Christine Knox '99 Playing Beach Semi-professionally

I'm not sure why I never got this in the blog, and now it's somewhat outdated, but cool nonetheless, so I had to add it in here!  I caught up with Christine Knox '99 over email a couple years ago, which was great!  She's an attorney who works on Long Island practicing estate planning and administration.  She was also in school part time getting a masters.  Still going strong both academically and athletically, and finding time to play some serious volleyball.  

We had lost touch for a few years there, and she got back in touch with me when she was planning to come up for Homecoming, but were out of town that weekend.  She's still playing a ton of volleyball, and was playing semi-professionally on the beach, which was fantastic news to hear!  She mentioned that she and her partner had done very well over the summer ('10, I believe), and had won a free trip to play in the US Open for Beach Volleyball in Manhattan Beach, CA.  She said it was an incredible experience.  This picture is from that tournament.  She also had this to say about beach vs. indoor, "I'm mostly retired from indoors - too cruel on your body once you get older - but I'm now playing beach volleyball semi-professionally.  Such a blast and sooooo much more fun than indoors!"

To the right is a picture of her brother getting married.  It's fun to have both the "athletic" Knox, and the "totally decked out" Knox with her family.  Thanks for sharing your new life, Knox, and next time you're in VT I hope we're in town too so we can catch up in person!

If you're an alum--send me updates any time, and we'll just keep adding to the Alum database of fun updates and pictures etc.  

Reunion 2012

What a fun weekend!  I had recently talked to Jane and Elissa and told them that we'd all be on the same reunion schedule in the future since they were graduating in 2012, and I was having my 20th reunion ('92).  I had a friend returning for reunion, and was looking forward to seeing others from my class, but I hadn't heard from any volleyball alums.

Well, I took my family and we were having dinner and catching up with my old college roommate when Rachael Faraone '02 and I spied each other!!  We had such a nice chat, and she was teaching my kids some blocking technique, or maybe high-fives, and what fun!  She's a lawyer and is currently doing some soul searching for just what makes her truly happy in life, and it was really great to catch up with her.  She also commented that she's finally gotten her blocking timing down.  She's not early any more!  Better late than never, I say!

Sometime after that, I realized that Carolyn Stewart Birbiglia '97was actually in my same tent (they'd combined the 20th and 25th classes under one tent)  What fun it was to catch up with her.  She had both of her adorable kids there, one of whom wasn't feeling all that well, which was too bad.  She's doing well, though, and was very happy to be back on campus for reunion!

There were fireworks on the old practice football field (which probably didn't make the neighbors all that happy), but it was a great MIDD celebration.  It was a time to relive some glory days, and to catch up on what we've all become since we left (most of us anyway?!) our little time capsule of MIDD LIFE.

I would encourage any/all MCVB alums to come back, and please let me know when you do so we can catch up, even if it's only briefly!

Lizzy and Olivia Conquer the "Tough Mudder!"

Earlier this summer, I didn't even know that much about the "Tough  Mudder" other than that it's a hardcore event that some of the guys in our department have done!  So, after Olivia and Lizzy did it this month, and sent me a picture at the end with all smiles, I knew I had to do a little research.  Here is the description of it:

"Tough Mudder events are hardcore 10-12 mile obstacle courses designed by British Special Forces to test your all around strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie. With the most innovative courses, half a million inspiring participants, and more than $3 million raised for the Wounded Warrior Project, Tough Mudder is the premier adventure challenge series in the world."

How about that!  Way to go, guys!!  I'm so proud of you.  Now, that makes our fitness test look like a stroll in the park with your grandparents!  (SO, that means absolutely NO complaining about bringing the timed mile back!)  :)

One more month of summer--enjoy doing whatever and however you define enjoyment!! 

Olivia & Lizzy lead Novice Crew to 2nd at National Championships!

Well, what a first year for Lizzy and Olivia.  They were members of a record-setting Volleyball Team that advanced farther into the NCAA tournament than ever before, and also part of a record-setting Novice Crew team for MIDD that has done better than ever before.  Well done, guys!!  Below is a link to a cool video from the National Championships, and also pictures from the event.  Congrats to all of the crew team, but especially our two mcvb members of the Novice 8's Boat, Lizzy and Olivia!!


Here is the link from the Grand Finals:  Click here

Graduation!

Graduation was held on a gorgeous day in Middlebury.  It's always so much fun to see the celebration and all the happy families and graduates.  Since our season is in the Fall, it's always nice for Brian and I had to have one last opportunity to see the seniors' families too.  It's such a special event, and it's always great when it's nice weather as it was this year.  It could be anywhere from cold and rainy to hot and steamy.  This day, however, was gorgeous! 

  And, we even got to meet Jane's fluffy puppy!  (I'm sorry to say I forget her name, but she's a gorgeous dog, and was getting a lot of comments.  He's an English Retriever, or something like that--he's white like a lab, but everything else is like a Golden Retriever.)

Then, I was fortunate to run into Jane and Elissa again the next day during the Memorial Day Parade.  My girls were thrilled to see them there, and practically accosted them!  That's the beauty of a small town--if something major is going on, everyone is there, both townspeople and students (those few that were left anyway.)  We miss you already, Jane and Elissa!!

I had a fun revelation that I shared with them.  Since this is a reunion year for me personally, that means that we'll all be on the same reunion schedule.  Hopefully that means I'll at least get to see them every 5 years, if not before!!  :)  More to come on that subject as I reconnected with a couple of mcvb alums during reunion weekend...

Senior Athletic Dept. Award Ceremony

Our Department Award Ceremony is now held every year in Mead Chapel.  It's transformed from being a dinner back in the 80's, to a luncheon in the 90's, and is now a ceremony held in Mead.  It's a very nice event with only the senior athletes in attendance along with the coaches and several Faculty Affiliates.  We give out about 6 Department Awards for things such as:  overcoming personal hardships to impact the team in a positive manner; best combining athletic achievement and academic scholarship; best combining abilities in two inter-collegiate sports; and the spirit awards for each gender.  Most of the awards are named for previous Middlebury athletes long gone, but from whom the legacies came.  Steve Oster, our Faculty Affiliate joined us for this ceremony, which was really nice.  Elissa and Jane joined myself and a fellow coach and her senior athlete for a short round of golf afterward, which was very fun!  Congratulations Jane and Elissa!!

MCVB does Relay for Life 2012

Nicki was our Team Leader for Relay for Life, and picked us a good camp site and we were all set to have it outside, but due to weather, it was moved inside to Kenyon Arena.  Although I had questioned that call earlier in the day when it was sunny and nice, I was VERY glad we were inside when it down poured that evening!  (It had rained quite a bit earlier in the week, and I knew it would be pretty muddy after several laps.  However, it would have been absolutely miserable in the rain!)

Although it was a very busy time, a few people did show up and enjoy the special event.   Nicki, MJ and Piper all took part by walking laps, remembering lost ones or friends and family affected by Cancer, listening to the speakers for the evening, and taking part in the activities.  In the pictures here, Piper was enjoying some Zumba dancing, which looked fun!! I set up a tent and spent the night there with my girls as we've done for several years now.

Lois (my 9 year old) stayed up until almost 3 am and managed almost 65 laps (less than her 80 last year), but was "adding beads" from 2:30-3:00 AM!!  For those that don't know, they have a bucket of beads and string so that you can keep track of how many laps you walk.  It's a fun way to give you something to focus on as you attempt to keep walking all night long--"cancer never sleeps".  My goal was 100 laps, but I think I petered out just before 90.