Coming back from a season of no fans at all, Andover High School’s sports teams got the support they deserve as the AHS Jungle roared back to life after mask mandates were lifted.
The Jungle is AHS’s school spirit section, a fun, high energy student section that has made their presence known this past winter. While the Jungle is encouraged to attend as vast a variety of sports as they can, the greatest turnouts have been at boys and girls basketball games. The boys made it to the state semifinals and the girl’s made it all the way to the state championship, losing in a hard fought battle to Springfield Central.
“I hope the Jungle continues in the future,” said boys basketball coach David Fazio. “I hope we continue to be good in the coming years because the student body doesn’t want to come out and watch a team that is not very successful. It’s kind of like, we’ve got to do our part and be good and then I know our student body will follow us.”
Fazio describes the large presence of the student body at games as “the sixth man in basketball…it’s like we have an extra player on the court with our five players when we have the Jungle.” For this team, the energy, enthusiasm, relationships, friendships, and camaraderie is “second to none.”
COURTESY PHOTO / Lindsey Reeves Jungle cheers on AHS boys basketball team during the February 3 game
Although COVID guidelines have relaxed, Athletic Director Bill Martin has worked closely with the administration, superintendent, and Board of Health in Andover to keep an eye on COVID cases in Andover. “The reduced attendance was set up as a temporary situation,” said Martin. “We were slowly able to open up to larger crowds with time and now, we are fully open with no masks.”
Boys basketball player Rohit Srinivasan noticed a large difference in the amount of fans and support at games this season. “As a team, we did a lot better this year so I feel like more people came…the more fans, more kids, the more energy in the Jungle reflected onto the court.” For Srinivasan, a core memory is the rival game against Central Catholic at home. “I got a steal, I got a layup, and the Jungle was just going crazy. I think that got the team pumping and they really helped the game,” stated Srivinvasan.
“We have a select few of very dedicated fans that come to every single game,” stated junior girls basketball player Kathleen Yates, including the jungle members and family members. Their support is felt throughout the team.
“The Jungle makes a big impact, especially in big games,” added senior captain Morgan Shirley. “If there is a student section for the other team but not yours, it can get in your head a bit, so the support of Andover fans adds a lot of energy.”
Last year, no fans were allowed at any games due to COVID restrictions, which made it difficult to get that support from the student section. “I feel bad for those five seniors who didn’t get the opportunity to play in front of great crowds at home,” recalled Fazio. “I mean, the only thing you could hear in the gym [last year] was me yelling at my players. There was nothing else that you could hear but the echo of my voice, so it has been so good to have the student body back for sure.”
“There is something special about wrestlers and wrestling teams,” said Andover High School’s head varsity wrestling coach, Michael Bolduc.
The AHS wrestling team has flourished over the past years and is hoping to win the state championship this year. Coach Bolduc has been at AHS for seven years and has coached over 26 years at the high school level.
“Andover’s success over the last two to three years is because of our staff,” said Bolduc.“ Ken Najem has been by my side since day one; Chuck Tedeschi joined us last year and made an immediate positive impact. My three coaches have a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience in wrestling. More importantly, all outstanding role models.”
In addition to the strong experience from coaches, the 2021-2022 season is led by captains Johnathan Davila and Yasser Maita.
“Captains and upperclassmen control the tempo of practice, not the coaches. They build the winning culture in our mat room,” acknowledged Bolduc.
COURTESY PHOTO / Michael Bolduc 2021-2022 winter season roster of AHS Varsity Wrestling team
While the team hopes for many successes this year, it has been a difficult road to get here. Last season, they competed with a reduced schedule, a smaller roster, and limited attendance due to COVID. This season, however, the team is able to compete closer to a full roster of athletes again.
“Currently, we are anticipating a full schedule. The number of athletes has significantly increased, and there will be fewer restrictions on parents and friends that want to watch our matches,” said Bolduc.
Getting as close to a normal season as possible means the team is setting up short-term and long-term goals.
“We are still assessing our strengths and weaknesses. With that being said, some team goals never change. Team goals this season include commitment, hard work, and comradery,” said Bolduc. With the pandemic, there were limited social events, and student-athletes came in with a large gap in wrestling experience. However, this team does “not focus on the wins and losses; we focus on the growth of the team as the season progresses,” said Bolduc.
The most special part of this sport is that while it is an individual sport, the team’s successes only occur due to the sharing of the wrestling philosophy. “We have common goals and those goals are achieved because we get there together,” ended Bolduc.
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 seasonSTAFF PHOTO / Ethan Zabar Junior Anna Foley prepares to shoot a basketball during practice on December 20, 2021 STAFF PHOTO / Ethan Zabar Senior Hailey Doherty (left) and sophomore Michaela Buckley (right) during practice on December 20, 2021STAFF PHOTO / Caitlin Connell Captains Hailey Doherty, Morgan Shirley, and Tess Gobiel sizzle on the court in light of their upcoming winter 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.”
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.”
