Weston Athlete of the Year Ellen McCurdy

By John Condakes/Sports Correspondent

The 2007 Weston Town Crier Female Athlete of the Year is Ellen McCurdy, a three-sport star at Weston High where she captained the soccer, swimming and lacrosse teams her senior year.

McCurdy was elected captain of the soccer team in the fall under coach Debbie Schick. "Ellen's consistency and ability to play 100 percent all the time is where she stands out. I always knew that she would play her hardest and it makes her unique," said Schick. "Her strength as an athlete is from her athleticism and her personality and they combined to create both a well-rounded athlete and a great student."

McCurdy played midfield this season and lettered three times in soccer. Schick also mentioned that McCurdy's goal during a game against Concord-Carlisle this year turned the game around and that C-C's coach complimented Ellen on how much she had impressed him ever since her freshman year.

"What I'll never forget about soccer is when we beat Acton-Boxboro my sophomore year in the last 30 seconds," remarked McCurdy. "It was the first time that we had ever beaten them and it felt incredible to be a part of that."

McCurdy first started making headlines as a freshman in the pool for recently retired coach Pete Foley in the 2003-2004 season when she was named a Dual County League All-Star.

"Ellen is one of the most team-oriented athletes that I've seen in my 35 years at Weston," stated Foley. "She is very modest and very humble. She was named an All-Scholastic by the Herald and the Globe and she said 'you gotta be kidding me' and named three or four other kids on the team who she thought deserved it more."

As a four-letter winner on the swim team, McCurdy competed in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle as well as the butterfly and on the medley relay. She was a four-time Dual County League All-Star and a three-time All-Scholastic during her career with the Lady Tide. McCurdy helped the Red Tide win four Dual County League titles along with three North Sectional titles and aided in three runner-up finishes in Division 2 states.

In addition to being captain, McCurdy was an excellent role model. "She was an important part of all the success we achieved, a great leader and a hard worker who was terrific with younger kids in our program," explained Foley.

McCurdy also had the pleasure of swimming with her two sisters. During her sophomore year, McCurdy swam with her older sister Megan, who now attends Georgetown and her younger sister Bridget, who will be a senior.

"It was nice to have them around both at the pool and at home," recalled McCurdy.

McCurdy also played lacrosse with Megan for one year and Bridget for two years.

This spring McCurdy was elected captain of the lacrosse team. "Lacrosse is my favorite sport," stated McCurdy. "I enjoyed going to practice and playing in games and Coach (Kelly) Trahon knew how to make it fun. It made me play my hardest all the time."

McCurdy played midfield and earned three varsity letters. She was a dynamic force on Weston's attack and one of the Lady Wildcats' most consistent scorers this season.

"It's only fitting that she scored the last goal of the season for us," said Foley.

In the North Sectional final against Winchester, she took the ball three-quarters the length of the field and potted the game-tying goal that sent the contest into overtime with eight seconds remaining in regulation. She was selected as an All-Scholastic by both the Herald and Globe this spring and was a Dual County League All-Star following her junior and senior campaigns.

At Weston High's Class Night, McCurdy was awarded the John Proctor Award, which is given to the most outstanding senior athlete. Not a bad way to cap off an outstanding athletic career at Weston.

McCurdy performed not only on the field but in the classroom as well. She was an honor roll student and earned the scholar athlete award at Weston High as well as a member of the National Honor Society.

McCurdy will matriculate to Babson College in the fall where she will study business in addition to playing on the soccer and lacrosse teams.

In her spare time, she enjoys hanging out with friends, watching movies and is a lifeguard on Cape Cod during the summer.

"I think she's got a great college career ahead of her," added Foley. "She's probably the nicest girl I've coached in 35 years and she puts others before herself."