Rockets Review: Boys Swimming Takes BSC Title

By Micah Hauben, NHS Director of Athletics

Over a busy weekend of events, Jan. 27-29, no varsity team tasted defeat.

On Friday, Jan. 27, boys swimming and diving won (more below), the girls basketball avenged an earlier season loss to Brookline by beating the Warriors at home, while the boys basketball team, also avenging an earlier season loss, used a transition basket from senior captain Kevin Farley at the buzzer to take down the host Warriors 54-52.  

Also on Friday, the Needham gymnastics team had a dominating performance at home, scoring a season high 133 points, to beat the visiting Wildcats of Weymouth.  

On Saturday, Jan. 28, wrestling started the day off going 3-0 in a Bay State Conference quad meet, earning victories over host Newton North, Milton and Walpole, while the boys ice hockey team scored six unanswered goals in the second period en-route to a 10-1 drubbing of host Milton.

The girls ice hockey team, up 3-1, did not have it as easy at home, as Milton scored the last two goals of the game, the final tally with 2 minutes to play, to end the game in a 3-3 tie.  

All teams will be in action this week, before some head into postseason events next weekend and the week after.

Boys Swimming and Diving

Needham High School boys swimming and diving head coach Adam Cole had the following to say about his team’s recent performance:

This week, the boys swim and dive team finished their season with wins over Brookline and Wellesley to finish 9-1 and secure their second consecutive conference title. The meet with Brookline went back and forth and the score was tied five different times during the meet. Notable performances included Alex Treil winning the 200 IM and 100 backstroke in state qualifying times and Nathaniel Smith gutting out a second-place finish in the 500 freestyle by .19 seconds and then winning the 100 breaststroke three events later. Jason Shiuan was the only other individual event winner, with a sectional qualifying time in the 100 freestyle, but the Rockets won all three relays to secure the win. The 400 freestyle relay team of Teddy Tsavdarides, James Yi, Ryan Schott and Alex Treil posted the fastest time in the eight years I've coached and beat Brookline by 1.5 seconds to finalize the 98-88 score.

On Friday (Jan. 27), Needham beat Wellesley 118-68. Individual event winners were Alex Treil in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly, Jason Shiuan in the 200 IM, Teddy Tsavdarides in the 100 freestyle, Ryan Schott in the 100 backstroke and Nathaniel Smith in the 100 breaststroke. The swimmers and divers will compete in the conference meet at Brookline High School Wednesday and Thursday afternoon this week (Feb. 1 and 2).

Girls Indoor Track

From girls track head coach Chris Van Cott:

The lady Rockets completed their regular season on Thursday, Jan. 26 against a powerful Newton North squad, falling short 66-29. Still, the Rockets ended with a winning record of 3-2 and have had some brilliant moments in the last week highlighted by records in the 4x400 meter relay and 1,000 meter run.

Thursday night (Jan. 26) was a testament of will by the Rockets, who had two wins, five second places, four third places and 20 personal best performances against a team that is heavily favored to win the All-State Championships in late February.  However, the moment of the night came when the 4x400 relay team consisting of senior Alison Pildner, juniors Hallie Armstrong and Robin Kelly and sophomore Kira Oberle broke a 13-year--old school record running 4:09.92—the ninth fastest in Massachusetts this year.

On Saturday, Jan. 28, the Rockets continued their strong season as 11 members of the team competed at the Massachusetts State Track and Field Coaches Association Invitational. Of the 11 performances on the day, the girls team managed to notch eight personal bests.

On Sunday, Jan. 29, Hallie Armstrong competed in the Elite MSTCA Meet in the 1,000 meter race and broke a year-old school record by running 3:06.17 to finish 12th in the event, which showcased some of Massachusetts’ best middle distance runners.

Full results can by found online at athletic.net.

Next up for the lady Rockets is the Bay State Conference Interdivisional meet against Herget rival Wellesley on Wednesday, Feb. 1. The meet is scheduled to start at 5 p.m.

Check http://nhs.needham.k12.ma.us/athletics for Rocket Athletic news, updates, forms, links and complete team schedules.