Some coaches have been coaching their sport for a number of years, including Philip Archambault, coaching WA boy’s indoor track for seventeen years. The boy’s track team is anticipating a successful season. Many boys are returning to run for the team and also a lot of new boys are starting to run for the team this year. Archambault hopes that the boys perform well at the Dual County League Championship.

Most impressive coaching longevity is Ed Scollan, who has been head coach for the boys’ varsity basketball team for twenty-six years. Scollan has the simple goal of game-by-game improvement. The solid team is lead by co-captains Matt Ellis and Ryan Jann, and includes several strong seniors and juniors. “We need to be ready to play each game never taking any opponent lightly. The DCL has some terrific teams with many talented players,” said Scollan.

As for the girl’s basketball team, coached by Russell Coward, the coach of four years is expecting to make it to the DCL Large and the state tournament. The team looks strong and has several star players returning, including Megan Kibblehouse, Hannah Hackley, and Sam Hyslip. “We have a very difficult schedule this year, so I expect we will have our ups and downs this season,” said Coward.

The girls swim team is also looking forward to a successful season, with many record-breaking swimmers expected to shine this year. These swimmers include Counteney Martin, Tori Weinstock, Jen Marrkand, and Kelly Huber.  Last year, the team was only thirteen points behind rivals Lincoln-Sudbury. Coach Caitlin Klick foresees the season “being very competitive in each meet that we enter.  With such a small group, the girls will have many chances to swim several races each meet, giving them each a better shot of qualifying for the Sectional and State championships.”

Coach Todd Fletcher of the WA girl’s ice hockey team is yet another team coming back from a great season last year. Their main goal is to make it to the MIAA state tournament again this season with the help of last year’s star players, including Stephanie Aro, Kim Lizotte, and Ali Difonzo on offense and Nicole Larsen, Katie Lowe, and Erin Mealey on defense.

Stephanie Anderson has coached the Westford Academy gymnastics team for the past two seasons. This will be her third. The team came in fifth place last year at sectionals and is looking forward to going back and coming in at least fourth. “I am also hoping to break the balance beam record, the one that has not been broken since 1993,” said Anderson. The coach is expecting Erin Auger and Caroline Liu. They are hopeful about their first meet on December 22.

Bob Carter, the coach of the boy’s hockey team has been at WA for sixteen years. Several new players have joined the team and also many returning players are in the mix. The team plays other teams in the Merrimack Valley League. The captain of the team is Pat Houghton and the co-captains consist of Justin Pawlowski, Matt Brett, Ian Speliotis. As a team, they are looking forward to the season’s challenges.

As the season begins to start, all of Westford Academy’s teams are looking forward to successful seasons. Whether the teams accomplish their pre-season goals or not, all the teams are looking forward to a fun, competition-filled winter.

For Acton-Boxborough runningback Kyle Sweeney, this was a game to remember. Carrying for all three of AB’s touchdowns, Sweeney led the Colonials to 14 unanswered points in the second half to beat the Grey Ghosts in a down to the wire matchup.

The game started looking like a defensive showdown, with AB deferring the opening coin toss and stopping Westford for a three and out. The Colonials began driving down the field until a fumbled pitch was recovered by the Ghosts, shifting the momentum. A few plays later, WA quarterback Justin Mount ran the option for an electrifying 55 yard touchdown, putting the Ghosts up 7-0.

After this, however, AB came right back. With good field position to start the drive, AB drove deep into Westford territory, but found themselves with a 4th and 2 within field goal range. After a gutsy call to go for it, Sweeney was able to carry for the first, and a few plays later, punched it in for a 4 yard touchdown, tying the game at 7-7 at the end of the first quarter.

The next scoring drive came halfway through the second when Alex Eaton was able to shred the AB defense all the way to the Colonials’ 30 yard line. After a penalty set the Ghosts back, they found themselves looking at 3rd and 17. WA was not fazed and made their only pass completion of the day, a 30 yard pass from Justin Mount to senior Eric Cajolet which put the Ghosts up 14-7.

Coming towards the end of the half, the Colonials found themselves on the Ghosts’ 4 yard line with 10 seconds to play. However, Cajolet came up big yet again with an interception that ended the half, with the Ghosts up 14-7.

At the start of the 3rd quarter, AB’s decision to defer the toss paid dividends. The Colonials kept handing the ball to Sweeney play after play, and WA had no answer. To culminate the 5 minute drive, Sweeney scored yet again, this time on a 4 yard touchdown run to tie the game at 14 all.

After multiple drives that ended in punts or turnovers on downs, the Colonials began the drive that would change the game. Starting in their own territory, AB’s offensive line was able to open gaping holes in WA’s defense for Sweeney, who carried for a 3 yard touchdown with 6 minutes left to cap off the drive, putting AB up 21-14.

WA knew they had to respond, and went to their play-maker, Al Eaton, who was able to get them into AB territory. However, on a 3rd and 7, Mount tried the option again but lost yardage, putting them in a 4th and long that would basically decide the game. Mount dropped back to pass and hurled it over the middle, just overthrowing senior Mike Doran down field as the ball skipped off his fingertips to the turf.

At that point, WA had one timeout left, and AB knew they could go to their MVP Sweeney, who was able to ice the game. The thrilling game ended in defeat for the Ghosts, with the final being 21-14 Acton-Boxborough.

Staff Writer

As the football teams leave the field, the crowd cheers. A large band with shiny, fancy instruments enter. Alongside the WA Marching Band comes a smaller group of eleven girls with large flags and sparkling batons. Who are they exactly?

Some people call them the flag twirlers. But they have a much more specific name; they’re called the WA Color Guard. Surprisingly, they’ve been around since 1983.

The WA Color Guard and Twirlers perform routines at football games during the halftime show, and occasionally the pregame show, which involves the national anthem being played by the marching band.

During the football game, the marching band plays stand music, and the color guard cheers the team on. The girls stand on top of the stands to clap, cheer, and dance.

Color Guard members practice routines choreographed by coach, Kristina Repucci, twice a week and before a game. The routines usually involve tossing, spinning, and twirling flags, batons, and rifles. Performances are coordinated with the marching band’s music.

The routines are mainly split into two groups, the Flags and the Batons. There are four baton twirlers and seven flag color guard members.  The flags are synchronized and the batons are synchronized, but not with both the groups. In one song called Tusk, all the girls spin rifles.

Kristina Repucci, the coach, is from Tyngsboro, Massachusettes. She has “achieved numerous winning titles such as Massachusetts Sate Champion, Miss Majorette of Massachusetts, and Northeast Regional Champion.” Currently now, the coach is “still coaching and teaching the Surburban-ettes Twirl Team at Maureen Dunn’s Baton Studio.” She is also teaching young children in elementary schools with a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education/Special Education.

Repucci says of her favorite part of coaching is “seeing [them] go and perform on the field, knowing that hard work is put out, and the fun memories with everyone.”

The captain Mara Tynan, who is a sophomore, says she loves, “[to] get to be a part of the terrific community of the WA Colorguard and Twirling team, [and to gets to] take some part in making it all happen!” Being captain, she says she has to “take responsibility for the guard and lead the group when our coach Kristina cannot be present.”

Mara Tynan often feels she may be making the wrong decision since the Color Guard is composed of younger girls, eight graders, freshman, and sophomores, but she trusts the rest of the Color Guard to have her back on her decisions. This is her third year in the WA Color Guard and her second year as captain.

This year’s halftime song theme is 1979. Songs include “Dream On”, “Come Sail Away”, and “Tusk”.

Besides practicing, girls on the team work hard on fundraising for costumes. Overall, color guard members all agree on that they have lots of fun.

Make sure to come see the WA Color Guard and Twirling perform at the Thanksgiving game against Acton-Boxboro at 10 AM.

Sports Editor

This Monday, the New England Patriots are set to clash with the Kansas City Chiefs in a must win for Kansas City.

This game seems to be getting easier and easier for the Pats, with the Chiefs announcing that their young quarterback, Matt Cassel, will be out with a hand injury that will require surgery. This marks the second catastrophic injury for the Chiefs on the year, along with star running back Jamaal Charles’ season ending left ACL tear, leaving the offense without their two biggest weapons. Second year quarterback Tyler Palko is expected to take the helm.

Despite Charles’ injury, backup Jackie Battle has been a rare positive, leading the Chiefs to the 10^th ranked run offense in the league, which could provide problems for the Patriots.

Andre Carter Recording 1 of New England's 5 Sacks

Surprisingly, the run defense has been stingy, much unlike the pass defense.

This match-up is more interesting than it leads on, with the Patriots and Chiefs having many similarities, and the Chiefs hiring many former Patriots coaches. Head coach Todd Haley, general manager Scott Pioli, defensive coordinator Romeo Cornell, and offensive coordinator Bill Muir all have worked with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. These connections mean the game could turn into a chess match of sorts, with both coaches facing each other with caution, wary of each knowing their plans.

Although coaching will be a highlight, the game itself seems easy, with the Patriots filled with confidence after their impressive victory against the New York Jets. This match up is again favorable for the Patriots due to Palko, who is not the most accurate passer, so he should not be able to exploit New England’s 32^nd ranked past defense,

This week will be a test in focus, because the Patriots do not want to be caught looking ahead for their big match-up against the Philadelphia Eagles. That can be a way stronger teams lose to weaker ones.

Another test will be if the pass rush will be sustained, after their hodgepodge group of veterans sacked Mark Sanchez of the Jets 5 times, which is a rare occurrence and it will interesting to see if they can get to Palko.

This week’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs will be a test for the recovering Patriots, and a game they should win against the battered Kansas City squad.

The turf field has been a huge addition to Westford Academy this fall

As everyone knows by now, Westford Academy installed a new turf field this year. Many teams now play on this field consistently, and it has made an impact on their athletic performances.

The turf field differs greatly from the one that was previously in its place. Firstly, it is much more consistent, meaning that the field is always level and there are no unexpected areas in which players may stumble or seek to avoid. This field is always ready for use, which is a huge plus for the teams as a whole. In addition, the field is extremely versatile.

Westford Academy is the most recent school in the division to invest in a turf field as every other school (besides one smaller one) that we compete against has already had a turf field for a number of years. WA teams can now consistently play and practice on turf, which means that players have one less thing to worry about when they play away games.

“When we go play at schools away [teams have] had a lot of chances to play on the turf surface, unlike what [teams have] had in the past. . . A lot of time’s we’d play and practice on grass field and we’d go and play on turf and it would be a problem,” said Athletic Director Dan Twomey.

The new field has had a profound effect on many of the varsity fall sports teams, notably football, soccer and field hockey. Field hockey in particular can be a completely different game depending on the surface according to varsity coach Raeann Gembis.

“[The game] can be about twenty percent faster in speed and each skill is expected to be performed quicker. The skill set used on turf is both different and unique. There are many skills that cannot be practiced on grass and then utilized on the turf,” said Gembis.

Varsity soccer coach Tony Dileo also agrees that the new turf allows the team playing to focus more on their skill set than on the field conditions, making for a far cleaner game. In addition, it has given his team more confidence in their game play.

“The performance of the entire team has improved tremendously. . . We are more willing to go forward as a team because the risk of turnover is lower. . . we play with a lot more confidence as a result” said Dileo.

Varsity football coach Richard McKenna agreed with Gembis and Dileo in that the new field allows his players to concentrate far more on what they are doing during the game and far less on what is going on with the field. The inconsistency of the field has become something of the past that no players need worry about.

Twomey believes that it will take every team a few years to get used to consistently playing on this new surface, but it will by no means be an insurmountable challenge for anyone. Many tournaments, particularly for field hockey, are already played on a turf field, so the players already have a lot of experience.

It is certainly not just the school sports teams that get to reap the benefits on the new field. Every gym class for the past few months has gone outside and utilized the new field facility. Many teams besides the varsity level compete for play and practice time on the field.

“The problem is there just aren’t enough hours in the day” said Twomey.