Weekly Athletics Update
Weekly Athletics Update
Congratulations are in order for our junior varsity ice hockey team who finished the season (15-1 overall) in resounding fashion on Sunday with a thrilling 5-4 win over Hopkington High School in the New England Sports Center Junior Varsity league. The team went through the league without a loss and rode the late game heroics of Ike Dutton ’24 who pumped home the game winner with just under five minutes left to play.
- Our boys’ varsity ice hockey team once again earned the # 1 seed in the Holt Conference League play-offs and worked their way to the finals on Friday evening with a solid 7-2 victory over Portsmouth Abbey. Saturday afternoon’s finale saw the # 2 seed NYA turn the tables on Worcester Academy, registering a 3-1 triumph to secure the 2020 Holt title. It was retribution for a game last Wednesday in Maine when the Hilltoppers raced past NYA by a 5-1 score as Atticus Roop ’22 scored a pair of goals giving WA the regular season title. Graduations losses will be felt, however, there remains a solid foundation and a good crop of rising JV players who will keep the team competitive in the years ahead!
- Girls’ ice hockey rebounded well and finished off a terrific year (17-8-2 overall) with a pair of impressive weekend wins over Greenwich Academy (7-2) and Canterbury School (3-0). The # 4 overall seed in the NEPSAC Division I Large School tournament, the Hilltoppers will host # 5 seed Lawrence Academy, Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 pm at Worcester Ice Center.
- Varsity girls’ basketball will take the # 3 into this week’s Class AA Tournament hosting # 6 seed Rivers on Wednesday afternoon here on Rowe Court with tipoff set for 3:30 pm. The Hilltoppers put together yet another strong season (16-5) and finished the year with a road victory at Thayer on the heels of a Wednesday road loss to Bradfod Christian Academy.
- On the boys’ side, Cushing Academy demonstrated how they had pushed through the minefield that is AA basketball as they pulled away from the host Hilltoppers in the 2nd half to secure the win. Saturday’s trip to Tabor saw the veteran WA squad respond in good fashion as they finished a very successful season (18-11) with an efficient win over the Seawolves. Senior Mike Rabinovich led the attack with 17 points. WA is the # 2 seed in the upcoming AA Tournament and will square off with the # 7 seed, Cheshire Academy at 5:15 pm on Wednesday, March 4.
- Varsity 2 basketball concluded their ’20 campaign (4-13 overall) with a road loss at NMH despite placing three players in double figures on the afternoon.
- In a rarity of sorts, Freshman basketball coach, Alex Garcia brought his team to the Williston School Saturday morning to face off against his dad’s team. Eugeneio Garcia will have bragging rights for this year – hoping to make this a yearly event – as the Williston team used a late “run” to push past the WA frosh by a 50-42 count. The freshman squad (10-6 overall) had a terrific season and grew a lot as a team, perhaps best exemplified by Wednesday’s big win over NMH as three Hilltoppers scored in double figures. The win erased an early season loss to NMH and showed the seasonal growth for the young Hilltoppers. Well done!
- In typical fashion, the Junior Varsity boys’ basketball battled hard for a half and then fell in the 2nd stanza to Cushing Academy. The won-loss record certainly will not be a good barometer for this team when they look back at the year as they were relentless in their pursuit of getting better.
- Much the same can be said about our girls’ junior varsity team, and it was nice to see them end the year on a good note as they stormed past Thayer in Braintree on Saturday. Karisma Lavana ’23 overcame early foul trouble and scored a dozen points to lead the way for the Hilltoppers.
Around the Rim:
There’s plenty of action left this week as multiple WA teams compete for NEPSAC Championships. Come on out and support the kids during their last week.
Enjoy the break.
Wednesday, March 4
Class AA Girls' Championship
# 3 seed Worcester Academy hosts # 6 seed Rivers School at 3:30 p.m.
Class AA Boys' Championship
# 2 seed Worcester Academy hosts # 7 seed Cheshire Academy at 5:15 p.m.
Division I Patsy Odden Large School Girls' Tournament
# 4 seed Worcester Academy hosts # 5 seed Lawrence Academy at 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 7
Class B Swim Championships
9:30 a.m. start - Upper Valley Aquatics, White River Junction, VT
