The Holliston High girls track team ended two streaks last year when it edged Hopkinton for the Tri Valley League championship at the conference meet.
Coach Jenn Moreau’s squad became the first team in 17 years to stop Hopkinton’s dominance in the TVL, and the triumph was the Panthers’ first league crown in 20 years. The league meet is right around the corner and Moreau, and her forces would like nothing more than to win back-to-back titles, then prepare for both the state and all-state meets.
So far, leading up to the TVL meet, Holliston had a 5-1 record in dual competition, giving Panther fans a sense of optimism for post-season events.
“We’ve got the potential to repeat as TVL champs, but everyone will have to give maximum effort,’’ Moreau emphasized. “We’ll need 100 percent in all areas. Hopkinton is always a challenge. They’ve got depth, their strong,and they’re competitive.’’
Holliston’s dual-meet success this season has blossomed because of a variety of strengths. Moreau, a high school all-star middle-distance runner who earned a full scholarship to run at Syracuse, likes her squad’s assets. “Our work ethic is solid, and we’ve got a good blend of youth and experience. Our depth could be better, but we’ve got sprinters with speed and our middle distance runners have good endurance. Team chemistry is also a plus.’’
Holliston’s senior captains are an excellent example of the Panthers’ spirit and chemistry. Emma Guccione runs the 100, 200 and 4x100 relay; Alexis Mejia competes in the 400, 800 and mile; and Kelly Alves throws the shot and discus. Guccione’s best times are 12.6 in the 100, 26.4 in the 200 and 1:00.1 in the 400. Mejia’s best in the 400 is 1:01.5 and Alves’ personal bests are 39-4 in the shot put and 111-2 in the discus.
“The captains are strong leaders who are reliable and motivated,’’ Moreau said. “They lead by example and by being vocal. “They’re very supportive of our younger kids. Emma is fast, and very competitive. She wants to win. Alexis is aggressive, smart in her approach and has good endurance. Kelly excels in the shot and discus. She was No. 1 in the league during the indoor season.’’
Besides Guccione, two freshmen — Sidney Brucato and Gwen Freely — have given Holliston superb efforts in the sprints. Brucato’s best effort in the 200 is 28.3 and Freely’s 1:01.7 in the 400 is her individual best. “They’re hard-workers who are dedicated,’’ Moreau said. “Both are top scorers, they’re aggressive in their approach and they’re fast.’’
Joining Mejia in the middle-distance events is senior Helen Dolan, whose best time in the 800 is 2:29.81. “Helen has a great work ethic and she’s strived to overcome shin splints,’’ Moreau noted. “A solid runner who also competes in the 4x400 relay, she continues to persevere.’’
Freshman Riley Marsden has shown lots of potential in the hurdles. Her bests are 17.04 in the 100 and 1:13.2 in the 400. “Riley is dedicated, hard-working and coachable,’’ said Moreau. “She’s very receptive to feedback.’’
Two excellent performers in the weight events are freshman Isabella Bergloff and senior Amelia Porter. Bergloff teams with Alves to give the Panthers lots of power in the shot and discus, and Porter is dominant in the javelin. Bergloff’s best efforts are 31-5 in the shot put and 114 feet in the discus. Porter’s best in the javelin is 101-10. “Isabella is strong, has an awesome work ethic, and her technique is solid,’’ Moreau said. “Amelia has tremendous arm strength and excellent speed in her approach.’’
Holliston has three dependable competitors in the jumping events. They include junior Caroline Ward and sophomores Rebecca Stevens and Brooke Geoffroy. The trio usually provides the Panthers with a 1-2-3 finish in the high jump, and they also score points in the long jump and triple jump. Ward’s best are a school record of 36-7¼ in the triple jump, 16-6 in the long jump and 5-1 in the high jump. Geoffroy’s best high jump is 5-3½, which broke the freshman/sophomore record this season, and Stevens’ best high jump is 5-3.
“Caroline makes it look easy,’’ Moreau said. “She’s got a long stride and a good approach. Her timing is also a plus. Rebecca and Brooke have high jumped 5-3 and 5-2, respectively, indoors. They’re explosive, their approach is good, and so is their form.’’
Now in her sixth year as Holliston’s girls indoor and outdoor coach, Moreau has the same length of time on the faculty, as a health and wellness instructor. When she ran at Mount Ararat High in Topsham, Me., she was honored as the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year. A middle-distance runner, she set the state record for the mile.
Now, in her role as a track coach, she focuses on developing her athletes’ skills and techniques. She also maintains a dignified coaching philosophy. “I stress competing hard,’’ she said. “I also want the girls to enjoy their varsity experience. If they’re working hard and enjoy competing, then they’ll reach their potential, they’ll experience winning and also learn some excellent life lessons.’’
Track is a sport that focuses on both individual effort and team success. And, Moreau is acutely aware that the sport she coaches is attractive because of that dual nature. “You can win as an individual and also collectively,’’ Moreau said. “An individual scores points, and that effort helps the team, too.’’
And, excelling in that dual capacity is exactly what Holliston hopes to achieve at the TVL meet and at the state and all-state competitions.
Issue Date:
June, 2017
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