Athletics

Athletics Wrap-Up

TERRIER SPORTS WERE BACK IN FULL SWING this winter after having a shortened season due to COVID last year. Several athletes hit important milestones and broke school records.

Men’s Basketball lost in the first round of the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) playoffs to the University of Maine at Presque Isle by a score of 83-71. With a roster featuring nine first-year students and just three seniors, the young Terriers finished the regular season 4-14. Despite a tough season, the team beat University of Southern Maine in their season opener, the first win over the Huskies in program history. Demetris Webster ’22 led the Terriers with 14.8 points per game and played all 19 games this season. On February 12, he surpassed 1,000 career points, the 29th player in the program’s history to reach the milestone. He was also an honorable mention in the NAC All-Conference awards. Sawyer Deprey ’24 played in 15 games, averaging 12.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Jacob Bouchard ’25 was named to the NAC sportsmanship team.

Women’s Basketball also lost to the University of Maine at Presque Isle in the opening round of the NAC playoffs, in a close 57-53 battle. They finished their regular season 2-19, with their biggest win of the season coming on January 14 in overtime over NVU-Johnson. Captain KJ Ravagli ’22 led the Terriers, averaging 15 points a game. Other key contributors this season were Anna Piirainen ’22, Bri Benecke ’23, and Samantha Fortin ’23. Charlene Butera ’23 was named to the NAC sportsmanship team.

The Ice Hockey team had a 7-8-1 season, ending with a sixgame win streak. They were an impressive 5-2 at the Camden National Bank Ice Vault, which serves as their home ice. The team fell to the Coast Guard 3-1 in the semifinals of the NECHA Colonial Conference. Raj Munnings ’22 led the Terriers in scoring with 16 goals and nine assists, while Ryan Kappelmann ’22

James Allard ’99

netted 12 goals and five assists, and Sean Coleman ’22 had six goals and seven assists.

Men’s and Women’s Track and Field had a record-breaking, indoor season. On the men’s side, LJ Raye ’24 broke the school record in the 60-yard dash, as well as in the long jump. Stephen Gray ’22 broke the previous records in triple jump and the heptathlon, while Jarrod Hooper ’22 broke the school record in the mile run. On the women’s side, Julia Reny ’23 broke the record in the 400-meter run and was the first woman to compete in the heptathlon in school history. Mary DiSanto ’23 took over the school record in the shot put, and Maddy Redding ’23, Jess Jensen ’22, Onyx Emelo ’25, and Ellie Michaud ’22 set a record in the women’s 4x200 relay. They will open their outdoor season at the Myrtle Beach Collegiate Challenge in South Carolina in March, before traveling to Saint Joseph’s College of Maine for their first outdoor meet on April 16. n

LAUREN BARTLETT ’22, KYLE GLEASON ’21, M.B.A. ’22, JENN MORRIS ’15, M.B.A. ’16

JENN MORRIS RETURNED TO THOMAS in the fall to become Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach. Along with her coaching and recruiting duties, she advises student-athletes Lauren Bartlett and Kyle Gleason, Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) co-presidents, and their fellow members. Together, Lauren, Kyle, and Jenn advocate for student-athletes’ needs and interests and help foster a sense of community in the College’s athletic program.

“Everything surrounding SAAC involves partnership,” says Lauren. “We want all students to participate in the athletic experience and create that school pride. Our decisions reflect a joint effort of members, their friends, and even faculty and staff.”

“The different teams and members of SAAC cooperate to meet our goals,” adds Kyle. “We work together to have our voices heard; raise awareness of issues; and show pride in being Division III and Thomas College athletes.”

Jenn notes that partnership is critical to the overall student-athlete experience. “Whether it’s working with a professor to understand course material better; working with a coach to reach peak performance; or working together to promote athletics through events, our student-athletes are close-knit teams aiming for high levels of success.”