Both Warrior XC teams are M.L. Freedom Division Champs
Published in the October 29, 2018 edition.
WAKEFIELD — It’s a common phrase around the Wakefield cross country program.
Whether it’s head coach Karen Barrett talking about
the girls’ team or head coach Perry Pappas talking about the boys’ team, both agree: a pack mentality can get you pretty far.
That’s usually in reference to a racing strategy focused on sticking together and using your depth to win. But on Tuesday in Stoneham, the pack mentality was also about a shared goal between both teams to help them accomplish another common phrase in the Warrior cross country program: Middlesex League Freedom Division Champs.
The girls and boys both flew past the Spartans to gain their Freedom crowns.
For the girls, it was a return to the top after missing the championship last year. That snapped a six-year winning streak and motivated the Warriors in their offseason training.
For the boys, it is their third straight Freedom Division title as they ran to a perfect 6-0 record this season.
Girls
win
25-32
Head coach Karen Barrett sent her top five runners to Stoneham’s course on Friday, Oct. 19 to run it for practice.
“It is a tough course to navigate and I wanted to make sure nobody got lost,” said Barrett.
Barrett and the Warriors felt very confident going into the matchup on a four-meet winning streak and a perfect record against Freedom Division foes, but an injury to Audrey Schopperle, Wakefield’s number two runner, created a tough challenge.
“This was very concerning for me, because there is usually a big gap between our 5th and 6th runner,” said Barrett. “My girls had to really step up and they did.”
The first to step up for Wakefield? Captain Olivia Lucey, who took home first place overall.
“Olivia Lucey ran the best race I have ever seen her run,” said Barrett. “She has matured so much as a runner.”
Lucey was neck-and-neck with Stoneham’s standout, number-one runner, Angela Mackenzie with 800 meters to go. Lucey broke away down the home stretch and clocked in at 18:33 to win the meet.
“I am beyond proud of how fantastic she finished that race,” said Barrett.
Mackenzie was second with an 18:47.
Next to step up for Wakefield? The wolf pack: captain Isabella Kehoe, captain Retta Carroll and Shannon Driscoll.
“This was their best performance of the season,” said Barrett. “The three of them were mentally tough and focused on the day we needed them most.”
The three finished 3rd, 4th and 5th with times of 19:40, 19:44 and 19:55.
Stoneham took the next seven spots, which was where the Warriors really missed Schopperle and Grace Butler.
Freshman Saoirse Clancy was the 5th Wakefield runner.
“She ran a great race,” said Barrett of Clancy.
Nicole Lima and freshman Elizabeth Stevens also ran great races and finished it for Wakefield.
“The team really came together and gave it everything they had to get the big win,” said Barrett. “It was great to see all their hard work pay off. They have put forth tremendous effort with great attitudes this season.”
The Warriors used the rest of last week to train for the League Championship Meet which will take place today.
Boys
win
20-39
The boys’ team were convincing winners over Stoneham on Tuesday when they won with a score of 20-39 over the Spartans. The win solidified their league championship title in the Freedom Division of the Middlesex League.
The Warriors rolled through the season with an undefeated record over the small schools of the Middlesex League.
Facing Stoneham after a tough stretch with many races and grueling workouts, the Warriors chose not to challenge Stoneham’s top athlete, Eoin Dooley, who went on to break the course record of 14:55 on the 2.8 mile course.
Although Rohan Singhvi and Matt Roberto have run equivalent times as Dooley on other courses this season, they settled back to run with their teammates in preparation for the postseason.
Casey Brackett placed 2nd in a time of 16:13, Singhvi was 3rd in 16:14, Roberto was 4th in 16:15, Billy Stevens was 5th in 16:21 and Tanner Jellison was 6th in a 16:22.
Derryn Langlois placed 9th in a time of 16:54. Jonathan D’Ambrosio was 10th in 16:56, Jimmy Crump was 11th in 17:03, Brendan Vacca was 12th in 17:04 and Trevor Zupan was 13th in 17:05.
Mike Roberto (17:12), Alex Skeldon (17:19), Ajay Haridasse (17:25), Jack Callahan (17:30) Zack Jellison (17:38), Cory Sample (17:42), Andrew Roos (18:00), Colin Rudy (18:05), Aaron Canestaro (18:11), James Christie (18:56), Thomas Harrington (18:58), Sean Russell (19:00), Alex Petrov (19:06), Dylan Fahey (19:11), David Schurter (19:59), Jack Tomsyck (19:59), Dan King (20:31), Noah Brennan (21:29), Andrew Rosenberg (21:36) and Lucas Smith (22:09) all ran well to help secure the league title for the Warriors.
Now the Warriors will look to defend their title at the Middlesex League 12 Championships which will include talented squads like Lexington, the 3rd-ranked team in Massachusetts, as well as the other large and small schools of the Middlesex League.
