WESTFIELD – It appears that the Bombers are more than just fine athletes, but also “good sports.”
The Westfield High School field football team recently capped off a remarkable season in head coach Bill Moore’s final hurrah with a dominating performance against Cathedral on Thanksgiving Day at Springfield College. The Bombers only two season losses were against the region’s top team in Western Massachusetts, the Central Golden Eagles.
A few weeks ago, the Westfield High School field hockey team’s incredible run came to an end in the playoffs. Under the direction of head coach Karen Gomez, also the school’s athletic director, the team has continued to show steady progress over the course of the past few years. Not only are the Bombers improving on the field, but, apparently they are beginning to have their efforts rewarded off of it as well.
On November 21, the Westfield High School football and field hockey teams received the Western Massachusetts Officials Association sportsmanship award. The two teams were presented the award at the Dante Club in West Springfield.
“I think it says a lot about what we’re trying to stress to our athletes,” Gomez said. “For the football team, I think it speaks to the character that coach Bill Moore has tried to establish with his student-athletes.”
“For our team,” Gomez explained, “I’ve said, ‘Hold your head high, treat your opponent well. This is how you live your life.'”
Coach Moore appeared to be a source of inspiration for his team this season, instilling a sense of pride and helping players realize that building character is just as important as piling up victories out on the field.
When asked who or what was the key to a victorious season, Moore, rather than pointing to a forced fumble or a stellar run had this to say.
“It’s really hard to pick a kid, a moment, or a play (as being THE BEST),” he said. “It’s tough to single one out. … The award … it means a lot. We want to win with character and within the rules and this team certainly did that. It meant a lot to me because in all my years of coaching football, basketball, and lacrosse, I have never received a technical foul or unsportsmanlike penalty. Even though I disagreed with a call or two along the way, I never wanted to hurt our team’s chances to win the game.”
“…I took a program in pretty tough shape, and been pretty competitive,” he added. “The kids have gone on to play, not only play, but do good things.”
Another of the school’s top sports’ teams, the gymnastics program, has done good things, in fact GREAT things all season.
Westfield gymnastics coach Joanne Hewins led her team to its seventh straight west sectional team, capping off another championship season with a current winning streak of 125-0.
“It was one of the most memorable nights of my life,” said Hewins, following season’s end. “I’m so proud of my kids. It was a nice ending.”
The gymnastics team has been a source of inspiration for many, and its never-ending success story brings to mind other highly-successful programs like Longmeadow football, field hockey, girls’ volleyball, and lacrosse, Agawam volleyball teams, Ludlow soccer teams, and in the Whip City, baseball and hockey. Quite simply, the Lady Bombers are to high school gymnastics like what UConn is to college women’s basketball.
“The work ethic, talent, and dedication of our gymnasts – all those factors played into the success of our team,” coach Hewins said. “It was bittersweet.”
A sportsmanship award was not awarded in the sport of gymnastics this season, with MIAA officials stating that they did not want to slight anyone.
“They felt everyone deserved it,” Hewins said. “It was a round-about compliment. I felt Westfield deserved it. These kids displayed (good sportsmanship) all season. They stayed after practices and picked up the gym.”
As far as retirement is concerned, Hewins said, “It was bittersweet. It’s for the best, this chapter’s done. I’m still going to have my hands in it. I’m going to help out. It will be nice knowing the pressure of a five-day commitment is gone. I’m laying the team in great hands … I never would have left it if I felt the program would end.”
Assistant coach Beth Liquori, a four-year assistant, is the favorite to land the head coaching job next fall, Hewins said.
NOTES: Bombers’ senior gymnast Josh Burrage was named the “senior gymnast of the year.” Said Hewins: “That was really exciting.”
