From bowlers to wrestlers: Standout athletes of the 2023-24 Vermont winter sports season
Some Vermont high school sports and athletic performances might go unnoticed, at times, during the winter months.
This feature is designed to change that. To properly give them their due and shine a spotlight on their individual successes, below is a rundown of standout efforts we've come across or searched out — at this juncture of the 2023-24 season — in bowling, Alpine and Nordic skiing, gymnastics and wrestling.
We acknowledge this might not be a complete list. But it's a collection of worthy performances to note as teams and athletes begin to chase state championships next month and into March.
More: Athletes to watch at Vermont's high school indoor track and field state championships
Enjoy!
BOWLING
Editor's note: Bowlers listed in order of season averages (top 10) through Jan. 20 competitions.
Avery Stockwell, Randolph: The state's top-ranked bowler is averaging a 209.8 through five competitions with a high game of 258.
Caleb Green, Essex: Averaging a 206.1 with a season-high game of 248 from his six competitions.
Landon Labounty, St. Johnsbury: Opened his season with a 235 and owns a 193.3 season average.
Ryan Hall, St. Johnsbury: Has a 191 season average with a high game of 237.
Thomas Bell, Brattleboro: With a season-high game of 222, Bell has a 188.3 average.
Grace Stockwell, Randolph: The freshman has a high game of 225 and season average of 176.3.
Jayden Blake, Essex: A 294 high game has Blake at 174.7 for a season average.
Noah Jenkins, Burlington: Posted a high game of 209 and has a 172.8 season average.
Alyssa St. Louis, Brattleboro: Put up a high game of 218 and has a season average of 172.2.
Jordan Tucker, Essex: Owns a season average of 172.1 and a high game of 232.
ALPINE SKIING (BOYS)
Parker Downing, Harwood: Captured the Lancer Classic at Smuggler's Notch with a combined giant slalom winning time of 55.57.
George Francisco, Champlain Valley: A coaches' all-state pick last winter, Francisco owns a trio of top-three finishes, including a pair of runner-up spots.
Cyrus Goetze, Mount Mansfield: A coaches' all-state selection last winter, Goetze claimed runner-up in a slalom event at Middlebury earlier this month.
Ray Hagios, Champlain Valley: A 2023 coaches' all-state selection, Hagios has claimed three first-place performances including at Burke Mountain (giant slalom, 1:32.71 combined run).
Ben Johnson, Woodstock: Raced to first place in slalom (combined time of 1:18.79) at the Dave Pinder Memorial at Bromley Mountain.
Asher Stein, Burr and Burton: The Bulldog skier earned runner-up honors at the Dave Pinder Memorial at Bromley Mountain.
ALPINE SKIING (GIRLS)
Ella Lisle, Champlain Valley: A coaches' all-state selection in 2023, Lisle has captured three victories; most recently earlier this week on giant slalom with a two-run combined time of 1:52.90.
Emily Foote, Mount Mansfield: A member of the coaches' all-state team last winter, Foote has a pair of top-10 finishes, including a third-place effort in giant slalom at Burke Mountain.
Marianna Merritt, BFA-Fairfax: An independent skier, Merritt has a pair of top-10 finishes, including placing second at the Lancer Classic at Smuggler's Notch.
Chloe Masillo, Woodstock: A coaches' all-state selection last winter, Masillo won the Dave Pinder Memorial at Bromley Mountain, posting a two-run slalom time of 1:21.02.
Charlotte Stevens, Stowe: An honorable-mention coaches' all-state honoree last winter, Stevens zoomed to first place at the Lancer Classic at Smuggler's Notch with a combined giant slalom time of 58.40.
Carly Strobeck, Champlain Valley: Among the selections to last year's coaches' all-state team, Strobeck has a pair of runner-up finishes in giant-slalom events.
GYMNASTICS
Alexis Bedard, Burr and Burton: Bedard has captured all-around wins at three meets so far this winter, including a season-high score of 36.2 vs. Harwood on Jan. 13.
Jocelyn Bourget, Essex: The junior claimed all-around honors (34.85) at a home meet last week.
Lauren Chute, Brattleboro: The independent from Brattleboro who trains with BBA, Chute's two all-around victories include a 36.8 in a meet vs. Essex on Jan. 6.
Izzy Dale, Mount Mansfield: The freshman independent won all-around with a score of 33.5 at a meet held at the Green Mountain Training Center in December. She also posted the all-around win on Jan. 12 with a 32.7.
Anna Kinney, Essex: Posted a 33.5 all-around score to finish second at a Hornets' home meet last week.
Ella Maynard, South Burlington: The multi-sport standout compiled a winning all-around score of 35.5 at Green Mountain Training Center on Jan. 6.
Ruby Opton, Champlain Valley: Posted the all-around victory (32.95) at Middlebury at the season-opening meet on Dec. 13.
Lydia Ruggles, St. Johnsbury: Last year's bars state champion, Ruggles has posted multiple all-around victories so far this winter, including a score of 36.7 vs. Montpelier on Dec. 23.
NORDIC SKIING (BOYS)
Lorenzo Atocha, Mount Abraham: Finished second overall following the three stages at the Tour de ChAd competition.
Sam Brondyke, Montpelier: A coaches' all-state honorable-mention selection last year, Brondyke took placed fourth overall at the Tour de ChAd event and third at the MLK Classic at Rikert.
Owen Deale, Champlain Valley: Finished fifth at the Tour de ChAd competition. Also won the skate race at Sleepy Hollow in December and placed fifth in classic at Sleepy Hollow last week.
Jonah Gorman, Mount Mansfield: A coaches' all-state selection last winter, Gorman placed sixth overall at Tour de ChAd.
Sisu Lange, St. Johnsbury: Won the 5K state race at Rankin Farm.
Farmer Lindemuth, Mount Mansfield: Lindemuth claimed victory in the uphill climb, the third and final stage of the Tour de ChAd, to take third overall in the long-running competition.
Brady Morigeau, Mount Mansfield: A coaches' all-state selection last winter, Morigeau claimed the overall title at the Tour de ChAd competition.
Bjorn Peterson, Burlington: Raced to runner-up honors in a 5K state race at Rankin Farm. Also ran leg on winning mixed relay squad at Burlington Relays, producing the day's second-fastest skate split.
Luke Rizio, Mount Anthony: The state's two-time Division I reigning state champion in both disciplines, Rizio skied to the runner-up spot at Prospect Mountain.
James Underwood, Woodstock: The defending Division II freestyle champion seized first place at Prospect Mountain and the MLK Classic at Rikert.
NORDIC SKIING (GIRLS)
Kate Carlson, Mount Mansfield: The freshman captured the overall crown at the Tour de CaAd competition.
Charlotte Crum, Champlain Valley: Crum's season results include fifth overall at the Tour de ChAd, runner-up in classic at the Harwood Classic and third in skate at Sleepy Hollow.
Gillian Fairfax, Burlington: Last year's individual Division I state champion in freestyle and skate, Fairfax churned out the day's fastest skate split at the Burlington Relays to help her mixed relay squad to the team victory. She was also fifth at the MLK Classic.
Stella Laird, Champlain Valley: After posting victory in skate at Sleepy Hollow, Laird earned runner-up honors at the Tour de ChAd and seized first place in freestyle at the Harwood Classic.
Sarah McGill, Montpelier: An honorable-mention coaches' pick last winter, McGill captured third in the MLK Classic at Rikert to lead the Solons to the team victory.
Beth McIntosh, Middlebury: The reigning Division II freestyle champion raced grabbed the runner-up spot at the MLK Classic at Rikert.
Paige Poirier, South Burlington: A coaches' all-state selection last winter, Poirier finished fourth overall at the Tour de ChAd, second in skate at Sleepy Hollow and sixth at the MLK Classic at Rikert.
Ava Schneider, Middlebury: The junior, a coaches' all-state honoree last winter, won the MLK Classic at Rikert.
Eden White, Mount Anthony: A coaches' all-state selection last winter, White placed second at Prospect Mountain.
Tanis White, Mount Anthony: A coaches' all-state selection last winter, White skied to first-place honors at Prospect Mountain.
WRESTLING
Jack Arpey, Mount Mansfield: The two-time state champion and multi-sport standout has compiled a 13-1 record in his senior season to date.
Jamison Couture, Vergennes: The senior captured titles at the Hubie Wagner and Vergennes Commodores invitationals to run his season record to 27-1. A state finalist a year ago, Couture finished third in 215 at the Baker Classic.
Duncan Harrington, Mount Anthony: A state finalist at 113 pounds last winter, the sophomore is undefeated on the season at 30-0. He's won the Scott Legacy Invitational and the Vergennes Commodore Invitational.
Elias Kalat, Spaulding: The junior, who boasts a 30-4 record this winter, captured the Noble (Maine) Invitational at 144 pounds. Kalat is also the defending state champion at 138.
Jordan Lavoie, Colchester: The senior owns a 32-7 record on the season thanks to out-of-state victories at the Glens Falls (N.Y.) Mat Mania Tournament and the Chelmsford (Mass.) Invitational. Also finished runner-up in the 215-pound at the Michael J. Baker Classic at Essex.
Trey Lee, Fair Haven: The senior is 36-1 on the season and has been named outstanding wrestler multiple times including at last weekend's Vergennes Commodore Invitational. Lee is the defending state champion at 126 pounds.
Anthony Matas, Essex: The reigning state champion at 152 pounds, Matas has a 29-2 season record this winter that includes victory at 175 at the Baker Classic. Matas has signed to continue his wrestling career at Division I University of Buffalo.
Thomas Murphy, Champlain Valley: The senior is 17-5 this winter following victory at the Vergennes Commodore Invitational. Murphy is the state's reigning champion at 182.
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Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @aabrami5.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: From bowling to wrestling, winter athletes who've made mark in 2023-24
