Redmen Daily Sports Roundup: Boys Cross Country Team Shocks Central

It's becoming a season of monumental wins for the this fall, and the TMHS boys cross country didn't want to be left out of the action.

Led by junior iron man Brian Amaral's second place overall finish, the Redmen beat Central Catholic, 26-29, on Wednesday, to raise their record to 4-3 on the season. It was the cross country team's first dual meet win over Central since 2006, and only the second time in coach Peter Molloy's eight-year tenure that Tewksbury has topped Central.

"A big day, just a big day," said Molloy of his team's effort. "You could probably count on one hand the number of times a Tewksbury cross country team ever beat Central. It was a real big day."

Amaral took second overall, covering the rugged 3.05 mile Lawrence Reservoir course in just 17:10. Cory Thomas was second for Tewksbury and fourth overall in 17:40 with Kip Horahan a step behind Thomas in fifth overall clocking 17:41.

Seniors Brendan Blair and Sean Foley nailed down the victory by taking seventh and eighth places overall, Blair in 18:03 and Foley in 18:04. Blair's fourth place finish (for Tewksbury) was particularly impressive in that it helped keep TMHS's pack time down to 56 seconds.

"That's a great pack time and Blair came through with a great race to get us there," Molloy said. "He really solidified things for us. He's really coming around. You can see his confidence growing every day."

Moments after Blair and Foley finished so well, a spontaneous celebration broke out among the Redmen.

"It takes a minute to figure out the scores after the race, so they had no idea when they crossed the line that they had won," Molloy reported. "But once we finally figured it out they were hugging each other and high-fiving each other."

The cross country team now joins the ranks of TMHS giant killers like the football team, which beat both Central and Andover in back-to back weeks earlier this month; the volleyball team, which earned its first-ever victory over Chelmsford last week; and the field hockey team, which ended Andover's two-year string of shut out victories with a 1-1 tie last week.

The cross country team's win was all the more impressive given that it took place on Central's home course.

"It's a tough, tough course," Molloy said. "It's got five major hills in it. One of the toughest things to do in MVC cross country is beat Central on their home course."

Tewksbury improves to 4-3 overall and will compete at the Catholic Memorial Invitational this Saturday at Franklin Park.

DICK TAKES SECOND STRAIGHT VICTORY

continued to amaze her coaches by taking a second consecutive runaway victory in the girls cross country meet at Central Cathloic.

Dick, who got her first ever dual meet gold medal last week against Dracut and Lawrence, dominated the competition once again on Wednesday. Central took a 20-43 tam victory, but Dick covered the 3.05-mile course in 20:27, a full 32 seconds ahead of the second place finisher for Central.

Dick's time was the fastest clocking turned in on the Central course by any girls cross country runner that Molloy has coached in his eight years in Tewksbury.

"Christina dominated the race," coach Peter Molloy said. "We've had some gret runnes over the years; Caitlyn Rose, Nicole Skotz, Ashley Toland, Laura Patriarcha. She did better than all of them."

No longer running in the shadows of Toland, Patriarcha and Emily Parker, Dick has become the team's unquestioned leader, according to Molloy.

"Christina is the kind of kid who will lay low within the group if given the opportunity," Molloy said. "but this year she hasn't been given th at opportunity. It's her turn and she recognizes that and she's going after it."

Rachel McCabe was Tewksbury's second runner to cross the line in 23:12, taking 11th overall. Sarah Parker was 12th in 23:43 while Grace Canavantook foruth for Tewksbury in 26:17. Kertrina Berglund, Hannah Kuegler and Amy DeFrancesco rounded out the field for Tewksbury.

The girls team falls to 1-6 with the loss and will also participate in the Catholic Memorial Invitational this weekend.

CENTRAL TOPS TMHS VOLLEYBALLERS, 3-0

Central Catholic's unbeaten girls volleyball team was too much for Tewksbury High to handle as the Raiders ended a three-game TMHS win streak with a 3-0 win Wednesday evening.

All three sets were close, with Central taking the first set 25-14, the second set 25-23 and the third set 25-22.

in kills with nine. Luppi also had two serving aces and sex service points.  Alina Rosmarinofski tallied
eight kills, five aces and 12 service points.  Middles Kelli Sugrue and Jen Iannacci had eight and four kills respectively while their combined block total was 10.   Setter Liz McVey chipped in four kills and seven assists for the night.C

Tewksbury is now 7-4 overall, 4-3 in the Merrimack Valley Conference.