Then, a voice over the microphone rang out. The Scarlet Knights went crazy.
A crucial 7 points from North Andover's "B" team were the difference Friday night at Bridgewater-Raynham, as the Scarlet Knights (84 points) outlasted Peabody (78) and Chelmsford (67) to repeat as MSTCA Division 2 relay champions.
"This is our favorite meet of the year," North Andover boys' coach Steve Nugent said. "This is one we can take as many guys as we want to. It's something that we circle on the calendar first. It's something that's really important to our team culture."
"We have faith in the boys and all the work we put in," said North Andover senior Brendan Dee. "We really weren't sure what was going on with the score, but it was a lot of camaraderie. This was a really great coming-together moment for our team. I think we all rallied around each other,"
Dee -- along with Trevor Hunter, Aidan McGarry, and Josh Quijada -- helped North Andover to a first-place finish in the 4x200-meter relay (1:29.75). The Scarlet Knights added third-place finishes in the 4x100 (43.60) and 4x1600 (18:42.55) relays, and pole vaulter Chris Ferris placed atop the field.
"Everyone is working hard at practice every single day," said NA senior Ethan Jacques. "We're competing, getting better. That really showed today. Everybody came today and performed their best - even if they were on the 'B' team. We know everyone has a chance to score, and we believe in them."
For the North Andover girls -- who also repeated as Division 2 relay champions -- depth was also the deciding factor. A surprise seventh-place finish from the 4x100 hurdle relay "B" team was the difference as the Scarlet Knights (72 points) topped Wellesley (69) and Hopkinton (61).
"This was a nice one," said NA girls' coach Rick DelleChiaie. "In a meet like this, you're looking at all the events total, and one place makes all the difference in the world. Our 'B' team in the hurdles ... there's the difference right there. The girls did a great, great job. What a meet."
Luna Prochazkova, Hannah Shea, Julia Kroon, and Nicole Kroon came together to win the 4x1600 relay (22:30.19), with teammates Sophia Bowman, Mia Kmiec, Whitney Smith, and Eleanor Gosselin finishing atop the field in the 4x100 shuttle hurdles (1:06.87).
"As a senior, I only have three races left. So, I've been really focusing on my gratefulness for this sport and my team," said Shea. "I'm really just trusting my other three members in the relays. I'm having so much fun. I think that's really helped us win, and that's awesome."
Added teammate Laura Packard: "We win as a team, we lose as a team. And tonight, we won as a team."