Warriors drop 3-1 match against Burlington in Go Gold fundraiser at WMHS
MEMBERS OF the WMHS girls’ volleyball program took part in the Be Bold, Go Gold fundraiser last night at the Charbonneau Field House. All proceeds raised will go to help fund Childhood Cancer research. (Alissa Story Photo)
Published in the September 29, 2015 edition.
By JIM SOUTHMAYD
WAKEFIELD — There was a lot of energy and enthusiasm last night at the Charbonneau Field House for the Be Bold, Go Gold fundraiser. While the Warriors raised money for a good cause, Childhood Cancer research, the varsity girls’ volleyball team was unable to bring home a victory as it dropped a highly competitive 3-1 contest against Burlington.
Wakefield dropped the first game by a 25-18 score but rallied and won the second game, 25-22.
In the third set, the Warriors up an eight point lead at 11-3 and 12-4. But Wakefield was unable to sustain the momentum and the Red Devils stormed back to win the set, 26-24. In the fourth game, the Warriors fell behind by a 9-2 score and, despite coming back to make a game out of it, fell by a 25-16 tally to end the match.
Wakefield is 1-7 overall and 0-7 in the Middlesex League Freedom division as the Warriors continue to seek that elusive first M.L. victory. Wakefield also lost to Melrose by a 3-0 score last Thursday night at Melrose High School.
“I thought we were going to have this match,” said Coach Nicole Trudeau. “They didn’t have the desire to push through. We have to want it. The good news is we kept on fighting. We fought back in that final game. But we can’t spot a team 14 points. We’re trying to power through where she should have used more finesse.”
The Warriors received some fine play from juniors Emma Butler and Abbie Badgett. Both had some strong plays on the front line and with their serves.
“Emma and Abbie made clutch plays,” said Trudeau. “I started Blake Ronzio and she played a solid game. She played some smart volleyball. I could only use her for two games since she played with the JV. After that, I had Maggie Tryder in there and she played like she usually does.”
The Warriors hung tough in the first game and had some fine play. Wakefield held an early 4-3 lead and the score was tied at 2-2 and 4-4. But the Red Devils ran off five straight points to take a 9-4 lead. After that the visitors maintained that advantage throughout the set. Burlington wound up winning the set by seven points.
The second game went back and fourth with neither team leading by more than a couple of points in the early going. Some solid play by Butler helped keep the game close as both teams tried to gain an advantage. With the score tied at 22-22, Wakefield ran off three straight points to even the match at 1-1. Badgett had a block and two nice returns to lift the Warriors.
The third game is where the Warriors had a chance to turn the match in their favor. Badgett had a block, Butler had a nice return and junior Mackenzie Story had a nice return that was just inside the line as the Warriors opened up a 9-3 lead. A couple of errors by Burlington and Wakefield had a 12-4 lead.
But the Red Devils slowly chipped away at the lead and tied it up at 17-17. The two teams battled back and forth for the rest of the set. However with the score tied at 24-24, Hannak Miksenas served two balls that couldn’t be returned as Burlington took a 2-1 lead in the match.
Burlington ripped off the first point points in the fourth game to take a 4-0 lead. After Wakefield got a point, the Red Devils ripped off three more to put the Warriors in a big hole. An ace by Nikki Gass gave Burlington a 15-5 lead. Butler made some nice plays which helped cut into the lead a bit. But Burlington went on and took the game and the match.
“They have to come together,” said Trudeau. “We are getting closer. We are much, much better than we were last year and the year before that. We are on the edge of doing some great things. I’m not looking at wins and losses, although the everyone won tonight raising money for a good cause.
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. All money raised last night will go to the Ronan Thompson Foundation, in memory of RockStar Ronan, and all of those who are currently fighting pediatric cancer, the survivors and those who we have lost.
There were raffles for prizes last night. This charity is dear to Warriors Head Coach Trudeau. The Ronan Thompson Foundation has challenged people to Be Bold, Go Gold, which is what the Warriors were doing at the match last night.
Childhood Cancer research is consistently underfunded. There is over $5 billion in government money that is allocated to fund cancer research — yet less than 4 percent is dedicated to childhood cancer research each year. In the last 20 years, only two drugs have been FDA approved for children’s cancers, whereas 23 are approved in one year for adult cancers.
Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children under the age of 15 in the United States. The average age of diagnosis is six years old and one in five children diagnosed with cancer will die within five years.
Twelve percent of children diagnosed with cancer do not survive, 74 percent of childhood cancer survivors have chronic illnesses and up to 40 percent of “survivors” will eventually die from the treatments. Radiation to a child’s brain can significantly damage cognitive function or if radiation is given at a very young age, the damage can limit the ability to read, do basic math, tell time or even talk.
One hundred percent of the proceeds go to the foundation at theronanthompsonfoundation.com/about/ronan.
Wakefield raised close to $1,000 a year ago and hope to surpass last year’s total when the final tally is in.
The Warriors host Watertown tomorrow night at 5:15 p.m. at the Charbonneau Field House.
