After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Red Clover Rovers annual Jerry Gagliardi Memorial Turkey Trot 3-Miler returned on Nov. 24 with a field of 187 runners who were out not just for a pre-Thankgiving run, but to also raise money for Groundworks Collaborative and the Vermont Foodbank.
Peyton Joslyn, 15, of Swanzey, New Hampshire, and Sarah Lange, 31, of Lyme, New Hampshire. were the overall winners.
Joslyn, a freshman at Monadnock Regional High School in Swanzey, finished the Upper Dummerston Road course in 17 minutes, 7 seconds - a 22-second margin over runner-up Chad Hildebrant, 40, of Jersey City, New Jersey.
For the fourth time, Lange was the first female finisher, placing third overall in 17:39. Five-time Turkey Trot champion Tammy Richards, 48, of Williamsville was second in 20:01.
Denver Shimala won the one-mile kids' race in a time of 7:08. There were 22 finishers in that event. The full results of the race may be found at www.redcloverrovers.com.
North football all-stars defeat South squad
• The 21st annual North-South Senior All-Star Football Game was played at Norwich University on Nov. 19. It was a windy, cold, and occasionally snowy afternoon, but the North squad withstood the elements and a strong South team for a 34-27 victory.
The North team, led by Mount Abraham coach Jeff Stein, led most of the game and had a 20-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, but the South, coached by Mount Anthony's Chad Gordon, rallied for two touchdowns and came close to getting the tying score as time expired.
Brattleboro quarterback Devin Speno alternated with Windsor's Maison Fortin in directing the South's offense. The South had a combination of speed and power with Rutland's Jonah Bassett and Brattleboro's Tristian Evans providing the speed at wide receiver, and Bellows Falls' Caden Haskell and Mount Anthony's Ayman Naser providing the power at running back.
However, it was the North's defense that picked off passes from Speno and Fortin in the first quarter, while the North's offense scored on each of their first two possessions for a 14-0 lead.
Speno later found Bassett in the end zone for a 28-yard touchdown in the second quarter. In the third quarter, after a blocked punt, the South took advantage of the turnover as Haskell scored on a 1-yard run.
The North responded with a pair of quick scores to seemingly take control of the game heading into the final quarter. But the South didn't give up as Naser and Burr & Burton's Michael Crabtree both capped off long drives to cut the North's lead to seven.
Speno finished 167 yards of passing for the South, while Fortin passed for 69 yards. Naser ran for 72 yards on 11 carries, while Crabtree rushed for 50 yards. Bassett had seven catches for 108 yards. St. Johnsbury quarterback Quinn Murphy threw for 135 yards to lead the North. Rice's Mathias Mazanti had 69 receiving yards and BFA-Fairfax quarterback Cooper Harvey ran for 60 yards.
The other area players on the South team were Cam Frost and Josh Curtis from Brattleboro, and Peter Kamel, Jake Moore, Jamison Nystrom, and Dillan Perry from Bellows Falls.
Local football folks honored
• The Vermont Football Officials Association 2022 Sportsmanship Award went to Bellows Falls head coach Bob Lockerby and North Country head coach Lonnie Wade.
Lockerby and his staff guided the Terriers to 21 straight victories over the 2021 and 2022 seasons, a streak that was snapped by BF's 24-17 overtime loss to Mount Anthony in the Division II state championship game on Nov. 12.
• The Vermont Football Coaches Association released its all-state selections last week, and its Division II team was loaded with players from Brattleboro and Bellows Falls.
Quarterbacks Jamison Nystrom of Bellows Falls and Devin Speno of Brattleboro were both first-team selections at that positon. Nystrom was also a first-team selection as a place kicker and punter.
Offensive linemen Jake Moore and Dillan Perry of Bellows Falls were first team selections, as were Brattleboro tight end Jackson Emery, Brattleboro wide receiver Tristan Evans, and Bellows Falls running backs Caden Haskell and Walker James. Brattleboro's Cam Frost was a first team selection as a kick returner.
On defense, BF lineman Trenton Rumrill made the first team, while Haskell and Brattleboro's Josh Curtis were first team selections at linebacker. Nystrom and Evans were first team selections at defensive back.
Named to the Division II second team were offensive linemen Jett Emery of Brattleboro and Peter Kamel of Bellows Falls, running back Noah Perusse of Brattleboro, and place kicker Jordy Allembert of Brattleboro. Nystrom earned second team honors as a kick returner.
Making the second team on defense were linemen Jaxon Clark of Bellows Falls and Justin Packard of Brattleboro, linebackers Cole Moore and Dylan Perry of Bellows Falls and Charlie Clark of Brattleboro, and defensive backs Walker James and Eli Allbee of Bellows Falls and Jack Cady of Brattleboro.
Earning honorable mention were Packard at offensive lineman, Cole Moore at tight end, Allbee at wide receiver, BF's Noah Simino and Kamel and Brattleboro's Jett Emery at defensive lineman, Brattleboro's Zach Corbeil and BF's Jake Moore at linebacker, and Brattleboro's Cam Cruz and James Davies at defensive back.
Rec. Dept. offers adult volleyball
• The Brattleboro Recreation & Parks Department offers adult volleyball on Mondays from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Gibson-Aiken Center's third-floor gymnasium. This program will run until April 24, 2023.
This is a freelance program with no instructors or officials. The cost per night is $5 for Brattleboro residents and $7 for everyone else. Those 16-years-old and up are eligible to play. Those 17 and under must have a waiver signed by a legal guardian. Participants must pay each night in order to play.
For all programs, events, facility information, and more, visit www.brattleboro.org. If there are special needs required for this program, let the Recreation & Parks Department know by five days in advance. For more information, call 802-254-5808.
Jingle Bell Jog returns on Dec. 10
• The eighth annual Jingle Bell Jog, presented by the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce, will take place on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 9:30 a.m.
As in past years, the 5K family friendly fun-run kicks-off at the Brooks House Atrium and runs along Main Street to High Street, up to Williams Street, over to Elliot Street and back to to the Harmony lot.
Holiday-themed attire is encouraged, but not required, and jingle bells will be provided. Entries are limited to 200 runners, with a deadline of Dec. 8 at 5 p.m. The entry fee is $20. Register online at www.runreg.com/jingle-bell-jog-2022. For more information, email [email protected] or call 802-254-4565.
Senior bowling roundup
• Week 13 of the fall/winter season of the Brattleboro Senior Bowling League on Nov. 22 saw first place Keglers 4 (43-22) with a six-game lead over second place Good Times (37-28). Split Happens (34.5-30.5) is in third, followed by The Strikers and Lucky 7 (both 31-24), Trash-O-Matic (30.5-34.5), Old Farts (27-38), and Slow Movers (26-39).
Catching up on Week 12 action, Nancy Dalzell had the women's high handicap game (257) while Doris Lake had the high handicap series (649). Robert Rigby had the men's high handicap game (239) and Fred Ashworth had the high handicap series (629). Slow Movers had the high team handicap game (862), while The Strikers had the handicap series (2,445).
In scratch scoring, Chuck Adams led the men with a 599 series that featured games of 213, 203, and 183. Rigby had a 572 series with games of 233 and 201, while Jerry Dunham had a 505 series with a 189 game. Gary Montgomery had a 202 game, while Skip Shine had a 192 game.
Carol Gloski had the women's high scratch series (485) with games of 173 and 164. Dalzell had the high scratch game (187) and also rolled a 168.
In Week 13, Pam Greenblott had the women's high handicap game (257) while Dalzell had the high handicap series (686). Marty Adams had the men's high handicap game (269) and Montgomery had the high handicap series (659). Split Happens had the high team handicap game (872), while Old Farts had the handicap series (2,468).
In scratch scoring, Robert Rigby led the men with a 607 series that featured a 258 game. Montgomery had a 572 series with games of 201 and 192. Warren Corriveau Sr. had a 548 series that featured games of 196 and 180, while Chuck Adams had a 544 with a 203 game. Marty Adams had a 538 series with a 234 game and Dunham had a 516 series with a 185 game.
Dalzell had the women's high scratch series (536) and high scratch game (203). She also rolled games of 173 and 160. Greenblott had a 198 game and Gloski had a 161 game.