Vermont Academy - Wildcat Yearbook (Saxtons River, VT)

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VARSITY BASKETBALL SQUADkStanding: Potter, Cray, Hulett, Quebman, Eberle, Vea, Mr. Castagner fcoachl. Sealed: Singer, Haley, Swift fcaptainj, Stagner, Leonardi. SEASON SUMMARY -,,.,,,,,,,,Verrnont ,,,,..,-.,.-,Ver1nont ,...,,,, Vermont ,,,,,,,,,,,,Vermorit . ,.... ,. A ..,,, Vermont ,...,.-.,v.,,Vermont ,,,,,.-..e..Vermont . ...,,,,,. ,,Vermont ,,,,,,,,,,,,Vern1ont -,,,,,,,.-..Verrnont -,,,,,.-,-.Vermont e,,,,,,,,,,,Vermont -,,r.,-.-,.,Vermont -,..,,,,.-..Verrnont -..,,,,,,,,Vermont ,,,,,,,,,,,,Vermont Cushing ..,.,,,,,, New Hampton ,.,.. Mount Hermon ......,.e... 57 Knnball Union .....,... ,,.. Dartmouth Frosh ,,,,,,, ., 69 Kimball Union .,,,....,,,. 58 Alumni ...,,,,,,,,,.. Deerfield .......,.......,t,,.,... Middlebury Frosh ..,,,,. 55 47 54 43 44 51 Cushing ....l,.,......,..,...... 37 Worcester ....,ee ,e.... 6 9 V Deerfield ....... ..,.... 4 1 Tilton .....,,,,,,.., ,,,..,. 6 5 Williston --V-iAu,---,----,iivw--- 75 CAPTAIN SWIFT and COACH CASTAGNER Mount Hennon ...,,.....,. 44 Maine Central Inst. .,.. 68 VARSITY LETTERS Lawrence Cray, Joe Eberle, Jim Haley, Porter Hulett, Mark Leonardi, Malcolm Potter, John Quebman, Paul Singer, Paul Stagner, Norman Swift, Peter Vea, Peter Van Schaick Qmgnj. 1961 CAPTAIN-ELECT: Paul Stagner AWARD WINNERS: SWIB Greatest Contributiong HAf -Best Foul Shot

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VARSITY BASKETBALL Before the start of the season, the outlook for the Varsity Basketball team was rather dim, as all but one starter had graduated from a sub-par 1959 team. Captain Norm Swift was the lone player returning from last year, Paul Singer, Mark Leonardi, Jack Quebman, Larry Cray, and ,lay Eberle came up from the J.V.'s of last year, while the newcomers to the V.A. court were Paul Stagner, Jim Haley, Porter Hulett, Ed Potter, and Pete Vea. The outlook brightened considerably when V.A. routed Cushing Academy on the home court in the first game of the season, 71-48. V.A.'s 71-point total was a record breaker, the highest score made by a Vermont team on the floor of the Williams Gym- nasium. After winning a close match at New Hampton, the Wildcats journeyed to Mount Hermon, where they finally pulled out a 58-57 win in one of the most exciting games seen then finally pulled out a 58-57 win in one of the most exciting games seen by either xhool in many years. After a slow start, Sheriff Haley unleashed seven field goals during the second half to finish as the game's high scorer with 21 points. After the three-game road stint, the Acads were host to K.U.A. at the Vermont Winter Camival. The Wildcats won easily, 58-43, before a large crowd of spectators. During the following week, a tall Darthmouth Freshman HB team and a vengeful K.U.A. team nipped V.A. with good second-half shooting. A refreshing victory over the Alumni All- Stars, 52-44, set the team up to trip a tall Deerfield quintet to the tune of 61-51. This game was highlighted by the record-breaking performance of Captain Norm Swift as he pumped through 35 points. The previous record of 34 points for one game was held by two former V.A. players, Mike Nason and Don Angell. Three days later the Wildcats went to Middlebury College, where they played the Freshmen and emerged with a win only after battling through an overtime period. At Cushing the following week, they came out on top in a close, 43-37 game. With four consecutive victories under their belts, the V.A. hoopsters hosted Woroester's New England champions. The first half ended with Vermont ahead, 27-26, but the visitors scored high in the third quarter and finally won. Jim Haley, Mark Leonardi, and Paul Stagner all hit double figures. At Deerfield in the next game, V.A. came from behind in the second half to overwhelm the Green team, 53-41. On February 23, a highly-touted Tilton team came to Saxtons River and were soundly defeated, 74-65, as V.A. broke the scoring record again. Paul Stagner led the scoring parade with 19, while Swift, Leonardi, Haley, and Singer all hit double figures. On the following Saturday, the Widcats had difficulty getting used to Williston's court and were defeated. Then, in a game which both teams wanted very much to win, V.A. beat Moimt Hermon. On Wednesday, March 2, the Widcats journeyed to Fryeburg Academy, with a stop for lunch at Tilton, to play in the semifinals of the New England Prep School Champion- ship tournament. They lost to an all-p.g. Maine Central Institute team in a game which was very clase during the first half. The final score was 68-55. Through the able coaching of Mr. Castagner, the staunch morale of the players, and the skillful use of a considerable fund of talent, the Varsity Basketball team compiled a season record of 11 games won and 4 lost, in one of the best seasons in recent years.

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