2008 A Look Ahead
Sports
From the current high school basketball season, to great expectations for the Whalers' softball team to fresh looks at island golf courses, the new year is full of promise.

The most anticipation to start off the year will be whether the girls' basketball team can better last year's 20-4 record and advance beyond last year's trip to the south sectional finals. Finishing the regular season 17-3, and taking three more games in the state tournament round, last year's edition of the Lady Whalers won more games than any of its predecessors, and fell just one game shy of the state Division 4 finals and a trip to the new Boston Garden.

The boys' squad also has much to build upon as it, too, garnered more victories than any Nantucket team before it (17) and went two games deep into the playoffs.

Both teams also boast last year's high scorers in the Lighthouse Conference with junior Angela Paterson and senior Jordan Ferreira, so the excitement levels should remain high at the John J. O'Neill gym this winter.

The girls' softball team also had a record-setting year - a perfect, 18-0 season to be precise. With many veterans returning, including ace pitcher Olivia Hull, this squad is also in search of that elusive state championship.

What must be noted is that no matter how these teams fare, fans should not overlook the historic significance of having three record-setting teams all playing during the same year.

Another team that consistently sends representatives to state events, Nantucket's swimming and diving team also looks to have a strong year. The new kid on the block no more, the boys' lacrosse team made the playoffs for the eighth time in the nine years it's been in existence as a varsity sport, and is now firmly established as a perennial playoff participant. The Whalers' baseball team also made the playoffs behind a strong pitching staff that returns to the mound this spring with some tournament seasoning behind it.

Beyond high school, there are the road races, kicked off in early June with the 28th annual Iron Teams relay, sailing regattas, with the seasonopening 36th annual Figawi race, and, of course, golf.

While golfers at Sankaty Head adjust to the new (and closer) placement of the 70-foot-high lighthouse, and Miacomet golfers enjoy refurbished and redone fairways and greens come summer, the big question will be whether golfers can still enjoy a leisurely round at the island's original golf course, the Siasconset Golf Club. Judging by last season's rounds, the course hasn't looked or played this well in years. There was talk near the end of 2007, however, that the Coffin family, who has owned the land since well before the course was laid out in 1894, may be looking to sell the property. If so, it is hoped it will be to a conservation organization or conservation minded individual who will ensure the 66-acre course remains open to the public for many more informal, and enjoyable, rounds of golf, as it has for 114 years.

Come fall, there'll be some changes to the football coaching staff, and we'll all be wondering if this will be the year Vito wins his

300th. I

- Steve Sheppard

Important Dates

Friday, Feb. 22
Tournament pairings for boys and
girls basketball announced
Memorial Day
36th annual Figawi Race Weekend
July 4
Firecracker 5K road race
July 14
Waiter and Waitress Race
Aug. 8-17
Third annual Nantucket Race Week regatta
Aug. 17
36th annual Opera House Cup
Aug. 16, 17
30th annual Nantucket Demolition Derby