Starting Gate Winter 2013

Starting gatethe alumni magazine of stratton mountain school | winter 2013

Stratton Mountain School has broken ground on the Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts & Student Center this October. View inside front cover to learn more.

2 | Starting Gate - Winter 2013

Thank you to all of our SMS community members who have made the Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts &

Student Center a reality! We have broken ground, as of October, and are looking forward to having the building open for the start of school next fall. Your continued support of this and other projects helps Stratton Mountain School offer the opportunity to

pursue excellence for generations to come.

If you have not yet given to the Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts & Student Center, the Air Awareness Center or other funds, please join us in building on

our foundation of 40 Years of Excellence (founded 1972).

Give online today at www.gosms.org/GivetoSMS.

With your continued support, we can make the next 40 years even better! For more information on giving

to SMS, please call (802) 856-1101 or email Wendy Schriebl at [email protected].

Construction of the Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts & Student Center, October 2012. Follow the progress at www.strattonmountainschool.shutterfly.com.

Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts & Student Center The Starting Gate

Alumni Magazine of Stratton Mountain SchoolHeadmaster: Christopher G. Kaltsas

Editor: Meredith Morin, (802) 856-1120, [email protected]: Sarah Snell

Contributor: Liz Kantack

The Starting Gate, the alumni magazine of Stratton Mountain School is published once a year by Stratton Mountain School, 7 World Cup Circle, Stratton Mountain, Vt., 05155. Letters and editorial submissions are welcome and should be addressed to Meredith Morin, Director of Communications. Copyright 2012.

Stratton Mountain School MissionStratton Mountain School provides a unique environment that offers each student the opportunity to pursue excellence in competitive winter sports and college preparatory academics while developing strong personal values.

Class NotesParents, are your children still receiving mail at home even though they graduated from SMS years ago? Please write to the address below to update us on their whereabouts. We promise we will continue to send The Starting Gate to you also!

Thank you to those of you who have contributed to The Finish Line Class Notes. We’d love to hear from more of you! Please email your notes to Carson Thurber at [email protected] or send notes to Carson Thurber, Stratton Mountain School, 7 World Cup Circle, Stratton Mountain, Vt., 05155.

Get the Latest!www.gosms.org

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www.smsxc.blogspot.comwww.facebook.com/strattonmountainschoolwww.strattonmountainschool.shutterfly.com

GOAL: $2 Million

To Date: $1.3 Million

Starting Gate - Winter 2013 | 3

Dear Alumni, Parents and Friends,

The experience of our past shapes our future in some interesting and often unexpected ways. In this issue of the Starting Gate, you will find many, many interesting stories of alumni, current students and staff following their passion and making great things happen. On p. 10, you will read “Athlete for Life,” which explores the pursuit of the athletic life by alumni.

As our mission states, we are in a unique position to offer “each student the opportunity to pursue excellence in competitive winter sports and college preparatory academics while developing strong personal values.” During the daily business of running this school, as a staff, we don’t always think about the ways in which the SMS Experience will resonate with alumni later in life. However, in my travels and meetings with alumni, I am always humbled by the steady passion, drive and tenacity that runs as a common thread through most of you.

Today at SMS in the final days of 2012, we are using that collective passion to improve, build and plan for the future. In October, we concluded our year-long Self Study process that is part of our NEASC re-accreditation. A Visiting Committee came and pored over our exhaustive report, drafted by the entire staff. This Committee talked to each and every one of the staff, looked over the campus and delved into our programming. Their response to the SMS program and campus was overwhelmingly positive and encouraging. What’s more, this process has brought us together as a staff to really examine what it is that we excel at and where we can improve. I am proud of the process and my staff for completing such a thorough self examination.

Also in October, we broke ground on the new Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts & Student Center. This building will expand our classroom, art and studio space, as well as provide formal and informal gathering spaces for students, staff and the greater community. This building is the fulfillment of our original Master Plan, crafted in the late 1990s when planning this campus. I am so proud to carry out this vision, and I thank all of you who have supported this project. To date, we have raised $1.3 million in gifts and pledges, and construction is on target to be completed by fall 2013.

The other capital project underway is the Air Awareness Center, which will provide a safe learning environment for riders in the Snowboard and Freeski Programs, as well as providing ample conditioning space for all of our student athletes. This project has raised $377,100 to date and progress is continuing toward construction.

Please continue to support SMS student athletes of today and tomorrow. We eagerly continue our path of providing exceptional programming and strive for ever-greater levels of excellence. We can do it with your help.

Sincerely,

Christopher G. KaltsasHeadmaster

Letter from the Headmaster


New Stratton Mountain School Staff

Micah LasharMicah Lashar, the U18 women’s coach, comes to Stratton Mountain School after six years of coaching the women’s alpine program at Green Mountain Valley School. Prior to and during his time at GMVS, Micah has also been a

guest coach for the U.S. Ski Team, the National Development System and the Eastern Region. A graduate of Carrabassett Valley Academy and Colby-Sawyer College, Micah was a five-time All-American in both skiing and soccer. “I’m looking forward to working with the strong and motivated alpine staff,” says Micah, “and learning from the other non-alpine programs here at SMS.” When he’s not working with his athletes, Micah enjoys golfing and seeking out the best swimming holes in Vermont.

Drew BergmannDrew Bergmann joined the Stratton Mountain School staff in January 2012 as an athletic trainer. After growing up in Massapequa, N.Y., Drew graduated from SUNY Cortland with a B.S. in Athletic

Training. While at SUNY Cortland, Drew rotated through various varsity teams as part of his training and interned at the Cayuga Medical Center in their Sports Medicine & Athletic Performance Department. As a lab assistant in the Kinesiology Department, Drew worked with Dartfish software, a skill he’s using to help enhance the athletic programs at SMS. At Stratton Mountain School, Drew works as an athletic trainer, health teacher, boys’ soccer and lacrosse coach, and is on the residential staff. “The way the school is structured enables our student athletes to have the fullest athletic and academic experience possible,” said Drew.

Jeff BealFrom Avon, Maine, Jeff Beal joins the teaching faculty at Stratton Mountain School as a math teacher. Prior to his arrival at SMS, Jeff was a graduate teaching assistant at Montana State University and a teacher at Sylvan

Learning Centers in Bozeman, Mont. and Portsmouth, N.H. Jeff holds a B.S. with a secondary concentration in Mathematics Education from the University of New Hampshire and a M.S. in Mathematics from Montana State University. At UNH, Jeff competed for their Division I Nordic Ski team. When he’s not busy in the classroom, Jeff spends his time outside running, biking, and cross-country skiing. “Vermont rocks!” said Jeff. “I’m thrilled to be here working with such a dedicated group of teachers and student athletes!”

Sylvan Kaufman Sylvan Kaufman, the new PG coach for alpine skiing, comes to Stratton Mountain School from Team Summit at Copper Mountain, Colorado, where he was the Head Ability Coach for J1, J2 and PG men and women.

Throughout his 10-year coaching career, Sylvan has worked on many regional and national projects including serving as a Nor-Am Coach and USST D-Team Selection Camp Coach for the Rocky Mountain Division. Formerly, Sylvan worked as a coach for Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club and as an assistant coach at the University of Colorado, Boulder. A Taos, New Mexico native, Sylvan graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a B.A. in Spanish Literature. “I’m looking forward to working with the motivated athletes and staff as they utilize the wonderful facilities that SMS has,” said Sylvan. When he’s not coaching, Sylvan enjoys spending time outside fishing, hunting, mountain biking, and playing hockey.


At a winter sports academy, a “portable” curriculum is the key to academic success. For years, Stratton Mountain School has sought new ways to make sure that a rigorous academic curriculum goes hand-in-hand with athletic pursuits. With a website designed for distance learning delivery, and teachers who are actively pursuing ways to improve upon their curriculum delivery models, the SMS syllabus is ever evolving.

In Tim Taylor’s Physics class, he has been working to find ways to allow difficult mathematical and scientific concepts to be taught and learned at a distance. Teachers work with a new Pencast by Livescribe, sponsored in part by the SMS Parents’ Association. With this technology, teachers can take notes with a special pen and paper, and store lectures in an audio file as well as the notes in PDF format for posting to the class web page.

“We make electronic lectures that are specific to the examples in our textbooks,” he said. “We are using tablets and smart pens to provide students with electronic explanations.”

English Teacher Kim Cope Tait began using the Pencast this fall as well and said, “I used to have to take a break from teaching grammar in the winter, because the concepts didn’t travel well, but

now with this technology, it makes it easier to travel the entire year’s curriculum.”

Alex Lehmann, Academic Dean, has been encouraging teachers to explore new technologies that work for their classroom and their curriculum. “A real benefit to having a school this size is our ability to identify, test and implement new technology in a rapid way,” he said. “Each teacher looks for areas of opportunity, and we talk about it as a faculty to determine the best technologies to test each year.”

Other technology being used in the classroom, Lehmann said, includes LCD projectors in every classroom for online learning integration; MP3 audio and video file sharing on the SMS website

class pages; and Turnitin.com for online submission and collaboration of writing projects. “We go through multiple drafts together, wherever the student happens to be in the world,” said Cope Tait.

Taylor and several other teachers are using what they are calling a “reverse classroom,” which allows students, wherever they are, to watch and delve into lecture material on their own, and then complete applicable assignments in the classroom, where they can be supported directly by teachers.

“We’re really excited about how we are challenging and supporting students not only during the winter, but throughout the school year,” Taylor said.

Technology in the Classroom

Kim Cope Tait works with students taking notes with a Pencast pen

by Livescribe.

Erin MascolinoErin Mascolino, the U18 men’s coach, comes to Stratton Mountain School from Mount Mansfield Ski Club where she was the women’s ski coach. Prior to her experience at MMSC, she was a women’s FIS coach at Green Mountain Valley School, and the

Eastern Alpine Competition Coordinator for USSA’s Eastern Office. Erin grew up in Jeffersonville, Vermont and graduated from the University of Vermont, where she was a four-year member of the UVM Ski Team. Off the hill, Erin enjoys hiking, biking, and playing soccer. “It’s a nice community to be a part of,” says Erin of SMS. “Everyone is so welcoming, and the kids are great!”

Clare Smith-WheelerClare Smith-Wheeler comes to SMS with teaching experience in a wide variety of settings and age ranges. Most recently, Clare taught in Providence, RI at the Wheeler School and the Gordon School. Prior to that, Clare held instructor and apprentice

teacher positions at The Mountain Institute in Spruce Knob, West Va., The Early Education Center in Winter Park, Colo. and The High Mountain Institute in Leadville, Colo. Clare grew up in Lexington, Mass. and received her B.A. from Wesleyan University. While at Wesleyan, she was a member of the varsity lacrosse team. At SMS, Clare joins the faculty as a science and math teacher and as the dorm head for the 3rd floor of the boys’ dormitory. “I’m excited to share my love of science, math, and outdoor pursuits with students and faculty alike!”


On Saturday, May 26, Stratton Mountain School welcomed 23 students into the fold of more than 800 alumni of the school since its founding in 1972. Professional triathlete and Stratton Mountain School alumna Sarah Piampiano was the keynote speaker, and she advised the class of graduates to “Go for it, change direction, take risks.”

Piampiano graduated from SMS in 1998 and graduated from Colby College, then worked in finance for 10 years. In November 2011, she quit her job to became a professional triathlete and won the Ironman New Orleans 70.3 in April. Student speakers were Trevor Lennox, Valedictorian, and Emily Visnic, Student Body President.

The Class of 2012 has gained admission to top colleges and universities throughout the country including: Boston College, Colby College, Dartmouth College, Middlebury College,

Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the University of Vermont, among many others. Graduates have earned several Merit Scholarships, Presidential Scholarships, and five have gained admission to the Honors College at various schools.

Several awards were given during the ceremony in the Burtscher Fieldhouse Saturday morning. In honor of the school’s 40th anniversary, Headmaster Chris Kaltsas presented a

special award to co-founder Don Tarinelli, and his wife Mary, who were in attendance.

“In honor of all that you have done to start this wonderful school, we honor you,” Kaltsas said.

Don and Mary Tarinelli were on hand to help present the Founder’s Award, the school’s most prestigious award, for the 40th year in a row.

BACK (L-R): Patrick Caldwell (Lyme Center, N.H.); Trevor Lennox (Weston, Vt.); Daniel Fowler (Basking Ridge, N.J.); Michael Perle (Saddle River, N.J.); Connor Callen (Chatham, N.J.); Tanner Mottau (Stratton Mountain, Vt.); Hunter Lathrop (South Londonderry, Vt.); Calvin Swomley (Litchfield, Conn.); Peter Schow (Peru, Vt.); Mackenzie Fisher (Brattleboro, Vt.)

FRONT (L-R): Claire Hamnett (Tyngsboro, Mass.); Emily Husson (Derry, N.H.); Alana Dreimann (Lake Forest, Ill.); Miyu Nakamura (Nagano, Japan); Phoebe Novello (West Windsor, Vt.); Emily Visnic (Branford, Conn.); Danielle Hughes (Manchester, Vt.); Amanda Reilly (West Hartford, Conn.); Filomena Dardani (Valatie, N.Y.); Alicia Riley (Sodus Point, N.Y.); Isabelle Pelletier (Grafton, Vt.); Eleanor Gilbert (Woodstock, Vt.); Not pictured: Luca Ghedina (Cortina, Italy.)

Graduation & Award Recipients

Class of 2012


Founder’s AwardPhoebe Novello

Faculty AwardsEleanor Gilbert and

Patrick Caldwell

Lisa Tuttle AwardMiyu Nakamura

SMS Alumni Association AwardsEmily Visnic and Tanner Mottau

Vermont Principals’ Association AwardsHunter Lathrop and Amanda Reilly

Jay Leach AwardMackenzie Fisher

Academic AchievementTrevor Lennox

Honors/High Honors (All Quarters)Patrick Caldwell, Alana Dreimann,

Mackenzie Fisher, Danny Fowler, Elle Gilbert, Claire Hamnett, Emily Husson, Trevor Lennox,

Phoebe Novello, Alicia Riley, Peter Schow, Calvin Swomley, Emily Visnic

ATHLETIC AWARDS

Alpine Men Achievement • Tanner Mottau

Alpine Men Improvement • Peter Schow

Alpine Women Achievement • Amanda Reilly

Alpine Women Improvement • Alana Dreimann

Nordic Women Achievement • Isabelle Pelletier

Nordic Men Improvement • Calvin Swomley

Nordic Men Achievement • Patrick Caldwell

Snowboard Women Achievement • Phoebe Novello

Snowboard Men Improvement • Connor Callen

Snowboard Men Achievement • Michael Perle

Phoebe Novello is presented with the 2012 Founder’s Award by Headmaster Chris Kaltsas and 2011 Founders’ Award Winner Heather Mooney.

Graduation & Award RecipientsFor the average teen, summer is a time of rest, relaxation and

maybe a job as a lifeguard at the local pool. For the average SMS student, summer usually means chasing snow south of

the Equator, lots of working out, and maybe catching up or getting ahead on academics.

For several SMS student athletes, this past summer provided a unique opportunity to expand horizons and make some big decisions about life and career.

Constructing a world viewSenior Marian Lobell, Middletown, N.J., traveled to Thailand and Cambodia for a month this past summer and stayed with a family in a small farming village. “My time was split between constructing a new bathroom for the local school and teaching English at other schools in surrounding villages,” she said.

For the well-traveled Marian, this trip was different than a typical snowboard trip. “Being in Thailand was eye-opening for me,” she said.

Writing her own storySenior Abby Brown, West Dover, Vt., spent the summer bulking up her already-hefty resume in her quest to become a journalist.

Brown spent the summer interning for The Message, her third year as an intern. She has written more than 25 articles over that time, four this past summer. She also spent July at Columbia University taking a class in Urban Studies, where she studied the architecture and history of New York City and went to the 9/11 memorial. Last summer, she took a course in sports reporting at Brown University and said she was hooked.

“For as long as I can remember, I’ve always loved to write,” Brown said. “It has come naturally to me.”

This fall, Abby appeared on Vermont Public Radio’s (VPR) Young Writer’s Project. As a selected writer, Brown read one of her original works on Sept. 22, which was broadcast on VPR. Fifteen high school writers were selected from all over the state from hundreds of entries. Abby was also named a Commended Student in the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program.

For more on Abby Brown’s writing, visit her website at www.abbybrown.net

Marian Lobell with her students in Thailand

What I did this summer…


2011-2012 Program Highlights

J1/J2 HIGHLIGHTS

US NATIONAL QUALIFIERS/COMPETITORSBrittany Lathrop; Emily Husson; Piera Hudson; Morgan Klein; Amanda Reilly; Libby GibsonTakehiro Watanabe; Tanner Mottau

WORLD JUNIOR QUALIFIERSPiera Hudson

NATIONAL JUNIOR FINALSDanny Fowler (3rd in SL); Peter Schow (5th in GS)

J2 NATIONALS QUALIFIERSAlice Merryweather (8th in the GS, 6th in the DH, 2nd in the Parallel SL); Whitney Hadden; Chloe Daley

2011-2012 EASTERN CUP STANDINGS:Amanda Reilly (2nd); Emily Husson (4th)

2012 VT CUP STANDINGSAmanda Reilly (3rd); MK Visnic (5th And 1st J2)

2012 J1 STATESDanielle Hughes (3rd)

J3 HIGHLIGHTS

SOUTHERN VERMONT COUNCIL PLACE STANDINGSNicola Katz (1st); Amanda Steffey (2nd); Paige Lorenze (5th)George Steffey (1st); Spencer Smith (2nd); Hunter Rodrick (3rd); Zachary Cherin (5th)

J3 STATES CHAMPSNicola Katz (6th)George Steffey (1st); Spencer Smith (7th)

J4 HIGHLIGHTS

J4 STATE CHAMPSIsabel Grondin (2nd)

John Alpert (3rd); William Trudeau (4th)

AlpineEight qualify for U.S. Nationals; 2nd and 4th in EC standings; first boy and girl in So. Vt. Council

REGIONAL RANKING, SOUTHERN VT with USASA(10-12) Nikita Shchemelev (Halfpipe, 2nd; Slopestyle, 3rd)(13-15) Finn Kennedy (Halfpipe, 2nd; Slopestyle, 3rd); Gideon Le Gros (Halfpipe, 3rd, Slopestyle, 1st)

USASA NATIONALS AT COPPER(10-12) Nikita Shchemelev (Halfpipe, 15th)

FreestyleShchemelev, Kennedy top-3 in So. Vt.


Phoebe Novello - 1st USSA Rev Tour slopestyle overall; 1st North Star Rev Tour slopestyle; 3rd Copper Rev Tour slopestyle; Named to the USSA JR World Team

Mike Perle- 3rd North Star Rev Tour halfpipe; 16th in his 1st SBX World Cup in Valmalenco Italy

Josh Cohen - 2nd Otsego Rev Tour SBX; 3rd USASA Nationals SL 16-17 Men; 1st USASA Nationals SBX 16-17 Men

Karen Kobayashi - 1st USASA Nationals SBX JR Women; 2nd Otsego Rev Tour SBX; 2nd USASA Nationals halfpipe JR Women; 2nd USASA Nationals slopestyle JR Women; USASA Overall JR Women Champion

Noelle Edwards - 3rd Gatorade Free Flow finals in halfpipe

Quincy Korte-King - 5th Youth Olympic Winter Games halfpipe; 7th Youth Olympic Winter Games slopestyle

Kiersten Edwards - 1st USASA Nationals SBX Menehune Girls; 1st USASA Nationals GS Menehune Girls; 1st USASA Nationals SL Menehune Girls; 2nd USASA Nationals Halfpipe Menehune Girls; 2nd USASA Nationals slopestyle Menehune Girls; USASA Overall Menehune Girls Champion

Julia Marino - 1st USASA Nationals Youth Women slopestyle

Mavrick Shaw - 2nd USASA Nationals halfpipe Breaker Boys

Marian Lobell - 3rd USASA Nationals halfpipe JR Women

Ezra Racine - Won the Main Event Series Overall; Named to the USSA JR World Team

Julia Marino - Named to USASA All-Star Team

Serena Shaw - Named to US Snowboard Development Team

Snowboarding19 SMS Snowboard Athletes qualified for USASA Nationals

YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMESPatrick Caldwell and Heather Mooney (Bronze medal in relay)Patrick Caldwell (5th, sprint)

J1 TRIPAnika Miller qualifies for the J1 Trip to Estonia

JUNIOR NATIONALSTop Overall Club (Boys & Girls) for 2nd consecutive year

ROGER WESTON TROPHY FOR TOP HIGH SCHOOL TEAM IN THE COUNTRYBoys Team (1st Place); Girls Team (2nd Place)

CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPSBrooke Mooney (1st, Juvenile Girls Sprint)Katharine Ogden (1st, Juvenile Girls 5K Skate & 5K Classic)

SUPERTOUR FINALS Patrick Caldwell (1st, 20k freestyle junior race)

Patrick Caldwell (Gold, 15k freestyle; Silver, classic sprint; Silver, 10k classic; Silver, 3 x 3k relay)

Rachel Hall (Gold, 5k classic; Silver, 3 x 3k relay; Bronze, 10k freestyle; 9th, classic sprint)

Katharine Ogden (Gold, 3 x 3k relay, Bronze, 5k classic; 4th, 5k freestyle; 5th, classic sprint)

Brooke Mooney (Silver, classic sprint; 4th, 5k classic)

Austin Cobb (Silver, classic sprint)

Koby Gordon (Bronze, 3 x 3k relay; 4th, classic sprint; 10th, 5k classic)

Heather Mooney (Silver, 5k classic; Bronze, 3 x 3k relay; 4th, classic sprint)

Gino Pastore (4th, 15k freestyle)

Issy Pelletier (Silver, 3 x 3k relay; 4th, 10k freestyle)

Nordic18 All-American awards, nine individual podiums, and three national titles for SMS skiers and alumni


There’s something about the alchemy of life at Stratton Mountain School – the daily mixture of training hard, studying hard and managing time to maximize success in both athletics and academics.

This is the formula for a lifetime of pursuing excellence, both on the snow and in life. We’re no stranger to the multitude of business and personal success stories coming out of SMS – how time management and focus helped hone and shape professional outcomes.

But what about a lifelong commitment to athletics? Harder to come by, for sure.

Time constraints and pesky life developments (college, job, marriage, kids) often conspire to back-burner athletic pursuits far into adulthood for many alumni (along with chronic issues related to ski racing – back, ACL, and a smorgasbord of other knee injuries). But for some, athletics takes center stage again, and in some pretty unexpected ways.

Of course, with 33 alumni going on to earn the title of Olympian, many SMS alumni have reached the absolute top of their respective winter sports. Within the ranks of SMS alumni are Olympic Gold Medalist Ross Powers ’97 for Halfpipe (Bronze 1998; Gold 2002), and Olympic Silver Medalist Lindsey Jacobellis ’03 (2006), as well as 93 alumni who have gone on to earn a spot on national teams.

In addition to this incredible winter sport talent, there have been graduates who turned their athleticism to summer pusuits, like Mountain Biking Olympian Juli Furtado ’85 (1996), and Kristin Luckenbill ’97, who won Gold in the 2004 summer Olympics in Athens as the goalie for the USA Women’s Soccer Team.

Kristin said, “At SMS, your schedule is built around training for sports. You can see yourself getting better, but you also see how far you need to go to be great.”

It is this transfer of skills and commitment to athletic improvement that brings the athletic life full-circle for many alumni.

Jessica Donavan ’93, in her first year as a professional triathlete, won back-to-back Ironman Triathlons in Lake Placid, NY on July 22 and Mont Tremblant on Aug. 19. Ironman races are often considered the pinnacle of athletic measurement, combining three events in one race – swim, bike, run. There are many distances of triathlons, but the Ironman distance is the true measurement of endurance, combining a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike and a 26.2-mile run.

thlete for LifeA

Griff Long ‘85


And she did this while working full-time and taking care of her three kids, ages 9, 8 and 5.

Winning two Ironman races, “totally changes the game,” said Jessie. This past summer, she was in the process of moving from Shelburne to Middlebury to train with the Middlebury swim coach. Donavan is an enrollment analyst for the University of Vermont.

“I came to the sport late and very quickly,” she said. “Kind of out of nowhere.”

But not really. Ever since graduating from Middlebury, where she was on the cross country ski team, Jessie has been athletic, hiking the Appalachian Trail with her husband, skiing and running. After dabbling in shorter-distance triathlons, she committed to the sport a few years ago and trains about 20 – 25 hours a week.

She works family into her training regimen. “They ride their bikes with me when I do my recovery run, they share a lane with me when I swim,” she said. But after Jessie’s win in Lake Placid, her kids realized that mom was getting more attention than usual. “When I’d walk somewhere, people would want to talk to me, and (the kids) were like, ‘Mom, come on! We want to go to the alpine slide. Stop talking to people!’”

Jessie came to the SMS Nordic program in her senior year. “In public school, I was different,” she said, describing how she would run to parties or to school in the morning, to get her training in. “SMS definitely brought me to the next level. How to take care of your body, track your heart rate. It was the first time I had that full-body approach.”

Jessie is using that approach in her pursuit of Ironman success. On Sept. 30, she placed fourth in the women’s pro division at the Ironman Poconos 70.3 and sixth in the Ironman Miami 70.3 on Oct. 28.

Alumna Sarah Piampiano ’98 is a professional triathlete who traded 16-hour days working in finance in New York for 12-hour days training in Los Angeles. After Sarah graduated from Colby College, she worked on Wall Street for 10 years and did her first triathlon in 2009. She started to focus more on the sport, but would have to squeeze in training at 11 at night or 3 or 4 in the morning.

“I was getting sick all the time,” she said of that time. “I wasn’t getting sleep, so it wasn’t benefitting me at all.”

Despite the grueling schedule, Sarah logged some impressive

amateur results,

becoming the first American Amateur finisher at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii on Oct. 8, 2011.

In November 2011, Piampiano traded her heels for running shoes full-time and moved to Los Angeles to train. In April 2012, in only her third professional race, Sarah won the Ironman New Orleans 70.3. Sarah competes in distance races (full Ironman distances and 70.3 distances, or “half ” Ironman competitions).

The biggest change for Sarah going pro, she said was making time for rest and recovery. “The quality of my workouts is improved,” she said. In May 2012, Piampiano returned to SMS as the keynote speaker for the Class of 2012 Graduation. In her speech, she urged graduates to “Go for it, change direction, take risks.”

After battling some nausea on the bike that impacted her racing, Sarah came back to finish 4th in the New York City Ironman on August 11. “That was as significant a race as winning New Orleans,” she said. After battling some nausea on the bike that impacted her racing, Sarah’s ready for the Kona World Championships on Oct. 13.

A former competitive runner, Sarah said she prefers triathlons because of the variety. “Triathlon incorporates three disciplines, so it’s not boring,” she said. “The crazy thing is, I’m running faster now than when I was younger. I run less now, but I’ve become a much stronger, well-rounded athlete.”

Her time as an alpine racer at SMS prepared Sarah for the challenges of Ironman. “I definitely think that mentally and physically SMS gives you a skill set that you can’t find anywhere else – focus, dedication, discipline,” she said. “At SMS, you’re taught to push yourself to the edge mentally and physically,” she said. “If you’re going to come out (of the water) behind on the swim, you have to stay mentally strong and push yourself to the limit to meet that challenge. I view it very similarly to how it was ski racing.”

thlete for Life Jessie Donovan ‘93 & Family

continued...


Sarah competed in the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii on Oct. 13 where she placed 23rd.

Another alumna who has turned her passion for athletics into a profession is Margaret Schlachter ’01. Over the past few years, Margaret has turned her passion for competition into a burgeoning career in obstacle racing.

The author of the blog Dirt in Your Skirt, Margaret has chronicled her journey into this growing sport. She started racing with the Spartan Race in Burlington in May 2010, and has finished in the top-10 in nearly every race, earning her a sixth-place world ranking. She also forayed into ultra marathon running, with the Vermont 50 (50K running race), and came out in 5th for her first attempt. Margaret competed in the Ultra Spartan Beast race in Killington on Sept. 22, which consisted of two loops of the traditional Beast course for a total race time of 26 miles and nine hours and 44 minutes. She finished 4th for women and in the top-30 overall.

On her blog, Margaret said, “Over 350 registered for the Ultra Beast and 153 finished, and forever I can say I was one of them.”

The Ultra Beast was a good-bye for Margaret too, as she moved from Killington to Salt Lake City.

It’s not just the all-or-nothing, full-time-commitment alumni who have woven athletics into their lives. There are many, many more who have found a way to combine sport and life in creative ways.

If you’ve scrolled through The Finish Line alumni notes from SMS for the past few years, you’ll notice a pattern – hard-working, professional, seemingly sane alumni have been flocking to triathlon and other competitive sports, and doing it while working and raising a family, just like Jessie Donavan.

Seth Therrien ’00 works in finance and lives in Miami with his wife, Jeni, who is in her residency. When asked ‘Why triathlon?’ Seth responds, “Once you get older, this is something that I think you can compete in successfully,” he said.

True enough. Many top triathlon competitors log their best results far into their 30s, long after most athletes peak in other sports. It’s also something about the tenacity and the drive to persevere. Seth began triathlons with a few Olympic-distance races in 2009, but was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2010. Not one to be sidelined for long, Seth completed his treatments and continued to compete.

“Being at a sports related academy, you’re around competitive people,” he said. “Vaughan and I badgered

each other about who could get faster times.”

Dave Vaughan ’99 actually blames Seth for getting him into triathlon. “(Seth’s) treatment was done in October, and he did a 160-mile bike race a month after he was done with chemo. He called me and asked me to do that race, and I got into triathlons

as benchmarks along the way to help me prepare for that bike race.”

Dave wins his age groups and was third in the New Brunswick Sprint race in his hometown in Canada. “I put so

much time into snowboarding, that when I was done with it, I still wanted to compete,” he said. “Obviously, total body fitness is good for me at this point in my life.”

Jon Needell ’88 turned a health kick started by his wife, into a true plan for triathlon competition. He began swimming with his kids who were on a local swim team, and “that turned into running, then triathlon.” Jon has completed a half marathon, a marathon (sub-4 hours), two Olympic-distance triathlons, three 70.3-distance triathlons and two Ironman-distance triathlons in Arizona and New York City. “It’s time to start training for my third Ironman in September of next year,” he said.

Griff Long ’85 is a competitive age group triathlon athlete who manages work and training. He recently placed 9th overall in the 2012 U.S. Nationals Long Distance Championships (70.3). He said that SMS “taught me the importance of great coaching, listing to your coach and never settling. SMS taught me the importance of testing my limits and pushing myself.”

Griff said that one of his most inspirational fellow athletes was Juli Furtado ’85. “Juli was a world-class athlete and a member of the U.S. Ski Team. She had suffered a knee injury and was in a cast yet that did not stop her. I remember every morning in the weight room seeing Juli working out of the stationary bike with one leg, and going through her vigorous workout. She would be there before we started and still there after we left.”

It’s no secret that being a great athlete requires great sacrifice. As alumni of SMS, you all lived it. The kids here today are living it now. Success has many faces, but for the alumni of SMS, making sport a priority in their life after SMS is often non-negotiable.

Gold medalist Kristin Luckenbill put it this way, “I love sports. I know sports. I figure it has to be a part of my life if I’m going to keep enjoying myself.”

Athlete for Life continued...

Sarah Piampiano ‘98

How have you kept sport in your life? Continue the discussion on Facebook.


The Stratton Mountain School Nordic Program has long been recognized as one of the country’s premier programs for high school Nordic skiing. The Program turns out Junior National champions every year and places student athletes at the best colleges and universities in the country.

The Program took a giant leap forward this year with the formation of the SMS T2 Team, an elite-level Nordic ski team, whose goal is to help racers achieve international success. Alumnus Gus Kaeding ’02 has returned to SMS as the elite team coach. Nordic Program Director Sverre Caldwell hopes to build on his Program’s proven record of success with this inaugural season.

The idea of an elite-level program based out of Stratton was one that Caldwell had been considering for several years. When Kaeding returned home to Vermont from the Midwest, he and Caldwell set the team in motion. The SMS T2 Team is also named for its other title sponsor, the T2 Foundation and holds team practices alongside the SMS high school team.

The SMS T2 Men’s Team consists of U.S. Ski Team members Andy Newell ’02 (Shaftsbury, Vt.) and Skyler Davis ’11 (Jericho, Vt.), who have been based out of Southern Vermont since their respective graduations from SMS and were natural choices for the team. They are joined on the men’s side by Eric Packer (Anchorage, Alaska), a 2012 graduate of Dartmouth College, who capped his senior season with a win in the classic sprint at SuperTour Finals, two medals at U.S. Nationals, and two All-American finishes at NCAA Championships.

The Women’s Team is headlined by Jessie Diggins (Afton, Minn.), a U.S. Ski Team member who won every race at U.S.

Nationals and picked up several top-10 finishes on the World Cup. Diggins joins Sophie Caldwell ’08 (Peru, Vt.) and Erika Flowers (Bozeman, Mont.) on the SMS T2 Team. Caldwell is a

two-time medalist at U.S. Nationals and finished her year with a silver and bronze at NCAA Championships, while Flowers comes in with a resume that includes two NCAA All-American finishes in her senior season. This fall Dartmouth junior Annie Hart (Stillwater, Minn.) took a semester off to train with the SMS T2 Team before she returns to New Hampshire.

While SMS T2 Team athletes have their personal goals, the team’s focus is “international success.” Kaeding distills the program into three primary goals: (1) form a strong team, (2) be great role models, and (3) grow excitement for cross-country

skiing in the Southern Vermont community.

Throughout the summer, the team coached and trained with SMS’s summer development program for 10-14 year olds, they hosted a “Learn to Rollerski” clinic, cleared mountain

bike trails in nearby Dorset, Vt. for r.k. Miles, a sponsor of the T2 Team, and coached at the popular SMS summer camps. Diggins and Newell traveled to New York City for an outreach day coordinated through the T2 Foundation, and the Berkshire Nordic Ski Club of Western Massachusetts was treated to a day of skiing with Flowers and Newell at their summer training camp in July. The SMS T2 athletes were the stars of a “live-demo” for Caldwell and Kaeding’s presentation on creating team synergy at the New England Nordic Ski Association’s (NENSA) Coaches Symposium in early September. Forty coaches from the region attended the symposium, hosted by Stratton, and after listening to Caldwell and Kaeding explain how the SMS team operates, coaches were able to watch a practice for the T2 team and the SMS team.

The SMS T2 athletes’ goal of working with the community links seamlessly with the team’s goal of being great role models.

“We work so much with youth, whether they are athletes or not,” said Kaeding, “that the team has to be constantly aware that the eyes of the future are always watching them.”

“They’re part of the school community,” said Caldwell. “They eat at school, watch the home soccer games, and train alongside our students. Everyone views themselves as part of one big team. Our goal is to have all groups train together 3-4 times a

SMS T2 Nordic Ski Team

Jessie Diggins teaches a summer technique clinic.

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T2 Team, L-R: Coach Sverre Caldwell, Skyler Davis, Jessie Diggins, Eric Packer, Sophie Caldwell, Andy Newell, Erica Flowers, Coach Gus Kaeding

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continued...


The Stratton Mountain School Winter Ball, held on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 raised more than $130,000 to benefit the SMS Scholarship Fund. More than 315

people attended the sold-out event and contributed to the Scholarship Fund through tickets and a silent and live auction. The live auction featured items including a week in Kona, Hawaii; tickets to the 2013 Super Bowl; trips to Steamboat, Colo., Whistler and Aspen; a pearl and diamond necklace from Von Bargen’s and a full outfit and ski gear from Equipe Sport.

Thank you to all of the Winter Ball guests, donors and benefactors for making this year’s Ball a wonderful success. Each year, Stratton Mountain School awards scholarship

support to more than 40 percent of its students, making scholarship support crucial to the school’s mission of providing academic and athletic opportunity for talented student athletes.

The Ball’s theme, 40 Years of Excellence, shined a light on the school’s 40th anniversary (1972-2012) as a full-term school. Throughout that short time, SMS student athletes have gone on to great academic and athletic success. Over the course of 40 years, SMS has experienced: • 864 Alumni • 34 Olympians • 2 Olympic Gold Medalists • 93 National Team members

Join us for the 2013 Let it Snow Winter Ball on Jan. 26, 2013! For more information, visit www.gosms.org/letitsnow.

40 Years of Excellence Winter Ball raises $130,000 for scholarships

week. We pick the workouts where our younger skiers will get the most exposure [to the T2 Team athletes], and it has been going really well.”

An undeniable benefit of having an elite team on campus is its’ ability to attract high school and post-graduate student-athletes to SMS. Woodstock, Vt. native Jordan Fields looked around the country at various clubs and programs where he could spend a PG year training and racing.

“I looked at many other PG options,” says Fields, “but none offered such a strong group of skiers to train with, especially nothing to compare to the SMS T2 team.” Fields will spend a year at SMS chasing his goals before going to Williams College. He is joined by recent SMS graduates Paddy Caldwell ’12 and Calvin Swomley ’12 in the PG program, and the three athletes spent most of their fall training with Kaeding and the SMS T2 Team athletes.

“Hopping in workouts with the [SMS T2 Team] guys has been an invaluable experience,” says Fields. “Skiing behind those athletes pushes me to go faster and harder. Not only that, but being able to simply copy their technique and observe how they ski has helped me to become a more technically proficient skier.”

For the SMS T2 Team athletes, creating this critical mass of motivated skiers drives home all the program goals.

“Any time we can have the whole SMS club together for practice it’s awesome,” said Newell. “The goal of the SMS T2 Team is to create a successful skiing community in the southern Vermont area. Some days we can have up to 30 people doing rollerski intervals together, and that’s rad. That’s where you make serious progress and can push each other.”

With almost five months worth of training sessions recorded in their logs since the team’s formation, early signs point to the success of the program. According to Kaeding, it’s rare that a preparation period goes this smoothly, and time trials and various tests have led to personal bests for every athlete.

As winter descends, each athlete will chase his or her goals, both short- and long-term, across the country and on the World Cup. If all goes according to plan, the T2 Team athletes will be on the road this winter and will only return to Vermont for short breaks in their race schedule. Regardless of their goals – Olympic medals or just qualifying to race in Europe – they’ll have the support of the SMS and Southern Vermont community that has embraced them as their own.

SMS T2 Team continued...


Board of Trustees

Ronald Alvarez

Carolyn Beckedorff ‘85

Jeffrey R. Bennett ‘87

Gary S. Davis

David Epstein

Gary Giulietti

James Haffner

Dana Hollingsworth

Christopher G. Kaltsas

Jeffrey B. Lennox

F. Graham Luckenbill II

TD McCormick

Joanna Miller

Chauncey G. Morgan ‘82

William G. Morton, Jr.

Benjamin F. Needell

Todd B. Richter

Morton T. Saunders

Neal H. Schuman

Paul J. Sitarz

Dear Alumni, Parents and Friends,

Each year, we ask you to give to Stratton Mountain School, and each year, you respond. I am so gratified that you continue to make giving to SMS a priority in your life. We may have different reasons for giving, but it is our collective pride and respect for this special school that keeps us supporting the SMS program each and every year.

For the 2011-2012 fiscal year (July 1 – June 30), we gave to four major campaigns: the Annual Fund, the Patti Kaltsas Memorial Fund, the Air Awareness Project Fund and the Endowment Fund. All gifts and pledges this year totaled $856,735. We are so proud of the projects being constructed on the SMS campus as we speak. Your commitment to the Patti Kaltsas Education, Arts & Student Center has totaled $1.3 million to date, allowing us to begin construction on this key building that will expand classroom space, add art and studio space and incorporate community gathering spaces for formal and informal meetings.

An area of incredible fundraising performance is the Annual Fund. Annual Giving supports students and the SMS program every day. Your gifts to the Annual Fund help buy classroom and gym supplies, pay for continuing education for staff and support learning at all levels. For the 2011-2012 fiscal year, gifts to the Annual Fund totaled $335,807, an 18-percent increase over giving to this fund last year. This increase is all the more impressive and needed, considering the major capital projects happening on campus.

Thank you for all that you do to remain connected to and supportive of Stratton Mountain School. As a father of an SMS alumnus, I am proud to be a part of this loyal community.

Sincerely,

Gary GiuliettiChairman, Board of Trustees

Letter from the Board of Trustees Chair


World Cup Champion, $25,000 and aboveNeal & Elizabeth SchumanWilliam & Marlynn ScullyPreston L. SmithStratton Resort

Olympic Gold, $10,000 - $24,999AnonymousBeckedorff-DiGangi FamilyDavid & Betsy EpsteinDoug & Laney FowlerHellman Family FoundationP. Jack Hoopes& Vicki ScheidtMERE FoundationJoanna Miller

World Cup Gold, $5,000 - $9,999Robert & Libby AlexanderRon & Alice Ruth AlvarezThe Hollingsworth FamilyJeff & Linda LennoxSandy & Julie LuckenbillBill & Meg MortonBen & Kathy NeedellMorton T. Saunders

National Gold, $1,000 - $4,999James & Nancy Abbenhaus, Micki Abbenhaus Scholarship AwardAnonymousJeffrey & Jill BornsteinGary S. DavisJim & Tracy DuddyTom & Tania EvansEdward M. Gillis ‘83Gary & Mary Ellen GiuliettiRick & Laura GrondinHeinz Paul Memorial FoundationMarco ‘79 & Sabrina HellmanTodd & Susan C. ‘83 HermansonThe Landy Family Robert & Laura LemenzeKristin Luckenbill ‘82James Luckenbill PG’04Alex & Liza LynchAlexa Raether Maddock ‘92Chauncey G. Morgan ‘82Dr. & Mrs. David NocekParents’ AssociationLaird & Freya PendletonRich Ross ‘77Yevgeny & Irina ShchemelevPaul & Kimberly Sitarz William & Carolyn StuttMarsha TherrienFred ‘75 & Elizabeth Weiner

Junior Olympic Gold, $500 - $999George Abdow ‘84Susan Brady & Mustafa AbadanIoanis & Lisa DimitriouTricia ‘76 & Richard GibbsJoseph & Kateri GillisMichael D. Kaplan ‘82Kevin & Marybeth KerinSusan King & Lu KorteMarc & Nancy LobellNorene & George W. Peck IVTim & Deb ReillyCarolyn & Scott SteffeyThe Stichter FamilyFritz ‘77 & Carlene WahlEvan & Carol Werner

Eastern Cup Gold, $100 - $499Darcy ‘80 & Jeff Ahl Payton Alexander ‘15Bill & Donna AppenzellerRand & Carol April Robert & Patricia BarnesSandra S. BennettPhilip & Hollice BisselleDarren Bloch ‘92Bobby-Lou BoylanCarole BrownSuzanne M. CallenDonnell M. CampRoland & Shirley ChenDavid W. Clark, Ben Clark ‘79 Memorial LibraryClass of 2012Joshua DavisMargaret & Michele deSantisMichael & Patty DoshierPeter & Susie DowChris DoyleJoan & Mike DritzTheodore Dunn, Jr.Charles H. FeldmanSky & Sue FoulkesRobbin & Glenn GibsonRolf GidlowDonald & Tina GilbertDavid Giulietti ‘99Bill & Sarah HaddenJulie Sullivan HahnBecky Hall ‘82Kathy HallEllen Halstead ‘94Sherry HarperPaul & Lynn HeffernanDavid & Suzanne HudsonIngrid Punderson Jackson ‘84

Kim S. Jochl ‘88Kaz & Angella KarwowskiJoanne & Paul KrauseDavid & Lisa LintonMarianne Lipa ‘96Shane Lynn ‘89Darcy MacClarenCathy & Andrew Malloy ‘76, In honor of Debby Malloy-Winkler ‘77Vivien Malloy, In honor of Debby Malloy-Winkler ‘77 & Henry MalloyHugh & Liz MerryweatherClarence F. MichalisJames & Tamra MooneyChristine MoraceAlbert J. MottauMulligans TavernJonathan ‘88 & Christine NeedellTracy & Jeff NelsonMark & Jeanne PastoreAmy Patenaude ‘80Marisa & Ross Powers ‘97Elizabeth & Stephen RansomREAL SportsDave ReddenRed Wagon Toy Co.37 Central ClothiersMary Sallah ‘05Christine Schozer ‘08Nancy ShuellShelby Simpson ‘10Suburban SportsCornelia V. Tuttle, In memory of Lisa Tuttle ‘78Vermont Country StoreMolly & Kevin VisnicAlan & Suzanne WaxenbergJohn & Linda WhittonEarl & Maria Winthrop

SMS Support Team, up to $100Rebecca AbadieCort Ahl ‘08AnonymousCarol BaileyChris Beadon ‘07Cassandra BenderMatt & Kate BoobarPoppet & Charlie BoswellAmanda Chase ‘08Jay Cherosnick ‘97Stacie ChiodiAlex Crowley ‘06Courtney Crowley ‘08Jennifer Culligan

Katie M. DaltonLaurie & Joe FichterThe Grossman FamilyMichael Hughes ‘07Scotty JohnstonKate Nolan JoyceLiz KantackPatricia & Paul KilligrewJamie KingsburyIan KirkBrian & Corinne KnightTodd Kremin ‘98A. E. Laidlaw, Jr.Jeanne Hammond Larsen ‘78Alex & Sandra LehmannManchester TaxiMary & James MaxymillianMegan OsterhoutAdrian & Judy ParisDr. & Mrs. Joel M. ReinJet RobbinsRobert E. RoseShann SeneseJohn Sitarz ‘08Matt & Reid SmithDylan & Sarah SnellBruce & Emily SwomleyDon Tarinelli ‘75Kim & Dwaine TaitTim & Morgan TaylorHolly WendellSarah Laidlaw Wilde ‘96

Matching Gift ProgramsBank of America FoundationFidelity FoundationWhite Mountains Capital

Gifts In KindGary S. DavisDroboKate GillisP. Jack Hoopes& Vicki ScheidtKevin & Donna McArdlePikes Falls Painting

Beckedorff-DiGangi Family (Gold)Jeff & Linda Lennox (Bronze)Gary & Ellen Davis (Bronze)Hans Schmidt & Mary Ann Tarkington (Bronze)David & Betsy EpsteinGary & Mary Ellen GiuliettiSandy & Julie LuckenbillDouglas & Christie MacKenzie

TD & Judi McCormickJoanna MillerBen & Kathy NeedellTodd RichterMorton T. SaundersGary & Sally SimpsonPaul & Kimberly SitarzStratton ResortRob & Betsy Wadsworth

Annual Fund 2011-2012

Winter Ball 2012 Benefactors Air Awareness Donors$75,000Gary & Sally SimpsonAna & Phillippe Laffont$50,000Peter & Alexandra Daitch$40,000Kevin & Donna McArdle$25,000Holly & Ed Boylan-Flego

Scott & Kristi SweitzerGreg & Melissa Raith$15,000Max & Miki KobayashiAn SMS FamilyJim & Mary Sullivan$10,000Chris Preziosi$5,000Glenn & Laura Callen

$1,000Marc & Nancy LobellThe Landy FamilyGifts up to $1,000Dave Redden

For gifts to funds excluding the Building for Excellence Fund, the Patti Kaltsas Memorial Fund, the Air Awareness Fund, the Winter Ball and Beckie McGill Scholarship Fund.

Annual Report 2011 - 2012 for fiscal year July 1 - June 30


$250,000TD & Judi McCormick

$200,000Jeff & Linda Lennox

$100,000Robert K. & A. Joyce Jones FoundationDavid & Lisa AlpertPeter J. Novello & Renee Novello, M.D.

$50,000Tom & Joanne Head

$20,000 - $30,000Robert & Libby AlexanderJames & Mary Jane BerrienDavid & Betsy EpsteinTricia H. Gibbs ‘76Gary & Mary Ellen GiuliettiWorthy & Maria JohnsonChad & Susan WaiteFred ‘75 & Elizabeth Weiner

$10,000 - $15,000Ronald & Alice Ruth AlvarezGary & Ellen DavisJody M. FooteJames & Lynn HaffnerJoanna MillerBill & Meg MortonBen & Kathy NeedellWilliam Bo S. PeabodyMorton T. SaundersGary & Sally SimpsonWilliam & Carolyn StuttVirginia & Duncan Tenney

$5,000 - $6,000The Beckedorff-DiGangi FamilyJeffrey R. Bennett ‘87Hellman Family Foundation

The Hollingsworth FamilySusan Hunter & Douglas WatsonJohn & Kate D. Krehbiel ‘91Robert & Laura LemenzeSandy & Julie LuckenbillScott & Carolyn Steffey

$1,000 - $3,500Vincent & Ashley AndrewsWilliam Benedict, Jr.Susan Brady & Mustafa AbadanPeter M. BrittonJeff & Maureen CrowleyRobyn & John DavisBill & Sarah HaddenKimet & John HandHunter Kaltsas ‘99Ursula & Paul LowerreKristin Luckenbill ‘97Val & James Luckenbill PG’04Tom & Suzy ManeggiaPaul & Adele MartinPaul & Dewey McNamaraChauncey G. Morgan ‘82Norse HouseLance & Patsy OddenLaird & Freya PendletonTimothy & Deborah ReillyTodd B. RichterPaul & Kimberly SitarzLois & David SlovikCarlene & Fritz Wahl ‘77

$500AnonymousJonathan & Cindy ChaseBarbara & Peter DeckersDoug & Laney FowlerRick & Laura GrondinJulie S. HahnSusan King & Lu KorteLynch Family

Cheryl LaFlamme RothmanNeal & Elizabeth SchumanStratton ResortJeff & April Wood

Gifts up to $500Anonymous (2)Richard & Leigh AdamsThe Ahl FamilyPayton Alexander ‘15Ellen & Lou AmanteaAnonymousWilliam & Donna AppenzellerJessica ‘93 & Shane BaronThe Barth FamilyStephen & Susan BatesMargie & Jim BeckwithWilliam & Cathy BeermanSandra S. BennettBobby-Lou BoylanDavid CharronStacie ChiodiPaul & Jill ChomaClass of 2012Saul & Patti CohenSteve & Karen CoombsPeter & Lisa CusickLisa F. Densmore ‘79Margaret & Michele deSantisKari A. DiamondDr. Michael Dick & Team Peter & Susie DowDavid EdryBetsy EklofLucille & David FestaFitz Vogt & Assoc.Jack & Ann FranzenSky & Sue FoulkesWarren & Nancy FullerGlenn & Robbin GibsonLil & Evan GinsbergWill Hadden ‘07

Peter HallMichael J. HahnKim M. Hartsen ‘99Paul & Geralyn HeffernanThe Hogan FamilyDavid & Suzanne HudsonAlex & Kate HoodClaire JospeSusan JospeKate Nolan JoyceBrooke Kaltsas ‘00Nicholas Kaltsas & familyJohn H. KellsDonald & Nancy KendallJamie KingsburyThe Kinsella FamilyStephen L. KleinMax & Miki KobayashiPaul & Joanne KrauseJamie & Todd Kremin ‘98Sally LewisDr. & Mrs. W. B. LewisCarole & Dick LechthalerAlex & Sandra LehmannYvonne LodicoAli & Vince LopezJoe Lopez ‘00Jess Lopez ‘98Stephen LoveThe MacClaren FamilyJames & Christine MartinSeth & Debi MarxMark Smith & Sherri MarzarioFrancesca MazzolaDavid & Mimi McGillNancy & Chuck McMahonPatrick & Paula McNamaraJean E. MillerMountain School at WinhallThe Nault FamilyJonathan ‘88 & Christine Needell

Laura NesbitJeff & Karen NicholsonBradley A. OlchEarl & Bonnie OlsonLorena O’NeillGeorge & Kate OrmeThe Pelletier FamilyTyne Pike-Sprenger ‘00Dimitrios & Valerie PtohosNeiko & Alejandra RazingerDave ReddenWalter & Karen RogersLarry & Andrea RossDavid Rothman ‘02Mary Ellen & Art ScutroWendy SchrieblSara A. Simpson ‘09The Singmaster FamilyJohn & Rene SkinnerMatt & Reid SmithJohn & Ann SpencerThe Stichter FamilyDwaine & Kim TaitKatherine & Edward Van WoertLouie P. Vito ‘06Paul & Susan WheelerSarah Laidlaw Wilde ‘96Williams College Ski TeamJames & Grace Wu

Matching Gifts ProgramStanley Black & Decker Matching GiftsAIG Matching GrantsExxonMobil Foundation

$250,000 and aboveMr. & Mrs. Gary Simpson

$200,000 - $249,999AnonymousThe Gilo Family FoundationMr. & Mrs. Duncan Tenney

$150,000 - $199,999Mr. & Mrs. David Epstein

$100,000 - $149,999Anonymous (3)Mr. & Mrs. Gary GiuliettiMr. & Mrs. James HaffnerMr. & Mrs. Robert LemenzeMr. Todd Richter*Mr. Morton Saunders

$50,000 - $99,999Mr. & Mrs. James CrowleyMr. & Mrs. Michael FultonMr. Michael HahnThe Hollingsworth FamilyMr. & Mrs. F. Graham Luckenbill IIMr. & Mrs. William Morton

$25,000 - $49,999AnonymousMr. & Mrs. Thomas EvansMs. Jody FooteMr. & Mrs. Ian JonesMr. & Mrs. Robert JonesMr. & Mrs. Benjamin NeedellMr. & Mrs. Christopher SmilesMrs. Jessie Snyder

$20,000 - $24,999Mr. John S. McCormick**Mr. & Mrs. Burton Tremaine

$10,000 - $19,999Mr. & Mrs. Kevin BamfordMr. & Mrs. John H. Krehbiel Mr. & Mrs. Scott SteffeyMr. & Mrs. Frederick J. Wahl

$5,000 - $9,999Mr. & Mrs. Robert AlexanderMr. & Mrs. Mika BrewerDrs. Richard & Tricia GibbsLevelwing Media, LLC*Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Malloy

Mr. & Mrs. TD McCormickMr. & Mrs. Timothy ReillyMr. & Mrs. William Stutt

$2,500 - $4,999The Hadden Family

$1,000 - $2,499Andersen WindowsAnonymousMs. Carolyn Blitz*Ms. Lisa DensmoreMs. Cindy Oak GoodinMr. & Mrs. Richard C. GrondinMr. Rick Hube**Mr. & Mrs. Paul McNamaraMedImpact Health Care Systems*Mr. & Mrs. DW Porto*Mr. & Mrs. William Thomson*Mr. & Mrs. CB Vaughan*

Gifts up to $1,000The Ahl FamilyMr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Barclay*Mr. & Mrs. Scott Bergman*Mr. & Mrs. Barry Bernard*

Mr. & Mrs. Jack Derby*Mr. & Mrs. Robert D’Loren*Mr. Al Felden*Mr. Brian Kinkaed*Mr. & Mrs. Masakazu KobayashiMr. & Mrs. Jim Lanzillo*Mr. & Mrs. William MillerMr. & Mrs. Michael MorinMr. & Mrs. Philip Pucciarelli*Mr. & Mrs. Dave ReddenMr. David RosowMr. Kenneth Smith*Mr. & Mrs. John Sohikian*

Matching Gift ProgramsBank of America Matching Gift*Bank of America United Way Campaign*

* contribution to Todd B. Richter Endowment Fund** deceased

Building for Excellence Campaign

Patti Kaltsas Memorial Fund


Mike Costello (SMS ’94)Michael Costello, 36, Wilmington, Vt., died in December 2011 after a courageous battle against cancer. After graduating from SMS, he went to Montana State University in Bozeman. He was President of Costello Development Corporation and recently helped construct the U.S. Ski Team speed training facility in Copper Mountain, Colo.

SMSAA President and classmate, Gordy Megroz (SMS ’94), said this about Mike, “I was saddened by the passing of one of my classmates, Mike Costello, in December. Cos, as he was known, had a giant personality and could take over a room, often creating a party-like atmosphere in Len’s chemistry class. Our senior year, Mike spearheaded the senior gift: building a flight of stairs from the old school to the convenience store. As any alumnus who ate Sloppy Joes in the old school can attest, it was an invaluable addition. I never saw Mike happier than when he was at the helm of his John Deere tractor creating that staircase. He would go on to make a career in excavating and construction, building several ski resort additions—and even more friendships. He’ll be greatly missed.”

Megan Ives (SMS ’14)Megan Ives, 16, Londonderry, Vt. and Farmington, Conn., died in her sleep of natural causes on Sept. 20, 2012 in Valle Nevado, Chile during an SMS training camp. Meg was a new student at SMS, yet managed to make lots of friends quickly. Her passion for ski racing, her smile and laugh will always be remembered. On Oct. 4, the SMS community gathered for a remembrance of Meg on campus.

Cameron Howe (SMS ’10)Cameron Howe, 20, Westport, Conn., died on Sept. 6, 2012 in Santa Barbara, Calif., where he was attending the University of California, Santa Barbara. Cameron was a nationally ranked snowboarder and friend to many at Stratton Mountain School.

Peter Novello (P’12)Peter Novello, 58, West Windsor, Vt., died in his home on Sept. 30, 2012. Peter was a loving, supportive parent to Phoebe

Novello (SMS ’12). He was the founder of Far Hills Group based in New York City. He is survived by his wife Renee Johannensen Novello and his four children.

Mary Richardson Kennedy (P’ 16)Mary Richardson Kennedy, 52, Bedford, N.Y., died on May 16, 2012 at her home. Mary was known for her environmental work and her “green home” design of their family’s home. She was an avid supporter of her son Finn (SMS ’16) and is survived by her husband and their four children.

Warren Hellman, SMS FounderStratton Mountain School co-founder Warren Hellman died on Dec. 18, 2011. Warren believed in competition, fun and supporting a worthy cause, “so good things will grow,” he has said. In 1970, Warren and SMS co-founder Don Tarinelli started a little school with a big dream – to allow elite skiers the ability to train year-round. During each of its first two years, 15 students took part in its winter program. In 1972, the school expanded to a full academic year curriculum and began growing into its current enrollment of 124 students. Warren was an accomplished endurance athlete in his own right, competing in 100-mile running races. He was also a five-time age group national champion in ride and tie, a combination of running and horseback riding.

Warren had a successful career on Wall Street, becoming the youngest partner in Lehman Brothers’ history at age 26. Warren jointly founded Hellman & Friedman, a private equity firm in 1984. Warren also jointly founded Hellman, Jordan Management Company, a specialty equity investment manager.

Amongst his many passions, Warren loved music, and he started and funds the Hardly, Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco.

Warren is survived by Chris, his wife of 56 years, his sister Nancy Bechtle, his four children Frances, Tricia, Mick and Judith, 12 grandchildren and one great grandchild. As a community, we will all be forever grateful to Warren and his vision and perseverance to found this school on the mountain.

In Memoriam


Dear Alumni:

Here’s what Stratton Mountain School alumni look like: We’re doctors and lawyers,business leaders and politicians, actors and documentarians, moms and dads. We win everything from Olympic medals to X Games medals; Ironman

triathlons to Tough Mudders and CrossFit comps. Yeah, we’re an impressive bunch.

Two years ago, to celebrate all that awesomeness, we formed an alumni association, an organization tasked with hosting get-togethers around the country. Our motivation was simple: reconnect alumni with one another and foster a closer relationship between the alumni and SMS.

As the head of this association, I’ve come to realize something: when people are raising kids, making movies, running businesses, and winning events all over the world, it’s tough to get them all into the same room for a few hours. I understand. I was even called away on work last year; unable to attend an event I’d spent a couple of weeks planning. But I’m undeterred because the mission is important.

I was recently speaking with an alumnus of the school who graduated in the mid-80s and he summed it up best. “Ski academy graduates are typically driven, interesting, and fun to go on trips with,” he told me. “We’re all alike, but we all bring

something unique to the table. Why wouldn’t you want to maintain relationships with these people?”

To that I would add this: when we do pull off these alumni events, they’re a blast (unless you’re opposed to open bars, good food, and great conversation). In Boston in October, we gathered alumni from SMS, Burke, GMVS, and CVA. I got to meet alumni who’d graduated years after me and catch up with guys I hadn’t seen in over a decade. We shared old stories and exchanged business cards (I’ll bet somebody gets a new job out of that event), and we all agreed that we needed to meet up more often.

That’s where you all come in. I’m hoping that a few of you will step forward and offer to host alumni events at various places throughout the country (or around the world). Please let me know, and I’ll work with you to help you pull it off. You’ll behappy you did.

Until then, be well and pray for snow.

Gordy Megroz ’94President, Stratton Mountain School Alumni Association

The Finish Line

The Finish Line

1978Sue (Long) Wemyss, writes, “Despite last winter’s short season, I had a big lifetime highlight in directing the 2012 New England Bill Koch League Festival where I work, at Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center in Pinkham Notch, NH. In the final day leading up to the Festival, Mother Nature helped out our efforts making snow and moving snow, with eight inches of natural. At Great Glen, we were thrilled to host over 575 BKL skiers, plus their parents, coaches, siblings and

friends for a super fun weekend. Seeing so many kids having fun outside on snow at our area was hugely rewarding.

In September I had a chance to come back to Stratton for the New England Nordic Ski Association’s Nordic Symposium. It’s always fun to get back to the Stratton area. My favorite part of the Symposium was going out to Ball Mountain Dam to watch the SMS and SMS T2 rollerski workout, with the Stratton and U.S. Ski Team coaches actively advising the athletes. I am so excited that Sverre and

Stratton have added an elite program for top post-graduate Nordic ski racers. I’m following them through Facebook posts and the blogs. Great job to the athletes, Sverre, Gus and other coaches, and SMS! You will rock this winter, as will the young SMS team members who are able to watch, follow and learn from this team.

1979Lisa Densmore wrote, “For the last two years, I’ve been working on a full-length documentary called ‘Passion for Snow.’ It’s on Dartmouth College’s role in the history


of skiing in the United States over the last 100+ years. It will premier this winter with plans for a tour of the mountain film festivals, a limited theatrical run mainly in ski towns, and a PBS special. I’m the co-writer and producer of the film. It’s been a big project but one close to my heart as a Dartmouth aluma and life-long skier. Had a good run at the 2012 FIS Masters Criterium (World Championships) last spring at Mammoth, too. I swept my class, garnering gold in Super G, GS and slalom. I was also the top-finishing American woman across all age groups, but only because my good friend and SMS trustee Carolyn Beckedorff (SMS ’85) was out for the season nursing her knee. I love my new home in Red Lodge and welcome my SMS friends any time.

Heidi Preuss writes, “Another year, same stuff. I’ve been Geocaching more this year. I took two long road trips to the Heartland. Eric Vainu (SMS ’81) teased me into caching more and I took up his challenge. He doesn’t mention it anymore now that I’ve trounced him... :) See, the competitive spirit does live on...”

Benzi (Henrich) Ross has been traveling a ton as the Merchandising Magician for the bicycle industry. “I travel to bicycle shops all over the country for big vendors like Giant USA as well as give seminars at trade shows…loud mouth that I am, I am putting it to good use… I absolutely love my job. Scot, my husband and I downsized the motorcycle shop and sold the building, cathartic. I had an incredible year, spent a lot of it with my sister Tini Henrich (SMS ’84) as she was living here in Colorado. I know the ‘Shred Sister Adventures’ kept every one amused on Facebook. We are thinking of starting

a comedy tour! I had the wonderful pleasure of seeing a lot of SMS alumni on the slopes. I saw Kimmy Reichhelm (SMS ’78) in Aspen and Alaska, where I also ripped turns with Burntski (Brian Burnett SMS ’78) in Alyeska, until I blew out my knee. The rest of the year has been rehab on my bike from said complete knee reconstruction. Now I’m just part of a big group of knee surgery veterans. I’m looking forward to a lot of time on the slopes. If your coming to Colorado call 303-618-6233! And smile, it makes the whole world a better place.”

1982Greg Needell is the Alpine Director at Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club. You can follow Greg’s blog on his website at www.alpineraceconsulting.com/blog.

1985Griff Long has earned a spot on Team USA for the 2013 ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships. He finished 9th overall in the U.S. Nationals Championships (70.3) and is competing in Ironman Arizona to try and qualify for the World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.

1988Jon Needell is living in Orange County, Calif. and has been competing in triathlons, marathons and half marathons. “The kids are doing well (Caroline, 12; Harry, 10) and still swimming. They made JO’s. My wife Christine and I went on a health kick (her idea and a good one at that), and I had been doing a lot of masters swimming because I wanted to understand the kids’ sport. That turned into running, then triathlon. So, I completed a half marathon, a marathon (under 4 hours), two Olympic distance triathlons, three half Ironman triathlons (one in five hours), and two Ironman’s in Arizona and NYC (these were slow – but I

finished). It’s time to start training for my third Ironman in September of next year.”

Sam Punderson writes, “This spring I connected with Andy Hare (SMS ’91) to take a motorcycle ride. Andy and I have known for about seven or eight years that we’re fellow motorcycle enthusiasts and about once a year we ended up talking about it, but never face-to-face, just via email, phone or FB. Finally this last spring, I told him that I was putting together a trip in Maine, riding dirt roads and

ATV trails. When he heard this he said he wanted to join us. So, after not seeing each other since the day I graduated in ’88, we made a plan to rendezvous in a small town in rural Maine. After nearly 25 years of not seeing one another, we met on a street corner and proceeded to ride together for three days. What a blast that was! As you can imagine we spent a lot of time reminiscing. During that first trip in June, the group made plans for another longer trip in August, so once again Andy signed up and joined us for a nine-day, 1,700 mile, dirt road/ATV trail ride into Quebec. So great to get the chance to reconnect with a fellow SMS alumnus and enjoy some new adventures together.”

1990Ernest “Moose” Hofer lives in Gunnison, Colo. and spends summers working as a fishing guide. “I just signed on with a company called Irwin (worldwide parent company is Eleven). www.irwincolorado.com We offer the sickest cat skiing in the Rockies. Average snowfall is 600 inches. Technically, I am the director of fishing operations, and I should be traveling

The Finish Line

Lisa Densmore

Benzi Ross & Tini Henrich

Andy Hare & Sam Punderson


a fair amount to dial in our operations in Iceland, and the Bahamas. But, this winter will have me involved a bunch in the day-to-day cat skiing, and a lot of snow science training. No wife. No kids. Great girlfriend, and bird dog. My brother, Austin, who also did some winter terms at SMS and KMS lives in the same house, and we are both living the dream. Catching lots of trout, rowing drift boats, hunting lots of birds and elk, and still chasing POW!”

Carrie Sheinberg is “momming it these days. Big time. I’m living in Somerville, Mass. with my husband Paul Hochman, our 4-year-old son Oscar and our 14-month-old boy, Arlo. I never thought I’d be surrounded by so many boys. If we ever get a dog, it will definitely be a girl!”

1991Gerrit Gollner produced a collaborative art project with University of Vermont professor emeritus of art Bill Davison, called “Tandem,” which was released at the Burlington South End Art Hop in September. Gerrit’s new show “voiceovers,” featured her mixed-media work, as well as her collaborative piece with Bill Davison, at the JDK Gallery in Burlington through September. Gerrit graduated from UVM in 1998 and has earned critical praise for her artwork. Her

1994 exhibit, “Rake” was exhibited at the JDK Gallery and drew the attention of the Burlington art community. Gerrit lives in Cologne, Germany.

Marc Sorel said, “Hello all – ANOTHER year! Grind – Grind – Grind seems to be the new lifestyle. Where did weekends go or the days at SMS when the biggest worry was what race to enter or waxing your skis? I long for those good old days! It’s always fun to catch up with friends, wish we could really do it all better if at all possible. Facebook is old – in person is best. Does anyone from class of 91 (90’ or 92’) have any intention of doing a 25th Reunion? If so, I am in to help make it happen at Whistler or Jackson Hole? Or SMS?” Email Marc at [email protected] to coordinate a reunion.

1992Darren Bloch says, “All is well in Brooklyn. Our girls Adison (3) and Ainsley (1) are plugging along and we’re thinking this is the season to get Adison on skis. The past two years I’ve just been carrying her around up and downs slopes around the Berkshires. We got to spend some time this summer with Gideon (Scot) and his family and kids which was great; and little brother Renny (SMS ’93) is still living a stone’s throw away in the East Village (I’ll let him tell his own tales). After several years working in local and state government, and some time working with a series of digital and print media

companies, I recently started a new role as the Vice President for Public Affairs for New York Law School (where I also graduated from back in 2004). I hope to make it back to SMS soon, but until then, I hope everyone

keeps tearing it up. Below is a photo of Adison and Caleb (Gideon’s son) on the swings together (with Ainsley our little one in the background).”

1994Gordy Megroz is a correspondent for Outside magazine and lives in Londonderry, Vermont.

1996Katy Czesnowski Moore and her husband, Chris built a house in a suburb of Saratoga Springs, N.Y. two years ago. “We also have exciting news and are expecting our first child in early March. We hope all is well at SMS, and look forward to hearing about all the great things happening there.”

Emily Thurber has had three big changes this year, “I finished up a second Master’s degree, a Master’s of Literacy, which led

to a new position as an Instructional Coach in a different school district. We spent the summer relaxing in Vermont with family, and Gray entered Kindergarten”.

Sarah Laidlaw Wilde sends her latest from the Wilde Farm in Shelburne,

Vt. “I’m living in Shelburne with my husband Martin and 17 1/2 month old daughter Malin. We had a great summer and made it to Stratton a few times. Malin made her first turns next to the old ‘Foundation’ this spring and absolutely loved it. The fact that it was 75 degrees and sunny may have helped a bit. We are looking forward to getting her out again this winter. I am working part-time at Fletcher Allen Hospital in Burlington and will be coaching a local high school (Rice) ski team again this winter. We are still producing and selling our super fun lawn game, V:King, check it out at www.playvking.com. If you’re part of the SMS community let us know for a discount. Hope to see many of you on the slopes this winter!”

The Finish Line

Carrie Sheinberg & family

Gerrit Gollner & her artwork

Caleb Scot, Adison Bloch & Ainsley Bloch


1997Justin Beckwith, the Nordic Program Director at GMVS, was named the 2012 New England Coach of the Year by NENSA. He writes, “Still coaching XC at GMVS and loving it. I just got back from an awesome trip to Italy skiing on the Stelvio Glacier. Some SMS highlights for me, seeing Ethan Foster (SMS ’99) in Burlington – reminded me of the fire we used to have. And soon getting together with Mr. Jesse Gallagher (SMS ’95) after his return from another season in Alaska – Primus Saturday night! I’m looking at the calendar and maybe I could swing Winter Ball this year.”

1999Dave Giulietti and his wife Jessica welcomed a new baby boy, Andrew Michael Giulietti (SMS class of 2031) on Oct. 17. Andrew joins big brother, Mason. “We will be calling him

Drew if he’s an athlete and Andrew if he’s a businessman. We’re looking forward to coming up and skiing this winter and hopefully can get Mason out on skis at just 1 1/2 years old! Should be interesting! While my family is growing quickly, I sure do miss SMS and virtually every day, I think about something I’ve done or learned from there! I just hope the kids that are there now know how good they have it!”

2000Tom Wisdom returned from a six-month deployment to Afghanistan last November and has since moved to a new infantry unit, still in San Diego, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. He is a Forward Air Controller for the Battalion. “We are getting ready to go out on my third deployment in December to Okinawa, Japan. Also I was lucky enough to get to see Andy Newell (SMS ’02) and

Gus Kaeding (SMS’02) earlier this year when they were on their spring surf trip.”

2001Zack Cooper recently joined the faculty at Yale University as an Assistant Professor of Health Policy and an Assistant Professor of Economics. He moved back to the U.S. after living in England for the past seven years.

2002Molly Rose Gray has entered her second year at Vermont Law School.

Jim Hardy is living in Somerville, Mass. and going to UMass Boston on the G.I. Bill. “I’ve worked a couple different jobs recently, but right now I’m just going to school full time and focusing on that. This last summer I went over to Europe and visited Iceland, France, Switzerland, Italy and Spain and had a great time with my girlfriend. Then I helped my dad build a house up in NH. Now it’s back to school though in Boston. No kids, and no ring though. Hope a house relatively soon... we’ll see!”

Gus Kaeding is the SMS Nordic T2 Team Coach, where he gets to coach three other SMS alumni: Andy Newell (SMS ’02), Skyler Davis (SMS ’10) and Sophie Caldwell (SMS ’08)!

Sydney (Mikkelson) Koop and Dave Koop (SMS ’00) are living in Madison, Wisc. and are expecting their first child in January – a girl!

Carson Thurber married Ali Wassick last summer and was recently promoted to Assistant Headmaster at Stratton Mountain School.

2003Chi Chi Williams has made a HUGE move from Brooklyn to Manhattan. “I’m still working in the arts with a contemporary art advising company, and still making/selling my work. So life is very splendid in the big apple. Highlights of my year: the reuniting of the Spice Girls at the Olympics, and getting my race face back on (not the speed suit though) at the American Ski Classic in Vail. Most discouraging event: the loss of Carmen, my bicycle (R.I.P.). Hopefully, I’ll see some of you on the slopes this winter.”

2008Christine Schozer is in her senior year at Middlebury College and is Captain of the Ski Team. “I attended NCAA’s last year and am hoping to do the same this coming season hosted by Middlebury. I am an economics major, but have decided to venture into production. This summer I worked at NBC in New York as a production intern for Peacock Productions. Currently, I am in the process of looking for a job.

2009Amanda Chase graduated from St. Lawrence University in May and moved to Miami, Fla. to work for the Miami Dolphins’ charity bike event in November.

The Finish Line

Mason Giulietti

Andy Newell, Tom Wisdom & Gus Kaeding

Original art by Chi Chi Williams


2010Marta Decarli recently became a ski instructor, “and I will be working in Cortina, Italy this winter with a local ski school! I am very excited! I hope all is well at SMS! I keep following you guys on Facebook, and I would love to come back and visit soon!”

Hunter Resek said, “I am now 20 years old and a junior at UNH studying Cognitive Psychology, and minoring in coaching. The rest of my time is spent training as a competitive cyclist in the Eastern Colligate Cycling Conference (ECCC) and in the summer USA Cycling series and some UCI pro events. This past road racing season was a huge learning experience as it was my first whole season racing in the Pro 1/2 events. After a successful season with a few good results and making my presence known at the front of the fast races, I have just recently been added to the Metlife Cycling Team, an elite men’s cycling program that focuses on the big New England Events and the National Criterium Calendar races. Hoping for big things this coming year as the captain of the University of New Hampshire Cycling Team and being apart of a program like Metlife.”

2012Hunter Lathrop is a freshman at Drew University in New Jersey. Hunter is a competitive tennis player, and he recently won the doubles at the ITA Regional Championships in Ithaca, NY. He traveled to Alabama for the ITA National Championships. With his victory, he earned All-American honors as a freshman.

Emily Visnic made the Varsity Rowing Team at Northeastern University.

The Finish Line

You can view other notes and search for alumni online by going to www.gosms.org/alumni and clicking on the Directory link.

BACK (L-R): Mike Kaplan ’82, Scott Summers ’82, Ed Gillis ’83, Louis Gordon ’82, Gordy Megroz ’94, Tim Flaherty ’83, Ian Murray ’82, Barry Woods ’81. FRONT (L-R): Mo Flaherty ’83, Russ Shay ’81

SMS Alumni Association President Gordy Megroz ’94 met up for some epic skiing with SMS alumni from the 1980s in February. Gordy said that this crew gets together for a three- or four-day trip each year, and he was able to meet up with them the past two years. “They go hard! It’s a blast,” Gordy said.

Brian Blank (former SMS coach), Will Hadden ’07, Colton Hardy ’07, Alex Jones ’07, Chris Nocek ’08, Jeremy Lawless ’07, Ryan Lawless ’07

Williams Carnival race, 2012.

Stratton Mountain School7 World Cup Circle

Stratton Mountain, VT 05155www.gosms.org

Winter Ball - January 26, 2013Join us at 6 p.m. for dinner, dancing and silent and live

auctions to benefit the SMS Scholarship Fund.

Contact Wendy Schriebl at (802) 856-1101 or visit www.gosms.org/letitsnow

Let it SnowWinter Ball | 2013Stratton Mountain School

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Starting Gate Winter 2013

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