Saxtons River, Vermont, June 15, 2022 – LaLiga North America and Vermont Academy have signed a partnership agreement to launch Vermont Academy LaLiga, a unique academic and soccer immersion program in the USA for young student-athletes. The partnership will provide high school students ages 14 to 19 the opportunity to train under the LaLiga soccer methodology with LaLiga’s top coaches. Participating student-athletes will compete at a high level year-round, while receiving a rigorous US college preparatory education with exposure to coaches at top US colleges and universities, enhancing their personal development, growth and future career opportunities. The program will launch in September 2022 for the 2022-2023 academic year.
The 2022 Boys’ Varsity Baseball Team started on a mission last fall that they wanted to win the Lakes Region Championship. The team worked hard over the winter with pitchers getting their arms ready, and the rest of the team hitting off the tee in the back room. That mission was completed when we traveled to # 1 seed St. Paul's on May 20 and came home with a 6-3 win in 8 innings to capture the Lakes Region Championship. The team finished with a 13 - 2 record.
The Spring Sports and Activities Awards were presented at Community Meeting on Monday, May 16. Coaches took the stage to read out the names of the 32 notable athletes for the season. This tri-annual tradition provides a time for the community to recognize the dedication required from all athletes and those committing to activities such as rock climbing and theater arts. We offer heartfelt appreciation to the many coaches, directors, teachers, and staff whose dedication makes these activities possible. And a big wildcat cheer to the award winners.
Vermont Academy celebrated our winter athletes at Community Meeting on March 28. Athletic Director and Assistant Head of Student Life Mr. Brian Gilloran and the teams’ coaches congratulated the award recipients.
Vermont Academy’s small hilltop campus looks nothing like the urban and suburban schools Andre Mills ’24 played basketball at in Eastern Massachusetts. His coach for his former AAU team knew Vermont Academy’s Head Prep Basketball Coach John Zall and the two encouraged him to apply. “No one was here when I first visited,” Andre says. “It was pretty empty. I trusted my coaches, and the people here make the school. I actually like being in a small community.”
Andrew Gould ’22 drives himself to campus each day from Springfield, Vermont. As he drives, he considers not only the energy he’s using but the energy the car is creating — in the form of heat — that goes to waste. This is just one reason that he’s decided to take on a Capstone Project in his senior year. He’s exploring different fuel sources and better ways to power vehicles.
Maïka Paquin ’22 has grown up in Canada but not in a hockey family. Her father and brother play baseball. Yet hockey came to her early in life. “When I was younger, my parents put me in front of a dance studio for a photo and I started to cry,” she explains. “I saw a hockey net and pointed to it.” They let her pose in front of it and she was all smiles. Maïka started playing hockey when she was three and when she was eight she moved into the net. “My uncle is a goalie — I wanted to be like him.”
Snow sports have always played an important role at Vermont Academy. Whether a student comes to campus with expert-level skills or having never seen snow before, the school’s winter sports program provides opportunities for every level of experience.