Westfield High School boys basketball coach Josh Balestracci takes stock of his team as preseason practices begin. (MARC ST.ONGE/THE WESTFIELD NEWS)
WESTFIELD – The high school sports winter season is back and figures to be bigger and better than ever before.
Pandemic concerns led to the delay of the winter sports season for several area schools one year ago, ultimately shortening the length of the season and eliminating the postseason. Although COVID-19 cases do not appear to be going away any time soon, the show must go on.
“The past fall season brought great excitement and success, not only for the teams on the field but for the school communities,” Westfield High School athletic coordinator Ryan Dunphy said.
The Westfield football team’s incredible run deep into the new Division 3 state tournament had school spirit at pre-pandemic levels.
“We had the rebrand of the ‘Western Mass tournament’ and the new state tournament format,” Dunphy said. “Both of these brought excitement to Westfield Technical Academy and Westfield High School. I’m excited for the winter teams to get started and hopefully we will see many of the winter teams experience some of that same playoff feel.”
That journey will begin as early as this Saturday when the Westfield Bombers boys basketball team tips off its 2021-22 season with a preseason contest against the Granby Rams at Westfield High School. Tip-off is at 1 p.m.
“With a shortened season last year, our underclassmen didn’t get a lot of experience, but they did work hard in the offseason,” Westfield coach Josh Balestracci said. “We have a good group of kids, great attitude. If they continue to develop, we should be able to put a good team out on the floor.”
Senior Matt Prince, who is entering his third year, is expected to “fill some scoring shoes,” according to Balestracci. Senior guard Hunter King is said to have had a “good offseason” and was “playing well” early in camp.
A unspecified number of football players will also likely feature into the mix this season as well, hoping to carry over that Final Four magic.
“We’re looking to knock the rust off (early in the season) … and with any luck have some success … and put the best product on the court,” coach Balestracci said.
Westfield will travel to Southwick for a final tune-up as the two wage a preseason battle on Wed., Dec. 8. The Bombers will tip off the regular season Tues., Dec. 14 at home against the Agawam Brownies. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.
“Our schedule is set,” coach Balestracci said. “We can’t impact who we play, but we can control how we play. …We should be OK.”
The Westfield High School girls basketball team opens up the regular season Thurs., Dec. 9 at Amherst-Pelham Regional High School. Also, that same day, the Bombers boys and girls swim teams travel to Amherst’s Middle School to take on the Hurricanes. The Bombers boys ice hockey team battles the Greenfield Green Wave Dec. 10 at Amelia Park Arena. The Bombers wrestling team hosts the Holyoke Purple Knights in a season opener on Wed., Dec. 29.
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2021-22 WINTER SPORTS SCHEDULE
WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL BOMBERS
Saturday, December 4
Boys Winter Basketball – Varsity vs. Granby Jr/Sr High School, Gym @ 1:00 PM (S)
Boys Winter Hockey – Varsity vs. TBA, Amelia Park Rink @ 5:00 PM (S)
Monday, December 6
Girls Winter Basketball – Varsity vs. Hampshire Regional High School, Gym @ 6:00 PM (S)
Wednesday, December 8
Boys Winter Basketball – Varsity @ Southwick Regional School, Southwick Regional School James E Vincent Gym @ 7:00 PM (S)
Thursday, December 9
Girls Winter Basketball – Varsity @ Amherst-Pelham Regional High School, Amherst-Pelham Regional High School Gymnasium @ 7:00 PM (N)
Boys Winter Swimming – Varsity @ Amherst-Pelham Regional High School, Amherst Middle School Swimming Pool @ 4:30 PM (L)
Girls Winter Swimming – Varsity @ Amherst-Pelham Regional High School, Amherst Middle School Swimming Pool @ 4:30 PM (L)
Friday, December 10
Boys Winter Hockey – Varsity vs. Greenfield High School, Amelia Park Rink @ 7:00 PM (L)
Saturday, December 11
Boys Winter Hockey – Varsity @ Wachusett Regional High School, Wachusett Regional High School Northstar Ice Sports Hockey Rink @ 6:00 PM (L)
Monday, December 13
Girls Winter Basketball – Varsity vs. Holyoke High School, Gym @ 7:00 PM (N)
Tuesday, December 14
Boys Winter Basketball – Varsity vs. Agawam High School, Gym @ 7:00 PM (N)
Boys Winter Swimming – Varsity vs. Northampton High School, Westfield State University Pool @ 5:00 PM (L)
Girls Winter Swimming – Varsity vs. Northampton High School, Swimming Pool @ 5:00 PM (L)
Wednesday, December 15
Boys Winter Hockey – Varsity vs. East Longmeadow High School, Amelia Park Rink @ 7:00 PM (L)
Thursday, December 16
Girls Winter Basketball – Varsity vs. West Springfield High School, Gym @ 7:00 PM (N)
Friday, December 17
Boys Winter Basketball – Varsity vs. Taconic High School, Gym @ 7:00 PM (N)
Boys Winter Hockey – Varsity @ Bourne High School, Gallo Arena Gallo Ice Arena @ 8:30 PM (N)
Boys Winter Swimming – Varsity @ West Springfield High School, West Springfield High School Sady Pool @ 4:00 PM (N)
Girls Winter Swimming – Varsity @ West Springfield High School, West Springfield High School Sady Pool @ 4:00 PM (N)
Monday, December 20
Girls Winter Basketball – Varsity @ Northampton High School, Northampton High School Gym @ 7:30 PM (N)
Tuesday, December 21
Boys Winter Basketball – Varsity @ Pittsfield High School, Pittsfield High School Gym @ 7:00 PM (N)
Boys Winter Swimming – Varsity vs. Ludlow High School, Westfield State University Pool @ 5:00 PM (L)
Girls Winter Swimming – Varsity vs. Ludlow High School, Westfield State University Pool @ 5:00 PM (L)
Thursday, December 23
Boys Winter Hockey – Varsity vs. Southwick Regional School, Amelia Park Rink @ 3:00 PM (N)
Monday, December 27
Girls Winter Basketball – Varsity @ Taconic High School, Taconic High School Gym @ 5:30 PM (L)
Tuesday, December 28
Boys Winter Basketball – Varsity @ West Springfield High School, West Springfield High School Gym @ 7:00 PM (N)
Wednesday, December 29
Boys Winter Wrestling – Varsity vs. Holyoke High School, Gym @ 7:00 PM (L)
Thursday, December 30
Boys Winter Basketball – Varsity vs. Minnechaug Regional High School, Gym @ 7:00 PM (N)
