The Class of 2019 ran their last race at Wheaton College as the Norton Lancers celebrated their seniors while competing against undefeated Dedham to near the end of their TVL schedule. Despite several athletes travelling from DECA on the Cape, the boys lost a closely contested meet, 40-46, while the girls ended Dedham's winning streak and remain the only undefeated team in the TVL Small School Division, beating the Marauders, 51-34.
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| Thank you so much Lancers Class of 2019! |
Boys (2-2)
As a class alone, the Senior Male Lancers combined for over a quarter of the varsity points scored on the evening, despite several athletes competing in unfamiliar events. None more could be said about captain Corey Stalters. With a focus on recovering his hip, Stalters was forced to miss his marquee hurdles event in order to give his body the time needed to heal so that he can perform at his best in February's Divisional Championships. Thus, Stalters took to the shot put to sharpen up his throws for the MIAA Pentathlon. Being his first opportunity to throw all season, Stalters wasted no time vaulting himself into the varsity five, despite throwing in the junior varsity heat. Stalters tied for fifth on the team with a throw of 30'-4.5".
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| Coach Gretchen, Corey and the rest of the Stalters Family |
A consistent presence in the throw bros top five, Jackson Weaver took a different approach towards his last Wheaton meet. In hopes to break out of his PR, Weaver did his best to orchestrate a spin approach in the circle to help that Lancers squeeze by Dedham. Several injuries heading into the meet made it difficult while his approach in the circle led to re-aggravation. Yet, his focus on trying to improve encouraged his teammates around him to shoot for distances, and barriers, that they have not yet broken themselves. Weaver's 30'-6.5" heave may have placed him third on the team but his determination to break through had an even deeper impact in convincing others around him to not stay complacent but to seek out self-improvement in their performances.
The last of the throw bros, but the first of the thrower/runner hybrids, is Nick Denham and his impeccable work ethic. The first one to ask to run farther, throw more often and lift more intensely, Denham doubled in his senior night, throwing the shot put and 1,000m run. While his throw (27'-9.5") was off his personal best, his running showed that his focus has shifted towards the oval. While chasing Dedham's number two runner in the 1,000m, Denham found himself with a large gap to overcome following 400 meters. He remained focused and slowly chipped away at the deficit, leaving him with only a 55m difference heading into the bell lap. Well-aware of his kick, Denham unleashed to demolish the third place runner, scoring the Lancers a crucial point, earning third in a near PR of 3:13.3.
From the experienced throwers, we moved to a first-year senior in Nick Chew. Though he competed in outdoor track, the varsity soccer star's first year of indoor track took place this winter, where he specialized in the sprints. Chew has been a dependable sprinter all winter long, just finding himself in fourth or fifth when top three score. Last night, Chew just missed out on scoring, placing second on the team in the 55m (7.53) and third on the team in the 300m (43.41).
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| Jackson Weaver and his mother |
The last of the throw bros, but the first of the thrower/runner hybrids, is Nick Denham and his impeccable work ethic. The first one to ask to run farther, throw more often and lift more intensely, Denham doubled in his senior night, throwing the shot put and 1,000m run. While his throw (27'-9.5") was off his personal best, his running showed that his focus has shifted towards the oval. While chasing Dedham's number two runner in the 1,000m, Denham found himself with a large gap to overcome following 400 meters. He remained focused and slowly chipped away at the deficit, leaving him with only a 55m difference heading into the bell lap. Well-aware of his kick, Denham unleashed to demolish the third place runner, scoring the Lancers a crucial point, earning third in a near PR of 3:13.3.
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| Nick Denham and his family |
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| Nick Chew and his parents |
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| Peter Rivard and his family |
A second season captain, DJ Nihill took full advantage of his senior night to breakthrough during his up-and-down senior season. Never one to leave a rep short or not push himself in the weight room, Nihill finally cracked through on Thursday, running in the shorter mid-distance race, Nihill used the pace of his teammates to burst through the 600m line in a new personal best of 1:29.4, completing a Lancer sweep in the event. His collected attitude brought an exciting three laps to the venue, leaving nearly everyone watching in complete awe of the performance of the trio.
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| DJ Nihill and his family |
Completing two thirds of the 600m sweep was Nihill's fellow teammate and captain Austin Carroll. Running in an unfamiliar race is not uncommon for Carroll, and racing down to hone in on his speed. With his eyes set for late post-season racing, Carroll's racing strategy was on display but in a three-lap race, there is little time to second guess a decision. And the trio made it an even shorter race to think twice, as Carroll sandwiched himself in between race winner Paul Wisnaskas (1:27.8) and Nihill, earning himself a shiny new PR, and just missing out on a state auto-qualifying time, by running 1:28.4 for second.
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| Austin Carroll (R) with brother-teammate, Ryan (L), and their parents |
The last of the Male Class of 2019 has been a determined presence for the Lancers distance team. James Wilson, fresh off a personal best in the 1600m in Rhode Island, was set to not have that be his last hurrah. Nearing the end of the season, Wilson made the most out of the atmosphere at Wheaton to leave his impression on the program. On pace halfway through the mile, a split at the front forced Wilson to give chase on the leaders. With two laps to go, he made a move that he refused to relinquish to score himself a personal best, crossing the line third in a personal best time of 5:20.1.
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| James Wilson (R), brother-teammate Elliot Wilson (L), and their mother and sister |
Remaining Lancer Results
Shot Put
2nd. Jameson Macnaught - 34'-7.25"
Alex Hamer-Moreno - 34'-0"
Ryan Carroll - 31'-5.5"
Aidan Morris - 30'-4.5"
Ben Litchfield - 29'-4.75"
Shawn Lestage - 27'-5.5"
Matt Kurland - 27'-2"
Cole Kiceleoms - 20'-6.5"
John Bamford - 17'-10.5"
Ryan Morabito - 17'-4.75"
High Jump
2. Paul Wisnaskas - 5'-10"
55m Hurdles
2. Paul Wisnaskas - 8.17
James Partridge - 9.99
55m Dash
Duncan Owens - 7.91
Alex Hamer-Moreno - 7.4h
Elliot Wilson - 7.6h
Shawn Lestage - 7.6h
James Partridge - 7.7h
Nick Lebel - 7.7h
Sean Deady - 7.8h
Adam Doyle - 8.2h
Cole Kiceleoms - 8.5h
Mile
1. Ethan Tetrault - 5:06.0
Derek Bamford - 5:24.2
Thomas Anderson - 6:04.5
600m
Charlie Mills - 1:37.2
300m
3. CJ Liebherr - 40.22
Duncan Owens - 43.99
Alex Hamer-Moreno - 43.9h
Shawn Lestage - 45.2h
Elliot Wilson - 47.0h
Adam Doyle - 48.4h
1,000m
1. Sean Wynne - 2:52.8
Ryan Carroll - 3:28.7
2 Mile
2. Ethan Tetrault - 11:32
4x400m Relay
2. Wynne, Mills, Nihill, A. Carroll - 3:49.3
Girls (4-0)
Grabbing a first place finish in all but two events, the girls led a dominant competition to ring their seniors out in style. One of the newest senior, unfortunately, was unable to compete on the evening due to a health emergency. Transfer Amanda Hamer-Moreno has been a consistent scorer and the Lancers second best thrower on the year. Though her points were missed in the meet, her presence was not as she supported the team, and her younger brother Alex, to a phenomenal showdown against Dedham. We are all truly grateful to have had Amanda, even if it was for just one winter season.
Though Amanda was unable to compete, the throws captain Carly Landry did her best to replace her presence. Her throw of 24'-7" placed her third on the team but her impact on the program reached beyond her furthest throw. Leading the team at every practice, helping organize the structure of the training plan and bringing a positive energy to the team has been a mainstay for Landry this season. She happily took up the responsibility that the coaching staff entrusted in her and provided a leader that will surely be missed next winter.
Continuing to makeup the senior leadership was hurdler/jumper Lily Holloway. Whether it was advising underclassmen on technique or sharing her experience to help display perspective, Holloway has always been an approachable captain for teammates, competitors and coaches. On the evening, she managed to jump 4'-2" in the high jump and placed third in the 55m hurdles (10.03) contributing to the Lancers 51 points scored on the evening. Her attitude and optimism to the sport is infectious and will sure to be replicated in years to come.
In the hurdles and short sprints, and frankly any race you can fit her into, captain Julia Newell was always ready to deliver to best serve the team. A strong self-motivator ready to take charge, Newell fit into her captain role smoothly this winter and the success quickly followed her. Already a state-qualifier in the long jump, her second place finish in the 55m hurdles (9.59) moved her even closer to a second state-qualifier as well. The big PR preceded a third place (8.00) finish in the 55m dash, coming on the heels of a busy day that had her travelling to and from Cape Cod for a DECA competition. Succeeding in the classroom and on the track, Newell will continue to great things when she heads out to college in the fall.
Not the only DECA competitor on the evening, Newell was joined by fellow captain Hannah Delea as one of the Lancers who made the busy day even busier by heading back to Norton to compete in the senior night festivities. Deciding to race for points, Delea found herself in a position to surpass her own expectations, running on pace in the mile to eventually run a season's best in the event, despite running on tired legs. Her 5:58.4 finish won the mile against Dedham, providing a big three points to the Lady Lancers. Though her mind may have a million thoughts processing at once, she stepped up and delivered when it was needed, like she has all season. And the coaching staff and rest of her team is incredibly appreciative for her strong will to achieve just that.
One of the more relaxed individuals on the team, captain Kirsten Loring makes it clear what her goals are and sets out to break them. No matter how close or how far she is from reaching them, they are never half-worked towards; her work ethic is parallel to few and it shows in her times. A big personal best in the 300m (44.84) not only won her the event but moved her incredibly close to an automatic state-qualifying time. And to make sure her evening wasn't done, she lead off the 4x400m relay (4:25.5) to a season's best time in securing the win against Dedham. Loring's season's is not over yet and neither are the fireworks that follow.
Finally, we reach seniors Hannah and Sarah Kubinski. Where one lacks the other carries the weight as the two have been incredibly reliant on the season in the mid-distance, distance and throwing events. The pair always expect the best out of each other while still underplaying their results to leave themselves hungry and unsatisfied. Yet, their contributions to the team are always felt and it will be near impossible to envision a team without one if not both of them. Last night, Hannah finished second on the team in the 600m (1:51.9) while helping the 4x400m B team (4:48.5) to a third place finish in their heat, while Sarah placed fourth on the team in the 1,000m (3:45.5) in a season's best time, along with a fourth place throw (20'-1") in the shot put.
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| Amanda, her teammate-brother Alex, and the rest of the Hamer-Moreno family |
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| Carly Landry with her family |
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| Lilly Holloway with her father |
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| Julia Newell and her family |
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| Hannah Delea and her mother |
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| Kirsten Loring and her mother |
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| Sarah (L) and Hannah (R) Kubinski with their parents |
Remaining Lancer Results
Shot Put
1. Michaela Whiteside - 30'-2.5"
Erica Ransom - 25'-7.75"
Carly Landry - 24'-7"
High Jump
Eve Rodriguez - 4'-2"
Casey Ball - 4'-2"
Lily Holloway - 4'-2"
55m Hurdles
Heather Kurland - 10.13
Krystal Macdonald - 11.16
Sam Carreiro - 12.03
55m Dash
1. Eve Rodriguez - 7.90
Carly Murphy - 8.27
Caitlin Whiteside - 8.0h
Krystal Macdonald - 8.3h
Julianne Lebel - 8.3h
Kaitlin Russell - 8.5h
Caroline Turcotte - 8.6h
Madeline Dolack - 8.6h
Emmale Schepis - 8.7h
Sam Carreiro - 9.0h
Sarah Wood - 9.3h
Julia Perkins - 9.5h
Elizabeth Waddington - 10.1h
Mile
2. Lauren Anderson - 6:37.7
Hope LeClaire - 7:00.6
600m
1. Kylie Dion - 1:49.6
Carly Murphy - 1:57.9
Jocelyn Nardone - 2:08.7
300m
2. Eve Rodriguez - 46.06
3. Lindsey Bingel - 47.20
Ashley Schepis - 49.04
Caitlin Whiteside - 49.0h
Kaitlin Russell - 50.55
Julianne Lebel - 52.0h
Emmale Schepis - 52.47
1,000m
1. Isabella Pietrasiewicz - 3:10.7
3. Destiny McGrath - 3:39.2
Ashley Johnson - 4:00.3
Jordan Robbins - 4:07.9
2 Mile
1. Skye Goba - 13:17
4x400m Relay
1. Loring, Dion, Kurland, Pietrasiewicz - 4:25.5
3. A. Schepis, H. Kubinski, Nardone, MacGrath - 4:48.5
Up Next: The Lancers enter into the transition between the regular and post-season as they prepare to compete at the East Coast Invitational and Division 4 State Relays this upcoming weekend. The last regular season meet will be on January 27th at Hopkinton HS against Bellingham.
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