By Ellen Oliver
The Junior Varsity Hockey team took first place in the Central Mass JV Division with an intense overtime win in the Championship game. In the meantime, post season action began for many varsity athletes.
Basketball – Girls
Nashoba earned the #1 seed and a first round bye with their spotless 20-0 regular season record. The girls will wait out the winner of the Notre Dame (#4)/Auburn (#5) game and meet them on the hardwood at Fitchburg State on Sunday, March 2.
Basketball – Boys
Tied with Medfield with a 12-8 record, the boys nabbed the #3 seed in the Central D2 playoff bracket. The boys’ face Westboro (#6) on February 27 on the Chieftain’s home court. The Rangers have been a thorn in Nashoba’s side this season, defeating them twice (59-38 and 59-54), but the Chieftains have gotten stronger late in the season and have the better record, so look for Nashoba to stave off an upset.
Ice Hockey – Boys
While the varsity squad is waiting to claim its title, the junior varsity team collected the Central Mass Junior Varsity High School Championship trophy. After an incredible 15-0-1 season, the team defeated North Middlesex on February 16 in a thrilling game reminiscent of the USA/Russia Olympic thriller. The teams were tied 3-3 at the end of regulation and still tied at the end of the five minute overtime. In the shootout, Nashoba prevailed 4-3, thanks to the slick shooting of Joey Tavis who netted the game winner.
The varsity squad will take to the ice on March 1, facing #4 Oakmont at Cushing Academy. Nashoba is the #5 seed, finishing the regular season 9-7-4. Nashoba lost to Oakmont twice during the regular season (3-1, 1-0), but the Chieftains won or tied their last six games, peaking at just the right time while Oakmont only won one game of their last four.
Ice Hockey – Girls
The combined Algonquin/Hudson/Nashoba team was listed as the #19 seed in the very large D2 girls’ hockey bracket. The geographic breadth of the 28-team division is demonstrated in the Tomahawk’s first game, facing a team from Martha’s Vineyard on February 26 at the Martha’s Vineyard Arena. The T-Hawk/Hawk/Chieftain team went 9-7-4 in the regular season.
Wrestling
Six Nashoba wrestlers, plus three alternates, represented Central Mass at the MIAA Division 2 State Tournament on Friday and Saturday. The Chieftains placed 10th, the highest finishing Central Mass team.
Sophomore Ronan Ball placed fourth in the 145-pound bracket and executed his 30th pin of the season to break the school record. Sophomore James Kilgo, returning state finalist in the 113-pound bracket, placed fifth in the 132-pound class. Senior co-captain Ed Quill wrestled at 195 pounds and placed fifth in his bracket. Pins were the key for sophomore Jake Kennedy, Nashoba’s 220-pound grappler. Kennedy pinned North Attleboro, got pinned by Woburn, and then pinned Central Catholic to secure his spot in the consolation semis, where he placed 6th. At 285 pounds, junior Richard Stamos also battled to a 6th place finish. Junior Jacob Kallio did not place, but wrestled well at 160 pounds.
Ball, Kilgo, Quill, Kennedy and Stamos advance to the All-State Tournament next weekend, the highest number of participants in Nashoba Wrestling history.
Alpine Skiing
Nashoba sent senior captain Jenna Peabody to the State Alpine Ski Race on February 25 at nearby Wachusett. Competing in the state race for the fourth time, Peabody earned a 44th place start based on her points earned during the regular season.
Indoor Track
Coming off impressive finishes and a second place team victory in the D4 State Indoor Track Meet, the Nashoba girls continued to shine in the All-State Championship on February 22. Sarah Militano was 2nd in the 55m (7.12) and Kristina MacLure took 9th in the 300m (41.86). In the two-mile, Kelsey Horowitz was 10th (11:23.14). MacLure also jumped to 3rd place in the long jump with her 17-01 leap. The 4x200m relay team of Militano, Stephanie Palis, Meiling DellaGrotte and MacLure came in 11th, completing the circuit in 1:47.77. Overall, the girls’ team came in 15th with 14 points.
