By Kristen B. Payson
Editor
STERLING — The Chocksett Middle School track teams wrapped up a stellar season this spring.
“This was one of the best season’s of track and field that Chocksett has had in a long time. The team was strong from the beginning and worked hard to get even better,” said Leslie Mason, coach for the eighth grade.
Chocksett boys track won the districts meet where they defeated Mountview, Thomas Prince, and Paxton, all strong track programs.
“We sent 30 athletes to states and came home with 20 medals for the team,” said Mason.
At states, the Chocksett Boys overall came in fourth out of more than 35 schools in Division 3; the Chocksett Girls finished 12th overall.
A number of personal records were set: Caleb Broudo had a high jump personal record of 5-feet, 2-inches, and came in third in the state. Yezenia Castro had a personal record of 33 feet, 6 inches in shot put, finishing first in the state. Ali Girouard also had a personal record, recording 64 feet, 8 inches in discus and finishing fifth in state.
“We also had a tremendous number of sixth-place finishers within the states earning medals and points: Caius Hernandez for hurdles, Austin Bombardo for long jump, Avery Carter for shot put and discus, and Malakai Solley for javelin,” Mason said.
The relay teams were outstanding this year at both districts and states: Boys relay for the 4 x 100 and the 4 x 400 won first place at districts, and both placed in states, sixth and fifth, respectively. The girls 4 x 100 relay was also very strong this year, finishing second in districts and sixth in states.
The Chocksett Track and Field team is one of the biggest sports programs in the school. This year, 48 athletes were part of the team.
Coaches were Leslie Mason, with son Austin Bombardo, 14; Adrienne Santos, with AJ Santos, 14, and Tyler Santos, 12; and Kristi Duplessis, with Makenna Duplessis, 13.
The coaches said they decided to step up and coach after receiving weekly emails from the school looking for a coach for track and field.
“It wasn’t until the final email came, stating that they would have to cancel the season if there was no coach, that we decided to step up,” the group said.
Austin Bombardo approached his mom to coach, and at the same time AJ Santos approached his mom. Neither boy wanted to cancel the season. The parents spoke and said they would do it together, and then Kristi Duplessis also reached out to the school on that last possible opportunity and said she would do it as well.
“It really is too big of a program with too many athletes and too many moving parts to coordinate for one person to do it,” Mason said.
The parent/coaches said they loved watching the athletes grow and improve and be proud of all that they accomplished.
“It was great to see the enthusiasm and support of each other as a team,” the coaches said via email. “We would start each bus ride to our next meet reading off the accomplishments of the athletes at the previous meets.
As for the challenges of the job, it’s a challenge to coach any middle school sport, they said. “It is even more of a challenge to coach track and field with 48 kids and without a proper track or proper equipment. We pushed really hard to have equipment this year, and we were fortunate that Principal LaBreck was able to secure a high jump mat and equipment for us, and that we had by default a high jump coach in Chris Wilhelm, Alex Wilhem’s dad (Grade 8).
“We also took our stipend money for coaching and donated it back to the program to purchase other equipment, such as starting blocks and javelins, batons, spray paint … . You name it us mom/coaches were going to make sure this team had what it needed.”
The coaches also faced the challenge of being part of Mid Wachu league, which they said they knew nothing about going into the job.
“While it was nice to be a part of a league, each school ran meets differently, and there was not consistency with events,” the coaches said. “For example, there was no 4 x 400 relay at these events and many schools would not offer javelin, making it difficult for our athletes to practice and compete for those events.”
When asked if they will coach again, the trio said they have talked about it.
“We have a good system between the three of us, even though some of our athletes have left Chocksett. Track coaching takes up a tremendous amount of time and coordination, and we want to ensure that we are either doing it again or leaving it in a great place for the next set of coaches.”
The coaches said they wanted to be sure the young athletes know how proud they are of the athletes.
“As coaches and as moms, we could not be prouder of this group of athletes. They have a trophy sitting in the cabinet in the lobby of Chocksett to commemorate a successful season and came home with 20 medals from states. A few athletes even went to USATF Jr Olympics for New England and placed there as well. Avery Carter finished second in discus and third in shot put, Austin Bombardo finished second in long jump with a personal record of 17 feet 10 inches, and Caleb Broudo and Alex Wilhelm finished second and fifth in high jump.
“We saw athletes grow into fantastic competitors while having fun with teamwork and camaraderie and as coaches that is all that we could want or ask for,” they concluded.
