The T&G Hometeam boys' indoor track all-stars for winter 2022-23
The Worcester Telegram & Gazette, with the Central Mass High School Sports Awards program, presented by DCU — Digital Federal Credit Union, is proud to announce the nominees for boys' indoor track. The winner will be announced during the live show Wednesday, June 28, at the Hanover Theatre.
During the live show, these nominees will be honored, along with the athletes of the year in 31 other sports with Athletes of the Year, Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, and a Courage Award.
Nominated athletes can register for their free ticket to the show here, thanks to sponsors: Nominee Registration for the 2023 Central Mass High School Sports Awards (smartsheet.com)
General public tickets are on sale here: 2023 Central Mass High School Sports Awards Tickets (enmotive.com)
Vote for your favorite school for the Spirit Award here: 2023 Show Your School Spirit - 2023 Show Your School Spirit (gannettcontests.com)
More information about the show, including other nominees, can be found here: Central Mass High School SportsCentral Mass High School Sports Awards (usatoday.com)
The Central Mass High School Awards show is part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards, the largest high school sports recognition program in the country. Last year’s show can still be viewed here: 2022 Central Mass High School Sports Awards - YouTube
Adam Balewicz
Nashoba Regional
Junior, 2 Mile
Balewicz was definitely up for going the distance. He took third in the mile at the Division 3 state championships and earned another medal by helping the Wolves place eighth in the 3,200-meter relay. He returned to the Reggie Lewis Center a week later to finish eighth in the 2 mile at the Meet of Champions in 9 minutes, 22.6 seconds. That was a school record and the 10th fastest time in the state among MIAA competitors this winter. Balewicz capped off his terrific campaign by, in his most memorable moment of the season, placing 27th in the championship division of the 5,000 at the New Balance Nationals Indoor in 15:15.68 to set another personal best. He is the son of Amy and Jonathan Balewicz of Bolton.
Stephen Bate
Fitchburg High
Senior, Long Jump
Bate was a point producer in multiple sprinting and jumping events for the Red Raiders. He was at his best in the long jump. Bate finished first at the MSTCA Division 2 state relays and went on to place third at both the Division 2 state championships and, in his most memorable moment of the season, the Meet of Champions as he came in seeded 19th. His effort of 21 feet, 7½ inches at the Meet of Champions was a personal record and ranked second in school history and eighth in the state this winter. Advancing to the New England championships for the first time, Bate finished 12th overall and second among Massachusetts competitors. Bate will major in bioengineering at either UMass or Ohio State. He is the son of Mary and Stephen Bate of Fitchburg.
Dylan Brenn
Wachusett Regional
Junior, 1,000
It was another terrific season on the indoor circuit for Brenn, whose versatility extended from the 400-meter run to the mile. He placed second in the 1,000 at the Division 1 state championships and then took fifth at the Meet of Champions and sixth at the New England championships. His top times of 2 minutes, 32.23 seconds in the 1,000 and 1:23.32 in the 600 both ranked fifth in the state this winter, and his clocking of 1:55.04 in the 800 was a school record. Nationally, Brenn helped the New England National Track Club finish first in the 3,200 relay and second in the distance medley relay in the championship division at the Adidas Indoor Nationals. He is the son of Candi and Ron Brenn of Princeton.
Brandon Ciccolini
Parker Charter
Senior, 55, Long Jump
Ciccolini was a dynamic dual threat for the Panthers. He started the season by winning the 55-meter dash at the MSTCA Winterfest and closed it by placing fourth at the Division 5 state championships, eighth at the Meet of Champions and, in one of his most memorable moments of the season, 18th at the New England championships. Ciccolini also took third in the long jump at the D5 state meet to advance to the Meet of Champions. His top efforts of 6.61 seconds in the 55 and 20 feet, 2¼ inches in the long jump were both school records. Ciccolini, who will attend the University of Massachusetts, also set school marks in the 200, 300, 800 relay, and 50-yard dash. He is the son of Stacy and Michael Ciccolini of Leominster.
Zach MacLure
Lunenburg High
Senior, 600
This is the second selection to the T&G Super Team for MacLure following a stellar indoor season. He finished third in the 600-mteter run at the Division 5 state championships, fifth at the Meet of Champions and eighth at the New England championships. His top time of 1 minute, 23.43 seconds was a personal record and ranked seventh in the state this winter. A three-time national qualifier, MacLure’s most memorable moment of the season was helping the Blue Knights go from last to first in their championship division heat in the sprint medley relay at the New Balance Nationals Indoor. MacLure will continue his running career and major in biology on a pre-med track at the University of South Florida. He is the son of Cheryl and John MacLure of Lunenburg.
Alan Nguyen
Westborough High
Senior, 55 Hurdles, Long Jump
This is the second straight T&G Super Team selection in indoor track and third overall for the dynamic explosive and swift Nguyen. As a long jumper, he placed second at the Meet of Champions, seventh at the New England championships and 27th in the championship division at the New Balance Nationals Indoor. His longest leap of 22 feet, 6½ inches was a school record and ranked second in the state this season. In the 55-meter hurdles, Nguyen finished first at the Division 3 state championships before going on to take fourth at both the Meet of Champions and the New Englands. His top time of 7.73 seconds was also a school record and checked in third in the state this winter. He is the son of Chanh Nguyen and Le Doan of Westborough.
Theo Puterbaugh
Parker Charter
Senior, Shot Put
Consistently excellent would best describe the superb senior season crafted by Puterbaugh. The 6-foot-2, 305-pounder finished atop the podium at the MSTCA’s Winterfest, Holiday Challenge, Division 5 relays and qualifier meets, and was second at the Northeast Invitational. Puterbaugh then finished first at the Division 5 state championships, second at the Meet of Champions and ninth at the New England championships. This two-time captain’s most memorable moment of the season was the entire experience that came with competing at the New Balance Nationals Indoor, where he finished 14th with a throw of 56 feet, 7¼ inches. That effort was a school record and ranked second in the state this winter. Puterbaugh will continue his track career at the University of Rhode Island. He is the son of Emily Goss and John Puterbaugh of Sterling.
Timothy Rank
Littleton High
Junior, Mile, 2 Mile
It was a season filled with individual and team highlights for Rank. This two-time T&G Super Team selection in cross-country was a gold medalist in the mile and 3,200-meter relay sat the Division 5 state championships, helping the Tigers repeat as team champs. Rank then shifted to the 2 mile at the Meet of Champions, finishing 14th in a stacked field. His top times of 9:18.54 in the 2 mile and 4:21.88 in the mile were personal records and ranked ninth and 22nd, respectively, in the state this winter among MIAA competitors. An outdoor enthusiast, Rank’s most memorable moments of the season were celebrating the Tigers' D5 team title and competing at the New Balance Nationals Indoor. He is the son of Megan and Douglas Rank of Littleton.
Aidan Ross
Uxbridge High
Senior, 2 Mile
It was a record-setting campaign for Ross, who has amassed multiple T&G Super Team selections in cross-country and indoor and outdoor track. The swift senior ran the 2 mile in a school-record time of 9 minutes, 16.58 seconds while winning the MSTCA Northeast Invitational and set the Southern Worcester Country League mark in the same event at the league meet while leading, in his most memorable moment of the season, the Spartans to the team title. Ross was second at the MSTCA qualifier meet and 10th at the Meet of Champions. While undecided about a major, Ross will continue his running career at Wake Forest, where he aspires to craft an All-America career and help the Deacon Deamons win an NCAA team title. He is the son of Sharon and Bob Ross of Uxbridge.
Sam Secor
Bromfield School
Senior, 600
Secor capped his senior season on the indoor circuit with a slew of multiple moments at the New Balance Nationals Indoor. There was an eighth-place finish in the rising stars division of the sprint medley relay and his participation in the 800-meter run, which was viewed by U.S. Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. There were plenty of other highlights along the way. Secor finished fifth in the 600 at the Division 5 state championships and ninth at the Meet of Champions. His top time of 1 minute, 25.05 seconds in the 600 was a personal record and ranked 13th in the state this season. Secor will study engineering at Boston University as he begins pursuit of an MBA. He is the son of Erica Frew and Peter Secor of Shirley.
Antonio Wiafe
St. John’s High
Senior, High Jump, Long Jump
Wiafe opted for indoor track over basketball this winter. That decision led to his first T&G Super Team selection and trips to the New England championships and, in his most memorable moment of the season when he received a coveted backpack that represented all the hard work he put in, the New Balance Nationals Indoor. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Wiafe was fourth in the high jump and eighth in the long jump at the Division 1 state championships. Advancing to the Meet of Champions, Wiafe finished third in the high jump with a personal-record effort of 6 feet, 4 inches, ninth in the 800-meter relay and 10th in the long jump with a personal-best 20-11¾. He is the son of Stephanie Wiafe of Shrewsbury.
Michael Zuo Jr.
AMSA
Senior, Shot Put
Zuo certainly put his best foot forward in the throwing circle. The 6-foot-1, 246-pounder departed Boston with wins at the MSTCA’s Winterfest and Coaches Invitational meets before returning to the Reggie Lewis Center to place third at the Division 5 state championships and advance to the state meet for the second straight season. Zuo placed seventh at the Meet of Champions, an improvement of 10 spots over last year. This two-year captain’s top effort of 48 feet, 11 seconds was a school record and ranked 14th in the state this winter. Zuo will major in civil engineering and continue his track career with the goal of competing in the national championships at WPI. He is the son of Jenneh and Michael Zuo of Worcester.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Check out the T&G Hometeam boys' indoor track all-stars for winter 2022-23
