By Christopher Tremblay

The 2021-22 school year brought Norwood High School one of its best year in terms of athletics with 4 Tri-Vally League Championships and 12 tournament qualifying teams. The winter season was the most successful with four teams gaining entry into the State Tournament with both the boys and girls basketball teams playing in the Division 2 State Championship game.

Although the previous school year was incredible, the Mustangs put together another rather successful athletic year in 2022-23. Norwood had nine teams qualify for the State Tournament with those teams going 8-8.

 

Once again, the winter season had the best performance as all four teams once again qualifying for the post-season. Last year, it was the basketball teams that went the furthest in the tournament, but this winter the boys ice hockey team held that distinguishing honor. The Mustang skaters went 12-6-2 during the regular season and managed to make it to the Elite 8 for the second year in a row with its biggest win coming against number one seed Tewksbury Memorial, 5-2.

“The boy’s hockey has been competitive over the past few years and this year they continue to play at the top of their game,” Norwood Athletic Director Jon Longley said. “The program has definitely taken another step and over the last three years has been one of our better teams.”

The girls ice hockey team went 10-6-5, and was able to upset Martha’s Vineyard en route to their eventual loss in the Round of 16 to Duxbury. Morgan Roach once again showcased her scoring ability on the ice as one of the team’s outstanding goal scorers throughout her Norwood career.

Coach Kristen McDonnell moved over from the boy’s team to take control of the girls squad, where she helped propel the Mustangs to a 13-7 record keeping the team on the right path. With only one senior gracing the court, Norwood was able to make it to the Round of 16 before they were edged out 67-64 by Pentucket Regional. According to the Mustang AD, the girls basketball team has been the most successful program over the last five years. 

On the other side, Chris Fraioli came in to take over for McDonnell and lead the boy’s team to one of the two TVL Championships captured by Norwood this school year. The boys went 18-4, and made it to the Round of 16 before losing to Leominster. Noah Beaudet was named an all-scholastic player for the Mustangs in addition to picking up his second league MVP. The senior, who is headed to Emmanuel to play basketball, also eclipsed the 1,000 point plateau at Norwood scoring 1,329 points for the Mustangs. 

Although Norwood had a number of athletes qualify for individual state tournament appearances, it was wrestler Nate Hsu who took home top honors capturing his second straight Sectional Championship.

In addition to the four teams that qualified for the tournament during the winter season, Norwood’s other programs to advance into the post-season were field hockey and golf during the fall season, and baseball, softball, and girls lacrosse during the spring.

“Field Hockey Coach Alison Doliner has been here for 11 years, and she continues to push the team,” Longley said. “She has built a program that we continuously expect big things from and that will continue next fall. The team will have a big junior class returning next year with a lot of experience, as well as Shae Larkee, who will be back after coming back from an injury this year to give the team a boost.”

While the Mustangs had nine teams make it to the State Tournament, girls soccer was not one of them. However, the AD likes what he has seen this past year and what the future holds.

“(Coach) Kim Brinklow has really molded this team to be competitive and they should be as good as ever next year,” Longley said. “Goalie Trish Wladkowski has played phenomenal for the team,”

This spring, baseball player Jack Cropper was not only named to the All-Scholastic team, but the Norwood pitcher will be taking his talents to Northeastern next year.

The other TVL Champion this past school year was the softball team under the guidance of long-time coach Carol Savino. Under Savino the softball team went 10-8 this season but fell in the first round of the tournament. Savino, who has been coaching for 14 years, has been the most successful team at Norwood overall with eight league titles in the Bay State Conference and Tri-Valley League while qualifying for the tournament every single season.

“Carol has really had an incredible career here at Norwood,” the AD said. “I’ve worked with a lot of experienced coaches through the years, but I’d have to say she is by far the most passionate person I’ve ever met in regard to her sport.”

On the softball field, senior Sam Rose, who was the TVL MVP last year as a shortstop, gave up her position this spring to fill the vacancy the Mustangs had behind the plate to help the team.

“Rose sacrificed her senior season and individual success for the better of the team” Longley said. “That says a lot about her character.”

Under Coach Mike Lodge, the girls lacrosse team has improved drastically over the last three years, and this spring qualified for the tournament for the second straight season. According to Longley, Lodge, who is in his third season as the Mustang lacrosse coach, has really established the program to be competitive on the field at all times. The girls lacrosse team made the tournament for the first time last year in school history, but as a 32 seed was eliminated in the preliminary round. This year, Norwood was ranked 25 with a 9-9 record and lost in the Round of 32 to Grafton.

Last, but certainly not least, the boys 4x800 relay team made up of Dylan O’Brien, Dylan Hamwey, Cam LoPiccoli and Ryan Murray, finished second in the Division 3 State meet this spring. The foursome crossed the finish line with a time of 18:18.49 behind Oliver Ames.