SPORTS

School sports were a success on many levels during the past year, with nine teams representing Nantucket in state tournaments, the capture of several league championships and the addition of three new teams to the island roster. Still one of the smallest schools in the state, the accomplishments of Nantucket’s athletes did much to make the island proud.

2006 saw the rise of soccer to new prominence, the continued achievements of the swimming, softball, lacrosse, golf and sailing programs, a return to glory for basketball, and yet another winning season for the football team. The year began with playoff runs for both the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams and ended with the boys’ soccer team’s bid for a state championship.

The boys’ basketball team rebounded from a disappointing finish in ’05 to capture its second Lighthouse Conference Championship in three years with a 12-9 record. The girls’ team, meanwhile, cruised to the second best record in school history, going 16-6 overall, one victory shy of the record. Both teams saw tournament action, with the girls’ squad making it to the second round.

The swim team also competed in the state tournament, with diving sensation Nick Valero capturing fifth place.

There was a new sport on the scene as well, as a hockey team was put onto the ice for the first time in Nantucket history.

In the spring, a reinvigorated boys’ lacrosse team began the season 1-4 but came back to make the state tournament. The girls’ lacrosse team capped a successful year by making its first ever appearance in the state playoffs.

After dropping five of its first eight games, the softball team did what it does best by putting together a 9-1 winning streak to close the regular season. From there, the lady Whalers played two tournament games, losing a close, 1-0, contest to Greater New Bedford. The game was the last in a Whaler uniform for Kelsey Fredericks, one of the most accomplished athletes in Nantucket High School history.

Both the baseball and softball teams competed in the Mayflower League for the first time, but the association was to be short-lived. Citing travel considerations, the league’s athletic directors did not invite Nantucket back for another season, meaning both squads will play as independents this year.

The NHS sailing team cruised to a sixrace sweep in a season-ending regatta against Harwich, and a fifth place finish in the ensuing Cape and Islands championship regatta.

In the fall, Lori Moran took over for long-time field hockey coach Brooke Bulmer and led the lady Whalers to the first round of the state tournament.

The golf team captured a consecutive Lighthouse Conference flag with a league record of 6-0, despite losing several key players from the previous year’s championship squad.

Moving to the Mayflower League’s small division, the football Whalers improved on 2005’s 1-9 record to finish 6- 5 overall. Only a mid-season loss to West Bridgewater prevented the team from competing in its tenth Super Bowl game. Head coach Vito Capizzo finished the year with 290 victories. The junior varsity notched another winning season with a record of 7-1-1, solidifying veteran coach Dennis Caron’s position as one of the winningest JV coaches in state history.

Girls’ soccer was added to the list of high school athletics for the first time, and the team battled to second place in the Lighthouse Conference. Another new team was formed at the Boys’ and Girls’ Club where a middle school traveling football team competed against other schools from the Cape and islands for the first time and finished the year with a 6-2 record.

The story of the year, however, was the boys’ soccer team. Led by state scoring leader Caio Correa (the first Nantucket athlete to lead the state in scoring since Beau Almodobar in 1979), the squad played in four tournament games and made it to the Division 3 state finals — the deepest any Nantucket team had gone in a multi-game championship series — before falling to Old Rochester in a tough contest. Caleb Mitchell, and Correa were named to the state all-star team and were joined by coach Rich Brannigan at the Division 3 all-star game. In December, Correa was named Division 3 player of the year by the Boston Globe.

I

It was a great year all around for island sports. From top: Little League allstars celebrate; high school lacrosse made a comeback; Kelsey Fredericks closed a stellar NHS career; basketball legend KC Jones once again held his popular clinic at the Boys and Girls Club; the football team celebrated the 40th anniversary of 1966’s undefeated team by improving from 1-9 to 6-5.