Unity College “Green Monster” Faculty and Staff Team to Compete in 2006 U.S. National Toboggan Championships

Unity, Maine -- December, 2005 –  Over 1,100 pounds of prideful green energy will be screaming down the mountain on February 4-5, 2006, during the U.S. National Toboggan Championships at the Camden Snow Bowl in Camden, Maine.  Team Green Monster, a four-man team from Unity College of Unity, Maine consisting of both faculty and staff, will be vying for both glory and survival.  The team will convey a hefty “green and eco-friendly are cool” message. 

     Team Green Monster will be joined by several Unity College student teams, each offering their own twist on how to best represent America’s Environmental College.  Some will focus on a “green” theme, others will be pursuing a different path, yet all will be “eco friendly.”  In 2005 a Unity College team won the “best spirit” award at the championships.  A Unity College music and barbeque fueled tailgating party to rival any seen at the Super Bowl will take place in the parking lot of the Camden Snow Bowl, promised Mike Davis, Director of Student Activities at Unity College.

     As for Team Green Monster’s approach to the competition, it is not a well kept secret.

     “We’re going work with the mountain, not against it,” noted John Zavodny, a philosophy professor and team spiritual advisor.  “That’s going to give Team Green Monster an edge.  Considering the environment your ally and partner always leads to success.”

     “Win, middle-of-the-pack or crash, Team Green Monster will demonstrate that being green is good,” offered Team Captain Mick Womersley, a professor of human ecology and sustainability expert.

     Steering the four-person sled will be Stephen Nason, Director of Student life.  He will anchor a lineup that by size at least, rivals the front four of many Division 1AA football teams.  “The main differences between Team Green Monster members and the average college football lineman involve age, stamina, fitness and commitment to sustainability,” explained Team Green Member Mark Tardif, Associate Director of College Communications.   “Otherwise, we’re very similar to a college football line.”

     Team Green Monster are:

Stephen “The Green Punisher” Nason, Director of Student Life, Age 39, Height 6’4”, Weight 350 lbs.

Mark “Ozone Ranger” Tardif, Associate Director of College Communications, Age 41, Height 6’4”, Weight 330 lbs.

Mick “The Sustainable Hammer” Womersley, Interim Provost and Associate Professor, Age 42, Height 6’3”, Weight 240 lbs.

John “Zenmaster Sky” Zavodny, Associate Professor and Team Spiritual Advisor, Age 40, Height 6’2”, Weight 190 lbs.

     With the championships less than two months away, Team Green Monster is often spotted going through their paces on the campus of the small environmental college.

     “We’re training hard, not missing meals and getting plenty of sleep,” said Nason.  “Our entire approach is eco-friendly, so we’re taking a little extra time these days to consider how our actions directly affect the planet.  That’s important because you need to be in the right frame of mind when you’re preparing to compete in a national championship. At least it is for us.”

     The team uniform is also important to its success, says Zavodny.  “We have nifty green sweatshirts that second-year student Sara Trunzo will creatively adorn with our team name and personal nicknames,” he explained.  “Now our challenge is to find appropriate attire to complete the uniform from the waist down.”

     Tardif said that many in the Unity College community have encouraged Team Green Monster to go with spandex.  “Lycra is certainly a high tech material that may be eco-friendly, but I’m wondering exactly how flexible it is.  That’s a concern beyond aesthetics.”

     Not that Team Green Monster will rule out making green spandex a part of their uniform, but finding the miracle fabric sized to fit the team is proving to be a monumental challenge.

     “We welcome waist-to-feet uniform suggestions,” offered Zavodny.  “Remember, green is the color we need.  Everything else is pretty much on the table.”  Suggestions may be e-mailed to Zavodny at jzavodny@unity.edu. 

     A goal of the uniform is to achieve a desired élan.  “If you look good, then you feel good,” Womersley stated.  “Being green is all about feeling good.  Our challenge is to seek out green spandex for the bottom portion of our uniforms.  We already have excellent green sweatshirts, the rest of the uniform plan will hopefully come together soon.”

     The team has adopted “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” by Sidney Russell and Robert Scott, as its “theme song.”  The song was released by Neil Diamond in 1970 and also covered by the Reverend Al Green, the Osmond Brothers and The Hollies.  Team Green Song Lyrics

     Why a theme song?  Aside from the general media friendliness of having one, Zavodny, a musician, believes it accents the efforts of a group of brave souls.  “Green energy and eco-friendly approaches to living (and competing) are the pulse of our collective future as citizens of Planet Earth,” he stated.  “This song is the musical representation of the kind of connected, positive pulse and swing a person feels in their soul when they are being green, sustainable and eco-friendly.”

            Sledding for a Cause – Team Green Monster Weight Loss Challenge

     Nason and Tardif will be sledding for a cause, one that is close to their hearts.  “Prior to the competition in Camden, Steve and I will be weighed in,” Tardif explained.  “That will be our benchmark weight for a year-long weight-loss and lifestyle change competition to raise pledges that will benefit the Unity College Faculty and Staff Scholarship.  The scholarship benefits committed, engaged Unity students with demonstrated financial need.”

     Pledges will begin at $1-per-pound lost from the February 4, 2006 weigh-in through the weigh-in on January 1, 2007.  Nason and Tardif will accept pledges up to a total of 60 lbs. each.  Pledges will be due upon the 2007 weigh-in.

     Can Nason and Tardif really succeed in losing up to 60 lbs. in a year?

     “Of course we will succeed!” Nason stated.  “We know many vegetable and fruit loving, meat limited or vegetarian, exercise obsessed, green oriented eco-friendly people.  In fact, we’re surrounded by them on a daily basis!”

     Nason and Tardif are nonetheless seeking sponsorships from weight loss plans and gyms in exchange for promotional consideration. 

     And what if Nason and Tardif are successful in their endeavor?  Will the Team Green Monster compete in the 2007 U.S. National Toboggan Championships?

     “Yes, we’ll compete,” Nason stressed.  “But we’ll likely change the name to Team Lean Green, Mach 5.”   

     Gyms or Weight-Loss programs interested in supporting Nason and Tardif in exchange for promotional consideration are urged to e-mail Tardif at mtardif@unity.edu.  Pledges may also be made by contacting Tardif.

    “This is a very self-serving kind of fund-raising endeavor,” offered Tardif.  “Sure, we’ll be doing our part to beautify Maine by losing weight and raising money for a great cause, but we’ll also likely be improving our life expectancy too.  As for raising awareness of green issues and sustainability through participating in this competition, that’s icing on the cake … which Steve and I won’t be eating after February 4, 2006, by the way.”

TEAM GREEN MONSTER WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE PLEDGE SHEET