Phil Natowich – 1966
Phil was presented with the prestigious Dede Stolte Cup at graduation. He had directed the record setting 1965 Colonel Football Team to an undefeated state championship season in the fall of 1965. The Colonel football team finished the season with the highest points per game average in the entire country at 55, while giving up only 32 points in 8 games. Phil was the unanimous All-State selection in his only season as quarterback at BUHS. Phil and teammate, Denny Robinson were named to The Scholastic Coach Magazine All-American Team.
Phil was not only an outstanding leader and play caller, but he completed over 60% of his passes, threw for 15 touchdowns, and scored 72 points, third highest in the state behind teammates Robinson and Jerry Morrison. His statistics are even more impressive when one realizes that he played only about half of every game due to the team’s scoring efficiency.
Phil was equally outstanding as a defensive cornerback. In four years, 32 games of varsity football, he never gave up a passing touchdown. In his junior year at BUHS he was an All-State second team running back.
Phil moved to Vermont Academy for a postgraduate year and led VA to one of its most impressive football seasons ever. While attending Vermont Academy he was named to The Boston Globe’s All-New England Prep School Football Team as an honorable mention quarterback.
Phil was a four-year starter for the Colonel baseball nine. In his senior year during the state baseball tournament, he hit .778 with 2 homeruns, 2 triples, 3 singles, and 3 stolen bases. In the summer of 1965, he along with Denny and Don Robinson led the Brattleboro American Legion Team to its first ever state championship.
Burlington’s Free Press noted quoted UVM baseball coach Ralph LaPointe, “Phil Natowich can hit with anyone in the state of Vermont.” Burlington HS baseball coach, Orrie Jay proclaimed, “Phil Natowich of Brattleboro is the best hitter in Vermont!” The Brattleboro Reformer reported that Phil Natowich led the hitting assault with 4 hits including Two 400′ blasts well into the banks in left center field.
He went on to play three years of division one college baseball at U.V.M. where he captained the team during his senior year while joining with Den and Don Robinson in an all-Brattleboro outfield.
Phil later coached the BUHS boy’s tennis team, guiding them to three appearances in the state championship finals. He also had the pleasure of coaching Cesar Moore and Mathew Dunn to their and Brattleboro’s first and only state doubles championship going back to at least since the 1940s.