Teams in the Globe Northwest circulation area, Acton-Boxborough and Andover in particular, and a number of student-athletes struck it rich in the recent MIAA North Sectional postseason tournaments and cross-country and swimming meets.
Cross-country: Kirsten Kasper of North Andover dominated the Eastern Massachusetts Division 2 race at Franklin Park in Boston, beating her nearest competitor, Rebecca White of Natick, by 36 seconds.
Field hockey: Acton-Boxborough (19-1-2) handed North Andover (22-1) its first loss of the year, 3-1, in the Division 1 final before defeating Walpole, 1-0, Tuesday in the Eastern Mass. final. Maggie Ashton, Giselle Schlegal, and Alexa Sikalis scored for the Colonials, who avenged last year's loss in the final to North Andover. . . . Winchester (15-5-2) upset Manchester Essex (19-2-1), 3-2, in double overtime to win its first Division 2 title. Courtney Taverner had the game-winning goal.
Soccer: The top-seeded and undefeated Acton-Boxborough girls' team (21-0-1) got all it could handle from Winchester before escaping with a 2-0 victory in Division 1. Sophomore Hayley Brock scored both goals. The game-winner was scored at 51 minutes and the insurance strike at 62 minutes. . . . Theo Terris, Michael Burke, and Tony Lania had the goals as No. 1 Concord-Carlisle dispatched Dracut, 3-1, in boys' Division 1. Terris and Burke also added assists.
Swimming: Andover chalked up its ninth straight championship, but it wasn't easy. The Warriors finished just seven points ahead of runner-up Acton-Boxborough, its smallest margin of victory during its reign. Andover winners included Kristi Kosberg in the 200-yard freestyle, Katie O'Donnell in the 1-meter dive and the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams. Every event was won by local swimmers. Highlighting the assault was Methuen senior Laura Moriarty, who set state records in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke. Other winners included Amy O'Brien of Lexington in the 50 free, Anna Senko of Winchester in the 100 butterfly, Erica Belcher of Reading in the 100 free and 100 backstroke, Katelyn Martin of Chelmsford in the 500 free, and Acton-Boxborough's 200 freestyle relay team.
Volleyball: Andover roared to its third straight Division 1 crown, but needed four games to get past Lawrence. Katie Fionte, Meghan Thomann, and Annie Tibbitts all reached double figures in kills. . . . Central Catholic and North Reading captured the Division 2 and Division 3 titles, respectively. Central, which had been ousted from the tournament by Melrose the past three years, finally turned the tables, winning in four games. Sophomore setter Carolyn Eddy had 30 assists and 18 service points, three of which were aces, and five kills. . . . North Reading swept Notre Dame of Tyngsborough in Division 3 to successfully defend its North title before edging Ursuline Academy, 3-2, in the state semifinals on Tuesday. The Hornets received big efforts from Kiersten Carbone and Adrianna Doyle, who combined for 17 kills.
The loss ended a sterling season for the River Hawks, who finished the season at 19-3, and went into the championship game riding a 13-game winning streak.
Westford Academy inducted its latest class of athletes, coaches, and contributors into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame on Oct. 27 at the Franco-American Club in Forge Village. The inductees: Dana (Kozimor) Zugay, diving; the late Andy Tzikopolous, football and wrestling; Jessalyn Deveny, basketball and soccer; Sheila Priestly, diving; Beth O'Connell, basketball and softball; Ben Coffin, basketball and soccer; Kathy (O'Connell) Johnson, basketball and softball; Bruce Cobleigh, football, basketball, and track; Bill Cody, hockey coach; and Mark Miller, contributor. The night was dedicated to the memory of Stephen Wright, an athlete who died in an auto accident in 1982. More than 200 people attended the ceremony.
Included were many of Westford Academy's past superstars as well as the 1983 ice hockey championship team that, in the words of it spokesman, captain Rob Wilkie, had no superstars but a group of dedicated team players.
Woburn High is hoping to update its alumni athletic list when the Tanner football team hosts Winchester on Thanksgiving Day. An information desk will be set up outside of the athletic department and alumni are asked to complete a Tanner Alumni card. For more information, call athletic director Jim Duran at 781-937-8210, ext. 7. . . . John "JP" Gorham, a three-sport star at Hollis Brookline High School in Hollis, N.H., has been named a national finalist in the Wendy's Heisman Program. He will be in New York on Dec. 9 when the winner will be announced on ESPN2. Hollis is one of 12 high school seniors from across the country to be honored with finalist status. Gorham is an outstanding soccer and tennis player, and a record-setting swimmer. He ranks fifth academically in a senior class of 224 and is president of his class and copresident of the National Honor Society. The award recognizes high school boys and girls who, in addition to being student-athletes, are active in their communities. Finalists are awarded gold medals, and $2,000 donations are made to their schools. The winner receives a crystal trophy and $10,000 is given to his or her school.
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