Medway & Millis May 2019

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Page 28 Medway & Millis Local Town Pages www.localtownpages.com May 2019 Sports Milford’s Loss a Huge Gain for Medway with Ava Vasile By Christopher Tremblay, Staff Sports Writer When she was in the firstgrade, her father came home with two lacrosse sticks from a huge sale at a sporting goods store, and from there Ava Vasile found a passion for the sport. “We went out back to play catch, but I was so bad, I dropped every single ball. I felt so bad for him, it must have been frustrating as I was so god awful,” Vasile said. “Growing up, I was a tom boy and was always interested in trying new things.” Living in Milford, she joined the Milford Youth Lacrosse League and began her ascent upon the lacrosse ladder. Vasile would play in the Milford league up until the sixth grade; the following year, Milford didn’t have enough kids, so they formed a co-op with Medway. When it came time for high school, Vasile applied for an open spot at Medway through School Choice and was chosen to attend the school. It was tough for her mother at first, because she was the one driving her daughter to school every day. “I decided on Medway as I was looking for a more of an academic challenge as well as taking part in a better sports program,” she said. “I knew that I wanted to play college sports and thought Milford resident Ava Vasile picked Medway High School through school choice, and Medway High got a great student and phenomenal athlete in lacrosse and track out of the arrangement. that Medway gave me a better chance to accomplish that.” Although she knew a lot of the girls from her youth team as well as her club team (Storm Lax), Vasile was still rather nervous during the Medway High School lacrosse tryouts. “I was very nervous at first,” she said. “Meeting a new team, trying to fit in and have the other girls like you.” It wasn’t long before the Mustang athletes had accepted the midfielder. “Ava takes the draws for us, and is so fast that she can take it right down the field and score,” Medway Coach Cassandra Mc- Gill said. “I’m glad that I don’t have to defend her as an opposing coach. Her biggest strength is her speed, as well as being a very versatile athlete.” The senior has been playing for the Medway varsity team for four years, the last three for Coach McGill. During her first three years, Vasile has had 625 draw controls, including 134 alone last year. The next closest athlete to her had 25. Vasile has also racked up 160 goals and 52 assists with her 100th goal coming in the tournament during her sophomore campaign. Vasile gravitated toward midfielder ,because she enjoys running and the position allowed her to do just that, run. “I love playing attack and scoring, but I also love the ability to play defense as well. I’m an aggressive person on the field and love pushing people around; it’s like beating someone up without the consequences,” she said. “Running allows me to get my energy out. If I’m at home, I can’t sit still and need to run around the house.” With all that pent-up energy, Vasile decided to join the track team to work on her speed to make her that much more dangerous on the field. Having never run in an organized fashion, the Milford native soon found out she was successful on the track level as well as on the lacrosse field. “She is something else,” Medway Track Coach Andrew Nassiff said. “By the end of her freshman year, she had taken four seconds off her 300-meter time, and through the years she just keeps getting better. Her junior year, she won everything and helped us to our first (Tri Valley) League Championship in decades.” This past season, she participated in the Nationals running the 300, 400 (finished 8th), 800 and Sprint Medley. She has also won the State pentathlon and is 10th in Massachusetts. Last year, she was the New England Champion in the 55 meter hurdles and was second in the states in the 300. Not bad for a sport she took up to help her speed in lacrosse. Not to be outdone on the lacrosse field, Vasile was named a top ten All Star in the TVL and last year was the Small Division’s Player of the Year in the TVL. While Vasile seems to have a grasp on just about everything, McGill wants her star midfielder to do more. “She’s a phenomenal athlete, but I’m looking for her to know when to take it to the goal and when to dish it,” the lacrosse coach said. “I think she puts a lot of pressure on herself as the go to person. If you tell her to take the ball and score nine out of 10 times she will; one on one she can beat anyone.” As she enters her final season with Medway, Vassile has already committed to play at the University of Vermont next year. The senior had looked into a couple of schools that included the likes of the University of Albany, UNH, UMASS and UCONN as well as Vermont. “It was down to Vermont and UCONN,” she said. “I loved the Vermont campus and the girls on the team. It felt warm and welcoming, unlike some of the other schools.” Vasile is hoping that in her final season with the Mustangs that she can help lead the team into the Division 2 East Tournament and get past that dreaded second round. Each of the past two seasons, Medway was sent home in the Quarter Finals. Last year Groton Dunstable ended Medway’s season and the year before it was the eventual Division 2 East Champion Walpole.
May 2019 Medway & Millis Local Town Pages www.localtownpages.com Page 29 Sports Mazzola Selected as Medway High’s New Football Coach By KEN HAMWEY, Staff Sports Writer Anthony Mazzola, who guided Tri County Vocational to three Super Bowl appearances, is Medway High’s new football coach. The 41-year-old Mazzola was the Cougars head coach for nine years and during that span his teams played in two vocational Super Bowls and was a South Sectional semi-finalist in Division 8. The native of Townsend replaces Chris Baker, who resigned earlier this year and now is the offensive coordinator at Hopkinton High. Last season, Baker led the Mustangs to the Tri Valley League’s Small Division championship. A resident of Medway for 6½ years, Mazzola says his new position is “a great opportunity’’ and he’s acutely aware he’ll be leading a traditionally strong program in a league that’s very challenging. “My goals are to build on last year’s success, turn out top-notch student-athletes and work with the town’s youth program,’’ Mazzola said. “I won’t be someone I’m not. I’ll be me and do what’s best for the school, the kids and the community. We want to win, but we also want to be a respected program throughout the state.’’ Mazzola, who’s married and has three sons, has been coaching football for 17 years. Before arriving at Tri County, he coached two minor league teams — the Bay State Renegades and the North East Knights. His first coaching job was at his high school alma mater (North Middlesex Regional in Townsend) where he served as offensive coordinator for two years. Tri County, however, is where Mazzola got results. His Cougars advanced to a pair of vocational super bowls, losing to North Shore Tech and Lynn Tech. Last year in the MIAA Division 8 semifinals, Tri County bowed to West Bridgewater. During his tenure with the Cougars, his teams won six consecutive Mayflower Conference sportsmanship awards and last season he was named the circuit’s coach of the year. “Getting the coach of Anthony Mazzola has been successful in the past and there are plenty of hints suggesting that Medway’s new coach will be adding to his success. the year award was an honor,’’ he said. “To be recognized by your peers shows respect.’’ Mazzola firmly believes that to be a high-caliber coach, it’s imperative to be a teacher first. “My philosophy has always been to be a teacher first,’’ he said. “I’ll strive to develop a winning attitude and focus on the importance of overcoming adversity. We want our players to be positive role models, not only on the field but also in the classroom and in the community. Valuable life lessons can be learned in athletics. And, I enjoy seeing players be disciplined, respectful, unselfish, able to handle adversity and knowing how to persevere.’’ The official announcement of Mazzola’s selection at Medway came on April 10 and a day earlier he met his Tri County players, informing them of his departure. “That was the toughest thing I’ve had to do in my 17 years of coaching,’’ he emphasized. “It was emotional and sad. My greatest thrill at Tri County was the relationship I built with my players.’’ Mazzola, who is a special education teacher and team chair at Tri County, relies on a coaching style that’s analytical, consistent, organized, logical and emotional. “I love breaking down film,’’ he said. “And, when I ask the kids to do something, they’ll know what my reasoning is. I’m also emotional to a point where I care for the kids. I’d like to think I’m a good motivator and that I’m consistent in everything I do.’’ Mazzola played football at North Middlesex Regional and competed for a year at Fitchburg State where he was a running back and safety. He transferred to Westfield State where he graduated in 2001. He earned his master’s degree in special education and has an advanced degree in educational leadership. At Tri County, Mazzola faced two major challenges in football — no youth program and his players resided in 13 different towns because it’s a regional school. Nevertheless, bonding occurred, fundamentals were learned and games were won. “We faced challenges at Tri County,’’ Mazzola noted. “Now, they’ll be different challenges. To compete in the Tri Valley League will definitely present some challenges. There were very good coaches in the Mayflower League, and I know there are excellent coaches in the TVL. It’s go above and beyond. a league that features speed and physicality. It’s a matter of adapting and adjusting.’’ Medway Athletic Director Jeff Parcells is pleased with the addition of Mazzola. “We’re very excited to have coach Mazzola leading our football program,’’ Parcells said. “He has many years of coaching experience and proven success. Being an educator makes him a great fit for us. He’s a man of sound character and I believe he’ll be a great role model for the young men in his program.’’ Mazzola hopes to assemble a team of quality assistants, and he’ll focus on that priority immediately. He also said he wants his squads to be balanced, but he doesn’t use that term the way other coaches do. “Being balanced is really about adjusting and adapting when your opponent takes the lead or takes away what you do best,’’ Mazzola noted. “Balance isn’t about throwing 50 percent of the time or running 50 percent of the time. It’s about being resilient.’’ Check out our selection of above ground pools and get ready for a Summer of family fun! 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Medway & Millis May 2019

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