TA News

The Panthers are gearing up for the winter athletics season at TA. Tryouts are done, rosters are set, and practice is in session!

This year, the varsity girls basketball team welcomes new leadership after the passing last spring of Eric Ward, the Panthers beloved coach and mentor. Former assistant coach, faculty member, and alumna Jolene Cadwell ’96 will take the reins alongside Robin Pettingell who will serve as the girls’ assistant coach. In the 2021-2022 season, the Panthers finished the season ranked 7th in Division III, and will be working to reclaim the championship title they last won in 2020. On the roster are two seniors, Madi Mousley and Taylor West, with returning athletes Addie Cadwell, Whitney Lewis, Charlize Brown, Kelsey Bogie, and Mason Fahey. Ruth Wilmott joins the team as a sophomore. The first game of the season is scheduled for Tuesday, December 14 at White River Valley. Subscribe to the team calendar here.

The varsity boys basketball team welcomes back veteran coach Jason Gray ’09 who will be joined this year by Alex Emerson ’20 as assistant coach. After last season’s building year, the Panthers are looking forward to using what they’ve learned to come out strong. The team has one senior, Jacob Gilman, joined by returning players Mitchell Parkman, Hunter Clay, Dempsey McGovern, Dillon Vance, Matt Vivian, Spencer Durkee, Boone Fahey, and Brady Sloop. New faces Justin Robinson, Liam Murphy, Owen Goodrich, and Sam Parkman join the roster. The Panthers last won the state title in 2018-19 and are looking forward to another run at the Aud in 2023. The Panthers first game is at Oxbow on December 14. Subscribe to the team calendar here.

There’s no snow on the ground just yet, but the Thetford Academy alpine ski team is already in full swing with dryland training. The team, which last year included over 20 middle and high school students, is looking ahead to another big year on the slopes–perhaps their biggest yet. Coaches Amy Huyffer and Paul Dixon will return for the 2022-2023 season, leading the 11 boys and 10 girls on the high school roster. This year, the middle school team will split off, led by ski team alum Riley Burkins ’21 as coach. This year, Coach Dixon shared, “We want to focus on fun, good fundamental skiing, and improving our results at races–in that order. It would be amazing if we made it to the State Championship at Burke, which we feel is within reach with some hard work, dedication–and maybe a little bit of luck.”

Finally, TA’s formidable indoor track team will start training for the 2022-2023 season. Coaches Charlie Buttrey and Joel Breakstone will lead the Division II varsity team, with alumni Cole Chapman ’15 and Caleb Davidson ’17 supporting. The season will be the first in a few years. “The Covid pandemic meant that TA has not been able to field an indoor track program in the past two years,” said Buttrey. This doesn’t worry him, though, “What this team lacks in experience, it makes up for with enthusiasm.  And it doesn’t hurt that many of the athletes have competed either in the perennially strong spring track or cross-country programs (or both), so that have already learned what it takes to put together a successful season.” The last time Thetford Academy fielded indoor track teams, the boys won the D-II state championship, and the girls were runners-up, so they will be a team to watch!