Courtesy Darci Mickus
By Ellen Oliver
Nashoba’s fall sports season was full of achievements and it looks like things aren’t cooling off for the Chieftains this winter.
Basketball – Girls
After last years’ phenomenal run for the Nashoba Girls basketball team (a 20-3 record and a visit to the state sectionals), the Chieftains came out strong again, winning their first three matches before closing out 2012 with a 47-37 loss at Wachusett on December 28.
The girls brought their 3-1 record to the hardwood on January 2 against North Middlesex at home, defeating the Patriots 70-40 off Erin Cressman’s double-digit night. The girls improve to 4-1.
Basketball – Boys
The boys capped off 2012 with a win over visiting Gardner 69-58 in a non-league bout, bringing their record to 4-2. The Chieftains are perfect so far at home after wins over Gardner and Shrewsbury 54-49 on December 12. Back on the road at North Middlesex, the boys lost a close game in overtime with 61-58 on January 2. The boys are now 4-3.
Ice Hockey – Girls
As part of a co-op with Gardner and St. Bernards, the Nashoba girls hockey players are key contributors on a talented team. The Wildcats are 2-1 so far on the season and will face Auburn on January 12.
Ice Hockey – Boys
The boys hockey team came off a lackluster year with a renewed energy. With no losses, the Chieftains have dominated on the ice, shutting out three of their first four opponents (defeated Tyngsborough 4-0, Oakmont 4-0, and Gardner, 5-0). Oakmont was able to tie (1-1) Nashoba in a December 31 rematch. On January 2, Nashoba was back to their winning ways, shutting out North Middlesex 1-0 and improving their record to 6-0-1.
Swimming / Diving
The new swimming and diving team may still be getting their feet wet with official meets. The team has yet to record a win, but has been consistent in the scores, hopefully a sign of developing strengths. The Chieftains lost 101-67 to Westborough, 100-71 to Shrewsbury, 106-71 to Algonquin and 97-68 to Tantasqua on December 19. Next up for the Chieftains is a meet against Northbridge on January 3.
Wrestling
Another bright light for Nashoba athletics is the re-emergence of the wrestling team. With a perfect 6-0 record so far and excellent showings at tournaments, the combined Nashoba/Clinton/Maynard squad is gelling just fine.
At the Framingham Holiday Tournament on December 30, Nashoba sent 11 wrestlers and seven of them placed, contributing to a team place of ninth (of 22 teams) with 115.5 points. James Kilgo was the top finisher in the 113 weight class and Jesse Batson earned his 100th win of his career, only the third Nashoba wrestler to reach that goal with his fifth place finish in the 132 weight class.
On January 2, the team rang in the New Year to the chimes of a victory bell, defeating Hudson 46-24 in a league matchup.
Indoor Track – Girls
The Nashoba Girls Indoor Track and Field team opened the competitive season last week with two fine performances. The first was a December 12 65-20 victory over Quabbin where the Chieftains took first places in eight of eleven events.
On December 16, the girls traveled to the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston to compete in the MSTCA Winter Festival. The Chieftains looked strong in the 55M dash with Kristina Maclure taking second and Tatiana Jarostchuk third. Maclure also won the long jump with a school record leap of 17′ 1.25″. She and Jarostchuk later joined teammates Sarah Militano and Morgan Livoli to win the 4x200M relay in a time of 1:50.94.
Kelsey Horowitz and Natalie Bettez finished second and fifth in the two mile with personal best times of 11:51.94 and 12:24.57. Taylor Brady and Kara McCormack finished fifth (3:17.74) and seventh (3:20.52) in the 1000M. They later joined Horowitz and Rylee Gillen to win the 4x800M relay in 10:23.19.
Indoor Track – Boys
The boys’ team had a strong showing at the Winter Festival at the Reggie Lewis Center on December 16. “Excellent start to the 2012-13 season. Tons of potential for Chieftains this year,” said Coach Andy LeBlanc.
Top performers in the field events were Markesh Harmon, capturing first in the long jump (20-04) and third in the high jump (6-02), and Cameron Rothfuss, placing fourth in the shot put (40-11.25).
On the track, John Militano was third in the 55m dash (6.89), Conor Ursuliak fifth in the 1000m (2:44.3) and Shea Cruikshank sixth in the 600m (1:31.00). John Ojukwu, Militano, Kurt Arsenault, and Harmon combined to nab second in the 4×200 with a time of (1:37.89).