Chelmsford boys claim MVC swim title
Sparked by a recordbreaking performance from senior Declan Hughes, Chelmsford High captured the Merrimack Valley Conference boys swimming and diving championship Thursday in Haverhill.
Hughes set the MVC meet record in the 50 freestyle by finishing in 21.43 seconds. Hughes also won the 100 free in 48.23 seconds.
Chelmsford compiled 433 points to defeat Haverhill (346), Lowell/north Andover (244), Andover (226.5) and Central Catholic (105.5).
Also winning two events for the Lions was senior Nathaniel Murray, the 200 IM in 1:59.11 and the 100 butterfly in 53.50. CHS went 1-2-3 in 1-meter diving thanks to sophomore Hadi Aldayaa (205.80), senior Bennett Prees (166.95) and junior Tyler Gentry (163.60).
Taking third place were junior Henry Reitman in the 50 free (23.17), senior Jack Dorsey in the 100 butterfly (56.40) and junior Jociah Kautz in the 100 backstroke (1:02.41). The Lions’ 4×50 free relay team won in 1:30.82.
For Lowell/north Andover, sophomore Jack Ventre was outstanding in winning the 200 free (1:46.75) and 500 free (4:48.27) by more than 12 seconds. Sophomore Leo Ferrucci won the 100 breaststroke in 1:05.80. Second place was earned by senior Son Nguyen in the 100 butterfly (56.18) and freshman Ethan Achermanvalalla in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.27).
Lowell/north Andover’s 4×50 free relay team was second in 1:46.24. Senior Andrew Gust was third in the 200 IM in 2:11.56.
Girls basketball
35 >> Bolting out to a 14-1 lead after one quarter, Greater Lowell Tech easily netted a CAC win.
Briannah Namale produced a triple-double for the Gryphons (10-2, 8-0 CAC Large) with 10 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. Kendra O’brien and Felicia Melendez netted 10 points each for GLT, which led 3412 at halftime. Nellie Chan added eight points and six rebounds. 48 >> Jasmine Becotte and the Pythons keep rolling on. Becotte drained a teamhigh 23 points and the Pythons used a 19-10 edge in the third quarter to pull away. Sophia Joncas and Grace Riley each canned 10 points for the winners. Olivia Todd chipped in seven points.
Wrestling
GR. LOWELL 34 >> Tyngsboro/dracut captured a gritty victory on Senior Night. Earning wins were Amauri Hernandez (106), James Shaffer (113), Carter Johnson (120), Nick Nicosia (132), Brock Desmarais (152), Charlie Maraganis (160), Luke Mchugh (170) and Drew Richardson (heavyweight).
For Greater Lowell (10-8), picking up wins were Tom
Cassella, Gabe Bischoff, Garrett Ayotte, Trevor Brown, Aviren Chitpaseuth and Javien Prieto.
Girls track
LOWELL SPLITS >> The Red Raiders finished the regular season by defeating Methuen 70-29, and falling to Andover 57.5.42.5. Junior Quinn Petzold was a double winner in both meets, capturing both the long jump (17 feet, 7 inches) and the 600 (1:40.99).
Classmate Jackie Peirce won the 1000 against Andover and Methuen in a personal-best 3:32.44. Seniors Ronnie Jones (shot put, 35-4.5) and Isabella Patino (300, 46.40) also won against both teams. The 4x200m relay team of junior Anneliese Nogueira, Petzold, senior Bridget Geary and junior Britney
Ogiegor swept the meet, running a 1:48.81.
Against Methuen, Ogiegor won the 55 high hurdles, junior Princess Onyenwe captured the high jump, sophomore Sabrina Cady won the mile and freshman Ella Machado won the two mile. In addition, the 4x400m relay of juniors Regina Wasaidy, Scarlett Pack, Peirce and Cady topped Methuen.
Boys hockey
3>> Despite a 28-save effort from Tyler Frazee, the Ghosts were nipped. Scoring goals for Westford were Nate Mucci, Matt Mulhern and Tom Rose. Assists were collected by JJ Funaro, Ben Mulgrew, Nick Burns and Jack Nelken.
College baseball
UML SECOND >> After a record-breaking year last season, Umass Lowell has been picked second in the 2023 America East Preseason
Coaches’ Poll.
The River Hawks finished last season with a 28-30 overall record and 15-15 mark in league action. Umass Lowell retuned to the postseason last year and took down UMBC, Maine and NJIT to reach the first conference America East championship game in program history and is primed to make another title charge.
Reigning conference champion Binghamton has been picked first with 31 points and four first-place votes. Umass Lowell received 28 points and two first-place votes in second with Bryant in third with 25 points. Maine was picked fourth and NJIT was picked fifth, with UMBC and Ualbany in the final two spots.
College softball
UML SECOND >> Umass Lowell has been tabbed second in the 2023 America East Preseason Poll, finishing just three points shy of first place and receiving one first-place vote.
This marks the fourth time in the last five seasons the River Hawks have collected the second-place spot in the preseason poll and comes after claiming fourth place in the conference the past two seasons. The squad finished the 2022 season with a 28-20 record overall and a conference record of 10-7.
UMBC has finished atop the conference in each of the last two seasons, and will be going into 2023 with the top spot in the poll, with four first-place votes.