Blue Devil Athlete Spotlight: Anthuan Lino Diego (Wrestling)

Sophomore wrestler Anthuan Lino Diego is enjoying a great first season under coach Matt Schiller, who encouraged Anthuan to try out wrestling after working together during the football season.  Schiller said despite being new to the sport, Anthuan is getting better every week, with a personal record of 12-9.    

“He wrestles in the heavyweight division and started off the season slow with a couple of losses but broke through at the Milford Tournament where he placed fourth overall,” Schiller said.  “He started to win some matches but he surprised a lot of people when he placed second at the Chelmsford Tournament beating the number two and three-seeded wrestlers who both qualified for the State tournament last year.”

Anthuan has really worked hard to improve, learning a lot in a short time from his coach.

“You get better every day as long as you make the time to show up for your team and yourself,” Anthuan said.  

Anthuan also said has quickly embraced playing a new sport.  

“I like the people and the feeling of winning the most,” Anthuan said.  “I enjoy the team, the people, and the energy.”  

Anthuan also isn’t letting his new arrival to the sport limit his goals.

“My plan is to become the number one wrestler in Massachusetts and get a scholarship,” Anthuan said.  

Anthuan is a CTEi student where he is in the electrical program, where he’s learning the trade to become an electrician after high school.  

Not surprisingly, he said electrical teacher Mr. Oppewall is his favorite teacher, along with history teacher Mr. Barrieau.  

Outside of school, Anthuan enjoys running, working out, cooking and reading.   

 

Blue Devil Athlete Spotlight: Francesca Bello (Girls' Basketball)

Sophomore girls’ basketball player Francesca Bello is enjoying another strong season after gaining valuable varsity experience a year ago for head coach Rusty Frederick.  Frederick said Francesca is a hard working basketball player who is always looking to get better while showing tremendous dedication in the classroom.  

“She is a starting center for the second year in row and is showing great promise with her leadership skills on and off the court,” Frederick said.  “We are looking forward to what she can bring to Leominster High in the future.”

Born and raised in Leominster, Francesca started playing basketball when she was seven when both of her parents signed her up for recreational basketball.  By the time she was in the fourth grade, she was playing travel basketball.  

“Basketball has always been an outlet or escape for me,” Francesca said.  

As for her LHS team, Francesca said she has enjoyed her time so far.  

“(I enjoy) having a sense of community and friendship with my teammates and the program,” Francesca said.  

Francesca said she has also learned a great deal from coach Frederick during her time as a Blue Devil.  

“I’ve learned that building a sense of community on and off the court builds a sense of family with my teammates,” Francesca said.  

Francesca hopes to continue her basketball career in college and would like to be a physical therapist in the future.  

“I would go to school for exercise science or kinesiology,” Francesca said.  

At LHS, Francesca also plays volleyball and is a part of Best Buddies and BDN Cultural.  Her favorite class has been art so far and her favorite teacher is Ms. Comeau.

Outside of school, Francesca enjoys going to the gym, shopping, and drawing or reading.