Lost season didn’t stop seniors
Class of 2020 still has plenty to reflect on
With a handful of scholarship-level girls track and field athletes, the senior class in the region sure had a lot riding on this outdoor season.
Despite coronavirus ending any chance of putting the finishing touches on some stellar careers, the Class of 2020 still has much success to reflect on.
The following is a special tribute to the senior class, with a Sentinel and Enterprise Class of 2020 All-Star team, composed of the top individual performances by event, registered at the last three state qualifier meets and AllState championship, by this year’s seniors.
When North Middlesex senior Martina Nkwantah arrived on-campus, there was little doubt where she could take her track career. As the top senior in the shot put (35- 09.50), javelin (118-11), and even the 100meters (13.4) the highly touted thrower will be attending a Division 1 UMass Lowell.
“(Nkwantah) would score points in every single meet, in every single event she did,” North Middlesex head coach John Caouette said. “With her shot put, she threw over 37 in indoors, and I’m telling you she would’ve been over 40.”
Morgan Nesbit also helped to lead the resurgence of the Patriot program, and boasts the best mile time (5:28.74) and 2mile time (12:04.29). She had the ability to run any race.
“Anything we needed (Nesbit) to do, she could do it,” Caouette said.
Fitchburg’s Wonuola Ashaju exemplifies the best of being a studentathlete. Not only did Ashaju post the best regional triple jump mark last year at 37- 08, but as a freshman posted the top 200-meter dash (28.17). She was also part of the school-record-holding 4x100-meter relay.
But there are two parts to the student-athlete moniker, and she shines just as much in the classroom as she was in the top five of her graduating class. Ashaju will be competing for Division 1 UMass Lowell next winter.
“(Ashaju) broke the school record in the triple jump as a sophomore,” Fitchburg head coach Sara Lamey said. “She’s a scholar and an athlete, and one of the hardest workers I’ve ever coached, that applies herself to whatever she does.”
Laura McBride has been a star at Oakmont since her arrival, and her 1:06.97 two years ago at divisional’s was the best 400-meter hurdle time. She holds the school record in the event, and will compete for Division 2 Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University.
“My memory with (McBride) is going to be kicking her off the track,” Oakmont Regional head coach John Margarita said. “She’s staying late working on hurdles, and she’s a real competitor, and tough kid. We felt that she could be going to New England’s this year, but she has a great future ahead of her.”
Spartan Nicolette D’Amico, who jumped a region’s best 5-2 in the high jump two years ago, tied the school record in the event. D’Amico is a multi-sport athlete in soccer, basketball, and track, and she also contributed in the 100 and 400 hur
dles.
Oakmont’s Kiley Young posted the region’s best 800 time (2:35.72) in the last three state qualifier meets, but was aiming to really cement herself as one of the premier javelin throws in the divisional’s, had this past season occurred. Young will compete at Keene State on the swimming team in college.
Lunenburg’s Amber Green has that highly sought skill set in track, with the ability to do just about anything. Green clocked a 16.27 in the 100-meter hurdles as the region’s best mark, and two years ago at the state qualifier long jumped 16- 06, which is another regional best. She’s also cleared 5-feet in the high jump and 28-feet in the shot put, and not surprisingly was a formidable pentathlete.
“Those multi-event kids are a dime a dozen,” Lunenburg head coach Steve Kyajohnian said. “If you can get a pentathlete, and you can get them young to do those five events, they’re going to help carry your program and put you in a spot where you don’t have to worry
about those events for a couple of years, and they serve as role models and the kids follow.”
Ayer Shirley’s Shaunessy Straitiff had a personal best heading into the state qualifier in the mid-90s, but her 82-2 was still good enough for best in the region over the years. Straitiff started high school as a softball player before fully investing in track, particularly the throwing events.
“(Straitiff ) is one of those kids that each year she kept progressing and kept getting better,” Ayer Shirley head coach Mike Seguin said. “She found a love for the sport, and really enjoyed it, and it’s too bad she couldn’t discover how good she would’ve been this year.”
Nashoba’s Emma Young logged in with the best 400-meter dash time (1:04.12) at the major championships.
“( Young) is a great kid,” Nashoba head coach Ben Langelo said. “I feel terribly for her and the rest of the senior class for not being able to finish their careers, but there are three years of great memories.”