News & Media

Weekly Athletics Update—Oct. 11, 2021

                                                      Weekly Athletics Update—Oct. 11, 2021
 
 
Attending Athletic Contests 
 
Prior to our weekly recap of athletic events here on the hill, I wanted to address an area of importance with our fan base including our students and our parents. Whether we are hosting an event or traveling to an opposing venue to cheer on our teams, there is a modicum of behavior we expect to demonstrate. In the last week alone, we have witnessed behavior from an opponents’ fan base and our own that are unacceptable. While understanding the high level of emotion that accompanies these contests, we need to recognize the importance of respecting all game participants. The great majority of our fans are terrific, and we want you out at our events cheering loudly and enthusiastically for our teams, our programs and your child. Sportsmanship at Worcester Academy, while not perfect, is a notion we emphasize and re-enforce with all our teams and student-athletes.
 
  • We don’t root against our opponent or wish them to perform poorly, and we don’t single out or target an opponent based on appearance, uniform number or game actions.

  • We hold all game participants including coaches, game officials, athletes, and fellow spectators in the highest regard respecting their preparation and their spirit of fair play and competition.

  • Be positive, be encouraging and be supportive.
 
We have a great core of coaches here at the Academy who work tirelessly to prepare their teams for competition. Additionally, we do our best to hire and entrust the adjudication of game rules during contests to capable game officials. As we move to the conclusion of the Fall season and think about the Winter season ahead, I ask all of you to recommit to the notions of positive support without coaching every play, berating game officials or questioning a coaches’ decision or even an athlete’s level of play. The game experience is elevated when we are all on the same page and I thank you in advance for trying to support our teams and doing so in a manner that reflects well on us all. 
 
 
  • Both varsity soccer teams came through a challenging week unscathed as the boys’ played Avon Old Farms to a 3-3 contest on Saturday on the heels of a 1-1 draw against Loomis on Wednesday. Luis Baez scored two late goals including a spectacular redirect with under :30 seconds left in regulation to secure the come from behind deadlock with Avon. Our girls’ team battled a tough, physical Choate team at New Balance on Wednesday that ended in a 1-1 tie. Saturday’s trip to NMH saw the visitors jump our early in route to a comfortable 6-2 margin of victory. 
  • Our JV boys’ soccer team pulled away from a 1-1 half time tie with an explosive 2nd half performance in powering past Loomis on the road. Saturday’s late afternoon contest at Gaskill against the Pomfret School was a treat from start to finish as both teams excelled on the defensive end, resulting in a scoreless tie. The team travels to Wilbraham & Monson on Wednesday.

  • Coach Kevin Snyder’s JV soccer team is playing their best soccer of the season as they pushed past the Pomfret School on Wednesday and NMH on Saturday. Goalie Emma DeRoche was outstanding in the net and was ably assisted on the offensive end by Savannah Nevins (3 goals) and Alyssa Daly (3 goals).

  • Varsity Volleyball team has found a nice stride as well. On Saturday they defeated Wilbraham & Monson here on Rowe Court in straight sets as the balance and flow of working together was evident. Suffield Academy after trailing 2-1 found a way to sneak past the visiting Hilltoppers in winning a 5-set contest on Wednesday in Connecticut. On Wednesday, the team will travel to the Pomfret School and look to add to their 5-4 overall record.
      
  • Transportation issues and I-90 traffic did not deter the running efforts of outstanding freshman performer, Ella Budzinski. Ella finished 4th in a field of 75 runners to lead the way for the girls’ team. On the boys’ side, we continue to see “best times” and outstanding performances and now there are four WA runners making a mark each week (top 5 performers only score in X-C meets.) Steven Zhang, Roman Fechner, Matthew Xu and Aiden Warner (captain) all ran well in the Gordy Glover Invitational at Suffield.

  • Field Hockey dropped a 5-1 contest on the road against a very talented Winsor School on Wednesday and responded with a great effort, albeit in a 2-0 loss to Dana Hall. Their perseverance and persistence final paid off on Saturday with an impressive home victory over Wilbraham & Monson Academy. It was nice to see the team all smiles after a great performance and they will look to make it two in a row when they travel to St. George’s School on Wednesday.

  • Junior Varsity Volleyball will head off to the Pomfret School for a match on Wednesday as they attempt to rebound from a tough loss on Saturday against Wilbraham & Monson.
     
  • Congratulations to our MS Flag Football team who traveled to Moses Brown on Tuesday and came away with an impressive road victory. Kudos as well to our Middle School X-C team who won their 2nd consecutive meet at New Balance.
 
Co-Athletes of the Week:
 
Alyssa Daly ‘24 – Junior Varsity Girls’ Soccer
Luis Pimentel Baez ’23 - Varsity Boys’ Soccer
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