Members of men’s lacrosse team facing legal trouble

Five players from the University of Vermont’s men’s lacrosse team have been charged with underage drinking at a party on Sept. 6 that was broken up by police at 239 ½ Main St.

Twenty-year-olds Max Gradinger, Christopher Hall and Geogrey Worley as well as 21-year-olds Harris Middel and Liam Thomas hosted the 70- to 100-person party, according to a Vermont Department of Liquor Control (VDLC) press release.

The hosts claim the party started between 7 and 8 p.m., with two kegs.

The release stated that the Burlington Police made contact with the residents to discuss ordinance issues on Sept. 5.

This did not prevent the party from occurring the following night.

Sophomore women’s hockey player Channing Ahbe was among those in attendance as well as those that fled the scene upon the police’s arrival.

“After police had broken up the party, Abhe attempted to take a shortcut home through a quarry and fell after attempting to climb some rocks,” the release stated.

Abhe sustained serious injuries to her tailbone and pelvis, the release stated.
A sophomore forward, she appeared in 24 games last season.

“Chan’s tireless work ethic and energy provide us with an ingredient essential to every team,” head coach Tim Bothwell said.

Given the seriousness of Abhe’s incident and the prior warning, the department issued citations for each resident to appear in the Chittenden Country Court, the VLDC said.

Worley and Hall are standouts on the lacrosse team, both stastically and academically.
Worley, a redshirt-sophomore, was second on the team in scoring last year with 38 points and third on the team with 18 goals.

Hall, a junior, was on the 2007-2008 America East Academic Honor Roll.

The University’s Athletic Communications declined to comment.