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| Dear ,
Happy 2010 to everyone! The second half of the school year has begun on campus, and students are settling back into their routines after several weeks away from North Bridgton. The first week back was a busy one, including Saturday classes. Outside of the classroom, faculty encouraged the young men to get out and enjoy the winter activities of Maine. Buses are now running daily to Shawnee Peak, bringing both seasoned and first-time skiers to the slopes of one of Maine's oldest ski resorts. Phil Goepel '66 has offered snowshoeing trips into the "back forty" of Bridgton's campus, Coach Inzer brought students out for ice fishing on Stearn's Pond, and Coach Austin continued his much-renowned beaver-trapping expeditions.
Here is some more news from campus: |
Campus News:
 First Semester Success Celebrated at Awards Ceremony: On Thursday, January 14th, returning students gathered in the Twitchell Memorial Chapel for BA's annual recognition of first semester achievements. Dean of Faculty, Fletcher Carr, welcomed the group.
"I would like to share a quote that a long line of academic leaders here, including Mr. Gately, has shared with the students at this ceremony. The quote is attributed to Aristotle, one of the preeminent Greek philosophers and teachers, a man who lived 2300 years ago. In reflecting on human behavior, he said: "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."
Tonight's ceremony will recognize a number of you who have embraced both the habit of excellence and Bridgton's mission, earning the admiration and respect of the Bridgton faculty. Those of you being honored have a range of GPAs and a range of reasons for being here in North Bridgton on a cold January night...One commonality that you share, however, reflects the fact that excellence is becoming a consistent part of your make-up, and is no longer merely a serendipitous and fleeting occurrence in your lives. For all of you, who put in the work to create a terrific first semester here, regardless of GPA or class awards, the Bridgton community says thank you and congratulations." To view a list of members of the Class of 2010 who were recognized with awards, or earned special academic achievements, please click here.
 BA Community Saddened by Loss of Trustee: In 2006, Charles "Chuck" Hamblet joined the Bridgton Academy Board of Trustees. A summertime resident of Casco, Maine, Chuck's passion for educational leadership was a strong match for the mission and values of Bridgton Academy. After serving on the Board for close to four years, Chuck sadly passed away on January 9th, 2010 following his several year battle with a brain tumor. Chuck will be dearly missed by his fellow BA trustees, along with the faculty and staff who had the opportunity to know him. Always ready with a friendly smile and positive demeanor, Chuck provided the Bridgton Board with a steadfast presence bolstered by years of experience in the field of private education. Serving at a number of schools during his career, Chuck was perhaps most notably recognized for his work as Headmaster of St. George's School in Rhode Island. His tenure at St. George's, the second longest headmaster tenure in the school's history, ran from 1989-2004. He leaves behind his loving wife of many years, Carol, along with many other relatives and friends. To read more about Chuck's life and work, please click here. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Hamblet family for their loss, Chuck will be missed as a strong leader of our institution.
Bridgton Announces Closing of Successful Capital Campaign: Bridgton Academy recently announced the official closing of the Third Century Fund campaign. This marks the end of the most successful fundraising effort the school has embarked upon in its 200 plus year history.
"It is very exciting to announce the completion and closing of Bridgton Academy's Third Century Fund. This campaign made our new Humanities Center possible and included the work, support and generosity of hundreds of alumni, parents, friends, Trustees and staff. Every ending is also a beginning and the successful completion of the Third Century Fund paves the way for new work on future projects designed to continue to strengthen the Bridgton Academy experience for the young men we serve," said Kevin Hancock, President of the Academy's Board of Trustees. Thank you to everyone who supported the Third Century Fund. This campaign brought about amazing changes at Bridgton and we would not be celerbating these achievements without your ongoing support. For the full press release, please click here. "Boston Blitz" a Success for Bridgton Coaches and Admissions:
Reserve Your Seats for BA at the Red Sox: Tickets are in! Reserve your seat today for the annual BA-Red Sox outing. Tickets are first-come-first-serve, and there are a limited number of seats available. There is a two-ticket limit per guest. This year's event will take place on Saturday, April 24th as the Sox take on the Baltimore Orioles. A pre-game reception for Bridgton guests will be held at Jillian's, just a few minutes walk from Fenway Park. Tickets are $100 per person, and include appetizers at Jillian's and two items from the Fenway concession. For more information or to reserve your tickets today, please contact Jessica Priola at (207) 647-3322, ext. 219, or email jpriola@bridgtonacademy.org. |
Wolverine Athletics:
Basketball Talent on Tap for Bridgton Academy Winter Classic - If you are looking to catch some local basketball action on the last weekend of January, look no further than BA. That weekend, Bridgton will be hosting three powerhouse teams including Notre Dame Prep, Maine Central Institute, and St. Thomas More for the inaugural Bridgton Academy Winter Classic.
January 30th & 31st
Featuring:
Notre Dame Prep (Fitchburg, MA) - Currently ranked as one of the top five teams in the country
Maine Central Institute (Pittsfield, ME) - Bridgton will look to avenge their two-point loss earlier this season
St. Thomas More (Oakdale, CT) - Featuring the #1 ranked sophomore basketball player in the country
Saturday Night - Games at 6 & 8 PM (Bridgton will play at 8:00 PM)
Sunday Afternoon - Games 12 & 2 PM. First game is consolation game, second match is tournament championship.
Admission charge - $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for non-BA students per game day.
For more information please contact Joe Sawicki at (207) 647-3322, or email jsawicki@bridgtonacademy.org.  Football Team Celebrates Season with Awards Banquet: On Sunday, January 17th, members of the 2009-2010 football team along with parents, faculty, family, and friends gathered to celebrate their season. Many football family and fans made the trek to North Bridgton for the event, and all of the young men were recognized for their hardwork and dedication. Coaches Rick Marcella, Drew Inzer, Joe Daley '77, Matt Burgess '88, Rick Kramer, and Pat Shairs '02 all participated in the festivities.
"I consider it an honor to have the opportunity to serve as the head football coach at BA," said Marcella. Following Legends like Bob Walker, Tom Austin, Lee Harriman, Doug Avery, and Tom McCabe '72, is something I take great pride in. Having completed 20 years as head coach, I feel that if I can have even a small percentage of the impact on our young men which they have had on me over the years, then I will no doubt consider my tenure a successful one. I can't tell you how much I enjoy working with your sons...our student-athletes. They keep me young - much to my chagrin I have many mirrors that remind me of the truth! So thank you parents for entrusting your sons to me. Bridgton Academy works, not because we put the student in the Student/Athlete, but because we bring the student OUT in the Student/Athlete."
Most Outstanding Player Awards:
Offensive Line: Jacob Lane
Defensive Line: Cam Ziny
Linebacker: Steven Goniprow
Running Back: Kenny Brock
Defensive Back: Jonathan Price
Wide Reciever: Jordan Murphy
Coaches Awards: (Voted on by football staff)
Recipients: Casey Goguen & Melikke Van Alstyne
The Wolverine Award: (Voted on by the players based on who best embodies the standards of BA football - Courage, Intensity & Hardness)
Recipient: Kenny Brock
 BA Community Steps-up in Support of Head Hockey Coach - Bridgton Academy has been thrilled to have alumnus and pro hockey player, Jonathan Lounsbury '01 back on campus as the Wolverine head hockey coach. This winter, the community was saddened to hear that Jonathan's mother, Maryann, had a resurgence of her
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL), a cancer that she had successfully treated several years before. Maryann's doctors determined that her best course of treatment was to have an allogeneic stem cell transplant, which uses blood-forming cells from a donor. Maryann's three siblings were tested and her youngest brother Steven was fortunately a match and was chosen as the donor.
Two days before Maryann was scheduled to enter the hospital, she was contacted by a Medicare representative who informed her that they would not cover the procedure because it was deemed "not medically necessary." As a result, the hospital cancelled the $396,000 procedure.
After hearing this news, Jonathan and his brothers decided to take action and host a charity hockey game to raise money for their mother. On Jan 9, 2010, in Winthrop MA, the Lounsbury brothers hosted a Pro's vs. Joe's hockey game. Jonathan's Pro team consisted of players from around North America that Jon played professional hockey with, while his brother's team was local players who played at the NCAA level over the years. With almost a thousand tickets sold the event was a success, raising over $30,000 to help the supplement the cost of Maryann's procedure. Family and friends at Bridgton pooled money together to purchase the jersey's worn for the game, an effort Jonathan was grateful for. " I want to thank everyone for all their help in a time of need, especially my family of faculty and students at Bridgton Academy, without all of you this event wouldn't have been so successful."
 Double Overtime Win for BA: The Bridgton Academy basketball team traveled to Chelsea High School in Massachusettsto take on Notre Dame Prep early Saturday afternoon for the annual Martin Luther King weekend event sponsored by Boston Amateur Basketball Club and Boston Celtic assistant coach Leo Papile.
Both BA and Notre Dame Prep were playing their first game back after the semester break and the host Crusaders ultimately held off a game effort by the Wolverines. The first half was close throughout with ND Prep using a late run to take a slim 33-29 lead into halftime.
In the second half, the Prep used a fast start to gain some momentum but BA battled back to take its only lead of the second half at 48-47 entering the final ten minutes. Once again Notre Dame built an 11 point cushion but the Wolverines put together an impressive run of their own in the final five minutes and gained possession of the ball trailing 66-61. BA could not convert a steal and fastbreak opportunity and moments later had one more open look at the rim but could not knock down the three point shot to pull closer.
Leading the BA attack for the day was Alexander Harris (Richmond, CA) with a game high 21 points. Chance Jones (Knoxville, TN) netted eleven in a very balanced effort for Bridgton Academy. Coach Lesure saw mixed results in the afternoon's effort. "We certainly competed and played as a team down to the wire. I liked our poise. We need to cut down on some give-aways, as much on the defensive end as within our offense, but I feel like our guys understand what has to happen," Lesure said.
In the first home game of 2010, the Wolverines hosted the South Kent Cardinals on Sunday afternoon. The battle of perennial powers lived up to the hype, ending in a double-overtime Bridgton victory with a score of 108-104.
The two teams came out shooting in this fast paced, high scoring affair. In the back and forth first half no team held a lead greater than six points and the Wolverines went into the break with a 54-48 advantage. South Kent used a quick 6-0 run to eliminate the BA lead after the break, but Bridgton used key contributions off the bench to keep the Cardinals from running away with the win. South Kent extended its lead at the end of the half only to see Bridgton get timely buckets, and key stops to pull even. South Kent missed a shot with three seconds remaining in regulation to send the game into its first overtime, 91-91.
After the first extra session the score was still knotted, 98-98. In the second overtime Ruben Kanya (Hamilton, Ontario) knocked down critical free throws, Paul Dick (Belfast, Ireland) and Chance Jones also added late baskets to seal the thrilling victory 108-104. BA hosts New Hampton School today at 6:00 p.m.
 Hockey Team Returns to Action: The Bridgton Academy hockey team returned from a somewhat abbreviated winter break to compete in a two-day showcase in Marlboro, MA. In the first game of the showcase on Friday, January 8th, the Philadelphia Junior Flyers took down a highly motivated Wolverine Team 5-0. The level of play by Bridgton was not necessarily evidenced by the score, as coaches described their play as solid and engaging. Nate Potter (Hartford High School) faced 13 shots in the first and 18 in the second period. The Flyers were very fortunate with a few tips and bounces, which lead to three goals.
Hoping they shook off the rust during the first game, the following day the Wolverines came out flying, leaving no doubt how hungry they were for a win. From the beginning, BA poured shot after shot on the Little Flyers goalie. Five minutes into the first, Aaron Semiao (North Reading, MA) banged in a puck with Tad Gold (Oak's Bluff, MA) and Kyle O'Connell (Bridgewater, MA) adding the assists. Ian Edwards (Linden, MI) was stellar in the pipes turning away 15 shots in the first. BA continued their assault on the power play, when defenseman, Chris Howard (Shelburne,VT) snipped a power play goal. BA gained a two goal lead when Jesse Shavel (Cumberland, ME) took a feed from O'Connell and Gold and buried the puck in the back of the net. BA played well in the second half, but penalties allowed the Little Flyers to sneak within one. With two minutes remaining and on a 5-3 penalty kill, Evan Schwender (Saundertown, RI), Jacob Donahue (Swampscott, MA) and O'Connell shut down the Little Flyers and preserved the win.
Unfortunately, the Wolverines third game of the weekend didn't end as well. The first period saw the New Hampshire Monarchs strike repeated shots at BA goalie Rob Campbell (Braintree, MA). After one period, BA was down 7-0. What was said during intermission isn't known, but even though tired, BA tightened up their defense and managed to put some pressure on the Monarchs. The final half ended with the Monarchs defeating BA 7-0. Casey Helms (Sandwich, MA) played outstanding in one of his first games after finished up the fall lacrosse season.
The Wolverines hosted Stanstead College of Quebec in their first home game of the new year. The game of hockey is 60 minutes long, and unfortunately, BA found out the hard way what happens if you play 50 minutes. Within a 5 minute span in the second period and a 5 minute span in the third period, Stanstead scored 4 goals. Before and after that time, BA's defense was outstanding. Ian Edwards turned aside 32 shots in goal for BA.
Most recently, the Wolverines traveled to Norwich University to take on the Vermont Glades. With help from a stellar performance by Nate Potter,BA came away with a win. Potter turned aside 25 shots through two 25 minute halves. The lone Glades goal came on the power play, where Potter was screened the entire time. "This was Bridgton Hockey. We battled hard in both ends of the ice and controlled the puck deep in the offensive zone" said Assistant Coach Mike Meserve. The Wolverines host local rival Hebron Academy today at 4:00 p.m.
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| Alumni News:
 Bridgton Alumnus Coaching at NFC Championship: Although perhaps a New England fan at heart, native New-Englander and BA graduate Mike Cerullo '86 has made a home for himself within the New Orleans Saints organization. Currently working as an assistant coach for the Saints, Cerullo's team will meet the Minnesota Vikings in this year's NFC Championship. Cerullo has been with the Saints since 2007.
 2006 Graduate Earns Accolades From College: Shavar Bernier '06 distinguished himself at Bridgton, both in the classroom and on the basketball court. It was because of his distinction and leadership that he was recognized with one of Bridgton's highest awards at graduation, the Spooner Award. After completing his year at BA, Shavar went on to attend Connecticut College, where he has continued to work hard and impress those who meet him. Recently, a local Connecticut newspaper ran a great article about Shavar, otherwise known as "Mr. Conn College."
"I like everything about him," Bernier's basketball coach states. "He's the hardest working kid we ever had. He's the best leader. He's the best person. He's the toughest kid. He's the best defender. He's the most liked on campus. He's the best kid I've ever coached and probably will be the best kid I ever coach." To read more about Shavar's college career to date, please click here.
Become a Facebook Fan - With over 600 fans - make sure you become a fan of the BA Facebook site today! Featuring daily updates, pictures, event listings, and more. Also, check out BA on LinkedIn. For a listing of links to BA social networking pages, click here. For more alumni news and notes, be sure to visit the alumni pages of our website at www.bridgtonacademy.org.
Upcoming Events -
Don't forget to save these dates on your 2010 calendar. Look for more information on the following events in the near future.
Boston Reception @ The Vault - Wednesday, Feb. 10th, 2010
Bridgton Academy hosts Lake Region Chamber of Commerce "After Hours" (will include remarks by faculty member Pete Gately) - Thursday, February 25th from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. (Marcella-Sands Lecture Hall)
BA @ the Red Sox - Saturday, April 24th v. Baltimore Orioles
Reunion Weekend 2010 - June 4-6th (Milestone years ending in 5's & 0's)
Want to submit a Class Note or update your contact information? simply fill out our online Update Us form. |
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