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Vermont ski resorts welcome projected snow this weekend as the season comes to an end
It’s a bittersweet time for skiers and snowboarders as the season draws to a close. At least six of Vermont’s ski areas are closed, others are making the most of their final days, and some still have about a month left in them before it’s a wrap. Officials with Killington Ski Resort said they will […]


It’s a bittersweet time for skiers and snowboarders as the season draws to a close. At least six of Vermont’s ski areas are closed, others are making the most of their final days, and some still have about a month left in them before it’s a wrap. Officials with Killington Ski Resort said they will be open until late May. That’s thanks in part to the mountain’s extensive snow-making capabilities. However, it’s the end of an era for the Superstar Express Quad. The lift, notable for its use in events like the Killington World Cup, will be closing on Sunday before its replacement project takes shape in the summer.”A lot of good memories on that chair, we’re going to miss it, but we’re looking forward to the six pack.”What the resort said is that a high-speed six-passenger chairlift will take its place. For the time being, resorts still open are looking forward to some projected snow to touch down over the weekend. “Hopefully, this storm that hits us will be all snow and that will help us extend things even further,” marketing specialist for the resort, Brooke Geery, said. Some resorts like Okemo will be closing on Sunday. One skier at the resort on Friday said it was worth every ride. “We’re just in this moment of spring flourishing, I’m sad to see the skiing go but, welcome spring!” Ilene Haigh from Woodstock said. Senior director of mountain operations Eb Kinney said mid-April is their usual closing date. He added that a little extra snow to end the season would be a treat. “It’s just the icing on the cake for our skiing guests. One last thing I want to say is our employees are what makes the difference. And I want to thank all of them for a great season,” he said. For those traveling this weekend, VTRANS is reminding drivers to slow down and use caution, especially on mountain roads. “They just need to be diligent, drive at appropriate speeds, watch out for the plow, and take their time getting to where they’re going.”Other resorts that are still open said they had a great season. Bolton Valley will also close on Sunday. Sugarbush is hoping to stay open until the first weekend of May.
It’s a bittersweet time for skiers and snowboarders as the season draws to a close. At least six of Vermont’s ski areas are closed, others are making the most of their final days, and some still have about a month left in them before it’s a wrap.
Officials with Killington Ski Resort said they will be open until late May. That’s thanks in part to the mountain’s extensive snow-making capabilities.
However, it’s the end of an era for the Superstar Express Quad. The lift, notable for its use in events like the Killington World Cup, will be closing on Sunday before its replacement project takes shape in the summer.
“A lot of good memories on that chair, we’re going to miss it, but we’re looking forward to the six pack.”
What the resort said is that a high-speed six-passenger chairlift will take its place. For the time being, resorts still open are looking forward to some projected snow to touch down over the weekend.
“Hopefully, this storm that hits us will be all snow and that will help us extend things even further,” marketing specialist for the resort, Brooke Geery, said.
Some resorts like Okemo will be closing on Sunday. One skier at the resort on Friday said it was worth every ride.
“We’re just in this moment of spring flourishing, I’m sad to see the skiing go but, welcome spring!” Ilene Haigh from Woodstock said.
Senior director of mountain operations Eb Kinney said mid-April is their usual closing date. He added that a little extra snow to end the season would be a treat.
“It’s just the icing on the cake for our skiing guests. One last thing I want to say is our employees are what makes the difference. And I want to thank all of them for a great season,” he said.
For those traveling this weekend, VTRANS is reminding drivers to slow down and use caution, especially on mountain roads.
“They just need to be diligent, drive at appropriate speeds, watch out for the plow, and take their time getting to where they’re going.”
Other resorts that are still open said they had a great season. Bolton Valley will also close on Sunday. Sugarbush is hoping to stay open until the first weekend of May.
Sports
NCAA Announces Qualifiers For Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship
Story Links NAPERVILLE – The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) will be represented by 36 qualifiers in 15 different events at the NCAA Division III Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship, scheduled to begin Thursday at SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio. Selections were released by the NCAA […]

NAPERVILLE – The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) will be represented by 36 qualifiers in 15 different events at the NCAA Division III Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship, scheduled to begin Thursday at SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio.
Selections were released by the NCAA last Friday. Qualifying marks from Saturday, March 1, to Friday, May 16, were considered. CCIW champion Elmhurst joined Augustana and Carthage with seven different entries overall. The Bluejays will have the top-seeded 4×100 relay team at the championship.
The CCIW earned multiple entries in 12 events, including four of the top 10 seeds in the 200 meter dash. There will also be four participants from the CCIW in the discus and shot put.
The Championship will conclude on Saturday in Geneva.
CCIW Women’s Qualifiers
100 Meter Dash
4. Alyssa Busker, Elmhurst
21. Lauren Marshall, Elmhurst
200 Meter Dash
2. Alyssa Busker, Elmhurst
4. De’Andranay Chism, Millikin
7. Lindsey Novak, North Central
10. McKenzie Reser, Augustana
400 Meter Dash
3. Lindsey Novak, North Central
13. McKenzie Reser, Augustana
800 Meter Run
3. Lina Maatouk, Augustana
100 Meter Hurdles
21. Nakala Nadeau, Elmhurst
3000 Meter Steeplechase
10. Emma Odle, Augustana
20. Adriana Crabtree, Illinois Wesleyan
4×100 Meter Relay
1. Elmhurst (Grady, Marshall, Schwarz, Busker)
14. North Park (Costa, Hayes, Ring, Lindberg)
Discus
1. Charlotte Frere, Augustana
4. Vanessa Uitenbroek, Carroll
6. Jackie Tuzil, Carthage
17. Nicole Tarpley, Carthage
Javelin
3. Faith Ladin, North Central
6. Heather Michalski, Augustana
10. Laina Nelson, Augustana
Shot Put
2. Maria Falk, Carroll
11. Vanessa Uitenbroek, Carroll
16. Madison Payne, Carthage
18. Mikayla Wright, Carthage
Triple Jump
4. Imani Ogunribido, Illinois Wesleyan
16. Abigail Calhoun, Carthage
Long Jump
16. Chloe Selmer, Elmhurst
16. Paulina Tinajero, Elmhurst
Hammer Throw
5. Alexis Mattox, Carthage
11. Carlyssa King, Illinois Wesleyan
16. Nicole Tarpley, Carthage
Pole Vault
4. Gwen Berenyi, North Central
Heptathlon
4. Faith Ladin, North Central
10. Thea Ring, North Park
11. Lauren Huber, Illinois Wesleyan
CCIW on X | CCIW Instagram | CCIW Facebook |
The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) was founded in 1946 and currently services nine member institutions including Augustana College (Rock Island, Ill.), Carroll University (Waukesha, Wis.), Carthage College (Kenosha, Wis.), Elmhurst University (Elmhurst, Ill.), Illinois Wesleyan University (Bloomington, Ill.), Millikin University (Decatur, Ill.), North Central College (Naperville, Ill.), North Park University (Chicago, Ill.) and Wheaton College (Wheaton, Ill.).
Sports
Vote now to decide the ProJo boys volleyball player of the week
WATCH: Lincoln boys volleyball slips past Pawtucket in four sets Watch as Lincoln boys volleyball takes the match-winning point vs. Pawtucket. It’s time for our high school boys volleyball athlete of the week voting. This week, and every week during the volleyball season, we will nominate a handful of standouts for the honor. To be nominated for […]
WATCH: Lincoln boys volleyball slips past Pawtucket in four sets
Watch as Lincoln boys volleyball takes the match-winning point vs. Pawtucket.
It’s time for our high school boys volleyball athlete of the week voting.
This week, and every week during the volleyball season, we will nominate a handful of standouts for the honor. To be nominated for the voting, we need the results of matches from the home coaches after the games. Coaches have been asked to email results to pjsports@providencejournal.com. We will handle the results from there.
This week’s ballot opened on Monday and closes on Friday at 11:59 p.m. Voting must be done online via the ballot below. Email submissions will not be accepted.
Lincoln’s Jackson Colton won bragging rights last week with 52.68% of the vote.
Vote for the Providence Journal Boys Volleyball Player of the Week
Zoltan Libertini, Exeter-West Greenwich
It’s been a tough spring for Exeter-West Greenwich, but the Knights got their first win of the season on Wednesday. Libertini had eight kills in the five-set triumph vs. Block Island.
Evan Shea, North Kingstown
The Skippers (16-0) have cruised through the state all season and Friday night was no different. Shea had 28 assists, seven digs and two blocks in a sweep of Hendricken.
Jeremy Thao, West Warwick
West Warwick is fighting for a top playoff spot in Division II and last week’s play helped. The Wizards snared two wins, including a 3-1 triumph against Juanita Sanchez on Wednesday. Thao dished out 40 assists and had three digs in the win.
Nomar Torres, Burrillville
It was a big week for Burrillville ahead of the playoffs. The Broncos topped St. Raphael, Achievement First and Exeter-West Greenwich last week. On Monday, against the Saints, Torres had 11 kills, two aces and 15 digs. And on Thursday, he had 13 kills and 37 digs in a 3-2 win vs. Achievement First.
Ben Wright, South Kingstown
Wright had a standout week, and it started on Monday. The senior led the Rebels past Pilgrim, in five sets, with 18 kills and eight digs. And on Wednesday, he added 15 kills, 15 digs and three aces in a 3-1 win vs. Woonsocket.
Sports
2024-25 Sarasota-Manatee High School Sports Awards: Spring nominees
The 2024-25 Sarasota-Manatee High School Sports Awards, Presented by Sarasota Ford, is proud to announce player of the year nominees for the spring sports season. The winners will be announced during the live show May 30 at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota. The guest speaker is former MLB All-Star Dee Strange-Gordon. During the live show, these […]

The 2024-25 Sarasota-Manatee High School Sports Awards, Presented by Sarasota Ford, is proud to announce player of the year nominees for the spring sports season.
The winners will be announced during the live show May 30 at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota. The guest speaker is former MLB All-Star Dee Strange-Gordon.
During the live show, these nominees will be honored, along with player of the year nominees and winners from the fall and winter sports seasons. The fall nominees were announced earlier this year and can be found here. The winter nominees were also announced earlier this year and can be found here.
The show will also announce the winners of our premier awards, which includes boys athlete of the year, girls athlete of the year, boys team of the year, girls team of the year, coach of the year and our Courage Award recipient.
Nominated athletes who RSVP here for the event will receive a free ticket thanks to our sponsors. Additional tickets can be purchased here.
The Sarasota-Manatee High School Sports Awards show is part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards.
Here are the spring nominees …
- Carter Cox, Venice High School — JR
- David Dubrule, Venice High School — SR
- Cesar Garmendia, Sarasota High School — JR
- Graham Houston, Venice High School — SO
- Colton Hyde, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School — SO
- Jackson Lucas, Venice High School — SR
- Braedon Mackay, Sarasota High School — SO
- Mark Metcalf, Sarasota High School — JR
- Daniel Norbeck, Parrish Community High School — SR
- Jayden Peters, Parrish Community High School — SR
- Jabrien Quiles, Parrish Community High School — SR
- Eddie Zaun, Venice High School — SR
Beach volleyball
- Melissa Apolonio — JR and Brighton Ferguson — SR, Venice High School
- Kelsey Fisher — JR and Izzy Russell — SR, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School
- Brooke Kragt — SO and Lana Price — SR, Bradenton Christian School
- Gabriella Marquis — SO and Daisey Troyer — SO, Riverview High School
- Ellie Miller — SR and Caitlin Webb — SR, Sarasota Christial School
- Julia Vendramini — JR and Kora Yanes — JR, Lakewood Ranch High School
Flag football
- Ana Abreu, Lakewood Ranch High School — SR
- Jayna Bowen, Parrish Community High School — SO
- Kiana Brito, Parrish Community High School — SO
- Caroline Johnson, Lakewood Ranch High School — SR
- Ariyana Kirksey, Manatee High School — JR
- Marquavia Morgan, Parrish Community High School — SO
- Sierra Rivera, Parrish Community High School — FR
- Melisa Schwab, Lakewood Ranch High School — SR
- Delilah Smalls, Manatee High School — JR
- Amelia Someson, Parrish Community High School — SO
- Alre Storebeck, Lakewood Ranch High School — SR
- Amy Zietler, Lakewood Ranch High School — SR
Boys lacrosse
- Dutch Anderson, Manatee High School — SO
- Reef Bartlett, Venice High School — SO
- Duke Bergstrom, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School — JR
- Mickey Cohen, Lakewood Ranch High School — JR
- Kylan Cunningham, Venice High School — JR
- Joseph Drove, Lakewood Ranch High School — JR
- Braden Johansen, Lakewood Ranch High School — JR
- Cooper Kolbe, Manatee High School — FR
- Jamison McCusker, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School — SR
- Devon McGonigle, Manatee High School — JR
- Toby West, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School — SR
- Jack Yochim, Riverview High School — SR
Girls lacrosse
- Juliana Bartz, Bradenton Christian School — JR
- Ella Berzins, Riverview High School — FR
- Maria Berzins, Riverview High School — SR
- Gigi Canali, Lakewood Ranch High School — SO
- Isabella French, Manatee High School — SR
- Ellie Hierholzer, The Out-Of-Door Academy — SR
- Gabbie Hotaling, Lakewood Ranch High School — JR
- Grace Knowles, Manatee High School — SR
- Sally Lehto, Manatee High School — SR
- Haley Rosa, Saint Stephen’s Episcopal — SR
- Caroline Steinwachs, Riverview High School — SR
- Gabby Ulrich, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School — FR
- Allison Cole, Riverview High School — SR
- Ashlan Guengerich, Sarasota High School — JR
- Alysa Jones, Parrish Community High School — SO
- MaKenna Lee, Palmetto High School — SR
- Olivia Lockhart, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School — SO
- Cassidy Ott, Parrish Community High School — SO
- Mady Pint, Sarasota Military Academy — SR
- Kaelyn Poole, Southeast High School — FR
- Sofia Puccia, Bradenton Christian School — SR
- Sommer Speers, Sarasota High School — SR
- Riley Sullivan, Venice High School — SR
- Emmaline Van Beck, Parrish Community High School — SO
Boys tennis
- Joe Calleja, Venice High School — JR
- Luke Calleja, Venice High School — FR
- Edizahir Rodriguez, Booker High School — SR
- Ariston Spanos, Venice High School — SO
- George Tchobadjiev, Venice High School — FR
- William Wooden, Venice High School — FR
Girls tennis
- Martina Blanco, Saint Stephen’s Episcopal — FR
- Koreena Hickey, Venice High School — SO
- Faye Klutke, Venice High School — SO
- Julia Piotrowska, Riverview High School — SR
- Tess Tchobadjiev, Venice High School — SR
- Christine Wu, Venice High School — SR
Boys track & field
- Christian Angrand, North Port High School — SR
- Alex Bates, Riverview High School — JR
- Nolan Besse, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School — SR
- Benji Best, Lakewood Ranch High School — SO
- Julius Evans, Venice High School — JR
- Kevin Gyurka, The Out-Of-Door Academy — JR
- Connail Jackson, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School — SO
- Chandler Johnson, Manatee High School — SO
- Evan Joseph, Parrish Community High School — SR
- Chauncey Kennon, Booker High School — JR
- Jacob Kosko, Parrish Community High School — SR
- Maleek Lee, Booker High School — SO
- Javen Lindsey, Southeast High School — SO
- Anthony Miller, Riverview High School — JR
- Jacoby Mobley, Booker High School — JR
- Mason Owen, North Port High School — JR
- Chris Priede, Venice High School — SR
- James Reynolds, Venice High School — SO
- Dylan Sabol, Parrish Community High School — SR
- William Schafer, Venice High School — JR
- Tyler Starling, Palmetto High School — JR
- Liam St. John, Lakewood Ranch High School — SO
- Treyvion Timmons, Booker High School — SR
- Landen Wise, Venice High School — SR
Girls track & field
- Marley Bowen, Sarasota High School — FR
- Keymani Dillingham, Saint Stephen’s Episcopal — JR
- Demi Dunbar, Manatee High School — SO
- Alanna Duque, North Port High School — JR
- Ibre Edwards, Booker High School — SR
- Indy Grajalez, Sarasota High School — SR
- Bianca Grindo, Parrish Community High School — JR
- Malia Hambrick, North Port High School — JR
- Grace Hronich, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School — JR
- Claire Ingram, Parrish Community High School — SR
- Zoe Kirby, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School — SR
- Josie Maloni, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School — SR
- Jacey McReynolds, Venice High School — JR
- Madison Muller, Riverview High School — FR
- Alana Price, Parrish Community High School — SO
- Felicity Ridgway, Riverview High School — FR
- Atarah Robinson, Venice High School — JR
- Rosemary Selke, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School — SR
- Sanii Shields, Bayshore High School — SO
- Ava Sims, Riverview High School — SR
- Maisy Smith, North Port High School — SO
- Kate St. Onge, Riverview High School — JR
- Alivia Tison, North Port High School — SR
- Lashema Williams, Manatee High School — SR
Boys weightlifting
- Dillon Bryant, Venice High School — SR
- Kale Bunce, Palmetto High School — SR
- Jackson Costlow, Sarasota High School — JR
- Ronin Dangler, Manatee High School — JR
- Christian Figueroa, Manatee High School — SR
- Corbin Franklin, Saint Stephen’s Episcopal — JR
- Vance Freeman, Sarasota High School — JR
- Ean Johnson-Kelley, Manatee High School — SR
- Danny Perry, Sarasota High School — JR
- Tanner Ruh, Venice High School — SR
- Chris Schrum, Sarasota High School — JR
- Angel Vasquez, Imagine School of North Port — SR
Sports
M-A Service Flourishes with New Service Class and Seal
M-A’s Service Learning Center is introducing a new civic engagement class and the California State Seal of Civic Engagement this coming fall. The new Community Service Leadership class is designed to strengthen service at M-A by devoting class time to develop service projects. The seal will be awarded to students who show exemplary commitment to […]

M-A’s Service Learning Center is introducing a new civic engagement class and the California State Seal of Civic Engagement this coming fall.
The new Community Service Leadership class is designed to strengthen service at M-A by devoting class time to develop service projects. The seal will be awarded to students who show exemplary commitment to service for their community.
“We think that more schools could have service learning,” SLC advisor and future Community Service Leadership teacher Andrew Stuart said. “It can do a lot of good for resilience, wellness, and connection—things that teenagers are struggling with.”
Currently, the SLC organizes service events at M-A. These events are often held outside of school and coordinated through weekly lunchtime meetings between Stuart and participating students, which can be limiting.
Some of the events put on this year include service days for water polo, football, basketball, and flag football, as well as Belle Haven community garden volunteering.

Stuart hopes that creating a new service class will help further the SLC’s current programs. “The class gives us the space and the time to really think through what we’re doing,” Stuart said.
“We realized that a 30 minute lunchtime meeting every week isn’t enough,” junior Audrey Majzun, who is taking the class next year, said.
“It’s hard to have field trips off-campus to do service. This class will give us the resources to get creative about how to get more kids involved,” Stuart said.
Mazjun hopes that the class will provide a solid foundation for expanding service learning in the future. “If we have a class and people can get credit for their participation, it gives us more time for organizing events, formal education, and working on specific service learning projects,” Mazjun said.
Many students joining the class next year have already been heavily involved in service learning at M-A and will play an influential role in shaping the direction of the class. “I will guide the class, but there will be a student-led aspect of the class, just like Leadership,” Stuart said.
Stuart also hopes the class will improve outreach to other M-A students. “This class will integrate us into the school more,” Stuart said. “More and more kids are going to come up with projects that need assistance, so we need to meet the structure.”
In addition to hands-on planning time, the class will include discussion and research on ethics to help students make a more mindful impact. “To ‘do good well,’ you have to analyze what you’re doing, and make sure you’re doing it right and not causing harm,” Stuart said.

Students who take Community Service Leadership will be provided with support for obtaining the Civic Engagement Seal, though it is not limited to students in the class.
To receive the seal, students must meet a list of requirements—currently being finalized by the school board—including creating a meaningful service project.
Many students already have exciting ideas. “I’m really interested in education,” Mazjun said. “Something we had talked about this year is doing a service learning project with a local middle school.”
“My idea would be to have the middle schoolers do a project, educate them on their impact, and then connect it to the principles of ethical service learning, which is one of our core tenets,” Mazjun added. “It’s planting that seed.”
“I’ve made so many close relationships through service,” junior Brealyn Trujillo, who is taking the class next year, said. “I just want to continue that. It has a big impact on your life.”
Stuart hopes the seal will help bring service learning more recognition and create an incentive for students to participate. “Service learning is very underestimated,” Stuart said. “Colleges understand the power of service learning. Why can’t we deliver that curriculum in high school?”
Unlike many other local schools, M-A does not directly track service hours or provide awards for it. The Civic Engagement Seal will help bring more recognition to students who dedicate time and effort to service.
“With service, people sometimes don’t want to see a reward attached to doing this type of work. They want it to be all from the heart. But there can be some combination of both,” Stuart said.
“Connecting with people and doing something positive is what kids are really craving,” Stuart said. “And that’s why we get so many kids that want to do service.”
Sports
Sealy, Leroy headed back to NCAA Championships
Story Links WALTHAM, Mass. – For the second time this year, Brandeis track and field first-years Sarai Sealy of New York, New York, and Peterly Leroy of Malden, Massachusetts, will be representing the Judges at the NCAA Championships, with both qualifying for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field meet […]

WALTHAM, Mass. – For the second time this year, Brandeis track and field first-years Sarai Sealy of New York, New York, and Peterly Leroy of Malden, Massachusetts, will be representing the Judges at the NCAA Championships, with both qualifying for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field meet at the SPIRE Center in Geneva, Ohio, later this week.
Sealy will be competing in the triple jump for the second meet in a row. She enters the championships as the overall second seed, having recorded a season-best and school-record of 12.73 meters (41 feet, 9 ¼ inches) on May 2 at the New England Division III Championships. Sealy, who was the runner-up in the event at the 2025 University Athletic Association championships, trails only league champion Ebun Opata, a senior from Washington University in the national rankings. Sealy finished fifth in the triple jump at the 2025 NCAA Indoor Championships in Rochester, New York, to earn her first career All-America honor.
Leroy will compete in the 400-meter dash for the second time as well. She will be the fourth seed in the championships, having run a school-record 54.11 seconds at the Midwest Twilight Final Qualifier on May 14 at Augustana College in Illinois. Sealy will be the top UAA and New England competitor at the meet, having run 0.11 seconds faster than Emory’s Eva Carchidi, the meet’s fifth seed. Leroy placed 14th in the 400 meters indoors, earning second-team All-America honors.
The NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be held from May 22-24. Leroy’s 400-meter preliminaries will be run on Friday, May 23, at 3:15 p.m., with the finals on Saturday, May 24 at 2:20 p.m. The triple jump will also be held on Saturday, starting at 1:45 p.m. Live results from the meet are available at https://results.leonetiming.com/?mid=7852, while a live video stream is available at https://www.ncaa.com/liveschedule/.
Sealy is a 2024 graduate of The Ursuline School.
Leroy is a 2024 graduate of Prospect Hill Academy Charter School.
For more information on Brandeis University women’s track and field, visit our home page at https://brandeisjudges.com/sports/wtrack.
For more information on Brandeis Athletics, visit our home page at https://brandeisjudges.com/, or follow us on social media, @BrandeisJudges, on X, Facebook and Instagram.
Sports
Now shipping
The latest book from August Publications is now shipping: Baseball Like It Oughta Be: How a Shoe Salesman’s Madison Mallards and His Renegade Staff Ignited the Summer-Collegiate Baseball Revolution! Today is also your chance to snare an autographed copy of Baseball Like It Oughta Be at a big event at Warner Park, as the Mallards are hosting […]

The latest book from August Publications is now shipping: Baseball Like It Oughta Be: How a Shoe Salesman’s Madison Mallards and His Renegade Staff Ignited the Summer-Collegiate Baseball Revolution!
Today is also your chance to snare an autographed copy of Baseball Like It Oughta Be at a big event at Warner Park, as the Mallards are hosting a free celebration marking the 25th anniversary of the team. You’l be able to buy a copy and have author Tom Alesia sign it, and we’re guessing you’ll be able to persuade Steve Schmitt and Vern Stenman to sign copies as well. In addition, the bash will feature free hot dogs and pop, a cash bar, a full complement of mascots on two and four legs, and plenty of games for kids. The celebration runs from 4 p.m.-7 p.m.
It’s highly fitting the Madison book release comes at the ballpark. Here’s the inside story of how the Madison Mallards became summer-collegiate baseball’s top draw, changed the face of the sport and brought new life to a downtrodden neighborhood and ballpark.
Since 2002, the Mallards have become the biggest box-office hit among hundreds of similar teams nationwide, drawing more than 4.3 million fans in team history. Baseball Like It Oughta Be is the phenomenal story of how owner Steve Schmitt, a rural Wisconsin shoe sales marvel, and his young, aggressive staff turned dust into gold. Celebrating their 25th year, the Mallards have an entertaining and hilarious history that combines marketing prowess, customer service and anything-goes promotions with stories ranging from Gary Coleman’s outrageous appearance to slugger Pete Alonso’s amazing season as a Mallard. Schmitt and team president Vern Stenman turned a downtrodden ballpark into a must-experience destination. The Mallards never went bananas on the field, churning out future pro players like Alonso, Nico Hoerner, Tony Gonsolin and Ryan Spilborghs. Along the way, they’ve become one of America’s most extraordinary sports teams.
Tom Alesia tells the Mallards story, following an owner’s obsession; the dreamland of a young marketing director, who quit an NHL front-office job; relentless customer service for their fans; fresh promotions annually; belief in what many viewed as a struggling neighborhood; and the embracement of America’s least likely renowned ballpark.
“Upon first visiting Madison in 2012, I sensed something extraordinary at the Duck Pond. While nothing lasts forever, the Mallards have now thrived for nearly 25 years and just continue to crush it, one summer after another. This book is a remarkable testament to owner Steve Schmitt and his dedicated team throughout the years and should be studied by every minor- and summer-league executive in North America. The Mallards’ success story is filled with resilience, creativity, and community spirit.”—Rob Neyer, Commissioner, West Coast League, and author of Power Ball: Anatomy of a Modern Baseball Game
“The Mallards inspired a revolution in baseball. Since their launch in 2001, summer collegiate baseball has blown up across the country and brought quality baseball and entertainment to hundreds of communities. The Mallards focus on both fun and great baseball has created a template for others to emulate. Tom Alesia does a great job telling the entertaining story of the team’s launch and their broader impact on the game.”—Doug Melvin, Milwaukee Brewers Senior Advisor and former General Manager
“It is well overdue to put a spotlight on the Madison Mallards operation. Owner Steve Schmitt is a marketing and retail savant. When you combine that with the ambition and progressive ideas of President Vern Stenman, you are able to make history. There is no team in summer collegiate baseball that is close to them in attendance and there probably will not be in the foreseeable future. Their story is an important piece in the Northwoods League becoming the largest organized baseball league in the history of the sport. I can’t wait to see what they will do for women’s softball.”–Dick Radatz, Jr., Chairman, Northwoods League
“An entertaining look at how to build an audience for a sports team when the result on the field is less important to many fans than the entertainment and atmosphere of it. Plenty of interesting characters! Pretty sure it’s the only book to mention Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Gary Coleman and Pete Alonso. A fun read!”—Sports Book Reviews
“What a hoot! I still have a Mallards’ uniform hanging on my wall! (Team owner) Steve Schmitt loved to compete. Go Mallards!”—Bill “Spaceman” Lee, renowned pitcher for 14 major league seasons
“Long before the Savannah Bananas became a household name, the Madison Mallards took a broken-down ballpark in a failed baseball market and started outdrawing virtually every team in the minor leagues. Tom Alesia skillfully describes their story in this entertaining narrative. This book should be a must-read for anyone in sport!”—Mark Cryan, professor of sport management, former minor league general manager, and co-founder of the Coastal Plain League
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