BHS/BUHS Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2021
Ben Gilbert
Ben Gilbert was a three sport athlete who graduated from BUHS in 1998. Ben was co-captain of both the basketball and football teams his senior year. He was a member of the ‘97 Vermont State Champions Baseball team, made First Team All State in basketball in ‘97 and was selected to the North/South Basketball Selection Team in ‘98. Ben was inducted into the Vermont Chapter of National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame at Middlebury College in 1998 for scholar athletes and was listed in the Vermont Selection of Who’s Who in High School Athletes and received the Stotle Award in ‘98. He was selected to the 1998 Vermont Shrine Football team. Ben was one of the captains and started at quarterback leading Vermont to a 21-13 victory over New Hampshire for the first time in 10 years. After graduating, he continued to play football at Union College in Schenectady, New York where he started quarterback in every single game. One of the highlights of Ben’s freshman year was when Union College played Springfield College at Springfield. Springfield College had been nationally ranked. Union College won 38-7. Ben was named ECAC Rookie of the year and made the UCAA All Conference First Team as quarterback in 1998. In 1999, he was named the MVP of the ECAC Northwest Championship game and made the UCAA All Conference Second Team. During his junior year, 2000, Ben was named the UCAA All Conference Offensive Player of the Year, made the UCAA All Conference First Team and the ECAC SecondTeam, with Union making the NCAA playoffs. Ben was named a captain his senior year at Union and was named to the UCAA All Conference Second Team in 2001 as well as receiving the ECAC Northwest Championship Game MVP. Several of Ben’s records still stand after almost 20 years, TD passes in a season (27 in 2001), TD passes in a career (75 from 1998-2001), total offense in a game (457 in 2001), total offense in a season (2,911 in 2001), career rushing yards by a quarterback (865 1998-2001), career rushing TDs by a quarterback (15 1998-2001) and consecutive completions in a game (17 vs. RPI in 1998). During his four years at Union College, the Dutchmen had a .786 win percentage.
Frankie Taylor
Frank Marshall Taylor stood supreme, perhaps the most accomplished athlete ever to graduate from Brattleboro High School. Frank lettered in four sports Football, Basketball, Baseball, and Track. Frank was named first team Southern Vermont in Basketball in his Junior and Senior year. He was Captain of the all State Football team both his Junior and Senior years.
Frank was a two time grand slam athlete at the University of Vermont lettering in all 4 sports in which he participated; Football, Basketball, Baseball and Track. He captained Football, Basketball and Baseball at UVM. If he had more time he likely would have lettered in more sports since he was a skiing specialist, too. He won the intramural bowling competition at UVM. Frank won the grueling hexathlon championship at the University. Frank Marshall Taylor was a member of the Inaugural Class of University of Vermont’s Hall of Fame in 1969.
In 1941 he joined the Navy after graduation. Rumors have it that professional sports in all fields were after his signature; he did not sign after WWII. Frank served as coach of several high school sports and played Semi-Professional Football, Basketball and Baseball.
71-74 Girls Tennis
The BUHS Girls’ Tennis Teams of 1970-1974 are proud inductees into the BUHS Athletic Hall of Fame. For those five seasons the teams put together an unprecedented 64 – 0 winning streak in regular season play. In addition, the Spring 1973 team captured the Vermont State Championship. During these years, girls’ athletics at BUHS was emerging and evolving and the girls’ tennis teams were at the forefront of the successful development of women’s’athletics.
This achievement brought great credit and pride to Brattleboro, BUHS, and the players and coaches. The depth of talent, dedication to a team effort, and the camaraderie created an unparalleled recipe for success, setting the tone for excellence in BUHS sports for years to come. Confidence gained from this achievement led these individuals to success in later life.
Anne Wheelock
Ann Wheelock is a 1983 graduate of Brattleboro Union High School. During her high school high school athletic career she was a four year varsity player in both field hockey and softball, and a three year varsity player in basketball. Over those four years she played an integral part in those teams successes, to include helping the 1983 field hockey team to a number six seed in the tournament, which was the first time Brattleboro had made the tournament since 1977, and helping lead the 1982-83 basketball team to the number two overall seed and a semifinal appearance, where they lost in double overtime to South Burlington. They finished that season with an impressive 22-2 record. But, her greatest accomplishment was in helping the 1983 softball team to a perfect 18-0 record and the number one seed in the Vermont softball tournament, which culminated in the Vermont State Championship. During this run she completed her senior season with a perfect 15-0 record from the mound, and pitched all three of the playoff games in route to that state championship. She was a co-captain of all three teams during her senior seasons and during these playoff runs.
Geoff Sather
Was one of the best athletes in the state of Vermont in each of three sports. Recruited by multiple Division I colleges in all three, Geoff was the starting striker in the inaugural Lions Club Twin State (Vermont versus New Hampshire) soccer game and assisted on the game winning goal; was named a Prep-All-American in basketball; and won and defended his state championship in the high jump and set the Vermont state record in the high jump.
During his high school career Geoff set school records in the high jump, triple jump, high hurdles, and low hurdles. He broke the Southern District triple jump record as a freshman, and the Southern District high jump record as a sophomore. As a junior he won the high jump at the state meet with a new state record of 6’4”, an event he won again as a senior, while placing second in the high hurdles and third in the triple jump.
In soccer, rotating between playing striker and center half, Geoff recorded four hat tricks in a 12 game season on the way to setting the school scoring record of 18 goals, more than any previous Brattleboro team had scored. In basketball he scored 986 points in 2 1/2 seasons, and was named a Prep All-American. He was called by Coach Art Freeman “the best basketball player to come out of BUHS in the past 20 or 30 years.”
At Middlebury College, Geoff was a four-year starter on the basketball team, a leading scorer and rebounder, a captain, and an All-New England Honorable mention. He also won the Vermont state collegiate high jump championship.
Drew Richards
Drew Richards was a three-sport stand-out at BUHS. Known primarily for the art of ski-jumping Drew spent winter semesters of his sophomore, junior and senior years studying at the National Sports Academy in Lake Placid. He graduated with the highest GPA of all the boys in his class.
Drew was 12 when he accomplished the “jump of a lifetime”, winning the overall title at an Eastern Union ski jumping tournament at Laconia, NH. Competing as a 16-year-old he took on the Austrians at the 71st annual Fred H. Memorial Ski Jumping Tournament in Brattleboro and finished third. The following year at the 72nd annual Harris Hill jump, Richards placed 2nd . As a junior at BUHS, he competed in his first U.S. Olympic trials, finishing 9th and joined the U.S Developmental SkiTeam. By his senior year, Drew was one of the top junior ski jumpers in the nation.
Richards was an accomplished soccer player for BUHS being named to the 1994 Vermont All-State boys soccer team as a midfielder. He was selected for the 21st annual Lion’s Cup Twin State Soccer Cup. Tennis was another sport where Richards excelled. As the Colonels’ #1 singles player Richards led the Division I boys’ tennis team to the Vermont State title his senior year.
At graduation, Drew was awarded the Austine Prize, Lunsburg Prize and Stolte Cup. Although he was being heralded as ‘the next great American ski jumper’, Richards decided to go to college instead of seeking an Olympic Team berth.
David Lantz
David Lantz was a four-year four-sport athlete at BUHS, lettering in cross country (co-captain), skiing (co-captain), track and field, and golf. Dave was particularly outstanding in the sport of nordic skiing. From humble beginnings on the BUHS Junior High Track Team, Dave’s athletic career blossomed after high school. He went on to become a student-athlete at Middlebury College, where he lettered in cross country (co-captain), skiing (nordic captain), and track and field. He was named to the NCAA All-American team ( nordic combined skiing) in 1973. During his college career, Dave also earned a spot for six consecutive years as a member of the United States National Ski Team (1971-1976), and narrowly missed traveling with the US National Team to both the 1974 FIS World Championships in Falun, Sweden (first alternate), and the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. Dave was recently acknowledged in 2015 by his former coach, Middlebury College Hall of Famer John Bower, as “the finest Nordic skier I ever coached.” Dave’s community involvement and enthusiastic support for Nordic skiing has carried on long after his retirement from competitive skiing in 1976.
Jason Dunklee
By the end of his first season on the cross country team in his sophomore year, Jason Dunklee placed second in the Southern Vermont League Boys’ championship. As a junior in 1990, he achieved what only 3 previous Vermonters had achieved, winning the New England Cross Country Running Championships. He was unstoppable that year. Jason won the Vermont State Cross-country title and two weeks later won the New England Championships held in Manchester, New Hampshire.
He then went on to New York City, his first visit, to race at the Kinney Northeast Regional Championships at Van Cortlandt Park. This race was a qualifier for the National High School Championships. Jason finished 12th. Dunklee was named to the High School All-American honorable mention team by Harrier, a national running magazine. Jason was one of only 50 runners in the country that were honored.
A rival coach, Eric Evans (Putney School Cross-Country Coach) would write a letter to the editor of the Brattleboro Reformer (November 21, 1990) stating that, “Rarely has a high school runner combined the qualities of innate talent, hard work, and outstanding personal characteristics, the way that Jason Dunklee of Brattleboro has this season. An example of how Jason is respected and liked by his peers was evident at the recent Vermont State meet when the Bellows Falls and Putney School runners encouraged him as vociferously as his Brattleboro teammates during Dunklee’s Division I race.”
As a senior, Jason was the premiere distance runner in Vermont being named Gatorade Circle of Champions boys’ track athlete of the year. He qualified for New Englands, chose to run both the 1,600 and the 3000, placing second in the 3000 despite a nagging groin injury.
He went on to compete at Dartmouth College and in the U. S. Junior National Championships in Oregon in 1993 where he placed sixth and earned a spot on the U.S. Team to compete in the Junior World Cross Country Championship in Bilbao, Spain. Jason finished in 2:49:26 in the New York Marathon and 2:48 at Boston Marathon.
Kari Greenbaum
Kari Greenbaum’s accomplishments as a student-athlete at BUHS from 1987-1991 are staggering. As a 4 year varsity field hockey player she was captain her senior year, MVP Senior year, 4 year award plaque winner and, in 1987, Vermont Division 1 State Champions. As a 4 year varsity basketball player she was captain her senior year, MVP her sophomore, junior and senior years, scored a school record 1,420 points, won a 4 year award plaque, was named to the Burlington Free Press State All Star Team in 1991and played for Vermont in the 1991 Alahambra Basketball Basketball Classic. She was named the MVP. As a 3 year varsity softball player she was captain her senior year, MVP senior year, and in 1989 & 1991 the Colonels were Vermont Division 1 State Champions.
Kari was recruited by the University of Vermont as a basketball player. At UVM from 1991 – 1995 Kari accomplished all of this – All-Time Player (1991-1995), All-Time Letterwinner – (1991-1995), America East All-Conference Team (1995). Her individual and career UVM basketball records include: Career Points – 11th, Career Assists – 8th, Career Steals – 7th, Career Field Goals – 17th, Career Three-Pointers – 14th, Career Three-Point percentage – 10th, Most Game Played – 16th, Most Points in a Season – 17th, Most Free Throws in a Season – 9th, Most Steals in a Season – 12th. Kari played on a regular season undefeated team at UVM and was named the MVP her senior year.
Kari was known as a dedicated student-athlete. She was as a positive role model both on the field and in the classroom. She played hard and helped teammates improve and kept a positive attitude at all times with a maturity that most students do not have. She was a coaches’ dream player who not only had tremendous talent but a dedication to the process of becoming one of the best at her craft. She came to each season prepared physically as well as mentally. Her goal was to be the best player she could be as well as a supportive teammate never making excuses and acknowledging both her successes and mistakes. She was a great leader who leads by example.
Kari would say this about herself, “I’d like to be remembered as a hard worker. I hope that people remember me as a whole person and not just an athlete”.
Art Freeman – Coach/Athlete
Art was a dedicated three sport athlete at BUHS, lettering in football, basketball and track. As a junior, he was given honorable mention as an All-State QB for the 1956 season. In basketball, Art was runner-up in the SVL for individual scoring with 211 points his senior year (1957-1958 season). He was a four-year member of the BUHS track team. As a senior, in 1958, he won the 880 at the state track meet. At the New England’s, Art won his heat, which prompted the Boston University coach in attendance, Doug Raymond, to offer him a scholarship.
At BU, Art majored in Physical Education. Art set the BU track record for the mile with a time of 4:11:05 as a junior in 1961, which held for over a decade. At the IC4A meet (New England plus states west to Michigan and south to N. Carolina) held in Madison Square Garden, he was 4th in the mile indoors and 3rd outdoors. In his senior year, 1962, Art was named Co-Captain of the track team. Art would win a New England track meet for the 880-yard run with a time of 1:54:9 at Boston Sq Garden. At the same meet he also ran a leg of the one-mile relay, with the BU team winning the heat with a time of 3:24:4. In the IC4A meet he was 4th in the 1,000 yd indoor event.
After graduation, Art returned to Brattleboro to teach physical education at Brattleboro. He held that position for 40 years. His work allowed him time to coach. Art coached three sports: football, basketball and track & field. He was an assistant Varsity and Freshman football coach under Coach Natowich for 6 years from 1963-1968. Art was head coach of the Varsity Basketball team from 1969-1977. He coached JV basketball for more than a decade, then moving on to freshman and middle school for many more years. Working with Bob Parro, Art was instrumental in starting and maintaining the junior/senior pro basketball leagues that are still running today. Art also coached AAU over the years with many different players/teams. Ending his career by leading his grandson to a state championship in 2009.
Art was an assistant track and field coach for 6 years, with 2 state championships, 1964 & 1965. He was head coach for 26 years, 1969-1994, winning 2 more state championships. His teams had 31 individual State Champions. Coach Freeman helped hundreds of young men and women to strengthen their minds and bodies, to work for common goals, and to achieve as much success for themselves as possible. Coach Freeman’s years of service & dedication were honored when the BUHS track was named “Freeman Track”.