The Mount Abe track and field team might have an edge this year on its Tiger and Commodore counterparts. After all, the Eagles have a track.
If the Eagle Track Co-Coaches Eva Friend and Nate Reynolds’ team does square off with its county rivals, it should be a good meet. Like the Tigers, the Eagles are a young group with strong turnout and enthusiasm; and the Commodores bring some experience and speed to the track.
Three athletes returning for the Eagles after qualifying for the 2019 Division-II state meet are sprinter Branden Reynolds and throwers Eliza Bent and Abigail Roy. All three posted top-10 finishes two years ago.
Coach Ed Cook of the Mount Abe-VUHS cooperative boys’ lacrosse team has five returners, four of whom were starters in 2019, that give the 2021 team a good place to start and be competitive this spring, although the Eagles took their lumps in their first couple outings.
That quintet includes two defenders, junior Carmelo Miceli and senior Quincy Cook; senior midfielder Griffin Paradee; senior attacker Liam Oxford; and senior goalie Aidan Danyow, who saw action between the pipes two years ago. Senior Jack Chaput also saw time as a midfielder in 2019.
The Eagles played strong defense in their opening loss to Hartford April 17, and showed flashes offensively even though Oxford and Chaput had to miss the game.
Coach Jeff Stetson and his 2019 senior-laden baseball team were justifiably eyeing a run at a D-II title. That didn’t pan out for the obvious reason, but at least that group was able to play together over the summer and win a state senior Babe Ruth championship.
Not all graduated, though: 2021 seniors Ryan Whitcomb, Colby Lathrop and Will Vichi gained valuable varsity experience in 2019, and Stetson believes there’s plenty of depth and talent among the one more senior, six juniors and three sophomores on this season’s roster.
The Eagles opened this season with a D-I home loss, but picked up a spirited road win in their second game.
Then there’s the springtime D-II dynasty that the Eagle softball team has become, with four straight trips to the final and wins in the past three.
How about four? There won’t be veterans at all the positions, but there are key returners. Senior Cami Willsey saw action on the mound two years ago, but might devote her time to catching and make way for talented sophomore hurlers Eve McCormick and Payton Vincent.
The Eagles are young. The only seniors are versatile veterans Cami Masse, who can play almost anywhere on the diamond but looks to hold down first base, and Karissa Livingston, who looks to be headed to the outfield.
The Eagles dropped their opener to D-I powerhouse Missisquoi, but who’s going to bet against Coach Donnie McCormick’s crew in D-II?