The Central Mass. High School Sports Awards is proud to announce the player of the year nominees for boys' track. The winners were announced during the live show that took place June 26 at the Hanover Theatre.
The Central Mass. High School Sports Awards show is part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards, the largest high school sports recognition program in the country.
This award is sponsored by Boundless Adventures.
Athlete of the Year
Adam Balewicz
Nashoba Regional
Senior, 2 Mile
Balewicz firmly cemented his status as one of the top distance runners in Nashoba’s long and storied history. This five-time T&G Super Team selection won the Division 2 state cross-country championship in November and concluded his career by finishing ninth in the 5,000-meter run in the championship division at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor. Balewicz took top honors in the 2 mile at the Division 4 state championships before placing third in the fastest 2 mile in state history at the Meet of Champions. Balewicz checked in at 8 minutes, 56.95 seconds, a time that came in under the meet record, broke the 14-year-old school record and ranked 18th in the United States this spring. Balewicz, who aspires to become an Olympian and pursue a career as a professional runner, will continue his academic and athletic careers at the University of Virginia, where he plans to major in business. He is the son of Amy and Jonathan Balewicz of Bolton.
Dylan Brenn
Wachusett Regional
Senior, 800
Brenn went undefeated in the 800-meter run while earning a second T&G Super Team selection. He finished first at, among other meets, the Central Mass. Division 1 championships, Division 1 state championships and Meet of Champions. His top time of 1 minute, 54.3 seconds ranked second in school history and second among MIAA competitors this spring. Brenn, a 17-time All-American on the AAU and USATF circuits who aspires to become a collegiate All-American and qualify for the Olympics, will continue his running career and major in computer science and minor in math and economics at UMass-Lowell. He is the son of Candi and Ronald Brenn of Princeton.
Christopher Demetros
Bromfield School
Senior, Pole Vault
Demetros was consistently excellent in his signature event. The 5-foot-11, 160-pounder raised his personal best from 12 feet, 6 inches to 14 feet, while clearing at least 13 feet in every meet. Demetros, in his most memorable moment of the season, vaulted 14 feet to take top honors at the Division 6 state championships after placing second as a junior. He then matched that height to finish third at the Meet of Champions, an improvement of two spots over last season. Demetros, who aspires to become a lawyer, will major in business administration at UMass. He is the son of Catherine and Spencer Demetros of Harvard.
Michael Gyimah
Worcester Tech
Senior, 200
This is the second T&G Super Team selection this year for Gyimah. The senior speedster finished first in the 200-meter dash at the Division 3 state championships, where he also advanced to the final in the 100. Gyimah then picked up a pair of medals at the Meet of Champions, taking fifth in the 200 and helping the Eagles place seventh in the 400 relay. His most memorable moment of the season came when he ran the 200 in 21.72 seconds to set the school record. Gyimah, who aspires to become an electrical engineer, will continue his running career at UMass. The Worcester resident is the son of Linda Tuffour and Adjei Boadi.
Sebastian Grillo
Westborough High
Senior, Shot Put
It was a senior season to relish and remember for Grillo. The 5-foot-10, 230-pound thrower put the shot 54 feet, 7½ inches to break the 49-year-old school record and place fifth at the Meet of Champions while qualifying for the New Englands for the first time. That was the most memorable moment of the spring for this four-time captain. There were many other highlights, including raising his school record in the discus to 159-10 and placing second in the shot and third in the discus at the Division 3 state championships. Grillo will major in electrical engineering at UMass. The Westborough resident is the son of Tania Barazarte and Jorge Grillo.
Calvary Jamoko
Grafton High
Junior, Triple Jump
It was a breakout campaign for Jamoko, one leading to his first T&G Super Team selection. The 5-foot-9, 145-pound triple jumper finished first at the Division 4 state championships, second at the Meet of Champions and fifth in his debut at the New Englands. His top hop, skip and jump of 45 feet, 11¾ inches was a school record and ranked second in the state this spring. Jamoko also long jumped 21-7, which ranks third in program history. Jamoko, whose hobbies include film making, playing the guitar and piano, reading, and robotics, aspires to study computer science and computer engineering in college. The North Grafton resident is the son of Ann Ogello and Ben Gutwa.
Sawyer O’Riorden
Nashoba Regional
Senior, Pole Vault
It was a double delight for O’Riorden as, in his most memorable moment of the season, he cleared 14 feet, 6 inches to win the pole vault at the Meet of Champions and eclipse the 22-year-old school record. A two-time T&G Super Team selection, he also three-peated as the Division 4 state champion and placed fourth at the New Englands. The 6-foot, 155-pound O’Riorden also ranks first in program history in the high jump (6-3) and 1,600 relay, fourth in the 110 hurdles and fifth in the 400 hurdles. O’Riorden will continue his academic and athletic careers at UMass-Lowell with the career goal of becoming an engineer. He is the son of Theresa and Stephen O’Riorden of Stow.
Travis Rusak
Oakmont Regional
Senior, Javelin
Rusak threw the javelin 182 feet, 9 inches in a dual meet at Quabbin Regional in April to break the school record that had stood for 43 years. That was his most memorable moment in a season filled with superlatives. Rusak’s many first-place finishes included taking top honors at the Division 5 state championships. The 5-foot-10, 190-pounder then made his debut at a trio of select competitions, finishing fifth at the Meet of Champions, 12th at the New Englands and 30th in the championship division at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor. Rusak will continue his academic and athletic careers at Colgate University. He is the son of Tina and Brian Rusak of Westminster.
Parker Rogers
Marlborough High
Senior, Discus
Rogers didn’t miss a beat during the transition from the indoor to outdoor seasons, earning his second T&G Super Team selection in the process. The 6-foot-1, 230-pounder, who excelled in the shot put during the winter, collected a horde of gold and silver medals in the discus this spring. Rogers finished first at the Division 4 state championships and second at the Meet of Champions and the New Englands, establishing a school-record throw of 174 feet, 3 inches along the way. Rogers will attend the University of South Carolina and aspires to work as a parts designer for the automative industry. He is the son of Lisa and Seth Rogers of Marlborough.
Derek Shimer
Shrewsbury High
Junior, High Jump
Shimer soared to new heights this season. He cleared 6 feet, 6 inches while finishing second at the Division 1 state championships, an improvement of 13 places and 8 inches over last spring. Shimer then collected silver medals at the Meet of Champions, where he jumped 6-6, and, in his most memorable moment of the season, the New Englands as he topped 6-7. That was a personal-best mark and tied for third in the state this spring. Shimer, who aspires to clear 7 feet before graduating from high school, went on place 28th in the championship division at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor. He is the son of Jennifer and Cory Shimer of Shrewsbury.
Owen Stevens
Quaboag Regional
Senior, Long Jump
Stevens graduated as the school record holder in the long jump, high jump and 100-meter dash. He was at his best racing down the runway before propelling himself skyward. Stevens finished first in the long jump at three major meets, including the Division 6 state championships. The 6-foot-4, 172-pounder advanced to place seventh at the Meet of Champions and 25th in the championship division at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor. His top jump of 23 feet, 4 inches ranked second in the state this spring. Stevens, a National Honor Society member, will continue his track career and major in environmental science at Franklin Pierce University. He is the son of Elizabeth and Neal Stevens of West Brookfield.
Antonio Wiafe
St. John’s High
Senior, Long Jump
This is the fourth T&G Super Team selection for Wiafe, who capped his accomplished high school career by finishing fourth in the long jump in the championship division at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor to earn All-America recognition. His effort of 23 feet, 7½ inches ranked first in the state this spring. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder, who holds school records in the 110-meter hurdles and long jump, successfully defended his title in the long jump at the Meet of Champions — to cap an undefeated campaign against in-state competition — while also placing second in the pentathlon. Wiafe will major in economics at the University of Connecticut, where he’ll continue his track career with the goal of becoming a multi-time All-American. He is the son of Stephanie Wiafe of Shrewsbury.
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