NHS Fall Sports Hoping for More Wins in 2016

When Norwood Athletic Director Jon Longley returns to work this fall, he’s probably going to hope that his coaches have figured out a way to improve upon last season’s win total. The Mustangs boasted nine teams last fall for a combined 33 wins, 91 losses and 6 ties. The field hockey team was the only fall sport at Norwood to post an above .500 record going 13-4-1; unfortunately they were upset in the first round of the Division 1 South Tournament to Canton 2-1.
Going into last year’s campaign, Doliner was unsure of what she was going to get from her athletes having lost a good number of seniors the year prior and found she had numerous holes to fill on the field. Finishing second behind Walpole in the Herger Division of the Bay State League one could say the coach filled those holes quite nicely as the squad took to heart the team’s motto “Earned Not Given”.
Coming back this fall will be senior Coley Hayes, who moved to center halfback last season and became the team’s defensive leader. Casey Macdonald (11 goals, 6 assists) and Bryn Garczynski (14 goals, 3 assists) each found themselves as the Mustang’s second best scorer each tallying 17 points. Other instrumental pieces returning this year will be sophomore Rose Campbell, the team’s left back who continually improved as the season went on and junior Janelle Kelleher, who split time in goal last fall with Beth Tobio. With Tobio moving onto college, Kelleher should be the team’s number one goaltender.
Both the boys (2-9) and girls (3-8) cross country teams improved upon their single win from the previous year. Coach Aimee Worcester was rather pleased with her team’s performances despite having such small numbers (11 girls and 22 boys) lining up at the starting line each week. Senior Fiona Jordan, who edged out Chelsea Colbert’s old course record by .02 by posting a time of 20.08, will be looked upon to continue her dominance on the track for the Mustangs. Senior Patrick Forest and junior Craig Riley will be looked upon to keep lowering their times on the boy’s squad.
After finally qualifying to participate in the State Tournament, golf Coach Jim Sweeney’s team took some giant steps backwards last fall going 0-12. However, this fall is a new season and with the new season comes a new challenge and the golf team would like to move forward and once again return to tournament status. Senior Michael Saad, who will be playing in his fourth season with Norwood, should be the man to carry this squad. Seniors Sean Briggs and Owen Kelly, as well as juniors Ryan Giffin and Declan Tolman, will once again be patrolling the greens for the Mustangs this fall; sophomores Michael Curley, Charlie Hanoian, John Cotter, Chris Martin and Matt Hennessey will all tee it up with a year of experience under their belt.
The swimming/diving team posted a 3-7 record in the pool last fall. Coach Jennifer Rodger is hoping that her numbers in terms of athletes continues to rise giving the team more flexibility. And although the squad only managed five wins, Rodger likes how the swimmers posted a good number of personal bests last fall.
Junior Gracie Gillis should be back to swimming at high levels in the 100 back stroke and the 200 freestyle. Other Norwood athletes looking to help the Mustangs move up the ranks are senior Brendan Hurley (100 breast stroke), sophomore Austin Reardon (50/100 freestyle), senior Elizabeth Wagner (100 freestyle) and senior diver Emerson Kearns.
The girls volleyball team had the second highest win total last fall for the Mustangs going 5-16 on the courts despite losing Amanda Springer, their best all around player. Looking to take the lead as seniors this season will be Ally Copponi (setter), Krista Bradley (middle hitter) and Meghan Reen, who all happen to also play basketball. Senior Shai Bigelow, who saw time last fall as a utility player is hoping to find a more stable role. In addition to the seniors, the team will also look to setter Erin Spalding, right side hitter Kaylan Reen, Christin Meimarides and junior Kiki Ryan, who really impressed Coach Paul Nimblett last year.
The Norwood Marching Band also had themselves a remarkable fall capturing first place in the New England Scholastic Band Association Championship.