Sports
V-Ball Clinches 1st Ever Post Season Berth
By Ellen Oliver
In the three years since she took over the volleyball team, Coach Johnna Doyle has focused on small improvements.
“The first year we added the freshman team and our goal was to assess,” she explained. “The second year our goal was to be competitive in every game.” And although the records were the same the first two years, seven wins each season, Doyle said she knew they were on target as the team won more sets and had closer games.
NGS: Success On and Off the Field
By Ellen Oliver
The Nashoba Girls Soccer team is focused on success. But when asked about the 2013 season, Coach Pam Vaughan doesn’t talk about scores, records or superstar players. She uses a broader benchmark to measure success. “We’ve had a lot of success off the field,” she said, talking about the extra activities that support causes or promote team chemistry.
The two senior captains, Cori Gillen and Emily Kuefler, got together this summer and planned the season, including team bonding activities with a purpose. The team will be holding a pink game to support breast cancer research and recently held a car wash with 100% of the funds going to former player Anna Young who is in need of a double lung transplant.
The Tide is Turning for Golf Team
By Ellen Oliver
A 3-5 record might not seem to be an indicator of a turning point, but Nashoba longtime golf team coach Dennis Bean recognizes a shift in his team. “We had a slow start, but things are turning around,” said the coach. “We have kids who are figuring out match play. It’s different than playing on the weekend with your dad or friends.”
According to the coach, the difference between weekend golf and competitive match play comes down to discipline. “I tell the kids, if you’re playing golf well, you’re probably not having a lot of fun,” laughed the coach. “You have to make some tough decisions and grind a bit out there.”
Chieftains Start Season with a Bang
By Jordana Bieze Foster
In the locker room, the Nashoba Regional football players paced in their wet uniforms, itching to go back on the field and defend their 42-21 fourth-quarter lead over visiting Westborough. But outside, the lightning flashes continued and the clock remained stopped with 10:43 left in the game.
Finally, Chieftain head coach Jamie Tucker came into the locker room and told his team he had bad news and good news. The bad news was that they wouldn’t get to finish the game. The good news was that the score would stand.
Boys Soccer: Circling for Success
By Ellen Oliver
The Nashoba boys’ soccer team began their season with a match against Westborough at home on Friday, September6 as part of a busy afternoon of sports in Bolton. A quick look at the Rangers roster and one number repeats down the list: 12. The Rangers boast 15 seniors on their team compared to Nashoba with eight.
“We knew they were a strong, experienced team. They’ve played together a long time,” said Senior Captain Ross Cressman.
The Ranger’s experience may seem apparent in the final result, Westborough over Nashoba 2-0, bu not during the game. Westborough scored in the first ten minutes, but the Chieftains held them until the Rangers struck again with ten minutes left in the game.
Field Hockey Calls Home Turf
By Ellen Oliver
Field hockey is the first official varsity home game on Nashoba’s turf field kicking off their season on Friday, September 6 at 7:00 pm. The Chieftains face a familiar foe, Central Mass D1 champ Shrewsbury, well-known because the Colonial’s coach, Lauren Chenevert, leads a popular club team. “A lot of the girls play for her and she knows what they can do,” said Nashoba Coach Jaime Mariani, who is still game planning against the challenge.
Mariani has been using the team’s three scrimmages to determine try-outs and to fill the positions vacated by the six graduated seniors. “I’m really pleased with how the girls are playing,” said Coach Mariani. “We can scrimmage in practice, but I can’t see what the players will do against a team as a team.”
Chieftains Football Get Ready to Go
By Jordana Bieze Foster
The scout team, mostly underclassmen, wears yellow pinafores for this drill. After a few snaps, head coach Jamie Tucker calls for a sub from the sidelines. The player scrambles, looking for a pinafore. The assistant coach on the sidelines takes him to task: You need to be ready. You need to take advantage of every opportunity; give coach a reason to notice you.
With more question marks than usual hanging over the Nashoba Regional football team as the first game of the season draws closer, those words could serve as a mantra not just for players on the bubble but for the team as a whole: Be ready. And get noticed.
Tucker Steps Up to Head Football Coach
By Jordana Bieze Foster
With the Nashoba Regional football team looking to defend its back-to-back Super Bowl titles and extend its 26-game winning streak, new head coach Jamie Tucker has plenty of reasons to be focusing on Xs and Os during this preseason. But Tucker is also focusing on keeping his players safe.
On August 10, Tucker attended a “Practice Like Pros” seminar in Worcester, where speakers including Dartmouth College coach Buddy Teevens and well-known sports neurologist Dr. Robert Cantu discussed the risk of concussion during high school football practices and how coaches can help minimize that risk.
NGS Youth Clinic: Skills and Smiles
By Ellen Oliver
The Nashoba Girls Soccer team is hosting their second annual skills clinic for girls grades 1-8 for three days next week at Nashoba Regional High School.
The camp features individual and group instruction, special training for goal keepers, and an excellent camper-to-coach ratio, thanks to the participation of the entire NGS soccer team. Campers can attend any or all of the three days or can pick and choose which mornings to attend.
Students, Athletes, Leaders
By Ellen Oliver Several members of the Nashoba school community attended the New England Student Leadership Conference, held at Stonehill College, to develop and enhance their leadership skills. Amongst the 250 students who attended the July conference, were Tania Rich, athletic director for Nashoba, Stow seniors Cori Gillen and Emma Caviness, and recent graduate Julie…