Community Spotlight

Dozens of Local Athletes Take Part in YMCA Regional Gymnastics Meet in Plaistow

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The YMCA Regional Gymnastics Meet took place this past weekend at the Plaistow, N.H., Community YMCA. There were 350 athletes competing from across New England with 40 athletes from Haverhill. Haverhill/Plaistow YMCA Phoenix Gymnastics Team and their levels were April Morales, Caroline Turner, Avery Orr, Brianna Castro and Emery Dacey, Level 1; Alayah Pierrot, Liliana Dacey, Mia Delossantos and Eryn Haynes, Level 2; Kiaraliz Castro and Charlotte Caron, Level 3; Gianna Lundgren, Willow Murray, Casey Baker, Juliana Cordero and Selena Urrutia, Level 4; Ari Dempsey, Suri Figueroa, Olivia Battey and Nevaeh Brumis, level 6; Annalise Gritzer, Level 7; Jadalyn Perez, Madison Hertel and Rylee Dempsey, Xcel Bronze; Alexa Troisi, Catherine Alleva, Sadie Almeida, Charlotte Barber, Natalie Apuzzo, Angel Silva and Fiona Hickey, Xcel Silver; Amaya Castro and Addison Murray, Xcel Gold; and Kaelyn    Mazzaglia, Xcel Platinum. Events were overseen by Lyndsey Delp, YMCA gymnastic director, and Ken Sloanhoffer, gymnastic team head coach.

Haverhill

City Council Remembers Conway, Former HHS Football Player Who Signed with Buffalo Bills

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Services and a celebration of life are planned for Haverhill High School Sports Hall of Famer Daniel A. Conway Jr. who died Dec.7 at age 65. Conway, a graduate from the Haverhill High School class of 1976, signed a free agent contract with the Buffalo Bills after college, but he lost one eye in a practice mishap which ended his chance to play. Haverhill City Council Vice President John A. Michitson recently honored his friend, saying Conway helped shape him. “Former teammates remembered that Dan was hilarious during the Haverhill High School Football team meetings. For me personally, I am indebted to the encouragement he gave me as a boy playing sports—win or lose,” he said.

Haverhill

Podcast: Coach ‘Spike’ Sprague Prepares to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of HHS Hockey Team

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This season represents a milestone for the Haverhill High School hockey team. It was 50 years ago that the first Haverhill High Varsity team hit the ice. For those oldest enough to remember, Gerald Ford was sworn in as vice president in December, the film “The Exorcist” made its debut and Richard “Spike” Sprague scored the first goal for the Haverhill Hillies hockey team. “I was fortunate enough to be on the ice for the first shift, and I got lucky enough to score the first goal, and the only thing that upset me the whole time was my coach said whoever scored the first goal would get a cigar. I never got the cigar,” he said.

Community Spotlight

VFW and Crescent Yacht Club Host Army vs. Navy Football Watch Party

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Hefty ticket prices are bringing the upcoming Army vs. Navy Football games home for a Haverhill audience. Haverhill Lorraine Post 29 Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Crescent Yacht Club are working together to host a watch party. The VFW approached the Crescent Yacht Club about hosting an open-to-the public watch party for this year’s matchup between the Army’s Black Knights and the Navy’s Midshipmen. There will be food and a cash bar Saturday, Dec.

Region

Bruins Legend-turned-Marathoner Chara to Run Feaster Five

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Bruins legend-turned-Marathoner Zdeno Chara will run the Feaster Five and serve as the official race starter, launching the start of thousands of runners and walkers who will head down Main Street on Thanksgiving morning. Chara, who completed the Boston Marathon earlier this year, will be joined by longtime Feaster Five VIP and World Marathon Challenge Champion Becca Pizzi. Chara was the longtime captain of the Boston Bruins and played 24 seasons in the NHL. Pizzi was the first American woman to complete the World Marathon Challenge—running seven marathons, on seven continents, in seven days. She’s now done it twice and won both times.

Education

Haverhill School Sports Teams Receive Accolades on Recent Wins From Superintendent

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Haverhill High School sports teams have been on a roll over the past few weeks. School Superintendent Margaret Marotta put on her sports commentator’s hat at last Thursday’s School Committee meeting to praise those team’s recent wins. “(The) girl’s volleyball team won the conference championship this weekend for the third straight year. The team finished the regular season with 17 wins and one loss and they are ranked number two in the state. The girl’s cross-country team are also tearing it up.

Education

Haverhill School Committee Approves Free Sporting Event Admission for Those Over 62

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Those over the age of 62 will have free admittance to virtually all school sporting events. The Haverhill School Committee approved the change last week with Committee member Richard J. Rosa presenting a plan to resurrect a gold card program for Haverhill seniors. “These cards can be picked up at the Council on Aging located at the Haverhill Citizens Center with proof of residence and age,” he explained. Other age groups, however, may see a slight increase in the cost of admission to some events. Ice hockey tickets will cost $6 for adults while basketball, wrestling and other events will cost $5.

Beacon Hill News

Sen. Finegold Among Those Holding Nation’s First Legislative Hearing on State Role in Youth Sports

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State Sen. Barry R. Finegold convenes Thursday the first legislative hearing in the nation to determine what, if any, role the state should play in regulating youth sports. Finegold, co-chair of the legislature’s Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, said legislators will weigh a comprehensive range of benefits and issues associated with youth sports. “This Thursday’s hearing looks to holistically examine the youth sports industry in Massachusetts. The overarching goal of the hearing is to understand, through the breadth of knowledge and experience from impacted stakeholders, whether or not the state has a role in the youth sports regulatory framework and what that role would be,” he said, adding “Testimony will be provided by various experts with topics ranging from the dangers of early sport specialization and overtraining to the financing landscape at both an individual and institutional level.”

The Joint Committee on Economic Development, co-chaired by Rep. Jerry A. Parisella of Beverly, is coordinating with the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, co-chaired by Sen. Cindy F. Friedman of Arlington and Rep. John J. Lawn of Watertown. Testimony will be provided by medical professionals, academics and directors and managers of youth sports programs.

The hearing takes place Thursday, Oct.