The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

Notable Nostalgia

The University of Vermont lacks a varsity football team and the athletic facilities are starting to show their age; but despite these things UVM has distinguished fitself with a decorated athletic tradition. Success defines an athletic institution and the UVM Catamounts have seen their fair share throughout the years. 50 Catamount alumni have gone on to compete professionally in the United States and elsewhere, including NHL MVP Martin St. Louis and the current Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas. The ski team has won numerous individual national champion?ships, and takes pride in the distinction of winning the America East Academic Cup in the past two seasons. With a current administration that puts an emphasis on athletic success, the future looks bright for UVM athletics to carry on as an institution of victory.5Men’s soccer reaches the Elite EightThe 1989 Men’s Soccer team, led by goalie Jim St. Andre and forward Roberto Deall, reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Col?lege Cup. UVM dispatched UConn and Yale in front of home crowds exceeding 5,000 fans on their way to a regional quarterfinal matchup against #7 Rutgers. The Catamounts took the Scarlet Knights, led by All-American Alexi Lalas, deep in to overtime before Rutgers forward Chris Bauchle scored with just three minutes remaining. Under head coach Ron McEachen, the Cats finished with a school-high 19 wins and were North Atlantic Conference Champions.4Skiing wins back-to-back National ChampionshipsThe ski team became the first eastern school in over 50 years to record back-to-back NCAA National Championships in 1989 and 1990. During this span, 26 UVM skiers were named All-Americans, several of which went on to ski for the U.S. National Ski Team. The Catamounts also featured five individual national champions during their mini-dynasty, including Sari Argillander in the 1989 Freestyle and Classical Cross- Country, Gabriella Hamburg in the 1989 Women’s Slalom, Laura Wilson in 1990 Women’s Freestyle Cross- Country, Tim Miller in the 1990 Men’s Freestyle Cross-Country and Andrew Shaw in the 1990 Men’s Giant Slalom.3Women’s basketball ends consecutive undefeated seasonsLed by Catamount great Sheri Turnbull, the second all-time point scorer and first in re?bounding, and the tutelage of head coach Cathy Inglese, the women’s basketball team recorded back-to-back undefeated regular seasons between 1991 and 1993. Turnbull, a dominating center who recorded four 30-point games during this span, was surrounded by an impressive nucleus that included 3-point gunners Jen Niebling and Missy Kelsen. Point guard Carrie LaPine also contributed a school-record 188 assists during the 1992 to 1993 season, which culminated in the only NCAA National Championship Tournament game at Patrick Gym. The Catamounts fell to Rutgers, 74-80, but the loss did not diminish the unprecedented run the Catamounts enjoyed spanning these two seasons. Their 53 consecutive regular season victories was an NCAA Division 1 record until 2003.2Men’s hockey reaches the Frozen FourIn 1996, UVM’s “Big Three,” forwards Martin St. Louis, Eric Perrin and goalie Tim Thomas, led the men’s hockey team all the way to the Frozen Four. The Cats’ greatest triumph of the year came against Lake Superior State in the Elite Eight. In front of a pro-UVM crowd at Knickerbocker Arena in Albany, St. Louis ripped a shot off the bottom of the crossbar and in to the net with less than two minutes remaining in the game to break a 1-1 tie. UVM sealed the deal a minute later when Lake Superior’s last chance was blocked by a diving Perrin right before the puck could reach the net. Though UVM fell to Colorado College in the semifinals on a controversial call, the “Big Three” established the Catamounts as a new force in D1 hockey.1Men’s Basketball upsets SyracuseIn March of 2005, the men’s basketball team made their third consecutive appearance in the “Big Dance,” which was one for the ages. Facing the #4 seed Syracuse Orange in Worcester, Mass., the #13 seed UVM hung tough with the Big East powerhouse in a back-and-forth affair. UVM, playing with its four senior studs Taylor Coppenrath, David Hehn, Germain Mopa Njila and T.J. Sorrentine, got a lift from a raucous crowd hoping to see the Cinderella Cats prevail. The game went to overtime and a rare Njila three-pointer with less than two minutes left was followed by a Hakeem Warrick turnover. On the next possession, Sorrentine, a three-point specialist, ran out nearly 30 seconds of clock before letting one fly from approximately 28 feet out. Catamount Country collectively screamed, “NO! NO! … YES!” “The Shot” upset Syracuse and finally, UVM had its “one shining moment.”

Leave a Comment
More to Discover

Comments (0)

All The Vermont Cynic Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Activate Search
Notable Nostalgia