After more than 10 months and around 60 state champions crowned, it is time to look back at the year that was. I've probably been to more games this season than any other year since leaving high school in 2007 and every event was an experience unlike any other. Last year, I looked back at the fall 2021 season, so here, I'll take a look at the winter and spring sports season. From basketball, hockey, bowling and even wrestling during the coldest days of the year to baseball, softball, lax and ultimate, I've watched or seen them all. Now, let me give you my thoughts on the season that was (in D1 with some props to teams in D2, D3, and D4)
Winter Sports 2021-22
Basketball: All About the (Green) Knights
While my viewing pleasure in basketball was limited to Essex, South Burlington and whoever they faced during the season, I was able to watch games from other schools and no school had a better year in D1 than Rice Memorial. A boys program that's always at the top of the standings no matter the roster, the Knights this year were not as dominant as year's past.
Losses to MMU, Essex and St. Johnsbury in February had them as the 3 seed heading to the tournament. But convincing wins over BFA and CVU, plus Rutland upsetting the Hilltoppers at Patrick Gym in the semifinals, was just what they needed going into the title game on March 10. It was a close contest, but in the end Rice was too much and made it a 3-peat in D1.
Meanwhile, the Rice girls team was as dominant as the boys, having lost only once this season. They also won going away during the playoffs, culminating with defeating MMU at Patrick Gym for their first D1 state title since 2012.
Congratulations also go out to the Mount Abraham (D2), Windsor (D3) and West Rutland (D4) Girls and the Montpelier (D2), Hazen (D3) and Blue Mountain (D4) boys on their title wins at Barre Auditorium this season.
Hockey: Instant Classics for the Boys; Same old story for the girls
The 2021-22 girls hockey season could have been the same as past years: Essex and BFA were the power programs while everyone else played second-fiddle. However, over the past couple of season, we've seen the Burlington/Colchester co-op team find their way to the title game (facing Essex in 2020, while scheduled to face them in 21 before Covid struck).
This year, the SeaLakers role belonged to the Spaulding Crimson Tide.
Led by young talented skaters and moving up from D2, the girls from Barre got through the 2-time defending champs and made it to the Gut for the first time as a D1 school since 2011. Unfortunately, they were met by the Comets from St. Albans who went undefeated in 2021-22 and finished off that perfect season with a 3-2 win over Spaulding at Gutterson Fieldhouse. In D2, Woodstock defeated Hartford to win their first ever girls hockey state title.
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The boys side this year was littered with some amazing games in 2021-22, including two contests pitting the Essex Hornets and Rice Green Knights (the latter winning the first game and then the teams tying in the second). After the Hornets took care of BFA-St. Albans in the semifinals, a third matchup between the schools was set, this time a UVM's Gutterson Fieldhouse. But, just like in 2019, Essex would get the better of Rice, when it counted the most. A goal in the third period and great goaltending led to the Hornets' seventeenth D1 state title in program history.
Then, there was the D2 Final. After a comeback for the ages in the semifinals against Stowe, the Milton Yellowjackets needed to get off to a hot start against top-seed Hartford to have any chance. But they got down 3-0 again and needed another comeback for the ages...which they delivered in dramatic fashion. 3 goals in the third and a re-directed shot past the goalie got Milton their first D2 state title in 40 years. A historic game in more than one way and one we'll never forget.
Bowling: Welcome to a new venture
If you don't follow the sport of bowling, you may not know how important it can be to those who cover it or the students who participate. As someone interested in learning how these newer VPA-sanctioned sports look, you not only see who competes and which schools are involved, but the people who cover it and keep close tabs on every single aspect of the event.
That's where my new friend Connor Bean comes in.
Connor bowled in high school when the sport began in the state and after college, started covering it more during his free time (it also helps that his brother Avery plays for Windsor). Well, with his help, I was able to keep an eye on this season, which saw Brattleboro's Lucas Forthofer take home the individual title and Fair Haven win the team event (over the Colonels). Let's hope the sport's success continues in 2022-23.
Wrestling: The Patriot Invitational
Who is the most dominant program in Vermont high school sports? That goes to the Mount Anthony wrestling team, who haven't lost the state title since 1988! But just like the Spaulding girls hockey program made it interesting against BFA, their wrestling program gave the Patriots a run for their money in 2022.
The Tide got some big individual wins in the state championship meet at Champlain Valley, but MAU did just enough for title number 33 in a row (2021 was cancelled due to the pandemic). Essex did get some individual winners, including Oliver Orvis and Kameron Cyr, but it wasn't enough to jump past Spaulding for second in the final rankings.
Spring Sports 2022
Ultimate: Another new venture=history for two schools
In its third year as a VPA-sponsored sport, Ultimate Frisbee has garnered a lot of success from the schools that have been involved since its inception.
The first two seasons (2019 and 2021) saw the Montpelier girls take the championship in pretty convincing fashion. This year, though, the Solons would be upset by CVU in the quarters, guaranteeing us a first-time title holder in the sport. Enter top-seed St. Johnsbury and 2-seed Burlington; one team looking to cap off a perfect season, while the other looking to avenge their loss in the title game a season ago.
In Middlebury, the final match would go to the dreaded Universal point (sudden-death OT), where the Seahorses found the end zone, becoming the new state champions of girls ultimate.
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On the boys side, the Burlington team had made it to the final each of the first two seasons, losing in 2019 before capturing their first title in 2021. Another title run would be tough in 2022 as the six-seed in the playoffs, but wins at Burr and Burton and Montpelier got them to the final in Middlebury.
But they would be no match for top-seed South Burlington. The wolves dominated all season, including a QF win over St. Johnsbury that I was in attendance for (my first Ultimate game I saw live). In the title game, SB would jump out early and their D was strong enough to hold Burlington to a 10-6 win and their first boys ultimate title.
Lacrosse: A new girls champion; Redhawk dominance continues
In 2021, BFA-St. Albans and South Burlington met in the D1 title game and the Wolves pulled away to repeat as state champions. In the final week of the regular season, the Wolves would defeat the Comets again at SB, only this time it took a comeback and game-winning free position shot to get the victory, leading to the idea that the Comets were for real.
In the playoffs, it would take two great contests to capture the program's first ever D1 state championship; coming back from five goals down against CVU in the semifinals, then holding off an amazing Burr and Burton squad in the title game.
In D2, it would be Hartford defeating the Mount Abraham/Vergennes co-op team to win their first ever state title.
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As an alum of the Essex boys lax program (part of the 2007 state title team, the program's first ever), I've come to terms that one team, and one team only, can overcome the CVU Redhawks' dominance over the last decade.
That team would be themselves.
The Hinseburg school has seen their boys lax team play in each of the last 9 years. The results in each game was the same; a Redhawk win, including a 13-11 win over Burr and Burton at Virture Field this year. Can anyone stop this team in 2023? SB? Essex? BBA?
In D2, Rice took home the program's first state title since 2011, while in D3, it was Montpelier defeating Mount Abraham/Vergennes to repeat as champions.
Softball: A historic season involving a legendary player.
First thing first, Congrats to Lyndon (D2), Oxbow (D3) and West Rutland (D4) on their state title wins over the weekend. But this topic is going to be all about the D1 season and the team who made believers out of a lot of people (myself included) with their performance throughout the season.
Back on May 10th, I was at Essex watching the baseball contest between the Hornets and the Wolves, but kept a close eye on the softball game taking place across the way. I never really thought about that game until I saw the updates on twitter. The game going to extras with SB winning 7-4. After that, I thought "if they can beat Essex, can they also get past BFA and Missisquoi?" I would have my answer soon enough as they won in 10 innings against the Thunderbirds just before the postseason began.
Then the playoffs came and I was introduced to one Emily Borrazzo.
The Wolves pitcher got it done on the mound, but in the semifinals needed the offense to get her out of a not-so quality start. Down 5-3 against the Hilltoppers in the seventh, Borrazzo would deliver herself with a two-run bomb to tie the game, then the Wolves would win it later in the inning to advance to their first title game appearance in program history.
In that final vs. BFA, my question would officially be answered as Borrazzo not only dominated on the mound, but delivered again in the seventh, this time a 2-run double that would be enough to give SB their first state title in D1 softball.
Being there live for the semifinal comeback was such a cool moment. Seeing them win it all at Castleton Sunday made it even better.
Baseball: Essex's return to glory AF (after Ferreira)
Like in softball, I'll start by congratulating the champions from D2 (Spaulding), D3 (Peoples) and D4 (White River Valley) on their accomplishments this season. But this will be all about D1 and the moments that made this one of the best seasons in recent memory.
While most of my viewing took place with the South Burlington team (who had amazing games vs. CVU, Rice and St. Johnsbury), I still kept an eye on Essex and their run through the year.
But to look at this year's squad, you have to go back to how last year ended.
It ended with a heart-breaking loss to Brattleboro at home in the semifinals. After the game, I talked to coach Tim Root and he definitely felt like that team was destined for Centennial. He called them the best he's coached in his career (obvious, since it was his first official year as head coach). So it was only a matter of time before they got to the promise land.
But during the summertime, the team was hit by tragedy, with the passing of longtime pitching coach Wayne Courcy (if you looked at the hats this season, you can see the initials WC). Root's son, Jackson, would take over the role this season and with a senior-laden squad, the road to the title began.
It wasn't the prettiest run; losses to the Redhawks, Colchester, and Rice forced the Hornets to be the number 4 seed in the D1 state tournament. Facing a tough St. Johnsbury team in the QFs, they trailed late, but a base hit by team leader Andrew Goodrich got them the win and advanced them to the semifinals.
After a walk-off HR by CVU against SB, the Hornets had to travel to Hinesburg and battle the top-seed. A pitcher's duel commenced between Goodrich and the Redhawks' Oliver Pudvar, with the game going to extras. Essex rallied in the eighth and got two in, getting revenge on the team that had their number in years past.
On to Centennial and a matchup against the same Colonels team that knocked them out a year ago in the semifinals. This time, not only was Goodrich ready, he was unstoppable. 2 hits in the fourth (plus a couple of walks later on) was all Brattleboro can get off of him.
Then, the offense found their rhythm. After scoring 2 runs in the first six innings, Essex exploded for seven in the frame, putting the game out of reach. Finally, with the legendary Steve Ferreira watching from the stands, Goodrich wrapped up the game with a bow (or a K) to give the Hornets their first state title since 2010.
It's a moment I won't forget as long as I live and for the boys on that team, it's one they'll be able to look back at for years to come.
Conclusion
Congratulation to all the teams that won state titles during the 2021-22 Vermont high school sports season. For Essex, 9 state champions across all 3 seasons (Fall, Winter, Spring), including Football, Boys Soccer, Boys Hockey, Baseball and Gymnastics (who returned to the top of the standings in 2022). South Burlington's Softball and Boys Ultimate teams making history, CVU boys lax and MAU wrestling continuing their dominance and instant classics throughout the year in many different sports makes this one of the most amazing seasons of high school sports I've seen in quite some time (maybe, dare I say, since I was in high school?).
In closing, I want to thank all the ADs, media members (both tv and print) and spectators who I was able to interact with during the season. Being able to do this while also trying to fulfill a full-time job can be a bit difficult, especially since I couldn't be at all the games, nor could I watch all of them through a streaming site (or YouTube, in certain cases). In the end, I got to do what I love most; go to sporting events and have a great time, no matter what I did.
So with that, I say thank you and I'll see you again in September.
