VERMONT — Middlebury Union High School junior football player Austin Robinson is one of three Vermont Sports Media Association athlete of the month winners for November as chosen in statewide balloting of VSMA members.
Robinson was honored as the Male High School Athlete of the Month, while the VSMA recognized Peoples Academy senior Katie Stames as its Female High School Athlete of the Month and University of New Hampshire freshman and Montgomery Center resident Elle Purrier as its Open Division Athlete of the Month. Each was nominated by a VSMA member for outstanding performances in November.
Robinson, a junior quarterback, helped the MUHS football team to an undefeated season and Division I title with wins in the semifinal vs. Hartford and final vs. South Burlington early in November.
In the Tigers’ 28-6 semifinal win over Hartford, Robinson rushed 10 times for 76 yards and threw a TD pass. In the 26-6 final victory vs. South Burlington, Robinson ran 20 times for 145 yards and three touchdowns and tossed a TD pass. Overall this fall, Robinson ran for 12 touchdowns while averaging 9.5 yards a carry on 82 attempts and also threw for 10 TDs. The D-I coaches selected him to the D-I first team as a quarterback and to second team as a safety.
Also nominated for the male high school honor were Harwood Union junior cross-country runner Sam Nishi and Woodstock senior football player Oliver Kaija.
Stames provided senior leadership for the Wolves as they extended the girls’ soccer team’s winning streak to 50 games and completed a D-III state championship three-peat with a 4-1 win over Thetford.Stames recorded a pair of goals in the final and a goal and an assist in the semifinal vs. BFA-Fairfax. She finished with 35 goals and 23 assists this season on the way to 107 career goals and 57 career assists.
Also nominated for the female high school honor were two Milton senior soccer players, Brooke Phillips and Addison Wennar.
Purrier, a former Vermont track and field and cross-country champion, led UNH to the America East cross-country championship on Nov. 2 when she finished sixth individually at the league meet in Binghamton. Purrier finished all three of her regular-season races in under 17:40 for 5 kilometers, and she lowered her personal best each time.Purrier had also led UNH to the New England college championship in October by finishing fourth in 17:33.
Among the Open Division nominees was Middlebury College senior women’s soccer player Scarlett Kirk. Kirk, the second all-time leading scorer in program history, recorded seven goals and two assists in seven November games, all NESCAC or NCAA Division III contests. Her most dramatic goal came vs. Johns Hopkins in the sectional final at Middlebury: Kirk scored from 20 yards out with 17 seconds left to give the Panthers a 1-0 win and send them to the program’s first Final Four.
Also nominated for the Open Division honor were Castleton senior women’s basketball player Alyssa Leonard and Norwich junior football player Al Georgio.