Westford Academy - Athletics Home Page

Westford, MA; Westford Academy selected Chris Bramanti as the new boys’ varsity basketball coach. An English teacher at Westford Academy for the past 14 years, Coach Bramanti has also served in various roles on the basketball staff under retiring head coach Ed Scollan for 13 years. In addition to his basketball responsibilities at WA, Chris brings 20+ years of coaching experience including his involvement in many summer AAU and summer league programs throughout the area. “I’m incredibly thrilled and excited about the opportunity to be the next basketball coach at WA. I obviously have huge shoes to fill, but I’m ready for the challenge,” states Chris Bramanti. Chris is a native of Burlington, MA and currently resides in Chelmsford with his wife Gretchen and 7 children.

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1st Annual Westford Academy Football Alumni Golf Tournament - See flyer on the right hand side of this page.

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WA Spring 2012 Sports Awards Night

Monday June 11th 2012 6:30 PAC

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Follow Westford Academy Athletics on Twitter

@ WAGreyGhosts

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TEAM PICTURE DAY ORDER FORM SHEET

PDF Proline Sports.pdf

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GIRLS ALPINE SKI TEAM WINS MIAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!!!

At Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, the Westford Academy Girls Ski Team capped off a great season by winning the Massachusetts Athletic Association State Alpine Skiing Championship. Team members Jessica Bishop, Jessica Webb, Natalie Bishop, Alexa Sullivan, Katie Stokes, Mady Cady, Vanessa Palermo, and Katie Mitrano already had a great season before today winning the Mass Bay West Alpha Division Title and by winning the Giant Slalom and the Combined at the Mass Bay West All-Star Title with the Alpha and Omega Divisions.

These results qualified Jessica Bishop, Jessica Webb, Natalie Bishop, Alexa Sullivan, and Katie Stokes to race at State Championships and Mady Cady, and Vanessa Palermo to potentially race as Mass Bay West Alternates for State Championships.

After the first run in the slalom, the Westford Academy Girls had three girls in the top seventeen scoring 251 points beating out Notre Dame Academy - Hingham and Andover High School with 249 and 241 points respectively. Strong finishes were placed by senior Captains Jessica Bishop, and Jessica Webb finishing eleventh and thirteenth and freshman Katie Stokes finished seventeenth.

Andover came back strong in the giant slalom for the second run scoring 249 points to Westford's 241 points. Jessica Bishop, Jessica Webb and Katie Stokes again finished strong placing 18th, 20th and 27th respectively. Westford's 251 slalom points and 241 giant slalom points combined for a total of 492 team points edging out runner up Andover by 2 points. Andover's combined score was 490 points.

Westford truly turned in a great team performance today especially in the slalom making it difficult for Andover to get those needed two points. This was due to the fact that Westford's Natalie Bishop and Alexa Sullivan placed ahead of Andover's Nicole Ericson moving her two points further down the point scale. Just so happens that these two points were what the Westford Girls Team needed to win.

The Westford Academy Boys Team also had a great day finishing fourth place in the state with senor captain Thomas Fahey finishing thirteenth in the slalom, senor captain Thomas Yorke placing sixteenth in the giant slalom, and freshman James Larsen placing twentieth in the slalom.

Thanks,

Coach Erik Ruhmann

Westford Academy Alpine Ski Team

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CONGRATULATIONS GIRLS SWIMMING AND DIVING 2011-2012 MIAA DIVISION 1 STATE CHAMPIONS!!!

Officials Results Link:

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Girls Ice Hockey- Congratulations to the WA Girls ice hockey team for their big 3-2 win over Concord-Carlisle on Wednesday 2/8/12. The win clinched the league title in the MVC/DCL Small Division. Congrats!

Girls Hockey Celebrates the League Title!

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WA Student Athletes Announce College Selections

Doug Searl - Soccer - Merrimack College

Matt Ellis- Basketball- Endicott College

Ryan jann- Basketball - Colby College

Hayley Katkowski - Soccer- Rutgers University

Brendan Sullivan- Track & Field - Yale University

Alex Eaton - Lacrosse- Lehigh University

Melanie Jordan - Field Hockey - Babson University

Riley Cox - Baseball- St. Joseph's

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Westford Academy Appoints Boys Lacrosse Coach

Westford Academy recently selected Matt Tholander as the new varsity lacrosse coach for the 2012 season. Coach Tholander served as the assistant varsity lacrosse coach the last two seasons under long time and highly respected Gus Bickford. Coach Tholander is also a varsity assistant football coach and head varsity wrestling coach at Westford Academy. He also has 14 years experience as an assistant varsity lacrosse coach. Coach Tholander played lacrosse for Billerica High School and UMASS Amherst. Matt is currently a union carpenter and lives in Lowell.

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A FRIENDLY REMINDER ABOUT FAN BEHAVIOR!

As we quickly approach the end of the winter season, I would like to take a moment to remind all parents, spectators and fans about appropriate conduct during interscholastic competitions. It is very important for the culture of educational athletics that spectators demonstrate good sportsmanship at all times. Please cheer for and encourage the Westford Academy teams and refrain from any negative comments/cheers toward the officials, players or opposing fans.

Westford is a wonderful community with very supportive and caring parents and fans. So please demonstrate this good sportsmanship at all times.

Good luck to all teams as we complete this fall season.

Go Grey Ghosts.

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Information Regarding MRSA

Wednesday September 28th, 2011

Dear Parents/ Guardians,

It has recently come to our attention that four students at Westford Academy have been diagnosed with MRSA and Staph infections. Our Director of School Nurses, Joan Mitchell, has consulted with Sandy Collins, Director of Health Care Services, and they have requested that I provide you with the enclosed information.

Westford Academy has taken these infections very seriously and is continuing to disinfect locker rooms, gym mats and equipment. All coaches are reviewing, with their athletes, ways to recognize the signs and symptoms, as well as methods to prevent Staph infections.

I am asking that you review the attached Massachusetts Department of Public health fact sheets with your child. If you have questions, please contact Joan Mitchell at 978-692-5570, extension 2115.

Sincerely,

Everett V. Olsen, Jr.

Superintendent of Schools

MRSA_Factsheet 01.pdf
MRSA_HelpfulReminders.pdf

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Attention Parents and Students - New Concussion Information/Requirements

As part of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Regulation 105 CMR 201.000 "Head Injuries and Concussions in Extracurricular Athletic Activities" students and parents are required to complete one of the free online training videos provided below. By signing the Westford Public Schools Athletics Release Agreement, parents and students acknowledge their completion of this regulation. (A completed certificate does not need to be turned in with other forms.)

Required Free Online Training Video Links for Parents/Students - Please complete one.

http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/HeadsUp/online_training.html

http://www.nfhslearn.com/electiveDetail.aspx?courseID=15000

Additional Information for Review by Athletes/Parents

http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/pdf/Athletes_Fact_Sheet-a.pdf

http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/pdf/Parents_Fact_Sheet-a.pdf

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE STATE CHAMPION WESTFORD ACADEMY GIRLS TENNIS TEAM

The team defeated Amherst High School 4-1 on Wednesday June 15th at Clark University in the MIAA Division 1 State Final.

64 Student Athletes Complete the Grey Ghost Captain’s Academy

64 Westford Academy student athletes completed the 1^st annual Captain’s Academy on Thursday June 23^rd 2011. The full day seminar covered many different aspects of leadership and the roles and responsibilities of being a varsity captain at Westford Academy.

The following student athletes completed the training:

Ryan Motyl, Alanna Weiss, Courtney Martin, Katy Pietras, Courtney Shafer, Charlie Goodwin, Matt Beardsley, Alex Montemurro, Nina Fultz, Priyanka Ram, Jacob Monney, Kyle Boyd, Katie Campbell, Jenn Rigby, Ryan Jann, Meghan Kibblehouse, Rachel Cloutier, Jessica Bishop, Jessica Webb, Cameron Carlyle, Tia Caldwell, Thomas Yorke, William Alden, Patrick Turpin, Laurianne Posch, Danielle Victory, Pat Houghton, Matt Brett, Ian Speliotis, Joey Brunelle, Doug Searl, Justin Pawlowski, Jackie Courchaine, Caley Rolt, Andre Lacroix, Sean Burke, Matt Breen, Brian O’Neal, John Ford, Steph Arno, Katie Lowe, Sydney Diamond, Allie Brody, Shannon Donahue, Amy Maclure, Kelly Huber, Duncan Kearns, Nicole Larsen, Connor Peacock, Sarah Brunelle, Elise Gosselin, Shannon Greene, Chrissy McLean, Julie Apico, Taylor Freud, Dani Trani, Hayley Katkowski, Jenna Amato, Kristina Kea, Tom Foley, Kurt Naugler, Jackie Gallagher, Kelsey Stanvick, Kristina Reny

2012-2013 Start Dates

8/20/12 Football

8/23/12 All Other Fall Sports

11/26/12 Winter Sports Season

3/18/13 Spring Sports

Activity Fee

The Activity Fee for 2012-2013 will be $225 per student-athlete per sport. Checks must be made out to Town of Westford. (Some sports have a greater activity fee)

Follow Westford Academy Athletics in the News....

Westford Patch

Westford Eagle

Lowell Sun High School Sports

Boston Globe High School Sports

Boston Herald High School Sports

WA Athletic Boosters Website

Click here to access the WA Boosters site

WA TURF UPDATE!!!!!!

For an update and to make a donation to the turf fields project Click here www.westfordturf.com

1st Annual WA Football Alumni Golf Tournament 8/24/12

See flyer below for more details!

Football_Golf_Tournament_Flyer-_Registration_Form.pdf

Attention Parents

For a FREEE online video about the role of parents in interscholastic athletics, please click on the link below, register and order the video. Thank you. The Role of Parent in Sports

Please be advised that all beverages will not be allowed into any basketball or hockey games. Fans will be asked to dispose of any drinks at the gate. Also, all bags will be subject to a search at the gate. Finally, there is no reentry to any of the WA Athletics events. Thank you.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS UPDATE- Concussion Statement

Westford Academy Concussion Statement

The staff and administration at Westford Academy realize that sports are a very large part of our student’s lives. With this comes the risk of concussions. Due to increased awareness regarding this topic and the implementation of better concussion management programs there is progress for our student athletes. When identified immediately and cared for properly those who suffer concussion injuries tend to recover well. To ensure that our athletes are properly cared for if they sustain an injury of this type, there are steps we follow to help ensure the best possible outcome.

1) Education- Pre season meetings include information about the signs, symptoms, and recovery from a concussion as well as the role that cognitive and sideline testing play. Also covered at this time are the risks associated with returning too soon.

2) Baseline Testing- ImPACT (Immediate Post Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) is the program used for this purpose at Westford Academy. Selected contact sport players will take a pre season computerized test at least once every two years to establish a baseline score.

3) Evaluation- Based on the sideline assessment of the on site athletic trainer or the coach, any player observed or suspected to have suffered a head injury and exhibiting any signs or symptoms of such an injury will be removed from that days game, practice or workout for further evaluation. They will not be allowed to return that same day. If there is an observed or suspected loss of consciousness 911 should be called without hesitation.

Notification of the incident/injury will include parents, coaches, athletic trainer, Athletic director, school nurses, guidance, and teachers. Someone shall stay with the injured athlete on the sideline until advanced help arrives. ImPACT testing will be repeated in the days following the injury to monitor the athlete’s recovery.

4)Academic Support- Due to ongoing symptoms following a concussion, some students have difficulty keeping up with academic demands. If, following medical evaluation, it is determined the student needs specific accommodations, the guidance counselors will be notified so as to help facilitate the recovery of the student.

5) Return to Participation- Following a concussion injury, the athlete should have daily communication with the athletic trainer to update his condition.There should be no practice or exercise, in or out of school, while the athlete is symptomatic. The athlete may be cleared to return to play when he/she has been free of symptoms for a minimum of one week (may be longer), neurocognitive scores are back to baseline, have been cleared by personal physician, and cleared by the athletic trainer. Return to participation will also include a stepwise increase in activity/exertion as follows:

Light aerobic activity
Aerobic activity and weight training
Non contact sport specific drills
Full contact sport specific activity
Game play

The athlete must remain free of symptoms for 24 hours to advance to the next level. If symptoms return at any point, a 24 hour rest is mandated and the previous step is repeated following the rest period. Final clearance by physician follows.

2010-11 DCL Ticket Prices

$5.00 Students & Senior Citizens

$7.00 Adults

"The official Westford Academy varsity jacket" is now available locally from Z's Sport Shop in Westford. The jacket comes in the school colors of maroon and gray with a choice of wool, vinyl, or leather sleeves with Westford Academy printed across the back. It is a terrific way for student-athletes to show pride in their school and own accomplishments.The jacket makes a terrific birthday or holiday gift and can be personalized with the student-athletes' name embroidered on the sleeve."

Schedule Conflicts:

In the course of the year, there may be occasions when our student-athletes have a legitimate conflict between their athletic schedule and a personal or family obligation. If that should occur, the student-athlete should communicate the situation to their respective coach and notify them in advance of the event. We realize the commitment to family comes first and will work with the student-athlete to accommodate their situatiopossible, we will do our best to avoid schedule conflicts with major public activities or events.

College Recruiting:

Many parents and students are uncertain of the process of college recruiting. There are many questions to be asked and many answers to be discovered to help student-athletes make the right choice. For information, The NCAA has its own website and would be an important resource on the rules and eligibility for student athletes. That can be accessed at NCAA.org.

Westford Academy • 30 Patten Road • Westford, MA 01886 • Tel: (978) 692-5570

Westford Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability or homelessness.