SPORTS NEWS BY JOSHUA reese ’95, ATHLETIC DIRECTOR It was a season for the ages. Pride in Northwest Catholic athletics was truly felt throughout the state this past winter, as our student-athletes provided memo- ries that will be not be soon forgotten on Wampanoag Drive. A fighting spirit, com- bined with a renewed passion for competi- tion, saw old teams succeed and new ones carve out their niches. BOys’ BASKETbaLL If consistency is the secret to success for an athletic program, Head Coach John Mirabello’s team is the perfect model. The Boys’ Basketball program racked up the last regular-season Northwest Confer- SPORTS NEWS ence Championship en route to its 19th consecutive appearance in the CIAC State Tournament. A team that was predicted to go nowhere fast ran all the way to the Julian Harris ’10 reaches just a bit higher for the tip-off, as his teammates State semifinals, eventually losing to Tour- Uzoma Orchingwa ’09 (#13), Jordan Lewis ’10 (#3), and Tom Bourdon ’10 nament champion Bulkeley High School. (far right corner) await the ball. Leading the way to the 21-5 record was Northwest Conference Player of the Year Julian Harris ’10 and Academic All-Stater ris and Orchingwa on the All-Conference Lester Primus ’09. With a talented group Uzoma Orchingwa ’09. Steady point team. Coach Mirabello cited the strong of returning players, including Tom Bour- guard Jordan Lewis ’10 (MVP), who led leadership of co-captains Joe Harris ’09 don ’10, J.C. Carr ’11, and Tyler Huff- the team in minutes played, joined Har- (Coaches Award) and Theo Agnew ’09, man ’12, the consistency should continue. as well as the selflessness and dedication of FROM THE DESK OF JOSHua reese ‘95 The perfect recipe for a long New let them finish with a 20-6 record. England winter: ½ c. determination: Two years ago, the Hockey team was Ingredients 2-18. But funny things happen when determination sets in: this 2 cups consistency year, under the leadership of Head Coach Don Melanson ’84, 1 cup perseverance the team had 16 wins and made it to the Conference Cham- ½ cup determination pionship final as well as the Division III semifinal game – the 2 tbsp. commitment to excellence best season in NWC history. Team and individual records fell 1 tsp. appreciation of tradition like dominos. 2 tbsp. commitment to excellence: Let’s see, where do we Directions: Mix together and season with a tremendous amount start? With the 60 student-athletes who made the Conference of pride, sportsmanship, and a loud voice to add to the chorus in the All-Academic team? Or with “Super Thrower” Camille Charles “Belly of the Beast!” ’10, All-State in the Shot Put? Maybe with “Freestyle Freak” 2 c. consistency: The record of Boys’ Head Basketball Coach John Hug ’09, who slashed records in the pool at the speed of John Mirabello says it all: 21 wins, the 10th Northwest Confer- light? And let’s not forget the 4x200 Team (Eric Kennedy ‘10, ence regular season championship in 13 years, a trip to the semi- Alden Jasper ‘10, Trenton Jackson ‘10, and Ryan Siegel ‘10) finals of the Class L State tournament, and a record 19th straight -- State Champions in their event plus a trip to the National appearance in the State playoffs – no one on the current roster Championship! was even alive when that streak began! 1 tsp. appreciation of tradition: Nostalgia mixed with 1 c. perseverance: Many left Coach Karl Herbert’s Girls’ amazement during the Fifth Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame din- Basketball team for dead when they started with a 5-5 record. ner, which highlighted the incredible accomplishments of some But then they began a devastating tear through the talent-loaded of NWC’s best-ever athletes: James Lynch ‘67, Michael Kli- Northwest Conference. Twelve victories in a row, coupled with a mas ‘73, Maura Cavanagh Dick ‘86, Brian Mathews ‘88, and remarkable Northwest Conference Tournament Championship, Sarah Gaspar ‘93. 26 • LOGOS THE MAGAZINE OF NORTHWEST CATHOLIC SPORTS NEWS Girls’ BASKETbaLL Head Coach Karl Herbert’s team could have packed it in early. The early prospects of greatness evaporated before his eyes as the team got off to a 5-5 start. Instead, the girls came back with 15 wins in a row, cap- turing the Northwest Conference Tourna- ment Championship. The 20-6 record reflected the hard work of All-Conference selections Jenniqua Bailey ’10, Brittney Huffman ’09 (Co-Captain, team leader in three-point field goals), Ally Mullings ’10 (MVP), and Uju Nwankwo ’10. Co- Captain Brittaney Thomas ’09 (Coaches Award) raised her game to the next level, providing a significant lift during the im- pressive run. Contributions from juniors Mary Frailey ’10 and sharpshooter Faith MVP Ally Mullings ’10 is poised to drive all the way to the hoop. Gilbert ’10, among others, augur a group that will be a tough competitor in the newly reorganized CCC. from our memory, established hockey culminating in a trip to the semifinals at dominance, and built a hockey commu- Yale University. Hockey hysteria spread nity never before seen on Wampanoag like wildfire through NWC, with All- ICE HOCKEY Drive. The result: a record-breaking 16 Conference selections John Shevchuk ‘09 wins, a first-time appearance in the Con- (Tri-Captain, season leader save percent- Wow – what a comeback! Head Coach- ference Tournament, and the first-ever age of .908), Zack Boorman ’10 (career es Don Melanson ‘84 and Don Gaudet victories in the CIAC State Tournament, leader in assists), and Matt Rode ’10 (ca- erased the 2-18 record of two years ago reer leader in goals and points scored)were determined to make the season great. Se- niors who weathered the storm over four years finished their careers on the best NWC hockey team in history. That group -- led by Chris Byrne ’09 (Tri-Captain, MVP), Sam Corey ’09 (Tri-Captain), Mike Ray ’09, Patrick Tanguay ’09 (Coaches Award), and Craig Watts ’09 -- have set the bar for future NWC teams. NWC’s Hockey Nation is ready to rock the rink for many years to come. Jubilant players celebrate their 16th victory along with the exuberant fans in NWC’s “hockey nation,” which grew exponentially this year as the hockey program enjoyed its most successful season in school history. THE MAGAZINE OF NORTHWEST CATHOLIC SPRING/SUMMER 2009 • 27 SPORTS NEWS Flying like the wind -- that’s the only way to describe the speed of these four runners – from left, Eric Kennedy ’10, Ryan Siegel ’10, Trenton Jackson ’10, and Alden Jasper ’10 – Christine Smith ’10 fluidly takes the in relay competition. The All-State foursome won the Class S baton from Nia Harris ’10. state championship in the 4x200 in February 2009, breaking a seven-year-old school record in the process, and went on to compete at the Nike Indoor Track National Championship. tain, Spring Medley), and Ryan Siegel tinued success seems promising with the ‘10 (All Conference High Jump) All-State likes of Nico Greco ’10 (Coaches Award, INDOOR TRACK selections, they also competed in the Nike All Conference Sprint Medley, 3200M, Indoor Track National Championship – and 4x800), Dan Huehner ’10 (All- Head Coach Jeff Przech ’92 is straight- and they will be back next year, trying to Conference 4x800), and Jack Peterson forward in his praise of his Boys’ team. repeat! The team’s accomplishments were ’12 (All-Conference 4x800) among the Not only were Eric Kennedy ’10 (MVP, enhanced by leaders Mike Bonfatto ’09 pack of great runners who will be back All-Conference – 300M and Long Jump), and John Whiting ‘09 (Co-Captain, All- for more. Alden Jasper ’10 (All Conference Sprint Conference 3200M and 4x800). Con- Medley), Trenton Jackson ’10 (Co-Cap- A surprising 3rd-place finish for the Girls in the Northwest Conference bodes well for the team’s future success. Camille Charles ’10 (MVP) earned a spot on the All-State team, while fellow thrower Kelsey Marakovits ’10 (Tri-Captain, Coaches Award) and super sprinter Nia Harris ’10 (Tri-Captain) led a stellar group of underclassmen. Kylie Steadman ’09 (Tri-Captain) set a great example for promising younger competitors, includ- ing Meg Feeney ‘10, Morgan Green ‘10, and Elizabeth Allen ’12. SwImmING Danahy Bonner ‘04’s squad is often re- Some members of the NWC swimming and diving team, often called ferred to as the “Little Team That Could.” “the Little Team that Could,” pause before jumping into the pool: (front Conference Swimmer of the Year John row, from left): Assistant Coach Kate Gallagher, Francis Butler ’11, Kelly Hug ’09 (MVP, All-State, Nutmeg Con- Gilhooly ’10, Taylor Fusco-Ruiz ’10, Kara Moras ’09, Kelsey Sumple ’10, ference 500 Freestyle Record) dominated Robby Kunkel ’11, and Jei Cho ’10. (Back row, from left): Nathaniel Lom- in the pool and earned himself a spot on bard-Poirot ’10, Bridget Kiley ’09, Michael Deneen ’10, Brynn Stoecklin Brown University’s swim team. Co-Cap- ’11, Sam Hug ’12, Kevin Langan ’12, John Hug ’09, Brian Pepin ’09, and tains Kara Moras ’09 and Chloe Scobee Ryan Thompson ’10. ’09 led a team that swam faster and faster 28 • LOGOS THE MAGAZINE OF NORTHWEST CATHOLIC SPORTS NEWS CHEERLEADING If dedication to excellence keeps a pro- gram going strong, Coaches Christine Michaud ’97 and Tina Flannery ‘04 are the Energizer bunnies. Here is what they go through: Practices that begin in Septem- ber after all the other teams have finished for the evening, long bus trips, cheerfulness in the face of screaming fans, and constant examples of great sportsmanship.