Trump says soaring college football costs are hitting sports
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday (March 6) said the soaring cost of paying for football at colleges was harming school sports in general and the problem would need to be addressed by legislation, adding he might sign an executive order about it.
- A list of Vermont’s top 10 college athletes is dominated by hockey players from the University of Vermont.
- Kirk McCaskill was a standout in both hockey and baseball before being drafted by the NHL and MLB.
- Martin St. Louis and Tim Thomas were teammates who led the Catamounts to the 1996 Frozen Four.
It’s not all about the winter sports in Vermont.
But our list of the state’s best college athletes is heavy on hockey stars, several of whom went on to translate their respective NCAA success to the NHL level.
Separating one of these stars from the rest of the group wasn’t easy. But one former University of Vermont standout was able to break the tie because of his excellence in a second NCAA sport.
Here’s a look at the top 10 greatest college athletes to ever play in the state of Vermont, part of the USA TODAY Sports USA 250 initiative:
10 greatest college athletes from Vermont
Taylor Coppenrath, Vermont
Coppenrath is the most decorated basketball player in Vermont history. He was a three-time America East conference player of the year, a 14-time conference player of the week, led the Catamounts to three conference championships and scored 2,442 points while averaging 21.4 points per game. As a senior, he led the Catamounts to their first NCAA win and was a finalist for the Wooden Award.
Kirk McCaskill, Vermont
While known professionally as a pitcher for the then-California Angels and others, McCaskill was an outstanding hockey player for the University of Vermont who earned All-America honors and was the runner-up for the Hobey Baker as the nation’s best player. He was also an all-conference pick in baseball as a pitcher and a DH in two separate seasons. McCaskill was taken in the fourth rounds of the MLB and NHL drafts.
USA 250 LISTS: Alaska | Alabama | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming
Martin St. Louis, Vermont
The two-time Hobey Baker finalist and three-time All-American scored 51 points as a freshman, 71 as a sophomore, 85 as a junior and 59 as a senior for a program-records 267 points with the Catamounts. He led Vermont to its first conference title and then scored the game-winning goal to send the school to the 1996 Frozen Four.
Albert Gutterson, Vermont
Gutterson is seen as the greatest track and field athlete in UVM history even if his performances are mostly lost to history. In addition to his multiple AAU and college indoor and outdoor titles, one moment that’s passed the test of time is Gutterson’s 33-point performance in a single event against Maine in 1912. That same year, he won gold and set a new Olympic long jump record at the Stockholm Games.
PROGRAM RANKINGS: Top 25 | Big Ten | SEC | ACC | Big 12
Tim Thomas, Vermont
A standout goalkeeper who played alongside St. Louis, Thomas was a two-time all-conference and two-time All-America pick. He tops the school record book in games (140), wins (81) and saves (3,950). His save total ranks third in NCAA history. Thomas also led the NCAA in save percentage (.924) during the 1996 season.
Theresa Schafzahl, Vermont
The most prolific player in UVM women’s hockey history, Schafzahl holds school marks for goals (71), assists (74) and points (145). She also holds the single-season records for points (46) and goals (25). A first-team All-American in 2022, Schafzahl was the program’s first Patty Kazmaier finalist as the nation’s top player.
Lisa Fernandez, Vermont
Fernandez played basketball and softball at UVM before graduating in 1979 but saved her best performances for field hockey, where she was a four-time all-conference selection who ended her career with program records for goals (25) and assists (18) despite primarily playing as a defender.
Laurence St.-Germain, Vermont
St.-Germain was a three-time All-America selection for the women’s skiing team who finished as the national runner-up in the slalom in 2016. She went on to be a three-time Olympian for Canada in 2018, 2022 and 2026.
Keith Aucoin, Norwich
Aucoin posted a men’s hockey program record 240 points across 116 games and was a four-time Division III All-America pick. The future NHL skater was a two-time conference player of the year and the national player of the year when he led Norwich to its first national title in 2000.
Judi St. Hilaire, Vermont
St. Hilaire owns a UVM record five indoor and outdoor track and field records, including a first-place finish in the 10,000 meters at the 1980 AAU Nationals. She won the individual conference title in 1980 and competed in the 1992 Summer Games.
