VERMONT — The Vermont Sports Media Association chose a prolific basketball scorer and an accomplished track athlete as its Athletes of the Month for December and January.
In statewide balloting of its members, the VSMA selected Enosburg Falls High School junior Calvin Carter as its December/January Male Athlete of the Month and St. Johnsbury Academy sophomore Grace Cooke as its December/January Female Athlete of the Month.
A VSMA member first nominated each athlete for his and her outstanding efforts in the months of December and January. The winners edged out other nominees who included Vergennes Union junior Brandon Cousino and Middlebury Union sophomore Andi Boe.
Carter reached the 1,000-point career scoring mark 11 games into his junior season with a 26-point effort against visiting BFA-Fairfax on Jan. 13. Despite being the primary target of every opposing defense, Carter averaged more than 20 points a game after missing Enosburg’s first three contests due to a pre-season injury. As of the end of January, Carter was on pace to break Jason Brigham’s school record of 1,519 points.
Also nominated for the male honor was VUHS wrestler Brandon Cousino and Rutland senior indoor high jump champion Max Pockette. Cousino finished January undefeated at 182 pounds (31-0 with 23 pins) while winning seven tournaments. He was named the outstanding wrestler at the Noble Invitational in Maine in late December, and won his 100th career match in early January.
Cousino, who is carrying a 95 GPA is also devoting himself to raising money for the Vergennes Lions Club this season, donating $2 per win of his own money and collecting pledges from local businesses and residents that based on his results should net the club more than $1,000 for charity.
Cooke won state indoor track championships in the triple jump and long jump, finishing an undefeated season in the triple while setting the St. Johnsbury Academy overall triple jump record. She was first twice and second twice in the long jump during the season, setting the school record in that event, and finished third in the 55-meter dash at the state meet. Cooke also ran on St. J’s four-by-200-meter relay team that was undefeated in Vermont this winter and ran the second-fastest time in state history.
Also nominated for the female honor was Castleton University senior women’s hockey player Taylor Steadman, Mount St. Joseph senior girls’ basketball player Monica Schmelzenbach, and Andi Boe.
Boe helped the Tiger girls’ hockey team to a 6-0-1 month of January by scoring six goals and racking up 10 assists. The Tigers’ biggest win came over two-time defending champion Essex in overtime, 3-2, with Boe chipping in a goal and an assist.