During his time at Lyndon, David Saddlemire '69 was a three-sport athlete. Saddlemire “kicked-off” his LSC athletic career in 1964 as starting defensive back on the men’s soccer team. In 1967 and 1968, he served as team captain and was the team’s most valuable player both years. In 1967, the soccer team took the conference championship, which landed them a sport in the New England finals, where, unfortunately, they lost to Gordon College 3-2.
During the winter months, Saddlemire participated on the basketball team in 1964 and 1967 and served as a player/coach for the junior varsity team his senior year. Each spring he played on the men’s baseball team. With Dave as starting catcher, the team won their conference championship in 1967 and 1968. (Dave played the 1967 season without making an error.) Their wins earned the team a spot in the New England tournaments both years, where they lost to New Haven 1-0 in the finals in 1967 and to Quinnipiac College 1-0 in 15 innings in the semi-finals in 1968. Dave’s impressive athletic career at Lyndon was capped by his being selected as Outstanding Senior Athlete in 1968, the first year the award was given.
Putting his B.S. in Education to full use, Saddlemire began his teaching career at Randolph Union High School in 1968, where he served as a biology teacher, assistant baseball coach and junior varsity soccer and basketball coach. He taught science and coached at South Royalton High School for one year, then moved on to Camel’s Hump Middle School in 1971, where he stayed for the next eight years. In 1979, Saddlemire took a job at Colchester High School, where he served as science teacher and coach until his retirement in 1999. During his 20 years of service, Saddlemire coached junior varsity and varsity baseball, junior high soccer, and freshman boys’ basketball. In 1992, he was selected to coach the Vermont Twin State Baseball Team. Then, in 1995, the boys’ varsity baseball team won the Metro League Championship; and Saddlemire was named Baseball Metro Coach of the Year.
In his spare time, Saddlemire has served as a member of the Vermont Umpires Association, Vermont Soccer Officials Association and Vermont Baseball Association, an organization that he served as president for three years. Dave was president of the Colchester Babe Ruth League from 1992-94; he coached the Junior Babe Ruth team to division championships in 1993 and 1994.
Even today, Saddlemire, who calls himself a retired science teacher-turned-handi-man, finds time to stay active in athletics. He still officiates soccer and basketball games, coaches the freshman boys’ basketball team at Colchester High School, and continues to be a member of the Vermont Baseball Coaches Association.
Saddlemire is married to Meri Ann Galioto Saddlemire, a 1969 Lyndon graduate. They reside in Williston, Vt., and are the parents of two grown daughters, Erika and Leanne. Clearly, Colchester High School was the winner for having had David Saddlemire playing on their team for all these years. The LSC community wishes David well in his semi-retirement; we are proud to say that he is a Lyndon graduate.
