Weekly Athletic Update, 04/18/18
In our busiest week of the spring season competition and game results took a back seat to Saturday’s celebration at Gaskill Field celebrating the health and well-being of Asa Floyd and our school-wide partnership with the 15-40 Connection. Sunny skies were the order of the day at the outset as we came together as a school and beyond to raise dollars and awareness for the 15-40 Connection and to witness once again the goodness that is Worcester Academy. Congratulations to all who participated, donated and contributed to a beautiful day of thanksgiving on the Hill!
Worcester Academy and Exeter provided all with an entertaining double-header with WA winning the opener, 6-5 and Exeter holding on in the night cap for a 3-2 win. WA also defeated Cushing on Wednesday at Gaskill by an 8-4 count as Sam Thoreen ’18 pitched and batted the Hilltoppers to the win. WA will look to keep things rolling in league play on Wednesday entertaining Deerfield Academy at 4:00 pm
While temperatures have yet to heat up the same cannot be said for Wayne Bolden’s softball team who pushed across 27 runs in two contests, including a stirring 18-17 comeback win over the Winchendon School on Friday afternoon. Wednesday’s 10-9 setback to Deerfield on the road was the 1st loss of the young season for the team.
Track & Field had a very busy week squeezing 2 meets into a 5-day period. On Wednesday, the girls’ ran past Tabor Academy by a 99-44 count as they emerged victorious in 13 out of the 17 events contested. Double winners included Mia Conte and Coco Arcand. Saturday’s meet was a high caliber event with St. Paul’s (meet winner) and NMH providing the opposition. WA received outstanding performances from a host of athletes including 1st place finishes from Coco Arcand, Mia Conte, Stella Gray, Jess Perro and Gabby Gavala as they secured a 2nd place finish. On the boys’ side Wednesday’s meet came down to the final event (4 x 400m) as Tabor edged the Hilltoppers with a 5-point finish to win 72-70. Nick Ng was a multiple winner grabbing both the 110m hurdles and the 300m hurdles and the boys’ also swept the field events taking 1st place in the discus, shot and javelin.
On the tennis front, the boys’ emerged with a nice 5-2 verdict over Marianapolis Prep on Saturday, this on the heels of Monday’s setback to a strong Moses Brown team.
The girls’ rallied late to secure the final matches of the day in doubles to push past the always formidable Dana Hall team by a 5-4 count and will look to continue their early season successes when they travel to Wilbraham & Monson on Wednesday.
Despite frigid conditions our boys’ lacrosse team seems to be heating up evidenced by two nice wins during the week. On Wednesday Jake Drapkin scored three goals and senior Matt Schreiner rang home 2 more propelling the host Hilltoppers past the Winchendon School at New Balance Field. On Saturday, the team travelled to Vermont Academy and emerged with a nice 9-3 win as the defense and strong goaltending ruled the afternoon.
Julie Berberian’s varsity lacrosse team is on a nice roll as they defeated both the Winchendon School (17-5) and Beaver Country Day School (21-13). Senior Shelia Gadbois and junior Grace McShea have led the scoring efforts to date.
Golf and Crew have perhaps struggled the most to get a consistent hold on their spring endeavors with the golf team having competed just once to date (a close setback to the Moses Brown School) and Crew similarly competing against the wind and the cold and the water to try to get their season untracked. Saturday’s meet at Lake Quinsigamond was a welcome relief as both boats were able to get some much needed work in as they point to this week’s scheduled races to improve their times and execution. Bob Thorn is coaching his final season at the helm of WA golf and they will open up their home slate on Thursday afternoon against Suffield Academy at Cyprian Keyes Golf Course.
Our combined sub-varsity baseball team, comprised of members of both the MS and US tied Portsmouth Abbey on Saturday (6-6) in their 1st home game of the season.
Co-Athletes of the Week:
Lauren Power – ’19 Varsity Girl’s Lacrosse
Jared Duffy – ‘18 Varsity Boy’s Lacrosse
