Girls' cross

country team

'talented'

WOODSTOCK — The coach of The Woodstock Academy’s girls’ cross country team said his team is young but talented.

John Ywarsky said: “This year’s version of the Centaurs is young, with over ¾ of the team being freshmen or sophomores.” With only three seniors and three juniors, he’s looking for contributions from the younger members of the squad. Seniors Matsas and Randolph look ready to lead the team, with Matsas battling for the top spot, he said

Sophomores Gohn, Bourbeau, and Fortier will all contribute on the score sheet. Bourbeau led the team in miles logged over the summer. As long as Gohn stays healthy, she looks to be a top five runner for WA, he added.

The freshman class is deep and very talented, he said. McClure, Mink, and Bazinet all logged impressive miles this summer, and have kept up with intense early-season workouts. DiPippo (2016s QVJC XC champion) is ready to race, and will challenge Matsas at the top of the score sheet. 

This is Ywarsky’s fifth year as coach. He called this season “a complete mystery. Do Matsas and DiPippo give the Centaurs a formidable 1-2 punch to combat the loss of ECC Champion Lawrence? Have the sophomores developed enough to contribute in a tough ECC DII? Can Randolph, Chaponis, and Gianfriddo fill in the top seven? Only time, and a season that starts at the Martha’s Vineyard Invitational will tell. 

Top returning players include:

Sr. Hannah Matsas 

Sr. Leah Randolph 

Sr. Eden Law 

Jr. Summer Chaponis 

Jr. Aria Gianfriddo 

So. Megan Gohn 

So. Alexia Bourbeau 

So. Cassidy Fortier 

Top newcomers include:

Jr. Shannon D’Alessandro

So. Amelie Pressel 

Fr. Stella DiPippo 

Fr. Emily McClure 

Fr. Joey Mink 

Fr. Iris Bazinet 

Key losses include: Sylvia Lawrence, Brittany Eber, and Shai-Lin Gothreau.