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Dornbusch nets 1,000th point for Minuteman
Needham — It was a topic that was brought up Abby Dornbusch’s sophomore year at Minuteman Regional in Lexington. She came to the vocational school after her freshman year at Needham High School and got a chance to start immediately for the Mustangs’ basketball team.
Dornbusch averaged 17.5 points a game right away, and helped bring a team that was 2-18 the year before her arrival to a 19-4 record and a state vocational championship. That’s when there were whispers that 1,000 points could be attainable. Then last winter, Dornbusch and the Mustangs were co-champs of the Commonwealth Upper Athletic Conference, and Dornbusch was a co-MVP. Following that campaign, “1,000” became not so much probable as inevitable.
Faulkner hurts foes’ chances
The frustration of a summer on the sidelines, unable to train, is a distant memory for Tyler Faulkner. At yesterday’s 50th annual Catholic Memorial Invitational, the Minuteman Tech senior opened plenty of eyes. Faulkner burned through an opening mile of 4 minutes, 37 seconds, at blustery Franklin Park and finally shook Commonwealth Athletic Conference rival Bryan Stanley of Whittier Tech in the final 100 yards to capture the Division 2 race in 16:32.6.
Stanley, who shadowed Faulkner the entire race, was a strong second in 16:33 over the 3.1?milie course. Faulkner is still gathering momentum on the trails since starting the season three weeks late. He underwent surgery over the summer to repair tendons that had pulled clear off a shoulder, courtesy of a motorcross accident.
Ironically, the lone dual meet Faulkner missed was against Stanley and Whittier Tech. The lack of training didn’t stop Faulkner from going to the front immediately yesterday, turning the race into a two?man duel.
“I kind of went out and did my own pace,” Faulkner said. “I was going to try and lead the race.”
Stanley gave Faulkner all he could handle by making a move to the front up Bear Cage Hill and sprinting hard over the final 300 yards.
“I felt like I was going to pass him, but he kept picking it up,” Stanley said. “I knew he was going to go out fast. I decided to go out a little more steady.”