Sports
By Don Lyons - December 1, 2005
Elise Swartwood and Chesley Wiseman (boat #4) try to gain an advantage at the jibe mark in the U.S. Coast Guard Regatta. Photos by Doug Heil
MV sails through fall, gears up for nationals in May
The MVRHS sailors enjoyed a busy and successful fall season, comprised of four events from across New England and the season-ending Great Oakes regatta in Austin, Texas.
The fall season often works as an introduction for new members, focusing on boat handling, boat speed, and teamwork.
The Vineyarders had a strong spring of 2005, finishing 12th out of 80 New England teams.
This fall, Head Coach Doug Heil and the varsity squad had four goals, hoping to build on that success. They wanted to train new high school sailors, host the Arnold Brown Regatta, Qualify for the Great Oakes Regatta, and train for the prestigious Team Racing Nationals, to take place on Martha's Vineyard, May 27-28, 2006.
So far, everything has gone according to plan.
The Vineyarders started the season with over 20 sailors ready to go for the Arnold Brown Regatta at the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club, September 18. The regatta serves as the first qualifier for the Great Oakes. It is also the only race in which both the varsity and JV teams take part.
Conor Lodge and Blake Stelle of SMV6 look for a spot on the starting line in the Arnold Brown JV race.
Nine teams came to compete in the 5th annual event, named after the man who did so much for high school and junior sailing on MV.
The Vineyard varsity acquitted themselves well indeed. Senior Elise Swartwood and sophomores Tristan Lodge, Emily Reich, and Chesley Wiseman sailed to a second place finish behind powerful Xavier of Middletown, Ct.
The JV hung tough and squeezed out Lincoln/ Sudbury for the eighth spot.
The previous week, Sept. 11, Tristan Lodge went solo at the Laser Invite at Tabor Academy in Marion, finishing 16th in a 22-boat Laser fleet.
The second Great Oakes qualifier, the Casco Bay Open in Portland, Me. on Oct. 2 was cancelled, due to lack of wind, setting up a crucial date Oct. 9 at the Fall Fun Fest on the Charles River in Boston.
The heavy rains may have dampened some of the fun, but the Vineyarders finished an impressive 5th out of 18 boats.
The elements would again test the MV sailors at the USCGA Open at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Oct 15-16. The Vineyarders tackled the two-day national event with aplomb, braving shifty 6-25 knot winds and strong currents to place 8th among 18 entries.
The MV record and its strong resume were good enough to beat out 35 other New England teams and secure one of five regional spots in the Great Oakes, Nov. 13-14.
Sailors Swartwood, Lodge, Reich, and Wiseman topped half the fleet of 33 in light, variable, and dying breezes, to qualify for the gold fleet on day two, en-route to a 16th place finish.
Next up for MV is the Orange Bowl Regatta, Dec. 26-30 in Miami. Then, all focus returns to training for the spring season and a run at the national title.
The A Level finalists: Monte Bizarro, Sally Lasker, Adam Bresnick, and Laura Schroeder. Photos by Ralph Stewart
Turkey Open serves up a winner
The Vineyard Tennis Center, Workout and Spa (VTC) held its annual Turkey Open tennis tournament for charity, November 18-20, and it was a smashing success.
Proceeds from the event went to benefit the Vineyard Project, a program created by the Safe Haven Project, Inc. that invites children diagnosed with HIV to the Island for a week of fun and support.
Safe Haven is an international non-profit organization serving people throughout the U.S. and Africa. The Vineyard Project is the first and longest running program in the U.S. and is considered a model of care. The camp has been held on the Island each April for the past 12 years.
The 2005 Turkey Open matched 27 mixed doubles teams in three levels: A, B, and Senior.
Tomas Redner drops a volley in the B Level final.
The winning team members in each level received a turkey, compliments of Cronig's Market and the Edgartown Stop and Shop. In a VTC first, turkeys were also awarded to the best-dressed players, Lauren Franklin and Richard Walker.
As for the action, apparently Cinderella stayed home, as the top three seeds won in each class.
Sally Lasker and Monte Bizzaro passed their 'A' levels by virtue of a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Laura Schroeder and Adam Bresnick.
In the 'B' bracket, Christine Todd and Tomas Redner outlasted the upstart tandem of Chris Forbes and Katie Upson 7-6, 6-1. Forbes and Upson knocked out second seeded Peter Lally and Sarah Just in the semis.
In the inaugural senior competition, Abbe Burt and Stan Hart prevailed over Edie Blake and James Prichard 6-2, 6-1.
Consolation round winners included Kelly Nagi and Sandy Nadelstein in the A Level, Gavin and Lauren Franklin in the B Level, and Seniors Rene Blanc and Cheryl Neal.
The VTC would like to thank all those who contributed to the success of the tournament, especially Turkey Open coordinator Jesse Wilfert, Kara Nelligan, Abbey Leighton, Cronig's manager Sarah McCay, and Blair Cody, manager of the Edgartown Stop and Shop.
Race winner Jackson Parker leads the way at the start. Photo by Brian Jolley
5K for KJ
Nearly 200 hardy souls turned out on a brisk Saturday morning at MVRHS ready to race in the 5K for KJ.
The event was held to support the Kevin Johnson Cross Country Scholarship Fund, which has been established in memory of Kevin Johnson, a former high school runner who died in a car accident last year. From all accounts, the day was an unbridled success, generating over $3,000 for the inaugural scholarships to be given to two cross-country graduating seniors.
MVRHS senior Jackson Parker was first to the tape in 18:31, followed by cross-country teammates Lucas Emin (19:46.11) and Evan Kendall (19:46.63). The top three, of course, also topped the men's 15-19 bracket.
On the ladies side, Bonnie Kingsbury came in first with a time of 20:45. MVRHS all-stater Hilary Dreyer (21:09) was second, and Elise Chapdelaine (21:17) was third.
Top three results by class:
Men's 10 and under: Justin Smith, West Tisbury, 26:14, Brendan Meseda, Oak Bluffs, 27:02, Vincent Carlomagno, WT, 36:12.
Men's 11-14: Robbie Osmers, WT, 20:43, Max Conley, WT, 20:47, Taylor Smith, WT, 22:57.
Men's 20-29: Brian Smith, Annapolis, Md., 20:15, Alex Wells, Hyannis, 22:00, Ben Brisson, Edgartown, 38:56.
Men's 30-39: Peter Hatt, Edg., 23:36, Peter Rosbeck, VH, 23:49, Kyle Johnson, OB, 24:41.
Men's 40-49: Eric Hultmark, W. Roxbury, 20:27, Pat Parker, OB, 20:45, Paul Verterfeuille, VH, 21:43.
Men's 50-59: Tom Robinson, VH, 20:35, Dan Parker, VH, 22:24, Dan Seklecki, VH, 26:59.
Men's 60-69: David Linton, Edg., 26:25, Chuck Hughes, WT, 57:26.
Men's 70+: Peter Palches, VH, 59:54.
Women's 10 and under: Carter D'Angelo, WT, 43:41, Taylor Ibarrondo, WT, 58:12, Katie Gelerman, Canton, 1:01:32.
Women's 11-14: Hilary Dreyer, WT, 21:09, Alexia Schroeder, WT, 25:19, Megan Dreyer, WT, 25:55.
Women's 15-19: Genevieve Flanders, Chilmark, 21:27, Sagitta Woodman, WT, 24:07, Fiona MacLean, OB, 24:59.
Women's 20-29: Bonnie Kingsbury, VH, 20:45, Elise Chapdelaine, VH, 21:17, Kate MacLean, OB, 24:49.
Women's 30-39: Julie Hatt, Edg., 25:47, Marcela Poulert, Edg., 26:29, Julie Gelerman, Canton, 29:30.
Women's 40-49: Rachel Shanor, Milton, 23:29, K. Shanor, OB, 23:30, Anita Smith, WT, 24:30.
Women's 50-59: Sally Hughes, Plainfield, N.J., 31:13, Sharon Parzanese, Duck, N.C., 31:27, Joan Chapdelaine, VH, 37:36.
