THE NRHS golf team celebrated one of the best seasons in program history recently at their annual banquet. (File Photo)

 

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

NORTH READING — Two members of the North Reading High golf team were named to the Cape Ann League All-Star team. Those two members were senior captain Isabel Brozena and sophomore Leo Romanski.

Brozena made the CAL First-Team All-Stars for the third year in a row (there was no all-star team her freshman year due to Covid).

She led the team averaging 32 points per match (Stableford Scoring) playing out of the number one slot.

“She was even better than last year,” stated Hornets head coach Brian McAuliffe. “She broke 30 points in every match except for one.”

Brozena will be playing Division 1 college golf next year at Xavier University in Cincinnati.

Romanski made the CAL Second -Team All-Stars as he made his first-ever all-star roster.

“He emerged as our number two golfer,” said McAuliffe. “Leo and Jason (Curran) are good friends who push each other for that second slot and that is a good thing.”

Romanski averaged 27 points per match this fall.

“He has really dedicated himself to golf this year,” said MaAuliffe. “He has stepped his game up and he can be a special player for us the next two years.”

North Reading had a strong year this season as they finished at 11-3 overall and 9-2 in the Cape Ann League. They placed third in the CAL Kinney Division behind Lynnfield and Newburyport.

They then finished third in the Division 3 North Sectionals at Stow Acres and placed 10th in the Div. 3 state final at  Sterling National Country Club on Oct. 30.

It was the school’s first state finals appearance in over 20 years.

McAuliffe gave out four awards on Tuesday night at the team’s awards night.

Brozena, was named the team’s MVP for the fourth-consecutive year.

“She is the best golfer I have ever coached,” stated McAulife, who just completed his 14th-year at the helm. “She is a first-ballot (North Reading High) Hall of Famer.”

The Unsung Her Award went to Romanski.

“He really put a lot of work in during the off-season,” said McAuliffe.

The Coaches Award went to senior co-captain, Andrew Mountain.

“He was a quiet leader who was positive and very professional,” said McAuliffe, as Mountain was a four-year varsity player.

The Most Improved Player Award went to sophomore Conrad Gerber who played in 10 matches this season.

“He was an unknown who played football last year,” pointed out McAuliffe. “He changed his swing speed and really improved a lot. He also brought a lot of energy to the team.”

Along with losing Brozena and Mountain, they will also lose Luke Baker, Nolan DeGregorio and Alex DeWolfe.

“They were a lot of fun to be around,” said McAuliffe, about the senior class. “Losing Isabel is going to be very tough.”

The good news is that six starters will be returning next fall and seven other veterans will be back.

“We have strong depth and a lot of good experience coming back,” said McAuliffe, who is also the school’s boys’ hockey coach.