Campbell ratchets up his game again

Connecticut College is playing its best hockey of the season right now. So, too, says coach Jim Ward, is tricaptain Rob Campbell of Reading. Ward even takes it a step beyond, saying the hockey Campbell is playing may be "the best of his career."

The two are intertwined, and it's no coincidence that the Camels were in the midst of a four-game New England Small College Athletic Conference win streak heading into this weekend's regular-season final games against Babson and the University of Massachusetts at Boston. And with the NESCAC playoffs less than a week away, Connecticut and Campbell seem to be cresting at a most opportune time.

Connecticut began the streak two weekends ago when it toppled Wesleyan and Trinity. Campbell had four goals in the two games. It was the first time the Camels had beaten both teams in the same season since NESCAC formed its men's hockey league in 1999. Salem State and Southern Maine fell next, with Campbell adding another goal and an assist.

"He's brought his game to a higher level, and it couldn't have come at a better time," said Ward of the 5-foot-10-inch, 175-pound senior forward. "He's proving to be very valuable down the stretch, just as he was a year ago."

Last season was the first time in the modern era of NESCAC that Connecticut qualified for postseason play. This year, regardless of the weekend's results, the Camels are in again. And just as he did last season when he scored three goals and assisted on four others in the final three games to get the Camels into the playoffs, Campbell is heating up again.

The former Reading All-Scholastic has pumped in 10 goals and dished out 8 assists for the 8-11-3 (8-7-2 NESCAC) Camels. He's on track to top his season-high in goals (11 in 2006 and 2007). His career 40 goals and 38 assists are tops in Connecticut College annals.

Campbell is shy talking about his personal efforts. Instead, he talks about the team and how far it's come this season.

"We've had our ups and downs," he admits, "but as the playoffs approach we seem to be hitting our stride with four straight wins.

"Personal highlights? I can think of certain wins, goals, or streaks, but I believe changing the image of the Connecticut hockey program as a whole surpasses them. I was in [Ward's] first recruiting class and on board with his mentality to develop a winning hockey program. Being a part of the program's transformation is not only exciting, but has created a sense of esteem and respect from our opponents and most importantly our college community."

Campbell credits Reading coach Pete Doherty for helping make him the player he has become.

"Coach and his staff played a major role in developing me as a player," he said. "One crucial value they embedded in me was to keep academics first."

Campbell has done that. He's a dean's list student with a major in human development and a minor in history. Last season, he was a semifinalist for the Joe Concannon Award, presented annually to New England's best American-born Division 2 or 3 player.

Noteworthy performances by local athletes in MIAA State track and field, gymnastics, and wrestling championships, and the North Sectional swimming championships:

No one was more dominant in any event than Bromfield junior Emily Jones, who nearly lapped the competition twice in winning the Division 4 2-mile in a meet-record 10 minutes, 31.82 seconds. It was her personal best and the fastest time in the country to date by 12 seconds. Jones's performance helped Bromfield capture a third straight title.

Andover's 4 x 400 and 4 x 200 girls' relay teams set Division 1 meet records. The 4 x 400 team of Vanessa Singleton, Kayley Pettoruto, Laura Cody, and Colleen Sheehan won in 4:01, and the 4 x 200 team of Christina Muccio, Melissa Knapp, Emily Shields, and Vanessa Singleton won in 1:45.28.

Burlington, which lost last year's boys' state final to Braintree, bounced back this year to win its fifth gymnastics title. Key was senior Joe Gianino, who won the floor exercise, pommel horse, high bar, and parallel bars en route to the all-around championship. In the girls' state individuals, Chelmsford's Ali Carr repeated as all-around champion.

Nick D'Innocenzo showed why he is one of the nation's most sought-after swimmers after two record-setting performances in the North Sectionals. He broke his own record in the 200-yard individual medley (1:50.57), then shattered the previous best by more than 3 seconds in the 500-yard freestyle (4:33.18).

Timberlane was head and shoulders above the competition in ringing up its ninth straight New Hampshire Division 1 wrestling championship. Nine Pinkerton wrestlers advanced to their respective final and seven of them came away winners. They were Cam Sullivan at 103 pounds, Matt Morris at 112, Nick Lawrence at 130, Dave Clemens at 140, Jarad Smith at 145, Eric Petrillo at 171, and Brian Nicoli in the heavyweight division.

Sports Notebook items may be sent to vellante@globe.com.