CRAFTSBURY – With the recent agreement between Hazen Union and Craftsbury Academy (CA) to merge athletic programs and Peoples Academy’s (PA) inability to field a team this spring, both schools will send their softballers to Craftsbury Common this spring to play under head coach Ashley Gravel.
Hazen Union senior Sarah Collier was set to finish out her third and final season with the PA softball team this coming spring, but dwindling numbers will divert her and her fellow teammates to CA. Collier, along with Ginger Bowley, Serenity Leach, Willow Lockamy, Kaitlyn Cloutier and Gracie Crown from Hazen, will join Gravel and her growing Lady Charger program. Five more players from PA will also join Gravel’s squad, giving her 20-strong heading into her sixth season.
“I love seeing a full gym, being able to actually run drills, and it’s a total win for everybody that these girls get a chance to play somewhere. The main challenge for me is that I have 20 girls who are excited to show up to practice every day and I’m only going to have seven innings in a game to play. I’ve always tried to coach my athletes with respect over the years and it’s resulted in them showing up for the program. It’s going to be a great season!” said Gravel.
Vikings Nab Season Ending Honors
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndon Institute (LI) boys’ hockey team put a bow on a spectacular season with several players and coaches earning honors in the Lake Division.
Hazen Union’s Andrew Menard and Max Fortmann helped lead a Vikings team to a 16-3-3 record and the second overall seed in the Division II playoffs. Menard finished off his high school hockey career as a defensive captain for the Vikes. Head coach Ryan Paul capped off a stellar first season with LI by sharing Coach of the Year honors with Brattleboro’s Eric Libardoni. LI’s Alex Giroux was named First Team forward and teammate Konsta Jokio earned First Team goalie honors. Giroux, a junior from North Country, tallied his 100th career point this past season, while Jokio anchored the defense with a pair of shutouts. Adam Dusek earned Second Team All-Lake honors for LI. The Vikings advanced to the Final Four for the first time in five seasons. Brattleboro’s Evan Wright was named Division II Player of the Year.
