Weekly Athletics Update

1/29/2024

The CMSL season has kicked in and after the initial 2 downhill races (awaiting results from the 3rd) both Worcester Academy ski teams are faring well. On the girls’ side the Hilltoppers have the following competitors in the Top 20 individual racers; Mia Harris (4th), Kayzie Salmon (5th), Keelan Mader (11th), Annie Halligan (12) and Ysabel Lobo (19th). The team sits in 3rd place overall. On the boys’ side of the ledger (6th as a team), junior Harry Martel is the # 5 ranked overall racer. With the New England NEPSAC Championships just 3 weeks away (February 14), the team has two more races at Mount Wachusett to sharpen up their times.

Our swim team travelled to compete with Thayer Academy on Saturday and came away with a victory on the boys’ side and a competitive showing, but loss on the girls’ end. The boys’ emerged with a 106-28-point differential thanks to some stellar performances. Miles Gao had a pair of 1sts in the 50/100 freestyle; Evan Li captured both the 200IM as well as the 100 breast- stroke; Hung Truong won the 100 Backstroke. Elise Drake ’27 was a double winner on the girls’ side with impressive performances in the 100 free and 200 IM. Claire Puffer ’24 took a 1st in the 50 free and 2nd in the 100 fly and improved times were posted by Marianne Sardella, Ann Yang, Grace Qui and Julia Deng in multiple events.

Girls’ JV Basketball emerged victorious with a road win over the Pomfret School in Connecticut. Solei Banks ’27 was the key contributor leading the team to their initial win of the young season.

Girls’ Ice hockey had a productive week (2-1 overall) with wins over Kents Hill (5-0) and Pomfret (2-1) and a road loss to the Brooks School. They will host St. Marks at the WIC on Wednesday afternoon, 4:00 pm start.

Boys’ Hockey dropped a pair of Holt Conference matchups to start the week, 5-1 against Pingree and 3-2 (OT) with Berwick and had Sunday’s scheduled game with Vermont Academy canceled due to weather conditions. Portsmouth Abbey will travel to the WIC on Wednesday (4:00 pm) for a Holt League game.

Girls’ Basketball played back-to-back home contests and emerged with two wins pushing their overall record to 11-4 and elevating their ranking in the AAA standings. On Friday, the home team raced past Dexter-Southfield avenging an early season setback with a well-played 74-63(game. Cam Rust (26 points, 7 rebounds), Elyse MacDonough (14 points, 8 rebounds), and Saige Youngberg (13 points, 8 rebounds) led the offensive surge but it was the defensive work by senior guard Kaille McDonald that helped set the team up for victory. On Saturday, WA pushed past Cushing Academy by a 62-48 margin.

Boys’ Basketball had a busy week (1-3) with the lone win on Sunday against the Hyde School from Maine in the Bridgton Academy Tournament. Earlier in the week the Hilltoppers dropped road contests at St. Thomas More (despite 3 double figure scorers in Chris Leman, James Jones and Jake Blackburn) and NMH (Kayvaun Mulready, James Jones and Ryan Sullivan all in double figures) as well as to St. Andrew’s School in 1st round action at the Bridgton event. WA will look to get on track at home on Wednesday when they host the Winchendon School on Rowe Court, 4:30 pm game time.

V2 Basketball had an exciting 52-50 home win over Marianapolis Prep on Saturday as Kyle Kevaney ’27 pumped in 14-points to lead the team to a comeback victory. A pair of road games this week at STM on Wednesday and BCA Friday will be the next test for the Hilltoppers. 3rds basketball continues to roll (7th consecutive win, notwithstanding 3 additional scrimmage games in the Suffield Academy Playday) with a consistent display of good basketball on both ends of the floor. Playing on the road or at home (mostly the former) doesn’t seem to phase this group who will look for another road win on Wednesday when they travel to St. Mark’s School for a 5:00 pm tilt.

MS Boys’ Basketball won their 5th consecutive game with home victories against St Peter’s Central Catholic and the Fenn School while the girls’ MS team defeated the Fay School to earn their 1st win (1-1) of the season.