CVU Sports
by Edd Merritt
1/14/10, page 11

We goofed.
First and foremost we owe an apology to the CVU tennis teams we omitted from our summary of individual and team honors for 2009. Thanks to the vigilance of Kevin Farley, however, we are able to correct our error and recognize their accomplishments. The women were state champions in Division I Tennis and undefeated in team matches. Five players from Charlotte helped establish the record: Kate Farley (Co-Captain), Kylie deGroot, Colleen McCarthy, Catherine Akin and Molly Ziegler. Only Catherine and Kate graduated. The others returned for their senior year.
After gaining the number one ranking going into the state tournament, the men lost a close rain-delayed match to South Burlington for the title. Charlotters Tabor deGroot, Will Hall, Will Hurd and Jameson Voll had outstanding seasons.

Gymnasts vault to victory.
CVU’s gymnastics team has been successful so far this year. Wins over Harwood and St. Johnsbury ended 2009, and the team started the new decade on the right foot defeating Milton. The team displays depth with Ashley Bachand, Amanda Holman, Maddie Bourdeau and Sidney Hilker showing up regularly among the top gymnasts in various events.

Young grapplers hang in there.
The Redhawk wrestlers traveled south to Middlebury to participate in the Hubie Wagner Invitational Tournament against teams from 20 other schools representing four states. Williston freshman Liam Bowley wrestled his way to a fourth-place finish at 96 pounds, and sophomore Sam Fortin went 5-1 in the 171-pound class, pinning four opponents on his way to second place. He was joined by teammates Shane Hayley, Bryant Grey and Schuyler Himberg who all won their weight divisions in a close loss to Harwood as the new year began.

Alpine and nordic skiers end the old year and start the new with victories.
Heading to the “Kingdom” just before Christmas, CVU’s Alpine ski teams came away victorious over eight other schools in St. Johnsbury Academy’s Winter Carnival at Burke Mountain. On the women’s side, Charlotte’s Lucy Halvorson finished among the top ten individual racers. Warren Colomb, Cody Putre and Alec Zullo finished 3, 4 and 5 to secure the men’s win.
Redhawk Nordic skiers placed six among the top ten individuals at Sleepy Hollow as they won the tournament. The women’s team might have been called the “Charlotte Blades” as Kylie deGroot won the race followed by Annie Jackson and Sienna Searles. On the men’s side, Jake Marston ‘s seventh place helped solidify the Redhawk’s team win over seven other schools.

Hurd stands tall on men’s basketball team.
Charlotte’s Will Hurd has been a solid performer for the Redhawks this winter. Despite recent losses to Essex, Spaulding and Burlington, CVU remains one of the strong teams in its division. Missed opportunities close to the net allowed a hot-handed Essex squad to maintain an early lead and prevented CVU from catching the Hornets. Jake Donnelly and Hurd led the Redhawk attack with 17 and 11 points respectively.

Women hoopsters greet the new year with a win and a loss.
Ending 2009 on an exciting note with a last-minute win over South Burlington on Carlee Evans’ only shot of the game with just four seconds remaining, the Redhawks decided not to wait as long against Burlington. They started their run in the third quarter and didn’t quit until they had topped the Seahorses 47-34. Unfortunately, the St. Johnsbury gymnasium was not as congenial as home court for the Redhawks, and they dropped a close contest 42-39. Their only other loss came at the hands of Rice in a defensive battle shortly before Christmas.

Overtime wins and ties set a theme for the new year for women’s hockey.
Traveling to Highgate at the end of last year, the women’s hockey team carried an unblemished record with them. Missisquoi Union dampened their hopes 7-3 with Charlotte goalie Nicole Sisk called upon for 32 saves. At Essex the following week, it required a goal by KK Logan with one and a half minutes left in overtime to freeze out the Hornets 5-4. Charlotte’s
Lizzy Betz helped the Redhawk cause with a goal. Later in the week the Redhawks squandered a three-goal

lead against BFA-St. Albans and had to settle for a 4-4 tie in a game in which Sisk was strong in goal once again, stopping 28 shots to her opponents 15. On Saturday Spaulding came to Cairns and handed the Redhawks their second defeat, 4-0.

Thayer’s line draws the Coach’s praise.
Just before the year ended, CVU men’s hockey team handed Essex its first loss of the season, 3-1, at the
Hornets’ home rink. The Redhawk third line of Sam Parent, John Milbank

and Charlotte’s Jamie Thayer “set the tone “ for the game in the last two periods, according to coach Doug Hopper. After living through seasons in the early 1990s where even dressing a third line was problematic, the establishment of CVU hockey has grown tremendously. The Essex win followed three straight victories over BFA-St. Albans, Rutland and Hartford. Coupled with a 3-2 downing of Burr and Burton to open the new decade, CVU seems to be gaining confidence and maturing as a team.