Athletic Hall of Fame

Football was a very good sport for Jim.  He was on the varsity team for three years.  As a sophomore, he played as a running HB and a defensive HB.  As a junior, he started at these two same positions.  The team ended the season with an overall 6-2 record.  Jim scored four TDs offensively, and defensively he returned punts, as the team ended the season as the Northern Conference Champs (5-1 record).  In his senior year, Jim enjoyed even more success.  In his first year at playing QB, he ran for three TDs offensively but, defensively, he showed his real talent.  He intercepted a pass and ran for a 65-yard TD and then, as a punt returner, he scored many TDs.  As a result of his play, he was named to the Burlington Free Press All North Team; and as a QB, on the Second Team.  Then on the Vermont All State Team, he was selected in the Honorable Mention Category.  The crowning point of his football career, he was named to the 1964 Vermont Shrine Team.  On game day, Jim started as a defensive safety but, late in the game, he found himself playing as an offensive end and he scored on a five-yard pass.  Vermont won the game 27-13, as both Pat McCrea and Jim contributed greatly.  

Basketball was the second sport in which Jim participated.  As a sophomore, the junior varsity team went 13-5.  In his junior year, he was on the varsity team that went 15-5 for the season.  Jim scored 18 points against MSJ.  He was such a good free-throw shooter, he was selected to compete in the UVM Basketball Clinic, shooting in a foul shot contest against Boston Celtic great, Bob Cousy.  Jim started with a five-shot credit.  He made 15 out of 20 shots.  However, Cousy sank 16 consecutive shots, missed number 17, finished with 23 out of the 25 shots.  No disgrace here!  Senior year came around and Jim was ready to shoot hoops in a high school game.  He scored 26 points!  After 19 games, he had an average of 15.9 points, with a total of 302 points for the season.  Jim scored on one-hand set shots, jumpers, foul shots, and driving the lane.  Defensively, he was integral in the full-court press, causing numerous errors, steals, and errant passes.  The Rice boys ended the Northern League regular season with a perfect record of 18-0.  Going into the State Class L Tournament, Rice played Essex and defeated them 75-48.  Jim scored 33 points (14 field goals and five foul shots).  He scored on lay-ups, off-steals, tap-ins, and one-handers from all over the court.  He set a Class L Tourney record.  He was named to the All Tournament Team.  

Baseball was the third sport for Jim.  He was on the varsity team for three seasons.  He was expected to help the squad as a pitcher and outfielder.  In the 1963 season, he pitched in the State Finals.  In his senior year, Jim had a very memorable game versus Winooski’s pitcher, Don Picard.  The game stood at 0-0 after 11 innings, and it was called because of darkness.  Jim allowed five hits, but he struck out 22 batters, while Picard struck out 21.   

In baseball, there is a constant battle between a pitcher and the batter.  The pitcher usually wins.  However, in 1973, Mark Guyette said, “No!  I will win this battle.”  

How did he do it?  Mark got 25 hits in his 51 official times at bat for a .490 average.  That really distinguished Mark as a batter.  He was named the Northern Athletic Conference Batting Champion, as he also led the lead in scoring runs and runs-batted-in (13).  For these accomplishments, he was named to the Coaches’ All NIAC Baseball Team.

Mark’s dominating career was not only in baseball.  In football, he was elected co-captain of the 1972 Rice football team.  He lived up to this recognition on offense and defense.  At the end of the season, he was selected to the Division I All State Defensive Team.  He was a cornerstone member on Rice’s tough defense, as he played both end and tackle, accounting for many of the stops in the middle of Rice’s line.  He was credited with 6.1 tackles per game and recovered three fumbles, one leading to a touchdown and another fumble which went directly for a touchdown after an alert handoff.  Mark also blocked a punt.  Mark was named to the 1973 Shrine Team.  In that game, he played as a defensive end.  The Burlington Free Press described the 1973 game as, “…the greatest game of them all.”  The Vermont coach commented, “Mark Guyette was a bear on defense, spending as much time in the New Hampshire backfield as some of their backs did.”  Mark recovered a fumble that led to a key Vermont touchdown.  The Free Press went on to say, “Guyette turned in the finest game at defensive end for Vermont in memory.”

In basketball, Mark played two years on the junior varsity.  

Mark was named the Senior Athlete of 1973 class.  

The 2003 Outdoor Track team set an exceptional and memorable team record (14-3) and outstanding individual records.  Members on this team included four exceptional athletes (Brian Mongeon, Paul Reiss, Andrew Gill, and Keith Nunziata), a.k.a. the “Fab Four” or “Supermen,” since they scored almost all the team’s points that season.  Leading the pack was Brian Mongeon.  At the Burlington Track Invitational, the Rice boys won the prestigious event, the first ever in Rice’s history, defeating Essex by one point.  Brian was named the meet’s Outstanding Field Event Athlete and also the Burlington Free Press Athlete of the Week.  At the end of the year, the boys became Division II Vermont State Champions.  This was the first time Rice took the title outright.  Brian won the 400, 800, and placed second in the 110 hurdles.  He broke the Division II State Record in the 800 meters, was part of the school record 4 x 400 team, and was also named the Gatorade Player of the Year for track.  

At the 2003 Indoor Track meet, Rice placed second in the Vermont State Indoor Track and Field Championship.  Brian was the top point scorer for the team and the meet, winning the 600-meter run, placing second in the high jump and the 1,000-meter run, and anchoring the third place 4 x 4 team.  Rice ended up in second place.  In the New England Championship, Brian ran the 600-meter and set a state record, placing 10th overall and qualifying for the Nationals.  The next day, Brian, as part of the All State 4 x 4 team which placed first against the other New England teams, continued on to place 21st in the 800 meters at the National Scholastic Indoor Championship.

In Brian’s sophomore year, he was a varsity starter on defense for soccer.  In his junior year, the team won the State Championship, with Brian playing defense.  In his senior year, the team recorded its best record ever (14-3), and won the Lake Division Title as, once again, Brian played defense.  During the season at the Essex tourney, the boys’ team won for the first time in the tournament’s existence.  

Brian also played on the basketball team at the junior varsity level in his freshman year.  

During his time at Rice, he was known for his sportsmanship and athletic achievements.  He was truly a Rice Scholar/Athlete.    

Matt was an athlete with many skills - speed, athleticism, good hands, and an ability to set up blockers and make use of them.  

In his football career, he used all of these skills, which resulted in an outstanding career on offense and defense in his junior year.  The Burlington Free Press All State Defensive Team in 2004 described him as “…one of the most exciting players in Vermont, whether he is on offense, defense, or special teams.”  Matt returned four punts and one kick-off for touchdowns.  His returns always gave Rice excellent field position.  He had 836 yards and six touchdowns as a receiver, and he intercepted four passes.  He ran for four touchdowns and was selected as the 2004 All State Return Specialist.  Matt was also selected on the 2004 Division II Coaches’ Team as a Offensive Wide Receiver and as a Defensive Back on both first team selections.  This team won the state championship with a perfect 11-0 record.  He was on the Varsity Football team as a freshman and scored a touchdown on a pass.  Sophomore year, Matt was also on the varsity where he scored five touchdowns on passes and he scored an additional two times on punt returns.  This performance landed him on the Division All League Team.  On offense he was on the first team as a wide receiver and on defense, he was named on the second team on Punt Returns.  Matt’s junior year, he scored 11 touchdowns on passes and end runs.  Once again, he scored on punt returns twice.  In the championship game against Woodstock, he returned a punt for a touchdown!  In his senior year, Matt was a co-captain on a team that went 5-4 during the regular season but went on to win the semi-final game and then lost in the division final game.  Matt ended up playing in the 2006 Shrine Game.

From 2004 football, Matt went on to play lacrosse in 2005 and helped the team as a mid-fielder.  That year, the team had a perfect record, 16-0.  Coach Brent Lewis stated, “These football players knew how to win!”  Matt’s teams in his junior year never lost a game all year long.  He joins other team members who also had this distinction in 2004-05 school year (Ralph Alfieri, Matt Tomkowicz, Nate Denton, Fran Briand, Birney Boehland, and Steve Degree).  The 2005 team won the first Division II State Championship, beating Burr & Burton.  In Matt’s senior year, 2006, the team went to the semifinals but was defeated by Burr & Burton.

Matt also played basketball for two years.  He played on the junior varsity his freshman year and on the varsity team as a sophomore.  The team had a 15-8 record and a trip to Patrick Gym for the final four game against Burlington.

Seldom does a three-sport athlete perform with such success as Josh did in his high school career.

Baseball was his favorite sport, and he showed his talent all four years on the Rice varsity level.  In his freshman year, he had a .340 batting average, with two home runs.  He played centerfield, shortstop, and pitcher (with two wins to his credit).  Josh received All Metro Honorable Mention.  As a sophomore, he had a .380 batting average, with three home runs and four wins as a pitcher.  Versatile as he was, he played centerfield, catcher, and pitcher and was named to the All Metro Second Team.  As a junior, he batted .405, with three home runs, won six games as a pitcher, played centerfield, and was the team captain.  At the end of the season, Josh made the All Metro First Team.  As a senior, he batted .450, with four home runs and 14 doubles, as centerfielder and as pitcher (three wins).  The recognitions came often.  He was named to the First Team All Metro, First Team All State, and the North-South Team.  Finally, in Varsity Magazine, Josh was named the Second Best Player in the state and the Best Outfielder in the state.

In Josh’s sophomore year in basketball, he averaged 10 points per game and, on defense, he was always put on the opponents’ best player.  Here, he was named to the All Metro Honorable Mention category.  As a junior, he averaged 8-10 points per game.  In his senior year, he averaged 13 points per game, with four steals per game, as his role again was to play against the opponents’ best player.  The season ended with the Rice team winning the State Championship.  Awards, once again, came his way.  Josh was named to the All Metro First Team, and then on the All State Second Team.  He was named Top Defender in the state.  Josh was also named to the North team that played the best players of the South.

As a freshman playing football, he played quarterback on the junior varsity team and then played on the varsity level his last three years.  As a sophomore, he scored six touchdowns as a receiver and intercepted 10 passes as a defender.  Josh was named to the All Metro Offensive Team and, in the Honorable Mention Category, on the All Metro Defensive Second Team.  This Rice team had a perfect record of 11-0 and won the 2004 State Championship.  As a junior, he played quarterback and running back, scoring 13 touchdowns, and played defense where he had seven interceptions.  As a result of his play, he was named to the All Metro Offensive Second Team and the All Metro Defensive First Team.  Josh’s senior year, he played quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and defensive back.  He scored 16 touchdowns on offense and intercepted eight passes on defense.  He was named to the All Metro Offensive First Team, the All Metro Defensive First Team, and the All State First Defensive Team.  Josh was named to the North team that played the best players of the South.  Finally, Josh was named to the Shrine Team, where he was named a team captain.  Upon graduation, he was named Most Athletic by his classmates.  
 

Meg is the definition of a student athlete. Graduating as third in her class, she masterfully balanced her academics and athletics, finding success in both areas.  

Meg was a three-sport standout at Rice from 2003-2007. She successfully made varsity for all three sports in her freshman year.  

In field hockey, she was captain her senior year where she earned team MVP, All Capital First team and All-State Second team her senior season. She was a talented forward who always found the right cuts to help create space for her whole team to be successful. She had an incredible IQ on the field that helped her team. One of her best memories from field hockey was getting the opportunity to play at Middlebury College in the semifinals one season.  

Meg was a captain in her junior and senior years for ice hockey. She made the Academic All Star Team her senior year. Some of her best memories of being on the team were hanging out at Cairns in the winter season after her team's practice, or waiting for her team's game. 

Not only was Meg a two year captain for lacrosse, She was named to the Division II First team her junior and senior year. She had the opportunity to Play in New England’s Senior All Star Tournament, and was given the Rice Girls Lacrosse Award her senior year.  Upon graduation, Meg was voted Most Athletic by her classmates.

Meg was part of the National Honors Society as well as the Peer Support Team. She was awarded Rice’s Student Athlete Award in 2007, an award which both her brothers always awarded in 2009 and 2011, tradition of excellence runs deep in their family.  

Meg’s dedication to her academics earned her a full academics scholarship to Ithaca, where she also earned a spot on their field hockey team. She was named Empire 8 Conference Athlete of the week her sophomore year before suffering a season ending knee injury. She reinjured her knee her junior year which ended her playing career at Ithaca. Meg earned a BA in journalism, and then went back to school for an MS in Library Science.

She currently works for the town of Colchester as a staff librarian for Burnham Memorial Library. Since 2019, she has also been part of the Essex High School Varsity field hockey coaching staff.
 

“Opportunities multiply as they are seized”- Sun Tzu. Katie Cutting is one who took advantage of every opportunity that Rice offered and continues to seek out amazing opportunities long after she has graduated. With each opportuning not only did she thrive, she had a big smile on her face the whole time.

A 4 year varsity letter winner for alpine ski racing, if there was an award for anything ski related, then you can be sure that she won it. She was captain her senior year and brought the ski program to life at Rice. Some of her notable accomplishments were winning the State Championship in the Slalom and Giant Slalom in her junior and senior years. Senior year she won every single race during the regular season, and won Eastern High School championships in Slalom while placing 8th in Giant Slalom. Katie made the Vermont Alpine Ski Racing All State Team all four years of high school.

In field hockey, she participated on the varsity team in her junior and senior years. The team won back-to-back state championships for Division 3, junior year being Rice’s first title! In her senior year she was able to earn the championship title with her younger sister Emily. This was a special moment for the both of them. One of Katie’s fondest memories at Rice was the first day of field hockey practice where she met freshman teammates Katie Fisher, Sydney Bouchard and Molly McClintock, who remain her closest friends today.

Katie was also a valued member of the varsity lacrosse program for four years, captaining her senior year and helping build the foundation of a strong program which would win a championship a couple years later. 

At senior spring awards, not only did Katie earn the Athletic Achievement Award for alpine ski racing, she was named Rice’s Female Scholar Athlete. Katie was an active member of the Rice community. She was part of the National Honors Society, campus ministry, a student ambassador, the class treasurer as well as various clubs.

Katie went on to alpine ski race for Division 1 Program Boston College from 2010-2014. She was captain, named Outstanding Senior of the Year Award and Coaches Award in 2014. She was the team MVP her junior and senior year and was named Athletic All-American in 2011.

Today, Katie is a Registered Nurse at UVM Medical Center. She is scheduled to graduate as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in May 2024. Katie also is helping coach the ski team that her parents helped start, staying involved in the Rice tradition of supporting students to achieve their highest potential.

Reagan Jewell’s favorite sport was basketball.  She performed exceptionally, as her talents gradually developed.  In her freshman year, she was selected for the varsity team.  In 2009, her sophomore year, the team record was 10-13.  Reagan was named to the Underclassman Dream Dozen and All-Metro Team, as the team went to the Final Four.  Her junior year, 2010, she led the team by playing forward, as well as guard, and was named Honorable Mention to the All-Metro Division I Team.  Finally, in her senior year at Rice, she was captain and led the team to the Division I State Championship Title.  

Here the awards of recognition came often.  She was named Metro Division I Player of the Year.  That was followed with her being named to the Burlington Free Press All-State Girls’ Team.  During this season, Reagan averaged 14 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and three blocks per game.  

In soccer, Reagan was just as successful; she was on the varsity team all four years.  In her freshman year, the team had a 10-0 record in the Lake Division.  In her senior year, she really showed her ability, as she was captain of the team and named to the Lake Division First Team All-Stars.  She also was named Most Athletic by her classmates.

After graduating from Rice, she attended Holy Family University on a full basketball scholarship.  During her time there, they won three conference championships and played in three NCAA Tournaments.  She graduated with a degree in Sports Management and Marketing.

She attended Canisius College in Buffalo to obtain her Masters Degree in School Counseling.  After graduation, she received an offer from Albion Middle School in Sandy, Utah.  She is in her 5th year at Albion and has loved exploring Utah and its endless adventures!
 

Winning a total of four state championships during her time at Rice, Emily Cutting certainly wrote her own legacy!  She joins the Hall of Fame Class alongside her sister, Katie.

Emily Cutting was a three-sport standout at Rice. A three-year varsity athlete for field hockey, Emily secured two state championships, one in 2010 alongside her sister Katie, and another in 2011. She was a speedy midfielder who was a playmaker. Emily was an important piece in helping move field hockey from Division 3 to Division 2. 

A 4-year member of the Alpine Ski team, Emily made the first team for the Vermont All-State Ski Team both her junior and senior year, continuing the Cutting family tradition of making their mark known in the ski community. 

Emily was an integral part of the girls’ lacrosse successful program. She helped rewrite the books of Rice history in so many ways alongside her teammates Gretchen Tarrant and Katy Ranaldo (who are also being inducted). They were one cohesive group that brought so much pride to the Rice girls lacrosse program. A three  year member of the varsity squad, she brought so much life and excitement onto the lacrosse field. Emily was a fierce attack player who hit a 200 point mark in her career. With 167 total goals and 67 assists, she ranks third all time in points at Rice. As captain she helped Rice secure their first ever lacrosse championship. She then followed that up with another trophy her senior year. From her team’s success, Rice girls lacrosse program  moved to Division 1. She was an All State First Team selection for two years and represented Vermont in the Twin State Games.

Emily went on to have a successful career at Endicott College for lacrosse where her team won the Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship for three years. While at Endicott, she earned her teaching degree. She is currently in Thailand where she has been an elementary school teacher for six years!   

A couple of special memories Emily made note of with her time at Rice: her 100 point celebration on the lacrosse field, all the themed practices with Coach Kelly, winning the lacrosse state championship her senior year, and getting to play side by side with her older sister Katie in lacrosse, field hockey and alpine ski racing her freshman year.
 

A feisty and speedy athlete, Katy brought to life the quote “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the the size of the fight in the dog that matters.”  Katy was a 3 sport standout at Rice, making her presence known in every sport.

A four-year varsity player for soccer, Katy conquered the midfield position, being a big asset both offensively and defensively. Her sophomore, junior, and senior year she made the Division 1 All-State Soccer team. As a senior she was selected for the Lions Twin State Soccer Cup, representing one of Vermont's top seniors. She earned the 2013 Outstanding Athletic Performance in Soccer Award for Rice for all the contributions she made to the program. 

On the ice, Katy was part of the varsity program all four years, captaining the squad the last two years. She got selected to play in the Vermont Rotary All-Star classic game in 2013. 

A four-year member of the varsity squad, Katy was part of the legendary trio with fellow inductees Emily Cutting and Gretchen Tarrant who made girls lacrosse move from D2 to D1.

A two-year captain and MVP, Katy helped Rice secure their first-ever lacrosse championship and then did it again the following year. She made the All-State First Team in both her junior and senior season. She accrued over 232 points, with 169 goals and 63 assists. This is the second highest in school history.  As a sophomore and junior she played in Vermont's Rising Stars showcase, highlighting some of Vermont's best underclassmen. She represented Vermont in annual Vermont vs. New Hampshire Twin State and earned All American Honorable Mention for Girls lacrosse. Katy had incredible agility, she could turn on a dime, and blow past defenders to get the ball in the goal. Her defense matched her offensive intensity, causing many  timely turn-overs for the Rice Knights.

Katy earned the Outstanding Female Athlete award at graduation for Rice. She also earned the Susan L. Valley Nursing Scholarship Award. Katy took part in more than just athletics, being a part of Stunt Nite and peer ministry all four years. She was a volunteer for the Polar Express, took a trip with Habitat for Humanity to help build houses in West Virginia, and was a huge help in the TOP Soccer program- which was an adaptive outreach soccer program. Katy was a member of the National Honors Society, bringing the term student athlete truly to life. 

Upon graduating, Katy attended UVM, scoring a roster spot on their Division 1 lacrosse program where she played for two years. Reflecting on some of her favorite memories at Rice, Katy mentioned pep rallies, Stunt Nite rehearsals, Campus Ministry retreats, gathering with teammates in Azzie’s classroom before games and practices,  and winning two lacrosse state championships. Katy was such a loyal member of the Rice community, always playing with so much pride for her school in every game.  Katy’s character and integrity were a great reflection of everything that Rice stands for and sets the bar high for excellence in everything she did.

One of the most dominant female athletes to ever walk the halls of Rice Memorial High School, Gretchen immediately started writing her legacy from day one. A 2013 Graduate who was a three sport standout, Gretchen, also known as Rocky on the lacrosse field, accomplished everything with grit, tenacity and determination. She was a natural leader, becoming a captain in all 3 sports she played. 

On the soccer field, Gretchen was pulled up to varsity as a freshman where she immediately made an impact.  She was an All Lake Division First Team selection her senior year, as well as representing Rice in the Lions Twin State All Star game vs. New Hampshire. 

Gretchen was part of the first class for the Rice Prep Girls Ice Hockey program. She became one of the first to hit 100 career points. She helped captain the team to win the New England Championship, a first for the program! Gretchen represented Rice at the Make-A-Wish Hockey game where the top seniors from Vermont battled the top seniors from New Hampshire. Gretchen's good friend Emily Lyman lost her battle with Leukemia that winter.  Gretchen honored her by helping make the puck drop extra special. 

Gretchen pulled up as a freshman to the varsity lacrosse program and never looked back. Teaming up with fellow inductees Emily Cutting and Katy Ranaldo, they put Rice on the map for girls lacrosse. She was instrumental in helping the team win their first ever state Championship in 2012, and then again in 2013.  Her speed was unlike anything else, no defender in the state of Vermont could shut her down. 

She hit the 100 career goal mark in lacrosse as well as surpassing 150 points. In her final game as a Knight, Gretchen poured in six goals to help secure Rice’s Second  Championship title, upsetting the #1 seed- what a way to go out!  She made the All-State First Team as a senior and represented Vermont in the annual VT vs. New Hampshire twin state game for lacrosse.  Gretchen is one of very few athletes to make all three Twin State games for her three sports.

Gretchen received Rice’s prestigious John Varricchione Outstanding Female Scholar Athlete award. As part of earning the award, Coach Kelly wrote “Gretchen embodies everything an outstanding athlete is, humble, genuine, smart, dedicated, talented, classy, a workhorse, and the girl you want on every team! I coached her when she started as a freshman and am astounded by her growth from then to now, what an athlete and special person. Gretchen is one of the finest athletes I have ever had the privilege and honor of coaching.”

Upon graduation Gretchen attended Yale University and was part of their ice hockey program from 2013-2016. A testament to her true athletic ability, Gretchen then walked on the Yale lacrosse team in 2016! In hockey, she won the Mandi Schwartz Award given for courage, grit and determination.  

Gretchen is the definition of a strong willed female athlete, one that you want future generations to model. She was fearless in competition, selfless in the way she served her teammates, and inspiring.