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By Michael Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
2017 was an extremely successful season for the Westwood High School girls cross-country team, as the Wolverines climbed to No. 2 in the state, won the TVL title, and had four of its member recognized with post-regular-season awards.
“We've had so much success and winning the TVL title was so exciting,” said Westwood head coach Jen Teahan. “The courses, the prep, the workouts; it makes it all worth it.”
Senior captain Ashley Walker failed to lose a single race the entire 2017 season for Westwood, and thanks to her dominance, Walker was awarded with the honors of TVL MVP. Freshman Alex Ponte showed a bright future thanks to strong efforts throughout the season. Ponte displayed excellence on the grandest of stages by placing No. 14 overall at the TVL League Championship meet. This star in the making was also named TVL All-Conference Honorable Mention.
Teahan said that the diversity present on her team in terms of age, personality, and running experience had little effect, thanks to her team’s constant drive to improve; each member did everything they could throughout the season to push one another to get to where they want to be.
“Regardless of their athletic background or goals, these 47 female athletes are a loyal, kind, sassy, and fun group that have one vision in mind: every day get better,” said Teahan. “We have athletes trying to break different barriers for the 5K. For some, the goal is 35 minutes, and for others, it’s 18. They all matter to me, and they all matter to each other. It's a unique sport in that it's a team approach to supporting individual goals.”
Teahan also explained that she is incredibly impressed at how the entire team collectively improved throughout the season, stating that each and every one of the 47 members of Westwood girls XC made significant improvement since their first meet back in September.
“Every single athlete improved this year,” said Teahan. “Some as significant as seven-minute personal records at the league meet, like freshman Sophia Plouffe. It was a remarkable season that had so many highlights of success and we definitely want to keep this ball rolling.”
Following the conclusion the TVL Championship Meet, it was announced that Teahan was named TVL Coach of the Year. A humbled Teahan described the feeling of being honored with this the prestigious award and gave credit to her peers, co-workers, assistants, and of course, players.
“Being named Coach of the Year this year is extra-special given the success of our league and the amazing coaches within it,” said Teahan. “It's a privilege to coach among the best and to be acknowledged, but it reflects the hard work of so many people that have supported the girls since day one. Our athletic director, Matt Gillis, affords us every opportunity to be successful. The recreation department's Sue Perry provides the girls weekly pool time for cross training, and assistant coaches Christy Harrison for her data analysis and big smile, Meg Hughes for her kindness and pep talks - they are on the frontline with me, as well as the boys coach Ed Lyons, who we rely on for his collegiate-level background for racing tactics.”
“Most importantly, being named coach of the year is due to the hard work, determination, resilience, and tenacity of these athletes. They represent the ideals and goals of a successful program. The 47 athletes that came in each day to train every day, Tuesday through Sunday - they are the remarkable ones that make what I do as a coach so easy, so much fun and so rewarding.
“I value the title because it represents these kids, on this team, this year.”
