GHS track athletes recognized with NEC awards

The GHS Indoor Track team had a very successful season this year, with the boys bringing home an NEC South title. This season was highlighted by a lot of strong individual performances on both the boys and the girls side. 

Going 4-0 in the NEC South, the boys almost completed an undefeated season with their only loss coming to NEC North opponents, Peabody, in a meet that came down to the wire. The boys team had 5 NEC All-Conference athletes and 3 NEC All-Star selections, while the girls had 4 NEC All-Conference athletes and 2 NEC All-Star selections. The “Athletes of the Year” for the Northeastern Conference were also announced Gloucester’s athletes were also the winners of this award on both the girls side and the boys side. 

BOYS

Kai DeGuzman

The NEC Athlete of the Year was named to the NEC All-Conference team for his league best times in the 55m dash, the 300m dash, and the 4×400. DeGuzman was named an NEC All-Star last winter and adds to his large resume with this successful indoor season. Unfortunately, this MVP season may be the last time we see DeGuzman on the track as he won’t be running in outdoor. DeGuzman is looking to run in college and plans on walking on to a collegiate track team. 

Andrew Coelho

Coming off of his NEC All-Conference season last winter, Coelho earned a spot on the All-Conference team again with his league best time in the 600m and the 4×400. The mid distance runner was most successful this winter in the 300m and the 600m. Coelho is looking for a productive junior season this spring running the 400m and the 800m. 

Harrison Pelosi

Pelosi is coming off a strong cross country season and when he did compete in indoor, he always found success. Pelosi was named NEC All-Conference for his leg in the league’s best 4×400 along with DeGuzman, Coelho, and Hafey. In the 1000m he was one of the team’s main distance runners this winter. He plans to run outdoor track this spring, and hopes to run in college. 

Daniel Hafey

Hafey was also a part of this NEC All-Conference 4×400 relay as he was one of the team’s top mid distance runners. The relay team that consisted of Hafey, DeGuzman, Coelho, and Pelosi ran a very impressive time of 3:43 in the 4×400. Mainly a 600m runner, Hafey was a top scoring athlete with a PR of over 5 seconds this winter in the 600m. He will be playing baseball this spring and we will see him back on the track next winter. 

Michael Cassettari 

Cassettari was the last of our NEC All-Conference athletes with his impressive performance in the shot put this winter. With his PR of 36’07’’, the league’s best shot putter earned a spot on the All-Conference team. Although the senior won’t be competing this spring, we saw some major improvements this winter for Cassettari in these throwing events. 

Nicholas Poulin 

Poulin was one of Gloucester’s three NEC All-Star selections as Poulin was one of our best distance runners this winter. Going sub 5 in the mile this year, Poulin was one of our main scorers in the mile and the 2 mile. Coming off of a strong indoor season, he’s looking to continue this success this spring. 

Aidan Almeida 

Almeida was another one of our NEC All-Star selections this winter with his strong performances in high jump and sprints this year. Our main high jumper, Almeida jumped 5’6’’ this year and would place first in the high jump almost every meet. Almeida also found success this year in the 55m dash and the 300m. Although he is currently out with an injury, he looks to fully recover and heal and get back on the track this spring. 

Owen Hardy 

Hardy was the other NEC All-Star selection we had this winter. He was a top distance runner and mainly competed in the 1000m and the mile. Another sub 5 miler, Hardy has been a very consistent and solid runner for the last 4 years. Hardy is a three season captain and hopes to continue this success this spring. He will be attending Bates College next fall and plans to study environmental science and neuroscience. 

GIRLS

Darcy Muller 

Muller was named to the NEC All-Conference team this winter as she was also named the NEC Athlete of the Year for indoor track. As the league MVP on the girls side, Muller led the league in the 55m dash, the 300m, and the 4×400 relay. She led the team in points while winning her races as well as her strong performances in shot put. Coming off of her ACL injury, Muller is starting to reach her top speed again and is going to be a triple threat this year in outdoor. 

Rumi Thomas 

Thomas also earned a spot on the NEC All-Conference team for her leg in the impressive 4×400 team along with Muller, Young, and Smith. Thomas was also a main scorer for the girls side as she joined Muller in competing in shot put this year along with her strong performances in the 55m dash and the 300m. She will be hoping to continue this success in order as a mid distance runner competing in the 400m and the 800m this spring. 

Ella Young

Young earned a spot on the NEC All-Conference team as she was a part of the relay that led the league in times. Young was also the main high jumper and was a consistent runner who would earn points in both jumps and track events. Young is also a strong hurdler and can compete in a variety of different events where she will find success in. A newly elected captain, Young will be looking to continue this success in outdoor.

Jenna Smith

Earning a spot on the NEC All-Conference team, Smith was a strong runner this indoor season and was also a part of this elite 4×400 team. Smith had a chance to showcase her quick speed in the 55m dash but will compete in a range of events leading up to the 400. A strong triple jumper, Smith is looking to continue her success in outdoor in both track and field events. 

Natalie Aiello 

Aiello was one of two NEC All-Star selections we had this winter. Being a captain, Aiello stepped up this winter and had an impressive season. Mainly a sprinter, she showcased her speed in the 55m dash. Aiello was a consistent point scorer on the girls side and rightfully earned a spot on the All-Star team. Aiello will be playing softball this spring and we look forward to seeing her back on the track next winter.

Faith Castellucci 

Castellucci was our other NEC All-Star selection this year as she was our main distance/mid distance runner. Only a sophomore, she stepped up this year and was one of the only girls on the distance team. She mainly competed in the 600m and the 1000m and would almost always find success regardless of how many people she was competing against. Castellucci is looking to continue this success this spring and will be joining the rest of the girls on the distance team this spring.