As the Vineyard football team prepares to take on the Nantucket Whalers this Saturday in the final game of the season and the 33rd Island Cup, there is one underlying premise for fans, players and coaches alike to keep in mind.
Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School senior Madison Hughes thought she knew what to expect as she walked to the hallway in front of the athletic director’s office on Monday morning. Her parents, Alleyne and Phil. Her grandparents, Jan and Larry. High school principal Steve Nixon and athletic director Mark McCarthy. Three copies of a letter of intent to play Division 1 lacrosse for Central Connecticut State University, each one waiting for her signature.
Six players on the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School tennis team received All-Star honors in the Eastern Athletic Conference, a record number of players from a single team according to head coach Ned Fennessy.
Senior Reid Yennie and sophomore Kent Leonard, the team’s number one and two singles players, were selected, as were doubles players Jackson McBride, Patrick McCarthy, Ryan Sawyer and Justin Smith.
Unlike other spring sports at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, sailing can’t move indoors in inclement weather.
The team is on the water most afternoons, after catching the bus from school to Sailing Camp Park (parent organization Sail MV provides the facilities and equipment for the team). When it rains, they rig up the boats. When there’s no wind, they go out and practice nonetheless. And if there’s a late-season snow shower, well, the team’s still on the water. About the only thing that can keep them inside is lightning.
The high school teams move into the last days of regular-season play this week, so be sure to come out and support the Vineyarders on their home turf! With the exception of track and field, each team has at least one home game.
The student newspaper of Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, the High School View, has for the sixth consecutive year earned a highest achievement award in scholastic editing and publishing from the New England Scholastic Press Association. The award was one of nine accolades that coeditor in chief and senior Kira Shipway accepted on behalf of the student staff at the annual conference held May 6 at Boston University.
This week marks the end of the regular sports season; although specific seedings have not yet been announced, several Vineyard teams end the spring with records strong enough to move them into the postseason.
Both tennis teams have advanced to state tournament play and will be on the home court over the weekend. Come out to support the boys as they take on Canton at 3 p.m. today, and the girls on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. when they play the winner of the first-round Cohasset/Cape Cod Academy match.
