2010 Johnson State Fall Athletics Preview
JOHNSON, Vt. (August 30, 2010)
Men's Cross Country
Returners Django Koenig (left) and Zach Johnston
Head Coach Jim Roy who enters his 11th season as the cross country team Head Coach returns a pair of runners from last year's squad that finished in fifth at the North Atlantic Conference Championships in 2009 in Django Koenig (Plainfield, Vt./Twinfield) and Zach Johnston (Enfield, Conn./Enfield). Koenig was a 32nd place finisher at the NAC Championships while Johnston came in 45th. Johnson's 2009 season was highlighted by a pair of second place finishes at the Farmington Invitational and the MMA Invitational.
The team will look to start a successful campaign on Sunday, September 5 at Castleton Invitational.
Women's Cross Country
Returners Nemesia Sorcar (left) and Colleen McNamara
Five returners are back from the 2009 squad that ran to a sixth place team finish at the North Atlantic Conference Championships for 11th-year Head Coach Jim Roy. Amongst those returners include NAC Second Team member Colleen McNamara (Cavendish, Vt./Green Mountain) who came in 10th place at the championships last fall. Also back is senior Nemesia Sorcar (Kensington, N.H./Exeter) who finished in 46th place in the NAC Championships. Each were recognized as NAC Fall All-Academic team members as well.
The team will run in a season-opening race at Castleton on Sunday, September 5.
Men's Golf
Head Coach Lou Jarvis and returner Branden Sawyer
Second-year Head Coach Lou Jarvis will look to continue to grow a program that was started in the 2009. The Badgers played to a sixth-place finish in 2009 NAC Championships and will look to returning senior Branden Sawyer (East Greenwich, R.I./East Greenwich) for leadership and improved play. Four newcomers will be asked to produce immediately for the Badgers who had a pair of event wins in 2009, one at Jay Peak, Vermont and one at Killington, Vermont.
The Badgers open their season with a match on Saturday, September 4 at Neshobe Country Club in Brandon, Vt.
Men's Soccer
Returners Victor Abass (left) and Chad Koenig
First-year Head Coach Ray Campanile will look to build on Johnson's run to the North Atlantic Conference semifinals in 2009 where the Badgers fell in penalty kicks. The Badgers finished 6-8-3 overall and 2-5 in the NAC. JSC returns 11 players including defensive stalwarts Victor Abass (Sudan/Cedar Park Christian), a NAC Second Team member, and Chad Koenig (Warren, Vt./Harwood). Sophomore Noor Bulle (Somalia/Burlington, Vt./Burlington) made an instant impact in his freshman season by recording 22 points (10 goals, two assists) and earning NAC Rookie of the Year and NAC First Team honors.
Johnson will kick off their 2010 season on the road with a match at St. Michael's College on Thursday, September 2 at 4:00 pm.
Women's Soccer
Returners Kathryn Johnson (left) and Ally Bataille
The 2010 Johnson State women's soccer team will be lead by first-year Head Coach Ray Campanile who inherits a team that went 6-8-1 overall and 1-5-1 in the North Atlantic Conference. The Badgers earned a playoff birth but fell in the quarterfinals. Coach Campanile will see 11 players return including NAC Second Team member Ally Bataille (Waterbury, Vt./Harwood) who was second on the team in scoring with 12 points (six goals). Senior leadership will come in the form of veteran standouts Kathryn Johnson (Hyde Park, Vt./Lamoille), Samantha Cutting (Rochester, Vt./Rochester), and Emily Hassard (Montpelier, Vt./Spaulding).
The Badgers will open their season at home on Wednesday, September 1 at 4:00 pm when they play host to Gordon College.
Women's Tennis
Returners Katelyn Breault (left) and Rebecca Quarantiello
Johnson State women's tennis showed in improvement under first-year Head Coach Michele Whitmore and finished 3-10 overall and 2-4 in the North Atlantic Conference. The squad fell in the semifinals of the NAC Tournament but see four experienced student-athlete's back including NAC Doubles First Team member Katelyn Breault (Orleans, Vt./Lake Region) as well as two-time NAC Player of the Week Rebecca Quarantiello (Newburyport, Mass./Newburyport).
Johnson will start their season on Friday, September 3 at home versus visiting University of Massachusetts-Boston at 3:00 pm.
Women's Volleyball
Returners Kylie Van Etten (left) and Jessica Pafumi
The inaugural season of Johnson State volleyball ended on a high note for Head Coach Mark Kaufman in 2009 as the Badgers won their final match of the season to finish 1-17 overall and 0-7 in the North Atlantic Conference. The team was recognized by the NAC with the NAC Sportsmanship Award. Second-year Coach Kaufman will have five returners back including setter Kylie Van Etten (Montroses, Penn./Elk Lake) and outside hitter Jessica Pafumi (Monson, Mass./Monson). Van Etten led the club in assists (57) and digs (118) while Pafumi paced the team in kills with 48.
Johnson will host Anna Maria College and Bay Path College in a tri-match on September 11 starting at 1:00 pm to begin their 2010 campaign.