Weekly Athletic Update, 10/17/17
Our Girls Cross Country team (19-3 overall) continues to impress and roll along in fine fashion, winning their 2nd Invitational of the season on Saturday at the Brooks School in Andover. Once again the indomitable 1-2 punch of Coco Arcand ’19 and Gabby Gavala ’18 led the way as the Hilltoppers raced to a 20-39 victory over the Rivers School and the host Brooks School. Junior Fiona Price has been a consistent complement solidifying the 3rd slot and a host of different performers have buoyed this team effort. Prognosticators had predicted a banner season for this youthful squad and under the steady hand of coaches Pine and Durmer things are on course to play out in grand fashion!
Saturday evening was a beautiful night for football and the STM Chancellors and the WA Hilltoppers staged a defensive clinic with neither team being able to muster any consistent offensive attack. The 14-13 STM win was in doubt right up to the final whistle as a 65 yard Asa Floyd to Zukudo Igwenagu strike in the game’s final :90 seconds got the hometown team within a point. The ensuing PAT was blocked and STM emerged with the win. WA will now head out on the road for the next three Class A contests before concluding the 2017 season with a home contest against Cheshire on Friday, November 10.
Boys Varsity Soccer scored in the game’s first minute but settled for a home tie with Phillips Exeter who scored late in the 2nd stanza to come away with the draw. A 6-0 shutout win over the Tilton School Saturday set the stage for Wednesday’s big home match (at NB, 4 pm) against the Hotchkiss School.
Field Hockey welcomed a new addition to the team on Wednesday as Head coach Kate DelaGorgendiere welcomed a beautiful baby girl to the family. Congratulations, Kate. The team bounced back from a well-played 2-1 loss at the St. George’s School on Wednesday with an electrifying 1-0 OT win at home vs. the Penguins of Cushing Academy. Olivia Valery made 15 saves and McKenna Gray scored the lone goal in OT, pushing WA into the winner’s circle.
Boys Cross Country was led once again by Zhangeldy Rakhimbekov (3rd place) and Lucas Vining-Recklitis (5th place) as the team earned a split in Saturday’s Brooks Invitational.
Girls Volleyball dropped a 3 set match to Cheshire Academy on Saturday after a tough road loss at Pomfret on Wednesday afternoon. Kingswood-Oxford School provides the opposition on Wednesday with a 4:00 pm tip-off scheduled for Rowe Court.
Anisha Hill scored two goals in Wednesday’s 3-0 shutout win over Marianapolis Prep at Morse Field, but MP turned the tide on the visiting Hilltoppers in a return match on Saturday emerging with a 4-2 victory. Deerfield Academy will be on tap for Wednesday afternoon as the lone weekly contest for the team.
JV Girls Soccer continues their winning ways racing past Marianapolis Prep, 1-0. Emma Potas scored the lone goal on the afternoon and Melissa Macri pitched the shutout with some fine work in the WA goal.
The JV boys’ squad travelled to Wilbraham & Monson on Wednesday and came away with a nifty 5-1 win as Michael Tonelli poured in a pair of goals.
JV Volleyball was the headline contest on Rowe Court on Saturday and in a good match fell just short against the Rectory School, 2-1.
Around the Rim
Conflict resolution is a topic that our entire community should be in step with. Coaches, athletes, administrators and parents share the burden and the responsibility of working together to ensure we are providing a culture and a setting where personal growth and positive experiences are the norm, not the exception. Coaches have the difficult task of trying to keep everyone on their squad happy and this can be an extremely challenging proposition. Coaches should view parents as positive extensions of their team and parents should view coaches as an ally as both sides work together to ensure that the most important piece – our student-athlete – is being fully developed!
Co-Athletes of the Week
Olivia Valery – ’19 Varsity Field Hockey
Zhamgeldy Rakhimbekov – ’19 Boys Cross Country
