By Jess Thomas
Adrian Flatgard; [email protected]
Nashoba Regional High School’s winter sports teams have had successful, and some historic, seasons. The wrestling and girls’ basketball teams have had particularly outstanding seasons. The boys basketball and ice hockey teams will be competing in the playoffs, as well.
Wrestling– The wrestling team won its first Division 2 State Championship in school history on Saturday, Feb. 21 after winning the sectional championship as well. The squad narrowly missed winning the sectionals each of the last two years, which gave them extra motivation to win it this year. Coach Pete Connery and his players’ goal before the season was to win the state title. Because of that success, the team will perform in the All-State Tournament on Friday, Feb. 27. More on the team in next week’s edition.
Girls Basketball- The team capped off its second straight 20-0 season and will face #8 Medway (11-11) in the CMass. Division 2 playoffs on Wednesday Feb. 25 at 7:00 p.m. The highlight of the season was senior captain Erin Cressman scoring her 1,000th career point. After experiencing a loss in the state semi-finals last year, the team is determined to break through that wall this year.
Head coach Beth McNamara said, “These seniors are focused, intense competitors with a work ethic that is second to none. I enjoy being around them and I am extremely proud of the dedication and effort they have shown throughout their careers.”
Susan Shaye;
susanshaye.com
Boys Basketball- Third-year coach Danny Ortiz led his team to a 14-8 overall record as the team lost in the Clark Tournament championship on Saturday, Feb. 21 as fifth seed. They beat #4 Bartlett, 88-50, in the quarterfinal and #1 Uxbridge, 57-40, before falling to #2 Shepherd Hill, 55-51, in the final.
The team enters the divisional playoffs as the #3 seed and will face #6 Medway (10-10) on Friday, Feb. 27 at 7:00 p.m.
Ice Hockey- The ice hockey team under first year coach Trevor Short won seven of its last eight contests and finished with a 14-6 record, taking the first seed in the playoffs. The squad handled their way to five shutouts, including three decisive victories of 12-0, 11-0 and 9-0 this season. They will face the winner of Oakmont/Northbridge in the CMass. Division 3A Tournament semifinals on Wednesday, March 4 at 5:00 p.m.
Boys Indoor Track- The boys indoor track team, under coach Steve Beckwith, finished the regular season with a 2-4 record, but picked up its pace, finishing third in the league meet on Saturday, Jan. 31. The squad took home 11th place in the District E CMass. Championship on Saturday, Feb. 7 with sophomores Kyle Cloutier and Ryan Gillooly finishing third and fifth, respectively in the 2-mile. Senior captain Adam Heislein came in second in the mile. The team sent four athletes to the Division 4 State Meet on Saturday, Feb. 14 and Cloutier participated in the All-State meet in the two-mile on Saturday, Feb. 21.
Girls Indoor Track- The girls indoor track finished at 2-4 this season, but tied for fifth in the league meet with Hudson. The highlight at the District E Championship was a third place finish in the girls 4X800 relay. Coach Ben Langelo sent two relay teams to the Division 4 State Meet.
Alpine Ski- The alpine ski team had a season of rebuilding, as head coach Mike Gormley said that nine of 12 boys (five freshmen) and all 10 girls (five freshmen) will return next year, continuing the process. The boys were 0-42 this year and the girls were 3-39. No one skied at the state meet on Tuesday, Feb. 24, as a top-16 finisher was needed. Michelle Frasch finished 24th for the girls.
Nordic Ski- The nordic ski squad had a tough season with the boys and girls’ teams combining for 10 wins out of 60 this season. The MIAA State
Championship was held on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at Notchview Reservation and the team had eight boys and six girls take part in it.
Swim/Dive– The swim/dive team, in just its third season as a varsity squad, broke almost every school record and finished with a 2-9 season. They finished tenth out of 12 teams in the league championship on Jan. 29. Senior captain Steven Jiang came in 17th in the 100-breaststroke at the sectional meet on Feb. 7. At the Division 2 state meet on Friday, Feb. 20, freshman diver Tim St. Denis placed 18th in boys 1-meter diving and Jiang finished 18th in 100-breaststroke with a school record time of 1:05.35, according to co-head coach Katie MacDowell.