The Westfield Bombers emerge from a tunnel of smoke during a regular season home game. Westfield kicks off an exciting weekend of high school championship action. (Staff photo)
WESTFIELD – If area student-athletes are feeling a bit giddy today, there is good reason for it. Championship weekend is nearly upon us.
Super Saturday begins at the crack of dawn when the region’s three and four seeds, Westfield (8-1) and West Springfield (7-2) battle in the West Division 2 football finals at Roberts Field in Holyoke. Kick off is at 10 a.m.
It is the unlikeliest of matchups.
No. 3 Westfield upset third-seeded Central last Friday night 26-25 in one of the program’s biggest victories in school history. No. 4 West Springfield stunned top-seeded Chicopee Comp.
Coach Rob Parent will look to lead senior quarterback Austin St. Pierre, running backs Wilton Royal and Mark Blahut, wide receivers Zach Adam and Bailey Collier, and the entire Bombers’ team to its first Super Bowl in recent memory.
Later on in the day, the state’s most successful gymnastics team looks to extend its greatness when Westfield takes on Western Mass in the west sectionals at Minnechaug Regional High School. The Bombers roll into Wilbraham with a win streak of 169-0, seeking their 10th straight championship trophy.
Westfield High senior gymnast Liz Walker is the favorite to win the All-Around competition. The competition will get under way at 4 p.m.
Also, Saturday, second-seeded Gateway (14-2-4) will attempt to hand No. 1 Monson (20-0) its first loss of the season in the West Division 4 girls’ soccer finals.
The stakes remain at an all-time high on Sunday when student-athletes flock to Stanley Park for the Western Massachusetts cross country championships. The schedule is as follows: Division 1 girls, 1 p.m.; Division 2 girls, 1:35; Division 1 boys, 2:10; Division 2 boys, 2:45.
