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83 Tigers Shocker Now Documented For The Ages

photo by Mike Cameron They are all part of Vermont Basketball History made by the MUHS Class of 1983 and were in town on Friday March 28th 2014 to help launch Middlebury native, Mark Mooney Jr's documentary film (Green Mountain Upset) at the beautifully restored Town hall Theater in Middlebury. LtoR Rob Hamlin, Joe Calavita, Coach Rollie White, Mike Sommers, Jim Daley and Pete Gutterson had just arrived for the festivities and soon were joined by other members of that very special team. The film's premiere was a rousing success as those in attendance had a chance to relive Middlebury's 1983 Vermont Division 1 High School Basketball Championship win over 2-time defending champ Saint Johnsbury Academy by the amazing score of 73-57. The win capped off an undefeated storybook season at 24 and 0.

Tuesday April 1, 2014

By Mike Cameron

As reported in the pages of The Valley Voice in the late winter of 1983, it was a Vermont high school basketball upset of monumental proportions and now it has been preserved with a documentary film that will certainly earn accolades and awards the more it is seen.  
   This Vermont sports story has its genesis in Middlebury and Addison County.  It is a story about a high school basketball team, laid back and loose, that came together during the 1983 season and the Vermont State Tournament to defeat a two time defending champion, powerhouse, St. Johnsbury Academy team loaded with well publicized  talent.  
   The “Hilltoppers” came into the championship game featuring one of the best high school players of his generation in the country; Henry (Bruce) Dalrymple.  But the Tigers were not without their own solid hard working core of players who could get the job done and went undefeated into the playoffs that year and had loads of fun doing it!    The bond between the players was and
still is evident and compelling..
   Their great regular season was just the beginning.  Playing for the Tigers under Coach Rollie White were: Andy McIntosh, Dan Chaplin, Dick Eckels, Jim Daly, Joe Calavita, Kurt Strassner, Mike Sommers, Pete Gutterson, Rick Wesley, Rob Hamlin, Shane White, Steve Simons, Tom Boise, and Tom Weber.
   The 83 Tigers earned the right to play Saint J. after a gutty win against So. Burlington in the semi-finals.  They won the championship game in convincing fashion 73-57 and ended the season perfect at 24-0 as Vermont sports scribes and announcers shook their collective heads in disbelief at the Tigers convincing performance that rates right up there with “Miracle On Ice,” in near by Lake Placid.
   Two Tiger players went on to star at UVM; Joe Calavita and Rob Hamlin and everyone associated with the team has many reasons to savor the win and its consequences for the rest of their lives.
   Now because of the diligent work and vision of 1983 MUHS graduate Mark Mooney Jr., and his production team, the beautifully crafted documentary celebrating this historic true Vermont sports event is ready for viewing and for sale on DVD.  
   A rousing home town premier was celebrated on March 28th  2013 at the Town Hall Theater here with most of the original team present to watch the film. A follow-up viewing was held the following day.
   For more information on the film, Mark Mooney's business web site is NeoNicheStrategies.com.  His documentary film will serve as a true community builder for a long long time.  We highly recommend it.  

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