Schools
Rockets Review: Winter Athletes Compete in All-Star Games
Needham High School boys hockey players and wrestlers played in big events last week.
By Micah Hauben, NHS Director of Athletics
On Sunday, April 1, two seniors, Timmy Parlato (defense) and Connor Murray (goalie), played on the South Team in the third annual MSCHA High School Boys Ice Hockey All-Star Game All-Star Game at the DCU Center in Worcester.
Although the South lost 4-2, the seniors played well, with Murray tallying nine saves in his one period of work.
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Also last week, Needham wrestlers participated in the NHSCA National Wrestling Championships on March 28 through April 1 in Virginia Beach, VA.
Head coach Paul Ahern provided the following write-up about the event:
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Needham High School juniors Mark Carroll and Mikhail Khibkin proved themselves worthy competitors at the NHSCA National Wrestling Championships in Virginia Beach, VA.
Carroll advanced to the Round of 12 while Khibkin went the distance with an eventual National Champion.
Carroll opened with a come-from-behind win over two-time South Carolina State Champ Label Lewis, with a third period pin. In his next match, Carroll fell in a first period scramble to All-American Andrew Atkinson of Virginia.
Regrouping after his loss, Carroll ran off three very impressive wins: first, downing Jake Vick of Delaware, 5-3; then, pulling off a 10-6 win over top Florida product, Michael May; and finally, beating Jeff Deleon of Nevada, 1-0. In the Round of 12, the match for All-American (top eight earns AA), he was matched with a two-time Indiana All-Stater, Luke Welch, and fell in 4-1 decision.
"Mark proved he's right there," coach Nick Gamble said. "He's in the mix of the top high school juniors in the country. No doubt about it."
Khibkin also had a great run. In his first match, Khibkin fell behind early to Chris Jackson of South Carolina, and then came back to take a hard fought 6-4 victory. In his next match, he faced Justin Arthur of West Virginia, a two-time state champ. Khibkin held his own early but eventually downed by the National Champ, 13-2.
His final consolation match saw Khibkin matched against All-Region New Jersey wrestler Mike Palomba, where he was edged in a 4-0 decision.
Gamble, speaking highly of the duo's training for the tournament and the great experience they had in Virginia, also added that the guys "saw what it takes to wrestle at the highest level," and as of next year's NHS team, "are focused on working hard and getting their teammates at it, too."
Spring Seasons Underway
On Thursday, the Needham boys and girls track teams started off the 2012 spring season with their meet at Wellesley. On a cold afternoon, the teams competed with mixed results, with the boys earning a strong Bay State Conference victory, and the girls falling to a talented Wellesley High School squad.
Friday saw the boys volleyball and girls lacrosse teams in action for the first time. Boys bolleyball traveled to BSC power Natick and earned a hard-fought 3-1 league win, while Girls LAX opened up with the first home game of the spring, taking down non-league Acton-Boxborough High School, 14-6.
Check out these previews of girls and boys lacrosse as posted by via YouTube:
Check http://nhs.needham.k12.ma.us/athletics for Rocket Athletic news, updates, forms, links and complete team schedules.
Rockets Review is a weekly update distributed by email by Needham High School Director of Athletics Micah Hauben and published with permission on Needham Patch. Additional athletics information can be found on the NHS Athletic Department Web site.
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