Youth Teams Show Massachusetts Who's Boss

The youth sports teams around town keep up their winning ways. I’ve got some news about two teams that traveled to Massachusetts over the three-day weekend for some basketball dominance. I’ve also got news about this year’s Washington School show, how residents feels about the Jets and a Y dance.

Here’s what is going on About Town.

YOUTH BASKETBALL TEAMS WIN BIG

Two local youth basketball teams had a lot to celebrate after a weekend away.

The Westfield sixth and eighth grade travel basketball A teams journeyed up to Springfield, Mass. over the three-day weekend to participate and win the 2011 Junior HoopHallClassic. With games being played at Springfield College, the teams made the finals at Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Both teams won their age groups for travel teams, winning five consecutive games over two days. All of the players received new Converse sneakers for winning.

The Westfield sixth grade team won the ten team sixth grade division in a dominating fashion. The smallest margin of victory going into the championship game was 28 points over Shrewsbury, Mass. The championship game was competitive against Longmeadow, Mass. but Westfield won 61-50.

Sixth grade players are Matt LaCorte, Michael Ukrainskyj, Philip Zanfagna, Chuck Baldwin, Jack Neiswenter, Philip Martini, Owen Bartok, Timmy Day, Kevin Brennan, Kevin Reinhard, and Max Kaplan. The coach is Dave Brennan and assistant coaches are Mark Martini, Ron Newiswenter and Jim LaCorte.

The eighth grade team won the twenty-one team division beating Newton, Mass. 62-60. Early wins were scored over Springfield, Mass. and Amherst, Mass., among others.

Eighth grade players are Danny McHugh, Sean Elliott, Kelly Hogan, Sean Brennan, Pat Culhane, Colin Dursee, Jack Bunting, Kevin Irving, Eli Wirtshafter, Mitchell Figueroa and Danny Mitchell. The coach is Keith Gabloff and the assistant coaches are Dave Wirtshafter and Rich Dursee.

WASHINGTON SET FOR 63rd ANNUAL SHOW

It’s that time of year again. It’s time for the Washington School Show. A long-standing tradition that started at Grant School and now at Washington, this is one of the best traditions going on in Westfield. I may be a Franklin alum but I am excited to see Washington continuing this great tradition.

The show is coordinated by a dedicated group of parent volunteers and serves as the PTO’s biggest fundraiser. This year’s show kicks off on Feb. 4 and is called “Get Sm’Art!” It’s based on “Night at the Museum” and revolves around a group of Washington students on a night time tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, who are intent on hunting down an art thief who stole Van Gogh’s Starry Night.

The show is on Feb. 4 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 5 at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Shows are at Roosevelt and tickets at $12 for the evening and $8 for the matinee. Tickets can be ordered here.  

J-E-T-S, JETS, JETS, JETS

Jets fever is catching on in Westfield. People are sitting home watching and rooting on the hometown team, hoping for a Jersey connection to the Super Bowl this year. More Jets flags are out around town and school district business administrator Bob Berman was seen decked out in a Jets cap and jacket in Starbucks on Monday.

I asked around to see what people are thinking of the Jets run to the Super Bowl.

Karen Doskow – “Love it! Think they might even go to the Super Bowl.”

Rich Mayer – “Feeling good. Not too good though. Been burned too many time over the years with feeling to positive. Ask again after the Steelers.”

Karen Phillips – “They can (and must) do it!”

Jennifer Siegal – “As a long time Jets fan, I'm very excited that they're still in the playoffs. Normally by now, I'm getting ready to move on to baseball. It sure has been a fun, entertaining season. Go team!”

Send your thoughts on the Jets over to me at lori.kaplan@me.com.

Y PLANNING TO DANCE ALL NIGHT

The Westfield YMCA has announced a teen dance on Feb. 4 at the Bauer Family Center on East Broad Street. The dance is from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. The cost is $7 at the door if you preregister and $10 at the door without preregistering. All attendees need to have a registration filled out with a parent’s signature.