Jean DePlacido
Katelyn Driscoll is hoping her senior year of hockey at Connecticut College will end with another tournament appearance. The Camels had a six-game win streak come to an end last weekend when they lost two one goal games to Amherst.
"Katelyn is a talented athlete," said head coach Kristin Steele, who is in her 11th year at the helm. "As a member of our team she is counted on to play hard and play physical. Many on the ice take their cues from her."
Driscoll, who is from Peabody and the seventh member of her family (younger brother Teddy is a freshman) to play for the Camels, is a three-sport athlete. She excels in soccer, hockey and lacrosse.
As a steady defenseman she has played in all 13 games with a goal and three assists for the hockey team which is now 8-7-2 overall and 5-6-1 in NESCAC.
"My goal for this season is to end strong and have a fun time playing the sport I love," said Driscoll. "The team goal is to make it as far as we can; ideally the NCAAs. We have the talent and depth to do it so everyone's focus is on getting there. This is the most talented team we have had since I've been at Conn. Along with that talent the determined attitude and work ethic is visibly apparent."
The behavioral neuroscience major is planning to attend physician assistant school in the near future. She said her college years have flown by, and the hardest part about playing three sports is finding time for herself because she goes from one season to the next with very little break.
"I always make time to do my work, play sports and go to class, but just finding time to do nothing is the hardest part," said Driscoll, who played lacrosse for Peabody High before finishing her career at Pomfret. "It is difficult to find time just to relax."
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The St. John's Prep football schedule, which is always one of the most difficult in the state, just got a bit tougher. Head coach/AD Jim O'Leary signed a two-year deal with Bridgewater-Raynham for the Columbus Day weekend, and this fall the Eagles will take a road trip.
"We lost Somerville, but they they picked up Andover instead," said O'Leary. "I really don't understand why they didn't keep playing us. Bridgewater-Raynham is in a small league so they are always looking for games. We may be able to continue the arrangement longer than the two years in place now."
The Eagles open with Dracut, Central Catholic, Everett, Brockton, BR and St. John's Shrewsbury as non-league opponents before ending with four Catholic Conference games.
"Everett, Brockton and Bridgewater are all on the road," said O'Leary. "Salem called us looking for a game, but it was the week we have Everett. We could have dropped (Everett), but that is a nice rivalry. We have 10 games now, and unless something comes up for Oct. 19 that's it. Plymouth South was open that date which is always hard to fill, but they didn't want to play us. Nantucket was also open, but didn't want to come up. We may find another opponent yet; I'm still looking."
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Marty Miserandino of Fit Werx in Peabody is chairperson of the 2012 Tour de Cure to raise money for diabetes research. Anyone who signs up for the 100-mile Gran Fondo will be entered to win a Parlee 25SL or 25SLi bike valued at $4,700 and will be professional fitted at Fit Werx.
New York City Tour de Cure has issued a Super Bowl challenge to which Tour de Cure team raises the most money online before the big game. Fit Werx is not only a huge supporter of Tour de Cure but also of the New England Patriots, so it's a win-win proposal for Miserandino and company. The North Shore Tour de Cure will be held on May 20th this year, and Miserandino will ride in memory of his mother Julie, who died of the disease.
Donors taking part in the challenge also have a change to win some great prizes by going to http://main.diabetes.org/goto/fixwerx.
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Jean DePlacido is a longtime correspondent for The Salem News. You can contact her at JMDeplacido@aol.com.
