The T&G Hometeam girls' 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 girls' 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
Diamani Canuto
Leominster High
Senior, High Jump, 300
Canuto again excelled on the track and in the field for the Blue Devils. This two-time T&G SuperTeam selection got her season off to a superb start when she cleared 5 feet, 4 inches to win the high jumpat the MSTCA Boston Holiday Challenge. That was a personal-record effort and tied for sixth in the statethis season among MIAA competitors. It was also her most memorable moment in a season during which shecompeted in the high jump and 300-meter dash at the Meet of Champions and the high jump at the NewBalance Nationals Indoor. Canuto, who also set a personal best in the 300 in 41.5 seconds, willcontinue her track career and study physical therapy/athletic training at Sacred Heart University. She isthe daughter of Sheisa Seda and Jose Canuto of Westminster.
Katherine DeFosse
Auburn High
Senior, 55 Hurdles
DeFosse produced a slew of healthy performances despite dealing with an injury all season. This four-time T&G Super Team selection finished second at the MSTCA’s Speed Classic and Boston HolidayChallenge. DeFosse then took top honors at the Southern Worcester County League championships forthe second straight year and, in her most memorable moment of the season, won the Division 4 statechampionships to earn a return trip to the Meet of Champions. Her top time of 8.65 seconds ranked 11th inthe state this winter. DeFosse, who made her debut at the New Balance Nationals Indoor after qualifyingfor the New England championships as a junior, will continue her track career and major in psychology atSpringfield College. She is the daughter of Kristin and Kevin DeFosse of Worcester.
Rahma Giwa
Wachusett Regional
Sophomore, 300, Relays
There was no sophomore slump for this swift sprinter. Individually, Giwa finished third in the 300-meterdash at the Division 1 state championships and, for the second straight season, sixth at the Meet ofChampions. Her top time of 40.68 seconds ranked ninth overall and first among underclassmen in thestate this winter. This two-time T&G Super Team selection helped the Mountaineers finish first in the 800relay and second in the 1,600 relay at the Meet of Champions and place eighth in the sprint medley relayin the championship division at the New Balance Nationals Indoors. The 800 relay’s best showing of1:43.03 was a school record and the second-fastest in state history. She is the daughter of Safia andBashiru Giwa of Holden.
Melinda Haagensen
Westborough High
Senior, 55 Hurdles
Haagensen combined elite athleticism, a determined work ethic and technical prowess to againhurdle her way to success. This three-time T&G Super Team selection finished first at the Central Mass.Division 1 championships, second at the Division 3 state championships and ninth — an improvement of13 spots over her junior season — at the Meet of Champions. Her top time of 8.68 seconds was a personalrecord and ranked 13th in the state this winter. Haagensen, who also pole vaulted and cleared 12 feet to setthe indoor school record, went on to compete in the New Balance Nationals Indoor, which was her mostmemorable moment of the season. Haagensen will continue her track career and major in biochemistry atColgate University. She is the daughter of Carol and Dana Haagensen of Westborough.
Haley McCormack
Tantasqua Regional
Sophomore, High Jump
Suffice to say, McCormack soared to new heights this season while going undefeated in competitions in Massachusetts. She finished first at the MSTCA Division 3 relays, the Southern Worcester County League championships, the Division 3 state championships, and the Meet of Champions, where she cleared 5 feet, 6 inches to top her previous personal record by 4 inches and break the indoor school record. Capturing gold medals at the two state meets ranked among her most memorable moments of the season. McCormack, who also was a point producer for the Warriors in the 55-meter hurdles, went on to finish 10th at the New England championships, where she was one of just six underclassmen to compete in the field of 35, before making her debut at the New Balance Nationals Indoor. She is the daughter of Diana and Shawn McCormack of Sturbridge.
Emma Ronan
St. Paul High
Senior, 1,000
Ronan displayed her versatility by competing in events ranging from the 800-meter run to the 2 mile.This three-time Super Team selection was at her best in the 1,000. Ronan finished first at the MayflowerAthletic Conference championships, third at the Division 4 state championships and 10th at the Meet orChampions. Her top time of 3 minutes, 3.5 seconds was a school record and ranked 24th in the state thiswinter among MIAA competitors. Ronan’s most memorable moment of the season was helping theKnights pull off the upset and win the 800 relay at the MAC championships. Ronan will study health andhuman science/exercise science at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. She is the daughter ofCarrie DiRamio and Thomas Ronan of Hopkinton.
Nyah Santana
Wachusett Regional
Junior, 55, 300, Relays
Santana is proudest this season of her growth as an individual and teammate while learning from andcorrecting her mistakes. This three-time Super Team selection had plenty of other reasons to be satisfied.Santana was a double medalist at the Division 1 state championships, placing sixth in the 55-meter dashto advance to the Meet of Champions and seventh in the 300. Her top times of 40.67 seconds in the 300and 7.4 in the 55 were personal records and ranked 11th and 23rd , respectively, in the state this winter.Santana was also part of fab foursomes that finished first in the 800 relay and second in the 1,600 relay atthe Meet of Champions and eighth in the sprint medley relay in the championship division at the NewBalance Nationals Indoor. She is the daughter of Nyoka and Will Santana of Holden.
Kira Simoncini
Whitinsville Christian
Senior, 55
It was a senior season to relish and remember. Simoncini finished first or second in the 55-meter dash atthe MSTCA’s Winterfest, Speed Classic, Coaches Invitational, and Qualifier meets. She then placedsecond at the Division 4 state championships and, in an improvement of 15 places over last year, eighth atthe Meet of Champions and 14th in her inaugural appearance at the New England championships.Simoncini's most memorable moments of the season were serving as a captain and helping to lead theCrusaders while progressively improving, culminating with her competing in the 60 in her debut at theNew Balance Nationals Indoor. Simoncini will continue her track career and major in hospitality at HighPoint University in North Carolina. She is the daughter of Stacey Savage of Douglas.
Ava VanBuskirk
Marlborough High
Junior, 55, 300
VanBuskirk again showed she’s one of the state’s standout sprinters while being selected to theT&G Super Team for the second successive season. She repeated as a double medalist at the Division 3state championships in a pair of stacked events, finishing third in the 300-meter dash to qualify for theMeet of Champions and fifth in the 55. VanBuskirk’s top time of 41.43 seconds in the 300 ranked 15 th inthe state this winter. Her most memorable moment of the season was winning the MSTCA Speed Classic.A two-time T&G Super Team selection in soccer as well as track, VanBuskirk is verbally committed tocontinue her soccer career at the University of New Hampshire. She is the daughter of Pam and JoeVanBuskirk of Marlborough.
Sarah Viveiros
Lunenburg High
Junior, Shot Put
After a strong sophomore season, Viveiros continued her upward rise this winter in the throwingcircle. Her highlights included finishing second in the shot put at the MSTCA Winterfest, first at theCentral Mass. Division 2 championships and fourth at the Division 5 state championships. Her best effortof 34 feet, 8¼ inches was a school record — and one of her most memorable moments of the season — andranked first among CMass competitors and 25th in the state this winter. And Viveiros displayed herathleticism on the track as well, helping the Blue Knights take sixth in the 3,200 relay at the MSTCADistance Classic and 10th in the 800 relay at the D5 state meet. She is the daughter of Sandy Hill and RobViveiros of Lunenburg.
Emma Wierenga
Whitinsville Christian
Sophomore, 600
Wierenga followed up a terrific season in cross-country that led to her first T&G Super Selection with animpressive effort in her inaugural campaign on the indoor circuit. She finished first in the 600-meter runat the Dual Valley Conference championships, second at the Division 4 state championships and ninthoverall and fourth among underclassmen at the Meet of Champions. Wierenga’s top time of 1 minute,39.42 seconds ranked 22nd overall and eighth among underclassmen in the state this season. Wierenga,who enjoys acting and skiing in addition to running, had numerous memorable moments this season,including meeting and helping the many people she met at track meets and “honoring God in my sport.”She is the daughter of Alicia and Eric Wierenga of Grafton.
Ashlynn Witt
Wachusett Regional
Senior, 1,000, Relays
Witt again was consistently excellent while earning her seventh T&G Super Team selection. In hermost memorable moment of the season, Witt posted a personal-record time of 2 minutes, 57.51 secondswhile placing second in the 1,000-meter run at the MSTCA Coaches Invitational. She went on to finishsecond at the Division 1 state championships and, in an improvement of 12 spots over last season, third atthe Meet of Champions. Witt also helped the Mountaineers finish first in the 800 relay and second in the1,600 relay at the Meet of Champions and nab eighth place in the sprint medley relay in the championshipdivision at the New Balance Nationals Indoor, where she also competed in the 800. Witt will continue herrunning career at Quinnipiac University, where she was recently accepted into the pre-physician assistantprogram. She is the daughter of Susan and Davis Witt of Princeton.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Check out the T&G Hometeam girls' indoor track all-stars for winter 2022-23
