Windham News : sports

Windham High’s XC race includes Pelham runners

Salem Editor — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:36:00 GMT

Windham doesn’t quite have a home-course advantage yet, but the Jaguars now officially have a course to call home.

Though nearly all of the teams at the newly opened Windham High School are junior varsity, the school’s cross country team is competing at the varsity level.

On Sept. 22, the school hosted its first-ever Windham Invitational, with the girls grabbing sixth in the eight-team field and the boys finishing in eighth, including a 10th-place time of 19 minutes, 33 seconds from Colby Putnam.

Windham’s best finisher from the girls team was Kate Farrell with a time of 21:44.

“To host the first meet here and have as many teams as we did, it was an amazing day for Windham High School,” said the Jaguars girls head coach, Kate Jackson.

Merrimack Valley won the girls team event with a score of 29, while Bedford dominated among the boys thanks to four runners in the top five. The Bulldogs tallied a team score of 22.

Pelham also took part in the event, as the young Python teams finished sixth and seventh in the boys and girls races, respectively.

Pelham’s head coach, Todd Kress, said his teams were not running at full speed, however, opting to use the race as a training day for the Manchester Invitational, which was Saturday, Sept. 26.

Freshman Brandon Hannon had the best time for the Pythons, running the 5-kilometer course in 20:58, good for 36th among 122 racers.

“In this sport, regular-season standings don’t matter, so there are certain races that you point to as big races, with Manchester being one of those,” said Kress. “(The Windham Invitational) was really about building confidence and gearing up for our next race.”

Hannon was one of the runners who Kress said benefited from the confidence boost, as the freshman is normally the team’s No. 5 competitor, but was able to run with the top Pythons throughout the hilly course.

Ethan Ely came in four spots behind Hannon, while Erin Krawczyk crossed the finish line just 15 seconds later. Senior Emily Spognardi was the best finisher for the Lady Pythons, grabbing 14th place with a time of 22:53. Jaguars boys head coach Mick Grant said the program’s future is promising because of the current members of the team, plus the strength of the middle school program.

The mentor also expressed his excitement about the inaugural invitational.

“We have a beautiful school, and before the race a lot of the teams wanted tours. It was a lot of fun,” said Grant. “It was great to be able to show off to the schools in the division.”

Windham fields teams with keen eyes toward the future

Salem Editor — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:38:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

When Bill Raycraft was brought in as Windham High School’s first athletics director, he knew whom to turn to for advice.

Raycraft, seeking a quick start for the fledgling program, contacted Thor Nilsen, who guided Bedford High School through a similar process, and did so with early success.

“That was one of the first phone calls I made when I was hired,” said Raycraft. “We talked about what worked for them and what they may have done differently. There are a lot of similarities in our communities, so I think the standards are equally high for us.”

Windham’s teams went to work recently, with the majority of coaches overseeing their first tryouts Monday, Aug. 17, on the various fields surrounding the vast high school campus.

The Jaguars begin their inaugural campaign with junior varsity programs, and girls soccer coach George Kendall said the first students taking the field have many lessons to learn.

“It’s about educating them to a new coach, system and school,” said Kendall. “They may not realize yet what they are going to be a part of. It will take them a little while to see that they’re really a part of history in town.”

On the first day of tryouts, the girls soccer team focused on fitness training outside, while in the gym girls volleyball hopefuls focused on basic setting and passing skills. The volleyball team’s mentor is no stranger to building a program.

Jill Bartlett helped the Bedford girls lacrosse team notch three victories in its first varsity season this spring, but more importantly, she set the standard for her team’s work ethic.

“It keeps you positive to have gone through part of the process before,” said Bartlett. “Even when it gets frustrating, you know you’ll make it through. Some of the teams won’t be as successful right away, but there are going to be some teams who will hit the ground running.”

In addition to his role as athletics director, Raycraft is also serving as the Windham football coach, where he is excited to finally be able to take to the sidelines.

“All of the work, research and scheduling will finally pay off,” said Raycraft. “Not only for football, but for all sports, we’re building for the future. While we’re building the foundation now, next year is when things count, so we have to be prepared.”

Bartlett said it’s critical for her to keep small, manageable goals for her young team, while keeping in mind the reward that comes after a few years together.

“The big picture is critical,” said Bartlett. “And it’s a great picture to be staring at.”

Basketball officials needed

Salem Editor — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:31:00 GMT

The International Association of Approved Basketball Officials (IAABO) Metro Board 117 seeks interested basketball officials for its entry level apprentice program.

Classes begin Monday, Sept. 14, at 6:30 p.m., at Alvirne High School in Hudson. Classes run on consecutive Mondays, culminating in a written test in November and floor test in March. The cost of the school is $100, which includes a rule book and computer software.

Successful candidates become certified by the IAABO and are eligible to referee high school games in the state.

For details, contact Dennis Murphy at 432-5533 or murphy.dennis.j@gmail.com. Applicants can obtain an application at http://home.att.net/~iaabo117.

Windham 10 and 11s push Goffstown before dropping title game

Salem Editor — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:16:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Goffstown’s 10- and 11- year-old Little League baseball team is powerful. In the state title game, Windham nearly caused a power outage.

Despite trimming Goffstown’s four-run advantage to one in the fifth inning on Saturday, July 25, Windham was unable to take the lead and eventually fell, 10-6.

Windham gave Goffstown its closest game of the tournament and nearly tied the game, but the would-be equalizing run was thrown out at the plate in the top of the fifth inning.

Jake Yennaco’s two-out double in the fifth brought the locals within 7-6. Mike Tardif then singled to center field, sending Yennaco charging toward the plate, but the throw from the outfield was perfect, and Yennaco was out by a wide margin.

“I would still send him if I could do it again. He just made a good throw,” said Windham manager Bruce Yennaco. “There were a few momentum-changing plays in the game, but that’s how we have played all year. We’ve been playing aggressively.”

Close tournament games were familiar to Windham, which went 5-2 while taking the losers’ bracket. The locals collected three one-run victories, with no win coming by more than three.

Windham took an early 3-0 lead after Will Bresnahan lined a two-run double into the gap, then scored himself on an errant throw from the outfield.

Goffstown, which answered with two runs in the bottom of the first, seemingly took control of the game with a five-run third inning.

But Andrew Calandra began Windham’s fifth-inning rally with a single.

Johnny Monahan worked a walk, and Calandra scored on a wild pitch following a Goffstown pitching change. Bresnahan earned a base on balls and stole second, with Monahan taking home on a successful double steal.

Yennaco said he was impressed with the grit his team showed in coming back during its final game, also with the resolve it showed throughout the bracket.

“The fact that so many games were so close just shows how tough they are, and how much determination they have,” said Yennaco. “This experience will help them as they play next year, and on into high school.”

Windham team members were Chad Desautels, Dougie Deluca, Bresnahan, Riley Magee, Jake Yennaco, Tardif, Marco Allanach, Chris Murphy, Max Souter, Jack Crowley, Monahan and Calandra.

Windham ousted from District 1 tournament by Bedford

Salem Editor — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:43:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Windham’s 11- and 12- year-olds kept turning the page, but eventually the book had to close.

Unfortunately for the local all-stars, the book shut just shy of a championship, as Windham fell to Bedford in consecutive games during the District 1 Little League baseball finals on Saturday and Sunday, July 18 and 19.

Needing one victory to earn a match-up with District 2 victor Portsmouth, Windham jumped to an 8-3 in its first game against Bedford.

Mike Goglia launched a three-run home run to give his team a 3-0 advantage in the top of the second before Bedford climbed back to tie the game at 3-3.

In the top of the fourth, Windham struck for three more runs when Connor Moynihan led off with a single, Christian Thompson reached on an error and Brendan Mullen drove them both in with a single.

Josh Gallagher followed suit with a single, then Kellin Bail pushed home another Windham run with a single to stretch the lead to 6-3. In the fifth inning, Moynihan delivered again, smashing a two-run home run for the 8-3 edge.

But in the bottom of the fifth Bedford scored five times to knot the score at 8-8, and after Windham went quietly in the visiting half of the sixth, Kyle Andersson sent the Bedford players into a frenzy when he blasted a ball over the fence, moving his team to the decisive second game.

Andersson proved a persistent problem for Windham with his effort on Sunday, this time from the pitcher’s mound; he pitched 5 2/3 innings before being pulled due to his pitch count.

Ryan Lang relieved and induced a groundout to end the game and Windham’s season following the 6-2 final.

After breezing through the winners’ bracket final against Salem National thanks to a perfect game from Tim Hillman, Windham waited a week before playing again, something manager Jim Bail said proved a disadvantage.

“I think in retrospect it hurt us. Bedford was sharp. They had been playing for their lives all week while we were practicing, just not at the same intensity,” said Bail, who feared a letdown following his team’s Saturday defeat.

“We were looking for it, and we talked about that. We wanted to look forward and start a new page. That was a theme throughout the playoffs. The kids showed up fresh, but we just ran into a good pitcher on a very good day for them.”

In addition to his sparkling pitching performances throughout the bracket, Hillman also hit .429 during the team’s seven tournament contests. Ben Vitolo was another key hitter in the Windham lineup, batting .455.

Members of the team included Gallagher, Bail, Hillman, Moynihan, Thompson, Goglia, Vitolo, Mullen, Porter Carelli, who hit two home runs this summer, Kurtis Jolicoeur and Nick Worden.

“There were some players I wish could have gotten a bit more playing time, but I think it was a great experience for everyone,” said Jim Bail. “I think they got to reap the benefits of working hard to earn something. I’m glad for all the kids to see where that can get validated. That’s a great lesson for a 12-year-old.”

Hillman faces and retires 18 hitters; Windham one win from D-1 title

Salem Editor — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:22:00 GMT

BY JERRY LIPTAK

Windham 11- and 12-year-old all-star baseball catcher Mike Goglia had the perfect view of batterymate Tim Hillman’s perfect game on Saturday, July 11.

The backstop watched 18 Salem National batters step into the box. Most returned to the bench without putting the ball in play.

Yet as Hillman’s gem neared completion, pressure mounted. Goglia said that, during the sixth inning, he felt the same way every National batter felt throughout the New Hampshire Little League District 1 winners’ bracket final:

“It was nerve-racking.” Actually, Hillman made it look easy, fanning 16 batters. No batted ball – there were two pop outs – left the infield.

Windham, on the other hand, jumped on hard-throwing Salem starter John Cerretani for three first-inning runs.

The bottom of Windham’s lineup sparked a two-run rally in the top of the sixth, and the team finds itself one win from the D-1 championship after a 5-0 victory at the Villa Augustina fields in Goffstown.

“The kid threw a perfect game in a perfect spot,” said Salem National’s manager, Paul Soucy. “With a pitcher who’s that dominant, everyone else can really relax and know not much is going to be hit hard at them.”

Windham’s manager, Jim Bail, said no one mentioned the possibility of a perfect game until the sixth inning, when a teammate told Hillman about it. Bail said the tall 12-year-old simply smiled, then returned to the hill and finished what he started by focusing on each pitch, each moment.

“They’re very mature for 12-year-olds,” said Bail. “We don’t have any weak spots. We have some guys who aren’t playing as much as they normally do, but it hasn’t been a problem at all. Everyone’s contributed when called upon.”

No. 2 hitter Kellin Bail, for example, started the firstinning outburst with a line single past shortstop. He then stole second, took third on a wild pitch and scored after forcing an errant throw to the base. Hillman, who had walked, moved to third on a sharp single from 11-year-old Connor Moynihan, then scored on a wild pitch, as did pinch runner Brendan Mullen.

After that trouble, Cerretani matched Hillman zero for zero into the fifth inning, when the Salem hurler reached the 85-pitch limit.

The bottom of Windham’s order capped the scoring against Salem reliever Jason Michalsky. Christian Thompson smacked a double to leftcenter field to open the sixth.

One out later, No. 8 hitter Ben Vitolo tripled down the rightfield line to plate Thompson. He quickly scored on Nick Worden’s sacrifice fly to center.

Bail, a scout with the Atlanta Braves, thanked former Boston Red Sox firstround draft pick Jay Yannaco for helping his team prepare for Cerretani’s fastball.

Yannaco threw batting practice to Windham’s players – right down to emulating Cerretani’s arm motion – the day before the game.

Windham finds itself in territory usually occupied by Bedford, Goffstown or one of the Manchester teams, waiting a week and needing a single victory to represent District 1 in the state tournament at month’s end – in Windham.

“These baseball dynasties (in Goffstown and Bedford) are cultures,” said Bail, “and we’re developing a winning culture.”

Salem National, meanwhile, next plays on Thursday, July 16, in the losers’ bracket final. A win means a rematch with Windham on Saturday, July 18.

Victory there pushes District 1 play to a winner-take-all game on Sunday, July 19. The weekend games take place at the Villa fields.

Moynihan is most likely to start Saturday’s game. If necessary, Hillman awaits on Sunday.

Three straight victories push team along in District 1 bracket

Salem Editor — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:08:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

It was a day two years in the making.

When the majority of the current 11- and 12-year-old Windham players were 10, they faced Goffstown in the Jimmy Fund baseball tournament.

In the fifth inning of that game, Windham held a 17- 9 advantage, but within the blink of an eye the powerful Goffstown team stormed back and eventually came away with a 24-22 victory.

Head coach Jim Bail didn’t forget, and neither did the players on his team. “That was the day we started preparing for Goffstown,” said Bail.

The preparation paid off. Windham edged its familiar foe on Monday, July 6, 2-1, advancing to the semifinals of the District 1 11- and 12- year-old Little League tournament winners’ bracket in the process.

Windham’s bats were silent early on; the entire lineup was set down in order through three innings.

The fourth inning was a different story. Windham’s hitters adjusted to the steady dose of curveballs they had seen in their first at-bats, and with his team trailing, 1-0, shortstop Josh Gallagher led off with an infield hit.

Starting pitcher Tim Hillman delivered a one-out double, and Gallagher knotted the contest at 1-1 when he scampered home on a passed ball.

Hillman scored soon after when Conner Moynihan drove in the eventual game-winning run with an RBI groundout.

With the victory, Windham advanced to play Derry American in a game scheduled to take place Wednesday, July 8.

Vanquishing its first opponent was a challenge for Windham, which squeaked past Manchester South, 3-2, on June 30, in a game that began the previous evening.

With the score tied at 1-1 after six full innings, the rains came, suspending the game until Tuesday, when Windham prevailed in extra innings.

The second round was easier, with Windham cruising past Pelham, 7-1, on Friday, July 3.

Bail said while pitching and defense have been critical to his team’s success, it’s the psychological aspect his squad has perfected.

“This team is really mentally tough, and we’ve spent a lot of time working on that,” said Bail, who cited Hillman as an example of his team’s resiliency. “He has such a calm presence on the mound, and he’s very mature for his age. He can locate (a pitch) on a dime, which helps a lot, too.”

NEGTC boys dominate at state meet

Salem Editor — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:51:00 GMT

The New England Gymnastic Training Center’s level-4 boys team competed at New Hampshire State Meet at GymKen in Windham, taking first place among seven teams.

Coaches Jacob Pitts, Tony Cariello, Barry Rogers and Fransico Silveira trained the hardworking group, including a trio of local athletes, to the following scores:
Cameron Rogers, 7, of Windham, placed first in the 6- and 7-year-old division with an allaround score of 88.7. He earned a 15.4 on floor, 13.5 on pommel horse, 15.2 on rings, 15.6 on vault, 14 on parallel bars and 15.0 on high bar.

Salem’s Pavel Medbery, 10, placed third in the 8- and 9-yearold division with an all-around score of 89.9. He scored a 15.0 on floor, 14.3 on pommel, 15.1 on rings, 15.5 on vault, 14.8 on parallel bars and 15.2 on high bar.

Cameron Genoter, 10, of Pelham, placed second in the 10- and 11-year-old division with an all around score of 90.0. He tallied a 14.2 on floor, 15.1 on pommel, 15.2 on rings, 15 on vault, 15.4 on parallel bars and 15.1 on high bar.

Gym-Ken’s level-4 team sets record, win states

Salem Editor — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 20:11:00 GMT

Gym-Ken Gymnastics’ level-4 girls team took top honors at the recent New Hampshire USA Gymnastics state championships. The girls set a new state record for level- 4 gymnasts with 114.075 points while facing teams from 18 gyms across the state.

The 10-athlete team amassed 29 individual scores of 9.0 or above, far exceeding the goal of head coach Ruth Licata.

“To encourage them all to try their best, I told them that they needed to earn 20 9.0’s or above as a team in order to earn a sleepover at the gym,” said Licata, a Windham resident. “They were more concerned with that than with winning the competition. Of course, they were very excited to win as well!”

Each of the 10 level-4 gymnasts scored the minimum 33.00 points during the first of two sectional meets to qualify for states.

Among the 26 6- and 7-year-old competitors, Alexandra Masone of Windham won the all-around with 37.975 points, winning bars, beam and floor. Her best score, 9.6 on vault, earned her second place. Victoria Sipes of Windham tallied 36.275 points and placed sixth in the all-around, including third on bars. Anya Comeau was seventh in the all-around with 36.225 points. Rebecca Heath of Windham scored 9.25 on vault, good for seventh place. She was 12th in the all-around.

In the 8-year-old division, Alexis Ouellette of Salem finished with 36.35 points in the all-around, placing ninth among 34 competitors. She was fourth on vault. Paige Butler of Windham posted two scores above 9.0 and finished sixth on floor.

Samantha Jezak, among 18 competitors, posted the highest score among all level-4 entrants, scoring 38.375 in the all-around to win the 9-year-old division. She swept each of the individual events – vault, bars, beam and floor.

Gabriella Palermo of Salem was second with 37.725 points in the all-around, including second- place efforts on vault and floor. Ravyn Vasquez totaled 36.9 in the all-around, good for sixth place. She finished third on floor. Scarlett Souter of Windham tallied 36.075 in the all-around, finishing 10th. Her best finish was fourth place on vault.

Windham track and field bond to be top money item at session

Salem Editor — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:58:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

With the opening of the new high school coming up fast, the School Board is asking voters to consider a bond for the construction of a $2.7 million track and athletic field at the Feb. 6 deliberative session at 7 p.m. in the Golden Brook School.

With $500,000 of that coming from the interest earned on the investment of bond proceeds, taxpayers are being asked to raise $2.2 million for the addition to the new high school.

A similar $1.5 million bond for the construction of a second gymnasium at the high school was cut by the School Board last month. Voters rejected a combined request for a second gymnasium and track and field on the ballot last year.

An $800,000 appropriation to cover the architect and engineering fees associated with completing a building study for the district is also up for discussion.

The district is also asking residents to approve a $40.4 million operating budget for the ensuing year. The district’s default budget - should the proposed budget fail before voters in March – is $39.8 million.

Pelham/Windham’s Junior Pee Wees head to national championship

Salem Editor — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:15:00 GMT

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Pelham/Windham Razorbacks’ stifling defense stopped the Connecticut champs cold in a 20-0 win that delivered the Junior Pee Wee squad the American Youth Football League’s New England crown.

With the victory on Nov. 22, the Razorbacks head to Orlando, Fla., for a chance at the AYF’s national title. That tournament takes place Dec. 6 through 12.

Both Pelham/Windham and the New Britain Raiders entered the contest with 11- 0 marks, but the Razorbacks jumped ahead, 2-0, on Zach Masiello’s safety. That play set the tone on a bone-chilling day at Bryant University’s frozen field in Rhode Island.

The Pelham/Windham offense then heated up, with linemen Mitch Hullihen, Masiello, Jack Harrington, Nick DeCarolis, Josh Gallagher and Ryan Cloutier pushing New Britain’s defense around. Ultimately, Kurtis Jolicoeur broke through for a touchdown, and the Razorbacks took an 8-0 lead into intermission.

If anything, the defense, which has yet to allow more than one touchdown in a game, improved in the second half. New Britain had trouble recording a first down as defensive end Joe Frake handled the Raiders’ outside ground game, and pressure from Kevin Anderson, Michael Goglia, Gallagher and Harrington denied New Britain’s attempts to pound the ball up the middle. Frustrated, Connecticut’s best tried to pass the ball, but safety Kellin Bail’s interception thwarted that route as well.

P/W quarterback Brendan McInnis and running back Bail handled the ball well on a subsequent drive. Jolicoeur bulled his way to a second score after a McInnis-to-Frake pass play drew an interference penalty, giving the locals a first-and-goal. On the ensuing kickoff, Pelham/Windham put the contest out of reach when Goglia caused a fumble that kicker Bail pounced on at New Britain’s 12-yard line. Two plays later, McInnis bounced off two defenders and stretched to reach the end zone, capping the scoring.

Game notes

Harrington’s hard-nosed running helped the team control the clock in the fourth quarter. Brendan Mullen aided the offense with his strong blocking on Jolicoeur’s 40-yard jaunt early in the game.

Windham Soccer Association U-14 girls takes divisional, state titles in consecutive weeks

Salem Editor — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 03:00:00 GMT

Using a relentless attack, stifling defense and fine goalkeeping, the Windham Soccer Association’s U14 girls team, under head coach Chris Scott, won the Granite Youth State League Division 1 Championship on Nov. 1, 2-1, then followed up by taking the state championship with a 2- 0 shutout on Nov. 9.

Facing Seacoast United Soccer for the D-1 crown, goalkeeper Gina Grimes kept the contest scoreless in the first half with some fine saves.

One of those stops, just prior to halftime, ignited a Windham counterattack. Kelsey Schiebel deftly moved the ball up the right side of the field, and Bernadette Connors headed a crossing pass into the net for a 1-0 edge at the break.

After Windham thwarted a number of Seacoast attempts to tie the match, striker Courtney Walsh settled a ball roughly 30 yards from goal and hit a hard, high shot that flew over the Seacoast goalkeeper for a 2-0 lead.

Though Seacoast finally tallied with six minutes remaining, Windham fended off a last-ditch effort to claim the GYSL D-1 championship.

Facing the Premier Division champions, Granite FC, for the state crown eight days later, Windham dominated play from the outset with its aggressive style.

The locals created chance after chance in the opening half, with Courtney Walsh and Darion Summers nearly depositing the all-important first goal. Early in the second half, the team’s pressure paid off. Brianna Angelini forced Granite FC’s goalkeeper into making a save, and Summers pounced on the rebound and fired the ball home for a 1-0 lead.

Despite Granite FC’s attempts to knot the game, Grimes handled everything sent her way.

And Summers dashed FC’s hopes when she sent a low shot into the net from 18 yards out.

Windham native sets many records at Emmanuel College

Salem Editor — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:55:00 GMT

BY JERRY LIPTAK

Cathryn Lariviere of Windham, amidst a standout season for the women’s cross country team at Emmanuel College in Boston, has spent her senior year chasing down records most every time she laces up her running shoes.

A three-sport captain who also participates in indoor and outdoor track and field, Lariviere has broken several program records at Emmanuel and won three of six cross country meets this season.

The Salem High alumna’s accomplishments have garnered her numerous Great Northeast Athletic Conference awards. She has been voted the conference’s women’s cross country runner of the week six times, unprecedented for an Emmanuel College athlete.

“She’s had some ups and downs the first three cross country seasons due to injuries and other health issues,” said her head coach, Tony DaRocha, referring to Lariviere’s season-ending injury during her freshman year, as well as her struggles with asthma. “This was definitely a dream-come-true season for her. She worked hard over the summer and during the season, and the results were beyond what I had expected.”

Her success this season began when she outlasted 95 competitors to win the Massachusetts Maritime’s Travis Fuller Invitational on Sept. 13. Her time, 18 minutes, 52 seconds, set a new Emmanuel College women’s program record for the 5-kilometer distance, helping the Saints to a third-place team finish.

The 2005 SHS grad then finished 20th among 310 entrants at UMass-Dartmouth’s Shriners Invitational on Sept. 20, the best finish ever for an Emmanuel athlete at this meet.

After winning Gordon College’s Pop Crowell Invitational on Oct. 4 – breaking the course record by eight seconds and her own Emmanuel program record by 20 ticks in the process – Lariviere added another first to her collection.

On Nov. 1 at Saint Joseph’s College in Standish, Maine, she took the Great Northeast Athletic Conference championship, the only Saint to ever win GNACs. Her course-record time of 19:46, the only sub 20-minute time in the meet and the fourth-best time in conference meet history, easily outdistanced a field of 127 competitors, one of the largest in meet history. Not surprisingly, Lariviere was named the GNAC Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Year.

The soon-graduating student-athlete is, perhaps, even better with the books.

She has maintained a 4.0 grade-point average throughout her three-sport collegiate career, winning the Student-Athlete Academic Award all four years at Emmanuel.

“She is a hard-working young lady,” said DaRocha, “Always ready to help her teammates as well as her classmates.”

Turkey Trot is Windham tradition

Salem Editor — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:30:00 GMT

BY DARRELL HALEN

For Cayce Marks, participating in the Windham Turkey Trot is more than a fun way to burn off calories before enjoying her Thanksgiving meal. It’s a special opportunity to reunite with friends from Salem High School, which she left more than three years ago.

“It’s really cool because I see a lot of the people I graduated with,” said Marks, a 2005 graduate. “It’s nice to reconnect, even if it’s for a couple of hours.”

And she plans to attend this year’s trot, too, which will be held Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27. The event, which takes place at the 70 Blossom Road home of Louise and Claude Peltz, kicks off at 9 a.m.

The annual event draws participants of all ages and types – runners, roller bladers, walkers, stroller pushers and others – for its 3- and 5-mile courses. Donations benefit the Shepherd’s Pantry, which provides food to needy families.

Marks, 22, a senior at Springfield College in western Massachusetts, has participated for several years and hasn’t missed a trot since her high school graduation. She hasn’t been home much since her sophomore year so getting the chance to see friends from high school has been special.

“It’s nice to catch up on people’s lives, to see familiar faces I haven’t seen in a while,” said Marks.

The Turkey Trot was launched in 1995 as a fun way families could burn off a few calories before beginning their Thanksgiving feasting.

The first trot drew about 50 people, and attendance has grown over the years. Last year, 606 people turned out.

The Turkey Trot, which has collected more than $30,000 since its inception, is an unofficial race, but there are mile markers along the course. A kitchen clock on a step leader serves as the timer.

The first 400 participants to arrive this year will each receive a free T-shirt, thanks to the generosity of Rockingham Orthopaedic Associates.

Although the event typically draws a few competitive runners, only about a third of the participants choose to run. The event is held regardless of the weather conditions.

For Sarah Scire, a 2006 Salem High graduate, attending the Turkey Trot gives her the chance to see people she knew in school, including those she played soccer and tennis with and rode on the school bus with. And she likes seeing the parents of her high school friends.

Scire, a close friend of the Peltz’s daughter, Danielle, has been a faithful participant at the trots over the years. She used to help the Peltz family plan the event by putting promotional fliers on mailboxes and placing markers along the course.

No preregistration is required. E-mail WindhamTurkeyTrot@ gmail.com or call Louise Peltz at 437-4422 for details.

Windham sophomore a key part of D-III national champion

Salem Editor — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:51:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Jim Wood strolled down the third base line and right into the Trinity College history books.

The Windham native scored the game-winning run on a bases-loaded walk to help Trinity College’s baseball team to its first-ever Division III National Championship, capping a 45-1 year.

“It was incredible. Seeing that on third base, it was almost too perfect,” said Wood. “It was an unbelievable feeling to cross the plate and have the whole team jump on me.”

The championship capped off Wood’s sophomore year with the Bantams, and Trinity’s head coach, Bill Decker, said the outfielder came ready to play after graduating from Bishop Guertin High School.

“I think he’s got a blue-collar attitude and a blue-collar approach. He has a will to learn and a will to get better,” said Decker. “I’d play nine Jimmy Woods on the field if I had them. If you’re looking for dirt on him, I don’t have it.”

Wood’s coach only has one regret when it comes to having Jim Wood on his team.

“We wish we had his brother, too,” said Decker about Taylor Wood, who just completed his freshman year as a pitcher for Cornell. “They’re both tremendous athletes, and they’re good people.”

Wood came to the Trinity team during his freshman year and wanted to keep a low profile and let his play do the talking.

“When I got there I kept to myself and was quiet. It’s tough coming in as a freshman,” said Wood. “I came out of my shell. That’s the best thing about sports. It was a great spot for me to let my intensity come flying out. Sports is a way for me to open up.”

According to Decker, when the Bantams reached the tournament in 2007, he saw the normally subdued Wood blossom.

“Last year in the regionals, those freshmen grew up,” said Decker. “I saw a different side of him. This quiet, reserved kid became a monster in the dugout – in a good way.”

And it continued this year. Wood batted .356, fifth on the team, while starting all 46 games. He led the squad with 12 home runs and was second in runs batted in.

Wood said he learned a great deal from the upperclassmen on the team who embraced him, and he looks forward to being more of a role model as a junior.

“We had some great upperclassmen that taught me a lot. They were great mentors for me – the way they treated younger kids – and it helped a lot,” said Wood. “That’s what I look forward to doing.” Wood has learned to juggle his athletic pursuits with his studies at the demanding Hartford, Conn., college.

“It’s a challenging school, but I feel it’s benefited me a lot,” said Wood, an economics major. “I had opportunities for other schools where I maybe could have played Division I, but I made the perfect decision for me. It’s a challenging education, and I’m glad to have the balance that Trinity forces you to have.”