Southern Vermont College's 2002–2003 'Dream Team': The 24–6 Season that Made Mountaineer History

A faded piece of SVC Mountaineer history.

Legendary Coach Ryan Marks skillfully guided the 2002–2003 Southern Vermont College Men's Basketball Team to a record-breaking 24–6 season, catapulting the small Bennington college to NCAA glory and nationwide recognition. 

Widely remembered as the SVC 'Dream Team,' this legendary squad featured an unmatched roster that included Nick 'Frenchy' Bourgade, Charles Beekman, Sean Ezell, Cortney Denison, Lydale Waller, Joe Welch, Marius 'Big Lit' Zalieckas, Drew Santandera, Tyrese Thomas, Marcus Fefee, Julio Ramirez, and Tyler Tuomisto.

The fabled season was built on grit, beginning with Coach Marks' infamous crack-of-dawn practices. A demanding leader, Marks went above and beyond for his players—preparing them for the intensity of the court while mentoring them for life.

Game days brought electric excitement to SVC’s mountainside campus. The entire college would pack into the Mountaineers' compact fieldhouse to witness history in the making. 

The cozy gym gave fans an up-close-and-personal view of the action, and the crowd would roar with approval every time 'Frenchy' pulled off a seemingly impossible pass or Marcus Fefee drained a sensational, buzzer-beating three-pointer.

An SVC home game wasn't complete without Coach Marks keeping the officials on their toes. When animated hand gestures weren't enough, he was known to hurl his suit jacket in disgust. Never one to hide his passion, Coach Marks gave SVC mascot Monty the Moose a run for his money when it came to electrifying the gym.