SPORTS
Road to the championship: Harwood prevails in playoff rounds v. MMU, Middlebury
The defending Division II state champion Harwood Union got its shot at another championship match after its 3-0 shutout semifinal win against Middlebury on the heels of a crushing 8-4 victory against MMU in the quarterfinals.
Middlebury stops Harwood Girls Hockey, 2-1, in quarterfinal round
Third-seeded Harwood Union Girls Hockey hosted sixth-place Middlebury for the quarterfinal round of the Division II State Championship. Ultimately the Tigers went on to clinch the state title this week, defeating South Burlington, 2-1, in the final. Here are recaps from the Highlanders’ final competitions of the shortened, distanced season.
Solid 2nd: Harwood gymnasts see best finish at state meet in their lifetime
After an unusually short season that included one of three meets canceled and an 0-2 record, Harwood Union gymnasts headed to the state title meet planning their best strategy but not knowing what to expect. Fast-forward to the Highlanders’ second-place finish, the best for the program since 1993 – before any of the team members were even born.
After a glorious Senior Night, Girls Basketball ends in a close matchup with U-32
Wednesday night was a busy playoff night and Harwood Girls Basketball came up short in a tight matchup against U-32, ending their playoff run ahead of the Division II quarterfinals.
School board may review hockey coach’s appeal of dismissal
It’s unclear whether the Harwood Unified Union School District School Board will take up the issue of former Harwood boys hockey coach Jacob Grout whose firing last month sparked strong public reaction.
Harwood wrestlers stay in shape with an all-training season
Among the many casualties of the pandemic has been the high school sport of wrestling this school year. Wrestling competitions for the winter sports season were quickly dismissed, but the thought of months of inactivity didn’t bode well for the usually active Harwood Union High School wrestlers.
On the ice, Harwood boys mean business
Coming off a state championship in 2020 the Harwood varsity boys hockey program was eager to get their delayed season under way. Two weeks in, they haven’t disappointed on the ice.
Highlander Girls Hockey pulls talent from the region
The Highlander girls hockey team is breaking new ground this season with a reach across Central Vermont to include high school players from Harwood Union, Northfield, Williamstown and Randolph.
HU girls hoops: ‘A season like no other’
Coming off a co-championship win last season, Harwood girls basketball will have a tough time topping their fairy-tale 2020 finish, but head Coach Tom Young sees a strong team with promise to keep the momentum going in the 2021 abbreviated season.
Harwood boys hoops: ‘Really good, very soon’
In his second year as head coach of Harwood Boys Basketball, Josh Bellows owns that the team is building after setting a new path last year that ended 4-16-0.
Harwood gymnasts stretch the short season to reach new goals
In a short season, Harwood gymnastics has had a short competition schedule with just three meets from mid-February to mid-March.
Coach, community campaign for a second chance
Despite a petition signed by more than 1,300 people and multiple interviews with local news media, Jacob Grout’s campaign to return to coaching boys hockey has been met with silence from Harwood Union High School administrators.
Thurston makes a mark at Nordic Junior World Championship
Waterbury’s Ava Thurston has returned from the FIS Nordic Junior World Championships in Vuokatti, Finland, last week just in time for school winter break to get back into her hometown time zone.
Harwood replaces boys hockey coach
Harwood boys hockey is off to a rocky start to the delayed high school winter sports season after the abrupt departure of head coach Jacob Grout before the team’s opening game.
Thurston wins Vermont Cup, heads to Finland with Green Lantern support
Harwood Union High School’s standout Nordic skier Ava Thurston heads out on an adventure to Finland today where she will compete in the Junior World Cross Country Ski Championships.
Thurston, Sweet head to Finland for Nordic Jr. Championships
U.S. Ski & Snowboard last week announced the teams to represent the United States at the 2021 U23 and Junior FIS Cross Country World Championships in Finland where Vermont - and Waterbury - will be well-represented.
Winterfest, Bicycle Express promote winter fat bike recreation
As a way to offer a new opportunity for outdoor recreation during the COVID-19 pandemic, Waterbury Winterfest and Bicycle Express have partnered to make a new winter-friendly fat bike available for daily rental.
Harwood Girls XC wins Meet of Champions
Harwood Girls XC pulled off a stunning victory at the Meet of Champions last weekend, topping 12-time defending Division I champion Champlain Valley Union.
Harwood X-C celebrates a Thurston top finish as teams take 2nd, 3rd
Harwood Cross-Country runner Ava Thurston made it three years in a row being first to the finish line at the Vermont State Division II XC Championships last weekend - a victory her team savored while they took second place in the team competition.
Playoffs: U-32 stops HU Girls Soccer winning streak; boys soccer goes down to the wire in quarterfinals
After an exciting double overtime followed by penalty kick rounds in the state playoff quarterfinal match, third-place Harwood Boys Soccer fell to the sixth-seeded Montpelier Solons on Halloween.