2012: a banner year

Photo caption: Holy Name's Emily Kreidler, Shepherd Hill's Brooke Packard, Holy Name's Gigi Guenther, and Shephed Hill's Tina Gauvin following the Rams game vs Bartlett.

by Steev Riccardo

Greeting Sports fans! Welcome to the final View From The Sidelines of 2012 in what was a banner year for local sports.

We are very excited about the new boxing club coming to Webster. Please be sure to check out the full story in this week’s Patriot.

Ironically as I finished writing the story at the Dudley Library, where I occasionally like to write, I ran into Dennis "The Bear" Tremblay. Dennis works for the town of Dudley so it’s not that unusual for him to be in the library, but we immediately struck up a conversation about the new club.

Of course "The Bear," who we have talked about in this column before, and I met years ago at the old boxing club on High Street in Webster where we both trained under the tutelage of the great Joe Arns.

Every time the subject of boxing comes up in Webster, it’s only natural to remember Joe Arns. He helped so many young kids in town and gave us a place to work out and learn not just about boxing but about life skills. I can’t even tell you how many times I swept those floors at that old gym on High Street simply because Joe asked me to. It’s good to know that there will once again be a boxing ring set up in town.

The View’s Top 5 of the week:

1. Matt Huberdault, Bartlett boys basketball: "Hubs" went off against Shepherd Hill for a career high 28 points, including 7 three-point bombs, to lead the Indians in the big annual rivalry game.

2. Donny Freeland, Oxford basketball: The Pirates’ senior co-captain scored 24 points in his team’s win over Nipmuc. He also grabbed 11 rebounds which is pretty darn good for a guard.

3. Brooke Packard, Shepherd Hill girls’ basketball: "Miss Defense" not only played her typical lock down "D" but she also connected for 17 points in the Rams’ blowout win over Bartlett.

4. Michael Rapoza, Shepherd Hill boys’ basketball: The Rams’ new freshman sensation scored 20 points in an awesome losing effort against Bartlett. The kid looks like he’s going to be a good one.

5. Gigi Guenther, Holy Name girls’ basketball: Webster’s own Gigi Guenther had a huge night scoring 18 points and leading the Naps past Algonquin in a battle of the Central Mass. heavyweights.

SWCL Fall All-Stars announced: The Southern Worcester County League announced their all-stars for the fall season and the local teams were represented quite well as you can see below:

Boys’ Soccer

First Team: Evan Anderson (Bartlett), Tyler Martin (Shepherd Hill)

Second Team: Kody Morio (Bartlett), Jacob Simonis (Bartlett), Donnie Freeland (Oxford), Nick Kondek (Shepherd Hill), Chris Clouatre (Shepherd Hill)

Girls’ Soccer

First Team: Dani Stone (Bartlett), Emily Dawidczyk (Oxford), Lauren Barton (Shepherd Hill), Amanda Keovongmanysar (Shepherd Hill)

Second Team: Gina Manzi (Oxford), Tina Gauvin (Shepherd Hill), Meghan Dunn (Shepherd Hill)

Field Hockey

First Team: Marrissa Colby (Shepherd Hill)

Second Team: Ashley Mikkila (Oxford), Mary Cayer (Shepherd Hill)

Boys’ Cross-Country

First Team: Daniel Stomski (Shepherd Hill), Elijah Fossas(Shepherd Hill), Hunter Schultz (Shepherd Hill), Jason Bangs (Shepherd Hill)

Second Team: Brendan Pratt (Shepherd Hill), Alberto Salcedo (Shepherd Hill)

Girls Cross-Country

First Team: Stella Worters (Shepherd Hill), Juleanna Schultz (Shepherd Hill), Lucy Harmon (Shepherd Hill),

Second Team: Rachel Connor (Shepherd Hill),

Volleyball

First Team: Danielle Watkins (Shepherd Hill), Jen Green (Shepherd Hill), Julie Preissler (Shepherd Hill), Johanna L’Heureux (Shepherd Hill)

Second Team: Sarah Zieminski (Shepherd Hill), Emily Hanson (Shepherd Hill)

Thank you very much for reading and supporting this column all year long. I look forward to writing in for another year and covering the amazing local athletes that we have here in Southern Worcester County and especially the high school kids at Bartlett, Oxford, and Shepherd Hill. Happy New Year!

Until next week, see you on the sidelines! Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with any sports news and check out the new View From The Sidelines Facebook page with exclusive photos and news at https://www.facebook.com/ViewFromTheSidelines