Athletes of the Week: Aitken & Houghtaling

Bella Aitken
Pittsfield basketball

The Pittsfield girls basketball team on Thursday did something no Berkshire County team had done for nearly three years: beat Hoosac Valley. Sophomore Bella Aitken was a big reason why, scoring a team-high 18 points, including all eight in the third quarter, as Pittsfield preserved half of a 30-22 half-time lead.

Aitken has emerged as a strong complement to junior 1,000-point scorer Peyton Steinman. The sohpomore swing is averaging 10 points and four rebounds per game.


Austin Houghtaling
Taconic wrestling

The Taconic cooperative wrestling team went a perfect 6-0 against Berkshire County competition this winter, and Pittsfield High senior Austin Houghtaling helped pave the way with a dramatic win on senior night.

Houghtaling, who joined teammate Mason Papirio in the 100-win club earlier this season, won his final dual match in Taconic's gym with a takedown in the closing seconds of his match at 182 pounds.

"[The] way I wrestle, I just took it to where I need my moment and then just score from there," Houghtaling said.