North Country’s Anna Bingham scoops and makes the throw. Bingham, the Falcons’ only senior, got a home run in her final home game. Photo by Richard Creaser

by Richard Creaser

copyright the Chronicle 6-5-2013

NEWPORT — Though the final score of Thursday afternoon’s game may not have reflected it, It was a special moment for the North Country Falcons’ lone senior Anna Bingham.  The Falcons (3-11) faced the visiting Essex Hornets (15-0) in North Country’s final home game.  Going up against the unbeaten Hornets team would not be an easy task.

Wearing her familiar number five jersey, Bingham took the field in her regular spot as the Falcons’ starting short stop.  On a day when everything seemed to be falling the Hornets’ way, Bingham would bring out a little magic of her own.

“She just wanted something she could hit,” Coach Leslie Dunn said after the game.  “Her goal for the season was to hit five home runs — the same as her number.  She didn’t think she would get the opportunity.”

Teams that have faced Bingham over the years have learned to fear her potent bat, Coach Dunn explained.  Four years of exposure to the tough competition of Division I softball has taken away Bingham’s ability to hide in the background.  She was a known commodity and that commodity terrorized opposing pitchers.

Bingham drew walks in each of her first two at-bats against the Hornets’ Ali Rutz.  It wasn’t until the Essex had built up a 12-1 lead and the hard-throwing Ashley Gehsmann took the mound in the top of the fifth that Bingham finally saw pitches she could hit.

Bingham parked that ball over the left field fence for her fifth home run of the season.

“It felt great,” Bingham said after the game.  “It was awesome.  I really wanted to hit my fifth home run and to do it in our last home game on senior day was really great.”

Bingham is the only player who definitely will not return next season.  Her presence will be missed.  Her drive and intensity encouraged and inspired her teammates, Coach Dunn said.

“When she’s out there, diving for the ball and giving everything she has, the other girls see that and know that’s what’s expected,” Coach Dunn said.  “That’s how we play.  We do what we need to do to get the outs.”

Fortunately, the Falcons will not find themselves entirely without Bingham’s assistance in 2014.  Bingham said she hopes to come back and serve as an assistant to help guide the team in the coming year.

In a double play worthy of a major league highlight reel, North Country’s right fielder Mikaella Doran (not pictured) caught a fly ball hit by Essex Hornet Ali Rutz, and threw to Falcon catcher Tori Kinney (left) who gunned down Hornet Hillary Danis (right) at the plate. The double play helped Falcons’ starter Taylor Blake out of a bases loaded, one out jam in the top of the first. Photo by Richard Creaser

“I’d like to come back and help out,” she said.

The Falcons certainly have talent carrying into next season.  Thursday’s loss was less an issue of defensive lapses or failures by North Country as it was exceptional contact hitting by Essex.  Falcon starter Taylor Blake held the Hornets scoreless through the first three innings despite a bases-loaded jam in the opening frame.  Indeed, an exceptional double play involving a fly ball out to Mikaella Doran in right followed by a bullet throw and tag at the plate by catcher Tori Kinney prevented Essex from jumping out to an early lead.

In the fourth inning, however, the Hornets finally caught up to Blake.  Seeing eye singles and hard chops up the third base line kept the Hornets moving along the base paths.  By the time the dust cleared, the Hornets were up 9-0.  The Falcons responded with a rally of sorts as Brittany Verge reached on a lead-off walk.  Doran’s fielder’s choice caught Verge at second before Doran moved to second on a stolen base.  Maddie Mosher’s single allowed Doran to score from second to break up Essex’s shutout bid.

Rebecca Murray would carry the Falcons through the next two innings, surrendering three more runs even as Bingham’s homer cut the home team’s deficit.  After a rough couple of innings, a scoreless sixth was just what the Falcons needed to regroup and refresh.  The Hornets, however, were not quite finished yet.

Essex would plate three more runs in the top of the seventh before Mosher would step in and close out the game with Essex ahead 15-2.  Despite the long odds, the Falcons were not down and out.  Bingham’s homer had revived the team visibly.  Mosher would start North Country off with a double.  A sacrifice hit by Missy Morse advanced Mosher to third putting her one hit or one deep fly ball away from home plate.  Kinney would respond with a single that brought home Mosher and cut the Hornets’ lead to 15-3.

Bingham was next to take the plate with one on and one out.  She would again see a single hittable pitch and drive the ball to the left field wall.  It seemed possible that Bingham would not only achieve her goal of homering five times but possibly even exceed it.  Unfortunately Hornet Hillary Danis chased it down and made a running catch at the fence.  Murray would pop out for the third and final out as the curtain closed on the Falcons’ home season.

contact Richard Creaser at nek_scribbler@hotmail.com

Lake Region’s Dustin Bodette tees off on the first hole during Thursday’s thirty-fourth annual North Country Invitational golf tournament. Bodette endured a rough start to the day before finding his inner golf Zen and reminding himself to enjoy the day. Photo by Richard Creaser

copyright the Chronicle 5-17-2013

NEWPORT —  The game of golf is a lesson in civility and humility.  It is a game that rewards patience, discourages rashness and fosters fellowship.

“That’s what’s so awesome and so awful about golf,” Northfield’s Mike Passalacqua said.  “One day you shoot a great game and the next time you can’t get the ball to go anywhere you want it to.  How you play is always on you.”

The Chronicle had the opportunity to spend the morning with a foursome composed of Lake Region’s Dustin Bodette, Northfield’s Mike Passalacqua, St. Johnsbury Academy’s Jack O’Neill and Peoples’ Academy Keirnan Nicholls as the foursome made the rounds of the Newport Country Club during the thirty-fourth annual North Country Invitational Golf Tournament on Thursday, May 17.

To most of the foursome the experience at the Newport course was a new experience.  As such, the aspect of familiarity with the course certainly wasn’t in anyone’s favor.  Even if it was, however, golf is a game of variables, some of which were completely out of the players’ control.

“It’s a pretty vicious wind,” Bodette admitted as strong gusts blew in from the south and west.  “That’s why it’s important to get out on the range and hit the greens before a tournament.  It’s a must to see how you’re going to play that day.”

Not knowing the layout of the course involves best-guess estimates on distances as well as a healthy dose of orienteering as the players navigate the course.  Knowing what to expect matters a great deal in both club selection and the amount of force applied to each stroke.

“I’m used to slower greens at the Orleans Country Club,” Bodette said of the Lake Region golf team’s home course.  “I know how hard I need to putt.”

“I’m seeing a break but there doesn’t seem to be one,” O’Neill said of the putting greens.  “So I need to adjust how I approach them.”

The North Country Invitational also requires players to play through a full 18 holes, unlike traditional matches that only involve nine-hole play.  Given that fact having a foursome composed of like-minded and comparably skilled players matters more than most tournaments.

“You’re going to be with these guys for the next four hours so it helps if you like the group you’re in,” Bodette said.

Lake Region’s Dustin Bodette putts during Thursday’s North Country Invitational golf tournament at the Newport Country Club. Bodette would finish with a 32 over par 114 on the day. Photo by Richard Creaser

Sportsmanship is an under appreciated element of tournament level golf, Passalacqua said.  While considered bad form to gloat over a good shot, it is equally undesirable to fuss and fume over bad ones.

“You just need to pick up and move on,” Passalacqua said.

Both Bodette and Passalacqua come from team sports backgrounds.  Bodette played the last three years on the Lake Region Rangers baseball team while Passalacqua is a member of the Northfield Raiders’ hockey team.

“It’s a team sport that isn’t,” Passalacqua said.  “On a team you can count on the other players making up for mistakes on your part.  In golf it’s all on you.”

Golf, he said, is about challenging yourself  to play up to your own personal standard.  It’s also about playing to your strengths and recognizing your weaknesses.

“You know how you usually play and every time you go out you want to play to your ability,” Passalacqua said.  “You could be playing with someone whose average game is seven strokes better than yours.  You know can’t beat him but you do know how well you can play and try to play better than that.”

Bodette struggled through the first few holes before recognizing a valuable lesson — there is such a thing as trying too hard.  Once he realized that simple fact and returned to playing the game because he enjoys it his performance improved.

“I was just terrible at the beginning,” Bodette said.  “When I just started playing the game, I started to play better.  You can’t let it get in your head.”

The North Country Invitational attracted students from 15 Vermont high schools from Division I, Division II and Division III.  The Division I title was claimed by Essex, shooting a combined 321, behind the play of Connor Calhoun and Ryan Manley.  Calhoun would earn first medalist honors shooting a two over par 74 while Manley tied for third with a six over par 78 on the day.

The disqualification of Evan Clarke led to an incomplete score for the host North Country Falcons.  Cody Wright led the Falcons with a 34 over par 106 on the day while Isaiah Carbonneau finished two strokes back at 108.

Lyndon Institute’s Nick Murphy’s eight over par 80 topped the rankings and earned him fifth medalist honors.  LI would also claim the DII title with a combined 344 on the day.  The Lake Region Rangers seventh on the day with a combined score of 441.  Carl Oberg led all Rangers with a 22 over par 94 while Bodette would finish with a score of 114.

 contact Richard Creaser at nek_scribbler@hotmail.com

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Falcon freshman Neil DeLaBruere would earn top spot in the boys pole vault event with an eight-foot vault. DeLaBruere is following in the footsteps of his father, Dave DeLaBruere, who achieved success in his own high school career in the sport. Photo by Richard Creaser

 by Richard Creaser

copyright the Chronicle May 10, 2013

NEWPORT — It was evident that North Country Coach Gary Johnson had hoped things might turn out differently as he played master of ceremonies to the track and field competition held at North Country on Wednesday, May 8.  With only three teams participating, the others being Mount Abraham and Rice Memorial, the lack of activity on the field was telling.

“We’re missing 18 kids due to the all-state music festival,” Mr. Johnson said.  “But what can you do?  Otherwise it’s a beautiful day to be out running, jumping and throwing.”

The loss of so many student athletes was a blow to North Country’s fortunes on the day.  The Falcons were unable to field competitors in six of the boys events and seven of the girls events.  Despite taking a forfeit in those events the Falcons girls finished only one point behind Mount Abraham.  The boys did not fare as well trailing co-winners Rice and Mount Abraham with 68 each to the Falcons 39.

Falcon Jenna Moss took second place behind teammate Cassidy Webster in the girls discus event at the North Country track meet held in Newport on May 8.
Photo by Richard Creaser

The field belonged to the Falcon girls in throwing events.  The strong showing was led by Cassidy Webster and her Herculean 100-foot, eight-inch, throw on the discus.  Webster’s teammates Jenna Moss and Crystal Moss picked up second and third place behind her.

Webster came into the sport largely as the result of her brother Jason who was himself a successful discus competitor.  His success and encouragement inspired her to try the sport for the first time last season during her freshman year.

“After the first year I found out I really liked it,” Webster said.

As the Chronicle was to discover, there is more to track and field events than mere speed or brute force.  All of the athletes revealed that technique lies at the heart of each of their events.

In the case of the discus, technique is the difference between a good throw and just churning up a lot of turf.  In order to travel far the discus needs a combination of sufficient forward momentum but, also, enough angle to take advantage of the discus’ natural propensity to lift.

Achieving that lift is only possible by reaching the right release angle, Webster explained.  If you release too soon the discus flies pretty much straight up and down again.  Release too late and the discus crashes into the ground.

“Throwing hard helps, but if you don’t know when to release it won’t help you,” Webster said.

The influence of technique was also apparent when watching Falcon Neil DeLaBruere on the pole vault.  Though only a novice to the sport, the Falcon freshman also drew on familial experience — his father Dave practiced the pole vault during his high school career.  Watching pole vaulters practice their craft provides a deceptive impression of the ease of the sport.  To run forward, plant the pole and throw yourself over a bar has never looked easier.

North Country’s Morgan Greene (left) accepts the handoff from teammate Crystal Moss during the girls’ 4 X 100 meter relay. The Falcons would place second behind visiting Rice Memorial High during the May 8 track and field meet at North Country. Photo by Richard Creaser

What is not apparent is the amount of strength required to execute those three simple steps.  It also involves knowing when and what muscles you need to use to execute the vault, Neil DeLaBruere explained.

“At the lower heights you use more of your legs and driving your knee up and driving off your foot,” the younger DeLaBruere said.  “As you go higher it’s more upper body as you actually pull yourself up and over.  It’s really complex.  There’s so much to it and I’m just starting to learn a lot of it.”

Technique plays an equally large role in the long jump.  What might come as a bit of a surprise is the fact that some of the technique is purely mental.  Prior to the actual sand pit, two solid white lines are painted on the runway.  These markings indicate the maximum forward distance the athlete can run prior to jumping.

These lines also serve as an athletes choice of one of two jumping off points.  Why would an athlete choose the furthest of the two lines, the Chronicle asked?

“The measurement is always taken based on the line you jumped from,” Falcon Laura Smith said.  “So you do need to tell the judges which line you are using before you jump.  Why would you do that?  Well, it’s based on how far you think you can jump.”

The furthest line back places the athlete much closer to the edge of the runway on a short jump.  Landing that close to the edge could result in a loss of dignity at best or a nasty injury at worst.

“Knowing you have to jump further pushes you to make a longer jump,” Falcon Jade Dandurand said.

The further line is also used in triple jumps because it gives the athlete more space in the sand pit before hitting the outside edge, Smith said.

The ability to focus on technique owes a large measure to the changes that North Country’s track and field facilities have undergone in the last two years.  Gone is the dirt track that was perhaps better suited to mini-bike races than hurdles and sprints and gone are the wobbly long jump runways.

“It was pretty rough back when I was doing track and field,” Dave DeLaBruere said.  “When I started the pole vault we had sawdust, old tires and steel poles.  We thought we were doing good when they gave us a bag of foam.”

The track had remained essentially unchanged from the time the school was built.  As a result it has languished behind some of the other Division I schools.  The track conditions had deteriorated to the point that some schools refused to participate in events at North Country for fear of the conditions of the facilities, Mr. DeLaBruere said.

A force in the long distance events, Falcon Sam Brunette tried his hand at the 300 meter hurdles during the May 8 track meet at North Country. Brunette would take third place in that competition as well as earn top spot in the 1,500 meter track event. Photo by Richard Creaser

“No one wants to send their kids somewhere where they might get hurt,” Mr. DeLaBruere said.  “As a parent I would be afraid of letting my kid participate here.  I’m just really glad they made that investment to keep the program running.”

Though only a junior, Laura Smith recalls the old track conditions.  As an athlete she said she feels far more comfortable competing on the new facilities.

“I definitely feel a lot safer here,” Smith said.  “It also makes me feel good to know that enough people cared about our safety to do this for us.”

Co-head coach Gary Johnson helped lead the effort to make the investment in the new facilities.  As a long-time coach and advocate for the track program Mr. Johnson pushed to ensure that the grounds would be brought up to a level the school and the community could be proud of.

“We had paths intersecting, the track was rutted and some of the runways were just plain dangerous,” Mr. Johnson said.  “It took a lot of work and a lot of effort by a lot of people but we got it done.  I think we will get a lot of good years out of what we built.”

Nicholas Perkins’ 35-foot, six-inch, shot put throw earned him top honors in boys competition.  Teammates Joe Wade and Tristan Farrow picked up third and fourth place respectively.  In the boys’ discus Perkins, Farrow and Wade would finish second, third and fourth respectively.  Sam Brunette’s time of 4:31.9 was enough to earn him top spot in the 1,500-meter event.  Neil DeLaBruere took top spot in the boys pole vault with an eight foot vault.  Connor Hogan took second place in the boys 400 meter.

In girls shot put Cassidy Webster, Jenna Moss, Crystal Moss and Ellie Searles finished first, second, third and fourth respectively behind Webster’s 35 foot, six inch throw.  The Falcons also placed well in the girls 400 meter with Briana Bonnell placing first with a time of 1:12.5.  Falcons Britni Jewer and Emilie Paul captured third and fourth place in the event.  In the girls javelin event Morgan Greene took first with a 79-foot, four-inch, throw while Myrriah Gonyaw and Briana Bonnell finished third and fourth respectively.  In the girls 200-meter event Jade Dandurand finished second.

Contact Richard Creaser at nek_scribbler@hotmail.com

Michelle Thibeault threw six innings of four-hit ball while recording six strikeouts as the Lake Region Rangers defeated the visiting Peoples Academy Wolves 18-3 on Tuesday afternoon. Thibeault also enjoyed a solid day at the plate, recording three RBIs in the win. Photo by Richard Creaser

by Richard Creaser

copyright the Chronicle 5-1-13

The Lake Region Rangers defeated the visiting Peoples Academy Wolves in resounding fashion during Tuesday’s varsity softball match-up at Lake Region.  The game was called in the home half of the sixth, invoking the mercy rule after the Rangers posted 18 runs to the Wolves three.

“When we start hitting we definitely feel more confident,” said Rangers starting pitcher Michelle Thibeault.  “Today we were hitting.”

The key to Lake Region’s success lies in the team’s speed, Coach Matt Tinker acknowledged after the game.  But to make use of that speed the players first need to reach base, he said.

“If the other pitcher is in control we can have trouble getting on base,” Coach Tinker said.  “Once we’re there we can really start moving.  We run until the catcher starts making throws to show us we can’t.”

Lake Region took advantage of poor control as the Wolves pitching struggled with wild pitches, walks and passed balls.  The Rangers pounced on Peoples’ miscues and used their speed to devastating effect.  Wolves starter Megan Lamare never seemed to hit her stride, laboring through five innings of work before she was finally pulled in favor of Elysha Burgess in the top of the fifth.

By contrast, Thibeault appeared to get stronger as the game went on.  A rough third inning allowed Peoples to plate two runs, thanks to some timely bunts and a few Ranger defensive missteps, but Thibeault remained solid throughout.

She would finish the day with six strikeouts, two walks, three runs allowed and four hits, all of them singles.  Throughout the game she continued to fearlessly pound the strike zone as if daring her opponents to swing.

“I felt really good out there,” Thibeault said.  “It helps that I know I have a really solid team behind me.  They have my back.”

Coach Tinker commended Thibeault on her performance.

“That makes two straight starts that Michelle has really come out and pitched well,” Coach Tinker said.  “When she’s on like that and when we can reach base, we always have a good chance of winning.”

The Rangers opened the scoring in the home half of the first inning, plating three runs to give Lake Region an early lead.  The Rangers added another in the second before Peoples capitalized on a rough third inning to cut the lead in half.  Lake Region responded by plating two more runs in the bottom of the third to lead 6-3.

“When it was 4-2 and then 6-3 I knew we couldn’t let up,” Coach Tinker said.  “A three-run lead can disappear really quickly.”

The Rangers responded with a huge bottom of the fourth, bringing home seven runs in an inning that saw 12 batters go to the plate.  With Thibeault shutting down the Wolves for the next two innings, the game was all but over.  With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Lake Region scored five more times to invoke the mercy rule and end the game.

The Rangers return to action on Thursday, May 2, with a home game against the visiting Danville Indians.  The game is scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. start.

Contact Richard Creaser at nek_scribbler@hotmail.com

 For more free sports stories, look in our sports category on this site or subscribe to our print or online editions.  

North Country Falcon Chase LaCourse (foreground) beats out the play at the plate against fellow catcher, Burlington High’s Hunter Knight during Saturday’s varsity high school baseball action. Photos by Richard Creaser

by Richard Creaser

copyright the Chronicle 4-24-2013

NEWPORT — Saturday’s varsity baseball game between the visiting Burlington High Sea Horses and the host North Country falcons was  game of late-inning heroics.  The two teams appeared evenly matched throughout until a six-run seventh propelled the Sea Horses into an 11-9 victory on Saturday afternoon.

“We made a lot of mental mistakes that cost us runs,” infielder Bryce Carter acknowledged after the game.  “We’re pretty solid for the most part, but things got away from us at the end.”

The 2013 Falcons are a very young team with only two seniors, Joel Lamarche and David Murray on the roster.  That said, there was a remarkable chemistry for a team that has had only three outdoor practices while already three games into the season.

“I think we’re at the point where we should be heading into the season,” Assistant Coach Mike LaCourse said.  “Instead we’re three games in and just finding our footing.”

Though the Falcons have an 0-3 record on the young season, Head Coach Brian Bonvecchio has noticed his team making positive strides.  Earlier in the season the team’s defense was shaky and its hitting sorely lacking.  Neither was particularly the case in Saturday’s contest.

“Our defense was very good,” Coach Bonvecchio said after the game.  “We hit the ball hard.  Unfortunately, it was usually to someone standing right there.  Five feet to either side and it would have been a great hit.”

Falcon Joel Lamarche took the mound for the Falcons and endured a rough first inning as the Sea Horses plated three runs in the first.  The runs came courtesy of two walks, a hit batsman and a single.  Lamarche also recorded all three outs in the inning with strikeouts.  The Falcons responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first.  Chase LaCourse beat out a play at the plate as he advanced on a pass ball while Lamarche came around to score on Ryan O’Donnell’s RBI triple.

The Falcons would tie up the contest in the home half of the second after an error allowed Ian Major to reach base, Carter walked and the pair executed a double steal when a pass ball allowed Major to score.  The Sea Horses would regain the lead after Lamarche surrendered the fourth run of the game in the top of the third.

The Falcons’ replacement pitcher, Shane Goodell, kept Burlington off the board until the top of the fifth when an error allowed Hunter Knight to reach, Knight stole a pass and a sacrifice bunt enabled him to score on Malcolm Huesman’s suicide squeeze.  The Falcons’ bats came alive in what would turn out to be BHS starter Austin Pine’s final inning.

Burlington Sea Horse Jacob Parent (number 3) breaks up the play at second as North Country’s Tyler Sanville (center) reaches for the ball. Fellow Falcon Ryan O’Donnell backs up Sanville on the play.

Tyler Sanville led off the home half of the fifth with a towering triple to the right field wall.  He would then score on a pass ball during LaCourse’s at bat.  Lamarche would reach on a walk and steal before being knocked in by O’Donnell’s sacrifice fly to tie up the game at five all.

Things fell apart for the Falcons in the top of the seventh.  Goodell’s arm was clearly tired as the Sea Horses took advantage of poor control and diminished velocity.  They would go on to record six runs in the inning on three hits, five walks and two pass balls.

“Our defense was solid but a solid defense can’t help with walks,” Coach Bonvecchio said.  “You can’t defend against walks, period.  We don’t have strikeout pitchers so we rely on our defense to keep us in the game.”

The Falcons, down by six with only three outs remaining, were not deterred.  LaCourse led off the inning with a single to right.  Wyatt Prue would reach on a fielding error with one out followed by O’Donnell’s bloop single to shallow right field that allowed LaCourse to score.  Nick Sicard would follow up with a sacrifice fly that brought in Prue leaving the Falcons four runs down with only a single out remaining.  Major would reach on a walk before Carter launched a double to deep right center scoring both O’Donnell and Major to cut Burlington’s lead to two runs.  Carter would steal his second base of the day following Jared Hussey’s two out single putting men on the corners with two down.  The game would end on a routine groundout to third.

“I’m very proud of this team,” Carter said after the game.  “We’re a young team but we work hard and do what the coaches tell us to do.  We learn from our mistakes and I think we’re just going to get better.”

contact Richard Creaser at nek_scribbler@hotmail.com

Lake Region Ranger Judit Altimiri returns at the net against North Country’s Jacey Gray during Friday afternoon’s varsity girls’ tennis match at Lake Region. Photo by Richard Creaser

copyright the Chronicle 4-22-2013

The visiting North Country Falcons spoiled Lake Region girls varsity tennis opener with a 3-2 win on Friday, April 19.   Friday’ contest was remarkable for a number of reasons not the least of which was the fact it marked the first time that the tennis program could host a match on the Lake Region campus.  The Rangers had been playing their home games at the municipal tennis courts in Derby due to a lack of courts.

Lake Region’s Rachelle Cotnoir returns the volley during her doubles match against the visiting North Country Falcons. Photo by Richard Creaser

“It’s pretty nice to be able to actually play home games at home,” Lake Region tennis coach Laura Laramee said.  “We have the new court in back and they resurfaced the two older courts to give us some nice playing surfaces.”

While the courts might have been new and welcome, weather conditions were not especially favorable nor was the fact that spring vacation lingered just around the corner.  Due to school vacation schedules and class trips, both the Falcons and Rangers found themselves undermanned to complete a regular schedule of games.  As a result the contest consisted only of four singles matches and one doubles match.

Strong, gusting winds proved to be as much of a challenge for the players as their actual opponents.  Had the match been between college teams, Ms. Laramee conceded that it likely would have been cancelled.  Coach Laramee also coaches the Lyndon State College men’s tennis team.

On a day best remembered for chaotic winds and periodic dust storms, North Country Falcon Kathryn Daigle, who studies at United Christian Academy, battled Lake Region’s Tay Turner. Photo by Richard Creaser

“Once the wind gets over a certain speed or the temperature drops below 50 degrees the colleges won’t play,” Coach Laramee said.  “But our season is so short we really don’t have enough time to make up games.”

“If it’s not raining, we’ve got to play,” North Country Coach Jody Driscoll said.

The wind did lead to many oddities in play.  Serving down wind forced players to constantly adjust the power in their serve while those playing against the wind had to force some extra muscle into every shot.  There were many occasions where even the most heroic of efforts was doomed to fail.

One such incident occurred in the doubles match between Rangers Crystal Trieber and Rachelle Cotnoir and Falcons Kaitlyn Young and Hailie Lyon.  A return by Lyon appeared ready to drop over the net, hung suspended in mid-air, moved a few inches backward and dropped back into the Falcons court.

“The wind is ridiculous,” Falcon Anne Arcoleo said.  “The bounce is bizarre.  Off the bounce you don’t know if it’s going to just stop right there or float off the court.  The weirdest is when it goes sideways and you can’t even guess where it might go.”

“It might be unfair but it’s unfair to everybody,” Coach Driscoll said of the wind.

North Country’s Jacey Gray battles an errant gust of wind during her match against Lake Region’s Judit Altimiri at the Lake Region High tennis courts on Friday afternoon. Photo by Richard Creaser

Though the winds proved particularly troublesome during the first three matches of the day, the winds did eventually die down enough to allow the number three singles match and number four singles match to be a contest between players instead of players versus environment.

This created some of the best matches of the day as the coaches and players could exercise their skills instead of combating the vagaries of the elements.  The number three match between Falcon Kathryn Daigle, who attends United Christian Academy, and Ranger Tay Turner was a particularly well matched battle.  Daigle prevailed in the first set edging out Turner 7-5.  Turner responded by defeating Daigle 6-4 in the second set to spawn a super tie breaker.  Turner’s solid serving enabled her to win the tie break 10-2 and win the match for the host team.

Lake Region’s other victory would come in the number four match between Ranger Judit Altimiri and Falcon Jacey Gray.  Coach Laramee commented on the good rallies between the two.  In the end Altimiri would oust Gray in straight sets 6-2, 6-3.

The Falcons would win the remainder of the matches on the day including Arcoleo’s 6-0, 6-0 win over Shay Beaton in the number one singles match.  Meira Buck would eventually triumph over Alyssa Lawson 6-2, 6-3 to win the number two match while Young and Lyon would defeat Trieber and Cotnoir 6-0, 7-5 to take the doubles match.

The freakish weather conditions provided a rather challenging contest for two essentially fresh teams.  Shay Beaton is the lone returning player for the Rangers while Arcoleo was the lone veteran for the Falcons.  Both teams consisted primarily of players new to tennis.

“It seems like a lot of the schools in our division are in building years,” Coach Laramee said.  “That takes a lot of the pressure off for young players.  It levels the playing field for the teams and makes the games more competitive and less frustrating.”

The Falcons return to action on Monday, April 29, at BFA St. Albans while the Rangers visit St. Johnsbury Academy on Monday, April 22.

Contact Richard Creaser at nek_scribbler@hotmail.com

The North Country Falcons boys varsity tennis team. The members of the 2013 squad are, back row from left: Coach Gary Atchinson, Henry DeLaBruere, Nathan Marsh, Carlos Federico Gomez Ortega, John Carpenter and Fred Petzoldt. Front row from left: Zach Tweed, Thomas Durivage, Travers Parsons-Grayson, Dylan Gray and Nathan Grimm. Photo by Richard Creaser

copyright the Chronicle 4-10-2013

by Richard Creaser

NEWPORT — The success of the 2013 boys varsity tennis team will rest heavily on the shoulders of the team’s top five singles players, Coach Gary Atchinson said.  In order for the team to win a meet it must win four out of the seven matches on the day.  The meet consists of five singles matches and two doubles matches.

The Falcons lost three seniors and two other players during the off season, depleting the team substantially, Coach Atchinson said.  Still, the team retained a solid nucleus of more experienced players coupled with an eager, if inexperienced, group of freshmen.

“We’ll be able to get the freshmen some experience in doubles matches and season them a little,” Coach Atchinson said.

Though the season is less than two weeks old, including pre-season conditioning, the team has already had its first meet.  The Falcons traveled to Mount Mansfield but lost the meet 4-3.

“We won our one, two and three matches to start,” Coach Atchinson said.  “Our freshmen got some good experience but we did lose both doubles matches.”

The early start to the season prevented Coach Atchinson from running play downs to establish player rankings.  Traditionally the top five players will participate in the singles matches with players six and seven forming the first doubles team, seven and eight the second doubles team and any remaining players participating as part of an exhibition squad.

“Most players prefer to play singles so there’s usually pretty stiff competition for the top five spots,” Coach Atchinson said.  ‘That’s the really great thing about coaching tennis — everything plays out on its own.  The players play each other and determine their own rankings by how they perform.”

Though it is theoretically possible to fudge a team’s rankings in order to win more matches, it is not a problem that crops up with any regularity, Coach Atchinson said.

“It’s usually pretty obvious if one player is overmatched by another,” the coach said.  “But I think, for the most part, everyone wants to put their best players against one another.”

There is no shame in being a lower ranked player, Coach Atchinson said.  Players who feel that they have outplayed their current ranking can ask to compete against their teammates to prove the extent of their development and worthiness of a higher seeding.  There is also something to be said for competing in a lower bracket if only from a win-loss perspective, the coach said.

“It’s not the end of the world if you lose in a higher pairing because the competition gets tougher and tougher the higher up you go,” Coach Atchinson said.  “Likewise, you may actually have a better chance to win against the lower ranked players.”

As the players continued to sort out their internal rankings, Coach Atchinson gave his players a final piece of advice.

“This isn’t like other sports where you can run out the clock,” he said.  “You gotta keep doing what you did to get you in the lead.  That’s the only way you’re going to win matches.”

Contact Richard Creaser at nek_scribbler@hotmail.com

Caption: NC boys tennis team