The
Strength of the Hills,
Chapter 13 – Athletics, pg 279
Lacrosse also gained a substantial following after
the war, when, with the prodding of Curtis Cushman'50, it was first accorded
minor sport status. Many football players became attracted to the lacrosse team
in the spring, and this helped Middlebury win nine ECAC New England titles
after 1973. Indeed, thirty-four
Middlebury men won All-American honors or mention in lacrosse in the period 1960
- 1990. Powerful midfielder John
Burchard '80 starred in both football and lacrosse and was
considered by his coaches to be "one of the best college athletes
in Division III”. Other lacrosse stars who helped the Panthers to a 105-30
record between 1975 and 1985 included Will Graham '76, Peter
Boucher '76, Bill Kuharich '76, Tom Callanan '77, Roy Heffernan '78,
Roger Nicholas '80, Eric Kemp '80, Chip Clark '80, Jeff Thomsen'83, Mark Chafee '85, David Hennessy '85, Kevin Mahaney
'85, and Steve Kirkpatrick '87. In 1988, the team had a 13 - 1
mark, won the ECAC championship, and ranked seventh in the country in Division
III.