1991
We salute the most inspirational athlete in Acton Boxboro sports history. Andrew's story has been told in Sports Illustrated, The Boston Globe, Boston Herald, on television and in AB lore. Andy Winders led an unheralded collection of determined warriors to the Division II EMASS Finals in that glorious Old Barn, The Boston Garden. He did so by averaging 17 points and 8 assists a game during the regular season, garnering Co-MVP D.C.L. honors.
Yet it was his leadership by example over the course of his basketball career and the magical post season run of that 1991 season that will forever endear him in the hearts and souls of all those who follow Acton Boxboro athletics. For it was in that venue that Andy Winders averaged 25 points per game in the playoffs culminated by a 35-point performance in the EMASS Final Division II Game. This game was described by seasoned scribes of all major metro Boston newspapers as the finest performance by a schoolboy in Boston Garden history. To quote Michael Madden of The Boston Globe 3/14/91, "I have seen many moments in Boston Garden. This was a first. Maybe the best. Tears were welling in my eyes." Was it the greatest performance? We do not think it was. We of Acton Boxboro, think everyday that Andy Winders stepped onto the court in practice or in a game was his greatest performance. Andrew has Cystic Fibrosis. His therapy was basketball. How could a teammate not perform at an inspired level with Andy on their side? Off the court, Andy was a member of the National Honor Society and a Harvard Book Prize recipient. Andy attended Andrew Winders Brandies University his freshman year as a member of the varsity basketball team. His sophomore year, he transferred to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill playing on Coach Dean Smith's J.V. squad. Andrew graduated in 1985 with a degree in biochemistry. He now resides in Palo Alto, California and works for Iona Technologies. He enjoys playing basketball and bike riding. Mike Lynch highlighted Andy in his "High-Five" sports feature. We high-five Andy Winders as an inspiration and role model for all students of Acton Boxboro.
