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April 2010 The Walrus: Sports
Page 7
Varsity Sailing Takes to the Sea
Ned Kingsley ‘10 and Andrew Spencer ‘10 sail on, sail far.
BY CHRIS WARNER ‘11
As the spring season begins, the
St. Sebastian’s Varsity Sailing team
grabs their life jackets and wetsuits
and begins to prepare for
another great season of sailing on
the Charles River. The team will be
competing in the C Division of the
Mass Bay League, which consists
of schools including Belmont Hill,
Noble and Greenough, Concord
Academy, BB&N, Newton Country
and many other schools around the
greater Boston area. This is the Arrows
third season as a varsity team
and are looking to make this year a
memorable one.
Varsity Tennis Looks to Build
On Last Year’s Success
BY DAVID RUFFOLO ‘10
The St. Sebastian’s Varsity Tennis
team is back and ready to begin its
2010 campaign with style. The team
welcomes back the entire squad from
last year with no seniors graduating
last year. The team is blessed with a
strong core of seniors starting with
Captain Ryan McCarthy, veteran Scott
Neuberger, stylish David Ruffolo,
suave Chris Moses, and big Mike Falb.
In addition to the seniors, the team
has one junior, Andrew DeMatteo,
three extremely talented sophomores,
Conor Haughey, John Cheever,
and Terry O’Connor, and the team
welcomes the sole new player to
the squad, a talented and promising
eighth grader, Caleb Aldrich. In addition
to the players, the team is lucky
to have the Colonel, Mr. Richter, is
head coach, assisted by the talented
Mr. Thomas and the new addition of
Mr. Beilen, a former collegiate tennis
player who brings a wealth of tennis
knowledge to the team.
Most people know how
to play tennis, but not many know
how an ISL match goes. A typical ISL
match will begin with three doubles
matches. These doubles matches
last for only one set and to win the
set, a team must win eight games.
The doubles team that wins the set,
brings home one point for their respective
teams. After all the doubles
matches are over, the play continues
with six singles matches. Each
singles match are two sets, first two
six games and each set is one point.
In the ISL, there are fifteen possible
points, so in order to win the match a
team must earn eight points.
The lineup for the Seb’s team
is as follows. Playing first singles is
the teams most skilled and dominant
This year, the Arrows have a
relatively young team with only four
seniors, and two of those seniors,
Andrew Spencer and New Kingsley
are the two senior captains. Under
the great leadership of Spencer and
Kingsley, the Arrows will look to better
their performance in C Division
this year compared to last year. In
addition to the two captains, the
Arrows are anchored by two four
year veterans, Will Barnard ’12 and
Alex Moran ’12, who have been on
the team since they were seventh
graders and know what is needed
for the team have success. However,
the goal for the Arrows Sailing Team
this year is to win the C Division and
player, Conor Haughey. Haughey is
by far the best player on the team.
He has a difficult job as he always
has to face the opposing team’s
best and most threatening player,
but he fares extremely well winning
the majority of his matches.
In the second singles spot is Scott
Neuberger. Scott is a very talented
player with an extremely fast and
powerful forehand and serve. In the
third singles spot is Captain Ryan
McCarthy. Ryan McCarthy leads the
squad and has an athletic, intense
mindset that usually puts him in a
good spot to win every match he
plays in. John Cheever plays fourth
singles. “Chee-chee” is a consistent,
strong player that is always a difficult
matchup for opposing teams. In the
fifth spot is junior Andrew DeMatteo.
DeMatteo is a strong player who
often racks up a lot of winners with
his killer forehand. In the six and
final singles spot is David Ruffolo.
Ruffolo’s athletic ability and difficult
drop shot make him a threatening
obstacle for his usually 5’4” freshman
opponents. As for the doubles,
playing first doubles is the one-two
punch of Haughey and Neuberger,
playing second is McCarthy and De-
Matteo, and playing third is Cheever
and O’Connor.
The Varsity tennis team
began its 2010 season on a terrific
Saturday afternoon on April 3rd. The
Arrows took on a talented Nobles
squad. The Nobles superior talent
and skill proved too much for the
Arrows as they lost 14-1. The sole
point came from Captain Ryan Mc-
Carthy as he was able to split sets
in his singles match. Determined to
rebound from their embarrassing
loss to Nobles, the Arrows came out
strong against another skilled team
from Groton. Each doubles match
move up to B Division of the Mass
Bay League, a goal that seems very
possible to accomplish given the immense
talent the team has this year.
Although most St. Sebastian’s
students are familiar with the sailors
on the Arrows Sailing Team, many of
the students do not have any idea
where the Arrows sail or what they
sail. The Arrows sail on the Charles
River through Community Boating
Incorporated (CBI). CBI is the hub for
the Mass Bay League. They provide
all the competing schools with boats
ranging from Cape Cod Mercuries
to 420s, organize practice times for
all the teams, organize races and
provide patrol boats to make sure
that everybody is safe while sailing.
Although CBI offers a wide range
of boats, the Arrows only race Cape
Cod Mercuries and 420s. The Mercuries,
each with a double sail, are
all 15 feet in length, sailed by two
to three people. 420s, on the other
hand, are sailed only by two people,
a skipper and a crew, are 420 centimeters
in length (14 ft), are more
prone to capsizing (flipping over),
can have three sails, and are much
faster and are a higher performance
boat than the Mercuries.
So far, the Arrows have
had one race day, which consisted
of two full races. Will Barnard and
Chris Warner took first and second,
respectively, in the first race, and
Will Barnard took first again in the
second race, the only Arrow to place
in that race. Unfortunately, the Arrows
were struck with some bad luck
on the 420 line where skipper, Ned
Kingsley, and crew, Kevin Martin,
were not able to finish all the races
due to a broken forestay.
was close, but the Arrows came out
of it with only one point coming
from Haughey and Neuberger at 1
doubles. Already down 2-1, it would
be up to the singles matches to see if
the Arrows could pull off this impressive
victory. Ruffolo and McCarthy
were able to dominate their opponents
winning both of their sets decisively
and each earning two points
for the team. DeMatteo was able to
split his match, contributing another
point for the team. The Arrows found
themselves with a 6-5 lead with both
Haughey and Cheever’s matches
remaining. In a tightly contested
match, Haughey was able to split
sets, which left the match score at
7-6. John Cheever was the last one
left on the courts. After losing the
first set, the score was tied at 7-7
and the winner would be decided by
this last set. To make matters more
interesting and intense, this set went
into a tie-breaker, where Cheever
ultimately lost but went down with a
valiant effort. If the Arrows were able
to beat this strong Groton squad it
would have been huge for their season,
but the close result showed the
team that they could compete competitively
at the top of the league.
The ISL is an extremely difficult
league for tennis. Some may argue
that the ISL has the best tennis in
Massachusetts. For this reason, the
Seb’s team has to bring their “A”
game every time they walk out on
the court. The Varsity squad has all
returned for the 2010 campaign and
should be able to improve upon last
year’s success. Each player has improved
greatly from last year and has
a lot more confidence in their ability.
These characteristics should make
the 2010 Varsity Tennis season “one to
remember”.
Senior Ryan McCarthy ‘10 shows some range while returning a well-placed serve.
The Masters: Phil Mickelson
Wins Third Green Jacket
BY SAM RACINE ‘11
On Sunday, April 11th, Phil Mickelson
climbed the steep hill to the
18th green at Augusta National as
winner of the 2010 Masters Tournament.
There Angel Cabrera, last year’s
winner, helped him into the signature
green jacket. The Masters, played
every year at Augusta National Golf
Club in Augusta, Georgia, is one of
golf’s four major tournaments. The
others include the U.S. Open, the
British Open, and the PGA Championship.
The tournament was founded
by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts
in 1934 and is revered by golfers everywhere.
This year’s tournament was
played in beautiful weather on spectacular
greens. Mickelson birdied the
12th, 13th, and 15th holes in the final
round closing at a five under 67 and
coming from behind to win his third
Masters. He finished the weekend at
272, 16 under par. Mickelson’s score
was the best by a Masters champion
since Tiger Woods’ 2001 win. This was
Mickelson’s fourth major title and
his first since his victory at Augusta
in 2006. He also won the Masters
in 2004 and the PGA in 2005. The
left-hander became the eighth man
to win three Masters titles. Only Jack
Nicklaus (six times), Arnold Palmer
(four times), and Tiger Woods (four
times) have won the Masters more
often.
England’s Lee Westwood, who was in
first place at the end of three rounds
of play, finished three shots behind.
He had a 71 for the day with a 275
total and finished second at 13 under.
Westwood was third at the British
Open last July and tied for third at the
Varsity Golf Looks to Repeat
Last Year’s ISL Championship
BY SAM RACINE ‘11
The spring sports season, and the
baseball and lacrosse seasons have
been getting more attention than
any other activity. However, one sport
has been left unnoticed, as always so
it seems. That sport is the beautiful
game of golf. Golf, many see as an unathletic
activity, and not a true sport.
However, when one studies that pure
talent it takes to place a golf ball exactly
in a tiny hole in as few strokes as
possible, one may realize how difficult
the sport actually is. The game of golf
is one of imperfections and mistakes,
covered up by perfection and success.
One day, a great golfer could shoot
an absolutely terrible score, while the
next he may set a personal record.
The frustration that occurs due to
such an undulation of scores may disappoint
new golfers. But the best of
the best, and our St, Sebastian’s golf
team is the in this elite class, learn to
overcome the failures, and win match
after match.
Last year, the golf team
went an outstanding 18-0-1, lead by
the now-senior golfer extraordinaire,
Taylor Peck ’10. However, one man a
golf team doesn’t make. Other golfers
include Peter Cahill ’10, Joe Bergeron
’10, Matt Michaud ’13, Dillon Eccelsine
’11, Robert Donahoe ’10, Charlie
Calanan ’11, and alternates Tom
Harrington ’10, John Kavolius ’10,
and Chris Dillon ’10. To learn more
about the team and the atmosphere
that surrounds them, I sat down with
freshman sensation, Matt Michaud.
The first question I asked him was
what his expectations were this year,
following such a spectacular season
PGA Championship last August. He
remains one of the best players without
a major title. Anthony Kim closed
with a 65, the best score of the day,
and was third on the leader board at
12 under. Tiger Woods tied with K.J.
Choi for fourth at 11 under.
Spectators witnessed a number of
stellar shots on the final day. There
were two holes-in-one. Nathan
Green, playing in the first group out,
aced the par three 16th hole. Ryan
Moore followed nine groups later
with another hole-in-one. “It was the
loudest roar I’ve ever heard in my
entire life,” said Moore, of the crowd’s
reaction. He finished the day with a
68. There was a similar reaction on
the par four seventh hole when Tiger
Woods used a seven iron to make
the day’s second eagle on the hole.
Adam Scott also holed out a second
shot on seven, finishing at 71 for the
day.
The 2010 Masters held many other
memorable moments. Sixteenyear-old
Matteo Mannassero, born
4/19/1993, is the youngest to ever
make the cut at Augusta and will
turn pro next month. He finished at
292, four over par. Sixty-year-old
Tom Watson, with his son Michael
on his bag, shot 67 the first day. He
birdied the first and the 18th holes,
with three in between, taking an
early lead. That score ended up behind
first round leader, fifty year old
Fred Couples, who played without
socks or golf glove. All three players
produced cheers of appreciation
from the gallery.
As a past champion making his eighteenth
appearance at Augusta, Mickelson
knows the course well. There
last year, to which he quickly replied,
“Undefeated. Thayer would be our
only challenge to an undefeated season,
and we’ve already beaten them.
Pretty much, no one can stand in our
way.” Obviously confident, I decided
there was no point in continuing to
ask about the season, so I inquired
on how the team got along and the
atmosphere that surrounded them.
He thought awhile and claimed,
“We all pretty much get along. I get
tickled on the bus rides home.” After
this quote he just continued to say
how great he was at golf, including
how he can drive “further than Taylor
Peck.” Clearly, Michaud has zero
sense of reality, and is completely
foolish to claim so blasphemous
statements. Therefore, I left him and
his lack of a realistic mindset.
Although I know some
about golf as a sport, I knew very
little about the St. Sebastian’s team
before sitting down with the brilliant
Williams College graduate and
assistant golf coach, Mr. Zachary
McArthur. He is as enthusiastic about
golf as he is in the classroom. When
approached about the season he exclaimed
with his Owen Wilson-esque
voice, “We’ll be great! We beat Thayer
with a great, clutch performance
by Dillon Eccelsine. We’re going
undefeated.” He repeatedly praised
the team’s talent and work ethic to
improve but was quick to point out,
“None of them could be me in match
play, but it’d be close.” Furthermore,
he explained the layout of the team.
Their home course is Charles River
Golf Course, while they practice at
Ponkapoag, commonly called Ponky.
were plenty of great shots over his
72 holes of the tournament, but the
one that will be remembered for
years to come was his second shot
at the par five 13 on Sunday. The
first shot ended in the right rough
behind a pine tree and onto pine
straw. He had 207 left to the green.
Most golfers would have played
it safe and punched out into the
fairway to give themselves at least a
shot at birdie and no worse than par.
Not Mickelson. Noticing an opening
in the trees he decided to go for the
green. Debating whether to use a
five or a six iron, he went with the six
and his ball finished a remarkable
four feet from the hole. Mickelson’s
weekend rounds, a pair of 5 under
par 67s, rival the finest back-to-back
rounds in tournament history, and
elevate Mickelson into the elite tier
of Masters champions.
Mickelson dedicated his victory to
his wife, Amy, who was diagnosed
with breast cancer in May, 2009. A
couple of months later, Mickelson’s
mother, Mary, was also diagnosed
with breast cancer. “It’s been an
amazing week,” he said. “This has
been a very special day. To have Amy
and my kids here to share it with, I
can’t put it into words. We’ve been
through a lot this year and it means
a lot to share some joy together.
She’s an incredible wife and incredible
mother and has been an inspiration
for me this past year, seeing
what she’s been through. To cap it
off with this victory, I can’t put it into
words, but it’s something we’ll share
and remember the rest of our lives.”
We fans will remember it, too.
Phil Mickelson sports his third career green jacket after winning this year’s Masters.
Each match is match play, or a one
on one match between golfers. Also,
every golfer is seeded by the team,
in order of talent and to put up the
best matches possible.
After speaking of the rules
and regulations, Mr. McArthur dove
into the most important part of the
golf team—winning. “We have the
most talent,” he started, “but we
have to take it one match at a time.
If we get ahead of ourselves then we
may lose to some school we should
destroy…like Belmont Hill.” Obviously,
both the freshman phenom
and the coach are thinking on the
same terms though, as they both
ensure that an undefeated season
is coming, and the ISL trophy will
once again land in the hands of St.
Sebastian’s: “Michaud is completely
right. We will win the trophy, mainly
because we have the best coaching
in the ISL. Mr. Sullivan and I make
an unstoppable duo. If there was a
Coach of the Year Award for ISL gold,
we’d win in together. No doubt.”
Arrogant? Possibly, but
definitely deserving. No other golf
team seems to be a match for the
unstoppable freight train that is St.
Seb’s golf. We will win the ISL. Even
Danny Beam predicted it saying, “I
don’t know who’s on the team, but
we’ll win the ISL cause we just will.”
The confidence echoes through the
school, and is what fuels the team
for a repeat performance of last
year’s domination. A repeat performance
that will only come with hard
work and dedication, but will come
no matter what stands in the team’s
way.