Westfield’s Kelsey Johnstone swimming to her second place finish in the 100 breaststroke. (Photo by Bill Deren)
SPRINGFIELD – Only one obstacle kept Westfield senior swimmer Kelsey Johnstone from having a banner day on one of her sport’s biggest days.
Longmeadow’s Jerrica Lee proved to be an unstoppable force once again, edging out Johnstone in a pair of events en route to the overall team title (331 points) at the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association West Sectional Swimming Championships Saturday at Springfield College.
Minnechaug (256.5 points), Northampton (238), Monument Mountain (203.55), and Westfield (200) rounded out the top five.
Lee won the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:04.45, just ahead of Johnstone (2:09.99). Johnstone also finished second in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.96), just behind Lee’s first-place finish (1:04.27).
Still, overall, it was a solid day for the Westfield swimmer, who along with senior Kate McCabe, junior Rachel Charette, and sophomore Sara Russell took first in the 200 medley relay (1:57.39).
Charette also claimed sixth in the 100 butterfly (1:02.34). Russell posted personal bests in the 50 free (9th, 26.29) and 100 free (9th, 58.02).
Westfield’s Richard Jablonski wrestles an opponent to the mat during the consolation match during the Western Mass. Individual Wrestling Championships Saturday at Central High School. Jablonski won 11-1 to advance to the next round. (Photo by Chris Putz)
Westfield’s 200 free relay team (Rusell/Johnstone/Charette/freshman Madi Robitaille) placed fifth with a personal best time of 1:45.50.
In the boys’ competition, Nicholas Rosso took second in the 200 IM (2:00.48) and 100 fly (52.08), and combined with Cole Viamari, Patrick Lurgio, and Jaydon Wood for a fifth place finish in the 200 free relay (1:37.71). The Bombers placed seventh as a team (122 points). Longmeadow claimed the team title with 283 points.
Members of the Southwick-Tolland Regional High School wrestling program stop to pose for a team photo. Pictured from left to right are: Braydon Tingley, Trevor Desruisseaux, Jake Walker, Joshua Sylvia, Miguel Gonzalez, Connor Stevens, Nolan Labrecque
and Obimla Ezeugwu. Eddie Martinez and Tyler Orban kneel in front. (Photo by Marc St. Onge)
CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING: Central won the Western Massachusetts Division I championship at home with 233 points, followed by runners-up Putnam (198), West Springfield (143), Chicopee (129), and Minnechaug (119). Westfield finished with 41. Although no Bombers’ wrestlers participated in the finals, Westfield senior captain Richard Jablonski said: “We may be small on numbers but the guys worked really hard.” … In the Division 3 tournament, Southwick wrestler Miguel Gonzalez forged a title in the 145 pound weight division with a 4-3 win over Nick Hoskin. Dean Tech’s Jose Berrios (132 pounds) edged out Rams’ Eddie Martinez 6-4. The Rams finished ninth with 103 points. Taconic won the team title (172.5 points).
BOYS’ ICE HOCKEY
Lions stun Bombers
Ludlow 3, Westfield 1
Ludlow delivered a stunning blow to Westfield in a key Berry Division contest Saturday at the Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield Saturday.
Max Cocchi, Logan Cognac, and Brennan Madru scored one goal apiece for Ludlow, which rallied for two third-period goals.
Max Maggipinto scored the lone Westfield goal. Zach Jarvis earned an assist.
Westfield (7-10-1 overall, 4-8 Berry Division) will now become scoreboard watchers, hoping that Ludlow (4-11-1, 3-7) and West Springfield (6-10-1, 2-7) fail to overtake the Bombers for the fourth – and final – spot in the Berry Division (which secures a tournament berth).
BOYS’ HOOPS
O’Brien, Bombers prevail
Westfield 56, O’Bryant 49
John O’Brien scored 19 points, and Matt Butera and Luis Castro added 12 and 10, respectively, as Westfield surged past O’Bryant Saturday.
The Bombers (6-10, 1-5 Valley Wheel) must win their final four games to earn a postseason berth.
Panthers bounce Gators
Palmer 65, Gateway 40
Three players scored in double digits – Matt Niemczura (21 points), Ryan McCarthy (15), and Drake Buckham (13) – to lead Palmer on the road in the “Gator Pit.”
Brett Turban finished with a team-high 21 points for Gateway (8-7). Gators’ Brad Moreau had 12.
