Athol High School has hired Nevonya “Von” Smith of Gardner as its new head varsity boys’ soccer coach.
Smith will replace Ruddy Paulino, who stepped away after one season at the helm. Paulino previously replaced David King, who led the program for 16 seasons.
Smith will look to build off the 2019 campaign, which saw the Red Raiders return to the postseason after finishing 7-7-4. Athol will return 11 players who have seen varsity action after the graduation of nine seniors.
Smith is a graduate of Lunenburg High School, where he excelled on the soccer field. He was a four-year member of the varsity soccer team while at Lunenburg, and after high school, Smith played semi-professional soccer in Sweden
“The experience was great,” Smith stated. “The game is played quite different overseas. The talent was incredible. It was an awesome experience.”
Upon returning to the states, Smith enlisted in the United States Army in 2006, and he served as a combat engineer until 2009. Since then he has found a passion for coaching and has been involved in both the Fitchburg and Lunenburg recreational programs. Smith has also coached basketball and football in recent years.
Smith is eager to get to work and loves the challenges that are ahead for him. The Red Raiders are currently scheduled to kick off the 2020 campaign on Sept. 9 with an afternoon trip to Palmer.
A virtual meet and greet to introduce Coach Smith will be set up a later date. For more information, please contact Athletic Director Dan Bevis at dbevis@arrsd.org or follow the district’s athletic Facebook page – ARRSD Athletics.
Thomas Memorial Ladies League
Marilyn Kostanski’s plus-9 point quota put her atop the leaderboard at Wednesday’s Ladies League at Thomas Memorial Golf & Country Club in Turners Falls.
Karen Hopkins and Kate Dwyer tied for second place at plus-6.
Barb Howey and Joanne McGowan tied for the win in the capture the flags competition with six apiece.
Knights of Columbus League
Ed Sargent paced the field with a plus-9 quota, holding off all comers at the Knights of Columbus Golf League at Thomas Memorial Golf & Country Club on Wednesday.
Ray Zukowski and Kent McGahan were close behind with plus-6 quotas.
After three weeks, McGahan leads the league with a plus-11, followed by Steve Russo at plus-6.
CFC Ladies League
At Crumpin-Fox Club, Pam Paquette took top honors with a plus-4 quota in Ladies League action.
Corky Sysun was next at plus-3, followed by Tammy Balestracci at plus-2 and Kathy Felton at even.
Sysun and Paquette each won a skin.
Northfield Summer Series
Mark Rabasco kicked it into high gear, posting a scorching time of 19 minutes, 34 seconds to take first place in Week 2 of the virtual Northfield Summer Road Race Series, which ran from June 4 through June 10.
Noah de Ruiter was the runner-up on the 3.3-mile course in 21:57, followed by Bob Bezio (23:31), Dave Thomas (24:05) and Liam Walker (24:31).
Rounding out the top 10 finishers were Garrett Postema (sixth, 24:44), Tim Relyea (seventh, 25:35), Marcy Cabanas (eighth, 26:18), Derek Postema (ninth, 27:58) and Chuck Adams (10th, 28:22).