Weekly Athletic Update, 12/16/14
It’s always a challenge for coaches and student-athletes to focus on preparation and games during the holiday season. Results from this past week were encouraging as our varsity teams performed well in tournaments and contests across the region.
Back
- Congratulations to Coach Jamie Sullivan and the Boys Basketball team who captured the 14th Annual Thomas Blackburn Tournament with a 74-67 victory over Proctor Academy. The team played well in the 1st round contest avenging last year's loss to eventual champion, St. Mark’s School, and followed the lead of tourney MVP Saul Phiri ’16 (34 points) to capture the title. Senior Ben Marello ’15 was an All-Tournament selection wrapped around a 20 point, 10 rebound effort against St. Mark’s School. The senior sharpshooter also led the way in a tough AA loss to Tilton School (86-81) on Wednesday as the Hilltoppers dropped their initial league contest of the young season!
- Coach Dan Nagle’s Varsity Girls Basketball team, ravaged by injuries and down to a roster of 8 players found a way to eke out an opening round win over St. Andrew’s School as Laina Dowd ’16 pumped in a career high 18 points and Lexi Hackett chipped in with 15 points. A strong Tilton squad stood in the way of a Hilltopper tournament sweep and they proved to be too deep and too talented in rolling to a convincing win in the championship game, 69-41. All-Tournament selection Lexi Hackett scored 27 points and was joined on the all-tourney team by Katherine Puda ’17. A spirited comeback on Wednesday fell just short as the girls dropped a 55-51 decision to St. George’s School.
- Coach Kevin Zifcak’s varsity hockey team continues to roll (4-0-1) as senior Maddie Evangelous and Mary Kate Drinkwater ’15 led the way in a 2-0-1 week. The team is gearing up for this weekends Cushing Invitational tournament and a pivotal opening round game with the host Penguins! Two close contests (a 2-1 road win over Groton School and a 1-1 tie with Southfield School) and a breakout 6-1 victory at home over Thayer Academy have the girls’ headed in the right direction!
- Coach Gould’s swim team split Wednesday’s home meet with St. George’s School as the boys led by Kevin Lagasse (1st in both the 100 and 200 free style) emerged victorious (50-44) while the girls, led by freshman Eunice Yang (1st in 200 IM and 1st in 200 breaststroke), fell short in a close meet, 61-33. Qiyuen Zheng also registered two 1st place finishes on the afternoon in the 200 IM as well as the 100 Breaststroke.
- Our wrestling team hosted Class A power, NMH and the Hyde School on Wednesday here in Daniels gymnasium and despite some strong individual performances fell in the dual contest. A road trip to Choate on Saturday saw the same results as WA lost matches to the host school as well as Tabor and Deerfield Academy.
- First-year head coach Guy Angers has the Varsity Hockey team improving and looking for that complete game effort to get untracked. Freshman goalie Devin Barrise has been a nice addition and despite a 4-3 home loss to Vermont Academy, the boys remain committed and optimistic heading into this weekend's Barber Tournament at St. Mark’s School. A tune-up contest with league foe NYA looms at NESC on Wednesday, 3:40 pm.
All sub-varsity teams are on break until January. The JV boys team suffered their initial defeat to a strong Roxbury Latin squad, 45-40 while the Freshman team travelled well in a 45-36 victory at the Bancroft School. Coach Pine’s JV girls squad heads into the break 1-0 coming off their road win at St. George’s School.
Around the Rim
It is always great to have former WA coach and athletic director Tom Blackburn back with us on campus to oversee the Blackburn Tournament. Tom’s connection and support for Worcester Academy and WA athletics remains strong and we value his on-going contributions.
Around the Rim
It is always great to have former WA coach and athletic director Tom Blackburn back with us on campus to oversee the Blackburn Tournament. Tom’s connection and support for Worcester Academy and WA athletics remains strong and we value his on-going contributions.
Congratulations to Dee Rowe who was honored this past weekend in New York at the Holiday Festival for his life-long commitment to the game of basketball.
Athletes of the Week
On behalf of our staff and our student-athletes we wish everyone a happy holiday season!
Athletes of the Week
Saul Phiri - BV basketball team - MVP of Thomas Blackburn Tournament
Mary Kate Drinkwater - GV Hockey Team - 3 goals in a 2-0 week
On behalf of our staff and our student-athletes we wish everyone a happy holiday season!
