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January 22, 2013

Sports in a Minute

Dave Dyer The Eagle-Tribune The Eagle Tribune Tue Jan 22, 2013, 12:07 AM EST

Nikko’s new mark

Methuen’s Nikko Ferrara, who set two world deadlift records earlier in the year, set another last month in a tournament. Moving up a weight division to 220 pounds, he set a record in the 20-23 age division with a deadlift of 700 pounds, 15 more than his previous best.

Shamrock entries

Entries are coming in at a rapid pace for the sixth annual Frozen Shamrock 3-Mile Run, which is set for Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. at Archie’s Little River Ale House in Haverhill. With five weeks to go, there were already about 500 entries registered for the popular race, which is the first stop in the Wild Rover series. Races in Lawrence at the Claddagh and in Lowell, of four and five miles, follow on the next two Sundays.

Banner controversy?

In an effort to modernize the gymnasium, Haverhill High has replaced all of its banners with new ones. It helps make the gym fresher, but some alumni are upset that the state championship girls basketball banners, which were in reasonable condition, were taken down.

They will be replaced, said athletic director Tom O’Brien, but in a smaller form and it hasn’t been decided if the names of all the players and coaches will be listed because that takes up a lot of space and is not consistent with the other banners.

The old banners will probably be auctioned off. That will accommodate several requests for them and help raise money for the athletic department.

Bias vs. softball charge

The North Reading Citizens for Equality has charged that the town and school are in violation of Title IX requirements because there is not a softball field at the high school while there is a baseball field and baseball practice field.

The girls practice and play at the Little Middle School, which is 2 1/2 miles away and doesn’t offer access to locker rooms or bathrooms or have any irrigation or regular maintenance.

Moreover, a plan for a new high school/middle school includes a proposal for a new practice baseball field but no softball field. The School Committee has said it will review the charges.

Big meets in Vermont

The coach of Vermont wrestling power Mount Anthony, Scott Legacy, was intrigued by the dual-meet showdown last month between Timberlane and North Andover, which drew a boisterous crowd of over 700 fans. While Mount Anthony has no big local rival, says Legacy, it always draws good crowds of up to 500 fans and much more when wrestling powers like Danbury, Conn., come to town.

Mount Anthony will be at the Methuen Invitational Saturday.

‘The loneliest number’

The Dec. 31 issue of Sports Illustrated included a terrific article on Grinnell College’s Jack Taylor as well as others, in the NBA (only Wilt Chamberlin) and college, who have scored 100 points in a game. It provides an interesting perspective and gives you added respect for Taylor.

Unfortunately, one week after the article came out, Taylor broke his wrist, ending his season averaging 36 points a game.

Boys gymnastics demise

Anyone who enjoys watching boy gymnastics should take in Andover’s home meet with Lowell at 7 p.m. Thursday. It may be one of your last chances because the MIAA Board of Directors voted last week to eliminate boys gymnastics as an MIAA sport. This winter will be the final season in which boys gymnastics will be an MIAA-sponsored sport.

Andover features one of the top boy gymnasts in New England in Brian Manning as well as another standout in Joseph Aronov.