Harwood sports roundup
It’s state championship season and Harwood’s winter athletes have been going strong!
Congratulations to Harwood senior wrestler Kyle Streeter, who finished fourth at the New England Championships for his 220-pound weight division on Saturday, March 2.
The Harwood girls’ alpine team finished a very impressive third overall at the state championship meet on Monday, March 4. The boys’ alpine team also competed in the state championship meet on Wednesday, March 6, but the results were not available by press time.
The Harwood girls’ basketball team—currently seeded ninth—traveled to play number-eight-seeded Lamoille on Wednesday, March 6, but the results were also not available by press time. The boys’ basketball team lost in the first round of playoffs on Thursday, February 28.
The Harwood girls’ hockey team hosted U-32 in the Lake Division quarterfinal on Wednesday, March 6, but results were not available by press time. The boys’ hockey team fell out of the running when they lost their playoff game on Friday, March 1.
Harwood girls’ alpine third at state meet
By Steve Skilton
The Harwood Union girls’ alpine team capped off a successful season with a very respectable third-place finish at the state ski meet. The meet, hosted by Stowe at Stowe Mt. Resort on Monday, March 4, had the top 13 teams in the state competing for the title. Mount Mansfield Union skied away with the victory with Woodstock the runners-up.
Sarah Wry led the Harwood girls in the giant slalom with an outstanding fifth-place finish. Mercedes Woolley, 14th, Sophie Dasaro, 30th, Amy Graham, 32nd, Maddie Lowe, 41st, and Callie Anderson, 66th, placed the team in fourth place after the event.
Callie Anderson, 13th, placed the Harwood girls in the slalom with two solid runs. Teammates Mercedes Woolley, 19th, Sophie Dasaro, 20th, Amy Graham, 24th, Ashley McNeish, 43rd, and Sarah Wry, 58th, finished third as a team in the event and moved Harwood into third overall for a super day.
Sarah will represent Harwood on the Vermont team competing in the Eastern High School Championships to the held in NH this coming weekend. This is the second year that Sarah has made the team. The Harwood girls’ team graduates only one senior from its solid lineup. Molly O’Shea, a four-year member of the team, has been outstanding in her contribution to the program. Her teammates wish her the best of luck in her future plans.
Harwood Nordic has strong finish to season
Harwood Nordic wrapped up the season with strong finishes at the Vermont State Championships.
The Harwood boys’ and girls’ teams finished solidly at both the Classical State Championship and Freestyle State Championships held on February 21 in Craftsbury and February 26 at Prospect Mountain in Bennington.
After the two state meets were combined, Harwood boys finished fourth and Harwood girls, fifth. “This was a good finish for both teams. With only three seniors on the two teams, the outlook is good for next year as well,” said coach John Kerrigan.
The boys finished a mere 7 seconds from third place. “Nathanael (Kuzio) tried his best by launching us into third place with just one relay leg to go; Caleb (Kessler), our anchor, fought hard but it was not enough to hold off a surging Middlebury skier,” said Kerrigan.
The Harwood girls had solid performances and were led by Grace Butler, 4th, classic, and India Harvey, 12th, skate.
The Harwood boys were led by sophomore Nathanael Kuzio, second in skating and third in classic. A strong effort from Brennan Degen’s 12th skating and 17th classic and freshman Phillip Hekeler and junior Caleb Kessler helped to boost the team to a solid finish.
The girls also had solid performances from Charlotte Boyden in skating, Ellie Ramsey and Alice Woodruff in classic. “Paige Gaylord was a solid performer for us in both classic and skating,” said coach Kerrigan.
However, it was first-year skier Marla Davidson that got the greatest applause from the crowd at the finish. “Marla was skiing on older borrowed equipment. On the last downhill she fell hard and her boot sole tore away from a still attached binding. Marla had a gallant finish. She glided on one ski and ran on the broken boot, while holding the attached sole of her boot and binding on the non-functioning classic ski. It was an awesome effort,” said Kerrigan.
Several Harwood skiers have qualified for post-season events. Nathanael Kuzio and Phillip Hekeler will compete at the Vermont J2 Festival in New Hampshire. Grace Butler has qualified for the Eastern HS Championship in northern Maine.
Nathanael has also qualified for the Junior Nationals to be held in Fairbanks, Alaska. Nathanael joins an elite group. Caitlin Compton (2010 Olympian) and Ryan Kerrigan were the only other Harwood Nordic skiers to represent Harwood at U.S. Nationals.
“Nathanael has been able to balance his training with his club program, biathlon training and his participation on the Harwood Nordic team. We are all very proud of him. We wish him the best in Fairbanks!” John Kerrigan said.
Coaches Kerrigan and Strasser bid a sad goodbye to seniors Kayla O’Toole, Mathew Cutler and Reuben Kernan.
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