  State  meet,  Page  3B)
On  the  way! THIS  QUARTET  OF  Middlebury  Union  High  School  boys’  Nordic  ski  team  members  captured  the  free- VW\OH UHOD\ WLWOH DW WKH ÂżUVW GD\ RI WKH 'LYLVLRQ ,, VWDWH FKDPSLRQVKLSV DW WKH 5LNHUW 1RUGLF 6NL &HQWHU LQ Ripton  on  Tuesday.  Sam  Hodges,  left,  Nick  Wilkerson,  Cade  Christner  and  Tom  Hussey  beat  a  Wood- stock  foursome  by  more  than  50  seconds.  The  MUHS  boys  have  a  big  lead  in  team  scoring  over  U-Â32.  7KH 08+6 JLUOV ZHUH LQ ÂżIWK SODFH 7KH PHHW ZUDSV XS RQ 7KXUVGD\ /RRN IRU D VWRU\ ZLWK DOO WKH UHVXOWV in  the  Independent  next  week. Photo  courtesy  of  Jill  Madden