AHS basketball cheerleaders take top marks at regional competition
The Andover Basketball Cheerleaders are the Division 1 North Regional Champions, and became the first cheerleading team at Andover High School to earn a national bid, according to supporters.
At the Massachusetts competition on March 9, the Andover cheerleaders came in fourth place, competing against teams from Leominster, Shepherd Hill and Shrewsbury among other towns. The score they received earned them their national bid.
The team had earned a right to compete at this state competition by performing well in earlier rounds.
The Andover High School Girls Basketball Cheerleaders first Merrimack Valley Conference competition was at Central Catholic on Sunday, Feb. 24, where Andover tied for second place and then after reviewing points, officially took third place. The team went on to compete at regionals at Triton High School on Sunday, March 2, and won first place. As regional champions, they advanced to compete at the state finals, held on.Sunday, March 9, at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Andover quartet helps lead Governor's Academy to hockey championship
The Governor's Academy of Byfield recently earned its first-ever New England Prep School Class B Girls Hockey Championship by defeating the Middlesex School 3-2 in double overtime.
Freshman Alanna McDonough had a sensational rookie season as she scored 16 goals, including four hat tricks, and was part of an all-freshman line that scored more than 200 points and was reportedly the highest scoring line in prep school hockey this season. Junior Rebecca Lindmark scored four goals and was on the defensive line often matched up against the opponent's top scoring line. Junior Caroline Dwyer was one of only three defensemen on the team and a key member for the defense that allowed only 37 goals in 23 games. Freshman Jill Conway started all but one game in goal and had a goals against average of less than 1.7; she was named to the Independent School League all-star team.
Governor's team finished the regular season 14-6, with all the losses by only one goal each. Two of those losses came in overtime. On their march to the championship, the Lady Gov's avenged two of those losses by beating Groton in the quarterfinals and Middlesex in the final, while also defeating three-time defending champion Greenwich Academy in the semifinals.
The Governor's team will return all but one of its players next season.
Andover Squirts are state champs
A team of 9- and 10-year-old Andover Hockey Association players won the Squirt 2 state championship Sunday, March 2, a "once-in-a-lifetime" win. The Andover Squirt 2 team will also be representing Massachusetts in a New England Championship March 21 to 23, playing teams from states from all over the Northeast.
Mancuso finishes final season at Dartmouth pool
Elizabeth Mancuso of Andover recently finished her final season as a member and co-captain of the Dartmouth College Women's Swim Team. During the Ivy League Championships at Princeton University, Elizabeth broke a 15-year-old Dartmouth record in the 200 individual medley (2:06.68). She was also a member of the relay teams that set four new Dartmouth relay team records. She placed in the championship finals with a seventh place in the 100 fly (56.60) and an eighth place in the 200 fly (2:04.83).
Elizabeth ranks in the school's "All Time Top List" in seven events, according to a release. She has been chosen as the Most Valuable Swimmer of this year's team and was awarded for the second year the Lutkus Award for outstanding and consistent swim performance while maintaining a high academic standing. She will graduate in June with a degree in psychology and a minor in human development and education.
