Calling All Panthers – It’s Playoff Season!
October 26, 2022
Photo: TA’s co-ed middle school soccer team wrapped up their season at Sharon last week, winning 5-0. Coach Tony Strat shared, “It’s been an amazing experience to be a former team captain on the girls varsity team at TA to coaching at TA on the same fields against the same schools I played for 6 years at TA.”
The Panthers wrapped up their regular season Saturday with a varsity boys soccer game at TA and the Southern Vermont League Cross Country A championships meet in Rutland, VT. The Panthers celebrated senior soccer players Aidan Keane, Nolan Pepe, Jacob Gilman, TJ Berecz, and Finn Linehan before taking the field v. Division II’s Harwood. After holding the Highlanders (11-2) scoreless for 60 minutes, Harwood took the lead, defeating the Panthers 2-0. The Panthers ended the season 6-6-2 in VPA III.
On Wednesday, the varsity boys (#6 seed) kicked off playoff season with a nailbiting home game v. Randolph’s Galloping Ghosts (#11 seed), grinding out a 5-4 win in double overtime. Senior Finn Linehan scored the winning goal. Up next, the boys will travel to Morrisville to take on Peoples Academy (#3 seed) on Saturday at 11 a.m.
The varsity girls soccer team (#15 seed) entered the playoffs on Tuesday v. BFA Fairfax (#2 seed), falling 9-0 and ending their 2022 season. TA will graduate Madi Mousley, Hannah Williams, Liv Hastings, and Taylor West.
In cross country, the Panthers punched above their weight and earned a second place finish in Saturday’s SVL A meet, behind Burr and Burton. The Valley News shared the details: “For the Thetford boys, junior Ben Mattern was fifth individually in the 5K race (17:49.97) and sophomore Brady Sloop was seventh (18:13.76). Junior Jasper Jones, sophomore Ramona Spelman, senior Harley Ransom and sophomore Wendell Durham also factored into the Panthers’ scoring.
On the girls side, Thetford senior Madelyn Durkee finished third in 20:53.90 and sophomore Ava Hayden came in fifth in 21:08.20. Junior Charlize Brown (14th), junior Annie Hesser (17th) and senior Abby Egner (28th) also competed for the Panthers.” TA will host the Vermont State Cross Country championship meet starting at 10:30 a.m. Panther fans should keep an eye on the TA calendar for upcoming events and games!
