RallyNorth.net

Clippers won over a town en route to title

Tuesday, November, 20 By John Shimer
Staff writer

Coming off its electric state-title-clinching victory over Bromfield, the Newburyport girls were already riding an emotional high.

When the team got off Interstate 95 North at the Route 113 exit, it received quite the surprise courtesy of the Newburyport police and fire departments, who took the team on a full-fledged, sirens-ablaze escort through from the highway through downtown before heading back to the school.

A town, which has embraced the Clippers' brilliant success on the field, also gave the team a rousing congratulatory salute. Many of the Newburyport citizens came out of their homes and stores to wave to the state champs as the escort passed, according to coach Robb Gonnam.

"The town and the school has embraced them," Gonnam said.

Surviving a scare

As the Clippers ran onto the field to celebrate their freshly earned state championship, a scary incident occurred. Senior Emily Vartabedian tried to jump into the arms of one of her teammates, but instead was flipped and landed on her back. Not only was she unable to carry on with the rest of the team for the trophy presentation and all the photos that would follow, Vartabedian had to be placed on a stretcher and taken to the hospital in an ambulance. After getting X-rays, the senior appeared to be alright with some minor lingering pain.

A near marathon

Gonnam estimated Taylor Bresnahan covered a total of 15 miles during the state final, running 6-yard-line to 6-yard-line for the entire game.

"Maggie (Mahoney) and Taylor will their team," Gonnam said. "They would not allow their team to be beaten."

Living up to the hype

With the core nucleus back from the last year's Division 3 North championship team, the Boston Globe slotted the Clippers as the preseason No. 3 ranked team in the state behind eventual Division 1 state champ Acton-Boxborough fellow Cape Ann League representative Masconomet.

"Unfortunately we're losing a couple of really good seniors," Bresnahan said. "We have a lot of the same team. Hopefully we'll get another crack at state next year. We'll start rebuilding in August."

Sweet revenge

Outscoring its opponents 99-14 on the season, Gonnam said there was never a game in the team's 21-1-1 season in which it stopped playing at a top level. He said every game looked to have the intensity of a rematch with last year's sectional opponent Norwell, the team that knocked them out of the tournament in 2006.

"The whole season came down to eight minutes," Gonnam said. "But we knew what to do because we had played at that intensity level for 30 games. We didn't change our style for 30 games."

Thanks for the support

Gonnam and his players wanted to thank the entire Newburyport community for coming out to cheer on the team throughout the Clippers memorable tournament run from the terrific fan attendance to police escort home following the final game.