Sports

New Coach, New Opportunities

By Carter Monks

Each fall, the excitement for a new soccer season runs strong through the Mt. Abe boys as they return from their summer vacations. This year, however, there is another level of excitement and intrigue for varsity soccer due to the recent hiring of Rider MacCrellish as the new head coach.

Not since 2013 have the boys at Mt. Abe High lifted a soccer championship trophy, but with the addition of MacCrellish to the varsity program, there will again be a champion in the midst. MacCrellish was part of the 2013 championship squad, and hopes that his passion and love for the game, mixed with his winning knowledge, will bring great success to the program. MacCrellish not only played high school soccer at Mt. Abe, he has also coached middle school and JV teams for the past five seasons at his alma mater. This makes him the perfect candidate, as he knows all the boys that will make up the 2021 varsity squad. This prior knowledge of the players will pay massive dividends in allowing for a seamless transition for MacCrellish.

Beyond knowing the individuals on the team, MacCrellish has built a great deal of respect from his players. Junior Eli Burgess has played under MacCrellish’s tutorship for three different seasons. For Burgess, soccer is all about experiencing new things with his friends, as well as continuing to grow as a person and player. This is why Burgess is so excited to have a new coach who will help center soccer around those things. According to Burgess, MacCrellish “brings a lot of intensity” to his coaching style, which in turn “makes everyone want to work hard despite what your skill set might be.” For Burgess and others, the motivation that MacCrellish builds makes them better athletes and individuals. Having MacCrellish lead at the varsity level is likely only going to create even more motivation for the athletes to succeed.

No coach is the perfect fit for every individual athlete, but so far, MacCrellish has been very well received at Mt. Abe. Sophomore Joe Graziadei is another player who has found a great deal of joy playing for MacCrellish and in addition to learned numerous valuable lessons. Graziadei said, “MacCrellish is someone who will continue to push you to be the best everyday” regardless of the situation. For MacCrellish, there isn’t a time as a coach when he isn’t either teaching valuable life lessons, soccer skills, or trying to connect with the boys in an effort to create chemistry and motivation.

Over the last few years, MacCrellish has put in great effort to focus on life skills, and not put all the emphasis on winning. It is off the soccer pitch that MacCrellish sees the most potential to impact the player’s lives, as well as the community. He said that for him, the best part of coaching is “the feeling of impact you get as a coach on the community as a whole.” By helping guide players to become a better version of themselves, he is helping them be better community members. MacCrellish sees the potential to impact not just the people he interacts with, but the people they interact with as well.

It is his desire to teach more than just the game of soccer that truly separates MacCrellish from others and makes his new coaching role so exciting for future generations of Mt. Abe soccer athletes. He knows from past experience as an athlete that a well coached soccer team has the potential to create family and be so much more than just a sport. His own experiences as a player were of success and fun. For him, the most important part was that as a team, they had “a lot of comradery” and he said “it inspired me to help recreate that experience.” The future of the program will hopefully be new and exciting, yet shaped by the past experiences that worked well for MacCrellish and his peers, on and off the field.

As the summer green slowly fades into autumn color, make your way to Mt. Abe and catch the varsity soccer squad as they try to once again finish the year on top, this time with Rider MacCrellish leading from the sidelines, not on the pitch.

Mt. Abe Baseball had Big Hopes for This Season

By Tanner Harris

This year, the Mt. Abraham Varsity Baseball team had huge hopes for the season, and is looking for a state championship win. After a long year of COVD-19 restrictions, baseball is back, and the players are eager to start up again.

Over the summer of 2020 many players participated in summer baseball, but there are still huge amounts of anticipation and excitement for this season. Mt. Abe's first baseman Carter Monks has his hopes high, and his motivation even higher this season. After a long off season, Monks missed being together with his friends and competing. He also missed the team aspect of sports all together. Monks talked about what the team needed to do to accomplish their state championship goal, saying, “Leadership and motivation is going to play a very large role in our season.”

Senior Will Vichi had some of the same ideas as Monks. Vichi was also looking forward to playing with his team and hoped for the state championship title. He likes to watch and play baseball, and added, “I enjoy the sport of baseball and I like to make diving catches.” After talking about team strategies with Vichi, he explained that team bonding is going to play a very large role in the outcome of the season, ¨If we can bond as a team and have good team chemistry, I think we can get past difficulties that come at us during games,¨ he stated.

Junior Neil Guy also had big hopes for the season. He said, “I hope to do well in the playoffs and if we play as well as I know we can, I know we can succeed.” It seems as though the whole team has very high hopes for this season's playoffs, and after a long break from baseball, they where ready to make their hopes come true.

This Monday, Mt. Abe is starting their playoffs with their first game against Stratton Mtn. School (SMS). Playing their best and hitting the ball is what they need to do to win. As Neil Guy said, “We need to keep strong levels of focus throughout the whole game in order to win.” After a big win against SMS in the first playoff game, Mt. Abe lost to Spaulding in a close game in a score of 6-4.

Year End 2018

Sophomores played on Varsity baseball team

By Jacob Hoag

This year, Mt. Abe baseball had 5 sophomores on the varsity team, which is different from being on the JV team.

Third baseman and pitcher Nolan Whitcomb and center fielder Silas Burgess were two of our starting sophomores. When asked how JV is different than varsity, Burgess said, “The varsity level team is definitely more focused, and often times the players on varsity are highly experienced, as most of them have been playing since they were very young, and also have experience at a higher level.” Whitcomb was asked the same question, and responded, “It was definitely a change going from JV to varsity. The games moved a lot faster and the competition was better.”

When asked if he was nervous about coming up to varsity, Burgess responded,“Yes, it was very tough to adjust to the players and team, because your job was much more important, and every mistake you make could potentially take away from the team and even a playoff seeding.” Whitcomb was asked the same thing and said, “Not really, I just went out and played hard.”

Both players have changed a lot over this season on varsity. Burgess said, “My ability to read plays and adjust to certain situations has definitely improved, a lot of that thanks to Stets, who really helps his players know what to do and when to do it.” Whitcomb said, “Hitting and pitching was most challenging for me this year.”

When asked, how being on varsity helped him improve, Whitcomb stated, “Varsity has made me a better pitcher and made me work harder to stay on the field.” Burgess said, “Being on Varsity has really improved my focus, and also my overall baseball ability. Playing under Stets who my dad played for and Chad Perlee, who my dad played with, has really helped me become a better baseball player. They both know their stuff inside and out and are always willing to answer questions or give an extra few rounds of pop flies if you need them.”

Three other sophomores also contributed. Eben Clifford played first base and right field, while Wyatt Thomson Played second base, and Max Breault was brought up for playoffs at third base.

Year End 2017

Opinion: The NFL Should Move On From Commissioner Roger GoodellBy Mason Wood

Roger Goodell has been the NFL Commissioner for the past eleven years. Many people think Goodell is the worst thing that has happened to the NFL.

One of the worst decisions Goodell made was in 2012, when he brought in high school and college referees after pro officials went on strike. The referees went on strike after they believed they were not being paid enough. Goodell countered with not paying them what they wanted and brought in the infamous “replacement refs”. The “replacement refs” were nervous and not qualified to officiate a professional football game. This resulted in game-altering calls that made many fans and coaches angry. This issue with the refs was eventually resolved after many unnecessary mistakes were made by giving them the raise they wanted, but this will always leave a mark on Goodell’s career.

Many NFL players deal with suspensions every year. At this point it is really a part of the game now. To determine how long the length of those suspensions are is up to the Commissioner. In 2014, after Ray Rice viciously beat his fiancee in a hotel elevator, he received a two game suspension from the NFL. Players receive full year suspensions for smoking marijuana in the NFL, so two games is a joke for a crime like that. To make matters worse, once the video of Rice beating his wife was released to the public and he was then suspended indefinitely. This video apparently was already in possession of the NFL before the public had seen it, so Goodell had knowingly suspended a criminal for a mere two games. In another incident, former New York Giants kicker Josh Brown admitted to abusing his wife and was only suspended one game. Goodell needs to get his priorities straight with the suspensions or else felons will keep getting to play in the league.

Debatably, the worst decision Goodell has ever made came from the NFL’s “Salute to Service” campaign. Having the NFL wear camo gear and support the military is a great thing, but what Goodell didn’t telling us is that he made the military pay 10.4 million dollars to have soldiers come out onto the field before games and to have teams support camo equipment. Yearly Goodell makes more money than most of the players in the game. Last year he earned a salary of 34 million dollars. Goodell has become very greedy and the NFL is about only money since Goodell has taken over.

Goodell is the villain of the NFL and needs to be removed as soon as possible. The problem is that he has all the power, so it is hard to overrule him. For the sake of the game he will hopefully be removed in the future and there will be a new commissioner who appreciates the game and players a little more.

Spring of 2013

Returning star has yet to return

Jacob Lathrop

After an injury plagued season, Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls capped off the 2011-2012 with a career-altering ACL tear. His return is still being awaited.

In the 2010-11 season, Rose put up quality numbers, including 25 points per game, 7.7 assists, and 4.1 rebounds, en route to his first MVP trophy. In just his third season coming out of the University of Memphis, Rose became the youngest MVP ever. The last Bulls player to win the award was 5 time MVP, Michael Jordan.

Many wondered what Rose would do to follow up his MVP season. I had huge expectations, but I was sadly disappointed. Rose had another season of firsts, but not the kind of firsts you want. He became the first MVP since Allen Iverson to miss several games the next season. Rose missed 43 games the next season due to injuries, including a couple different ankle injuries. In the first game of the playoffs the following year, he tore his ACL against the 76ers. I was shocked, and sad, but most of all, I was angry. Losing is not entertaining to me, and the Bulls just fell apart without their leader.

The return everyone was waiting for, the 2013 season. Rose was expected to miss the beginning of the season, but not the entire year. Many people, including critics, analysts, and fans, were excited to see how the young star would recover. Months went by, and when Iman Shumpert returned, who tore his ACL the same day as Rose, everyone started to question the MVP. I am also questioning his mental status, is the reason he hasn’t come back due to him being worried about getting hurt again, after he has been cleared to play for over two months?

I am hoping to see Rose for the start of the 2013-14 season, but Rose still has yet to say whether he thinks he will be ready or not.

Thornapple Farm

By: Caisey Kurek

Pat Palmer escorting Caisey Kurek and Brian Jewell to prom

Thornapple Farm is fifty-five acre farm that is located in New Haven, Vermont. The farm is owned by Pat and Cathy Palmer, and has a very welcoming atmosphere for the many guests who come to enjoy the horses and beautiful scenery. The Palmers love to share their experience and affection for draft horses with others.

Thornapple Farm has several services that include sleigh rides, horse-drawn carriage rides for weddings and other special occasions, wagon and hay rides, or you can also hire Pat to train your horse. Pat uses the horses for daily chores. His team of Percherons, named Jake and Jerry, make a perfect pair. The horses help Pat in gathering firewood chunks from the woods, mowing, spreading manure, raking, and many other tasks around the farm.

Jake and Jerry don’t always stay on the farm; you can see Pat driving them around the town of Bristol every Friday morning doing the trash route. While many locals are used to it, many tourists are quite intrigued by the horse-drawn trash pick-up. Pat said, “We have been doing the trash route with our horses for almost fifteen years”. Linda Malzac and Brian Jewell have helped out on the trash route for many years. When asked what the best part of helping out on the trash route is, Jewell replied, “Simply being with the horses and being outside.“ Palmer added “On average residents put out about 150 bags of trash each week for collection.”

Pat recently took part in the draft horse auction in Addison, VT, on May 5th. He was one of the auctioneers at this event where many members of the draft horse community from all over New England gathered to purchase horses or equipment. The team is also seen at Addison County Field Days and at the Champlain Valley Fair. The Palmers bring their team of draft horses out and compete against others around New England.

Locally, the Palmers and their horses help many in town with trash removal and other tasks. The Palmers are willing to lend a hand and share their love for horses with anyone that is interested. These horses do an exceptional job at any task given, they are loved and appreciated by many.

Lebron for his 3^rd MVP

By: Branden Visser

Basketball Hoop

Saturday was a breathtaking day for the Miami Heat’s Lebron James as he was awarded his 3^rd Most Valuable Player of the year award. This prestigious award has been awarded to players for decades, and now being awarded this latest trophy, it marks his third, and has been accepted into a special group of individuals accomplishing tasks beyond imagine.

To win an MVP award is an honor in basketball, and it has been since the first award given in 1955. James earned two MVP awards when he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and after a couple of years with them, he signed a $96 million dollar contract over 5 years with the Miami Heat’s owner, Micky Arison. Dan Gilbert, owner of the Cavaliers, was infuriated with his decision, but couldn’t do anything since James’ contract was up. James figured it would be better for himself in the long run and has now proved it, placing another MVP award next to his previous two.

Basketball has been around for years, and there are only 7 players who have been awarded MVP award 3 or more times, including Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson. Gladly moving that number up one, James made his way into the group and has increased the number to an astounding eight. One thing however, that the other players have that James doesn't, is a championship. Moving from the Cavaliers to the Heat, is looking good for James’ goal, and that is all he is looking forward to now. When asked, at the ESPN awards red carpet ceremony, if he was “ecstatic” about his awards, he replied, "I'd give all three of them back for an NBA championship; it's all I care about. It's all I know."

JV Softball Team Looking to Have a Bright Season

By: Carina Isbell

Softball Player up to bat

At the beginning of the softball season, it didn’t look promising for the JV softball team. After tryouts, many girls were turned away, but ended up back onto the team about a week later when a few girls dropped out and back-ups were needed. They didn’t let this setback bring them down and just kept practicing to improve their team.

As their first home game came up, expectations were low because Spaulding was known as an incredibly hard team to beat. Freshman Hannah Kirby, member of the Mt. Abe team, said “I doubt we’ll win this game”. Little did they know, just an hour after the game started, they would end up winning. The game ended early because Mt.Abe was ahead by so much that they chose to use the mercy rule. This rule is used to end the game early when one team has an insurmountable lead over the other team

The team went right back to work, training even harder, and by the time their next game came up, they were ready. Once again they won, this time against Hardwood’s varsity team. Although the game after that was close, they won that one as well. Coach Veronica Sargent said, “out of the six games they have left, I expect them to win at least four. They’ve done remarkable compared to previous years.”

With talented players and a good start to the season, the rest of the season looks promising. Kirby said, “We’ve only lost one game so far. The rest of the season is looking pretty good.” Now the only thing to do is wait and see if this comes true. One thing's for sure; there is nothing getting in the way of this team.

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