Small in Size, Big Performance in Competition
Isabella Milazzo (PHS Class of 2020)
October 28, 2016
On Saturday October 22, the Poultney Varsity Cheerleading team competed at Vermont’s first ever Game Day Championship in South Burlington. 10 teams from across the state--including Rutland, Mill River, Missisquoi, and CVU--competed. Focused mainly on spirit and crowd involvement, the competition took on a different format than the usual ones during the winter. Instead of preparing a set routine, teams had to react to a set of cues based on in-game scenarios (touchdown, defense, first down, etc).
Another focus was sportsmanship. Before the awards portion of the competition, each team got the opportunity to vote for the team that they felt exhibited the most sportsmanship. Mill River received the award.
Poultney came home with a second place finish overall; Rutland placed first.
Poultney-MSJ Clinches Playoff Spot
Lane Gibbs (PHS Class of 2021)
October 27, 2016
THE PLAYOFFS...every team dreams of making them. Well with great teamwork, you can make it there, just like Poultney-MSJ. They have had a rough season (going only 2-9), but with the win over Missisquoi, they have advanced to the playoffs.
They had an outstanding game, winning 18-0. It was a tough game to play, especially because it was raining buckets, and it was hard for both teams to hold onto the ball. However, with great coaching, Poultney-MSJ was able to come up with solutions to beat the rain, and by solutions I mean having a dry ball always ready. Poultney also made the decision to run the ball quite often.
Trent Rogers and Caden Capman contributed to the end score, with Rogers having two touchdowns in total.
Senior Jacob Woodbury was interviewed and asked about how it felt to play in his senior football game. He said, “It was exciting to play in what could have been my last game as a senior, but at the same time, it was sad because no senior wants their season to come to an end. I think everybody contributed as much as they could and that’s why we won.”
The playoff game will take place this Saturday in Windsor at 1 PM.
Two Schools, One Team
Lane Gibbs (PHS Class of 2021)
October 7, 2016
With the season almost over, the Poultney-MSJ football team has clinched its first victory. In a matchup with the Springfield Cosmos, Poultney-MSJ came out on top with a final score of 27-0. However, there has been some talk about the meshing of the two teams and whether or not it has been beneficial. The team is currently 1-6, so this conversation makes sense.
Many believe an actual season would not have been possible if these two teams didn’t mash together in order to become stronger. For the first time in years, both teams are able to have a strong junior varsity team with a full schedule.
When news of this transition entered into the conversation of the town, many citizens were worried about how the mash-up would work. Where would they practice? What uniforms would they wear? Well, they switch fields every practice. One day they are at Poultney, and one day they are at MSJ. Buses transport the players to and from practice. At away games, the teams wear their white away jerseys. The team itself has four home games, but each school has two home games on their own fields, and the other school wears the others team’s home jersey when that happens (so MSJ wears blue when they play in Poultney, and Poultney wears green when they play at MSJ). Both teams wear their own helmets.
When asked about this transition, Joe DeBonis, PHS principal and line-coach for the football team, said “I think it’s a great opportunity for the players and the coaches to come together and play together as one, and it will be all around great for the two communities to come together and be one great team.”
Even though the players were afraid of losing their starting spots, DeBonis believes this new competition is helpful because the players have to prove themselves worthy enough to be a part of the starting lineup. This teaches them that hard work pays off.
What do you think about the combination of teams? Write to The Polonius to share your opinion.
Isabella Milazzo (PHS Class of 2020)
October 28, 2016
On Saturday October 22, the Poultney Varsity Cheerleading team competed at Vermont’s first ever Game Day Championship in South Burlington. 10 teams from across the state--including Rutland, Mill River, Missisquoi, and CVU--competed. Focused mainly on spirit and crowd involvement, the competition took on a different format than the usual ones during the winter. Instead of preparing a set routine, teams had to react to a set of cues based on in-game scenarios (touchdown, defense, first down, etc).
Another focus was sportsmanship. Before the awards portion of the competition, each team got the opportunity to vote for the team that they felt exhibited the most sportsmanship. Mill River received the award.
Poultney came home with a second place finish overall; Rutland placed first.
Poultney-MSJ Clinches Playoff Spot
Lane Gibbs (PHS Class of 2021)
October 27, 2016
THE PLAYOFFS...every team dreams of making them. Well with great teamwork, you can make it there, just like Poultney-MSJ. They have had a rough season (going only 2-9), but with the win over Missisquoi, they have advanced to the playoffs.
They had an outstanding game, winning 18-0. It was a tough game to play, especially because it was raining buckets, and it was hard for both teams to hold onto the ball. However, with great coaching, Poultney-MSJ was able to come up with solutions to beat the rain, and by solutions I mean having a dry ball always ready. Poultney also made the decision to run the ball quite often.
Trent Rogers and Caden Capman contributed to the end score, with Rogers having two touchdowns in total.
Senior Jacob Woodbury was interviewed and asked about how it felt to play in his senior football game. He said, “It was exciting to play in what could have been my last game as a senior, but at the same time, it was sad because no senior wants their season to come to an end. I think everybody contributed as much as they could and that’s why we won.”
The playoff game will take place this Saturday in Windsor at 1 PM.
Two Schools, One Team
Lane Gibbs (PHS Class of 2021)
October 7, 2016
With the season almost over, the Poultney-MSJ football team has clinched its first victory. In a matchup with the Springfield Cosmos, Poultney-MSJ came out on top with a final score of 27-0. However, there has been some talk about the meshing of the two teams and whether or not it has been beneficial. The team is currently 1-6, so this conversation makes sense.
Many believe an actual season would not have been possible if these two teams didn’t mash together in order to become stronger. For the first time in years, both teams are able to have a strong junior varsity team with a full schedule.
When news of this transition entered into the conversation of the town, many citizens were worried about how the mash-up would work. Where would they practice? What uniforms would they wear? Well, they switch fields every practice. One day they are at Poultney, and one day they are at MSJ. Buses transport the players to and from practice. At away games, the teams wear their white away jerseys. The team itself has four home games, but each school has two home games on their own fields, and the other school wears the others team’s home jersey when that happens (so MSJ wears blue when they play in Poultney, and Poultney wears green when they play at MSJ). Both teams wear their own helmets.
When asked about this transition, Joe DeBonis, PHS principal and line-coach for the football team, said “I think it’s a great opportunity for the players and the coaches to come together and play together as one, and it will be all around great for the two communities to come together and be one great team.”
Even though the players were afraid of losing their starting spots, DeBonis believes this new competition is helpful because the players have to prove themselves worthy enough to be a part of the starting lineup. This teaches them that hard work pays off.
What do you think about the combination of teams? Write to The Polonius to share your opinion.