By Christopher 

Tremblay, Staff Sports Writer

Coaching in his sixth season for Oxford, Chris Pietro believes this past season has been the best in terms of numbers for the Pirates boys track and field squad. In the past Oxford has averaged 13 or 14 athletes per season, but this year the team had 26 participate.

 Oxford High track and field standout Will Owusu with Nicholas Pietro.

  “A lot of kids don’t want to attend a three- or four-hour practice when they can be working earning money for college. When they found out that you don’t have to be at the entire practice, I think a lot decided to try it out,” Pietro said. “In track and field, you really just need to take part in your event, work hard and then go what you need to do. It’s a modern type of coaching style.”

  The Oxford coach also noted that the spring season is usually a tough one with it being a lot busier than the other seasons. Kids are unsure if they have the time to commit so Pietro believes as a coach, he is working with those would-be athletes.

  “This year all came to believe in the true concept of team. Track and field is basically an individual sport, but this year we went at it with a team mentality,” the coach said. “We went about it in the best interest of the team while trying to improve upon our numbers individually.”

  When the season got underway some three months earlier Pietro knew that he had some good athletes who would compete. In the past Millbury had owned the SWCL C, but this spring Oxford was able to top the Woolies and grab the League going 4-1. In the past Oxford has usually finished around fifth place in the SWCL, but this year they came in second behind Auburn.

  Senior Darius Richardson went undefeated in both the 100- and 200-meter dash during the season. He continued his success at the SWCL Meet, winning both his events and he won the 200 at the Districts. Running in the states he finished sixth in the 200.

  According to his coach, Richardson is a speedster and an all-around leader who is a hard worker individually. 

  Another key component to the Pirates attack on the field was senior Will Owusu who participated in the long and triple jumps and also did the hurdles on the track. Triple jump is his best event with his best leap of the year being 41’ 11 1/2”. Taking part in the Meet of Champions he finished twelfth. 

  Senior thrower Sam Zostant also had himself a great season in which he threw consistently during each meet. His best throws were 120’ in the discus and 37 ½” in the shot put. 

“Sam is a very hard worker, and his teammates look up to him,” Pietro said. “They have come to realize that if you put the work in then you can be that much better.”

Richardson, Owusu and Zostant were also the tri-captains for the boys track and field team this past season. 

Another senior that had himself a good year was the versatile Myles Craft. The sprinter finished second with an average 100 time of 11.5 seconds just behind Oxford’s top 100 runner Richardson, whose average time was 11.3 seconds. Along with Richardson, Craft gave the Pirates a deadly one-two punch in the event. 

Craft also qualified to take part in the Districts and States but unfortunately was unable to participate due to a season-ending injury; an injury the doctor said may have been there all year long.

In addition to the seniors Pietro had four underclassmen make a statement this past season with their performances. Sophomore Robbie Fisher mainly threw the javelin, but also ran the 4 x 100; freshman Aidan Van Arsdelan was also a javelin thrower, who captured the SWCL with an average throw of 128’. Eighth grader Camden Stone ran the mile and 800 while Sophomore Matt Szela ran the 2-mile and 800. 

With the increase in numbers this year the Pirate coach believes his team will be back to compete on a high level next spring as well.

“I expect that the team will have similar numbers once again next year and we will continue to be competitive,” he said. “A good number of athletes will be returning next year, and I know there are some others already looking to try out for the team.”

Pietro, who has been aided by the help of his father James Pietro in training the team, is looking to continue to make track and field fun for the athletes who want to participate. In doing so he is hoping to install a work ethic in his athletes that will allow them to improve in their individual events and in turn will breed a winning atmosphere at Oxford.