Sports Roundup: Rory Murray Competes In State Meet, Football Beats Hull
David Creed •
This Whaler sports roundup includes updates on boys cross country senior captain Rory Murray, who competed in the Div. 3 state championship meet over the weekend as well as the football team following a victory in a consolation matchup on the road.
Murray Caps Sensational Senior Year With Solid Showing In State Meet
Nantucket boys cross country senior captain Rory Murray competed in the MIAA Div. 3 State Championship meet Saturday afternoon in Devens, Massachusetts – capping off a sensational, record-breaking senior season.
Murray ran the 5K in 17:43 on Saturday, which placed him 36th out of 186 runners in the Div. 3 group. Murray led the boys cross country team to a 6-1 record this fall and a Lighthouse Division Championship.
Murray broke the Nantucket High School 5K record four times this year – making his mark on the program for years to come. He broke the original record set by Whaler alum Aidan McCormack (17:46) in 2020 on September 28th with a time of 17:43.
Since that time, he broke his own record at the Bob Glennon Twilight Cross Country Invitational Meet at the Cape Cod Fairgrounds in mid-October after running a 17:17, and on October 30th broke his record again by running a 17:11.
Earlier this month, Murray and the boys cross country team traveled up to the Wrentham Development Center to compete in the MIAA Divisional Meet. The Whalers placed 17th as a team, and Murray shattered the 5K record for a fourth time with a time of 16:54. That time placed him 13th overall amongst all runners at Divisionals.
Football Beats Hull 35-7
The Whaler football team capped off their consolation game schedule with an impressive 35-7 victory over the Hull Pirates Saturday afternoon at Mashpee High School. The victory improved Nantucket’s record to 3-8 this season.
The Whaler's scoring came from a variety of players. Sophomore running back David Guillen-Taveras had seven carries for 38 yards and two touchdowns as he continues to emerge as one of Nantucket’s most dangerous offensive weapons as their lead back.
Senior running back/wide receiver Brady Tilton finished the day with two catches for 35 yards to go along with two carries for 14 yards and a touchdown.
Sophomore wide receiver Eli MacIver made his mark carrying the ball as well – finishing with six carries for 50 yards and a touchdown.
Senior linebacker/running back David Cirillo also got some reps out of the backfield. He earned three carries and accumulated 30 yards on his way to scoring his first career touchdown.
All focus now shifts to Nantucket’s final game of the season, which will also mark the end of the 2024 fall sports season for Nantucket High School Athletics: The Island Cup.
The Whalers will be traveling up to Fenway Park to write another chapter in one of the state’s most historic rivalries when they face Martha’s Vineyard on Tuesday, November 26th at 5 p.m. You can purchase tickets by following this link.