Ethan Matthews didn’t place first in any of his races at last Saturday’s MSTCA Coaches Invitational for Small Schools at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center in Boston, but the Ayer-Shirley senior came out a winner anyway after receiving a plaque for Most Outstanding Boys Performance.
As far as Panthers coach Chris Donovan is concerned, Matthews doesn’t need to earn awards to prove how talented and valuable he is.
“He is probably the hardest working kid I’ve coached, and I’ve never met anyone who lives for the sport as he does,” Donovan said. “What has been really impressive lately is his willingness to sacrifice some individual accolades in order to achieve some lofty team goals. He medaled in three events at the Coaches’ Invitational, which speaks to his versatility.”
“I was very happy to win that,” Matthews said. “I was very shocked that I won it. I figured some sprinter would win it.”
A standout runner in cross-country, the 5-foot-10, 135-pound Matthews displayed his endurance by finishing fourth in the mile (4:29.57), runner-up to Hopedale star Brandon Hall in the 2 mile (9:40.21), and teamed with classmates, twins Ed and Will Ernst, and Trevor Fields,to help the Panthers place third in the 3,200-meter relay in 8:34.03.
Matthews, 17, competed in all three events in about 90 minutes so he was understandably tuckered out after the meet.
“I gave it my all and ran a 2:07 800 split (in the 3,200 relay) and that was the second fastest (time) of my relay team,” Matthews said. “I was exhausted after all of it, but I was proud to be able to do all three events well. Whatever they need, I’ll do. It was definitely awesome to be able to run three such fast times."
Matthews, who is in his sixth year on varsity and captured the Central Mass. Division 2 and Division 5 state championship last winter in the 2-mile, owns the school’s indoor records in both the indoor mile and 2-mile. His personal best in the 2-mile is 9:39.66, while his PR in the mile was established last weekend. Matthews’s best effort in the 1,000 is 2:54.80.
Donovan said the Panthers (5-0), who were second at last year’s CMass Division 2 championships and 10th at the Division 5 state meet, are ready for the championship season.
“We have almost everyone back, so the goal all year has been to be in the running for the top spot (at CMass meet) and be in the mix for a Division 5 state title,” Donovan said. “This year is mostly about the seniors.”
Leading the way is Ed Ernst, a 6-0 high jumper, and Will Ernst, who runs the 600. Fields, who according to Donovan, has the eighth fastest time in the state in the 1,000 (2:35.31).
Ayer-Shirley's shot putters, seniors Manny DeSouza and Steven Lawton, and sophomore Matt Sabatino, are all throwing over 40 feet. Senior Nick Casavecchia is 5-10 high jumper, and qualified for the state divisional meet in the hurdles. Senior Marcus Fields has run a 6.9 in the 55, and sophomore Will Schilp provides depth in the 2-mile.
Donovan is assisted by Mike Seguin, Phil Moore, and former longtime football and outdoor track coach, Jamie Lamoreaux.
“We have really pushed them to make this a year they will never forget,” Donovan said. “They’ve been together a while and they want to leave their mark on the school and add to a great track addition.”
Rangers rolling
For Matt Wilson, things are working out pretty well at Westboro.
The second-year coach has guided the Ranger girls to a 5-0 mark heading into Saturday’s Mid-Wach B Championships at Fitchburg High. Wilson, the former indoor and outdoor track coach at Notre Dame Academy, is also in his first year as a full-time phys ed teacher.
Westboro is the defending league champions, but expects to face a stiff challenge from Groton-Dunstable. The Rangers defeated the Crusaders, 54-37, in a dual meet earlier this season.
Westboro finished fourth at last year’s Central Mass. D1 Championships — a meet the Rangers have never won.
“A top five finish would be great,” said Wilson, who hopes his squad will fare well at the Division 3 state championships. “We’re just looking to give our best effort at each of the big meets. It’s a hard working group. They do their best to perform their best at every meet."
The Rangers are led by versatile junior Grace Desmond, who Wilson said runs just about anything from the hurdles to the 300, 600, 1000, and both the 800 and 1,600 relays. Desmond, a T&G Super Team All-Star in both indoor and outdoor track, also high jumps. Her older sister, Emily, graduated last spring and was a standout in cross-country and track.
Another key contributor is junior Heidi Yap, who does the 55, 300, and 600.
“She’s undefeated in the 55 in dual meets,” Wilson said. “She took her sophomore season off. She has been a nice edition for us this year.”
Others to watch is senior captains Elizabeth Hopkinson (mile, 1,000), who starred in cross-country, Miriam Levesque, who has thrown the shot put 30 feet, 7¼ inches and Meg Ku (sprints/55 dash/relays) and their classmate Kristen Steudel, a former sprinter who now runs the mile and 1,000.
Griffin takes win
Congratulations to St. John’s senior Tyler Griffin for taking first in the 1,000 at last weekend’s MSTCA Coaches Invitational for Large Schools at Reggie Lewis. Griffin was the only student-athlete, male or female, from Central Mass. to win an individual event.
Griffin won in 2:32.78, just under 1 second faster than Chelmsford senior John Mieszczanski (2:33.75).
“I’m pretty happy,” said the 5-foot-8 Griffin, who helped the Pioneers capture their first state championship in cross-country last fall. “It was definitely a breakthrough. I knew the competition was definitely going to be tough with a lot of talented guys.”
Griffin shattered his personal best by 5 seconds.
“Pretty much the game plan was take it out fast and just hold on after the 800 (meters) and see what I have left,” Griffin said. “It went pretty well. I usually have been going out slower before. I tried a different approach. My coach (Tim Hilliard) told me just to go out faster and try to hold on for the last 800 meters. The last 700 meters, I had a little bit left in me and had a kick.”
Griffin’s teammate, Josh Rahn, placed third in the 2-mile in 9:30.34. His game plan was to stick with the top pack.
“After the first mile, I was feeling pretty good, and I wanted to see what I had for the second mile,” Rahn said. “It was a good confidence boost. I’d like to get into the low 20s, if not better.”
—Contact Steve Farley at sports@telegram.com.