Several local students were recently honored for their outstanding efforts in spring athletics this year at Austin Prep in Reading, Mass.:
BOXFORD:
r Steve Dusel, senior, track, outstanding performer award
r Anne Jasinski, senior, track, most dedicated award
NORTH ANDOVER:
r Alex James, junior, tennis, most valuable player, Catholic Central League All-Star
r Matt Noyes, freshman, track, most improved award
r Danielle DelDotto, senior, lacrosse, Catholic Central League All-Star
Hae Hyun Shin, Su Hyun Shin and Sun Hyun Shin of North Andover, and Spencer Li of Andover, brought home bronze medals after competing with hundreds of others from across the country in the American Taekwondo United National Championship, at California State University in Los Angelos last month.
A well pitched, defensive game yielded a one-run advantage for Larry O'Connell and his Boxford Twins. The Twins bested Michael Higgins' Boxford Giants 3-2 is a well executed game Sunday, June 22, at Koster Field. The Twins and the Giants were the finalists in the Majors Division, age 11/12 playoffs for Boxford's Little League program.
Twins team members included Michael Luchini, Colin O'Connell, Henry Budrewicz, PJ Criscione, Harrison Kent, Peter Mandragouras, Thomas Budrewicz, Mitchell Hebert, Ben Madden, John Lobdell and Pierce Callanan. Head coach is Larry O'Connell and assistant coaches are Paul Criscione and Tom Budrewicz.
The North Andover Booster Club Basketball Program online registration begins on Aug. 1. Boys and girls entering grades two through four in the fall may register online through Nov. 15 Boys and girls entering grades five through eight in the fall may register online through Oct. 15. For more information about these programs and to register visit the Web site at www.eteamz.com/nabc.
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Winners of the 2008 Kimball Classic Sportsmanship Award given earlier this year by the YMCA included Sabastian Schwarz, Ryan McDonald and Benjamin Bagley, all of North Andover. These young players were honored for demonstrating the YMCA's core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsiblity during the 2008 Youth Basketball League Season.
Christian Sady, a player on the New England Aztec 2008-09 U14 boys team, was selected as a member of the U14 Boys National Team player pool after his performance at a recent identification camp. Christian, of North Andover, has played with the Aztecs since he was a U11. He is the second Aztec boys player to be called into a youth national team development pool.
"Christian is a super athlete who is passionate about the game," said Mike Kersker, New England Aztec president. "We are excited for him."
Another North Andover resident, Grant Bean, who was on last year's Aztec U14 state semifinalists and will wear the New England Aztec colors with the U15 team in 2008-09, was recently selected to the Region 1 team, comprised of the best players in 13 Northeast states.
Ryan Simpson of North Andover, the GK on this year's Aztec U14 state semifinalists, was selected to a New England Revolution youth team.
North Andover native Jamie Callahan was part of the Trinity College women's rowing team that recorded its best-ever record in dual races at 15-0 this spring and won its third New England Championships.
Callahan's team was also chosen as an at-large selection to the NCAA Division III National Championships on May 30-June 1 at Sacramento State University. The Bantams, coached by Wesley Ng (for a second season), will be making their sixth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Regatta.
Alex Moran of Boxford was one of 10 Gettysburg College student athletes named to the Centennial Conference spring 2008 Sportsmanship Team.
Moran, who played on the women's golf team, just finished her freshman year at Gettysburg, and graduated high school from the Governor's Academy.
Each member institution was permitted to nominate one student-athlete from each spring program who exemplifies the best in sportsmanship.
The annual North Shore Amateur Golf Open will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 19 and 20, at the Far Corner Golf Course in Boxford. Bill Flynn, area golf legend, has been hosting this tournament for many years. It is a chance for young amateurs to test their mettle against seasoned golfers. It always a competitive event, according to organizers. For a complete schedule and list of participants, contact Bob Flynn, director of golf, at 978-352-8300.
More than 1,000 synchronized swimmers from all over the country gathered at Binghamton University this month to compete in the largest synchronized swimming meet in the world. The ANA Synchers, the synchronized swim team of the Andover/North Andover YMCA, qualified 29 of its swimmers for this prestigious event and faced this competition with the determination and focus that this team is known for. The 16-17 AG team placed eighth for their team routine and included swimmers Amber Blum, Rebecca Ely, Laina Gray, Caitlyn McGregor, Alice Rogers and Alison Ziel of North Andover.
Another highlight of the nationals competition was the specialized training ANA received from Duke Zielinski, current trainer for the 2008 U.S Olympic Synchronized Swim Team. Zielinski, along with Karen Josephson, winner of two Olympic Medals in synchronized swimming (Gold '92/Silver '88) conducted these swim clinics. These sessions, while only two hours long, offered ANA athletes an opportunity to receive training from the same coaches who are training our US Olympians.
Zielinski, owner of Sportform, plans return to Andover in October to conduct private coaching sessions specifically designed for the ANA Synchers. Long a friend of the ANA Synchers, and head coach Eugenia Gillan, Zielinksi had this to say about the team, "Advanced techniques are nothing more than basic techniques performed.to perfection and ANA epitomizes that."
In addition to the 16-17 team, the following local athletes who qualified and attended nationals in Binghamton, NY included: 18-19 team: Sarah Higgins of North Andover (of ANA's 18-19 team) and Kim Cushing and Kate Quinn of North Andover (of ANA's 11-12 team).
The Andover/North Andover YMCA is currently offering summer classes for those interested in trying synchronized swimming. For more information please contact coach Svetlana Malinovskaya at 978-685-3541, ext. 30, smalinovskaya@mvymca.org or visit ANA Synchers online at www.anasynchers.org.
