Morrison, Bachur Named Hornets of the Week

The latest North Reading Hornets of the Week have been announced, and they are a pair of seniors: swimmer Ryan Bachur and basketball player Kirsten Morrison.

Bachur took first-place finishes in the 50-meter freestyle and the 100-meter butterfly individual competitions while also playing a crucial role in helping the Hornets qualify for the state sectionals in the medley and freestyle relay competitions.

athletic director Dave Johnson sees the senior as one of the key leaders in what has been a successful year for Hornet swimmers.

“He’s a great kid, and a really passionate swimmer, but with only four seniors on the team, he’s played an even bigger role this year as a role model for younger swimmers,” said Johnson. “He’s led in the pool and out of the pool all year. Even though we won’t be losing a lot of bodies this summer, we’ll be losing a quality person when we see him graduate in a few months.

Bachur and his fellow upperclassmen were vital to creating an atmosphere that helped get more student athletes involved in swimming at North Reading High School, Johnson said, building the team from a number in the low teens just a few years ago to its current roster size of 43 members.

The second Hornet of the Week is one of the stars from the MIAA tournament-bound girls basketball team: center Kirsten Morrison.

Morrison grabbed 13 points and 11 rebounds against Masconomet a couple weeks ago and matched that scoring output against Wilmington last week. She currently honing in on 1,000 points for her career.

“Like Ryan, she’s another strong leader, but not just in the way she plays, but in the locker room and before the game,” said Johnson. “It’s always more about the team than it is about herself. She’s going to be very missed next year, since you’d don’t find many players of her caliber on and off the court, regardless of the school you’re at.”