Teams advance to Gillette.

• Position: SPORTS

COLUMN: Area news, notes

A group of Gardner High and Marlboro High football players spent Father's Day competing in a seven-on-seven touch tournament at Gillette Stadium, the reward for winning local qualifying tournaments.

The Wildcats' journey began two weeks ago at the NFL Player Development camp at Wachusett Regional in Holden, which attracted more than 250 players from Auburn, Leominster, Wachusett, St. Bernard's and Lunenburg. At the end of the five-day program, Gardner defeated Leominster and Wachusett to earn its trip to Foxboro.

The Wildcats lost to Westfield on Sunday morning at Gillette Stadium. Marlboro, meanwhile, advanced to the championship game.

"It was an amazing experience," Gardner senior captain Rob Harasimowicz said of the NFL Player Development camp, which included five nights of instruction and lectures on character, solid decision-making, and being a better person.

The Wildcats were represented by Jameson Craft, Luke Kondrotas, Steve Guercio, Andy Doiron, Mike Lynch, Julon McCoy, Brian Connors, Mike Griczika, Chris Wihtelin and Corey Bacigalupo. The team was coached by Fran Kondrotas and Mark Harasimowicz, fathers of Luke and Rob.

Tourney honors Hastings

The 22nd Inter-High Athletic Club Golf Tournament will honor Marty Hastings, a former three-sport standout at Burncoat High (1976) and a graduate of Worcester State ('80).

Hastings died in November after a three-year battle with brain cancer, a fight that typified his courage and determination.

Proceeds from this year's tournament - a 1 p.m. shotgun on Friday at Heritage CC in Charlton - will go to a scholarship established in Hastings' name at Burncoat, and to the American Brain Tumor Association.

The cost to play in the Florida-style scramble is $125. For information, contact Bill Sands at bsands@lan-tel.com.

Athletic directors awards

Winners of the Central Mass. Athletic Directors Association awards were:

Melissa Rockman and Kevin Brown (Algonquin), Samantha Kerrigan and Chris Tisdell (Assabet), Maria Kulma and Nick Natoli (Auburn), Ariel DuPont and Tim Schiavone (Bartlett), Lisa Reedich, Emily Reedich and Scott Nussdorfer (Bromfield), Monica Angers and Ben Sundquist (Burncoat), Casey McGown and Paul Zapantis (Clinton), Laura Sawyer and James Jiusto (Doherty), Kate Murray and Cameron Trodello (Fitchburg), and Gabriela Sanchez and Nick LaCroix (Grafton).

Also, Eva Mahan and Jake Penney (Groton-Dunstable), Abby Manzella and Chris Benevides (Hudson Catholic), Erica...