Post-season tournaments and playoffs just seem to be a way of life for Natick High’s athletic teams.
Two years ago, the school had 25 of its 31 teams qualify for post-season games and meets. The 2016-17 school year was even better. Twenty-nine of the 32 Redhawk squads battled for championships. The results were one state championship in wrestling, two sectional crowns (wrestling and boys volleyball) and five Bay State Conference titles.
Athletic Director Tim Collins compiled the following thumbnail overview of how Redhawk squads fared during the 2016-17 campaign:
FALL 2016 — All 10 programs qualified for post-season play. Girls soccer and girls’ swimming were BSC Champions. Girls soccer had the best season in NHS history, losing in the Division 1 South final in 2 overtimes/penalty kick. Grace Connolly won the MIAA Division 1 All-State Cross Country Meet and finished ninth in the country in the National Cross-country Meet in San Diego in November. With her top 10 finish in the country, she became an All-American. She also was the state Gatorade Runner of the fall season.
WINTER 2016-17 — Eleven of 12 programs qualified for post-season play. Boys basketball, gymnastics, and wrestling were BSC Champs. Gymnastics also won the 2017 BSC Meet. Wrestling finished undefeated in BSC matches and won the BSC for the 18th straight year. They won the state team championship. Matt Gastaldo was State Champ at 182 pounds. and many wrestlers qualified for the New England Meet. Coach Bob Anniballi was inducted into the USA Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Okla. Grace Connolly was the Mass. indoor one and two-mile All-State champion (first time in NHS history) and finished sixth in the nation with a time of 4:52. With her sixth-place finish, she was an All-American. The girls’ indoor track 4x200 relay team of Abigail Gerdes, Rachelle Parker, Sheila McQuillen, and Madison Howland was also All-State champions. Connor Giersch finished eighth in the Mass. All-State Nordic Ski Championships. Winter Cheerleading won an AmeriCheer national tournament in co-ed cheerleading in Orlando, Fla.
SPRING 2017 — Eight of 10 programs qualified for post-season play. Another incredible post-season for girls track: Grace Connolly won the outdoor two-mile and was All-State champion. The 4x100 team of Abigail Gerdes, Rachelle Parker, Kylie Langan, and Madison Howland was All-State champion as well. This relay team finished second in the New Englands. Connolly and the 4 x100 team competed in Nationals in North Carolina. The boys volleyball team had an amazing run in the tournament, winning the Division 1 Central Championship and advancing to the state final where it lost in the semifinals to Westfield.
“Many factors have to come together for 29 teams to qualify for post-season honors,’’ Collins emphasized. “Student-athletes have to commit time and effort to their endeavors, coaches have to remain dedicated and energetic, and parents and townspeople are needed to support both students and coaches. I thank all of these segments for an outstanding year.’’
Natick High also enjoyed success in other areas where people played key roles behind the scene. Here’s a look at some key facts and figures and some of the names linked to Redhawk success:
* Athletic fees — They will not be increasing for the year ahead. All sports are $225 with the exception of boys and girls ice hockey and skiing. They cost $400. Also, a family cap is in place. If a family has two children competing in three sports each, they would not pay $1,350. Instead it would be $675 (higher if ice hockey or skiing are a choice).
* Participation — Collins reports that 70 percent of Natick’s 1,600 students play at least one sport. That translates to 1,120 athletes. Collins said that figure is Natick’s highest participation rate in the modern era. Also, 40 percent of the enrollment compete in each of the three seasons.
* Facilities — Collins lauded the work of Natick’s DPW crew for maintaining the school’s fields. “It’s such a plus to have all our facilities on the new campus,’’ Collins said. “We’re pleased with our turf field and also having our ice rink so close. Art Goodhind is the Director of Fields and he also serves as the town’s tree warden. He and his crew do an amazing job.’’
* New personnel — Christian Rodriguez, a Natick High alum, will be the boys varsity soccer coach, replacing Curtis Millen who has taken a position in California. Also, Lindsay Twohig, who was the school’s trainer in the spring, will be on the job fulltime. “Christian is the school’s Police Resource Officer,’’ Collins noted. “He played soccer at Natick and at Boston College and we’re pleased he’s joined the staff. Also, Lindsay is capable and dedicated and well-versed in athletic care.’’
* Kathy Larkin — Collins’ key office assistant has been on the job since 2010, fulfilling many administrative roles. “Kathy manages the registration of athletes as well as my schedule,’’ Collins said. “She effectively deals with the minute by minute needs of athletes and coaches in classy fashion.’’
One of Collins’ goals for the new school years is to implement a captains’ leadership program.
“Captains are a liaison between their coach and their peers,’’ Collins said. “We want to train captains and empower them to be leaders. We’re planning on having seminars in each of the three seasons for coaches and captains. A group that is experienced in leadership initiatives is “Positive Coaching Alliance’’ and we’ll work with their speakers in this area.’’
Collins also wants to continue working with “Spark Kindness,’’ a non-profit Natick organization that brings in speakers emphasizing how student-athletes can help their community in a variety of ways. “Last year, we had Travis Roy speak,’’ Collins noted. “We want to continue our partnership with Spark Kindness and help our student-athletes work together for good causes.’’
Starting his eighth year as Natick’s athletic chief, the 47-year-old Collins deserves lots of credit for the Redhawks overall success. The 2017-18 school calendar should again feature a plethora of important dates for one of the state’s ultra successful athletic programs.