WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Earle Helps St. Mike's "It Gets Better" Campaign

Earle Helps St. Mike's "It Gets Better" Campaign

  • Sports

  • Monday, May 21stWATERBURY, Vt. -- Harwood Union High School held a homecoming almost nine months in the making this weekend.Sox Rowe Fields in Waterbury were devastated by Tropical Storm Irene last August.
    A home field, nearly lost to Irene, made it's long-awaited return this weekend.

  • Monday, May 21 2012 10:39 PM EDT2012-05-22 02:39:44 GMT
    Door-to-door driving highlights Sunday's feature races at the West Haven half-mile.
    Door-to-door driving highlights Sunday's feature races at the West Haven half-mile.

  • Monday, May 21 2012 2:10 PM EDT2012-05-21 18:10:21 GMT
    Devil's Bowl Speedway is under new ownership this season, and the racing action is about to take the green flag under the Friday night lights.
    Devil's Bowl Speedway is under new ownership this season, and the racing action is about to take the green flag under the Friday night lights.

  • 3. Friday afternoon in a battle of two 12-0 teams, Essex's Alexis Perry tosses a jem against BFA St. Albans. She pitches a 2-hit complete game shutout as the Hornets improve to 13-0. 2. At the 25
    Rain washed out most of the action last week, but we did get the spotlight to shine on a few performances

  • The Harwood softball team beat Lamoille, 16-0 Saturday. It was the first game the Highlanders have played on their home field in Waterbury since it was damaged by Hurricane Irene last year. Haley Spittle
    Harwood softball hosts Lamoille; Middlebury baseball visits Rice

  • In a match-up of the top two teams in the Metro Division, BFA-St. Albans lost to visiting Essex, 12-0 at the Collins Perley-Complex. The Hornets improve to 13-0 while the Comets drop to 12-1. Essex scored
    12-0 Essex visits 12-0 BFA-St. Albans

  • The UVM men's soccer team will be looking for a new Associate Head Coach. Wade Jean is leaving the program to become the new head guy at SUNY-Cortland. The St. Albans native has a long college coaching
    Associate Coach Leaves UVM Soccer, Middlebury Lacrosse and Plattsburgh Softball Prepare for Big Weekends

  • Monday, May 14 2012 8:36 PM EDT2012-05-15 00:36:17 GMT
    Vince Quenneville and Josh Masterson make it two-for-two on the track at Devil's Bowl Speedway.
    Vince Quenneville and Josh Masterson make it two-for-two on the track at Devil's Bowl Speedway.

  • 3. In the bottom of the third inning St. Johnsbury center fielder Emily Bruckner makes a great over the shoulder catch running towards the fence. 2 In the top of the fourth inning the Cougars Mikaela
    The St. Johnsbury and Mount Mansfield softball teams provide all three plays in one game

  • High School Baseball South Burlington 7 BFA-St. Albans 12 High School Softball St. Johnsbury 4 Mount Mansfield 5
    The Bobwhite baseball team hosts South Burlington while there's softball drama in Jericho

Lead by example. It's an often used statement but rarely will you find an athlete who does it as well as the lone senior on St. Michael's squad, Forward Brady Earle.

Teammate Josh Geary says, "He's a grinder I guess you would say. He's small but he's a firecracker. He's the most physical player on our team but he's probably the smallest player on our team. He's not fancy, he just gets the job done and he works real hard."

Coach Chris Davidson remarks, "He loves the sports, he loves to play. We'll be sorry to see him leave because he is that kind of sparkplug. A guy that you can count on to go in and get the puck, or he'll score the garbage goal. He loves to be around the net and get his nose dirty. He's the only senior, you've got to think all the freshman are looking up at him not only with his on ice but his off ice activities.

While logging hundreds of hours of community service, Earle's work ethic on the ice has earned him 75 points in 85 careers games, while helping the Purple Knights to a Northeast-10 Conference and tournament title his freshman season.

Brady Earle says, "I'm trying to relay that feeling to the guys on the team now who haven't had that feeling and it was just incredible. So I'm trying to use that as a motivation and hopefully we'll get to that Championship game again. We have the tools, hopefully we can make it happen this year."

His desire to see his team win a conference title isn't the only message Brady is trying to convey. In conjunction with a professor and several other student athletes, Brady is producing a special video project.

"Last year in the media there was a lot of coverage on the suicides and its about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered youth. The "It Gets Better" project to try and tell those kids, it gets better," says Earle.

Coach Davidson says the team jumped on board, "Once Brady started bringing it forth, right from the get-go he was all about it. He's like a Three Musketeer, all for one and one for all."

Geary recalls, "I've seen some actual NHL teams do it and some other sports teams and groups of teams on video together saying "It Gets Better". All the Varsity teams here at St. Mike's accept gays, lesbians, and transgendered.

A message reaching the St. Michaels community, one athlete at a time. Thanks to a senior, leading the way.

For More Information on the St. Michael's "It Gets Better" Video:  http://www.smcathletics.com/news/2011-12/20111214itgetsbetter

By Ashley Chase