By Jennifer Dawson

This year sees the 50th anniversary of Vermont colleges participating in NCAA Division III sports where since 1973 they have competed successfully for national titles and built strong relationships with their competitors off the field. Castleton, Lyndon and Johnson, now part of Vermont State University, were among the first colleges to compete in the division, while Middlebury and Norwich have won a number of trophies since joining in the 1990s. 

Together with other recent sporting and athletic achievements and firsts, this anniversary has thrown a spotlight on the thriving college sports scene in Vermont.  In the last few months, awards ceremonies have recognized top performers and teams have celebrated highly successful match seasons, while the roster for the hugely popular first game played by Vermont Green FC’s women’s soccer team includes several players from the University of Vermont.

Recognizing Top Talent at Vermont State University Athletic Awards

In May, Vermont State University Lyndon held their annual Athletic Awards Banquet, celebrating the achievements of their student athletes and team players. Several major department awards were presented recognizing the most improved and valued players and  outstanding teammates. Top awards for most outstanding male and female athletes were given to Evan Duncan, a freshman baseball player, and junior women’s baseball player, Sage Smith. These were notable college players who have attracted attention both for their performance and future potential. Awards were also given for the best coaches as well as some more lighthearted categories chosen by the students.  

Historic Sporting Event On the University of Vermont Campus

An annual event celebrating the accomplishments of student-athletes during the 2023-24 season was also held at the University of Vermont (UVM) earlier in the year. Seven major awards were handed out and the most valuable player of each team was honored. 

The awards for Vermont’s top senior student athletes went to the women’s co-winners Emma Utterback and Ava Vasile, and the men’s winner, Aaron Deloney. UVM is Division 1 in all sports and their students are keen to take part in sports both on the field and as spectators. The university has close links with Vermont Green FC which uses Virtue Field, the on-campus stadium, for its home matches. The club is exploring the possibility of expanding to include a full season women’s team and in May the first women’s match attracted a record number of spectators for the club. Roshann Purcell ensured victory for the team by hitting the back of the net with a final penalty kick. The friendly game against FC Laval of Ligue 1 Quebec was seen as an historic event, celebrating women’s soccer In Vermont and serving as inspiration for future female players. 

St Michael’s College Celebrates the Most Successful Men’s Basketball Season in Years

Earlier in the year, the St Michael’s college men’s basketball team known as the Purple Knights celebrated their best season in 23 years. As a result of the team receiving the top seed for the East Regional in NCAA D-II, they played host to the tournament for the first time since 1960.  Playing on the team were Romar Reid, a senior, and sophomore Darrel Yepdo who had both made the Northeast 10 all-conference second team earlier in the season. Yepdo had also been selected for the all-defensive squad. The tournament took place on campus at the Ross Sports Center, a 2,500 indoor arena primarily used for basketball. St Michael’s was one of the founding members of the NCAA Division II and in addition to basketball offers 22 other varsity sports including alpine and nordic skiing. 

Middlebury College Alumni Inducted into the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame

In April, 12 new members were officially enshrined to the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame at a special banquet dinner held in their honor. The project to establish an athletics Hall of Fame was first launched in 2011 to recognize sporting accomplishments that are a source of pride for the state. In addition to Olympic athletes and medalists, it has inducted a number of contributors from Vermont’s colleges and universities. 

This year’s inductees included Andrew Johnson, the Head Coach of Nordic Skiing at Middlebury College. He joins 3 former coaches and administrators and four other student-athlete alumni from Middlebury – Ann Battelle, Lea Davison, Ray Fisher and Phil Latreille – who have been inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame since its inaugural class in 2012.

This year has already seen a number of sporting firsts and achievements from Vermont colleges and universities which have served to highlight the state’s thriving sports scene.  Vermont Green FC’s first soccer match was hugely popular, St Michael’s College’s men’s basketball team celebrated their best season in over 20 years while some of the top student-athlete and graduate sporting performances have been recognized and celebrated at a number of annual and state ceremonies.