This is your chance to dust off those old wood skis, your VR17s, or your Rossi Stratos and compete against Vermont's finest. This year's Vermont Antique Ski Race will be held on Saturday, March 20 at Suicide Six in Woodstock, Vt.

Last Sunday, March 14 the CVU alpine ski team, most dressed in crazy costumes, along with other high school skiers, completed the one million vertical feet ski challenge which raised over $11,000 for lights at Cochran's Ski Area.

Kienan Kittredge and Robby Brangan of Shelburne are at it again. The two sixth graders from Shelburne Community School (SCS) placed first and second respectively in a wrestling tournament at Mount Mansfield Union High School Saturday afternoon.

Calling all poker fans. Marco's Pizza is hosting an afternoon of Texas Hold 'em on Sunday March 28 and proceeds will benefit the Shelburne Recreation Department.

Just as the 2009 lacrosse season was ready to begin, James Schmidt realized Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y., wasn't the place for him. The first-year student from Shelburne had decided he wanted to pursue a business degree with an emphasis on entrepreneurship and another school, Babson College in the Boston area, boasted the "Number 1" such program, according to the U.S. News & World Report.

Allison Gannon of Shelburne has been named the 2009-2010 Gatorade Vermont Girls Basketball Player of the Year. She is the first Champlain Valley Union High School (CVU) basketball player to win the award.

Two Shelburne snowboarders, Cam Harris, 13, and Tom Gallagher, 16, teamed up with Richmond resident, Spencer Lefebvre, a 12-year-old skier, to win Wednesday's Night Rider Team Challenge competition at Bolton Valley Resort on March 3.

What's it going to take to get lights at Cochran's Ski Area?" Kris Owens of Shelburne asked Joe Cutts, a Cochran's board member. the short answer: $50,000. "Not as much as I thought," Owens admitted to herself as she began formulating a fundraising plan.

Have you always wanted to try curling? Does watching the Olympic Curling games have you wondering whether you could have been a contender? Then grab three of your friends now, form your team, and take part in HowardCenter's First Annual "Curling Challenge" on Saturday, March 20, at Cairns Arena in South Burlington.

Sammy Fortin, (171 lb., sophomore, Hinesburg) qualified for the New England regional tournament by placing third in his weight class at the Vermont State Tourney. His coaches, family, and seven teammates traveled to New Haven, Conn. with him to support him in his effort at the next level.

The Vermont Glades Squirt team won the Tier I Regional Championships held in Smithfield, Rhode Island March 5-7.

Matt Long has it all going on. First named to the Vermont North-South Senior Bowl, then the first Redhawk in history to be named to the annual Shrine roster, and now Long is the Division II nominee for the PRIDE Award.

Cara Paganelli was born to ride. At five she remembers her first ride with a friend who had a horse. At age six she is competing in local horse shows. At seven Paganelli has "Annie," her first horse. Fast forward another seven years and here's what you'll find.

Kevin Bouchard-Hall has been a successful cross country runner, mountain bike competitor, and road cyclist. Now he's on to a new challenge: triathlons.

Generally, any discussion of college skiing in Vermont revolves around the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association (EISA) since it's on that Winter Carnival circuit that such schools as the University of Vermont, Middlebury College, and Dartmouth College compete. Yet there is a lesser known confederation of colleges and universities that field alpine, Nordic, freestyle, even snowboard teams under the U.S. Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association (USCSA) banner, and that's where Hugh Kirkpatrick of Shelburne and Boston College will be competing for a national championship this weekend.

Three third-period goals by sophomore, Spaulding forward Colby Laperle, helped the Crimson Tide defeat the Redhawks 4-1 in the Division I high school boys state championship game on Tuesday night at UVM's Gutterson Fieldhouse.

Tom Gallagher is sick. No, he doesn't have a cold or the flu. It's just that in snowboarding terms sick means really cool or exceptionally good. From my perspective it's an apt description of Gallagher and his way of life.

On Friday, Feb. 26, eight CVU wrestlers traveled to Vergennes for the 2009-2010 State Finals Tournament. Liam Bowley (103 lb., freshman, Williston), Shane Haley (119 lb., freshman, Williston), Bryant Grey (125 lb., senior, Shelburne), Schuyler Himberg (130 lb., sophomore, Williston), Ryan Stearns (135 lb., junior, Williston), Tucker Austin (160 lb., sophomore, Williston), Sam Fortin (171 lb., sophomore, Hinesburg), and James Dattilio (229 lb., senior, Williston) all made the trip.

Defensive end Matt Long is the first CVU player in history to be named to the annual Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl roster. The three-year starter says, "It's an honor to be named to the team," adding, "It feels pretty cool."

Lizzy Betz crashed in from the point and passed the puck to a wide-open Molly Howard on the back post. Howard connected and slipped the puck past Rebel goaltender Jenn Arnold with 4 minutes and 15 seconds remaining in the second period for her 29th goal of the season - and 100th point of her career - as CVU skated to a quarterfinal victory over South Burlington 3-2 on Saturday afternoon at Cairns Arena.

Shelburne Little League (SLL) has partnered with the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) for the 2010 season. By forming this partnership, PCA and SLL share a commitment to provide youth athletes with a positive sports experience.

Standing at the starting gate of the 2008 Subaru U.S. Freeskiing Championships, Louise Lintilhac of Shelburne was all nerves. So much so that after she began her descent, she quickly opted out of her line and fell short of qualifying. Fast-forward two years and Lintilhac has turned things around; skiing to a second place finish in the Subaru World Tour qualifier in Telluride, Colo. Feb. 4-6.

Amanda Kinneston is on a break. And I don't mean February break. Kinneston, whose basketball season was cut short in a 40-37 quarterfinal loss to St. Johnsbury on Saturday, has a short break between sports seasons. Not that Kinneston has any regrets about the basketball loss sharing, "it was a really close game." Instead, she will focus on her next CVU sport of choice: lacrosse.

On Saturday, Feb. 20, the CVU Redhawks traveled to the Junior Varsity State Wrestling Tournament at Spaulding High School. Eight young athletes made the trip. Five finished on the podium. Two won championships in their weight divisions. And one was named Outstanding Wrestler of the day. As a team, CVU finished fifth out of 24 squads from throughout the state. At day's end, Coach Gunnar Olson observed, "We're not surprised, just happy. We knew they'd wrestle tough. It's been a very good day."

Redhawks Robbie Dobrowski and Kyle Logan scored twice each and Champlain Valley Union skated past second seeded South Burlington 6-3 in the quarter- final game on Feb. 20 at Cairns Arena.

CVU captain Robbie Dobrowski reached his 100 career point on Feb. 20 with an assist on CVU's final goal of the quarterfinal game scored by JP Benoit.

CVU's Redhawk wrestlers ended their regular season with trips to Enosburg and Essex High School last week. The team won one and lost one, to end the season with an even 6-6 record. With varsity wrestlers in only eight of the 14 weight divisions though, team morale is high, and the coaches are pleased with the season. "We basically wrestled every dual meet with one half of a full team. Our record this season is testament to the dedication and determination of our athletes."

Anika Ades is prepared for her future. Interested in colleges with strong international programs in or near a city, Ades has already been accepted by early decision to Tufts University in Boston, Mass. No more SATs, no more worrying, no more decisions; all that is left is the wait to walk through the doors to a seamless match between college and student-athlete.

Shelburne residents Caroline Jones, Lucas Hilker, and Olivia Hern traveled with other members of the Vermont Fencing Alliance to compete in the Junior Olympics four-day event in Memphis, Tenn. Feb. 12-15. The three qualified to participate by competing and placing in the top three at the Jr. Olympic qualifiers in Middlebury last November. Hern qualified to compete in Cadet Women's Foil (ages 13-16),

The Vermont Hunter Jumper Association (VHJA) celebrated its annual year-end awards on Saturday, Feb. 6 at the Hilton Hotel in Burlington, Vt.

The Green Mountain Disc Golf Club (GMDGC) and the Burlington Disc Golf Club donated $3,665 to the Waterbury Area Food Shelf and Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf. The money was raised during the Ice Bucket tournament, an annual charity disc golf tournament, that was held on Jan. 30 in minus four-degree weather in Waterbury Center, Vt.

Adam Terko is still waiting for that day when everything comes together mentally and physically. So is his cross country ski coach at St. Lawrence University, Ethan Townsend. "I'm not sure why it hasn't clicked for him yet," Townsend said earlier this winter of the Nordic skier from Shelburne. It's not because of a lack of effort or drive, Townsend said.

Caroline Carpenter never doubted where she would pursue her education once she graduated from Champlain Valley Union High School. "St. Lawrence has always been the school I've thought about," said Carpenter, a sophomore at the Canton, N.Y., university. "My dad graduated from there in '81. It's always been in the family discussion and I've heard all his stories," said the Shelburne resident.

Sydney Bouchard has basketball running through her veins. It's in her blood. As she puts it, her mom, Becky, and dad, Bob, were standout basketball players at Rice Memorial High School in their day. Becky held many state high school records and is a Hall of Fame basketball player at Rice, she is also the first woman in the state of Vermont to obtain a full four-year athletic collegiate scholarship to St. Michael's College (SMC), currently holds a record in their 1,000 Point Club, and was inducted to its Hall of Fame in 1992.

The Little League experience in Shelburne has long been an anticipated spring-time ritual. This year, the experience of young players will be enhanced through the introduction of a coaching philosophy developed to not merely teach the game, but to teach life lessons.

The game of basketball involves ten players out on the court, two coaches, and a whole lot of people cheering you and your team on. Everybody knows that the coach is the most important part of the team, but many people who are under the radar are the players who "come off the bench" (who don't start the game).

It has been a busy week for the Redhawks; they have battled through four dual meets and two tournaments in seven days. Last Tuesday, the team traveled to St. Johnsbury where they topped the Hilltoppers 42-36. Captains Ryan Stearns (130 lbs. junior, Williston), Sam Fortin (171 lbs. sophomore, Hinesburg) and James Dattilio (285 lbs. senior, Williston) led the charge. Ryan Fleming (160 lbs. sophomore, Charlotte) and Patrick Shea (112 lbs. freshman, Charlotte) contributed to the effort with decisive victories. Including exhibition matches, Dattilio, Fleming, and Shea won twice on the night.

Alec Zullo is a busy guy. Not in a negative or superficial way. He's just actively and enthusiastically, engaged in everything he does. From school work, his favorite class is economics, to his job, to athletics, Zullo does it all.

The University of Vermont's Winter Carnival at Stowe this weekend would be a splendid setting for a return to form for Natalie Biedermann. The Colby College sophomore from Shelburne is still getting her competitive ski legs under her after missing last year's college carnival circuit with an injury. "I'm excited," said Biedermann. "It'll be fun. I have a lot of relatives in Stowe, so hopefully they'll come to watch."