Two AHS grads honored as Stonehill student-athletes
Stonehill College has announced its athletic director’s honor roll for the fall 2012 semester and two students from Andover made the list.
A total of 217 student-athletes across Stonehill’s 20 intercollegiate athletic programs were recognized for earning a grade point average of 3.20 or better during the fall semester.
Junior Scott Waller, a member of both the men’s cross country and men’s track teams, and junior Kristen Arvidson, a volleyball team member, were named to the honor roll. Both students graduated from Andover High.
Offensive coordinator Curran new MC football coach
Merrimack College football offensive coordinator Dan Curran — a former NFL and Arena League player — has been promoted to head coach, according to the school on the Andover-North Andover line.
Curran becomes the fifth head coach of the Merrimack football program after spending the last three seasons as the Warriors’ offensive coordinator.
“After conducting a national search that brought many qualified candidates, it was clear the best person to lead our program was already right here in North Andover,” said Interim Director of Athletics Dean O’Keefe. “Dan is a proven leader who directed Merrimack’s conference-leading offense in each of the last three seasons while overseeing the successful recruitment of talented student-athletes on and off the field.”
“My family and I are pleased to be staying in the Merrimack College community, and we look forward to making an impact on and off the field. The football program at Merrimack has a winning tradition, and I am looking forward to the challenge of continuing to build on that past success,” said Curran.
Curran replaces Andover native John Perry, who resigned to take an offensive assistant position at Division I Delaware after five seasons as Merrimack’s head coach.
Curran’s prolific offense led the Northeast-10 Conference in total offense the last three seasons and also led the country in passing offense this season with 399.2 passing yards per contest.
Curran came to Merrimack after playing eight years of professional football which included time spent with the Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints of the National Football League as well as the New Orleans Voodoo and Georgia Force of the Arena Football League. As a player in the Arena Football League, Curran earned First Team All-League Honors and was named to the All-Ironman Team as well as being named one of three finalists for Ironman of the Year after leading the league in rushing, according to the school.
Quill shows gymnastics talent
A2 Gym and Cheer girls gymnastics team competed at a “Valentine’s Day Meet” on Feb. 10 in Hampstead, N.H.
In Level 4, Shayla Quill of Andover was third on bars (8.9), fourth on floor (8.7), fourth on vault (9.0) and fifth in the all-around with a 34.175.
