Job well done

Region - Here's wishing Brian Callaghan the best as he moves from Westborough High's athletic director (AD) position to one as an assistant principal at the school. Callaghan has been Westborough's AD for seven years and, in that time, established himself as one of the most influential in Central Mass.

Callaghan not only tended to things at his own school, but worked on several regional sports groups such as the Central Mass. Football Committee, State Lacrosse Committee, MIAA Soccer Committee, and has stepped down as head of the Central Mass. Athletic Directors Association.

Things looks a lot diff erent at Westborough since Callaghan took over.

During his AD time in Westborough, Callaghan has to deal with many issues, including managing the sports program during the construction upgrade at the High School. It was no easy task trying to match up practice and game schedules around reduced facilities during the construction. Somehow it all came together.

The end result, the school has some of the best athletic facilities in the area. Part of that proof, under Callaghan's watch, is that several MIAA lacrosse and soccer championships have been hosted at the Rangers' new turf field.

Johanna DiCarlo takes over for Callaghan. While having no prior high school experience, DiCarlo has plenty at the collegiate level, much of it coaching at WPI, and is looking to make a quick transition.

Ross excels at New

England Meet

Congrats to Shrewsbury's 10-year-old Jordan Ross, while swimming for the Bluefish Swim Club, competed at the New England Swimming 12 and Under Long Course Championship meet, Aug. 3 through 5, at Springfield College.

Ross really stepped it up at the championship meet, finishing fourth in the Male 10 and under 100-meter backstroke competition with a time of 1:26.20. Ross also finished eighth in the 50-meter butter fly (40.50); ninth place in the 50-meter backstroke (41.73); and 15th overall in the 200-meter IM (3:22.92).

Ross also competed with the Bluefish relay team on teams that finished fourth in the 200-meter relay and fifth in the 200-meter medley relay.

The Shrewsbury swimmer has had a busy summer, also competing in the New England End-of-Season Summer Challenge Meet July 27 through 29 at the Greenwood Memorial Pool in Gardner in competition that included 24 of the top New Englandbased swim clubs.

In Gardner, Jordan took home three golds, winning the male 9- and 10-yearold 100-yard IM, 100-yard backstroke, and 50-yard freestyle. Ross also finished third in the 100 free and 100 butterfly, and fifth in the 200- yard free.

How are they

doing now?

In June's professional baseball draft, Shrewsbury's (and St. John's High) Lance Zawadzki, a shortstop, was drafted in the fourth round, 147th overall by the San Diego Padres. That made him the highest Central Mass. selection in eight years. Zawadzki had just completed his senior year at Tennessee's Lee University before being drafted.

After a slow start in the Padres minor leagues, where he missed three weeks with a pulled quadriceps muscle, Zawadzki, 22, got it going in the Padres Arizona rookie league team where in 10 games, he batted an impressive .433 in 30 at-bats, including his first professional homerun. In his last four games in Arizona, Zawadzki batted 9 for 16. That got Zawadzki a promotion to A level in Eugene, Oregon Aug. 11.

If Zawadzki makes it to the bigs with San Diego, it won't be the first time that he played in San Padres Petco Park stadium. Before transferring to Lee University, Zawadzki played for San Diego State University, including some games at Petco.

Send mail and sports ideas to ronwoodcock@charter.net.