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WEATHER TONIGHT Mainly clear. Low of 16.
VOL. 82 NO. 302
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2013
SPORTS
“If
winning isn’t everything, why do they keep score?” Vince Lombardi
75 cents
Year in Review
By CHRIS PUTZ Staff Writer The Year 2013 was one to remember, both locally and for fans of our celebrated national sports teams. In January, with champagne toasts fresh on everyone’s minds, the Patriots entered the playoffs, but it was the Ravens who actually bathed in champagne showers amidst Ray Lewis walking off into retirement with the Lombardi trophy. While the Dolphins were nowhere near the playoff waters, it was a whale of a storm, or rather Winter Storm Nemo, which wreaked havoc across New England in early February. The Western Massachusetts conference swim championships were on and off and on again. Thanks to a strong push by the unbeaten Westfield High Bombers (boys and girls), and some dedicated parents, the sectionals were saved and held – in front of athletes and coaches only – at two different venues for the first time. The girls’ team went on to record its highest-ever state championship finish later in the month, placing third at the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association’s winter swimming and diving championships at Springfield College’s Linkletter Natatorium. Westfield’s 200-yard medley relay team (Kelsey Johnstone, Erin Lewis, Genna Senecal, Jordan Jacobson) had the program’s highest finish of the day (second/1:53.48) and Bombers’ junior Hope Walsh set a new school record in the 500 freestyle (5:12.45). Westfield senior male runners Tim Dostie and Blake Croteau, and junior girl Ally Morin continued to dominate the running circuit. Croteau and Dostie finished 1-2 in the mile and 2-mile runs, and Morin won both events at the Pioneer Valley Interscholastic Athletic Conference championships at Smith College in Northampton. St. Mary’s Justin Crosby, right, takes a fadeaway jumper with Croteau later captured gold at the state championships at Northeastern University’s Reggie Lewis WHS senior Blake Croteau participates in an indoor track event at a hand in his face. Crosby, a Westfield High transfer, helped Center in Boston in the 2-mile event, completing Smith College in Northampton. Croteau dominated the high school fuel the Saints’ fantastic regular season run during winter 2012-13. (Photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore) scene when it came to running in 2013. (Photo by Frederick Gore) the race in 9:21.00. Senior guard Justin Crosby The month of March helped fuel the St. Mary High came in like a lion as the School boys’ basketball team’s Westfield Bombers roared rise on the court – in terms of to a 3-0 lead 13 minutes, 24 Westfield’s Jenna Rothermel digs wins and popularity. Crosby seconds into the Western deep into the turn during her run and Matt Plasse, both Westfield Massachusetts Division III in the High School transfers, helped Pio nee r Val ley championship en route to a Int ers cho last ic lead the Saints to a spectacular Ath leti c 7-0 victory. Sean Spohr (3 Con fere nce Individual champi15-5 record. goals, assist) and Adam onships last February at Berkshire Much of the success of the Collier (goal, 3 assists) East in Charlemont. (Photo by chief St. Mary Saints could also be scored four points apiece to phot ogra pher attributed to the addition of Frederick Gore) net the Bombers yet anothformer successful Southwicker in a long line of sectional Tolland Regional head coach titles (7) under long-time Joe Molta to lead its staff. head coach C.B. “Moose” Crosby (24 points) and Plasse Matthews. (23) combined for 47 points in Westfield skated out to a the team’s opening round tour5-0 lead in the semifinals nament game, but the 12thagainst Wachusett before seeded Saints fell to No. 5 New securing a 6-4 victory. Leadership, 76-61, in Spohr tallied the game’s Springfield. first two goals. It was on to the finals for the Bombers… Westfield captured its third state championship in 11 years and first since 2008, defeating Swampscott 4-1 in the state finals at the home of the Bruins. For Westfield, it was its fourth straight championship appearance in seven seasons, and sixth in nearly a two-decade span (under Matthews). Adam Collier and Sean Spohr had a hand in three of the team’s four goals, and goalie Nick Liberto preserved the victory. The month came to a close with the first running of the Run Westfield 5k Flat Fast Road Race through the city’s downtown area. The event was a success with a walk held to benefit Jose Torres, a local officer killed in the line of duty. April rolled out the annual Little League Parade in the Whip City, where every youth baseball game is akin to a Yankees-Red Sox matchup. In May, Westfield State University claimed runnerup for the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Howard C. Smith Cup, awarded annually to the member institution which compiles the most points based on the placement of each of its cott 4-1 in the title game at the TD mps Swa g atin defe r afte hip ons mpi ision III cha See SPORTS, Page 3 team celebrates a 2012-13 state Div The Westfield High School hockey ) Gore erick Fred by to (Pho Garden in Boston.
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