Beavers set multiple program marks during strong season

By Chris Villani

The Blackstone Valley Tech girls’ track and field team entered the 2025 season with lofty goals, including going undefeated and winning the Massachusetts Vocational Athletic Director’s Association Championship meet. 

The Beavers did check off the latter of those two objectives, and set six new program records along the way during a stellar campaign.

“I am very proud of the athletes this season,” said Head Coach Chelsea Swan. “My girls track team was hard-working, reliable, dependable, and consistent. Many of them were willing to try new events and a few found success in them which is always a joy to see as a coach.”

Grace Shields, Leah Maghalaes, Chelsea Swan (head coach), Pricille Blega, Abigail Bilodeau. Photo credit: Deann Iacovelli 

 Senior Haley Bilodeau set a new school record in the javelin with a throw of more than 124 feet. Her sister Abigail Bilodeau set school records of her own in the 200, 400, and as a member of the 4x100 relay team with Grace Shields, Pricille Blega, and Leah Magalhaes. Not to be outdone was Shields, who set her own school record in the 100-meter dash. Mara Keane rounded out the record breaking this spring with BVT’s best-ever time in the 1600-meter event.

That group posted some strong results during the postseason meets at the end of the year. Abigail Bilodeau won the 100 at District E and the MVADA Championships. Keane won the 2-mile at the MVADA championships and ran both the 1-mile and 2-mile at the state meet. Magalhaes competed in the three events at states, the 100, 200, and the relay. Both Bilodeau’s and Shields were Colonial Athletic League all-stars.

Even though the Beavers did not run the table this year, Swan said she was happy with the effort her athletes put forth.

“I did see so many girls outperform expectations I had individually and I think they outperformed the expectations that they had for themselves,” she said. “I’m particularly proud of the respect I saw my athletes have for themselves and their abilities.”

Leading the way for Valley Tech were its team captains Haley Bilodeau, Keane, Shields, and Blega along with senior distance runner Harmony Melendez-Torres and junior distance runner Genevieve Kovolyan. Swan said hers was an “exceptional” group of captains.

“I knew I could rely on them to do anything we needed, from convey any messages that we needed to get out to the team, lead students through dynamic warm-ups, lead the team through set up for meets, or encourage younger athletes to try new events,” Swan said. “This group of captains also served as the standard for consistency and how hard work can pay off.”