Blue Devil Athlete Spotlight: Isabella Nevard (Girls' Basketball)

  

Only a sophomore, Isabella Nevard is already a leader both on and off the court.  A perfect example of that leadership is what Isabella did this past summer to welcome the incoming freshmen.  Isabella reached out to her new LHS teammates and started doing drills and playing pickup games with them.  Leominster girls’ basketball coach Rusty Frederick said he wasn’t surprised at Isabella’s initiative.  
 
“I have coached Isabella Nevard over the last two seasons,” Frederick said.  “Isabella has a great work ethic and strives to be the best player she can be.  She is always asking questions and trying to improve her basketball skills.”
 
Frederick said Isabella’s leadership and work ethic extend to the classroom as well.  
 
“Isabella has demonstrated her ability to work hard on the court but also academically,” Frederick added.  “Even though remote learning is challenging, she continues to do well in class.”  
 
Isabella started playing basketball when she was six years old.
 
“It all started when my parents put me in a co-ed recreational league,” Isabella said.  “I loved competing and going up against the boys, so this was ideal for me.”
 
Isabella said the team-component of basketball is something she feeds off of.
 
“If there is one thing that keeps me showing up everyday, despite the endless grinds and physical burdens, it is surely my team,” Isabella said.  “I appreciate the social aspect of my team, but feeling the energy and support of nine other dedicated female athletes is certainly what motivates me to come to practice, work hard, and become the best version of myself.”  
 
Isabella said a previous experience really cemented her notion that the team comes first.  
 
“About two years ago, during a championship game, I sat on the bench with two minutes left, looking nothing but defeated,” Isabella said.  “My coach looked me in the face and said ‘don't make this about you.’  Although this could come off as harsh, this has stuck with me since the moment I heard it.  Everyday since then, I've chosen to play for something bigger than myself.  I believe if everyone does this, we as teammates will learn to play for each other, and in this we will find what the game is really about.”   
 
Isabella is also thankful for coach Frederick and his willingness to push and challenge her to become better.  
 
“I could not be more thankful for my coach Rusty Frederick who pushes me every day to attain my goals and not only be a good basketball player, but to use my knowledge to build character on and off the court,” Isabella said.  “His dedication to my team and the program motivates us to make each other better people, teammates and players.  I am also very appreciative of all the coaching staff at Leominster, as they all make sedulous efforts every single day to create a healthy, successful and comfortable culture for all of us players.”
 
Aside from playing on the Leominster varsity team, Isabella also has played AAU basketball for the Above the Rim Elite and Blaze.  She also plays softball and volleyball in the offseason. 
 
At Leominster High, aside from playing volleyball and softball, Isabella is also part of Student Government.
 
When she is not playing sports, she enjoys reading and writing.
 
“I also work at a farm where I get to work with animals, which is definitely very important to me,” Isabella added.  “Fishing, hiking, any outdoor activity really is something I am passionate about.”

 
 
 
 

Blue Devil Athlete Spotlight: Caitlin Ruby and Emily Ayles (Girls' Ice Hockey)

 

Caitlin Ruby and Emily Ayles now seniors on the Leominster co-op girls’ ice hockey team, but their path to this point has been anything but conventional.  

Emily started playing hockey her freshman year at Leominster but has been skating since she was five years old, mainly involved in figure skating before transitioning to ice hockey.  

“My dad and brother both play,” Emily said.  “They were trying to get me to play for years.”

Caitlin played dek hockey prior to trying out ice hockey during sophomore year of high school, thanks in large part to some encouragement from her friend Emily.  

“I recruited Caitlin to play for the LHS team because we were really close and we were on the same dek hockey team,” Emily explained.  “I knew she would be a good fit on the team.  We started going to the boys’ hockey games and she became more interested in ice hockey.”

Emily and Caitlin then started going to public skating together to see if Caitlin enjoyed being on the ice.

“After a couple of times going, I told my coach that Caitlin was interested and that I would help get her ready for the start of next season,” Emily said.  

The two have been together on the Blue Devils girls’ ice hockey team since that point.  

Now four years after changing skates, Emily also plays for the Lady Falcons 19U girls’ team and hopes to also play club hockey in college.  She said her favorite part of the game is the intensity.  

“Emily works hard and has adapted nicely from figure skating to ice hockey,” LHS girls’ hockey coach Nancy LeBlanc said.  “She is a strong skater and has improved a lot and is emerging as an impact player for us.”    

Emily also likes the fact that the Leominster team is a co-op team and she gets to meet people from other schools.  

Emily plays varsity lacrosse for the Blue Devils in the spring and when not playing sports, she enjoys shopping and hanging out with friends.  

In school, Emily said her favorite teacher is Mrs. Romhanyi.

“My favorite teacher was Mrs.Romhanyi and my favorite class was every art class I took with her,” Emily said.  

Caitlin had no prior ice hockey experience prior to Emily urging to join at the start of her sophomore year.  She did have dek hockey experience prior to playing ice hockey.  She also plays softball and enjoys singing.  

“Caitlin has worked hard to improve her skating as she too has made a transition, in her case from dek to ice hockey,” LeBlanc said.  “She has made great strides and we are looking for her to contribute this year for sure.”  

Caitlin said she has learned a lot from coach LeBlanc while learning the game.

“I’ve learned to try your hardest, even if you can’t do something because it will come to you eventually,” Caitlin said.   

Caitlin also likes that the Blue Devils team are a co-op.

“I like that it’s a mixture of all schools, so it gives you a chance to make new friends,” Caitlin said.  “It’s a very welcoming team.”

As for why she likes hockey, Caitlin said it’s an outlet for her.

“If I’m upset or mad, I can just take it all out on the ice,” Caitlin said.  “It’s a team sport as well.”

Caitlin hopes to play club hockey in college where she intends to major in Elementary Education, and pursue her goal of becoming a teacher.  

At LHS, she enjoyed both her criminal and civil law classes she took during her junior year.

  

Blue Devil Athlete Spotlight: Adam DeAmicis (Boys' Hockey)

Adam DeAmicis started playing hockey when he was seven years old after attending a game in which his friend was playing in.  After that, Adam was hooked.  Now, the lifelong Leominster resident is a senior captain for the Blue Devils, anchoring the blue line for first-year head coach Frank Mooney.

“Adam is one of our top defensemen this season and has been for the last three seasons,” Mooney said.  “Adam is a strong skater, makes good breakout passes, and can rush the puck effectively when he has the space.”

Mooney said Adam’s impact extends well beyond the rink.

“He has been named our captain this season because he is a role model for our other players both on and off the ice,” Mooney added.  “I also had Adam as a student his freshman year.  He takes school just as seriously as hockey and has been very successful in both.”

Adam grew up playing youth hockey with the Twin City program, and hopes to continue playing after high school for a club program in college.  He plans on majoring in finance.  

Adam’s focus now is the high school season though, where he said he is just happy to be playing the game he loves with his teammates.

“I like the friendships that I make, and being able to spend time with the team, especially since we’re not in school anymore,” Adam said.  

Adam said he has learned a lot during his tenure with the Blue Devil hockey team as well.

“Something I have learned is that being the best is not nearly as important as being a good teammate and person,” Adam said.  

At LHS, Adam is part of Student Council, GIVE, and the National Honor Society.  So far, Adam said his favorite class was Physics with Mr. Noviello.  

Outside of LHS, Adam likes to play video games and hang out with friends.  

LEOMINSTER HIGH SCHOOL ANNOUNCES FRANK MOONEY AS THE NEW VARSITY BOYS’ HOCKEY COACH

 

 

For Immediate Release:  12 November 2020

LEOMINSTER HIGH SCHOOL ANNOUNCES FRANK MOONEY AS THE NEW VARSITY BOYS’ HOCKEY COACH

The Leominster High School Athletic Department is proud to announce the hiring of Frank Mooney as the head varsity boys’ hockey coach.  Mooney has served as the Blue Devils’ junior varsity coach for the past three years and has been a mathematics teacher at Leominster High School since the fall of 2016.  Mooney is a graduate of Lincoln-Sudbury High School where he was a four-year member of the hockey team there.  Mooney graduated from Stonehill College in 2016.

“We are tremendously excited to have Frank as our new hockey coach here at Leominster High School,” Athletic Director Dave Palazzi said.  “Frank’s passion and knowledge for the game, as well as his strong communication skills and ability to connect with our student-athletes makes Frank an ideal person to lead our program moving forward.”

Mooney takes over for Barry Hudson, who coached the Blue Devils for the past two seasons.  

“I’m very excited to be the head coach,” Mooney said.  “Our team has shown a lot of growth over the last few years and I really like the group of kids that are playing this year.  Should be a fun season!”   

Ice hockey, like other winter sports across the state, is considered a “high-risk” sport and therefore the MIAA Ice Hockey Committee is currently developing sport-specific modifications which ultimately will have to be approved by the MIAA in order to allow for competition to take place.  If and when the hockey gets underway is still under evaluation at the time of this release and the Leominster High School Athletic Department will provide pertinent information and updates as they become available.

Blue Devil Athlete Spotlight: Jevic Perez (Boys' Soccer)

Junior defender Jevic Perez moved to Leomister from Fitchburg three years ago, and was a big part of the Blue Devils’ district title run a year ago as a sophomore.  Jevic said his love of soccer evolved after giving a variety of other sports a try.

“My mom signed me up for different sports and I liked soccer the most, so I stayed playing it,” Jevic said.  

Jevic started playing soccer when he was six-years-old.

“(I love) the competitiveness and being able to bond with my team,” Jevic said.  “I am a very competitive person and I try to win in everything I compete in.”

Another one of Jevic’s strengths is his versatility according to coach Steve McCaughey.

“Jevic is an extremely talented and versatile player,” McCaughey said.  “His understanding of the game allows me to use him all over the field.  This year he has played outside back, center back, center defensive mid and center attacking mid depending on where I have needed him most each game.  He is tough, smart, and skilled and he loves to compete, and this combination has turned him into a leader in our program.”

That leadership evolved into Jevic being named a captain this season.

“This year Jevic was named a captain of the team as a junior because of the effort and experience that he brings to the field, as well as the example he sets for other players in our program,” McCaughey said. 

Jevic plays soccer all year long as he plays club soccer for NEFC, but he said his time spent with his Blue Devil teammates is truly special.

“The bond I have with my teammates and the determination to win is what I like most about being a part of the LHS team,” Jevic said.  

Jevic hopes to one day play college soccer and study sports medicine.  When he’s not playing soccer, he enjoys playing video games.

In school, he said Mrs. Piragis’ Spanish class is his favorite so far.  

 

Blue Devil Athlete Spotlight: Olivia Rodriguez (Girls' Soccer)

  

Freshman forward/midfielder Olivia Rodriguez isn’t just new to the Blue Devil soccer team, she’s also getting familiar to life in the lower 48.  Born and raised in Alaska, Olivia made the 3500 mile journey to Leominster about a year ago to be closer to her grandparents and cousins.  

Olivia said she has enjoyed her time in Leominster so far, particularly as part of the soccer team.

“I like the coaches and my teammates because they are very encouraging,” Olivia said.

Olivia has shown a ton of promise on the field as well.  She scored Leominster’s lone goal on Thursday evening in a 3-1 setback to a powerful Wachusett team.

Despite her early success, Olivia’s teammates are still getting to know the reserved yet driven freshman.  

“Olivia has played well,” Blue Devil soccer coach Scott Houle said.  “(Olivia is) new to our school and system since she transferred this year from Anchorage, Alaska.  She is quiet and shy and her teammates just found out recently.” 

Houle said soccer has been a positive in a lot of ways for Olivia.  

“Her mother was originally from the Leominster area, but with Covid , etc. it has been a hurdle to get to know others and at least there has been soccer for (her),” Houle added.

Houle said despite Olivia being only a freshman, she brings a lot to the team and will only get better with more experience.  

“Fortunately for us, she was a club team player (in Alaska) and understands the game and has some good technical skills,” Houle said.  “We frequently tease her that she needs to become louder and play a bit more with an angry streak, but she is very much a wonderful young lady.”  

Olivia said she enjoys everything about soccer.

“My mother signed me up and I quickly fell in love with it and have been playing ever since the first grade,” Olivia said.  

“I love the team sport and how encouraging the coaches are to each other,” Olivia added.  “It’s a good way to stay active and it’s a get away from studies.”

Olivia really means it when she talks about her studies too.  Olivia wants to head into the medical field someday and eventually become a doctor and hopes to play college soccer.  Those goals are reelected in how she spends her time.

“I focus my time on school and soccer,” Olivia said.  “If I am not studying or playing soccer, I mostly spend time with my family and friends.” 

At LHS, Olivia said her favorite class is Freshman Health Assisting.  

“Health Assisting is probably the most interesting so far,” Olivia said.  “I am very interested in learning how to help people medically.”

 

Blue Devil Athlete Spotlight: Colby Julsonnet (Golf)

Sophomore golfer Colby Julsonnet started playing golf when he was just four-years-old.  The lifelong Leominster resident said he started playing because his dad was a golfer.  Now Colby has established himself as coach Daryl Robichaud’s number one, thanks in large part to a lot of work put in since he arrived on campus just over a year ago.  

"Colby returned this season after putting in much work during the offseason,” Robichaud said.  “He quickly established himself as our number one player and held up admirably against the best competition that Mid-Wach A had to offer.”

“His game has a nice balance of technical specificity interspersed with great imagination,” Robichaud added.  “Provided he continues to make the necessary sacrifices, he should have a career that compares favorably with many of the top golfers during my coaching career." 

Colby plays a lot of golf as part of that continued quest to always improve, including playing in a variety of tournaments throughout New England.  

Colby said the best part of golf is the camaraderie.

“What I like most about golf is getting how to play with my friends and meet new people,” Colby said.  

Colby hopes to one day play golf at Oklahoma State, and perhaps study business, although that’s a long way off as Colby still has two more years of golf as a Blue Devil.  

Colby also plays basketball at LHS and said his favorite teacher is Mr. Riggieri.

“My favorite would have to be Mr. Riggieri,” Colby said.  “He is so funny and outgoing as well as an excellent teacher.”