GD Winter Track: A Reality
Groton-Dunstable fall sports teams included 336 students participating in boys/girls soccer, boys golf, field hockey, boys/girls cross country, girls volleyball, football and cheer. Spring offerings consist of baseball, softball, boys/girls lacrosse, girls/boys track and field, girls golf, girls/boys tennis and unified sports ithat involves 309 participants.
Until this year, GDRHS winter sports consisted of boys/girls basketball, boys ice hockey and boys/girls Alpine Skiing. Cooperative teams include boys/girls swimming and diving (Tyngsborough HS), wrestling (Leominster HS), and girls ice hockey (Leominster HS), with a total of 156 students participating.
Hoping to provide more offerings for students as well as build consistency for athletes between fall and spring sports, athletic Director Mike McCaffrey and GDRHS principal Mike Mastrullo surveyed the student body regarding interest in winter track and gymnastics. While there was preliminary interest in both sports, numbers for gymnastics at this time, did not hold sufficiently to warrant becoming a varsity sport.
However with just under 50 students making the commitment to track and field, GD, the only school in Midland B until this year without the sport, joins Midland Wachsett B winter track at the varsity level.
UMass-Lowell alumnus and runner Angus McDonald and girls cross country/spring track and field coach Colleen Naboicheck will be in charge of the Crusaders inaugural winter track season. "This provides an option and consistency for the athletes between fall and spring. An opportunity to stay in shape," said the GDRHS third year math teacher.
Along with the many running events, field events will include the shot put and high jump. Practices will be indoors/corridors/weight room and when weather permits, the school perimeter and track if it continues to be cleared. With the exception of Wachusett and Shrewsbury who have indoor T&F facilities, most of the schools in C-Mass have to improvise training practices.
"We have a nice mix of upper classmen, freshmen and sophomores," continued McDonald. "Athletes to watch are John Thorburn, Evan Lexo, Lucas Acaba, Emily McAuliffe, Emily Wilson, Annie Gold, Sara Morenz and Briana Bozkurt."
Track team's first meet will be away vs. Fitchburg, 9 a.m. Dec. 13.
