Friday, March 28, 2014

Getting to know some notable Tanners

by Tyler Movsessian
Andrew Murphy
Andrew Murphy, is a three sport athlete who is known for his impressive golf skills and leadership, he was the lone captain on the basketball team this year and he is captaining on the second year of our newest club sport, ultimate Frisbee. Andrew Murphy is a highly respected athlete as he can do it all, no matter which season he is in.
Murphy has been golfing for the past two years and his golf skills are impressive. He was 6-0 to start the season. His contributions helped the golf team significantly as they finished 7-3, which is a good mark for a team that finished in the middle of the league last year looking to get back to their championship ways, as the golf team has the most championships out of all Woburn High teams.
Most people would say that Murph’s forte is basketball. Head Coach Tom Sullivan appointed him captain, and it paid dividends to the basketball team. He lead the team to a 15-6 finish as well as winning a tournament game for the first time since 2009 and making an appearance in the quarterfinals. He finished the year with 15pts per game. In a previous article, Murphy had to say this about being captain of the basketball team
“Yea, being the only captain can be tough. The team is so close this year and like a second family, which makes being a captain easy as everyone gets along well,” stated Murphy
He also takes his leadership onto the turf with the ultimate Frisbee program. This program was just started last year and he goes down in WMHS history as one of the founders. There is a lot of talent on this team and Murphy will look to turn it around after a player got them in trouble with his poor sportsmanship. Now, with Coach Shawn Murphy. They will look to turn this around and Murphy will hope that the program continues to grow after he graduates.
Gina D’Addarrio
For those of you who don’t know her, this girl can run. She is a three season runner and is one of the best distance runners in the Middlesex league and perhaps in the state. Her dedication and leadership has shown throughout her career as she started as a freshman and improved every year. She has been rewarded for her leadership as a captain for cross country as well as indoor track (most likely outdoor as well). She will continue to run, for a long time and she is definitely an athlete to watch.
In cross country she is one of the top, this past year, she had a PB (personal best) of 18:09 in the three mile as well as a very impressive tenth place finish in states, she represented Woburn very well, as she was the only girl to make states. She is always pushing herself to the limit whether it’s in a practice or meet.  She can be seen leading the way of the top tier running group or in a race, or she can be seen in the weight room immediately after working on abs, which it is essential to have abs for a distance runner. No wonder she got captain and we will be seeing great things out of the 2014 girls cross country team.
Then, with just a few days off for Thanksgiving, she heads to the Joyce to do the same thing except instead of running up hills; she is speeding around turns at the William O’Connor track. She stays very consistent. The same thing can be said about her, with an impressive mile PB of 5:11, she shows the same leadership qualities as she does during the cross country season. She also got captain for indoor and she had this to say about being captain for two sports.
“I am super excited to be a captain of the cross country and track teams next year! I am confident that we can beat Lexington next year and be league champs. It’s not easy running all year round but I definitely love my teams and the attitudes the athletes bring to practice every day.
D’Addario won states and had a bit of a shaky performance in all-states, but that will only make her more determined for outdoor season. We can also expect great things out of her and the rest of the team for indoor,” stated D’Addario
D’Addario carries her determination into the warmer spring weather and on the outdoor track here at the high school. She has another fantastic mile PB and a high jump PB of 4’7” and she still has two more years left, and no one would be surprised to get those records even better. She will most likely be captain again and be a three sport captain, which is a huge accomplishment. As one of the best runners in the Massachusetts, when asked about her future, she wants to run beyond high school.
“I am definitely going to run in college for a division one or division two team. I haven’t decided where I want to go yet but some colleges are recruiting me like Harvard University, so I’m ecstatic about that!” exclaimed D’Addario.

Yes, even colleges like Harvard are recruiting her because not only can she run she is also one of the brightest in the junior class academically. Competing for Valedictorian, she is at the top of the class and she is clearly an all around young woman, who is very deserving of everything she has earned. Outdoor season started this week. Look for D’Addario to be making headlines very soon! 

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