Winter Athletics Update
In the midst of a raging February nor’easter it is comforting to be able to once again write about athletic activities and contests that took place this past weekend. Our athletes have done a great job adjusting to the Covid precautions and protocols in place enabling them to be together and finally being able to get out and compete. Our coaches are to be commended as well for their ability to understand how practices and game preparations are so different from what they are accustomed to and for the steady guidance they have provided throughout. School administrators and support staff have come together in lockstep and gone to great lengths to ensure a safe environment and a healthy rollout of athletics. As we have seen so often in the past, the very best in our community seems to surface when we face what appear to be insurmountable obstacles.
While daily challenges remain for all of us to remain healthy and mitigate the spread of this virus, we are encouraged and energized to push our efforts forward in the week ahead. As we welcome our senior class of 2021 back to campus we will prepare for this week’s slate of games and hopefully get our teams and athletes prepared to have some fun and develop a rhythm and comfort level that only practice can provide.
I certainly want to thank Mr. Scott and Devin Perry ’21 for their work on Sunday in streaming the girls’ varsity ice hockey contest from the Worcester Ice Center and for the on-going work of this group in bringing contests to our fans and parent group. We are all anxious to return to a time when we can gather in person to support our teams!
- Our varsity ski team got things under way this past Friday venturing to Mount Wachusett to race against Concord Academy. We will return to race again on Friday, February 5 as we welcome fellow CMSL foes, Concord Academy and the Pingree School who will join us. Special thanks to our coaches, Nadine Price and Charley Mull for the tremendous work they have done at the mountain and to our ski team who braved frigid conditions to race this past week.
- Girls’ varsity basketball—Class AA finalist a year ago—returned to the hardwood in grand fashion and impressively swept past Wilbraham & Monson Academy in their 1st tilt. Coach Sherry Levin’s quintet was energized and committed throughout and the combination of a rock solid returning corps and some talented newcomers will play out well in the weeks ahead.
- Coach Barbara Gould and her staff admirably orchestrated the 1st virtual swim meet on Saturday afternoon in the Daniels Pool. Counterparts from the Williston School and Wilbraham & Monson Academy pushed their own waters west of Worcester and set the stage for additional virtual meets to take place during February. It was refreshing to see the level of activity surfacing again with our swim team who will be back in action again on Saturday.
- Jamie Sullivan’s basketball team travelled to the Winchendon School on Saturday afternoon to kick off their season and will return for their home opener against Wilbraham & Monson this Saturday. A 2:30 p.m. tip off will pair last year’s Class AA finalists as the Hilltoppers look to even the score with their rivals from Western Mass.
- Winchendon provided the opposition on Sunday afternoon at the WIC as Coach Kevin Zifcak’s team returned to action. The tempo was fast and furious during a scrimmage which will certainly put our team a step closer to getting ready for this Saturday’s home opener against the Pingree School. Game time on Saturday is 3:10 p.m.
Athlete of the Week:
As is customary we typically recognize a female and male student-athlete who has excelled during the week so it is only fitting that every Worcester Academy Winter Athlete – Varsity and Sub-Varsity – is being recognized this week for their effort, their time and their investment in our program. It was so nice to see you all back in action!
