Williamstown’s Kristin Brown was seleacted as the recipient of a $500 scholarship form the Vermont Basketball Coach’s Association [VCBA] this year. Kristin was on e of only ten atheltes statewide to receive a scholarship. The award was formally presented at the Williamstown Athletics Award Banquet at the Elk’s Club in Barre by her coach Sid Sweet (second from left). Looking on are Assistant Coach John Carrier and her Kristin’s teammates. Photo by Bill Croney, The Northfield News Williamstown’s athletic teams all brought their respective years to a close last Thursday at the annual Athletic Banquet. The festive two hour affair was held at the Barre Elk’s club with a crowd of nearly 150 fans, parents, coaches, players and administrators on hand. The Northfield News even got involved! This reported acted as an “ad-hoc”

master of ceremonies.. The hall had been decorated by Karen Brown and the ladies of the banquet committee and was festooned with blue and white balloons and sports themed balloons near the head table. The spirit of the gathering was very upbeat, perhaps because Williamstown High sports teams turned in some very successful seasons and that those involved with Williamstown High sports care very deeply about the kids involved.

The food was the traditional Barre meal of chicken and mostacholli and was well presented by both the Elks club and the Williamstown Middle School students helping out.

The post dinner activities were the typical awarding of letters and pins and certificates. And, the speeches by the coaches of the various teams. They had a lot of varsity success to celebrate. The Junior Varsity coaches and teams were also recognized.

Starting with the fall sports and moving through the winter and then spring sports the banquet presentations were a great look back at some very successful campaigns.

Jay Villa, the Girl’s soccer coach, and his team was first up. Jay is a heck of a coach and cares deeply about his players. (As do all the Blue Devil coaches.) He gave by far the longest speech of the night and he also handed out some individual awards in addition to the letters, pins, and certificates. The girl’s will return a strong team in the fall but coach Villa stressed how much Kristin Brown, Emma Lamson, Sarah Bailey and Janra Bresset will be missed.

Boy’s soccer coach Scott Hulbert was next up, and although he gave the shortest speech of the night before presenting the Boy’s soccer awards, he reflected back on the team’s great improvement from a year ago.

April Wortmann recognized her Girl’s J.V. basketball team and Sid Sweet then followed with the Girl’s Varsity Basketball awards. One of the most emotional moments of the Varsity Girl’s part of the program came when assistant coach John Carrier spoke of this year’s graduating seniors. Fighting back tears John said: “ I know I’m a softie, but I can’t help it. I am so pleased to have been able to know this wonderful group of girls.” Coach Sweet presented Kristin Brown with a $500 scholarship ,from the Vermont Basketball Coaches Association, one of only 10 such scholarships awarded statewide.

The winter boy’s sports awards were started Kellen George the Boy’s J.V. coach who made his presentations and then it was time for the stars of the night to really shine.

Perhaps the most heralded team of the Williamstown sports year was up next and when I asked for “The 2010 Vermont State Division IV basketball team and their coaches to come forward the crowd rose to their feet as one. The noise was deafening! With his team lined up beside him in their new championship jackets Coach Jack Carrier spoke of how the season progressed and how the guys started believing in their destiny after they defeated Hazen in a late December game. He played a little game with the crowd and allowed them to think “what If”. Williamstown had beaten this year’s Div. III champ Hazen and Hazen had beaten the Div. II champion. So what if…..

He also thanked the fans for all their support throughout the season and especially at the Barre Auditorium. “ To come up those stairs and see a sea of blue was amazing. Proctor thought they owned the “Aud” but whether we wearing blue or white the Auditorium was a home game for us.” Assistant coach John Pellegrini echoed those sentiments.

Coach Carrier also said that although they graduate the starting five this year he is confident in this years younger players for next season.

The Girl’s softball awards combined both the J.V. and Varsity players and were presented by coach Hannah Bonneau and assistant coach Evans Bouchard.

Varsity baseball awards capped the team portion of the evening’s festivities and coach Jared Hart spoke of how proud he was of the Blue Devil’s effort in making it all the way to the state Div. IV semifinals before bowing to powerful Blue Mountain 4-3 in a heartbreaker.

The Athletes of the year were Kristin Brown and Troy Laughlin, both seniors and both three sport athletes.

Throughout the speeches there were two recurring themes. The first was a great appreciation of first year Athletic Director Brian Divelbliss.

He was praised for his organization, communication skills and tireless work ethic by all of the Varsity coaches. He willingness to work with the coaches and also just let them vent at times was greatly appreciated.

The second theme was a little embarrassing. The praise for the coverage given to Williamstown sports by the Northfield News in general and this reporter in particular was widespread and the reception I received from everyone on all the mentions (and there were a lot!) was heartwarming and greatly appreciated.

Girl’s basketball coach Sid Sweet mentioned how much the coverage and the pictures meant to the players and how there was a big paper “just down the street” that couldn’t be bothered, but the Northfield News was always there. Girl’s soccer coach, Jay Villa read from the season wrap up column that I wrote about the Girl’s season during his speech and Jack Carrier was very kind in his remarks about my writing and pictures. (Full disclosure: I think Jack has a soft spot because I broadcast the 1986 championship game when he was a player for the Blue Devils.)

Throughout the year I had received all kinds of complements and positive feedback about our coverage and my photos and writing but nothing to compare (or prepare me for) with the presentation of a very nice Blue Devil Jacket with both the “Devil’s logo and my name embroidered on it. I was almost rendered speechless. (That’s almost an impossibility.) I shall wear it proudly on my trips “Over the hill” as I look forward to covering Blue Devil sports starting again in the fall. Thank You Williamstown!