Sports

Triton cross country team earns sportsmanship award

Triton girls cross country team earns third straight CAL Open Sportsmanship Award

By Evan Mugford
Staff writer
Published: November 3, 2009

BYFIELD — In the wide world of sports, the fire of competition can, from time to time, be quite ugly. The victors will gloat; the losers will protest.

The Triton Vikings girls cross country are not of that ilk.

For the third straight year, and the fourth in the past six years, the Vikings, led by tri-captains Erin and Colleen Loughlin and Elena Cox, and their coach Joe Colbert, are the recipient of the Cape Ann League Open Team Sportsmanship Award.

Whether the team is securing a rousing rivalry win over Newburyport, or narrowly succumbing to CAL Large runner-up North Andover, the 7-5 Vikings take everything in stride and with enthusiasm to spare.

"We make sure that at the end of every race that we're cheering for not just every member of our team, but also for the team that we're racing against," Colleen Loughlin said. "To let them know that whether we win or lose, that we've been there."

Erin summed up her feelings on sportsmanship nicely.

"It means you have a positive outlook on not solely on how your team does, but also on how the other is competing," Erin Loughlin said. "At the end of every meet, our team cheers on both teams because beyond competition, it's supposed to be fun, too."

Capping off his eighth year as the head coach of the Vikings, Colbert explained that in a league soaked with genuine people, it's always a pleasant surprise to receive such an accolade.

"The fact that we're not really clear why is a good sign," Colbert said. "It's just what our kids do. They're mature and they carry themselves with that kind of dignity, and people notice it, so it's nice to be recognized.

"To me, I think that's what makes it really worthwhile," Colbert said. "That there are so many teams that are capable of earning this, that for us to be continuously recognized, it means a lot to me as their coach."

Sportsmanship acknowledgement has not been a fleeting apparition for the Vikings over the past few years. The 2009 girls outdoor track team won the Sportsmanship Award, and all three boys teams — cross country, indoor track, outdoor track — won the award last year as well.

"We're really supposed to just be educators and get them ready for the real world, and the fact that they do carry themselves this way tells us we are doing our jobs over at Triton," Colbert said. "In my opinion, nothing they do athletically can top that. They've grown into outstanding young women who carry themselves with dignity and class, and that's what makes me proud of them more than anything."

According to the Loughlin sisters, respect for one's opponent weighs as heavy as victory.

"I think, regardless of winning the award or not, that it's important to continue to show our respect to the other teams," Colleen Loughlin said.

"I think it's really important, because if a team is just showing up to a meet, racing and then leaving, I don't think other teams will respect that," Erin Loughlin said. "Respecting your opponents and your league makes your wins and losses much more profound. It improves the meet's entire atmosphere."

A member of two of the Sportsmanship-winning teams, 16-year-old junior and former Daily News All-Star, Triton's Sara Auwerda has had the unfortunate task of remaining upbeat in the face of adversity — a nagging lower left leg stress fracture cut her cross country season short just three meets deep.

"It's definitely hard and frustrating, but I know that I have to set an example," Auwerda said. "I think it's a matter of pushing through and taking it day by day."

With high hopes of returning to full form by the spring, Auwerda explained that the team's class and honor is expected.

"I think it comes naturally for our team," Auwerda said. "The underclassmen just follow along how the upperclassmen act, and I think it's very instinctual for us."

Colbert stated that from top to bottom, the each of the baker's dozen of Triton runners have made an impression.

"I think the captains do a great job of leading, but it's a small team — there are only 13 girls — so they all really feed off of each other," Colbert said. "The freshmen act and conduct themselves with just as much grace as the upperclassmen, and it's just a great culture that we have going on over there right now.

"They're just nice kids. The whole team displays great sportsmanship. Winning this award for the past three years is a reflection on everybody."

2009 Triton Girls Cross Country Roster

Sara Auwerda, junior

Alicia Cox, senior

Elena Cox, senior

Madison Estes, freshman

Molly Fargeorge, senior

Chloe Kealey, senior

Adele Kneeland, junior¬ 

Victoria Lojek, freshman

Colleen Loughlin, senior

Erin Loughlin, senior

Maureen Moore, freshman

Chantelle Robinson, senior

Mallory Sanders, senior¬