Above: Gonk Girls Indoor Track made history by beating out Wachusett to become this year’s Central MA Champions. (photo cropped from tweet by @ARHSAthletics)
The biggest news in Algonquin sports this week, was out of the Indoor Track Central Mass District Championship. Algonquin Girls made school history on Saturday by winning the Division 1 title. The telegram covered the triumph over longtime winners Wachusett:
Although the Wachusett girls’ indoor track team has had a stranglehold on the Central Mass. Division 1 Championships since 1994, Algonquin’s first year coach Patrick Galvin was 100% sure his team could pull out a victory.
He was right.
The Tomahawks, led by individual first place performances by juniors Day Ruffo and Anna Long, and meet clinching victories in the 800 and 3,200 relays, scored 106 points to claim their first crown at Fitchburg High’s Doug Grutchfield Field House on Saturday.
The Girls and the Boys teams are scheduled to compete in their state tournaments this week.
Runners weren’t the only title winners over the weekend. The school’s star diver, Lizzie Meschisen was the repeat 1 meter diving champion at the Central-West Sectionals. The ARHS Athletic department tweeted the news along with the team results. Girls Swim & Dive came in 11th as a team and the Boys placed 14th.
Meschisen was nominated for MWDN’s athlete of the week. The Harbinger encouraged followers to vote:
Algonquin Varsity Swim & Dive Team diver, Lizzie Meschisen has been nominated for the MetroWest Daily News Athlete of the Week. Please take a moment, read about each of the athletes and vote. You may vote once each day until February 10th. https://t.co/oGloPJSN2f
— The Harbinger (@ARHSHarby) February 7, 2020
Also entering the post-season fray is Gonk Wrestling. The team lost to Marlborough 42-36 last week. This Saturday, varsity wrestlers head to sectionals.
T-Hawks Girls Hockey has qualified for the playoffs. The team has a 9-3-3- record following one loss and two wins last week. Boys Hockey is still trying to earn its spot. The team is currently 6-8-2 following two wins last week.
ARHS Gymnastics racked up three more wins last week. Following a win over Groton-Dunstable last Tuesday the team outscored both MADS (Medfield, Ashland, Medfield, and Dover-Sherborn High team) and Marlborough High on Saturday. The team will host its league meet this Saturday.
Boys Basketball scored another loss and win. According to the Telegram, Friday’s win was the 100th career win for varsity coach Brian Doherty.
In the school’s one outdoor winter sport, Wicked Local writes that the ARHS Girls Ski team remains undefeated. The story highlights one family’s significant role:
Following Thursday’s race at Ski Ward, the Algonquin girls ski team was tops in the league at 24-0 and a trio of sisters are a big reason why.
The Utzschneider sisters, senior Rudy, sophomore Mina and freshman Jula are all racing together as they are helping the Tomahawks go undefeated with just one more week to go in the regular season.
You can also check out Jeff Slovin’s pics from the race:
The Algonquin Ski team @THawksSki in action last night at @SkiWardMA. Photos: https://t.co/GJOQZ5Ml65 pic.twitter.com/5wGrLNOfoF
— Jeff Slovin Photo (@JeffSlovinPhoto) February 7, 2020
In other outdoor sports, Algonquin Football made headlines this week for another coaching change. Wicked Local wrote:
Algonquin Regional High school has named a new head football coach for the third time in five years. This time, however, not only will a familiar face be wearing the head set, the surname will not change.
Mark Allen accepted the job on Thursday to replace his younger brother, Taylor, who stepped down in December to move to Ohio with his family.
Mark spent eight seasons as the Tomahawks’ defensive coordinator and hopes to continue growing a program that put up consecutive 2-9 seasons before concluding last season’s 5-6 campaign with a 24-7 Thanksgiving Day victory over Westborough, Mark Allen’s alma mater.
Now, here are the ARHS varsity games on tap for the week.
(To find a complete schedule of Algonquin sports, including JV, freshmen, and unified match ups, click here. Follow these links for the Assabet sports schedule and the St. Mark’s sports schedule.)
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
- 5:30 pm – ARHS Girls Basketball vs. Westborough High School @ Westborough High School
- 7:00 pm – ARHS Boys Basketball vs. Westborough High School @ Westborough High School
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
- 6:00 pm – ARHS Girls Ice Hockey vs. Leominster @ Lawrence Academy
- 8:00 pm – ARHS Boys Ice Hockey vs. Westborough High School @ North Star Ice Sports, Westborough
Thursday, February 13, 2020
- 4:30 pm – ARHS Girls Indoor Track State Class B Championships @ Reggie Lewis Track Center
- 4:30 pm – ARHS Boys Indoor Track State Class B Championships @ Reggie Lewis Track Center
- 7:00 pm – ARHS Girls Alpine Ski Race @ Ski Ward Ski Area
- 7:00 pm – ARHS Boys Alpine Ski Race @ Ski Ward Ski Area (Additional GS, Fun Race or Make up Race)
Friday, February 14, 2020
- 7:00 pm – ARHS Boys Basketball vs. St. John’s @ Algonquin
Saturday, February 15, 2020
- 8:30am ARHS Wrestling Sectionals @ Marlborough High School
- 9:00am ARHS Gymnastics League Meet @ Algonquin
- 5:20 pm – ARHS Girls Ice Hockey vs. Longmeadow @ Olympia Ice Center West Springfield MA
- 6:00 pm – ARHS Boys Ice Hockey vs. West Springfield @ North Star Ice Sports, Westborough
Sunday, February 16, 2020
- TBD – ARHS Girls Basketball Tournament vs. Westborough High School @ Westborough High School
Have a photo of your favorite team in action to share? Email mysouthborough@gmail.com.
