TA News

In the words of Coach Charlie Buttrey…

Most athletic teams are able to honor their seniors during the final home game. The indoor track team had planned on doing its senior honors during the Winter Sports Award Banquet. Unfortunately, the banquet has been cancelled. In its absence, we would like to take this opportunity to honor them.

It is an indoor track tradition that seniors take on a leadership role from the very first practice, and this group led the program to unprecedented heights: the boys won the D-II state championship (the first-ever championship at the D-II level by any team in TA athletic history), and the girls finished second.

We say goodbye to:

– Tyler Wojcik. Tyler was the best teammate anyone could ask for. In his only year on the team, he earned a spot on the school record board as a member of the second-fastest 4 x 800 relay team in school history.

– Stephen Prunk. Stephen could be called upon to help the team on the track, but found his niche in the throwing circle. His diligent and tireless work ethic resulted in significant improvement in both the shot put and the weight throw in his two years on the team.

– Frank Loveland. Frank’s cheerful demeanor brightened our practices and our meets. He was an integral part of our state championship team on the 4 x 400 and 4 x 800 teams, and his name will be added to the record board in the 4 x 800 relay.

– Grace Davis. Grace is possibly the most decorated female athlete in school history, having already earned multiple state championships in soccer, basketball and outdoor track. She managed to balance basketball with track this past winter, and scored points in four different events at the state meet. To top it all, she set the Vermont D-II high jump record!

–  Tad Darrah. After competing as a sprinter his sophomore season, Tad stretched out to longer distances as a junior, and the results were nothing short of astonishing. He leaves us as the school record holder in the 600, 1000, 1500 and 1600, and is second in the 3000 by .02 seconds. He was also part of all three of the fastest 4 x 800 relay teams in school history, including the team that set the state record last year.

– Jason Wolstenholme. Jason’s calm exterior masks a ferocious competitor.  His indoor track career culminated in a state championship in the 55 hurdles, a well-deserved ticket to the New England championships, and a spot atop the school record board as the anchor on the fastest 4 x 200 relay team in school history.

Morgan Gaffney. Morgan devoted four years to the program and her liveliness and effervescence enhanced every practice and every meet. She leaves as a member of the two fastest 4 x 800 relay teams in school history.

The leadership that this extraordinary group of seniors provided will be forever celebrated by two banners on the gym walls.

We will miss them, and we thank them.