Vermont move working for game

It’s the kind of work that makes Kristi Morris, of Springfield, Vt., general chairman for the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl, proud of what his organization the Shriners can do.

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Vt. Move Working For Game By Josh Weinreb Valley News Staff Writer Wednesday, August 03, 2016 Print LEBANON HIGH HARTFORD HIGH NEWPORT HIGH STEVENS HIGH SHRINE MAPLE SUGAR BOWL Castleton, Vt. — Hanover’s Michelle Schembri, when first approached with the offer, wasn’t sure how her daughter Giavanna would handle the spotlight as Shrine Bowl Queen for the 63rd Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl football game on Saturday at Castleton University. But at Tuesday’s media day, Giavanna looked comfortable and confident, even took the time to address the crowd. In some ways, Michelle said, stepping into the spotlight has helped her daughter break out of her shell. “At first, I kind of thought, ‘I don’t know,’ ” Schembri said. “She’s kind of shy and reserved, and will she want to take this on and be in front of everyone? When I asked her, she was thrilled and excited. She loves the Shriners. … The people who work there are like family. She knew it was important.” Giavanna Schembri was born without a left hand and, with the help of the Shriner’s hospital in Springfield, Mass., has been able to live her life wearing a prosthetic. Justin Demars, a 9-year-old from Claremont who suffered second- and third-degree burns at 10 months of age, was named the Shrine Bowl King. It’s the kind of work that makes Kristi Morris, of Springfield, Vt., general chairman for the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl, proud of what his organization can do. The Shrine Bowl has been in a state of transition over the last several years. Differences between a deep New Hampshire athlete pool and a thinner reservoir in Vermont has skewed the competition between the two states, forcing Morris and his board to make changes in order to keep the Maple Sugar Bowl relevant for spectators. The organization’s move from Dartmouth College to Castleton, farther away from many New Hampshire spectators in the south, has been more drastic, and it has opened the Bowl organizers to criticism from the Granite State. “If we could take all the benefits of a town such as Hanover, all the positive environment and logistics, and then have the funding the opportunities that Castleton provides, that’d be a perfect world,” Morris said. “But it’s not. These are difficult decisions, and the Maple Sugar Bowl has taken it on the chin with some of those decisions in the past.” Castleton and the Shrine organizers signed a five-year contract to host its weeklong training camp at the college’s facilities, a contract that will be up at the end of next year. But the move from Dartmouth to Castleton, more than anything, has helped organizers reduce logistical costs related to hosting the parade in downtown Hanover, resulting in more money going to the event’s three related hospitals. “We ended up, net for the hospitals, over $18,000 (last year),” Morris said. “Prior to that, we were dabbling with net proceeds close to zero or maybe $3,000 contributions. … Everyone will agree that the Dartmouth venue is certainly the best location as far as central. But financially, the Hanover experience is very costly, much more than Castleton. “Dartmouth College itself, much like Castleton, there’s really no cost for using the facility,” he added. “Where the extra cost came in was the police protection, fire presence, EMS presence, logistics for hosting the parade and the extra cost that we incurred there. That’s very expensive. Those people work on time-and-a-half. It’s up to them how many people they need, not us.” But having a central location is still paramount in Morris’ mind, particularly with the CHaD East-West game in southern New Hampshire and the Shrine Bowl’s decision to require New Hampshire athletes to choose one charity football game over the other. The policy was put in place two years ago, the hope being that New Hampshire’s teams would be less dominant and the Shrine Bowl would keep its competive edge. It has worked so far, bringing games closer despite New Hampshire’s continued dominance. But Morris acknowledged a New Hampshire spectator is still less inclined to make the trek to Castleton, especially if the perception is the Granite State team is watered down. “We want the game to remain popular with the general public. We want them to come,” Morris said. “A few years ago, there were a stretch of years where the game was significantly one-sided. New Hampshire boasts 56 high schools that play football. Vermont has 34.” For now, Morris said, the local response to the game since its move to Castleton has been worth it. No matter the location, the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl’s cause has never been in question. Schrembi knows this better than anyone, having witnessed first-hand what a Shrine hospital can do. Joining in the festivities is, in some small way, her daughter’s way of giving back. “Giavanna has been a bit nervous,” Schembri said. “It’s a big thing to be the queen and kind of be representing all children from Shriner’s hospital. I think, even though she’s only 7, I think she kind of understands the importance of what’s being done. She’s kind of taking her role seriously.” Josh Weinreb can be reached at jweinreb@vnews.com or 603-727-3306.