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Lyndon State athletes recieve highest NAC honor
LYNDON CENTER, Vt. – Lyndon State College continued to reap the benefits of a fine first semester in North Atlantic Conference play as three of its athlete walked off with the highest individual honor given out by the NAC each year.
Darren Roberge, junior striker on the Lyndon State College men’s soccer team, made his inaugural season in the North Atlantic Conference a memorable one, leading the conference in goals with 13 and in game-winning goals with a total of seven. To honor Roberge’s performance throughout the 2008 season, the coaches within the NAC named him the 2008 Player of the Year Wednesday.
Roberge, a resident of Sheldon, Vt., led the Hornets in scoring with 13 goals and two assists for a total of 28 points. He was also second in the NAC in points (28) and fourth in shots (48). Possessing an uncanny ability to score big goals in crucial situations, his most notable goal came in overtime on Wednesday, Oct. 8 when LSC upset previously unbeaten Norwich University 2-1.
Also earning All-NAC honors for Lyndon was senior goalkeeper Jeff Giroux of Derby, Vt. Giroux was fifth in the conference in saves (70) and seventh in goals-against-average (2.05) and saves percentage (.722). Overall, Giroux had a record of 7-6 in 15 starts and earned two shutouts.
A pair of senior midfielders completed Lyndon’s list of All-NAC selections as Kyle Hessler of Middletown, R.I. and Chris Cowan of Averill Park, N.Y. were given Honorable Mention status.Hessler was second on the team in scoring with two goals and five assists for nine points while Cowan ranked third with four goals for a total of eight points. The two were solid on both the offensive and defensive end of the field for the Hornets, who completed the season with an overall mark of 10-8 and an NAC record of 3-4.
In cross country, Lyndon State College made quite an impression on the North Atlantic Conference in 2008. The Hornets won the men’s team title as well as both the men’s and women’s individual titles in their inaugural season in the NAC. For their efforts, the Hornets were recognized with several selections to the All-NAC Cross Country Team.
 Lyndon State freshman Craig Johnson, of North Kingstown, R.I., became the first runner from an institution other than the University of Maine at Farmington to win the event in the past six years. His efforts earned him both the 2008 Runner of the Year and NAC Rookie of the Year awards. He sprinted to the NAC men's individual title with a time of 29:03.
Joining Johnson on the All-NAC First Team were teammates Michael Farmer, a freshman from Colchester, Vt. and junior Jeremiah Powell of Concord, Vt. The duo placed fourth and sixth, respectively, at the NAC Meet recording times of 29:37 and 29:55.Two LSC freshmen were named to the All-NAC Second Team for their top-15 finishes in Johnson. Wilden Fils (30:27) of Stamford, Conn. came in ninth, and Sean Fitzgerald (31:09) from Saco, Maine ran to a 13th-place result.
To round out its list of honors, the Lyndon State men’s team earned the NAC’s Team Sportsmanship Award for the 2008 campaign.
On the women’s side, LSC senior Lyndsay Calkins earned the 2008 Runner of the Year after winning the women’s race in a time of 18:52. A former two-time Women’s National Title holder in the USCAA, Calkins won her race by a margin of 1:20 over her nearest competitor. Freshman Allynne O’Hearn of Pelham, N.H. closed out an outstanding first season in a LSC uniform with a 13th place finish (22:28) at the NAC Meet and garnered a selection to the All-NAC Second Team.
In a vote of the conference coaches, Ummer was honored as the NAC Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year and shared the Women’s Coach of the Year award with Maine-Farmington head coach Ryan Wagner.
NAC honors Promphong, Johnson
LYNDON CENTER, Vt. – Sue Promphong, a junior on the Lyndon State College women’s tennis team, and Craig Johnson, a freshman with the LSC men’s cross country program, have bee n named Athletes of the Week by the North Atlantic Conference for the period ending Sunday, Oct. 19.
Sue Promphong, who resides in St. Johnsbury, Vt., was named the NAC Women’s Tennis Player of the Week for her performances a week ago. She earned two of Lyndon State's four victories (both in singles) at Saturday's Vermont State College Tournament, held at Castleton State College, and recorded one singles win and another in doubles, with partner Jenn Falsetti, as LSC defeated arch-rival Johnson State 5-4 on Tuesday, Oct. 14. Promphong completed her season with a 5-4 mark in singles and a 4-4 record in doubles.
Craig Johnson, a resident of North Kingstown, R.I., was named the NAC Rookie of the Week in cross country by placing fourth overall at the Saint Michael's/University of Vermont Tri-Meet on Friday, Oct. 17. He set a personal record by covering the eight-kilometer course in 27:58. In the 2008 season, Johnson has been LSC top finisher in all but one race.
Dewhurst, Roberge receive NAC honors
LYNDON CENTER, Vt. – Ashley Dewhurst, a junior on the women’s tennis team, and Darren Roberge, a junior midfielder with the men’s soccer program, have been named Players of the Week in their respective sports by the North Atlantic Conference for the period ending Sunday, Oct.  12.
Dewhurst, a resident of North Conway, N.H., recorded wins in No. 3 singles (6-2, 6-3) and No. 2 doubles (8-4 with teammate Jill Newell) as Lyndon State defeated the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 5-4 for its first victory of the 2008 season on Saturday, Oct. 11.
On Tuesday, Oct. 7, she earned the lone Lyndon State win on the day in No. 3 singles with a 7-5, 6-4 triumph over Plymouth State's Nikki Kolb. On the season, Dewhurst is currently 5-2 in singles play and 1-3 in doubles action.
Roberge, who resides in Sheldon, Vt. and has been named Player of the Week in the NAC three times this season, scored the game-winning goal in double overtime on Wednesday, Oct.8 as Lyndon State defeated previously unbeaten Norwich University 2-1.
On Sunday, Oct. 12, Roberge had a goal and an assist in the Hornets 2-0 win over the University of Maine at Farmington. In the current campaign, Roberge leads both the NAC and Lyndon State in scoring with nine goals and two assists for a total of 20 points.
LSC harriers continue to shine in NAC
LYNDON CENTER, Vt. – For a second straight week, three members of the Lyndon State College cross country team were honored by the North Atlantic Conference for their performances at the Vermont State Intercollegiate Meet held Saturday in Castleton, Vt.
In the women’s meet, Lyndsay Calkins, a senior from Danville, Vt. placed eighth the competition with a time of 19:41 over the five-kilometer course. For her efforts, she was named the NAC’s Runner of the Week for a second consecutive week for the period ending Sunday, Oct. 5.
Joining Calkins on the NAC Honor Roll is freshman Allynne O'Hearn of Pelham, N.H., who garnered NAC Rookie of the Week honors for the second straight week. She placed 61st at the meet, turning in a personal record time of 23:14. O'Hearn was Lyndon State’s No.2 finisher on the day.
On the men’s side, freshman Craig Johnson of North Kingstown, R.I. placed 23rd overall and was the top Lyndon State finisher, covering the 8k course in 29:04. Named the conference’s Rookie of the Week a week ago, Johnson was honored Monday as the NAC’s Runner of the Week.
Hall of Fame inductees pose for a photo after Friday’s induction ceremony. Pictured are: (left to right) LSC Hall of Fame Committee member Roger Cartee, Kyle Amadon, Tom Tucker, Sean Fisher and LSC Director of Athletics Chris Ummer.
Three inducted into LSC Athletic Hall of Fame
LYNDON CENTER, Vt. – Lyndon State College held its annual Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony Friday to kickoff the school’s first-ever Family and Alumni Weekend festivities. This year’s inductees included Tom Tucker, Kyle Amadon, Sean Fisher and the 1974 LSC Women’s Basketball Team.
Albert “Tom” Tucker graduated from Lyndon Teacher’s College in 1962 and went on to build an outstanding teaching and coaching career in the Maine school system. He worked as a physical education and health teacher at the high school level for 21 years, as COOP Director for 10 years and as a special education teacher for three.
While at LSC, Tucker was a standout player on the men’s basketball team, earning Most Valuable Player honors during the 1961-62 season. He also competed on the Lyndon State College baseball team from 1962-1963. Tucker was also credited with recruiting several athletes to Lyndon, despite the fact that his effort directly impacted his playing time.
As a coach, Tucker coached varsity football for 36 years, winning his first conference championship in only his fourth year at the helm. He also coached basketball at a variety of levels including a junior varsity program after his retirement.
Tucker and his wife Janice, a 1961 graduate of Lyndon, reside in Winthrop, Maine.
Kyle Amadon earned a Bachelor of Science in Recreation degree from Lyndon State College in 1979 and went on to a stellar career in several upscale health and wellness clubs in Texas and New Mexico. He has held many positions in the field from the front desk to personal trainer to general manager.
While at LSC, Amadon competed on the LSC Ski Team from 1975 to 1979 serving as co-captain his senior year. His team had the distinction of winning the Division II Championship in two of his four years and, as a Nordic Combined skier, Amadon placed in the top 10 at the 1979 Division I Ski Meet. He also played soccer at LSC from 1977-79 and served as the team’s co-captain in 1978.
In his spare time, Amadon has spent many hours working with non-profit organizations including the Special Olympics. He served on the Board of Director for Special Olympics New Mexico and was honored as its Board Member of the Year in 2001.
Amadon, and his wife Theresa, currently reside in San Antonio, Texas.
Sean Fisher received a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Medicine from LSC in 2000 and went on to coach track and field at Littleton High School before moving to Lake Region High school a few years later. He also worked as assistant cross country coach at Lyndon State from 1999-2005 and is currently the head coach of the college’s volleyball program.
While a student-athlete at LSC, Fisher earned a list of unparalleled accolades and is considered on the school’s top male runners of all time. He list of honors include several selections to All-Conference, All-Region and All-State teams as well as Mayflower Conference Individual Champion and LSC Male Athlete of the Year in 1998. Well respected by his peers, Fisher was named team MVP three times and was the first athlete in school history to qualify for the NAIA National Cross Country Meet three times.
In the years following his graduation, Fisher has competed in the Boston Marathon, finishing 3,671st of 20,000 runners and placed 78th out 2,200 runners at the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon. In addition to his LSC coaching duties, Fisher is an active volleyball official in the St. Johnsbury Recreation Department and can be see doing the same each summer at the Caledonia County Fair.
Fisher and his wife Harvest, a member of LSC Class of 2001, reside in Newbury, Vt. with their daughter Rylie.
To open the evening, the LSC Athletic Hall of Fame Committee paid a special recognition to the 1974 Lyndon State women’s basketball team. Under the direction of head coach Marilyn “Jamie” Owen, the team went undefeated in the 1973-74 season and earned its first-ever berth in the Eastern Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women National Tournament.
In the first round of the tourney, in a game held at Brooklyn College, the Lady Hornets dream season came to an end with a loss to Southern Connecticut University.
Lyndon State athletes recieve weekly NAC honors
LYNDON CENTER, Vt. – Coming off a weekend sweep of Southern Maine Community College and Mitchell on the soccer pitch, and the split of a volleyball tri-match with Southern Vermont and the University of Maine at Machias, three Lyndon State athletes were honored by the North Atlantic Conference Monday for their performances the week of Sept. 8-14.
Tracy Zisselsberger, a sophomore back on the LSC women’s soccer team, was named the Rookie of the Week by the NAC for her efforts against the Seawolves and Mariners. The Bethel, Vt. resident had two assists in a 6-3 win over SMCC on Saturday and scored one goal in the Lady Hornets’ 3-1 victory over Mitchell on Sunday.
Joining Zisselsberger on the Rookie of the Week honor roll is freshman hitter Kayla Brobst of the Lyndon State College volleyball program. A resident of Merrimack, N.H., Brobst had two kills, seven aces and 17 digs in Lyndon’s 3-0 win over Southern Vermont College and followed that effort with seven kills, seven aces and 16 digs in a 3-1 loss to UMaine-Machias.
Rounding out the list of LSC honorees is junior Darren Roberge, a striker on Lyndon State College men’s soccer team who was named NAC Player of the Week for a second straight week. The Sheldon, Vt. native scored two goals in a 4-1 win over Southern Maine Community College and tallied the game-winning goal in the Hornets’ 2-1 overtime win over Mitchell on Sunday.
Roberge wins NAC Player of the Week honors
 LYNDON CENTER, VT. - Darren Roberge, a junior striker on the Lyndon State College men’s soccer team, has been named Player of the Week by the North Atlantic Conference for the week ending Sunday, Sept. 7.
Darren Roberge scored all three goals in 3-0 victory over the University of Maine at Presque Isle in the consolation game of the UMPI Tournament. Roberge was named to the All-Tournament Team for his efforts.
A Recreation Resource and Ski Area Management major from Sheldon, Vt., Roberge tallied a team-high 11 points a year ago, scoring four goals and collecting three assists in his sophomore season.
Calkins featured in New England Runner magazine
LYNDON CENTER, Vt. - Lyndsay Calkins, a two-time USCAA All-American and the association's reigning National Women's Title holder for the past two seasons, has been featured in the September/October edition of New England Runner magazine which hit the newstands more than a week ago.
A photo of Calkins appears in NER's 2008 College Cross Country preview (Page 44 & 45) along with a brief paragraph that reads: "Although Vermont's Lyndon State is a provisional member of D3 it competes against many D3 teams and fifth-year senior Lyndsay Calkins is a standout. She won her second USCAA title last fall by 1:20 in a course and meet record. She also won the Vermont State Intercollegiate Championships by 54 seconds. Her one loss on the season was early last September to Middlebury's Alexandra Kreig."
Copies of the magazine will remain on newstands until November 15.
Ainsworth named to LSC rugby post
LYNDON CENTER, Vt. - Josh Ainsworth, a native of Danville, Vt, has been named head coach of the Lyndon State College Rugby Club. A former club player in the United States and England, Ainsworth is looking to pass on his experience in the game and promote the sport in the Northeast Kingdom.
"First and foremost I welcome the opportunity to represent Lyndon State College, and my goal is to bring a NERFU (New England Rugby Football Union) championship to LSC," he said. "I think it's important that our program become well-recognized in the community."
 As the current coach of the Newport U19 Rugby Program, Ainsworth has been teaching the game to youths for the past few years. At LSC, and in the surrounding communities, he plans on exposing area youths to the game and giving them a chance to enjoy the many oppotunities it has given him.
"I have a couple ideas of how to give young people a chance to enjoy the game that I simply love," he said. "In the future, I would like to put on clinics at the local elementary schools and perhaps hold a tournament locally. Through the Lyndon State Rugby program, I feel I can share my knowledge and love for the game and help our men and women represent themselves, and LSC, in a positive light."
The Lyndon State College Men's Rugby Club opens its 2008 season on Saturday, Sept. 20 with a road game at Vermont Technical College in Randolph Center, Vt. The LSC Women will begin their season the following day, on Sunday, Sept. 21, when they travel to Bennigton to face in-state rival Southern Vermont College.
Lyndon State Associate Dean, AD conquer Mount Kilimanjaro
Kascenska and Ummer atop Mt. Kilimanjaro's 19,340-foot summitt
LYNDON CENTER, Vt. - John Kascenska, the Associate Academic Dean at Lyndon State College, and LSC Athletic Director Chris Ummer recently returned from a successful climb of Mount Kilimanjaro. The trek was Kascenska’s fourth climb of “Kili” and the first for Ummer.
Kilimanjaro is not a technical climb; in fact, it has been called the world’s highest walkable mountain, so climbers do not use ropes or special climbing equipment or oxygen, as do those on Everest and others. There is little that can be done to prepare for the altitude, so climbers rely on a slow pace with an appropriate number of days for their bodies to adjust.
At 19,340 feet (5395 meters), Kilimanjaro took Kascenska and Ummer through five climate zones on their way to the top, from rainforest to arctic environments; temperatures can range from 85 degrees to below zero. Few escape the effects of altitude, the major challenge on the trail. Sleeping becomes difficult, breathing can become labored due to the low oxygen levels, and a general feeling of unwellness can rob hikers of their energy. Physical training beforehand is critical.
Prior to heading out, the two talk about what to expect on the climb, how to cope with problems, how the altitude can affect the body, and they completed an equipment and gear check. Their guides attended this pre-climb session, explained their roles in terms of what can be expected of them and what they expected of the climbers. Meals were complete and well-balanced. Breakfast and dinner are hot meals, and lunch is typical trail food (sandwiches and fruit).
Mount Kilimanjaro National Park web site reports that approximately 15,000 people attempt the climb each year, and about half of those are successful.
Krupinski named to LSC men's basketball post
LYNDON CENTER, Vt. - Lyndon State College has announced the hiring of Joe Krupinski as its Head Men’s Basketball Coach beginning with the 2008-09 season. Krupinski, the former assistant
men’s basketball coach at St. Michael’s College for the past seven seasons, is looking forward to the first year with the Hornets.
"I want to thank Chris Ummer and everyone at Lyndon State College for giving me the opportunity to join the LSC community,” he said. “It is an exciting time to be a part of LSC Athletics with the move into the North Atlantic Conference and I look forward to being a part of a new direction and a new era of success, both for men's basketball and for all of the Hornet programs."
Krupinski served on the Saint Michael's men's basketball coaching staff from 2007-08, and was in charge of all aspects of the Division II program, including recruiting, film exchange and on-the-floor coaching. He joined the Purple Knights program after a two-year stint at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., where he was the top assistant for the Engineers' program. He helped guide RPI to the ECAC Division III Semifinals and the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association finals in 2000-01.
Prior to his arrival at RPI, Krupinski was an assistant coach at his alma mater, Springfield College, from 1997-99. He was involved with the recruitment of student-athletes, on-the-floor coaching and was the team's liaison with both Admissions and the Sports Information office.
While at Springfield, Krupinski helped guide the Pride to a 26-2 record and a No. 5 national ranking in the 1997-98 season, both marks tops in program history. The following season, Springfield compiled a 19-8 record, finishing second in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament. Krupinski also recruited the first two Rookies of the Year in the newly-created NEWMAC.
“Joe is an ideal fit to take the men’s basketball program into the new era of the North Atlantic Conference, said LSC Director of Athletics Chris Ummer. “With his experience, knowledge and passion for the game, Joe will also be an excellent role model for our student-athletes. LSC is fortunate to have had the opportunity to hire a men’s basketball coach with his back ground.”
At Springfield, Krupinski, earned a bachelor's degree in sports management in 1997 and went on to receive his master's degree in education in 1999.
Travis Roy makes appearance at LSC
LYNDON CENTER, Vt. - Travis Roy, a well-known motivational speaker, made an appearance at Lyndon State College’s Alexander Twilight Theater on Sunday, June 22.
Speaking to crowd of more than 100 people who were attending the annual Rotary International Youth Leadership Institute, Roy stressed the importance of setting goals, working hard to attain them and enjoying the sense of pride that comes only with accomplishment.
As a young hockey player, Roy realized his life-long dream of playing Division I hockey only to see it end in 11 seconds. A few moments into his first collegiate game as a Boston University freshman, a freak accident drove him head-first into the boards. The incident left him with three cracked cervical vertebrae and paralyzed from the neck down.
For the better part of 90 minutes, Roy told of how this unanticipated event has blossomed into a story of courage and determination. Through the power of love, Roy began a new, astonishing life that has touched the hearts of millions across the nation. Despite his current condition, he spoke of how his core values remained intact after the incident and through them he has able to experience new things and continue to live a rich, fulfilling life.
In 1997, Roy established the Travis Roy Foundation to aid spinal cord injury survivors and fund research into a cure. Thanks to the generosity of individuals, corporations and foundations across North America, the foundation has made an immediate impact on the lives of many individuals. Since 1997 the Travis Roy Foundation has distributed more than $2.5 million in individual grants and to research projects and rehabilitation institutions across North America.
The individual grant funds have been used to modify vans and to purchase wheelchairs, computers, ramps, shower chairs, and other adaptive equipment to help paraplegics and quadriplegics live their lives.
For more information on the Travis Roy Foundation, call (617) 239-0556 or send a fax to (617) 227-4420. Mailing address: The Travis Roy Foundation, 111 Huntington Avenue, Prudential Center, 19th Floor, Boston, MA 02199-7613 E-mail: Administrator@travisroyfoundation.org.
LSC places fourth in Director’s Cup standings
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The United States Collegiate Athletic Association has announced that Southern Virginia University is the winner of the 2008 USCAA Director’s Cup competition for a second consecutive year. The award is presented to the top performing institution at USCAA Championship events each year.
SVU was followed closely by Robert Morris College of Springfield, Ill. (392 points) and Columbia Union College from Takoma Park, Md. (358 points). Both Robert Morris and Columbia Union received plaques at the USCAA National Convention in honor of their second and third place finishes.
Lyndon State, who placed fourth, amassed 322.75 points throughout the 2007-08 school year while sending three teams to USCAA national championship tournaments.
The LSC women’s basketball team placed seventh at the 2007-08 USCAA Women’s Basketball Championships in Broken Arrow, Okla. In February, and Lady Hornet softball team came in eight at the association’s Softball National Championship held in Decatur, Ill. on May 9 and 10.
In men's athletics, the Lyndon State College men finished third for a second-straight year by amassing 85 points at the 2007 USCAA National Cross Country Championships. Also, the Lyndon State men’s baseball program capped its best season in more than a decade with a fourth-place finish at the USCAA National Baseball Championships held May 12-15 in Hampton, Va.
2007-08 USCAA Director’s Cup Final Standings
1st – Southern Virginia - 451 pts
2nd – Robert Morris College-Springfield – 392 pts
3rd – Columbia Union College – 358 pts
4th – Lyndon State College – 322.75 pts
5th – Spalding University – 294 pts
6th – Florida College – 278 pts
7th – Rochester College – 264 pts
8th – New Hampshire Technical Institute – 203 pts
9th – Dine College – 200
10th – Warren Wilson College– 195 pts
Kali Stoddard-Imari, Chris Ummer and Lyndsay Calkins
Calkins, Stoddard-Imari named Athletes of the Year
LYNDON CENTER, Vt. – Lyndon State College held its annual Athletic Awards Banquet over the weekend, and several area athletes came away with multiple honors, including the Dudley Bell Award, which is presented to the top male and female athlete.
Junior cross country runner Lyndsay Calkins, of Danville, Vt., was presented the Bell Award for her outstanding performances throughout the 2007 season.
In addition to winning her second-straight United States Collegiate Athletic Association women’s national cross country title, Calkins was named to both the USCAA All-American and Academic All-American teams.
At the USCAA Cross Country Championships in Buena Vista, Va., she broke her own record over the six-kilometer course with in a time of 23:57.95. In 2007, Calkins won five meets, including the Vermont Intercollegiate Championship on Saturday, Sept. 29, and was named USCAA Athlete of the Week four times.
In men’s athletics, Kali Stoddard-Imari of Lyndonville, Vt. received the Bell Award for his contributions to the LSC men’s basketball and lacrosse programs.
A 6-foot-5 power forward, Stoddard-Imari was named to the USCAA All-American men’s basketball team and ranked in the top-15 in doubles-doubles (2nd), rebounding (2nd)with 11.42 caroms per game, field goal percentage (3rd) with a mark of .536 and scoring (15th), collecting 15.79 points per contest.
A starting defender in the Hornets’ men’s lacrosse team, Stoddard-Imari was an imposing figure in front of the goal and improved greatly as the season progressed. On Wednesday, April 30, he moved up to attack position and scored the first goal of his LSC career in a loss to arch-rival Johnson State.
“I think Lyndsay and Kali’s accomplishments are testaments to the impact local athletes have in our program,” said LSC Athletics Director Chris Ummer. “We get quite a few here and many of them prove to be some of our finest athletes, on just on campus, but regionally, state-wide and in our current affiliation, nationally. We have many other area athletes who have performed well this year, but certainly Lyndsay and Kali have represented them, and represented them well.”
The top academic honors handed out went to Erica Kelleher of Cromwell, Conn., and Michael Paul, from New Haven, Vt., who were presented the 2008 Green and Gold Scholar-Athlete Awards.
Kelleher, a senior Ski Resort Management major, currently holds a grade-point-average of 3.79 and competes on both the Lyndon State volleyball and softball teams. Paul, a senior, holds a 3.65 GPA in Exercise Science and played four years in the Hornets’ men’s basketball program.
Other award winners included:
Hornet Academic Challenge Cup (Highest Team GPA)
Women’s Cross Country – 3.45
Scholar-Athlete Awards
(3.3 GPA and a minimum of 25 credits)
Sarah Leclerc (Berlin, N.H.)
Michael Muccilli (Newton, N.J.)
Lauren Potter (Bowdoinham, Maine)
Ian Oliver (Westport, Mass.)
Kelly Warren (Carroll, N.H.)
Chris Stacy (Shaftsbury, Vt.)
Jennifer White (Danville, Vt.)
Nathan Taylor (Danville, Vt.)
Erica Kelleher (Cromwell, Conn.)
Kerrin Jeromin (Mendon, Vt.)
Justin Russo (Sebago, Maine)
Whitney Hoyt (Shaftsbury, Vt.)
Josee Patenaude (Canaan, Vt.)
Adrian Guyer (Lyndonville, Vt.)
Lyndsay Calkins (Danville, Vt.)
Michael Paul (New Haven, Vt.)
Hayley Joseph (Newport, Vt.)
Champions of Character Award
(Demonstration of the true spirit of competition through respect, integrity, responsibility, servant leadership and sportsmanship)
Michael Paul (New Haven, Vt.)
Team Awards
Cross Country
Most Valuable Player
Men: Jeremiah Powell (Lyndonville, Vt.)
Women: Lyndsay Calkins (Danville, Vt.)
Coaches Award
Men: Jacob Silverio (Hampstead, N.H.)
Women: Hayley Joseph (Newport, Vt.)
Women’s Soccer
Most Valuable Players
Kelly Warren (Carroll, N.H.),
Angel Phelps (Brattleboro, Vt.)
Coaches Awards
Amy Tetu (Claremont, N.H.)
Brooke Everton (St. Albans, Vt.)
Men’s Soccer
Most Valuable Player
Matt Scagnelli (Sutton, Mass.)
Frank Spears Award
Heath Richmond (Amherst, Mass.)
Volleyball
Most Valuable Player
Kerrin Jeromin (Mendon, Vt.)
Coaches Award
Joslyn Sykes (Derby, Vt.)
Women’s Tennis
Most Valuable Player
Jen Falsetti (Albany, N.Y.)
Coaches Award
Jessica Donaghy (Lyndonville, Vt.)
Women’s Basketball
Most Valuable Player
Jennifer White (Danville, Vt.)
Outstanding Defensive Player
Jackie Wetzel (Braintree, Mass.),
Sara Fetterhoff (Jay, Maine)
Men’s Basketball
Most Valuable Player
Kali Stoddard-Imari (Lyndonville, Vt.)
Michael Tessier Award
Chris Stacy (Shaftsbury, Vt.)
Men’s Tennis
Most Valuable Player
Peter Dutile (Greene, Maine)
Coaches Award
Brad Darby (Sanford, Maine)
Softball
Most Valuable Player
Josee Patenaude (Canaan, Vt.)
Coaches Award
Sara Fetterhoff (Jay, Maine)
Baseball
Most Valuable Player
To be announced
Coaches Award
Matt Lapham (Groton, Vt.)
Men’s Lacrosse
Most Valuable Player
Craig Salvagno (Trumbull, Conn.)
Coaches Award
Chris Mansour (Mansfield, Mass.)
2008 Lyndon State College Baseball Team
Front row: Jason Koney, Nick Merlo, Adrian Guyer, Rob Malloy, Mike Hennessey, Matthew Picard and Jesse Ballard. Second row: Dana Biondi, Eric Durocher, Jordan Royer, Andrew Robbins, Nicholas Rivers and Jake Ainsworth. Third row: Ryan Wimble, Josh Fletcher, Ben Clark, Jordan Barnes, Michael Swan, Jason Ryan and Matt Lapham. Back row: Head Coach Ryan Farley, Assistant Coach Jared Marsh and Pat Ryan.
LSC baseball program receives tourney bid
LYNDON CENTER, Vt. – For the second time in as many weeks, a Lyndon State College athletic team will leave campus in the days ahead in search of intercollegiate athletics’ highest achievement – winning a national championship.
On Tuesday, the LSC men’s baseball program learned it had received a bid to the United State Collegiate Athletics Association National Baseball Championships, to be held May 12-16 at historic War Memorial Stadium in Hampton, Va.
“To tell you the truth, I’m relieved,” said LSC Head Coach Ryan Farley. “But more importantly, I’m happy for the guys considering all the work they’ve put in. I’m especially happy for the seniors who have worked hard for four years. They finally put together a winning record, through 24 games, and now have the opportunity to experience the postseason.”
One week ago, the Hornets were a mere 8-10 on the season and on the outside looking in when it came to earning a berth to the USCAA tourney. But thanks to wins over Castleton State and Vermont Tech, as well as sweeping two doubleheaders from the University of Maine at Farmington, Lyndon now finds itself reaping the benefits of its first winning season in more than a decade.
“Our guys really don’t need a lot of motivation, so we knew what needed to be done,” said Farley. “We had to win six out of our last eight games, including four in a row, to be considered. If you look at the makeup of our team, you can see they’re the type of team that can bounce back.
“I truly believe we leaned how to win this year and to do it coming from behind, which is something we rarely did in years past,” he added. “Our confidence is high and we know we can do it. Now it’s just a matter of making plays the rest of the way.”
Before Lyndon State departs for Virginia, it will have an opportunity to get something most teams relish heading into the postseason – momentum. With twin bills versus St. Michaels College and Norwich University slated for Wednesday and Thursday, respectively; and a pair of nine-inning tilts with the University of Maine at Presque Isle slated for Saturday and Sunday at Skip Pound Field; the Hornets will have an opportunity to get that momentum before competing for the natioanl title.
“For us the season is not done and I am optimistic that we’ll get a chance to play St. Mike’s on Wednesday, Norwich Thursday and the two games against Maine-Presque Isle over the weekend,” said Farley. “We have a few more accomplishments we want to finish and we need to hit the postseason with confidence and momentum.”
Davis named to LSC women’s soccer post
LYNDON CENTER, Vt. – Jim Davis, a former standout on the North Country Union High School and Middlebury College men’s soccer programs has been named head women’s soccer coach at Lyndon State College.
Davis, who played on NCU’s back-to-back state title squads in 1974 and 1975 as well as Middlebury’s New England Small College Athletic Conference championship team in 1977, will begin his tenure in the fall and has set his sites on transforming the Lady Hornets into one of the most competitive programs in the Northeast.
“My objective is to create one of the elite women’s soccer teams at the Division III level, and that will stem from the experience I had competing in a high Division III soccer program at Middlebury College,” said Davis. “I think this school (LSC) can compete at that level even though we play in the North Atlantic Conference. When look at the programs they have at Williams, Norwich, Bates and Middlebury, that is the epitome of where we want to be.”
Lyndon State has a solid foundation to build on in the 2008 campaign with the return of All-Americans Kelly Warren and Kathy Kline. Warren, a senior striker, is the top returning goal scorer (11 goals and seven assists for 29 points) and Kline, a junior halfback (11 goals, five assists, 27 points), will control the midfield area and be counted on to supplement the offense. Joining them will be senior goalkeeper/midfielder Kari Johnson (2.66 goals-against-average, .724 saves percentage), junior winger Shauna Buck (3G, 4A) and sophomore forward Ashley Phelps (4G).
“First, we will build the program on the dedicated core of players we already have,” said Davis. “Second, we will need to change the mindset of our players. We want players who have a desire to compete on a top-level team and be part of that success.
“We will also need to make changes in our recruiting process which will be critical to our success,” he continued. “We need to be able to go out and sell what we have: Come in and be part of this phenomenon. Be part of this change.”
The road to success is usually not an easy one in Division II athletics, but Davis doesn’t see it that way. He feels if the right concepts are taught and reinforced, winning with come naturally.
“Success always breeds success,” he said. “And having success on a small scale of personal achievement to a team level is contagious. Once that happens everybody loves it, everybody wants to be part of it. We’re going to breed that mentality into our players and it’s going to be a change for some players. Simply put, we’re here to win and we here to have the best team in our division.”
Patenaude, Salvagno named Athletes of the Week at LSC
LYNDON CENTER, Vt. – Josee Patenaude, a senior on the women’s softball team, and Craig Salvagno, a junior with the men’s lacrosse program, have been named Athletes of the Week at Lyndon State College for the period ending Wednesday, April 30.
Patenaude, who hails from Canaan, Vt., collected four hits, including a pair of run-scoring doubles in a doubleheader sweep of the College of St. Joseph on Sunday, April 27. In addition to her hitting exploits, Patenaude picked up the win in the nightcap of the twin bill, allowing only two earned runs on three hits while striking out two.
Patenaude is currently hitting .310 on the season with 13 hits, four doubles, and seven runs-batted-in. In the pitcher’s circle, she has a record of 4-7 with 37 strike outs and an earned-run-average of 5.90.
Salvagno, a resident of Trumbull, Conn., scored eight goals on Monday, April 28 in a 24-15 loss to in-state rival Johnson State. Two days earlier, he continued his season-long scoring pace with six goals in a 15-11 setback at the hands of St. Joseph’s College of Maine.
For the season, Salvagno led the Hornets in scoring, tallying 31 goals and collecting seven assists for a total of 38 points. Lyndon State recently competed its first varsity lacrosse season in more than 20 years with a final record of 1-11.
LSC senior Angel Phelps swats a double in a recent contest against Johnson State.
Lyndon State earns bid to USCAA softball Tourney
LYNDON CENTER, Vt. – What a difference a year makes.
A season ago, the Lyndon State College women’s softball program finished its first season under rookie head coach Jen Kirchoff with a record of 6-14. One year later, the Lady Hornets, bolstered by career seasons from a handful of upperclassmen, the influx of several talented freshmen and an aggressive offensive attack orchestrated by Kirchoff; find themselves on their way to an improbable place - the 2008 United States Collegiate Athletic Association Women’s Softball Championships.
The championship bid was received via e-mail Monday by LSC Director of Athletics Chris Ummer. The tournament, sponsored by Robert Morris College in Springfield, Ill., will be held May 9-10 at the Borg-Warner Softball Complex in Decatur, Ill.
“This means a lot to me and the girls,” said Kirchoff. “The girls have put 100 percent of their effort into the season and they deserve to make nationals. In upcoming years this experience will help us attract higher-caliber athletes to our program.”
Lyndon State is currently ranked second in the latest USCAA women’s softball poll and sporting a team batting average of .335. Senior Ashlea Bourdon leads the team in hitting with an average of .457 and freshman Mary Gagne is hitting at a .424 clip. Gagne is tops in home runs and runs-batted-in with two and 24, respectively; and Bourdon leads the team in slugging percentage (.630) and on-base-percentage (.545).
In the pitching circle, Bourdon is 9-2 on the year with an earned-run-average of 4.81. She has allowed 39 earned runs in 73 innings, walked 35 and struck out 62. Fellow senior Josee Patenaude has earned three victories this season, giving up 45 earned runs in 64 and two-thirds innings while fanning 35 and walking 19.
“Everyone on the team has made a contribution in one aspect or another,” said Kirchoff. “Every single player we have has hit well. It’s not just one big bat hitting the home runs or triples. Everyone we have on the team can hit and make can make good contact with the ball.”
With the prospect of winning a national championship looming on the horizon, Kirchoff will spend the next two weeks preparing her team to compete against the elite teams in the USCAA. Unlike most coaches who find themselves in this situation, Kirchoff does not plan on making too many adjustments to the team’s approach to the game.
“We might change our approach to pitching a bit because we have one who is a bit faster than the other,” she said. “I plan on doing a little scouting to see what we’re up against. From a fielding and hitting standpoint, we’ll stay the same.
“The only thing we need to do more consistently is eliminate the numbers of errors we make,” Kirchoff added. “We’ve done a much better job of that since the start of the season and you can see that in our stats. We’ll also need to adjust to the faster pitching. We’ll play a ‘smaller’ game and force the opposition to make mistakes. We certainly have the offense to do that.”
The Lady Hornets, who are currently 13-9 on the season, will close out the season with three-straight doubleheaders against the College of St. Joseph, University of Maine at Farmington and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts from April 27 through 29.
They will return to the LSC campus for a week’s worth of practice on Wednesday, April 30 before flying to Decatur on Wednesday, May 7 or Thursday, May 8.
Gagne, Dutile named Athletes of the Week at LSC
LYNDON CENTER, Vt. – Mary Gagne, a freshman on the women’s softball team, and Pete Dutile, a sophomore with the men’s tennis program, have been named Athletes of the Week at Lyndon State College for the period ending Wednesday, April 23.
Gagne, who hails from Highgate, Vt., collected seven hits in a doubleheader sweep of Southern MaineCommunity College on Monday, April 21. Three days earlier, she hammered out five hits and drove in four runs as the Lady Hornets split a twin bill with Thomas College
Gagne is currently hitting .424 on the season with seven doubles, two home runs and 24 runs-batted-in.
Dutile, a resident of Greene, Maine, topped Mark Lundeen 6-4, 0-6, 6-2 in No. 5 singles play to give LSC a hard-fought 5-4 win over Green Mountain College on Saturday, April 19 in Rutland. He continued his torrid play three days later on Tuesday, April 22, hammering a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Garrett Washburn as the Hornets defeated Norwich University 5-4 to avenged a 9-0 loss to the Cadets one week earlier in Northfield.
Teaming with doubles partner Chris Shadrock, Dutile also earned two wins in doubles play last week by identical scores of 8-5. For the season, Dutile has collected three wins in singles play and two in doubles for the 3-7 Hornets.
Ashlea Bourdon fires a strike to a Johnson State hitter
Bourdon, Royer named Athletes of the Week at LSC
LYNDON CENTER, Vt. – Ashlea Bourdon, a senior on the women’s softball team, and Jordan Royer, a senior with the men’s baseball program, have been named Athletes of the Week at Lyndon State College for the period ending Wednesday, April 16.
Bourdon, who hails from Hampden, Maine, collected two hits, including a double, in a 6-4 victory over Johnson State College on Tuesday, April 15. In addition to her hitting exploits, Bourdon went four strong innings in the pitcher’s circle to get the win, striking out nine JSC hitters along the way.
On Saturday, April 12, Bourdon fanned five batters and knocked in three runs in the Lady Hornets’ 10-7 win over Green Mountain College. On the season, she is batting .417 with 10 runs-batted-in and is 6-1 in the circle with 36 strikeouts in 46 and one-third innings pitched.
Royer, a resident of Lyndonville, Vt., pounded out five hits in Lyndon State’s 10-9 extra-inning victory over Thomas College on Thursday, April 10. He continued his torrid hitting five days later on Tuesday, April 15, hammering out three doubles in a doubleheader sweep of Daniel Webster College.
For the season, Royer is hitting .351 with 13 RBIS. In the field, splitting time between first base, right field and the pitcher’s mound; Royer has yet to make an error, fielding a perfect 1.000 on the year.
Laxnews.com highlights Lyndon State program
LYNDON CENTER , Vt. - Laxnews.com, a well-known Internet site thats deals primarily with intercollegiate lacrosse, recently ran a short column on the revival of the Lyndon State College men's lacrosse program. The following article ran in the Sunday, March 22 edition of Laxnews.com:
College Beat Welcomes A New Division III Program by James Land
Lyndon State College in Lyndonville, Vermont played their first college lacrosse game in over 20 years this past week, a 12-11 loss to Mitchell College.
I spoke with Lyndon State Head Coach Tim Tierney this week (no relation to D1 guys Bill Tierney of Princeton and Seth Tierney of Hofstra) and he said that student demand led to the team being brought back to Lyndon State in 2008. Lyndon State is considered a new program even though the school had a team in the past that last played a game in 1985.
From the looks of their close loss to start the season, Lyndon State will be competitive right away. Coach Tierney says many of his players have experience playing lacrosse in high school, and that he is also working with a few students who have crossed over from other sports. Coach Tierney says that the biggest challenge has been getting the team onto grass in the snow covered ski country of northern Vermont.
If you have interest in playing at Lyndon state, check out their website in the LAXnews links section or e-mail coach Tierney at tim@kingdomtrails.org.
Best of luck to Lyndon State this season.
White sweeps USCAA All-American Honor
LYNDON CENTER, Vt. – It’s a story straight out of Americana. A small town girl leaves her humble beginnings to go on to fortune and fame using the rock-solid work ethic and values taught to her by her parents, and their parents before them.
This is the life led by Jennifer White, a junior Business and Marketing major at Lyndon State College who carries a 3.57 grade-point-average, who recently achieved a level of excellence so few will ever attained in their lifetimes. On the night of Tuesday, Feb. 26, White achieved her level of distinction by being named to both the United States Collegiate Athletic Conference All-American and Academic All-American Teams by virtue of her performance both in the classroom and on the basketball court.
“I had no idea I would get either award,” said White. “I thought I might get on the academic team because I work hard at school and carry a high GPA, but I had no idea that I would get selected to the All-American team. I was pretty surprised, and exciting, because I wasn’t expecting this at all.”
For those who have watched White compete on the LSC women’s basketball team for the past three years, they will have noticed that she gets the most out of her ability, especially against athletes much taller than she. This type of perseverance was something ingrained in her by her family at an early age and White is quick to be certain they receive much of the credit.
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