Sports – Page 4 – AHS NEWSPAPER

Sports Review of AHS Basketball, Cheerleading, Gymnastics

January 13, 2022

Camille Storch and Shravya Sathi

EDITORS IN CHIEF

As the cold weather descends upon Massachusetts, winter sports have begun. Tryouts began on Monday, November 29th and teams have been finalized for the winter season. For many, it is the first time back in their sport after a long break due to COVID. However, restrictions for safe playing have changed the environment and left players to adjust to these new rules for all the winter sports. Winter sports at AHS include boys basketball, girls basketball, cheering, gymnastics, boys hockey, girls hockey, indoor track, skiing, boys swim and dive, and wrestling.

Girls Basketball

STAFF PHOTO / Caitlin Connell
Junior Ari White preps her shot
for the season

The Lady Warriors have flourished as a team over the past four years, making it to the state championship in 2019, and are hoping to reach that milestone once again this year. “We would like to win another state championship on the court, dominate in the classroom and make sure that we give back to our school and town community,” said Alan Hibino, the team’s coach and Andover High School math teacher.

The past season was different compared to the rest. With COVID in its full effect, players were forced to shift their perception of the normal and adapt to playing in COVID-safe ways. “Last year was different from the past as our season was cut short and we also were not allowed to play in the state tournament,” stated senior captain Morgan Shirley. Now, entering year two of COVID, the players will “still have to wear masks on the court,” said Hibino, “which is certainly a challenge.” Yet, “we also get to have fans this year,” said captain Hailey Doherty, a positive change.

For this basketball team, “the biggest challenges are getting caught up in the immediate outcome when we have short-term and long-term goals that we want to achieve,” said Hibino. An important part of the whole learning experience is accepting the setbacks that come in the path of the ultimate destination. “Mistakes are part of the learning process. Once they have served their purpose, [the team] wants to make sure they have learned from them and do not repeat them in the future,” said Hibino.

“Our main goal this year is to work together as a big family,” said senior captain Tess Gobiel. “We have already started with a solid foundation so I think it will only go up from here.” The whole aspect of playing together as a family has been a constant thread throughout this team over the years, and the athletes hope to continue that in the future.

Boys Basketball

Hoping to make it to the state championship this year, the boys basketball team has been putting many hours into this season. “Last year, we were undefeated going into the league championship, and we lost to Central Catholic by one point,” recalled longtime coach David Fazio, also known as coach Faz. “We are going to use that loss as our motivator [this season so] we can maybe not lose our last game this year.”

The team had a great group of talent last year, and Faz believes that will carry right into this season as well. Not only is the team full of talent, but they all share a special bond, a piece that Faz believes is extremely important. “The best part for me is the camaraderie in the relationships I have with these guys,” stated Faz. “It ends up being a lifelong relationship, where I see them go from young men to mature adults to fathers to role models in the community.”

Senior captain Logan Satlow reiterated this relationship, adding that his favorite part is “just hanging out with teammates and getting to talk to kids [he] probably wouldn’t normally speak to.” The bonds created with each other off the court has a positive effect on the court and the team’s successes. Senior captain Richie Shahtanian expressed the same sentiments, “The best part of basketball is just the teamwork aspect of it. It’s not an individual sport and you have to rely on all five players on the court to play well.”

Since last season, the team faced various challenges due to COVID, such as having to wear masks. “It is really difficult from a standpoint of continuing your stamina because it is really hard to breathe with the masks on,” Faz added.

Yet, the team is optimistic that it will not be too much of an impediment, and they are instead focusing on their end goal. “We want to make a playoff run and win as many games as we can, and hopefully get Faz the title that he’s never gotten,” said Aidan Camman, senior captain. Shahtanian echoed this goal, while adding that he and other players from the class of 2022 also want “to have a great last year because it’s [their] senior year.”

Many of the younger players only played on the JV or freshman team due to COVID. “This will really be their first year truly playing a high school sport,” said Satlow. “They went from eighth grade to sophomore year, so having to merge everyone in and making sure everyone is together will be a big step.” The captains are optimistic that with the talent they are seeing, this will not come in the way of the team’s achievements. “That could be a challenge, but they are also really good underclassmen,” said Shahtanian.

The team is also encouraged by the prospect of having fans back at games. “We’re really looking forward to the Jungle being in our gymnasium creating havoc and creating chaos, dancing, and making a lively scene in the gym… that is such an advantage for us as we’re playing,” concluded Faz.

Cheer

“Cheerleading is such an amazing sport, and I think oftentimes their hard work goes unnoticed,” said Katie Rex, who has been the AHS cheerleading coach for three years. “The girls do many things for school like attend games, volunteer, and pep rallies. At the same time, they are practicing four to five times per week and working on their competition routine.”

In the past year, the team made it to States in the fall and New Englands in the winter, which was a great accomplishment. Despite making it to both competitions, the team faced challenges due to COVID, as they “had to stay six feet apart and wear masks,” said Ashlyn Rose, senior captain. With time, the team has been able to adjust and find ways to perform their stunts and routines with the masks on.

“Cheer is very individual but also a team sport, so everyone has to work together,” stated Brooke Rose, senior captain. “Everyone has to give 100 percent because, if not, a stunt could fail and result in injuries, thereby defeating our progress.” Creating a successful stunt can take time and patience, but the end result always makes it worth it. With these values, the team hopes to reach their end goal of New Englands. Throughout the season, the girls all become one big family and this relationship brings out the “best part of the team, which is working as a whole to reach our goal,” said Taylor Henderson, senior captain.

For this season, the senior captains are excited to share their love for the sport with the rest of the team. “I’m excited to meet new girls who are trying out this year,” said Brooke, “I am also very excited for the games.”

This season holds a bittersweet place in the hearts of the three senior captains. They all started cheering around the same time in elementary school with a summer cheerleading camp, and have remained best friends ever since. “I’m looking forward to this being a great last season and spending it with my best friends,” Henderson concluded.

Gymnastics

COURTESY PHOTO / Marlena Bresnick
AHS Girls Varsity Team of 2021-2022

“My goal for the season is to showcase each gymnast’s talents, clean up their routines, and aim to beat their personal best scores to ultimately maximize our team score,” said Marlena Bresnick, head coach of Andover High School’s gymnastics team. This is Bresnick’s first year coaching the AHS team, but she has had lots of experience in the past coaching at Reading Gymnastics Academy and judging gymnastics for many years.

Bresnick spoke about the “athleticism, power, strength, and beauty” of this particular sport, adding that despite it being “mentally and physically challenging, the team motivates and encourages each other with each skill and routine.”

Amber Ferris, senior captain, who has been doing gymnastics for eight years, also spoke to the various mental challenges, stating that “the biggest challenges for [her] in gymnastics is being able to mentally push through skills on different events that [she] is afraid of,” adding that competing in front of judges can also be a bit nerve racking. The support of the team and the fans always helps her pull through.

Bresnick “can’t wait to see the team compete in person, looking forward to new routines, competing new skills, beating personal best scores, laughing about mistakes, and smiling because the girls did something great.”

Regardless of the successes, there were many challenges last year due to COVID. One specific challenge for this team is practice logistics. “We have to be creative with our workout space and efficient with our shortened time in the gym,” said Bresnick. Luckily, Legends and Reading Gymnastics has allowed Andover to use their facilities to practice.

Another setback that this team faces is that “there are definitely less gymnasts on the team this year,” reflected Ferris. Gymnastics, truly a team sport, could have seen a decrease in motivation due to this; however, there is a talented group of girls this year, and all the coaches and captains alike feel that they are in for huge successes. “It is the team score that counts and with that comes lots of cheering,” reflected Bresnick. “They encourage, scream, cheer, and celebrate each completed routine.”

Along with assistant coaches Sarah Muolo and Jimmy Tommachio, Bresnick “[feels] really honored to be asked to coach the team this year… and [looks] forward to an exciting year ahead.”

Articles Sports

Kiley Goes the Distance in Girls’ Cross Country

November 19, 2021

By Camille Storch

CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF

From the beginning of Molly Kiley’s freshman year, it was clear that she was going to be a competitive runner for Andover High School.

A significant boost for the Girls Cross Country team at AHS, Kiley quickly rose to become the number one runner for Andover girls and has maintained that spot well into her junior year. At the same time, she continues to gain impressive personal records for herself.

“I first started running the summer before freshman year,” recalled Kiley, adding that she “knew [she] wasn’t going to make the soccer team, so [she] just decided to do cross country.”

For many athletes, the transition from middle school to high school athletics can be a bit of a jarring experience, with many students experiencing getting “cut” from a team for the first time. Cross country is one of the few fall sports that is non-cut, therefore many athletes from a multitude of sports end up joining the team. It can be an eye-opening experience for many kids, especially if they previously hated running but suddenly discover they have a natural talent for it.

For Kiley, freshman year was “a lot of fun,” and full of learning experiences. “Going into the season, I didn’t have any expectations, but my goal was to place at the Merrimack Valley Conference championship,” stated Kiley. “My other goal for freshman year was to break 20 minutes [for the 5k] and qualify for the All-States meet.” Even though Kiley did not qualify for All States freshman year, she did break 20 minutes in a 5k race and hopes to make All States this year.

STAFF PHOTO / Camille Storch
Molly Kiley during a race

Sophomore year took a bit of a downhill turn with Kiley getting injured. Kiley added that she was “really down on [herself] sophomore year, thinking [she] peaked freshman year.” Yet, she recalls how the most important part of healing an injury is time, patience, and diligence with physical therapy and strengthening, all of which Kiley focused on as a tenth grader.

Now, in her junior year, Kiley is back at full capacity and continues to break her own records. Most recently, on October 30 at the Merrimack Valley Conference meet, Kiley won the girls 5K varsity race with an astonishing time of 18 minutes and 27 seconds, equivalent to running at 5:57 mile pace for 3.2 miles. She finished 42 seconds ahead of the second place runner, Miana Carabello of Methuen.

What are the keys to Kiley’s success? “I think summer training is super important,” said Kiley. “I go to Peabody with other girls on the team, and we work really hard over the summer, and that definitely gives us leverage for the fall season.” For Kiley, running is a year-round commitment, as she trains in the summer, runs cross country in the fall, and then runs track in the winter and spring.

Sue Kiley, coach of AHS girls and boys cross country, also happens to be Molly’s mother. Having her mom be her coach for almost three years now has been an extremely valuable experience and one that she will miss in college. If Kiley is to continue running at the collegiate level, she stated that she “would need to vocalize better” concerns about injuries and aches to a college coach. “It’s easy to have my mom understand what’s going on in my life, whereas a college coach might not know me as well,” reflected Kiley.

In regards to her future, Kiley believes she definitely wants “to run in college, and [she] would miss it if [she] didn’t, but [she] is not entirely sure what that will look like at the moment, because academics do come first.”

Articles Community Sports

Is Feaster Five Back to Normal?

November 19, 2021

By Philippa Konow

STAFF WRITER

It’s official, the Feaster Five is back for their 34th annual event with in-person and virtual options available for all participants.

After a whirlwind past couple of years with COVID-19 uprooting much of society, there are a few things coming back to some sort of normal. The 2020 Feaster Five was held virtually and participants were asked to submit their times to the Feaster Five website. This year, while a virtual option is still available, there is also an in-person choice.

“We are working very closely with town officials to make sure we have the safest race possible,” stated Stephanie Guyotte, a Feaster Five Committee Organizer. “We are scaling back our pre-race expo and planning more of a registration and number pick-up at the YMCA [and] we will follow any state or local guidelines at the race start.”

Be prepared to wear a mask for at least the beginning of the run. While COVID-19 cases are significantly lower, with much of Andover being vaccinated, participants are still required to wear masks in schools, workplaces, and large groups.

GUEST PHOTO / Stephanie Guyotte
Race organizers holding Feaster Five signs

According to Guyotte and the Feaster Five website, for the virtual option, with runners being required to sign up through the website and chooe which race packer they would like dring the pick up times. They will then record their own times and submit them through the Race Roster’s mobile app. “[runners] can sign up through our website, pick up a race packet during the pickup time, run on [their] own, and submit [their] time through our partner Race Roster’s mobile app.”

With the high vaccination rate in Andover, the possibility for a closer and more warming Thanksgiving is very possible, bringing much joy to the community. John Jannetti, a science teacher at Andover High School,is, as usual, extremely excited about the race. “I’m looking forward to having a large crowd!” exclaimed Jannetti. “I love seeing all of those people. I love seeing all of my fellow townies running. Former students that come home from far away, whether they are still in school or graduated from college, all come back for Thanksgiving.”

“I think having the option to participate virtually and in person is actually really exciting, because it will encourage more participation than last year,” said AHS junior Alex McNally. “It’s really really important that we get back out there and [participate] in these really really awesome causes.” Though McNally isnt able to participate in Feaster Five this year, they have run for years before.

As Feaster Five is slowly going back to normal, Table Talk apple pies will be given at the finish line.

The Feaster Five will be having its regular 5k and 5-mile options, along with the Kids Fun Run.

Brown Leads Andover to New Success

October 13, 2021

By Camille Storch

CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF

At an athletically competitive school like Andover High, making the varsity football team as a freshman is a daunting task, and one that not many accomplish. To start playing quarterback as a freshman is even more challenging, yet one young athlete was able to reach both of these milestones.

Scotty Brown, now a junior, has been playing football since he was five years old. Brown was given the opportunity to start as quarterback freshman year and progressed greatly as an athlete and football player throughout the past three years.

“Come week four [freshman year], I had been playing receiver each game,” recalls Brown, “and then week five, I was named the starter maybe fifteen minutes before the game started.” In his first match as first string quarterback against Methuen, Brown remembers the feeling of that moment: pure excitement.

Brown has gone on to start all of the varsity games since week five in 2019, and will continue to lead his team as the season progresses. The started the year 2-2, and began on a positive foot. “We started off the year with a scrimmage against Naples, Florida,” stated Brown. Playing a team from another state, let alone Florida, is a rarity for Andover, but as Brown explained, “It was a scrimmage game for us, a real game for them, but it was under the lights and everything.”

This will be Brown’s first year getting to play under the lights each week with The Jungle in attendance. In 2019, the football team had to play their games during the day, due to a breakout case of Triple-E in the Andover area. In 2020, the team was able to play their games on a regular weekly basis, but were not allowed any fans due to COVID. They also had to wear masks while playing and follow strict COVID guidelines that diminished the simplistic fun of football.

Yet, Brown is not worried that the team has been set back at all by having a couple different seasons in the past. “The team is very young, there are a lot of sophomores, there’s got to be at least five on each side of the ball,” said Brown. “I think this year we look great as a team, but next year we are going to look even better,”.

For football teams playing in Massachusetts, the main goal is to make it to Gillette Stadium for the Division 1 Championship. In past years, tough competition from St. John’s Prep (Danvers) has dominated, with the Prep winning multiple years consecutively. Yet, with Brown leading a strong, hardworking team, Andover could very well find themselves driving down to Foxborough at the end of the season.

Looking forward to the far future, Brown is still deciding whether or not he will pursue football at the collegiate level. In addition to playing football in the fall, Brown is on the varsity baseball team at AHS, and has an equal love for both sports. “I’ve always been saying this my whole life,” smiled Brown, “whatever season I am in [at the current time], that’s the sport I like the most.”

As of October 9 2021, Brown verbally committed to UMass Lowell to play baseball.

Articles Sports

Parrot takes a leap…to Nationals

May 26, 2021

Breakout track star reflects on journey, how she will make return to coveted competition

By Camille Storch

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Championships. An achievement that most athletes strive to reach by the end of their season. Winning MVC’s, moving on to the State championship, and in the world of track and field, going on to the National Championship, competing with the top elite athletes from all over the country. AHS Jodi Parrot, a junior at Andover High School, has achieved this goal not only once, but three times.

A one-time volleyball player who joined winter track and field freshman year to simply stay in shape for the fall, Parrot has turned into a breakout track star at AHS, and has broken a handful of records at the school, in both indoor and outdoor track.

For those who are not familiar with track, many athletes have a specific event that they excel in, and then participate in a couple other events with a less competitive mindset. For Parrot, her hardest event happens to be one she holds the school record in; hurdles. Therefore, the majority of her time during practice is spent going through the motions of this event over and over again. “[Hurdles] combines a lot of different skills all together and takes a lot of form along with speed,” reflected Parrot. Parrot holds the school record in the indoor 55 meter hurdles, finishing in only 8.1 seconds, and that’s just from this past season. She still has her whole senior year ahead of her to improve on that mark.

COURTESY PHOTO / Carl Russo
Parrot (left) takes a flying leap over a hurdle in the 100 meter hurdle dash.

Parrot has worked with Peter Comeau, a coach and track icon at AHS, since freshman year. Comeau, known for his “It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish” quote, has been a motivating factor for Parrot throughout the past three years. The coach and athlete pair form quite the dynamic duo.

During her freshman year, Parrot attended the National Championship for winter track and field held at the New Balance Armory, in New York City. “That year, we had a really strong senior class, so we brought a hurdle relay,” said Parrot. “I think it was really important for me to see, freshman year, how competitive [this sport] can get.”

Being in such an intense environment helped build her motivation for the rest of her high school career. The end goal of going to Nationals each year became Parrot’s main motivation.

As a freshman, Parrot, along with then-seniors Alyssa Grieco, Emma Joel, and Kassidy Brink, won All American during the 2019 Nationals, another huge accomplishment for Andover High and the girls track team in general. “The term All American is a hypothetical team of the top six people in each event,” informed Parrot. She added that since Andover placed fifth out of sixth in their relay, they were included in winning the All American title. The All American team never actually competes, but they are recognized across the country as the top athletes in that specific sport, or event, helping to make their name and achievements wide known.

Fast forward one year to early March of Parrot’s sophomore year after she had qualified for the second time. “The day that school was shut down, March 13th, I was supposed to compete at Nationals,” remembered Parrot. “Me and four other kids, we got up that morning, excited, ready to head down to New York to compete at the [New Balance Armory], and then we found out that it had been cancelled due to COVID”.

“[The news] was super heartbreaking,” stated Parrot, with a sad smile, but she is already looking ahead to this year’s competition. New Balance is planning an outdoor National competition, which will occur late in the spring season. If everything continues to go as planned, Parrot will qualify and be able to compete once again at this coveted competition.

During the winter track season, Parrot fared remarkably well, despite the new COVID restrictions, and is grateful that the team is able to practice and compete outdoors, despite it being “indoor track.”

“My long jump has been the standout for this season,” stated Parrot. (She jumped an 18.9, which would be the new indoor school record. Because indoor track meets were held outdoors this year due to COVID, it technically does not count as a new record for the indoor season.) Additionally, Parrot said that each group, especially the distance team, has been pulling their weight to help Andover as a whole to continue crushing it at the conference meets.

“My end goal is to run in college, and really just have the opportunity to get another four years of competition,” said Parrot.

Articles Sports

Charity Football: Surfers Ride Wave to Victory

May 26, 2021

Articles Sports

Student-Athletes Make Big College Commitments

March 12, 2021

By Camille Storch

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

At Andover High School, we have a strong athletic program that has been formatted for each athlete to learn, practice, and play hard, under the coaching of former elite athletes themselves. With around 10 Division 1 sports offered, students have the ability to grow as athletes, while also developing long-lasting friendships and team building skills along the way. According to an NCAA study, only a little more than 6 percent of athletes who played a sport in high school go on to play in college. For this select group of athletes below, college commitments are a big step and the time to celebrate and be recognized is now.

STAFF PHOTO/ Erin Li
Captain Kayla DiBenedetto warms up before track practice. DiBenedetto has committed to Brandeis for the fall.

Paige Gillette

Sport: Field Hockey

College committed to: Assumption University

Since freshman year, Gillette has played sports for each season: Field hockey in the fall, basketball in the winter, and softball in the spring. Her favorite part about her field hockey experience at AHS was “winning the North title, junior year, with [her] teammates.” Gillette played goalkeeper, helping lead the team to the Division 1 North final in the 2019-20 season, as well as being on the varsity girls basketball team that went to the State Finals last March at TD Garden. Gillette is most looking forward to a “high level of competition and continuing to be on a team.” In addition to being recognized by AHS as a top performing goalkeeper and leader, Gillete has been chosen two years in a row as both a Boston Herald All-Scholastic and Boston Globe All-Scholastic, an impressive accomplishment that few reach in their high school athletic career.

Amanda Smith

Sport: Soccer

College committed to: Suffolk University

Smith has been playing soccer in Andover for more than 12 years and has met her best friends through the sport, gaining powerful soccer skills along the way. Smith is most looking forward to “a more intense atmosphere and more knowledge of the game.” As a college athlete, Smith is excited for the opportunity to travel to other schools and visit new areas outside of New England. She is also enthusiastic at the prospect of playing under Ashley Van Vechten, her new coach, who was one of the most decorated players in Division III women’s soccer. Throughout her high school soccer career, Smith’s motto throughout her high school soccer career has been “hard work pays off in the long run.”

Kayla DiBenedetto

Sport: Track

College committed to: Brandeis University

DiBenedetto has been on the track and field team for the past four years at AHS. Even though track is an individual sport, her favorite aspect of the program has been the family dynamic, as each teammate supports one another and encourages each other as a group. For DiBenedetto, team traditions will also be a missed moment, especially the “pasta dinners and chicken and waffles in Boston post MVC’s in the winter.” During freshman year, she played basketball, but struggled with a knee injury that continued to worsen throughout the season.The following spring, however, she was able to run track and that didn’t bother her injury as much. From this experience, the ultimate decision was made to stick with track, being the best for her body and health. At the collegiate level, Dibenedetto is excited to continue with that team dynamic that was ever so present at AHS. “Since my track experience was cut short here as a result of the virus, I am excited to still have a lot of time to improve and compete,” she said. For the 800 meter race, DiBenedetto ran a 2:25, along with running a 3:11 in the 1000 meter race, both notable times.

Tatum Shaw

Sport: Basketball

College committed to: Southern New Hampshire University

Throughout her four years of playing for the Andover Lady Warriors, Shaw has broken school records at AHS, including most recently joining the small group of athletes to score more than 1,000 points. While Shaw has been a star player since freshman year, she has been putting up hoops for the past ten years, starting out at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Methuen at age 7, and now going on to play at a Division II university. In addition to reaching 1,000 points this past season, Shaw put up a record high of 38 points in one game, a lofty accomplishment. Volleyball was another sport pursued by Shaw, but she referred to it as a “just for fun” sport, not as serious as basketball. Some of her best friends have been made from these teams, and she added that “there is no other feeling than the Jungle coming to your games and cheering you on.” The competition and schedule are equally exciting for Shaw looking forward to the future, as she concluded that she can’t wait to play “and make memories almost year round with people who are equally committed to the sport.”

Aidan Ritter

Sport: Baseball

College committed to: Endicott College

Since kindergarten, Ritter has enjoyed and thrived in his experience with baseball along with building up a tremendous amount of skill with the sport over the past 13 years to be able to play next year at the collegiate level. Ritter loved meeting and spending time with his teammates throughout the season along with learning valuable lessons from his coaches. Although Ritter has played football throughout high school, “baseball seemed like a safer sport and is [his] main sport.” In addition to playing at AHS, Ritter has played club baseball through Show New England for many years, serving as additional practice and competition. Ritter is most looking forward to travelling and getting better at baseball, along with simply learning new things at Endicott, located conveniently in Beverly, Massachusetts.

Ashley Kendrigan

Sport: Soccer

College committed to: Stonehill College

Kendrigan has played soccer for the past 13 years and was a leading force of the 2019 MVC Championship team, along with playing in the MIAA North Division 1 Finals. Running varsity in both winter and spring, Kendrigan has also been a powerful force on the AHS track and field team. Yet, Kendrigan has “played soccer every year since kindergarten, and [she] also plays club soccer, so playing in college has always been a goal.” Along with playing for four years at AHS, Kendrigan has played on the New England Football Club’s DPL team, a selective club team consisting of top players from all over New England. When asked what she is most looking forward to, Kendrigan concluded with “working with college-level teammates and coaches to learn and improve my game, and help contribute to my team’s success.”

Other Student-Athletes Who Have Committed:

AJ Heidtke

Sport: Football

College committed to: Brown University

Ashley Smith

Sport: Soccer

College committed to: Assumption University

Ben Entner

Sport: Football

College committed to: Colby College

Anthony Teberio

Sport: Baseball

College committed to: Wheaton College

Ryan Grecco

Sport: Baseball

College committed to: Colby College

Articles Sports

MVC Championship Recap: From Final Win to Plot Twist Season End

March 12, 2021

By Camille Storch

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Over February vacation, five AHS varsity sports competed for the Merrimack Valley Championship in a hard fought battle to defend previous titles and achieve new ones. The winter sports season included boys/girls basketball, boys/girls hockey, boys swimming, gymnastics, and skiing. Many of these athletes were forced to alter the basics of their game, because of the restrictions of COVID-19 and looking out for everyone’s safety, especially in high contact sports. Even despite these alterations and restrictions, both hockey, basketball, and gymnastics teams advanced to the final MVC championship.

STAFF PHOTO/ Erin Li
Senior captain Paige Gillette prepares to shoot during their game against Chelmsford High
School on January 29th.

Gymnastics (Won, 141.25-137.75)

The AHS gymnastics team won against North Andover 141.35-137.75, led by freshman duo Gabby Bresnick and Molly Foster. Foster placed highest in the beam, scoring a 9.2, while Bresnick placed second in vault and bars, 9.35 and 9.05 respectively. North Andover has a powerful All-Star athlete, Kasey Burke, who won the all around, vault, bars, and floor, yet Andover was able to work together as a team to finish on top.

Boys Basketball (Lost, 39-37)

The Warriors faced off against rival Central Catholic in a highly competitive and anticipated game that ended in a two-point deficit. The game remained close throughout the first three quarters and was tied 36-36 with two minutes to go. From here, Central just barely escaped with the win, allowing them to receive their first MVC Division 1 Cup. The Warriors ended their season 11-1, led by longtime coach Dave Fazio.

Girls Basketball (Lost, 36-33 OT)

The Lady Warriors also faced longtime rival Central Catholic for the second time this season. The Warriors had a successful season, winning nine games and only losing three, including this championship game. Last season, the Warriors trekked their way through the playoffs all the way to the state championship game, played at local arenas such as the Tsongas Center and TD Garden, and made a statement by making it to the MVC championship game yet again. The Raiders were led by breakout star freshman Ashley Dinges, who scored the final three points resulting in their win. The Warriors were led by senior guard Tatum Shaw, and sophomores Amelia Hanscom and Anna Foley.

STAFF PHOTO/ Erin Li
Team picture of the AHS varsity girls basketball team in the end of their season.

Boys Hockey (Lost, 3-2)

The Warriors took the lead in an intense game against Chelmsford, with senior Ryan O’Sullivan making a goal in the first period to get Andover off on a good foot. Chelmsford made a statement in return, with the Lions scoring three consecutive goals from senior players. Andover made an attempt to close it out, with senior Steve Ingram making it 3-2, but they were unable to overcome Chelmsford, ending their season 2-5-1.

Girls Hockey (Lost, 3-2)

The girls varsity hockey team lost in a hard-fought battle against Billerica/Chelmsford, ending their season 8-4-1. The team got the opportunity to play at the Tsongas Center on February 21, and scored within the first four minutes, junior Jaqui Haney putting the first point on the board. Billerica/Chelmsford immediately struck back and the game took off from there, a back and forth exchange that lasted until the very end. Senior Kalli Archambault scored within the last three minutes, but the team was not able to score again to overcome Chelmsford.

Articles Sports

Recapping Most Unusual Fall Sports Season

February 8, 2021

By Camille Storch

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Almost a year ago, there was no hope for spring sports, let alone fall sports. Being able to find ways to allow athletes to safely play was a struggle and topic in question, with many state board meetings being held throughout the summer to decide the fate of these special fall sports. The MIAA board pushed back the start of the fall season to September 14 for all Massachusetts teams, Andover beginning on the 18th due to their delay of start of school. Three categories were created to determine to what extent each sport would be able to participate and what sports would have to be moved to a postponed “Fall II” season in the late winter. In the end, football and cheerleading, along with girls swim and dive were pushed back, deemed the most “high risk” sports for student athletes based on the amount of physical contact they required between player to player. Athletes playing in the normal fall season faced various challenges and difficulties based on the new COVID regulations, but in some cases, it brought the team closer together.

STAFF PHOTO/ Erin Li
WELCOMING WINTER SPORTS: Varsity girls basketball is one of the winter sports that continues to practice and compete despite
the pandemic.

Boys Soccer (Captains: Jared Moses, Anton Pace, Anthony Previte, Ryan O’ Sullivan):

The boys soccer team made it to the division 1 north semifinals last year in the playoffs and were going into the fall coming off a really strong previous season, yet COVID had a serious impact on how far the team could make it this year. Captain Jared Moses felt that “one of the biggest restrictions that impacted [the] team was wearing masks as [they] were playing. Running and playing your hardest is tough when wearing a mask.” Moses went on to say that the masks restrict players ability to get as much oxygen as they need, especially when playing competitive soccer. Some staples that were missing from the regular season were the annual New England Revolution games, no pasta dinner, and only playing around 4-5 different teams, not being able to leave the conference. Captain Ryan O’Sullivan rated the season a seven out of ten and added “the only reason I am not completely bummed out is because we had an amazing run last year and I’m just glad myself and the other captains had a chance to go as far as we did. I would have been happy with anything this season because of it.” O’Sullivans favorite memory was beating Haverhill on their senior night, after a 7 game losing streak, and Moses articulated this statement, adding that his favorite part was just “being on the field with some of the best kids in the school.”

Girl’s Soccer (Captains: Ashley Kendrigan, Colleen Shay, Ashley Smith)

COVID had a large impact on the girls soccer team, a powerful group of players who had almost made it to the state championship last year, starting with the number of players able to participate. The roster was shortened to 22 players, and the amount of team bonding the girls were able to partake in was also cut short, with the team unable to do their annual canning, banquet, and end of year celebration. Captain Colleen Shay took an optimistic perspective on the limitations, stating that “We were all going through the same unfortunate experience together, and [she’s] really grateful for the bonds [she] was able to make with [her] whole team this year.” An interesting limitation impacted the technical rules of the game itself; there were no throw ins, no headers, and no taking corner kicks. Also, the team could only play certain, selected teams in the Merrimack Valley Conference, which cut off various non-league rivals and participation in the state tournament. On a scale of 1-10, Shay rated the season a 6, explaining that even though she is normally a really positive person, it was tricky finding the “bright side” of the season. “The nine other seniors on [Shay’s] team and [herself] have been playing together for [their] whole lives, waiting for [their] senior year. After growing up in the sport, it felt really unfair having [their] final, most important year taken away,” commented Shay. A favorite memory from the season was simply having fun with each other at practice and spending time together as not just teammates, but as best friends. Shay ended with “In the long run, it’s not all bad because I know I’ll be friends with these girls for a long time and we’ll have plenty of time together after COVID!”

Cross Country (Captains: Charlie Beams, Kayla Dibennetido, Jenna Freeland, Kirsten Muscat, Zack Nepomnashay, Cam Kirn, Owen Salamone)

Cross Country is, and always has been, a no cut sport, meaning the amount of athletes that can participate are unlimited. This year, the team had over 85 kids running, so they put a lot of effort into abiding by rules and different limitations in order to make the most of their season, and they sure did! Many athletes reached a personal record in their races, despite the semi-altered course, and the team made the best of the season that they could. “Some of the restrictions against our training included wearing masks during runs and workouts, we were only allowed to race in dual meets, we were not allowed to directly race with our components, and we had to limit our access to equipment and lifting,” recalled captain Jenna Freeland. Runners were not able to participate in any pre-season training and there were no annual MVC or MSTCA races. Freeland, along with fellow captains Kirsten Muscat and Kayla DiBenedetto, spoke to the lingering disappointment that this was their senior year, stating “No matter how long we did the sport for, whether it be one season or four, we all worked extremely hard. Senior year is known to be the best year where we see all of our hard work pay off.” Big pasta dinners, large meets, post-meet food stops on the highway, and more will be missed next year for the seniors who are graduating. Lastly, the seniors are so grateful that they were able to have an awesome senior night. “We were able to race and celebrate our hard work with our family, friends, and entire time (socially distanced and outside),” reminisced Freeland.

Field Hockey (Captains: Heather Graham, Paige Gillette, Hannah Medwar, Allana Miller)

The returning Division 1 North Champs had to adjust this season as they faced

difficulties with COVID, but that did not stop them from playing as well as they did and ending their fall season undefeated. The first adjustment the team had to make was shifting from a 11v11 setup to a 7v7 setup, meaning that only seven players were allowed to play from Andover at once, instead of the regular eleven. Captain Paige Gillette stated that “Every player on the roster was talented and hard working enough to play at a high level and make an impact on the field,” and was disappointed for younger players who might have not gotten as much playing time as they deserved due to the restrictions. Gillete and her team were heartbroken to hear the post-season was eliminated and Gillete added that she was sure that the team would have taken home the state championship again! “I do, however, understand we are living through unprecedented times,” acknowledged Gillete, “and woke up every morning grateful for another day where I would get to play field hockey with this team.” Gillette and her co-captains rated the season a 10/10, “because any time spent playing high school field hockey for Andover High School is amazing and ‘the best day ever’.”

Volleyball (Captains: Abby Ledoux, Alexandra Papazian, Tatum Shaw)

Girl’s volleyball captain Alexandra Papazian will always remember the team’s Senior Day as a favorite memory from this unprecedented season. Normally, the team practices and plays in the Dunn Gym, but the team practiced in the field house because of desks placed in the gym for lunch. The Seniors were able to play one last home game in the Dunn Gym thanks to the administration helping move the desks. Family and underclassmen were able to help celebrate the seniors and it made the season special since it was the last opportunity for those graduating. The team only played six games this year, instead of the normal 20-game schedule. There was a significant reduction in opportunity to compete, but this didn’t stop the team’s motivation to continue to grow as players. “Girls volleyball always tends to be very close and we have pasta dinners with all three teams, being able to bond with everyone,” Papazian said, adding that although much was missing from the season, she rated it an eight because having her senior season of volleyball is something she has looked forward to since freshman year and she couldn’t be more grateful to experience it.