Harbored View
Chris Perry
For the better part of a year, they have sweat and stretched and sprinted and scored in relative obscurity. Despite their consistency, our attention has been unfairly focused on other teams with marginal success at best.

This group doesn't demand any special treatment. Throughout the year, they shine as role models amongst their peers. And when you read the names of Simmons College, American University, Lasell College, Holy Cross, Connecticut College, Fairleigh Dickinson, Wheelock College and others, then you know you should be proud of Nantucket's graduating, female student-athletes.

While most of the community was zeroing in on the local gridiron last fall, let me pass along a few stats from a couple of other fields:

The girls field hockey team went 9-8-1 which included a big win (3-1) over Martha's Vineyard (1st time in 12 years). Under the steady coaching hand of Brook Bulmer, the seniors set the tone. Evie O'Conner, Kelsey Fredericks, Melissa Waine, Kelley Martin, Kara Morelli, Maura Wendelken, Luciana Moran, Alex Devendorf and Samantha Tennant all played vital roles as the sorority seniors secured a berth in the state tournament.

Not to be outdone, Molly Dooley, Claire Minihan, Maxime O'Rourke and Brianna Vittorini helped lead a girls soccer team to a 12-2-1 record. They, too, posted a tidy win over Martha's Vineyard. In fact, a couple of the "female footballers" actually started out as members of the boy's JV team as freshman and now leave the women's program on solid ground.

The success did not stop when the weather turned colder. Like me, a good portion of the community was infatuated with the new hockey team. But right next door in the school's gym, the girls varsity basketball team went 16-6 thanks to the senior leadership of Aislinn Dugan and Evie O'Connor. Undefeated in their blue uniforms, the girls posted 3 wins over Norfolk and a defining victory over rival Harwich. The regular season success resulted in a 4th seed in the state tournament and a first round victory over Tri-County.

Just down the lane, coach Jim Pignato stroked the girls swim team to a 4-3 record with the help of seniors Kelley Martin, Kaitlyn Ellis, Rachel Schneider, Lauren Strohmeier and Sarah Beth Decker. Post season success highlighted the women's season as the girls 200 yard, freestyle relay team won the South Central Sectionals.

The ladies aren't finished yet. This spring, the successful run has continued on three levels.

First, the girls softball team has seniors Kelsey Fredericks, Aislinn Dugan, Luciana Moran, Jenetta James, Katie Buchanon, Lauren Fry, Desire Beaumont, Alex Devendorf and Jenah Newman all contributing for coaches Chris Maury and Robin Harvey. As members of a tougher new league, the girls are hovering around the .500 mark with several games rescheduled for later in the season.

Not to be forgotten, Rachel Schneider, Liesel Sheppard, Connie McDonough-Thayer, Annie Seager, Sara Erickson and Heather Swift are sailing on the varsity sailing team. In fact, Nantucket will be hosting the Women's New England Sailing Championships on May 13 and May 14.

Lastly, it wasn't that long ago when the girl's varsity lacrosse team was running on the side of the road out to the Delta Fields and losing to the Vineyard by 20 goals. Those days are over. Thanks to a resurgence of interest over the last few years, the girls are back. Presently standing at 2-1-1, Evie O'Connor, Kelley Martin and Kaitlyn Ellis lead coach Heather Williams' squad, which has a legitimate shot at a state tournament berth.

What has led to the women's success this year? One obvious answer has to be the coaching consistency. Coaches such as Brook Bulmer (who stepped down after 18 years as head field hockey coach), Chris Maury, Robin Harvey, Richard Diamond, Missy Dee and Willis Ferreira among

others have all played a leading role and mentored their programs to success. Their veteran style has certainly been a positive influence on the girls. The consistency and lack of turnover has clearly led to some much needed stability in the demanding schedule of a student-athlete.

Perhaps you can say that these girls are one dimensional and are focusing solely on athletics resulting in good team records. Au contraire. Just look at the list of college acceptances. In addition, the girls lacrosse team routinely has the highest team grade point average in the school. Evie O'Conner is the senior class president. Melissa Waine could play on any of the school's varsity teams...boys included. Maura Wendelken is a talented musician. National Honor Society members, Junior Miss participants, actresses in "Charlie Brown" singers in the Accidentals and Naturals and community volunteers.

Well, this year is just a flash in the pan. The cupboard is now bare. Not true. On the immediate horizon, it may be difficult to duplicate the across the board success which we are witnessing this year. However, underclasswomen such as Jessica Guevera, Grace-Ann Tornovish, Erin Lindsay, Mandy Cahill, Fraser Long, Cassie Moran, Ainsley Ellis, Haley Cabre, Miranda Dale, Ashley Martin, Leah Newman and Emily Pitts are just a few of the young girls who will be more than capable of carrying the torch forward.

It's been a great ride for everyone involved in the girls programs. They have represented our community well and the young women deserve more than a fleeting 15 minutes of fame. I encourage everyone to stop by and support your neighbor. Your positive encouragement sends a healthy message that we appreciate the dedication and commitment.

As Andre Malraux once said, " The most important thing in life is to see to it that you are never beaten." Even on the rare occasions when the girls do come up short on the scoreboard, they still behave like winners to me.

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