Skyhawk standout
Andover High graduate Kirsten Arvidson is making a name for herself on the volleyball courts at Stonehill College. The sophomore right-side hitter was selected to the NE-10 All-Conference third team and is among the top Skyhawks in several categories.
Arvidson notched her first career honor while ranking first on the team in blocks per set and second in total kills and kills per set. Arvidson is ninth overall in the NE-10 in total blocks and block assists and has posted double-digit kills in 16 matches through the first week of November. Arvidson also has recorded three or more total blocks in 14 matches.
With her help, Stonehill College earned its first ever trip to the NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Tournament after receiving the fifth seed in the East Region. Although Stonehill dropped its NE-10 semifinal matchup at Merkert Gymnasium, Arvidson helped lead the attack for Stonehill. She had a match-high 12 kills, with just three errors on 23 total attacks (.391).
Austin volleyball MVP from Andover
Maura Green of Andover received the Volleyball MVP Award during the Fall Athletic Award Ceremonies at Austin Preparatory School.
Maura, a senior at the school in Reading, was one of the team captains this season and was presented with the award by Head Coach Lou Polan.
New Special Olympics basketball program in town
Special Olympics Massachusetts announces the formation of a new unified basketball program in Andover, the Andover Rising Stars.
"The unified program is open to female and male athletes, aged 8-21 years old, who have a diagnosed cognitive or physical disability. Unified sports programs include a mixture of athletes who have a diagnosed disability and mentors in the same age group who play along with the athletes to model skills, strategies, and rules of the game. Our goal is to help athletes realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience better health, joy and friendship," according to a release. "This program is proud to include coaches with years of experience coaching youth basketball and who are certified by Special Olympics to coach athletes who qualify for the unified sports program. We are also very fortunate to have Donna McManus, adaptive physical eEducation teacher here in the Andover Public Schools as a part of our team."
People interested in being a part of theprogram as an athlete, mentor or coach, or seeking more information, can contact andrisingstars@yahoo.com or go to the group's Facebook page and click on "like" to receive program updates to your Facebook page.
Practices are being held Tuesday nights 6:30 until 8:00 at the Pike School, 34 Sunset Rock Road in Andover. Practices will continue on Tuesday nights until the state tournament is held in Worcester on March 10 and 11, 2012.
Andover has a similar program called the Andover Golden Eagles but the Rising Stars program is unrelated, according to Jeannette Angles.
Sophomore swimmer wins two for Bentley
Andover High School graduate Peter Belanger won two individual events en route to qualifying for the NCAA Division II Championships as Bentley University topped Gordon College, 164-70, in men's college swimming at the Dana Center pool.
Belanger's wins came in the 100 fly (57.85) and the 100 freestyle (51.91).
Quill writes her ticket to state meet
On Nov. 12 and 13 the girls gymnastics team out of A2 Gym and Cheer in Pelham, N.H. competed at the Judges Cup in Brentwood, N.H. Several members scored personal bests according to a release. Madison Quill of Andover, Mass. scored an 8.0 on bars, 8.55 on beam, 7.9 on floor, 8.45 on vault and 33.0 in the AA qualifying her for the State Championship Meet.
Price signs letter of intent
Nick Price, a senior mid-fielder at Brewster Academy, signed a national letter of intent to play lacrosse at the University of Vermont in Burlington.
A First Team All-Conference lacrosse selection in 2010 and 2011 for Andover High School, Price scored 60 goals and added 22 assists in 36 games for the Warriors over the last two seasons.
He is playing his senior season at Brewster Academy this year.
Price, son of Robert and Daryl Price of Andover, will enroll at University of Vermont in the fall of 2012.
Oteri to play MC lax
Tim Oteri of Andover High School has committed to play lacrosse at Merrimack College (NCAA Division 2), according to Home Grown Lacrosse, a provider of lacrosse leagues, academy teams, camps and clinics.
Merrimack went 11-6 in 2011, reaching the Northeast-10 Championship for the second straight season. Bryan Brazil, owner of Home Grown Lacrosse, was named one of the team's assistant coaches for the 2011-2012 season. Currently, Home Grown Lacrosse has 21 high school seniors playing on its academy teams.
Thomann helps top-ranked Bentley
Andover High School graduate Meghan Thomann was leading her college team with 10 three-pointers as of the end of November. She is a senior guard at Bentley.
Off to a 67-0 start with an average winning margin of more than 25 points, the Bentley University women's basketball team had moved to No. 1 in the USA Today/ESPN/ Women's Basketball Coaches Association Division II coaches' poll. It's the first time in the program's distinguished history that the Falcons have topped the rankings.
Thomann has moved into ninth on Bentley's all-time three-pointer list with 146.
