2020 Issue | The Starting Gate by strattonmtnschool

Starting Gate

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Dear SMS Alumni, Parents and Families, It is my pleasure to present the 2020 issue of The Starting Gate. Within these pages, you will read stories of athletic challenges and triumphs, academic reflection and innovation, and testaments to the strong values our community holds. It is truly an honor to be a part of this unique community, and I could not be more proud of the accomplishments that our student body, parents, alumni, and staff have achieved over the last year. As Head of School, my mission is to sustain the school’s trajectory as we look forward to our 50th anniversary in 2022 and beyond. Our student-athletes’ dreams and goals depend on our ability to maintain a fantastic staff, on both the academic and athletic side, which supports and encourages them day in and day out. Those same dreams and goals also rely on our ability to foster a culture focused on health and safety. By working with partners like Southwestern Vermont Healthcare, we have developed new policies to ensure that our everyday experience is safe and manageable for students and staff. Thanks to the generous support of our community, our campus has become home to world-class academic and athletic facilities. An anonymous donation allowed us to create a dedicated STEM lab and increase our science curricula, significantly expanding our ability to teach robotics, programming, and other STEM-related pursuits. We are moving forward with the construction of a Progression Ramp in our Air Awareness Center, solidifying us as the leading indoor training venue on the East Coast. Stratton Mountain School was also named the 2020 Club of the Year by U.S. Ski & Snowboard, an honor that reflects our status as the Nation’s premier winter sports academy. As we look ahead to the challenges and goals of Stratton Mountain School, we turn to you, our students, parents, alumni, and staff, to request your generous participation in the SMS Annual Fund. Your donation will help bridge the gap between tuition and the actual cost of an SMS education. With your support, SMS will continue to be a leader not only among winter sport academies, but all high schools. The goal for the 2020-2021 Annual Fund, as set by the Board of Trustees, is $300,000 in unrestricted gifts. We need your help to reach that goal. By making a donation to the SMS Annual Fund, you will be supporting our mission to provide a unique experience in competitive winter sports and college preparatory academic while developing strong personal values.

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...dreams and goals also rely on our ability to foster a culture focused on health and safety.

In partnership,

Carson A. Thurber ’02, Head of School Stratton Mountain School

THE STARTING GATE | 2020

Dear SMS Alumni, Parents and Friends, As you know, Headmaster Christopher Kaltsas retired this summer after 24 years of service to our wonderful community. Upon his departure, I could only hope that our next leader would continue to foster the school’s values and contribute as much as Chris has to future generations of winter sports athletes. Carson Thurber quickly filled the void as our new Head of School this summer. While he faced new challenges, Carson was committed to doing anything and everything possible to reopen Stratton Mountain School’s doors come fall. Carson not only achieved his goal but also exceeded it by enrolling the highest number of students in SMS history. But, as a true SMS alumnus, Carson’s efforts did not stop there. He successfully established a partnership with Southwestern Vermont Health Care, ensuring our community has access to the region’s most robust health care options. Carson also engaged the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard to provide weekly non-invasive assurance testing for all students, faculty, and staff. We on the Board are very proud to recognize Carson for his leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and we remain committed to supporting SMS as we look ahead. Your generous financial support allows SMS to offer excellent academic and athletic programs and solidifies our position as a leader in winter sports education. SMS’ storied tradition of Olympic and National Team placements is one of the many reasons we were named the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Club of the Year (for the second time) in 2020. Your contributions allow us to improve our resources for professional development, ensuring our student-athletes understand the value of bravery, effort, accountability, respect, and strength in today’s society. Our teachers and coaches continue to instill strong personal values that are beneficial to student-athletes both on and off snow. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I ask you to support SMS so that our student-athletes may develop the same tenacity and levels of success as the classes who came before them. If our new Head of School is any indication, I expect only great things from future SMS generations. Sincerely,

Gary Giulietti, Chair Emeritus Board of Trustees, Stratton Mountain School

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The Class of 2020 Like so many schools across the Nation, Stratton Mountain School upended tradition and hosted the Class of 2020’s Headmaster’s Dinner and Commencement ceremonies virtually. We were, however, able to retain a few customs – the infamous bagpipes and an amazing speaker – thanks to careful planning by our dedicated staff, Valedictorian William Koch ’20, and Student Body President Kelly Quinn ’20. While it may not have been the graduation weekend they envisioned, the thirty-one member Class of 2020 became the first in SMS history to graduate from the comfort of their homes. As Olympic Gold Medalist and Commencement Speaker Jessie Diggins addressed our community, she reminded the Class of 2020 to enjoy all of the victories, large and small, that got them to where they are today:

“I’d like to share one of my favorite quotes from our former national team coach, Pete Wartenberg. He said, ‘Every time you do something, it is for the last time. Even if you do it again, it will be different, and you will be different. This is the only time you will ever do this. So enjoy it—even the tough parts. You will never experience this task again the way you are now, even if you do it again. So soak it in.’ “I took that to heart because sometimes, on the way to conquering our huge dreams and big life goals, we can get caught up in the process of getting there. We forget to slow down and enjoy what makes each day so special﹘the training with your teammates, the moments you have with your friends at school, interactions that mean something to you. “Sometimes we need to slow down and be present. Enjoy the moment instead of rushing on to the next thing, because someday we might look back and those little moments that you seemingly forget are the ones that mean the most to you.” While we wish we could have sent the Class of 2020 off in person, we are proud to welcome them as the newest class of Stratton Mountain School alumni.

THE STARTING GATE | 2020

2019-2020 Plans & Awards Senior Plans

Senior Awards

Tess Beyer, University of Utah

Founders’ Award William Koch

Freeski Achievement Award McHenry Forehand

Faculty Award Jane Gutchess

Freeski Improvement Award Zylis Hawkins

Lisa Tuttle Award Kelly Quinn

Freestyle Achievement Award Spencer Latterman

SMS Alumni Association Award Kelly Quinn & Henness Hoffmann

Nordic Coaches Award Asa Chalmers

Vermont Principals’ Association Award Jenna Braun & Kai Terashima

Nordic Achievement Award William Koch

Jay Leach Award Gavin Blauch

Snowboard Coaches Award George Bond

Alpine Coaches Award Sophie Mahon

Snowboard Achievement Award Grey Katko

Alpine Achievement Award Jane Gutchess & Diego Holscher

Snowboard Improvement Award Jamie Pila

Gavin Blauch, St. Scholastica College George Bond, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Services Jenna Braun, St. Michael’s College (PG year) Asa Chalmers, Dartmouth College Owen Croce, Colby College Cailin Doty, Sierra Nevada College Maeve Fiske, Babson College McHenry Forehand, US Freeski Team Tyler Frenchman, U niversity of Colorado, Boulder Ryoske Fujimoto, Plymouth State University Livia Greenberg, Boston University (PG year) Jane Gutchess, Williams College (PG year) Zylis Hawkins, U niversity of Colorado, Boulder Henness Hoffman, Babson College

Alpine Improvement Award Jay Poulter

Undergraduate Awards

Diego Holscher, University of Vermont

Headmaster’s Award Jacqueline Culver & Harry Weinreich

Molly Jacobi, University of Vermont, Honors College

Rebecca Ann McGill Award Eliza Sullivan

Grey Katko, University of Denver

Micki Abbenhaus Award Chloe Lathrop

Will Koch, U niversity of Colorado, Boulder Shane Koeppe, P lymouth State University Spencer Latterman, University of Michigan Daniel Leikin, Virginia Tech Sophie Mahon, Undecided Carlo Muscarella, Colby College Alex Nolan, PG Year, Steamboat, CO Jamie Pila, U niversity of Colorado, Boulder Jay Poulter, Middlebury College Kelly Quinn, Syracuse University Benjamin Smith, University of Utah Kai Terashima, Colby-Sawyer College Lauren Thomas, University of Vermont

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Peter Burtscher Award Victoria Powers Middlebury College Book Award Sage Freeman Williams College Book Award Jessica Owles Harvard Book Award Mauricio Villavicencio Smith Book Award Anna Davis Schlachter Citizenship Award Eva Morin & Harrison DiGangi Alpine Achievement Award Chloe Lathrop, Eliza Sullivan, Bronson Culver & Pedro Holscher Alpine Improvement Award Kate Donnellan, Matteo Bonivento, Nikolaus Huber, Bobby Stevenish & Nicholas Villavicencio

Alpine Coaches Award Jacqueline Culver, Harrison DiGangi & Bode Gutchess Freeski Achievement Award Maximus Siudak Freeski Improvement Award Kaylen Reiley Freeski Coaches Award Alex Wasyliko Freestyle Achievement Award Skylar Slettene & Gavin Tobey Freestyle Improvement Award Charlotte Kosinski & Will Haljun Freestyle Coaches Award Oliver Kosinski Nordic Achievement Award Nina Seemann & Fin Bailey Nordic Improvement Award Janne Koch Snowboard Achievement Award Acy Craig & Connor Cavanagh Snowboard Improvement Award Skylar Koeppe & Charlie Bergantino

Chris Kaltsas: the Man, the Visionary, the Legacy By Cherise Madigan-Forbes

Headmaster Chris Kaltsas led Stratton Mountain School through one of its most astounding phases of growth, culminating in a new campus and a legacy that will continue at SMS well into the future. Chris first became involved with Stratton Mountain as a skier and homeowner whose eye was caught by the intensity of SMS athletes training at the resort. After inquiring about who they were and learning more about the school, he began to consider SMS as an option for his own children. Chris was eventually asked to join the school’s board, and he jumped in full force with his background in law, real estate, and business as powerful assets. His first big task as a new member of the SMS Board of Trustees was to begin researching the viability of constructing a new, stateof-the-art campus. “As I was putting together the Act 250 permitting and interviewing architects, it was apparent that this was all going to come together﹘so I started fundraising,” Kaltsas explained. “Then, at a board meeting, Sverre told us that he wanted to step down as Headmaster and go back to coaching. Everyone suddenly started looking down the table at me.” Kaltsas and his wife, Patti, had already begun to build a life on Stratton Mountain with their three children: Hunter ‘99, who attended middle-school at SMS during that time, Brooke ‘00, and Paige. Back in Boston, he had a successful law practice waiting for him. “I said I had to go home and talk it over with the boss,” he explained. “She said, ‘if you want to do this I’m willing to support you whatever it takes.’” Chris had planned to serve the school for three years and then return to Boston, completing the first phase of the building project he had led as a trustee and then leaving SMS in capable hands with the board and, hopefully, a new headmaster. He didn’t know it at the time, but that wouldn’t happen for another 24 years.

THE STARTING GATE | 2020

“It was a huge risk for Chris to leave a successful career and jump into the endeavor of ski academies back when they were just in their development stages,” said current Alpine Director Mike Morin, who started as a coach the same year that Chris became Headmaster. “None of the academies had robust campuses; none of them had college placement success. It was just a big risk and a big unknown.” “Chris’ legacy took a lot of vision,” said Kimet Hand, who was on the SMS Board that selected Chris as Headmaster. “You have to hand it to Chris, I don’t know how we did it, but we did it.”

Constructing a New Campus The building years were the busiest, according to Chris’ longtime assistant Wendy Schriebl, with fundraising meetings, and more. “All over the state, I met with officials who respected Chris as Headmaster but also as a lawyer and a would-be architect,” Schriebl explained. “He was on top of everything﹘and was able to make corrections to the plans before they were built!” The planned campus was unique for a ski academy in that it was ahead of its time, more closely resembling a college campus. Though many did not recognize it at the time, Chris knew that SMS needed better infrastructure and facilities to surpass their already-impressive legacy of excellence. “Chris was a leader in creating a true ski academy, campus-life scenario,” said Freestyle Director Deb Newson. “There weren’t other academies like this before him. He put it on the map.” “You don’t just become this program at the forefront of everything overnight,” added SMS T2 Team Coach Patrick O’Brien `06. “That happens because you invest a huge amount of time into developing the infrastructure, the tools, and the resources that athletes need to be competitive and succeed.” By 1999, the first phase of the World Cup campus was fully built, with the Administrative building, the Big Dorm, the Seki Dining Hall, the Burtscher Field House, and the Garthwaite Green completed. Next was phase two, which consisted of the faculty apartments and flats, the Little Dorm, and the Greg Needell Gymnasium. In 2015, the campus was completed as we know it today with the addition of the Air Awareness Center, along with Stratton Mountain School’s “crown jewel”, the Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts & Student Center.

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I said I had to go home and talk it over with the boss, he explained. She said, ‘if you want to do this I’m willing to support you whatever it takes.’ added other disciplines to the mix, we had all kinds of personnel that didn’t exist in the early days, the number of students surpassed 100. It was a real period of growth for the school.” “Chris Kaltsas will always have the beautiful SMS campus to his credit,” Schriebl added. “The growth of the school under his leadership was recognized, and it was during this time that the student body grew, in response to his hiring staff of the highest credentials who then raised the quality of our athletic, academic, and student life programs.”

Fostering Academic Excellence Chris was truly a visionary when it came to creating the Stratton Mountain School that we know today. His inspiration for deepening the school’s academic curriculum and athletic programming, however, was derived from his own experiences as a boarding school athlete at Williston Academy, where he was a three-sport competitor. “I was an athlete in boarding school and in college Division I programs, and I knew that these kids can be the best of the best athletes but, at the same time, they could also be the best students,” Chris explained. “Success in both comes from working hard, setting goals, and learning to earn your achievements. I wanted to have an academic program that is just flush with PhDs and Master’s degrees, and that has become very prominent.”

During this time, Chris was not only investing his effort into expanding the SMS campus, but also in the school’s curriculum and community. “If you look back on what Chris’ major accomplishment was, it was clearly relocating the school and developing the campus that lives today,” said Hand. “But, along the way, lots of things happened. We

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... we’ve had hundreds of alumni move on to successful careers– because of the community he helped build and oversaw. “As a result of Chris’ efforts, we’ve had hundreds of alumni move on to successful careers﹘ because of the community he helped build and oversaw,” Morin added. Working with outgoing longtime Dean Peggy De Santis, and with current Academic Dean Alex Lehmann, beginning in 1998, the school dedicated time and effort into expanding its curriculum, college preparation programs, and academic support for traveling athletes. Now, Stratton Mountain School boasts an academic program and college placement record that is unparalleled in the industry. “SMS has an incredible track record when it comes to college placement—not only among ski academies but also within the larger independent school environment,” Lehmann said. “Chris’ strong support of both athletics and academics means that our students don’t have to choose between pursuing their dreams and completing their education.” Throughout the world of ski academies and tutorial programs, the success achieved by SMS under Chris’ leadership did not go unnoticed. “During Chris’ tenure the ski academies began to become tremendous places; they built amazing facilities, and they taught student-athletes to be independent, hard-working individuals who went on to very successful careers,” said Morin. “As a result of that, the college placements for all ski academies has become a lot more impressive.”

Deepening the School Community Having been introduced to Stratton Mountain School alongside his wife and kids, it’s maybe no surprise that Chris has placed the larger SMS family and community at the center of his leadership. While Patti fastidiously built connections between board members and infused student life with a new energy and vibrance, Chris focused on attracting and keeping dedicated teachers, coaches, and families. “The most enduring and influential factor is the people who lead, and teach, and coach, and administer a school that size,” said former SMS athlete and U.S. Ski & Snowboard President Gale “Tiger” Shaw PG ‘77. “The ability to attract and retain talent right there in Stratton has really been key, and not easy to do.” “Chris is willing to do whatever he can to support his staff and their families,” Newson added. “I think he prides himself on that, creating a family culture at SMS.” Though he did not come from a professional background in education, Chris understood deeply the necessity of a strong family network that would continue for generations. As leader of the school, he worked to ensure that the families who both staffed and attended Stratton Mountain School were supported. “The first thing that jumps out to me about Chris is he really prioritizes family,” said Nordic Director Matt Boobar. “He’s father to three great kids, and he understands the value of that—especially when we’re essential in helping to develop young adults. He recognizes their challenges and he was always supportive of young families involved with the school and campus life.” THE STARTING GATE | 2020

As SMS grew to include five athletic disciplines, Chris also recognized the importance of allowing each Program Director do what they do best—act as a leader in their sport. “Chris was always very willing to let me do my job and run the Alpine program,” Morin said. “He was always there as a great resource for advice, but at the end of the day he always allowed the program to run in the direction it needed to.” “I’m really grateful for Chris’ support over the years and his belief in me,” said Freeski Director Jesse Mallis. “It wasn’t easy, and I’m sure there were times when the program wasn’t growing as he hoped. He stuck by me and trusted my vision﹘I’m forever grateful for that.”

A Continuing Legacy After 24 years spent in service to Stratton Mountain School, Headmaster Chris Kaltsas retired following the 2019-2020 school year. While he still plans to be involved in the school going forward, his legacy at SMS will live on regardless. “Chris has dedicated a huge chunk of his life to SMS,” said Snowboard Director Ross Powers ‘97. “What he’s been able to create with the help of the SMS community and the board has just been incredible. The new campus and taking SMS to the next level is amazing, and it’s something that we’ll always remember him for.” “We can’t be somewhere forever, but we can feel good about our legacy and what we leave to a place,” added O’Brien. “The campus, the cohesive and robust program that Stratton Mountain School has now, that is Chris’ legacy. Seeing something through to complete that vision, and leave the school in the hands of capable individuals who understand the mission and can guide that ship, is incredibly impressive.”

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Steering any institution for nearly a quarter of a century is a massive achievement. Doing so in a way which allows that institution to achieve its potential and mission to the fullest constitutes a footprint that cannot be forgotten. “Chris’ leadership and the way that he has stewarded the school through facilities changes, expansion, and retaining great people is admirable,” Shaw said. “That’s what really makes an organization. It’s the people who run it and lead it—he has been at the pinnacle of that.” “I readily understood how hard it was going to be to do it, whether it was going to turn out to be successful or not,” Chris said. “I believed in myself and I believed in this school. Whatever we needed to do to get there, I was always on call.” The close community fostered at Stratton Mountain School by both Chris and Patti Kaltsas made an indelible impact on SMS and its future. According to Chris, Patti’s support of him during these years of expansion was invaluable. “She would see the bumps in the road that I had to navigate, and she was very supportive,” Chris said. “As we were building the campus she would always say that we needed a space for art, that it wasn’t a school without the arts, and I remember telling her we would get there eventually. Unfortunately, she passed away before we did.” Following Patti’s passing in 2010, the love that this couple shared for each other and the school became a permanent feature of the SMS campus, with the dedication of the Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts & Student Center in 2015. “I thought it would be an opportunity to introduce the arts, which she always wanted,” Chris said. “The outpouring of love and support was incredible. And look at what we’ve created.”

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When I think about Mr. Kaltsas’ time on campus, I always remember the warm and friendly smile he would give you whether it would be in the lunch line or throughout the halls. Moreover, Mr. Kaltsas represented the bridge between the original campus and the new. Through his time as headmaster, he made the school the great place it is today. Henry Kosinski ‘19

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Looking back on my time at SMS, I reflect with great fondness on the patience, kindness, and natural balance with which Mr. Kaltsas led the program. A leadership style that no doubt has inspired and influenced me as Founder and Head of The Forest School Romania. Smaranda Munteanu ‘02

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Chris Kaltsas has played a vital role in nurturing values such as integrity and excellence at SMS. These very values have been essential to my success both on and off the race hill. Congratulations on your retirement Mr. Kaltsas!!! Gavin Chen ‘15

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I remember him always trying to be involved with students on a more personal level and wanted to get to know them. I was really close with him and we had a bit of a different relationship because of that, and that all started when I was in 8th grade and we started the Lacrosse team. He always knew everything going on with me, how I was competing and how I was doing. He was always very supportive of all the athletes, of everyone. I think he 100 percent made SMS a better place. The fundraising he did to put up the AAC and the PK, the creation of the Lacrosse program, definitely made a long lasting impact.

Michael Fischer ‘16

THE STARTING GATE | 2020

Defining The New Normal: Academic Innovation at SMS By Tim Taylor

March 2020 provided me with a dramatic perspective on education, both as a teacher and as a parent. Like every teacher, I spend a lot of time thinking about education and how to craft engaging lessons. But working with students who were literally out in the real world, not in a school building, served as a wake-up call regarding how I am preparing our student-athletes for the future, both personally and professionally. In short, COVID has provided me with a powerful impetus to challenge and upend my views on education. At my best, I have tried to view the COVID pandemic through the lens of math and science; as a learning opportunity, inspiring deep reflection and a reassessing of values and priorities. And as I share my perspective on distance learning in general and synchronous education from last spring in particular, one thing has become absolutely clear to me. Our successes in distance learning are due in large part to two unique qualities of the Stratton Mountain School experience: small class sizes and a student body composed entirely of traveling student-athletes who are, to varying degrees, adept with distance and self-directed learning.

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...students spent their time exploring concepts and building learning by wrestling with ideas and generating questions.

For the past ten years, I have been impressed by the number of students who have demonstrated excellent comprehension of challenging math and physics content while relying almost exclusively on video content, especially for the athletes with extensive travel throughout the winter. Following research from early the 2000s about the classroom lecture as an ineffective means to learning, I began creating what has now become a few hundred hours of video explanations. I hoped to move content explanation outside of the classroom, effectively flipping homework and lectures, thus creating a more dynamic and collaborative classroom experience. When we switched entirely to distance learning, I realized that my in-person discussions were mostly lectures veiled as discussion; consisting of whole-class questions where students raised their hands to provide the correct answer. Another obstacle was creating an interactive virtual classroom for my math courses. Indeed, small classes and engaged students helped, but our time together lacked collaboration and feedback. As other math and science teachers similarly discovered, an interactive digital whiteboard app and a stylus proved to be a game-changer. Math, and to a lesser degree, science, rely on the symbolic language of mathematicsâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;and the ability to see what each student is doing, in realtime, enables virtual class time to be spent working problems together. The digital whiteboard app, Google Jamboard, is even better than traditional pencil and paper because now all students can quickly see each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work and can even collaborate virtually. Further, some students discovered other iPad and stylus advantages such as greater organization and the seamless ability to upload work, since note-taking apps save written work as PDFs. gosms.org

These observations, combined with neuroscience research and knowledge of how students learn, inspired me to reimagine the learning experience, taking an “explore before explain” approach. I believe allowing students to develop their curiosity and interest for a subject creates greater engagement and relevance, and exists as the foundation to genuine, student-created questions. As I began experimenting with various teaching strategies during the spring, I found using problem and project-based learning provide the most effective learner experiences, where students could explore before explaining. Instead of lecture or discussion, students spent their time exploring concepts and building learning by wrestling with ideas and generating questions.

But overall, student videos provided both the students and me with an entirely new way of learning and presenting learning. In other words, these were assessments for learning, as opposed to a traditional test, or an assessment of learning. For me, the takeaway is that learning is a journey–a process–that is most effective when the learner must synthesize their understanding and make something: an original poem, a puppet show, a faster car, or programming an infrared remote to complete a task. To that end, both the freshmen and the senior physics courses this year will be using the Arduino electronics platform to explore phenomena such as light and color mixing, sound and music, motors and generators, analog and digital, and coding and computational thinking.

For instance, I asked students to create video explanations and present them last year. Freshmen shot video of their Arduino LED coding projects, and seniors made videos, often with family members’ help, to demonstrate their learning of the physics of fluids, buoyancy, density, and pressure. I was impressed by senior student creations, given the open-ended nature of the assignments. Moreover, the video content showed me the areas where I can do a better job preparing students intellectually and creatively.

In summary, the spring distance learning taught me many things, among them that the best distance learning has a lot more in common with the best in-person learning than I would have thought. Students must have opportunities to explore concepts before any formal explanation–and SMS has been preparing student-athletes for distance learning and self-directed work simply because of our unique experience.

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I have tried to view the COVID pandemic through the lens of math and science; as a learning opportunity, inspiring deep reflection and a reassessing of values and priorities.

THE STARTING GATE | 2020

Diversity Education Committee Supporting Social Justice Over the summer, a group of SMS student-athletes worked with faculty to establish the Diversity Education Committee, whose mission is to take action against racism, prejudice, and personal bias. With Charlie Gnoza ’21 as a primary organizer, a group of social justice advocates was established to promote tolerance and knowledge sharing across the Stratton Mountain School community and beyond. “The lack of acknowledgment and exposure to social injustice in Vermont really got me thinking about what [SMS is] doing to promote thought and education around the subject,” said Gnoza. “As a member of this committee, I can help spread knowledge about the ways [racism] affects our community and why we should be advocates against it.” Gnoza, along with Anna Davis ’21, Jacqui Culver ’21, Brett Haber ’21, Jessica Owles ’21, and Patrick Flaherty ’21, met virtually over the summer to learn how to serve as peer educators, share resources and spread information to promote tolerance. The group uses their student-run Instagram account, "SMS Food For Thought," to share content that will ultimately contribute to systemic change. “My eyes really opened when George Floyd was killed. Listening to mothers talk about worrying for their sons﹘not being able to sleep until they come home﹘it all really struck me,” said Haber. “I want to share these powerful stories.” “I felt like it was really important for me to voice a perspective that people at our school might not see,” added Culver. “I want to help SMS become a better and more open place for everyone.” With a rapidly changing backdrop of race relations in the United States, Stratton Mountain School believes it is their responsibility as educators and peers to acknowledge and support our studentathletes not only in dialogue but in action. By establishing a Diversity

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I can help spread knowledge about the ways [racism] affects our community and why we should be advocates against it.

Education Committee, comprising faculty members, alumni, parents, and trustees, we will continue our student-athlete’s commitment to addressing unconscious bias and racial injustice. “Each committee member brings a unique perspective on diversity and inclusivity,” said Emily Daly, Director of Student Leadership and Chair of the Diversity Education Committee. “We have identified goals and initiatives that will prepare our student-athletes to be mindful and caring global citizens.” The primary goal of the Diversity Education Committee is to ensure that SMS continues to promote an inclusive and equitable environment. The Committee acknowledges the unique constraints facing winter sports and seeks to expand our school’s diversity and cultural competence as part of an ongoing process. By compiling a database filled with insightful books, movies, articles, and podcasts, the committee hopes to engage the entire community in discussions around hate speech, racism, and systemic inequality. “It is wonderful to see so many people take great interest in ensuring that SMS does not sacrifice inclusivity in its competitive drive toward excellence in winter sports,” concluded Daly. “I’m confident that in taking incremental steps toward changing the way we think about and discuss topics like racism in the classroom, on the hill, or in extracurricular activities, we will make great strides toward educating our student body to be globally-minded thinkers.” In addition to programmatic planning, the Diversity Education Committee sponsored professional development training for all faculty and staff this fall. Led by Traci Malloy﹘a renowned artist education activist﹘our teachers, coaches, and administrators learned to harness critical thought and challenge preexisting ideologies, to foster our community’s collective growth.

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ALPINE HIGHLIGHTS

FREESKI HIGHLIGHTS

NATIONAL TEAM HIGHLIGHTS

U16 ATHLETIC RESULTS

NATIONAL TEAM HIGHLIGHTS

ASPEN OPEN FIS NORAM

Alice Merryweather ’15 World Cup Alpine Combined rank: 13th World Cup Downhill rank: 29th World Cup SG rank: 27th

US Regional Performance Series 3 podium finishes Eastern Region #1 USSA Point rank in GS and SL: Eliza Sullivan ’22 Eastern Region #2 USSA Point rank in SL and SG: Pedro Holscher ’22

Caroline Claire ’18 World Cup: Won Slopestyle (Seiser Alm, Italy) Earned the Newschoolers Breakthrough Award

Charlie Gnoza ’21 15th in Big Air 22nd in Slopestyle

Nina Reichhelm ’18 NCAA All American 8th in GS NCAA Championships Spencer Smith ’16 Qualified NCAA Championships George Steffey ’15 GS NorAm 2nd overall Earned GS World Cup start for 20202021 NATIONAL TEAM PLACEMENTS Alice Merryweather ’15: US Ski Team Diego Holscher ’20: Chilean National Team Kay Holscher ’17: Chilean National Team George Steffey ’15: US Ski Team U19 ATHLETIC RESULTS

VARA Eastern Team to Eastern Championships #1 ranking: Eliza Sullivan ’22 & Pedro Holscher ’22 U16 State Championships 5 top-five finishes GS Champion: Eliza Sullivan ’22 U16 Eastern Championships 7 athletes qualified (canceled due to COVID-19) U14 ATHLETIC RESULTS Kandahar Cup (Chamonix, France) Bronson Culver ’24 3rd place PSL

Austrian National & Junior National Championships Three-time U18 Podium Finisher: Jay Poulter ’20

Southern Vermont Council Overall Winners: Kate Donnellan ’25 & Bode Gutchess ’25

VARA’s Shelly Glover Award Jane Gutchess ’20; PG ’21

U14 State Championships Matteo Bonivento ’24: 2nd SG and 2nd SL Bronson Culver ’24: SL Champion Bode Gutchess ’25: GS Champion

USSS National Training Group Jay Poulter ’20 US Junior National Championship Team Jenna Braun ’20 Jane Gutchess ’20; PG ’21 Diego Holscher ’20 Sophie Mahon ’20 Jay Poulter ’20

Mac Forehand ’20 World Cup: Won Slopestyle (Mammoth Mountain, CA); 5 top-ten finishes FIS/USASA FUTURES TOUR EVENTS Charlie Gnoza ’21 3rd in Slopestyle (Park City, UT) 5th in Slopestyle (Calgary, AB) 7th in Big Air (Calgary, AB) 4th in Open Class (USASA National Ranking) Zylis Hawkins ’20 4th in Slopestyle (Loon, NH) Bode Raffa ’22 2nd in Slopestyle (Copper, CO)

Zylis Hawkins ’20 10th in Big Air Bode Raffa ’22 Finalist in Slopestyle U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD’S PROJECT GOLD 5 athletes invited (canceled due to COVID-19) Charlie Gnoza ’21 Durham Jones ’23 Montana Osinski ’22 Bode Raffa ’22 Max Siudak ’22 NAMED U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD 2020 FREESKI CLUB OF THE YEAR

Kaylen Riley ’22 3rd in Slopestyle (Copper, CO) Max Suidak ’22 1st in Slopestyle (Copper, CO) 3rd in Slopestyle (Loon, NH)

U14 Eastern Championships (canceled due to COVID-19) 11 athletes qualified

Men’s FIS Podiums: 15 Women's FIS Podiums: 7

THE STARTING GATE | 2020

FREESTYLE HIGHLIGHTS EASTERN DIVISION REGULAR SEASON

JUNIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

5 Wins Jolie DesFosses ’23 (Bristol, NY) Harrison Schunk ’17 (Killington, VT) LuLu Shaffer ’17 (Stratton, VT) Gavin Tobey ’22 (Bristol, NY) Peter Tiktinsky ’16 (Stratton, VT) Podium Finishes: 8 Top-ten Finishes: 29

10 members qualified Will Haljun ‘22: 30th Jolie DesFosses ‘23: 28th Charlotte Kosinski ‘23: 23rd Henry Kosinski ‘19: 16th

EASTERN DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIPS Wyatt Boyle ’23 19th in Men’s Moguls Jolie DesFosses ’23 11th in Women’s Moguls Charlotte Kosinski ’23 16th in Women’s Moguls Henry Kosinski ’19 4th in Men’s Moguls Spencer Latterman ’20 10th in Men’s Moguls Nicholas Scheid ’22 17th in Men’s Moguls Harrison Schunk ’17 Men’s Dual Mogul Champion LuLu Shaffer ‘17 3rd in Women’s Moguls Skylar Slettene ’22 4th in Women’s Moguls Peter Tiktinsky ’16 7th in Men’s Moguls

U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS (canceled due to COVID-19) 8 athletes qualified FIS NORAM TOUR LuLu Shaffer ’17 (Val St Come, QUE) Women’s Dual Mogul Champion Top-ten Finishes: 3

NORDIC HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL TEAM HIGHLIGHTS T2 Elite Team Coach Patrick O’Brien ’06 Named U.S. Ski & Snowboard Domestic Nordic Coach of the Year Sophie Caldwell ’08 U.S. Ski & Snowboard A Team World Cup Podiums: 2 World Cup top finishes: 8 Ranked 2nd in the world on the FIS sprint list Jessie Diggins, SMS T2 Elite Team U.S. Ski & Snowboard A Team World Cup Podiums: 6 Ranked 6th on the end of season World Cup list Julia Kern, PG ’16 U.S. Ski & Snowboard A Team Bronze Medal at U23 World Championships World Cup top-thirty finishes: 14 World Cup Podium in Skate Sprint in Planica, Slovenia Sophia Laukli, PG ’19 Silver Medal at Junior World Championships U.S. Ski & Snowboard Development Team Katharine Ogden,’17 U.S. Ski & Snowboard B Team Super Tour podiums: 7 World Cup top-thirty finishes: 2 Ben Ogden ’18 Gold Medal at Junior World Championships U.S. Ski & Snowboard Development Team Simi Hamilton, SMS T2 Elite Team U.S. Ski & Snowboard A Team World Cup Sprint Rank: 24 World Cup top-thirty finishes: 4 World Cup top-six finishes: 1 All seven members of the T2 Elite Team either qualified for, or raced

gosms.org

in, the World Cup (shortened due to COVID-19) Achieved 25 straight years of qualifying an SMS skier to Junior World Championships US Senior Nationals: 8 Podiums NorAm Series 3 NorAm leaders throughout the season Podiums: 15 US SKI TEAM PIPELINE SMS athletes named to USS Regional Elite Group Fin Bailey ’23 Mathias Boudreau-Golfman ’21 Will Koch ’20 Nina Seeman SMS athletes named to USS National Training Group Fin Bailey ’23 Will Koch ’20 Nina Seeman YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES Will Koch ’20 won bronze in the 10k classic; 4th in the sprint race Nina Seeman 17th in the sprint race U16 EASTERN CHAMPIONSHIPS Janne Koch ’22 8th place overall Wyatt Teaford ’23 2nd place overall JUNIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 4 athletes achieved All-American results Gold medals: 3 Silver medals: 2 Reached 25 straight years of Gold medals at Junior Nationals

SH O

T! RI

UR SMS SP YO I W

SNOWBOARD HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL TEAM HIGHLIGHTS

FUTURES TOUR

Alex Deibold ’04 U.S. Ski & Snowboard SBX A-Team 3rd in FIS World Cup

Podiums: 5

Lindsey Jacobellis ’03 U.S. Ski & Snowboard SBX A-Team 1st and 3rd in FIS World Cup Acy Craig US Youth Olympic Team member X GAMES ASPEN Zeb Powell ’19 Knuckle Huck Gold Medalist SKOLF WORLD TOUR Zeb Powell ’19 1st place (Mount Snow, VT) VANS HI-STANDARD SERIES Connor Cavanagh ’23 1st place (Killington, VT) US OPEN JUNIOR JAM Connor Cavanagh ’23 7th place SS (Vail, CO) NOR-AM TOUR 5 top-ten finishes Acy Craig 4th in Montreal Orignal SBX

Connor Cavanagh ’23 2nd place HP (Loon, NH) Grey Katko ’20 2nd place SS (Mammoth, CA) 3rd place SS (Mount Snow, VT) Connor Kelly ’24 3rd place SS (Loon, NH) 3rd place SS (Mount Tremblant, CAN) Shane Koeppe ’20 3rd place HP (Loon, NH) REVOLUTION TOUR EVENTS Acy Craig 2nd place SBX (Ski Copper, CO) USASA REGIONALS Podiums: 60 U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD PROJECT GOLD (canceled due to COVID-19) SMS athletes invited: Connor Cavanagh ’23 Grey Katko ’20 Cole Paraiso ’21 NAMED U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD 2020 SNOWBOARD CLUB OF THE YEAR

The Stratton Mountain School Store is better than ever! You can now shop year-round, and a portion of the proceeds from each purchase will support the Stratton Mountain School Annual Fund. With apparel, accessories, and more, there's no shortage of ways to show your SMS Spirit while supporting our current students and programs.

Shop now by visiting gosms.org and clicking “Store” at the top of the page. 18

THE STARTING GATE | 2020

Maintaining Momentum By Jane Gutchess ’20

Jane Gutchess ’20 talks about the challenges of training during a pandemic. Jane is taking a PG year at SMS and will attend Williams College as a member of their Alpine team in 2021. I think my fellow classmates would agree that conditioning became much more challenging once the Stay-At-Home order hit. There seemed always to be an obstacle to overcome. Whether it was a lack of motivation, equipment, time, or energy, you could find a reason to push that workout off one more day. Plus, the world seemed to be ending﹘no graduation, no end to the ski season, no evenings in the dorms, no spring camps, no endless trips to Cilantro. So why bother? But, as our coaches always say, “You can’t focus on the uncontrollable. You can’t control the snow conditions, who else is racing, or the course set, so stop focusing on them.” I began to realize that this outlook also applied to everything that was happening around me. I couldn’t control losing the last weeks as a high school student or all the fun memories that would come with that. Instead, I needed to concentrate on what was in my control: my fitness and training. So, I pivoted my attention to the opportunities I had gained, a major one being the ability to tailor my regimen to what I needed rather than the needs of my entire team. Finding ways to work out demanded creative solutions since local fitness centers were closed and I didn’t have an at-home gym. Working out in my bedroom was always a challenge since curling up in my bed often seemed more appealing than doing burpees or pull-ups. But eventually, it became quite entertaining to convert ordinary home objects into “gym equipment.” Paint cans became kettlebells, and gallon pails of lacrosse balls made ideal weights. Memories of practicing my clean technique in the airport with ski bags inspired me to break out the travel bag as a barbell. Stuff three pairs of skis and some vises in there, and you have a pretty heavy load. Even with seizing the opportunity and creating make-shift gym equipment, I was still struggling to find my groove. Without a rigorous daily schedule, time seemed to slip away a lot faster. And with the freedom to work out whenever I wanted, it became much easier to keep pushing off my workout until the evening. But by then, I needed to write a seven-page research paper, study for a math test, do an at-home physics experiment and read 50 pages for history. The biggest challenge was starting a workout. I knew deep down I could do it, but putting on my sneakers and filling my water bottle seemed impossible. I began telling myself, “Just start the workout. You only have to do the first five minutes. If you don’t find your groove by then, try again later.” Nine times out of ten, however, I would finish the workout and reflect on how much better I felt after a few minutes of exercise. Plus, getting a workout in before classes made it much easier to focus on my schoolwork. All that said, my years at SMS have taught me that self-motivation can only take you so far. While it was exciting to find creative ways to better myself as a student and athlete throughout the Stay at Home Order, my teammates and coaches played an integral part in motivating me day in and day out. Virtual team check-ins kept us all in touch on a weekly basis, which helped immensely with morale. As a team, we would exchange and devise new workout ideas to make training fun and challenging while remote. We could also hold each other accountable by asking for feedback on workouts. Not to sound cliché, I truly value my experience at SMS. The lessons my teachers, coaches, and teammates have shared keep me motivated and driven year after year. Our community is truly unmatched, and I am beyond grateful to have this amazing support group as I continue to navigate these challenging times.

THE STARTING GATE | 2020

“

Motivation has become a buzzword in many arenas and athletes are often consumed by a search for more. However, motivation exists as a feeling, and therefore, cannot be relied upon. By nature, motivation will come and go, leaving athletes craving for more once it’s gone. The notion of commitment cuts across the fleeting experience of motivation because it exists as an internal process. Commitment is what happens when you don’t feel like it and still do it. Commitment shows up as action; it comes down to identity and defining the type of person you want to be. Jane paints a beautiful picture of what commitment looks like in her personal essay. Through her commitment in times when life was turned upside down and motivation was scarce, Jane defined herself as an athlete committed to personal growth and athletic excellence. Elle Gilbert ‘14 Stratton Mountain School’s Mental Performance Specialist

THE STARTING GATE | 2020

Stratton Mountain School

U.S. Ski & Snowboard

2020 Overall Club of the Year

U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Club of the Year designation is granted to the club that has been a leader in overall performance, as well as committed to serving athletes and their families at all stages of learning and sport—from youth development to alumni achievement, all the way up through the elite level. “We look for schools that straddle performance and service, and achieve both to serve all constituents, which pulls the whole community together,” explained SMS Olympian and U.S. Ski & Snowboard President Gale “Tiger” Shaw PG ‘77. “Most importantly, we look for athletes that stay involved, love the sport for life, and go on to do great things in whatever careers they pursue.” Combining success in sport across five distinct athletic programs, outstanding college placements, and a robust campus community, Stratton Mountain School, in its very mission, has worked towards the goals laid out by the U.S. Ski & Snowboard awards committee for nearly fifty years. As the number of athletic disciplines has grown, collaboration across the various echelons of school life has become a unique contributor to Stratton Mountain School’s success. “All of the program directors work closely with each other and the Dean of Academics and Residential Life, which creates a strong community,” explained Freeski Director Jesse Mallis. “We are in constant communication— from weekly directors meetings to interdisciplinary activities—and we work together really well.” “SMS is doing an amazing job across all five disciplines, and very few programs out there can do that,” added Alpine Director Mike Morin. “Many institutions will focus on one area or another, but we’ve been able to focus on all five sports and bring them up to a high standard. All of the directors work hard and work together to benefit the athlete.” gosms.org

“

... our team is constantly engaged, and they are always doing something fun. –Jesse Mallis

Alpine

Freeski

Alpine ski racing was the sport that Stratton Mountain School was founded upon, and the program has continued its record of excellence from its U14 team to the Olympic level, and everything in between. With top-down results from athletes including U.S. Ski Team member Alice Merryweather `15 on the World Cup Circuit, George Steffey `15 at the NorAm level, and Nina Reichhelm `18 at NCAA—as well as at the Junior, U16, and U14 levels—the program’s consistency is hard to deny.

The SMS Freeski program is one of the top freeski programs in the country and has been a driving force in the sport’s growth in the East and across the nation. From local USASA competitions to the Crystal Globe, SMS Freeski athletes have garnered medals at all levels—locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.

“We have a lot of excitement in the Alpine pipeline right now, from the U14 level right on through to the World Cup,” said Morin, “Hopefully, one day our SMS alumni will be winning at the World Cup and Olympic levels.” In the abbreviated 2019-2020 season, eleven student-athletes qualified for U14 Eastern Championships, seven qualified for U16 Eastern Championships, and five SMS skiers attended U.S. Junior National Championships. Standout results for the season included Diego Holscher `20, who ranked 5th globally in Super G for his year of birth (YOB), and Jay Poulter `21, who ended the season ranked 3rd in Slalom and 7th in Giant Slalom for his YOB. Four U14 athletes represented SMS and the U.S. at the Kandahar Junior Invitational, where Matteo Bonivento `24 claimed Bronze in Parallel Slalom and Bronson Culver `24 earned Bronze in Slalom. However, those results didn’t come out of thin air, as the program has worked to build a promising development pipeline. In recent years, the Alpine program has hosted seven regular development camps annually alongside open fall conditioning sessions for local athletes. Developing local athletes also creates the opportunity to witness high-caliber competition at home, as SMS coaches and volunteers work to host regular events at Stratton Resort—including VARA and USSA scored events, U16 SG State Championships, and the planned FIS Women’s Spring Series in 2020. 24

Alongside the program’s contributions to Stratton Mountain School’s designation as Club of the Year, SMS Freeski was also named Freeski Club of the Year by U.S. Ski & Snowboard. Two SMS athletes were named to the U.S. Freeski Team for 20192020, and again for the coming season: Olympian Caroline Claire `18 and Crystal Globe winner Mac Forehand `20. In January 2020, Claire won Gold at the World Cup Slopestyle event in Seiser Alm, Italy. Fifteen SMS Freeskiers qualified for USASA National Championships in 2020, and the team earned five top-three results at the 2020 Futures Tour events. Montana Osinski `22 represented the U.S. in Slopestyle (finishing 10th) and Big Air at the 2020 Youth Olympic Games. Teammate Charlie Gnoza `21 finished the season ranked 4th in the USASA National Open Class, finished 5th at the Calgary Slopestyle NorAm (and 7th in Big Air), and earned Bronze in Slopestyle at the Park City Futures Tour. Durham Jones `23 ended the season ranked 2nd in the U.S. for male athletes age 14-15 by USASA. SMS Freeski hosts an annual Young Gun Project and Action Sports Camps for youth athletes, and training camps are hosted throughout the year in Waterville, Stubai, Mammoth Mountain, and more. The program has consistently had athletes invited to attend U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Project Gold camps and regularly finds success at local USASA Southern Vermont Series events.

THE STARTING GATE | 2020

“We have consistently been guiding our young athletes to success through our high-level competition programming,” Mallis said. “Add to that our world-class on-campus training facility—including the Air Awareness Center—and the secondary sports that we offer in the fall and spring. Our team is constantly engaged, and they’re always doing something fun.”

Freestyle SMS Freestyle program continues to be a leader in the world of freestyle mogul training, achieving competitive success and offering amazing training opportunities all over the world alongside astounding college placements and continued alumni engagement. The program’s leaders, Director Deb Newson and Head Coach Sam Tarrant, concurrently lead both junior and FIS level athletes ranging in age from middle school to college. The veteran staff provides top-notch programming and instills a lifelong love of the sport for their athletes, in addition to running summer training camps for development level athletes. Newson and Tarrant also find time to remain deeply involved in the regional and national Freestyle infrastructure - Newson as the longtime chairperson of USSS Eastern Division Freestyle-Freeskiing and Tarrant as a member of several regional and national level committees. Many of the team alumni stay also stay engaged in the sport, working as part time coaches for the SMS program and the Stratton Winter Sports Club weekend competition program. In 2019-2020, 75 percent of SMS Freestyle athletes qualified for U.S. Junior National Championships, and 80 percent qualified for U.S. National Championships. The program’s five NorAm Tour team members—Peter Tiktinsky `16, Lulu Shaffer `17, Harrison Schunk `17, Henry Kosinski `19, and Skylar Slettene `22—comprised one of the largest NorAm teams representing a U.S. Ski & Snowboard Club. Shaffer won Gold in Dual Moguls at the Val St Come FIS NorAm and

gosms.org

finished 6th in the U.S, 7th overall, in the 2020 NorAm Tour. Slettene earned her first starts on the NorAm tour in 2020 with a top finish in 22nd place at Killington. Even with such strong representation at the regional, national and international level this season, it is the college acceptances that set the SMS Freestyle program apart. Admissions officers at the top colleges in the country value the balance and discipline necessary to attain excellence simultaneously in academics and athletics. “Our athletes have been accepted to the top colleges in the country,” Newson explained. “We are just so proud of our college acceptance record, as it is the best of any academy program and rivals that of most of the top high schools in the country.”

Nordic For twenty-five years, the SMS Nordic program has earned at least one Gold medal at Junior National Championships, with over eighty All-American finishes over the past five years and more than thirtyfive World Junior Team members. That legacy of excellence reached new heights in 2020 with achievements at every level—from the Bill Koch League to the Youth Olympic Games through the World Cup Circuit. “The Nordic program had great results from Eastern Cups to the World Cup and everything in between,” said Director Matt Boobar. “It comes back to the fact that we have every level, all the way up through college and the elite skiers on the T2 Team. That puts us over the top.” At Junior National Championships, Nina Seemann (ranked 3rd nationally for her YOB) continued SMS’ streak by claiming two Gold medals, and Will Koch `20 (ranked 1st nationally for his YOB) also claimed Gold. At the same time, Fin Bailey `23 (ranked 1st nationally for his YOB) earned Silver. Seemann and Koch represented the U.S. at the 2020 Youth Olympic Games, where Koch made history with 25

his Bronze-medal finish in the men’s 10-kilometer classic. Bailey and his peers, Wyatt Teaford `23, and Janne Koch `22, were among the top-ten U16 skiers in New England in 2019-2020. SMS T2 Team athletes saw another successful, though shorter than usual, season on the World Cup and SuperTour circuits, culminating in Coach Patrick O’Brien’s selection as the 2020 U.S. Ski & Snowboard Domestic Cross-Country Coach of the Year. “For me, it’s kind of recognition of the hard work that I feel like I’ve been putting in, but the athletes drive it,” O’Brien explained. “It’s cool for me to see all of those athletes recognize all of their aspirations and work towards them—that’s the most rewarding part about it.”

Snowboard The SMS Snowboard program consists of riders from middle school to the professional level and has found success at the local, national, and international levels. Since its founding in 1993, the program has funneled more than seventy athletes to elite-level competition, including Program Director and two-time Olympic medalist Ross Powers `97. In 2020, the program was also named Snowboard Club of the Year by U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “We help our student-athletes learn to focus on progression rather than results, which goes along with the idea of all-around athlete development,” Powers said. “The facilities [at SMS] are incredible, and we have kids of all ages throughout five disciplines who are pushing themselves and each other to succeed, each in their own way. It’s a strong program.” SMS riders claimed eighteen top-ten results at 2020 Futures Tour events, with five athletes earning Revolution Tour starts. At 2020 USASA Southern Vermont Series events, the program racked up an astounding fifty-seven podium finishes. Alumnus Zeb Powell `19 made history and won Gold during the Knuckle Huck competition at his first X Games event this winter. Acy Craig represented the U.S. in 26

Snowboard Cross at the 2020 Youth Olympic Games, claimed Silver in the Ski Copper Revolution Tour event, finished 4th at the Mont Original NorAm, and qualified for Junior World Championships. Connor Cavanagh `23, finished 7th at the Burton U.S. Open Junior Jam and 1st at the Vans High-Standard event hosted by Killington. “I attended SMS all four years of high school, and it made my successes possible with the training and the support provided,” Powers added. “I get the same feeling that I used to get when I learned a new trick or landed on the podium when they do. It’s just as rewarding to help them accomplish and achieve their goals.”

A Community Achievement At Stratton Mountain School, strong emphasis is placed on creating an environment that allows all student-athletes to understand and take ownership of the processes that set them up for success as they pursue their goals. Opportunities for college preparation, remote learning tools, and a diverse curriculum contribute to SMS’ mission to achieve academic excellence. Support for injured athletes, a focus on progression-based training, and secondary sports fulfill that mission’s athletic side. Most importantly, a strong campus community made up of five athletic disciplines, residential and day students, and student and staff from across the globe, fosters a culture of excellence. “In earning the 2020 Club of the Year status, I would love to make sure we can be like the New England Patriots and have many repeats in winning what I view as the Superbowl of awards in our industry,” said Head of School Carson Thurber ‘02. “It’s an incredible honor to be handed the keys to Stratton Mountain School as we are recognized as the most prestigious club in our industry. All I can hope for is to try to continue that success.”

THE STARTING GATE | 2020

ANNUAL GIVING WORLD CUP CHAMPION

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Mary Sheridan

Fritz Vallant

Joan Flake

Patricia C. Sherman - Revocable Trust

Pamela & David Frothingham

Reid & Matt Smith

Lucy Hamnett

Catherine Sterling

Kate E. Kerin ‘13

Donald Tarinelli, Jr.

Miki & Kazunaga Kusumi

Tiffany & John Teaford

Patricia M. Lane ‘77

Holly & Bob Wendell

Carol LeBlanc

Ann & David Zogbaum

In Memory Gifts Micki Abbenhaus Patti Kaltsas Rebecca Ann McGill Greg Needell ‘82

Sandra & Alex Lehmann Constance B. Madeira Chris Marks Charles F. Morace

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2020 Winter Ball Thank you to everyone who attended the Stratton Mountain School Winter Ball! PLATINUM SPONSORS Chrissy & Paul Carroccio/ TPW Real Estate SILVER SPONSORS

The 2020 Winter Ball was an overwhelming success, raising more than $125,000 for the SMS Scholarship Fund. The evening began with a moving tribute to outgoing Headmaster Chris Kaltsas and continued with a wonderful dinner, lively auctions, and a rocking band, Never In Vegas. Thank you to our 2020 Winter Ball Chair, Ann Marie Forehand, and her fantastic team of parents for creating such a memorable evening. What’s on tap for the 2021 Winter Ball? We are planning an equally exciting (albeit virtual) event. Details are coming soon but please save the date–January 30, 2021–and start planning your house parties. We will see you online!

Gary & Ellen Davis Mary McNiff & Adrian Owles Kathy & Benjamin Needell Morton T. Saunders BRONZE SPONSORS Jessica ’93 & Shane Baron Mary Ellen & Gary Giulietti Kristen & Geoffrey Goodman Christine & Jonathan Needell ’88 Todd Richter Sally & Gary Simpson Stratton Mountain Resort BENEFACTORS Marianne & Robert Stevenish FRIENDS Kristin & Daniel Siudak LIVE AUCTION DONORS 473 Grenada Boutique Resort Jessica ‘93 & Shane Baron Danielle & Gregg Clark Ellen & Gary Davis Mary McNiff & Adrian Owles Southern Vermont Classics Marianne & Robert Stevenish US Freestyle Team U.S. Ski & Snowboard Von Bargen’s Jewelry Betsy & Rob Wadsworth Zanin Family

THE STARTING GATE | 2020

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Carson A. Thurber '02 On July 1, Stratton Mountain School welcomed Carson A. Thurber ’02 as the school’s ninth Headmaster and first Head of School. Carson is an alumnus of SMS and Babson College, where he graduated with a BS in Business Management. Before becoming Head of School, Carson was the Foundation Director at Southwestern Vermont Health Care, where he successfully oversaw annual giving and special events. Carson began his career at SMS where, from 2007-2015, he served in various positions including; alumni relations and development, and culminating with several successful years as Assistant Headmaster. During his years as both a student and employee, Carson developed an understanding of SMS’ mission and student population. His love for SMS, coupled with his extensive fundraising experience, team building credentials, and management skills, made Carson the ideal candidate to lead SMS during its next phases of development. We caught up with him to learn more about his journey and plans for the future.

How did you first get involved with winter sports? I’ve been involved in winter sports my entire life. Growing up in Vermont, we only had a few options during the winter months, and my family was heavily involved in alpine skiing. Some of my first memories take place at local ski areas, like Haystack and Mount Snow. As I became old enough to ski on my own, I came over to the “big mountain,” Stratton Mountain, to enjoy the weekend race program. I can still remember being nine or ten years old, watching Stratton Mountain School athletes fly down North American and Suntanner, and 32

wanting to be one of them. My sister, who is four years older than I am, had a similar appetite for going fast and getting an excellent education and eventually applied to SMS without my parents knowing. When the acceptance letter came, she told my parents that it was her calling, and she had to go. She was the trailblazer who led my family down the SMS path, and eventually to my position as Head of School.

How did your experience at SMS prepare you for where you are today? My time at Stratton Mountain School were some of the best years of my life. I joined as a seventh-grade winter term athlete and had six wonderful years at SMS, three of those at the Hotel Tyrol, and three at World Cup Circle. At a young age, I figured out the value of hard work, and that time management is crucial to reaching your goals each day. My time [at SMS] made me incredibly prepared to enter into the challenging and competitive environment at Babson College and later take on my first jobs.

THE STARTING GATE | 2020

When you live in a dormitory, you’re around other student-athletes making their own decisions. You begin to realize that you can do things beyond your wildest dreams at a young age: waking up early, getting in those Lycra suits and going up a freezing mountain every morning; going to school until it’s dark, having another workout, and then marching up to your floor, brushing your teeth, and getting in bed﹘ and doing it all again with a smile on your face. While that is a typical day at Stratton Mountain School, it is not the average teenage experience. That grit, and willingness to work hard, really helped me get to where I am today, as I’m sure it helped the other 1,000 alumni who have gone on to become leaders across industries, doctors, lawyers, attorneys, and, of course, professional athletes.

What is it like being Head of School at the same winter academy that you attended? It’s an honor that I feel thankful for every day. I have the luxury of being the Captain of this metaphorical ship right now, but we are on a long voyage. Former Headmaster Christopher Kaltsas and those who came before him built this ship, got it in the harbor, and set it out to sea. And now, as we near the 50th year of our voyage, I can confidently say that we are headed in a great direction. We have an incredible academic platform, top-notch facilities, and our recent Club of the Year recognition speaks volumes to the quality of our programming. My goal is to make the many people who contributed to SMS’ success over the last five decades proud, as I am only going to be here for a moment of this overall journey. Of course, I want it to be a long moment, but I understand that Headmasters have come before me, and Heads of School will come after me. I want my contributions to make my predecessors pleased, and whoever comes after me grateful.

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What are your plans for the future of SMS? SMS is in an exciting place right now. Over the last 25 years, Headmaster Kaltsas took us from the Hotel Tyrol to our World Cup Circle campus, where he concentrated on building our academic platform and facilities. Thanks to his efforts, SMS graduates go on to the finest colleges and universities in the world. During Mr. Kaltsas’ time here, his focus was on brick and mortar projects, building out this beautiful 10-plus acre campus that houses all of the physical spaces needed to train and educate successful student-athletes. My focus as Head of School is to protect all of the hard work of those who invested in building the campus under Chris’ direction. By growing our endowment through philanthropic initiatives, my legacy will be to ensure that no economic downturn will keep this school from successfully reaching its centennial.

What advice do you have for those interested in sending their child or children to SMS? I think an essential piece to keep in mind is that SMS provides a fantastic experience for young adults. Many students initially sign on because they want to be an Olympic Gold Medalist. As they arrive on our campus, many new families realize that SMS is a world-class academic institution that offers every student limitless athletic opportunities. Most of our graduates go on to top-notch colleges and universities, and while that may not have been the original intention in attending SMS, we are preparing our student-athletes for the rest of their lives. Even Olympians won’t be athletes forever. Still, we want every SMS grad to be athletically minded in life, working hard, shooting for their goals, being a great teammate, and always willing to compete. What makes SMS truly different is our ability to balance academic and athletic excellence and instill strong personal values along the way.

Meet the New Staff JACK BAILEY

ALPINE

Jack brings more than 25 years of ski coaching and education experience to the SMS alpine U14 coaching staff. Jack coached alpine ski racing at Kents Hill School, Waterville Valley Academy, and Killington Mountain School, and is a USSA Sports Education Coach Clinician.

ELLE GILBERT ’12

MENTAL PERFORMANCE

Elle (Ell-e) grew up in Vermont and graduated from SMS in 2012. Following a successful alpine racing and academic career at Middlebury College, Elle earned her Master of Arts in Sport and Performance Psychology from the University of Denver. As a fully integrated Mental Performance Specialist at SMS, Elle is working with all five programs to bolster our student-athletes' cognitive flexibility.

MARISSA HAASE

ALPINE

Marissa joins SMS as a member of the High-Performance team and alpine U16 coaching staff. Marissa is a level 200 alpine coach who spent nine years coaching with the Loon Race Team. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Sports Performance from Plymouth State University and served as the Assistant Coach of their ski team for the 2019/2020 season.

JAMAICA KAECHER

FRONT DESK

Jamaica comes to Stratton Mountain School after serving as the conference service manager at Manchester’s Kimpton Taconic Hotel. While she grew up in Montana, Jamaica considers Vermont to be her home, as she loves adventuring outside. Jamaica earned her BFA in Stage Management from Viterbo University and joined SMS in 2019.

SCOTT KELLY

FRENCH

Scott is SMS’ new French teacher and resident yogi. Scott holds a Master of Arts in French Studies from New York University and has taught at several preparatory schools including Phillips Andover, Choate, and Moorestown Friends School. Scott is also trained in yoga instruction, and has begun to offer yoga classes to our students during their training and extracurricular time.

LOGAN MARTIN

ALPINE

Logan joins SMS as a member of the men’s FIS coaching staff. Logan attended and trained at Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy before continuing to Plymouth State University to race on the NCASS DI circuit. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Sport and Exercise Physiology.

THE STARTING GATE | 2020

ASHLEE O'HARA

COMMUNICATIONS

Ashlee brings more than five years of market research and brand strategy experience to the SMS communications department. Specializing in action sports, she has managed marketing strategies for leading global brands like Vans and Nike. Ashlee earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Social Anthropology from the University of Essex, in England.

KYLE PENNY

ALPINE

Kyle joins SMS as an alpine FIS coach and equipment coordinator. After graduating from Green Mountain Academy, Kyle coached the Ski Roundtop Racing Club in Pennsylvania and taught at the New York Ski Educational Foundation.

BENJAMIN QUINN

SPANISH

Benjamin recently joined SMS to teach Spanish. Benjamin has a robust Spanish background and a degree in Global Studies from the University of Vermont. As an added skill, Benjamin has strong Chinese proficiency, and he has spent the past several years as an ESL teacher in China.

SANDY SCHOEPKE

ALPINE

Following a successful racing career on the Park City Ski Team and Colby College, Sandy joins SMS as a member of the alpine FIS coaching staff and High-Performance team. She recently graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Biology & Neuroscience.

DONALD JOHN (DJ) WASSICK ’02

HUMANITIES

DJ joins SMS as a civics and science teacher. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Vermont, DJ obtained his Masters in Education from Pepperdine University and, most recently, his Master in Arts in Political Science from Northeastern University.

JEFF WAGNER

ALPINE

Jeff, better known as “Chief” around campus, rejoins SMS as the alpine equipment manager. Jeff was the FIS coach and equipment manager for SMS’ alpine program in 2010 and spent the last decade working in various service technician roles for the US Ski Team.

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By Cherise Madigan-Forbes

Wendy Schriebl and her husband, Hubert, have been Stratton institutions since their meeting at the mountain in the 1960s. In 1973, upon the birth of their second child, the Schriebls moved to Stratton full time and became even more deeply immersed in the community.

“The great people there really make up my fondest memories,” Schriebl said. “Patti Kaltsas, bringing her wagon full of candy out on Halloween in a full cow costume, Peggy deSantis and her spot-on sayings, Len Bugel being an anchor of SMS and a great guy … there are so many more.”

“Wendy and Hubert raised their kids on the mountain, and Hubert was an instructor for a number of years before he became the mountain photographer,” said Kimet Hand, who has known the couple for decades. “During that time, Wendy raised the kids, but as they got older, she was a natural fit for SMS because she was so knowledgeable about all things Stratton. Together, Hubert and Wendy had a unique window into the community.”

Though she may not have realized it at the time, Schriebl created her own legacy within the school’s achievements. Her organization, knowledge, and dedication played a crucial role in Stratton Mountain School’s evolution—although those contributions may not always be readily apparent.

“Hubert was always photographing the younger racing programs that grew into SMS, and I was certainly familiar with the school through the Ski Ball,” Schriebl explained. “When I later heard that the Headmaster at SMS was looking for an assistant, I went for it!” Prior to starting at SMS in 2000, Schriebl had a long career in education with V. J. Bush Educational Consultants, based in New York City, and later with Green Mountain College. Wendy’s encyclopedic knowledge of Stratton’s “everyone knows everyone” culture would prove invaluable as then-Headmaster Chris Kaltsas embarked on his mission to expand the SMS campus, curriculum, and community. “Wendy and Hubert were part of the early cast of characters on Stratton, and she was so knowledgeable about the history and the people,” Kaltsas said. “Wendy has a kind heart and knows a lot of the families and their backgrounds; she can interact with anyone.” For twenty years, Schriebl helped run the day-to-day tasks that came with building a new campus, adding new athletic programs, and enhancing a robust academic curriculum. Schriebl is known for forging friendships throughout the community and maintains many fond memories of the people at SMS throughout the years.

“One of the things you look to do is surround yourself with the people who really believe in your vision and are willing to share in the joys and the success of the program,” Kaltsas concluded. “I was fortunate to have Wendy by my side for twenty years.” In 2020, Schriebl concluded two decades of service to Stratton Mountain School. For those twenty years, she stood by Kaltsas as he built a campus from the ground up and realized a vision of excellence that was unparalleled at the outset, and still is. With the community at the core of that achievement, Schriebl’s contributions will be remembered for years to come.

“

Wendy has a kind heart ... she can interact with anyone.

THE STARTING GATE | 2020

SMS BALL 2021

SAVE THE DATE

U O R

H T E D GL N

Like all of us, essential workers are living in a new normal. Yet even in this time of uncertainty, they go to work each day to make our lives better. They are in the hospitals caring for sick patients. They are in the senior center handing out graband-go meals. They are in the field reporting on key stories. We spoke with nine SMS alums to learn more about their experiences as essential workers over the summer. These are their heartfelt stories.

STARTING GATE | 2020

Mary Kate Visnic ’13 Temporary COVID-ICU Registered Nurse at New York-Presbyterian Hospital “I work in the COVID-ICU, helping manage critically ill and unstable patients. We have so many intubated patients in the hospital that the ORs have been converted into makeshift ICUs. The shifts are hectic as we attempt to stabilize patients﹘controlling their sedation levels, balancing blood pressures, monitoring labs, and suctioning lungs to ensure adequate oxygenation through the ventilator. My days also consist of setting up FaceTimes for patients with their loved ones, as no visitors are allowed into the hospital. It is heartbreaking and tragic. Every time I enter a patient’s room, I’m nervous about exposure. Luckily I am provided with a full PPE. I even pack old ski goggles in my bag in case we run out of face shields. Although the shifts are stressful, our unit’s solidarity and the nightly cheers at shift change help lift spirits. Taking care of these patients is a team effort. As with any job I’ve had, my training at SMS has helped me. I hope everyone is staying safe, and I look forward to seeing everyone again.”

Christina O’Brien ’15

Research Associate II on the High-Throughput Expression team for Adimab, an antibody discovery and optimization platform “Adimab has been utilizing its antibody discovery platform to search for a therapeutic solution for COVID-19. In my role on the High Throughput Expression team, we have been producing and purifying hundreds of antibodies weekly towards this effort. The goal is to discover a therapeutic that will not only treat COVID-19 but potentially future outbreaks by targeting past coronaviruses, like SARS-COV1. All these efforts have been funneled into a new company, Adagio, which aims at working towards the clinic. It’s been a lot of work and many tiring days, especially with urgent deadlines and maintaining spatial distancing. Still, it will be worth it if our work helps the millions of people affected by the current situation!”

Jackie Hernandez ’10

Registered Nurse at Intermountain LDS Hospital “I’m hanging in there!” she said. “I work in oncology, specifically bone marrow transplant, so the patients I work with are extremely high risk. My biggest priority is keeping the virus away from them and me, so I don’t spread it. That said, the providers are doing what they can to keep our patient population at home, if possible. So I’ve oriented in the ICU to work down there if and when I’m needed. These are definitely scary times, and I get nervous every time I walk into the hospital, but I still love my job. Hopefully, the hospitals can keep PPE stocked and vents available, and people keep taking all of this seriously. Stay safe out there!”

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Kelly O’Hear Sheppard ’03

Anesthesiologist and Physician at Stanford and Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital “Here in NorCal, we’ve largely been spared any real ‘surge’ of COVID19-affected patients. That said, we are treating a large number of patients, and stress levels are high! Attached are some photos of my new “normal” work attire as an anesthesiologist. Many of our routine procedures are high risk, given our proximity to our patients and their respiratory tracts. For now, I’m taking it day by day and doing my part to provide the best possible care of my patients during this pandemic. “It has been uplifting to hear the community’s support for healthcare workers all over the country. However, I’d like to highlight those that are often forgotten but are essential to making our hospitals function well—housekeepers, food service workers, and maintenance workers!”

Darren Bloch ’92

CEO & Executive Director of Greenwich House, a social service agency “In January of this year, I joined Greenwich House as CEO & Executive Director. Three months later, I found myself, as did everyone, navigating through this global health and humanitarian crisis. Not the transition year I expected. “Greenwich House is a 117-year-old social service agency that, even during “blue sky” times, provides a mix of critical health and human service to 13,000 New Yorkers in the West Village of Manhattan and beyond. For over a century the organization has run senior centers and health clinics for older adults; mental health clinics for children and families confronting trauma; substance abuse and mental health clinics for adults; and a mix of early education, youth services and arts and cultural programs. When COVID-19 began to take hold in New York City, most of our programs and 300 employees were deemed “essential” to the City’s response. Like so many in hot zones across the country, we began working to figure out how to support our patients, clients, and families in new and creative ways. “Over the months, that work has evolved considerably. In the beginning, our senior services teams were a central focus, shifting from providing congregant meals (to 400-500 seniors a day, on average) to giving hundreds of grab-and-go meals daily to nutritionally challenged seniors. From there, we figured out how to safely provide meal deliveries to hundreds more, who were self-isolating for their protection. “Next was combating the social isolation, which had been a growing national challenge pre-COVID. The team also shifted from in-person programming and social engagement for hundreds a week to figure out ways to get older adults connected online, with new content and engagement points that we hadn’t yet created. (Personal note: some of my brighter spots from this ordeal have come from joining a few regular Zoom group sessions to develop seniors centers without walls.) Through June, our teams have delivered over 2,500 meals, made thousands of wellness and check-in calls, and are now providing over a dozen classes a week online for older adults across New York City.”

Francesca Occelli ’13

Pharmacist in Turin, Italy “Some days are challenging because people are beginning to be emotionally stressed,” she said. “In the city, it’s hard to keep people inside their apartments—we don’t have any nature around us, so people feel like they’re in jail. People are so stressed, and when they come to the pharmacy, they just need to talk. Every single day there is a new battle to handle ... . It’s not easy, but I’m happy to be able to put myself in the game every day thanks to a job that I never thought I could appreciate so much.”

THE STARTING GATE | 2020

Megan Killigrew ’09 English Teacher at the Tilton School “When the severity of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic was becoming evident in the country, my school was on its March break. During that time, my administrators initially planned to have two weeks of virtual learning. I had never taught online before, and neither had most of my colleagues. Understandably, there was a fair amount of unease as we prepared for this stretch of virtual learning. Sverre came to mind quite a bit since he always taught us to be adaptable and to keep things simple. So, relying on that wisdom, I headed into online teaching, asking myself: ‘Where is the opportunity here; what is absolutely essential?’ Needless to say, as the pandemic worsened, virtual learning lasted through the end of the school year. “Now, as we move towards the fall, my school is planning on reopening campus with many modifications to adhere to state guidelines for COVID-19. I know there will be challenges, and many people in our community, including myself, are worried about what school will feel like as we wear masks and maintain six feet of distance. It’s certainly not the high school experience I had, which makes me sad for my students. The coaches and teachers I had at Stratton have been perhaps the most influential people in my life. Because of that, I feel inspired to show up for my students as they face adolescence in a pandemic. I’m trying to ask myself how I can be of service, and that gives me hope. “Learning doesn’t happen when you’re comfortable; it occurs when you face the unknown. While it can be hard to recognize and even harder to accept, the pandemic’s uncertainty can provide us with many challenging but meaningful opportunities to learn about ourselves and our collective humanity.”

Christine Schozer ’08 PG’09 Producer for NBC News “I collaborate daily with NBC News doctors, reporters, and the local NBC affiliate stations (e.g., WNYT in Albany) to produce current health and wellness content for local viewers on the Coronavirus pandemic. In addition to connecting NBC News doctors with local affiliates to provide daily health updates, I also successfully pitched the Goggles for Docs effort to air on NBC’s TODAY Show. With the help from Tiger Shaw PG ‘77 and Middlebury Alum Jon Schaefer, we were able to have Mikaela Shiffrin promote the Goggles for Docs campaign on the TODAY show and encourage viewers to donate ski goggles to health care workers short on eye-protective supplies at the start of the pandemic. The Goggles for Docs effort has donated over 50,000 goggles to healthcare workers to date, and I am thankful that I could leverage my NBC network to help promote this great idea on a national platform!”

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THE STARTING GATE | 2020

Virtual Reunions Over the summer, Stratton Mountain School’s Alumni Coordinator, Morgan Taylor, embarked on a serendipitous journey. With many people home due to the pandemic, she decided to offer virtual reunions through the decades. Beginning with the very first SMS class of 1974, Taylor digitally traveled through the Tyrol decades (the 1970s-1980s) accompanied by alumni, current Head of School Carson Thurber, and former Headmaster Chris Kaltsas. The format for each reunion was simple. Attendees started by sharing all of the exciting things they are doing across various industries, including healthcare, environmentalism, banking, real estate, education, and sports. Introductions were followed by a slideshow, featuring old yearbook pictures and photos their classmates were inspired to dig up, and fun trivia specific to their time at SMS. Taylor quickly found that virtual reunions had unique and exciting benefits. By taking the virtual route, she could reunite entire classes from around the world, with people logging on from Massachusetts, Colorado, California, New York, Arizona, Vermont, and even Japan! As Peter Frenchman ’84 put it, “It was great to see a few of my high school friends for the first time in a long time. Living in Colorado, in-person reunions are a challenge, so the virtual reunion was an easy way to connect.” Many attendees had not been to Stratton in decades and it was heartwarming to listen to their excitement as old friends emerged on the screen. Faces beamed as classmates commemorated their time at SMS, discussing everything from teachers and coaches to unforgettable seasons and stories. Many alumni had the distinct privilege of being coached by Hermann Goellner. They reminisced about his ingenuity, creating customized boots for skiers, engineering rollerblades with ski boots, or making the first screw-in slalom poles. Others recalled their favorite training memories, such as backward crab-walk soccer, running up Stratton Mountain with a backpack full of rocks, and an epic 30-day bike ride from Oregon to Vermont. They also recognized SMS' first Japanese student-athletes, Chiaki Ishioka ’79 and Michihiko Nakamura ’79, who began a long tradition of Japanese students attending SMS every year.

“

By taking the virtual route, [Taylor]

Some other great comments from our alums about their time together: “With the visual technology, the virtual reunion was much fun and confirmed that we are still teenage ski racers at heart.” Eric Palola ’75 “The SMS Virtual Reunion was amazing fun to be a part of, reconnecting with ’77, ’78, and ’79! It has been many years since we shared the special time at SMS, but with such good friends, it was like no time at all, with many great memories, the stories more fun than ever! Looking forward to the next one!” Bill Best ’78 “It was really fun to see SMS friends again! For those of you who couldn’t attend, try next time, you’ll be happy you did! Lots of smiles tonight.” Susan Long Wemyss ’78 “What a blast! It was so great to Zoom. Next time, you should all join! It was so great to catch up!” Benzi Henrich Ross ’79 “Let’s do it again and rally more! I loved the pictures. Oh my gosh, what a time that was!” Jeanne Hammond Larsen ’78 “I also enjoyed seeing friends from SMS. It was a special place [...]. It shaped my life. I read, probably for the first time, the passage Don Burke wrote in the ’79 yearbook. ‘In many ways, you have been shaped by your experience here at Stratton Mountain School. In many ways, what you were here as seniors, you will be throughout your lives.’ I have found this to be true.” Cindy Oak Goodin ’79 To say that the SMS Tyrol experience was unique is an understatement, and we thank all who have participated in virtual reunions so far. If your class’ virtual reunion hasn’t happened yet, keep a lookout in your inbox﹘yours will be coming soon! And for those classes that have requested a second virtual reunion, we’re excited to see you all again! Reunions hosted thus far: 1974-76: May 21

1995-97: September 24

1977-79: June 11

1998-01: October 8

1980-84: June 18

2002-05: October 22

1985-89: July 2

2006-09: November 12

1990-94: August 27

could reunite entire classes from around the world. gosms.org

The Finish Line ’75

’78

In addition to his day job working on tropical biodiversity conservation, Eric Palola recently cochaired a capital campaign for the Mad River Glen Cooperative ski area that raised $5.6 million to invest in snowmaking and facilities and completed a six-year stint on MRG’s board of trustees serving as President last year. He’s been a part-time coach there for several years; it’s where his kids learned to ski. MRG is the only skier-owned cooperative in the country and stubbornly different from the rest of the ski industry. The race club is a small weekend program that serves as a kind of farm team to ski academies and local high schools since it only goes to the U14 level. In the Covid19 era, MRG’s latest motto reflects its iconic (and rebuilt) Single Chair: ”…practicing social distancing since 1948!”

After spending five years in warm SoCal weather, Bill Best decided that 2020 was the year for a change. Bill now resides in Colorado and looks forward to connecting with fellow SMS alumni in the area.

’76 Kate Stutt Brewer got hitched via Zoom! The couple was married virtually by a justice of the peace last Easter to ensure Kate’s mother, Judy Stutt, could attend. “Our neighbors surprised us with a honking, hooting celebratory social distance drive-by parade to commemorate the event!” she says. Kate retired from teaching a few years ago and currently works as a realtor with Keller Williams Realty in Ferrisburg, VT.

“I’ve missed being near the mountains, with access to skiing like my years at SMS,” he says. “After visiting Colorado last winter during epic snow conditions, investigating new work opportunities, and reconnecting with several ski racing friends from back in the day, I decided it was time for an exciting change.”

’79 Lisa Feinberg Ballard works as a freelance writer and photographer who covers mainly nature, adventure travel, conservation, and outdoor recreation, including skiing (of course), for about 30 magazines and websites across the United States and Canada. The second edition of her guidebook, Hiking the White Mountains, was re-released this summer in color. Lisa also remains deeply involved in ski racing, taking home the women’s Super G title on the FIS Masters circuit plus 2nd overall in Alpine Combined, 3rd overall in GS, and 4th overall in Slalom among all women, all age groups. She also hosts masters race camps and women's ski clinics around the US, including the Mount Snow Masters Camp each January, just down the road from SMS. “My next goal?” Lisa says, “Figuring out a fantastic adventure to celebrate my 60th birthday next spring! Who wants to come along?” Cindy Oak Goodin and her husband, Barry, are retired and enjoying an empty nest now that their three boys are away at school. Cindy currently serves as the Vice Commodore at their sailing club, Buffalo Canoe Club, and the Director at HoliMont, Inc, a local ski area.

’77 Patti Lane has been living in Tewksbury, MA, for nearly 20 years. When she’s not working at Epsilon, Patti spends her free time golfing, cycling by her father’s house, and continues racing with the New England Masters Circuit. Rich Ross turned 60 this year! He’s also pleased to report that his daughters attend Denver University and Dartmouth College, and his son is a junior in high school.

’81 Since Mike Kemmer left Stratton and graduated from Johnston State College, racing has always been a part of his work. He’s been running the Thunder Ridge Race team since 1988 full time, and has used the lessons and skills he learned at Stratton from all his coaches. His two sons raced with the Thunder Ridge Race team and one is now coaching with him. Mike says, “you can tell that SMS has had a very long lasting effect on my life and my family’s life and will always be special to me in many ways. It was great to talk with some alums at the virtual reunion during this crazy pandemic spring; remembering those special events that happened while I was at SMS was fun. There are so many memories.”

’83 Heidi Frost lives on her family farm in East Dorset, VT, with her husband, Joe, and their son, Brett. She recently reconnected with several of her SMS classmates, including Jana Caldwell ‘83, Julie Furtado ‘85, Julie Woodworth Brown ‘81, Sue Hermanson ‘83, Ingrid Punderson Jackson ‘84, and Mo Flaherty ‘83.

’86 Jen Conover remains heavily involved in ski racing. She coaches full time at Carrabassett Valley Academy in Maine, and owns and directs the Ocean Explorer camp on the coast. Jen is a proud mom of three (one ski racer) and currently resides in a lighthouse off Maine’s coast.

’87 Jeff Bennett married Laure Sudreau in August! Congratulations, Jeff & Laure!

Since 2010, Chiaki Ishioka has been producing the Japan Women’s Golf Tour, “Yamaha Ladies Open Katsuragi.” It’s quite stressful, but on the weekends, he enjoys windsurfing in the middle of a lake where he can be alone. “My experience as an athlete has helped me a lot in my work, as well as my experience at Stratton Mountain School, and my friends, teachers, coaches, and staff,” he says.

THE STARTING GATE | 2020

’88

’93

’98

Jon Needell and his wife, Christine, are also empty nesters this year! Their daughter, Caroline, is a junior at Amherst College while their son, Harry, is a freshman at Trinity College. Jon and Christine look forward to traveling in the future. Jon was recently appointed as Vice Chair on the SMS Board of Trustees.

Renny Bloch resides in NYC with his two daughters (6 & 7m) and works in Leadership and Management Development for a biotech company.

Sarah Piampiano Lord lives in San Rafael, CA, with her husband, Michael.

Krista Schmidinger’s family has settled into life in Basel, Switzerland! “I’ll be heading up to the Alps and will keep an eye out for the SMS folks,” she says. She’s keeping her ties to the ski world by representing Bousquet, her hometown mountain in the Berkshires, MA. It means a lot to her to return to Bousquet, where her career began, and she hopes to inspire a other young skiers as the mountain becomes a premier destination for outdoor recreation

’90 Devon Cheshire lives in Philadelphia, PA, with his wife and their two boys. The family skis and races at Elk Mountain in northeastern Pennsylvania.

’91 Gaku Hirasawa resides in Tokyo, working as a consultant for Japanese ski resorts. His partner’s son, Kaito Nakaya ‘23, is enrolled in SMS’ Snowboard program. Gaku also sees Kenta Uraki ‘94 sometimes, as Kenta is a coach for the Japanese National Team.

’92 Darren Bloch joined Greenwich House﹘a 117-year-old social service agency﹘this year as their CEO & Executive Director. Congratulations, Darren!

Richie Hadley is a daddy of three amazing little rascals: Della (10), Sebastian (6) and Penny Mae (3). They live in Lakewood, CO. For the past 18 years, he was managing night clubs and restaurants. He is happy to say that he is retired from that industry. He currently manages his own seasonal fresh Wild Alaskan Salmon wholesale distribution company in Denver, CO. When he is not slinging salmon, he works with a friend remodeling homes and condos. He skis the Rockies almost every week during the season. Andrea Sessa Sayago has been a lawyer for an asset management firm in New York City for the past 15 years. She lives with her husband, Ed, and their two sons in New Hamburg, NY. In the winter, the family spends their weekends at Stratton, where both boys are in ski programs. Andrea also hangs out with Jess Baron ‘93 when she is in town.

’94

Sarah is hoping racing returns in 2021, as it will be her last year before retiring from racing triathlons professionally.

’99 Tyler Brinkmann and his wife, Lauren, welcomed their second child, Maeve Brinkmann, on November 15th, 2019. Their four-year-old, Charlie, says he “wants to snowboard this winter” but, according to Tyler, it will be “all skiing if Dad has anything to say about it.” Ryotaro Yao now has a family of four with the new addition of his son, Rintaro, who was born in August.

Sally Bartlett is a ski race coach and runs their family ski shop, Ski Bartlett, in the UK. Justin DuMond lives in Colorado with his wife and two sons, Soren (10) and Felix (8). His sons are both alpine racers, and his wife helps coach their team, allowing Justin to cheer them on while getting in some k's on local nordic trails. Gordy Megroz lives in Jackson, Wyoming, working as a contributing editor for Outside Magazine. Gordy also writes for Wired and Bloomberg Businessweek, and is currently working on a book about skiing for National Geographic.

’96 Sarah Laidlaw Wilde spent most of her summer in Vermont and looks forward to skiing this winter with her family. She heard from Heather Plimpton Drummond ’97 that her son is in the same class as Kristina Joder Casey’s ‘97 daughter. Kristina and her husband are at Holderness with Heather’s husband. Small world!

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“All of my races were canceled for 2020, so in June, we did a huge road trip,” she says. “We drove to Maine and spent the month of July at my family’s cabin in Rangeley before making our way back to California via Vermont, Wisconsin, Boulder, and Durango.”

’00 Matt Macko welcomed his first child, Wylder Elm Macko, on March 20th, 2020. Wylder’s arrival coincided with Matt’s cancer-free diagnosis following a four-year battle with stage III melanoma. We are all so happy for you, Matt! TJ Sica resides in Orange, California with his wife, Heidi, and their one-year-old daughter, Monroe. TJ continues to ski at Mammoth during the winter months.

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Rachel Roosevelt Reyes and her family moved 40 minutes north of New York City last fall. She says, “It was the perfect time to move out of an apartment and into a home with a backyard so that my two toddlers, Eleanor (4) and Arthur (3) could romp around and play in the woods.” Rachel continues to work at SGH Macro Advisors, a political intelligence firm, while her husband, Anderson, works for the Department of Education for the City of New York. Both parents now work from their home in Bedford, NY. Rachel recently joined the SMS Diversity Education Committee as an alumni representative and is excited for some of the new programs to roll out this year!

Chichi Williams is an art teacher at The Grammar School in Putney, VT and she’s painting a mural in the new SMS STEM lab. She is happy to be living back in Vermont with her husband, Sebastian.

Margaret Schlachter continues to live and work in central Utah where she is Interim Director of Development & Director of Alumni Relations at Wasatch Academy. Margaret took up rock climbing in 2019 and likes to spend her free time climbing at Maple Canyon. She also took a few climbing trips to Moab, Idaho, and Colorado!

’04 Chris Wheeler and his wife, Rachel, celebrated their son’s birth, Hugh, on December 18, 2019. Chris’ beer league racing team also won the Margarita Cup, a competitive ski race series hosted by the Jackson Hole Ski Club.

’06 Hayley Simpson and Danny Davis got engaged in October 2020.

Erin Davis Williams is working as a Protocol Officer (event planner in the non military world) for the Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command. She lives in Tampa, Florida with her husband, who just retired from the Army and 3 children. She says, “And no matter how much I love the weather here, I’ll always be a New England girl at heart and miss the fall/winter!”

’02 Gus Kaeding is a Performance Data Manager for U.S. Ski & Snowboard. Andy Newell retired from the US Ski team after sixteen years with the organization and remains deeply involved in the ski world. Andy runs a ski training consulting business called Nordic Team Solutions that enables him to work with coaches and develop athletes around the US. DJ Wassick recently moved to Stratton and will be teaching civics and English classes at SMS. He is looking forward to skiing and snowboarding this winter and reconnecting with fellow alumni. Carson Thurber is the new Head of School at SMS and is very proud to be working with a community he loves so much. Carson, his wife, Allie, and their two children, Hawkins (4) and Basil (6), recently moved down the street from the SMS.

’09 After graduating from CU Boulder, Sadie Simpson moved to Denver and bought a house with her significant other. She is currently working on obtaining her real estate license.

’10 Skyler Davis (‘10; PG’11; PG’12) is “living the dream” in San Francisco with his fiancé, Elise. In the last year, Marley Pawlak moved to Portland, Maine, and started Endless Blooms, a garden design and maintenance company. On top of that, she and her boyfriend are restoring a 120-year-old house. Go, Marley! Emily Bamford lives in Melbourne with her fiancé, Ed. The couple decided to push their wedding back a year and hope Emily’s maid of honor, Caroline Barry ‘09, will be allowed into the country by then! Emily works in public relations at the Victoria Racing Club. However, she says, “This year is a little strange as we are currently planning for the Melbourne Cup to be run with no spectators!” Keep up the good work, Emily!

’08 Dan Feldman went to law school in NYC and practiced for a few years. He is currently living in New Jersey and working at his family’s business. He and Liz are engaged and had their first child, Asher, in 2019. He will be 2 in January.

Paige Chardavoyne began her final year of medical school at Penn State College of Medicine and is scheduled to graduate with her MD in May 2021. Jennifer Cohen obtained her Master in Journalism from NYU and has been working for the Fox News Channel for the last two years.

’11 Heather Mooney lives in Bozeman, MT, coaching the PG and College Nordic group at Bridger Ski Foundation. She also enrolled in a Master’s Design program through Boston Architectural College.

Erika Hogan Rixon lives in Sun Valley, Idaho, with her husband and two children, Banks (2) and Ford (4). Since COVID hit, being a mom has been her main gig, and she loves every second of it. Ford loves to snowmobile, ski, and ride bikes, while Banks loves to do whatever his big brother is doing!

THE STARTING GATE | 2020

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Miyu Nakamura started a self-branding profile on Instagram this year. Miyu travels around Japan, taking pictures, making content, and uploading it in English as a tool for people who don’t live in Japan.

Olivia Burwell graduated from Babson College last year, where she was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority. Oliva raced on Babson’s ski team all four years and was named captain during her senior year. She now lives in Boston, working as an Allocation Analyst in Jewelry for The TJX Companies.

Anna Lehmann has set a personal goal to hike all 46 of the high peaks in the Adirondack Mountains.

Anne Guarino has been working at SMS, gaining experience in athletic training. She keeps busy with her dog, Avi, who needs endless runs!

“I climbed my first high peak in 2010, and now I have climbed 44,” she says. “It turns out this is a good year to climb the more obscure mountains I had never been to before, because most are on trails that are long, unmaintained, and not the most popular, making it easy to stay safe and socially distanced from other hikers.”

Brendan O’Keefe was recently a Peace Corps Education Volunteer stationed in Mozambique, teaching English.

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Emily Hudson is a third-year medical student at Dartmouth College’s Geisel School of Medicine. “Learning clinical medicine in the COVID-19 era has presented its challenges,” she says. “But I enjoy rotating through different specialties this year.” Elle Gilbert (finally) made her way back to the SMS community as a fully integrated Mental Performance Specialist. Go, Elle! Calvin Swomley is a business development associate within the digital solutions group at Xylem Inc. He’s working to solve water related environmental challenges with digital technologies. He is living in Boulder, CO, and enjoying the outdoors. Hunter Lathrop lives in Miami, Florida, with his girlfriend, and works as the Tamiami Tennis Center Director. He looks forward to visiting SMS in the spring when his sister, Chloe, graduates.

Savannah Forehand graduated from Skidmore College in May and now works as a case manager at a private home care company in Boston! She and her boyfriend recently moved to Beacon Hill. Kaan Aytekin is a senior at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York, majoring in Data Analytics and Mathematical Economics. “Potsdam is very cold,” he says. “Some call it ‘The North Country.’” We get snow early October, and it does not melt until late May. Fortunately, there are great fishing, hiking, and skiing spots in the North Country. As a very outdoorsy person, I try to go on an adventure pretty much every weekend as long as the weather cooperates.”

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’13 Abby Brown received her Juris Doctor in May from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where she concentrated in Intellectual Property and Information Law. Abby is preparing to take the Multistate Bar and works as a Law Clerk at Warshaw Burstein in Manhattan. She is still very close with Mary Kate Visnic ‘13, Emily Visnic ‘12, Leah Fowler ‘14, Gillian Serels ‘14, and Amanda Steffey ‘15, all of whom she sees in the City.

James St. Ville attends the United States Military Academy at West Point. He is majoring in Defense and Strategic Studies and plays Division 1 Rugby. “I believe SMS played a crucial role in helping develop my time management skills, with regard to balancing the academic and athletic aspects of my career,” he says. “At West Point, I also have to balance military responsibility with the previously mentioned aspects. I’ve learned a lot in my past year here, and I can’t wait to see what unfolds in the next few years.”

Passings Bill Barbour passed away after a valiant battle with cancer. Bill was a respected coach and teacher at SMS in the 70s. Bill had been living in North Carolina. Our sympathies go out to his wife, Nicole, and children, Rhett and Kelsey.

Dan Landy became VP of UMH Properties Inc. and moved to Asbury Park, NJ.

Josh Hybl graduated Marine Corps Officer Candidate school. This coming May he will commission as an officer of the Marines.

The Stratton community mourns of the passing of Margaret "Peggy" Lord. Peggy was an avid Stratton skier and co-founded the Stratton Ski Ball in 1969. Peggy lived in Hobe Sound, Florida and also had a family home in Bondville. Peggy kindly donated the antique bell that sits on SMS’ Garthwaite Campus Green.

Kate Kerin works in non-profit communications and marketing and serves on the Vermont Army National Guard. “I still find lots of time to ski, and even teach a learn-to-ski nordic program,” says Kate.

Julia Puchkov graduated in July from King’s College London with a BS in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, and is starting a new job as a government contractor in the near future.

Peter Federa ’80 passed away in October. Peter grew up on Stratton Mountain and had recently been living in Innsbruck. Our sympathy goes out to Peter’s family and friends.

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THE STARTING GATE | 2020

2020 Issue | The Starting Gate

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The Starting Gate | 2020 Issue

The Starting Gate 2020| Stratton Mountain School is U.S. Ski & Snowboard Overall Club of the Year