COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, December 25, 2020 • 15
COMMUNITY | Sports Northborough resident to play Division 1 football at University of Michigan By Dakota Antelman Contributing Writer
PHOTO/DAKOTA ANTELMAN
WESTBOROUGH/NORTHBOROUGH - Northborough’s Greg Crippen capped a winding road to football fame, Dec. 16, by signing his national letter of intent to play Division 1 football at the University of Michigan. Decked in Wolverines apparel inside the Exceed Performance gym in Westborough, Crippen said the magnitude of his accomplishment had not been lost. He had just overcome a set of geographic barriers that often keep other Massachusetts athletes off the NCAA gridiron. “In Massachusetts, football just isn’t as big,” he explained in an interview shortly before his actual signing. “The following of people isn’t as big. That plays a
(l to r) Greg Crippen signs his letter of intent to play football at the University of Michigan as his parents Sue and Tom, and sister Karoline, look on.
role in why Massachusetts isn’t looked at as one of the bigger states in the football world.” Soft spoken but always built broad, Crippen played youth
football in Northborough primarily as a quarterback. He switched out of public schools for his freshman year of high school, though, leaving town
sponsored sports, in kind, and seeking more regional attention by playing on the prestigious Milton Academy team. That boosted Crippen’s status further, attracting the attention of college coaches and helping Crippen secure, in the short term, a transfer to IMG Academy in Florida. IMG is known for its football success, which helped even further elevate Crippen as a sophomore in high school. “There are athletes up here,” Crippen said of the football talent pool in Massachusetts and, conversely, his rationale for moving south. “There are talented people, for sure. But it’s harder if you stay here.” Now headed to Michigan, the region’s latest sports star brings with him a cell phone full of contact info for A-list coaches
Marlborough School Committee approves winter sports guidelines and schedules By Vicki Greene Contributing Writer MARLBOROUGH - Student athletes, coaches, and administrators have been on a roller coaster this school year as they have been waiting to see if there will be a winter sports season. Following a detailed presentation from District Athletic Director Jeff Rudzinsky, the Marlborough School Committee approved final recommendations, guidelines, and schedules at its Dec. 8 meeting. Boys and girls basketball, boys and girls hockey, gymnastics, swim, and dive teams will be held. However, indoor track is scheduled to move to a fall II season (estimated to be any time between February and April) and wrestling, considered “high risk,” is being moved to spring. Middle School athletics will not be offered for the winter season following discussions and recommendations from MidWach League athletic directors and school principals. They will reassess the spring season in the coming months. Rudzinsky explained that Central Mass. schools have decided to continue to divide schools into pods based on “geography, league, and competitive balance.” Teams will only play within their pod, and
teams will not participate in non-league games or scrimmages during the winter season. In addition, teams will play a shortened season of 10-14 games. In his presentation, Rudzinsky explained that the high school will continue to provide busing to games as long as the transportation company can accommodate schedules. However, all teams will travel separately, wear masks, and there will be assigned seats, which means JV1, JV2, and varsity teams will not be on the same bus going to events. Families will need to provide transportation to and from all practices and to games/meets if a bus is not available. Students and coaches will answer daily COVID-19 screening questions as was done in the fall. Because spectators are not allowed at any of the sporting events, Rudzinsky said Marlborough “home” contests will be livestreamed on WMCT-TV or online. Discussions are being held as to what to do if a game is being played in another community in the pod. Each sport has a series of specific safety protocols and
guidelines included in a 16-page document that covered many details such as roster numbers and tryouts, frequency, and length of practices and game day management. With the “main focus continuing to be on the health and safety of all student athletes,” Rudzinsky emphasized that, “social and emotional health are also important.” The administrators are also planning to come up with a plan for Senior Day recognition. Swim teams will have their meets at their individual pools, and times/records will be submitted by each coach. Basketball has an extensive set of safety guidelines that Rudzinsky was asked about during the meeting. The protocols included six feet distance between bench seats, assigned player seats, assigned and marked spots for each athlete’s gear, no jump balls, limited number of players for fouls shots, and “quick whistles” from referees if there’s too much congestion under the basket. He noted that Marlborough is fortunate to have a large field house and that he plans to have the doors opened and
monitored for air circulation. There will be no half-time but rather two and a-half minutes between quarters for water and mask breaks. The winter season runs from Monday, Dec. 14 through Sunday, Feb. 21; the earliest date for competitions is Friday, Jan. 8. Pre-season will run Monday, Dec. 14 to Thursday, Dec. 24. There will be a “grace period” from Dec. 24 to Sunday, Jan. 3 where limited practices can occur if decided upon by coaches. Practices are set to resume Monday, Jan. 4. All guidelines are subject to modifications if health or safety conditions warrant.
around the country. As early as that freshman season at Milton Academy, Crippen was attracting attention from recruiters. That summer, he was then meeting with famed Wolverine coach Jim Harbaugh as Harbaugh offered a full ride football scholarship. Crippen didn’t commit that day. In fact, he initially even accepted an offer to play at the University of Notre Dame upon his high school graduation. Two years and a sudden decommitment from Notre Dame later, though, Crippen is back in Harbaugh’s circle, now as a player on his team. “I really trust him...,” Crippen said of Harbaugh and the Wolverine program in general. “They’re really committed to me as much as I’m committed to them. It feels really genuine.” The feeling is mutual. Speaking with Yahoo Sports this month, Harbaugh lauded Crippen for his strength and high school success. “He’s very smart,” Harbaugh said. “He’s going to be a center most likely and directing the run game, directing protections. He’s very capable of doing that and he has been doing it at a high level in high school.” His letter of intent signed, Crippen will now head to Ann Arbor in January for a head start on training prior to his first full season with the Wolverines next fall. “It’s another step in my life towards being as successful as I can.” he said. “I want to make sure I represent Massachusetts well from now on.”
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