Rain postponed a few home games this week, but it did not prevent a number of Vineyard successes: the boys’ tennis and sailing teams qualified for the postseason, while track athletes saw individual victories over the weekend.

Of particular note in home games this week is the girls’ lacrosse nightcap tonight against Wayland. Play begins at 6:15 p.m.

Softball also competes at home today, taking on Bishop Stang at 3:15 p.m.

Sailing

For the first time in eight years, the sailing team has qualified for Wild Card Weekend, the first step towards racing for the Mark Trophy at the New England Team Racing Championship.

“We were in,” head coach Andrew Burr said of receiving the news on Sunday evening, “but it was real close.”

The Vineyarders needed to be ranked within the top 16 teams in New England in order to qualify. Their final status was 16th.

With only three seniors on the team and a host of freshman sailors moving up through the ranks, Coach Burr expected the team to make a run at the Wild Card in the future, but not this season.

“At the beginning of the year, I really didn’t foresee this happening,” he said. This is only the second time in the history of the sailing program that the Vineyarders have gone to Wild Card Weekend. “That in itself is an accomplishment,” said Coach Burr.

The varsity core of the 2012 team consists of seniors Riley Donegan, Jake Sudarsky and Jesse Thomas, juniors Doug Andrade, Katie Johnson, Tyler Shapiro and James Ulyatt, and freshmen Eli Hanschka, Raz Sayre and Zana Van Rooyen.

For their wild card competition this weekend, the team takes on Moses Brown, Portsmouth Abbey and Manchester Essex in a round robin format tournament.

Track and Field

Sophomore Jeremy Alley-Tarter’s record-setting time in the 800-metre run spotlighted a successful weekend of invitationals for the track teams, with the freshmen and sophomores traveling to Westwood for the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association Freshman Sophomore Meet and the upperclassmen competing in the Sunset Track and Field Twilight Invitational in New Bedford.

Alley-Tarter, who was named the Athlete of the Meet, smashed the previous meet record of 2:02.3 by nearly four seconds, finishing with a time of 1:58:32. He was, said coach Joe Schroeder, “about three steps” ahead of second-place finisher Ty Enos of Dighton-Rehoboth (1:59:92), who also broke the meet record.

“They were flying,” said coach Schroeder. “Dighton-Rehoboth led for 600 metres . . . it was an incredible race.”

Alley-Tarter and fellow sophomores Galen Mayhew, Marc Piland and Isaiah Maynard turned in a second-place (to Dighton-Rehoboth) finish in the 4x400 metre relay with a time of 3:51:19.

Sophomore Joe Turney placed first in the javelin with a throw of 150’ 3”, seven feet ahead of his nearest competition.

Later in the evening, the Vineyard juniors and seniors took center stage in New Bedford. Senior co-captain Rafael Maciel won the 400 metre hurdles, edging out his opponent by 0.16 seconds for a time of 59.64. Maciel was third in the triple jump with a leap of 39’8.5”—all the more impressive considering he was unable to participate in the final round of the event (the Vineyard had to leave the meet early to make their boat) .

Junior Maggie Riseborough won the shot put with a throw of 34’ 5”, and second in discus (89’ 9.75”). On the boys’ side of the shot put, senior co-captain Tyler Araujo and classmate Charles Goldthwait set personal bests with throws of 42’ 3” and 40’ 10”, respectively, to place fourth and fifth.

Junior Michael Schroder set a personal best of his own in the mile, running a 4:40.49 to take second place. In the two-mile run, junior Kyle Joba-Woodruff took fifth with a time of 10:49.40.

Junior Jacob Lawrence continued the Vineyard victories by taking first place in the long jump, going 19’ 4”. Senior Maggie Lindland took seventh place in the event with 31’ 10” (Lindland tied for sixth based on distance, but fell in number of jumps).

Wednesday’s meet against Bishop Feehan was rescheduled due to rain; the teams will take on Feehan and Coyle-Cassidy in an away tri-meet on Tuesday.

Boys’ Lacrosse

Senior Colby Gouldrup had a “monster day,” as described by head coach Chris Greene, during Tuesday’s home match against Coyle-Cassidy, going 16-for-16 in faceoffs while scoring three goals and notching two assists in the Vineyard’s 10-3 league win.

Junior Thomas Wilkins had four goals and one assist on the day, while junior Nick Costello had one goal and one assist. Kyle Stobie scored twice.

The Vineyard defense turned in a strong effort as well, led by senior Conor Smith, who recovered nine ground balls.

Goalie Nelson Dickson was 12-for-15 in the net.

Scores from Thursday’s game against powerhouse Sciutate were unavailable at press time. The boys take on Dennis-Yarmouth at home on Monday at 4 p.m.

Girls’ Lacrosse

The girls picked up another Eastern Athletic Conference win during Tuesday’s game against Coyle and Cassidy to remain undefeated in the league. With the 16-3 victory, they are now 6-4 overall.

The team was up 12-1 at halftime, the result of a patient offense and stellar passing on the perimeter. Sophomore Alex Clark took on defensive duties for the first time, teaming with Sarah Alexander, Texe Craig and Mary Ollen to hold back Coyle. Senior April Hargy saw little action in the goal, making seven saves.

Junior Alayna Hutchinson led the scoring with four goals and four assists, while senior Madison Hughes had five goals and one assist. Juniors Jennie Lindland and Hannah Moore notched three assists apiece, with Lindland also turning in a goal. Three players scored their first-ever varsity goals: junior Bella Bennet, sophomore Charlotte McCarron and freshman Caroline Gazaille.

Scores from Thursday’s game against Natick were unavailable at press time. In addition to today’s game against Wayland, the girls are also home on Tuesday to take on Bishop Stang (game time is at 3 p.m.).

Girls’ Tennis

After two wins against Somerset and Clinton last week, the Vineyarders took their first loss of the season to Barnstable on Monday, falling 4-1. Both teams went in undefeated; every match but one went to three sets. At first and third singles, freshman Samantha Potter and senior Wendy Wen battled for more than three hours before falling to their respective opponents.

At second singles, Annie Burton earned the lone Vineyard win, taking a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 match over Lauren Presson.

On Sunday, the girls made quick work of their Clinton opponents, defaulting the number three singles spot but winning every other match. Potter won in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0, while Burton took a 6-0, 6-2 win. At first doubles, Wen and freshman Josie Iadiccico blanked their opponents; freshmen Diamond Araujo and Charlotte Potter, playing second doubles, won 6-1, 6-1.

The Vineyarders swept league opponent Somerset last Wednesday and remain undefeated in the EAC.

Thursday’s rematch with Barnstable was rescheduled due to rain. The girls will compete in the MIAA Individuals Tennis Tournament this weekend, and take on Chatham at home Tuesday at 3 p.m.

Boys Tennis

The Vineyard tennis boys are the lone undefeated team of the season, moving to 10-0 after wins over new opponents Quaboag and Randolph this week.

With the Randolph win — the Vineyarders swept the match 5-0 — the team automatically qualified for postseason play.

On Sunday, the team again swept their opponents. At first singles, junior Kent Leonard took a 6-2, 6-1 win, while sophomore Patrick McCarthy went 6-3, 6-1. Junior Justice Yennie — who still has yet to lose a match this season — picked up a 6-3, 6-3 win.

First doubles players Natty Schneider and Jackson McBride went 6-1, 6-0. Juniors Justin Smith and Ryan Sawyer took a decisive 6-0, 6-0 win at second doubles.

The boys travel to the MIAA Individuals Tennis Tournament this weekend. They will play visiting Bishop Feehan on Wendesday at 3:30 p.m.