Athletic Annual Report

Year in Review

Athletics..

The highlight of the 2010-11 school year was once again having the budget approved on the first try so that our students, coaches, advisors and myself could start out the school year on a positive note. I will always appreciate this. Other highlights included:

• The varsity baseball team concluded the school year with its first state championship since 1996 with an 11-5 comeback win over Rice to finish 16-4 on the year. It was the fourth state title under head coach Al Plante, who completed his 33rd year as skipper of the varsity baseball program.
• Coach Scott Legacy’s wrestling team extended its national record streak of state championships to 24 in a row.
• Varsity cheerleading returned as a winter sport with a competition squad that placed third in the state championships under first-year coach Heath Haskell.
• Senior Lance Elithorpe finished his career with 158 goals in boys lacrosse, making him the all-time leading scorer at Mt. Anthony
• The boys cross country ski team placed runner-up for the Division I State Championship, marking the sixth straight year under head coach Bruce Smith that the Patriot boys have placed either first or second.
• The varsity girls swim team, under head coach Anna Swierad, saw its four-year undefeated streak come to an end, but they still won their fifth straight Berkshire League title with a final 10-1 record.
• Coach Dan Sleeman’s boys basketball team made it four consecutive trips to the Final Four at UVM with a 20-3 season. Although a state championship has eluded him as a coach (he played on three state title teams at MAU), his 71.7 winning percentage in 10 seasons as head coach is the highest in MAU boys basketball history.
• Major improvements to the baseball field were completed, including the installation of new dirt, edging, re-sodding and rebuilding of the mound. These efforts were spearheaded by MAU alumnus Pete Geannelis, who donated his time and money for the project.
• A scoreboard/announcer’s tower was completed on the Vets Home game field and was utilized by the lacrosse teams this spring for pre-game music and announcements. The tower was built by MAU Alumnus and JV wrestling coach Brian Coon, who donated his time and labor.
• The re-organization of the state championship and sportsmanship banners in the high school gym was completed All future state champion teams will now have a separate banner listing their title seasons.
• Required all coaches on staff to complete "Concussion in Sports" certification course provided by National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA).

Clubs & Activities..

• The Drama Club performed "The Sound of Music" as their Fall Musical and had over 70 students participating in this production, including students from the local elementary and middle schools. Four sold out performances and two school performances were sponsored by The Bank of Bennington and the Rotary. In the winter, they performed "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" with over 30 students involved in this Shakespear classic. In the Spring, several students met regularly to produce an improv series on the subject of domestic violence and bullying. The troupe traveled to the Middle School to perform to help increase awareness and to give students tools to deal with these issues.
• Chambers Singers took part in caroling on Main Street and at the Bennington Tree Lighting. They also put on a Valentine’s Dinner Cabaret, hosted the Retired Teachers Luncheon, and toured the Middle School and local local elementary schools, the Village at Filmore Pond, and Vermont Veteran's Home. In addition, a New Jersey/Vermont Exchange was held as the Music Departments of MAU and CGHS (Cedar Grove High School in Cedar Grove, NJ) combined to produce two concerts of the music of James Taylor and Carole King. In April, MAU students traveled to NJ to rehearse and perform with the CGHS students and later in the month, the CGHS students came to VT to do the same. It was an amazing opportunity to develop new friendships and make great music together!
• The American Sign Language Club participated in a "Recyle Your Technology" program which went very well. They plan on running it again next year.
• The MAU Scholars Bowl team took home the Medlar Cup, awarded to the team who secures the 8th and final spot in the VT-NEA Scholars Bowl State Tournament by winning play-in tournament. The team made it into the state quarterfinals on a last second buzz-in over Woodstock by Miles Yucht.
• The Wellness Club helped out with National Eating Disorder Awareness week- covering the mirrors with positive messages and having an inside-out day. Also assisted with awareness around teens and alcohol use in coordination with the mock car accident, and helped raise money for Relay for Life.
• Lapidary Club- We had a booth at the Bennington Child Care convention and have spent some time looking into more ways to do jewelry making with the stones we make.