Foxboro Announces Inaugural Hall of Fame Class

Foxboro Football
Foxboro football coach Jack Martinelli addressed the crowd at a ceremony renaming the Ahern Middle School field in his honor. in 2017 (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

Just under two years ago, Foxboro athletic director Joe Cusack announced the creation fo the Foxboro High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Cusack’s goal was to recognize and preserve the deep tradition of success of past Warriors. On Thursday afternoon, Cusack and the Foxboro administration announced the inaugural class, highlighted by current football coach Jack Martinelli, one of the state’s best ever high school basketball players Sarah Behn, and professional football player Tom Nalen. Below is a press release announcing the first six individuals and the first team for the FHS Athletic Hall of Fame.

Release

Foxborough High School is pleased to announce the creation of our Athletic Hall of Fame to honor former student-athletes, coaches, supporters, and championship teams. This year’s class of inductees will be recognized at an event at the Marilyn Rodman Performing Arts Center on Saturday, October 21st at 6PM. This event is open to the public, and tickets can be purchased through the MRPAC box office or online.

“Foxborough High School has an incredibly rich tradition of athletic success both at the team and individual level. Starting a Hall of Fame is long overdue and will give our community something to celebrate, our inductees something to be fiercely proud of, and our student-athletes something to aspire to become a part of,” said Joe Cusack, Foxborough Athletic Director.

After two years of accepting nominations and research, the first class of inductees was selected by a six-person executive committee, which included the Foxborough High School Principal, Athletic Director, and four committee members who are former student-athletes, current or former coaches and/or school staff members.

This year’s Induction class includes Bobby Moreshead, Joe Heinricher, Sarah Behn, Tom Nalen, Joan Goodwin, Jack Martinelli, and the 1987 State Champion Girls Soccer team. (Individual athletes are listed by their year of graduation.)

Bobby Moreshead is a 1973 graduate of Foxborough High School who was a three-sport standout in football, wrestling, and baseball. Bobby was the football team’s MVP in 1972 and won the 1973 New England Championship in wrestling. Bobby graduated from Foxborough HS with a career wrestling record of 52-2 and was the head coach and later an assistant coach for the wrestling program for many years after graduation.

Joe Heinricher was a 1975 graduate of Foxborough High School who excelled in both football and track & field. Joe was a star two-way tackle for the football team, and he still holds the school record in the discus. During a career spanning more than three decades, Joe served as a teacher, Athletic Director, Assistant Principal, and coach for both football and track & field.

Sarah Behn is a 1989 graduate of Foxborough High School and was a three-sport standout on the soccer, basketball, and softball teams. Sarah led the softball team in batting for her junior and senior seasons. In soccer, Sarah was the starting goalie for the 1987 State Championship Team, was selected as an All-American, and graduated with 50 career shutouts. Sarah is best known for her accomplishments on the basketball court, where she set the state scoring record with 2,562 points and was selected as an All-American. Upon graduation, Sarah attended Boston College, played professional basketball, coached at the collegiate level, and at Foxborough High School.

Tom Nalen is a 1989 graduate of Foxborough High School who excelled on the football, basketball, and track & field teams. Tom was a dominant lineman for the football team, a power forward for the basketball team, and a thrower on the track team. Upon graduation from Foxborough HS, Tom went on to play football at Boston College and won back-to-back Super Bowl championships as a member of the NFL’s Denver Broncos. Tom was previously inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame in 2013.

Joan “Joanie” Goodwin has lived in Foxborough for over 70 years and has garnered the moniker “Mrs. Foxboro.” Joanie played basketball and softball in her youth and first became involved as a volunteer with Foxborough Youth Football in the 1960s. She was President of the FHS Touchdown Club for over 30 years. Joanie was a bus driver for the Foxborough school district for over 40 years and is a former head of transportation for the district. In this role, she transported generations of athletic teams to their contests and was always a fixture in the stands cheering our student-athletes and teams on. You can still find Joanie in the stands or on the field supporting the Warriors and watching her son-in-law and grandson, who coach baseball together at FHS, as well as her granddaughter, who coaches softball.

Jack Martinelli, known to most as “Coach,” has been the head football coach at Foxborough High School since he was hired in 1982. During his 40-plus year head coaching career in Foxborough (and 55 years in total), Jack accumulated nearly 300 career wins, placing him in the top five all-time in Massachusetts. He has also captured four MIAA (Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association) Super Bowl titles in eight appearances and twelve league championships while leading the Warriors. “Coach” is a steady fixture at Foxborough HS and has worked with generations of student-athletes.

The 1987 Girls’ Soccer Team won the MIAA state championship over Holyoke Catholic to conclude an undefeated season. At the end of the 1987 regular season, Foxborough held a 54-game regular season undefeated streak. On their path toward a state championship, the team finished the season with a 20-0-1 record, including 17 shutouts, while outscoring all opponents 117-4.

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LANIGAN: Expanding The HockSports Team

ByRyanLanigan_2016FollowRyanLanigan_2016
 
 
 
To our loyal readers and supporters,

Last week, we announced the next steps for HockomockSports.com, and the response has been amazing – THANK YOU! Going to a subscription-based model provides us with additional resources that allow us to invest in and recruit local talent to help us increase our coverage. We will have a series of paid positions, including our expanded Student Media program. This will allow us to cover more sports, more student-athletes, and more unforgettable moments throughout the school year.

For all inquiries, please reach out to Ryan at RyanLanigan@hockomocksports.com.

Student Reporters – We are thrilled to bring our Student Reporter program back as a part of our newly expanded Student Media program. This program is for anyone that has any interest in sports journalism with any amount of experience. The program includes hands-on training with our editors and the chance to learn and sharpen modern-day journalism skills. Previous student reporters currently work at The Boston Herald, The Taunton Gazette, Yahoo! Finance, Steelers Depot, and more.

Freelance Writers/Photographers – We’ll be extending our game and event coverage throughout the year to make sure we aren’t missing any big games, moments, or achievements. Must have some level of journalism/photo experience.

Photographers/Videographers – We strive to provide complete coverage of the league, and that includes photos and the ever-growing video/social media industry. We’re looking to build a student-led creative media team that can take our coverage to the next level. If you have an interest or passion for creative digital content. If interested, please include examples of work to the email provided above.

Digital Marketing Sales – Over the past 10-plus years, our advertising partnerships have been the lifeline of the site and we very much appreciate each of them for their support. These partnerships give us the ability to deliver their message to a unique and targeted group of people for a reasonable budget. While we take the next step, we are looking to create more partnerships with businesses in the Hockomock communities. We are in search of self-motivated individuals to identify and develop partnership opportunities. This will be a high-commission opportunity. We are looking for people interested in working the entire HockomockSports.com region. If you are well-connected in your community and would like to start there, this is a great opportunity for some extra income.

For the upcoming school year, we are looking to create more partnerships to feature your local businesses on the most popular local website in this region. We have a vast array of advertising opportunities that will market your product directly to potential customers. If interested, please contact info@hockomocksports.com.

We can’t wait for the upcoming school year to continue our unmatched coverage of the best high school sports league in all of Massachusetts. PLEASE forward this to any potential contacts that might be interested in any opportunities mentioned above.

Thank you,
Ryan Lanigan
Editor

Franklin Names Klein New Girls Soccer Coach

Jodi Klein, who was interim coach during the 2021 season, has been named the new head coach for the Franklin girls soccer team. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

By HockomockSports.com Staff

Franklin recently announced the hiring of Jodi Klein as the new girls soccer coach. Klein takes over from long-time coach Tom Geysen, who had been with the girls soccer program for more than 30 years. Klein stepped in as interim coach during the 2021 season, while Geysen was on medical leave and has served as freshman and JV coach in the program. Below is a press release from the Franklin High administration and athletic director Karrah Ellis.

Franklin, MA – Franklin High School is proud to announce the appointment of Jodi Klein as the new coach for the Varsity Girls’ Soccer team. Coach Klein has been a part of the FHS athletic program since Fall of 2018. She has since served as the Freshman Coach, the Junior Varsity Coach, and one year as the interim Varsity Coach. Additionally, Coach Klein is employed as a physical therapist for Franklin Public Schools.

Coach Klein is a former National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 collegiate athlete, playing four years of Women’s Soccer at Stony Brook University. She is also a former New England Club Soccer League Head Coach, and U.S. Soccer Federation C Licensed.

“We are excited to have Coach Klein step into this new role and lead our Girls’ Soccer Program!” said Karrah Ellis, Director of Athletics at Franklin High School.

Coach Klein is “excited and honored to be given the opportunity to lead the Franklin High School Girls’ Soccer program.” thanks “Coach Geysen for his career-long commitment to thisprogram and for building us such a strong foundation” as she looks towards leading the team in this new chapter.

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LANIGAN: The next chapter for HockomockSports

To our loyal readers and supporters:

My name is Ryan Lanigan and I am the creator and editor of HockomockSports.com. Alongside our Managing Editor Josh Perry, we have created a one-of-a-kind source for unmatched coverage of the Hockomock League. Our goal from the beginning has been to promote student-athletes in the Hock and to provide information you can only find in one place.

Before launching HockSports in late 2011, I covered Stoughton athletics for a hyper-local website Stoughton Patch. As I became more invested in high school sports, I wanted to try something outside the box and create a media source that had everything all in one place. I had no idea at that time what journey I was about to embark on. As a young reporter, I was able to focus on establishing the foundation of what HockomockSports has become: the number one source for players, parents, coaches, and fans for anything and everything related to the Hock. For nearly the entirety of the website, both Josh and I have worked full-time jobs during the day on top of running the site in any spare time that we’ve had.

I couldn’t be more thankful for every single reader that has followed along at any part of this journey. This has grown into something I never imagined it would have and I hope you will continue to support us as we take the next step.

I take great pride in our process; we started with a goal to promote student-athletes and that’s what we’ve accomplished and continue to focus on. It’s important for us that our coverage has a positive outlook. We’ve been there to cover some incredible achievements that include Super Bowls at Gillette Stadium, state championships at the TD Garden and Polar Park, buzzer beaters, game-winning goals in the final moments, walk-off wins, overtime thrillers, and hundreds of personal achievements and record-breaking performances.

As I approach the next phase of my career and my life, it is becoming more and more difficult to work a full-time job while still providing high-quality coverage that meets the standards we have set over the past 10-plus years. The last few months have been a bit of a rollercoaster ride that included a lot of conversations about different potential avenues, and I considered ending the site and this chapter of my life. It took some convincing, but I believe it’s the only viable way of continuing our coverage at a high level.

Starting on August 1st, we’ll be moving to a subscription-based service and will be offering annual, seasonal, and monthly subscriptions. We’ll be brining back some old features and adding plenty of new ones, and we’ll expand our coverage across the board. With the additional resources, I am so excited we’ll be able to add to our staff to increase and improve our coverage including game recaps, feature stories, photos/videos, and more. We are thrilled to re-launch our Student Reporter program and will be looking for students interested in a career in journalism, both print and digital.

I have a completely renewed energy and haven’t been this excited about the direction we are headed since the early years of HockomockSports. We don’t plan on just meeting the high expectations we’ve set in the past, we are looking to raise the bar even higher.

Thank you again for following along, it really means so much to both myself and Josh. I hope you’ll continue your support as we move forward because your support has been vital in making HockSports the go-to source for comprehensive coverage of the Hock.

Ryan Lanigan
Editor/Founder

Foxboro Names Argyrou, Meiselman As Boys Soccer Coaches

Foxboro boys soccer John Hollis George Argyrou Colin Meiselman
Foxboro’s John Hollis in action on the road against Taunton during the 2022 season. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

By HockomockSports.com Staff

Foxboro recently announced the hiring of George Argyrou and Colin Meiselman as the new boys soccer head coaches. Below is a press release from the FHS administration and athletic director Joe Cusack.

Foxboro High School Athletic Director, Joe Cusack, announced today that George Argyrou and Colin Meiselman have been appointed as the new Boys’ Soccer Head Coaches at Foxboro High School.  Mr. Argyrou and Mr. Meiselman have been coaching boys’ soccer at Wayland High School at all levels (Varsity, JV, freshman) since 2014 and 2013, respectively. 

George Argyrou Colin Meiselman
Courtesy photo
Most recently, both served as Varsity assistant coaches for the Varsity Boys Soccer program that won D3 North and MIAA All-State Championships in 2014, 2016, and 2018.

Mr. Cusack commented that “Our Boys’ soccer program has a proud and successful history and has long been a source of pride for our school and community. I believe that Mr. Argyrou and Mr. Meiselman can add to that history while fostering a positive environment across all levels of the program. They are committed to working with both our student-athletes and those in the youth program, building a program that will promote the core values of our district through sportsmanship, teamwork, and competition.” 

Mr. Argyrou and Mr. Meiselman shared, “We are honored to have been given the opportunity to lead a program with a storied history and excellent student-athletes. We look forward to bringing our unique coaching styles to the table in order to inspire our current student-athletes while building the FHS Boys Soccer program for the future.”

Mr. Cusack commented that “Our Boys’ soccer program has a proud and successful history and has long been a source of pride for our school and community. I believe that Mr. Argyrou and Mr. Meiselman can add to that history while fostering a positive environment across all levels of the program. They are committed to working with both our student-athletes and those in the youth program, building a program that will promote the core values of our district through sportsmanship, teamwork, and competition.” 

Mr. Argyrou and Mr. Meiselman shared, “We are honored to have been given the opportunity to lead a program with a storied history and excellent student-athletes. We look forward to bringing our unique coaching styles to the table in order to inspire our current student-athletes while building the FHS Boys Soccer program for the future.”

Former Hock Foes Become Teammates With Brockton Rox

Hock Foes Danny MacDougall, Sean O'Leary, Ryan Gerety, Ryan MacDougall
Former Hockomock standouts Danny MacDougall (Taunton), Sean O’Leary (Foxboro), Ryan Gerety (Franklin), and Ryan MacDougall (Taunton) before their Brockton Rox game on July 5th. (Ryan Martin for HockomockSports.com)

By Ryan Martin, HockomockSports.com Contributor

BROCKTON, Mass. – For some Hockomock League baseball alums, the summer months bring an opportunity to hone skills as a collegiate player in various summer leagues across the country.

Maybe nowhere is this more present than with the Brockton Rox of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, where seven former Hockomock Leaguers are going from high school rivals to teammates this year on one of Massachusetts’ most recognizable collegiate summer teams.

In the wooden bat league featuring eight teams littered throughout New England, Taunton baseball alums Danny and Ryan MacDougall, Franklin’s Jake Fitzgibbons and Ryan Gerety, Foxboro’s Sean O’Leary, Mansfield’s Jimmy Gilleran (Framingham State), and North Attleboro’s David Floyd (Keene State) have all now suited up in Brockton after being opponents for several years locally. For Ryan MacDougall, Gerety, and O’Leary, the transition occurred just days after the incoming college freshman wrapped up their high school team’s 2023 spring playoff runs.

“A month ago, I hated playing against them,” O’Leary, who is playing at UMass Lowell this coming season, joked of MacDougall and Gerety. “… But it feels good to now be on their team; it’s so special to be sharing the field with them. With our talents being put together, it feels like we’re doing something really special for the Hock.”

At least two former Hockomock League players have been in Brockton’s starting lineup in each of the Rox’s last ten games, including when all besides Floyd and Fitzgibbons were utilized under the July 4th fireworks in a 0-0 tie at Pittsfield.

Hock foes

From the Hock to the Rox

With all seven local Rox players having started for multiple seasons at their respective high schools, Foxboro’s O’Leary wasn’t the only former Hockomock Leaguer taken aback by seeing familiar rival faces now in his dugout.

After starring in centerfield for two straight Franklin teams that fell to Taunton in the Division 1 Championship, Northeastern commit Ryan Gerety is happy to finally be shining with the help of Taunton’s Ryan MacDougall instead of defending against him.

“When I played against him, I remember having to take a couple extra steps back in the outfield to shag the balls he hit over my head,” Gerety, who holds a .435 batting average in nine games with the Rox, said of the Dayton-bound MacDougall. “But now being able to root for him hitting, where he does that over the other teams’ head and drives me in, has been so fun.”

Gerety adds, “The other day I was saying to [MacDougall] after he hit a sacrifice fly and scored me, ‘Who would’ve thought MacDougall would score Gerety after all those years of Franklin and Taunton’”.

New Team, Old Mentors

On one of the youngest Rox teams in Brockton’s 23-year history, Gerety and MacDougall have both acclimated to the new setting alongside old role models.

Hock foes

For Ryan MacDougall, his time with the Rox has become even more memorable with the team’s recent addition of his older brother, Danny. A 2021 Taunton High graduate who had an Endicott College-best .426 batting average in 49 games this spring, Danny’s spot on the team even came as a surprise to Ryan.

“I didn’t expect him to be in Brockton this summer after he said he wasn’t going to,” Ryan MacDougall said. “But I’m glad he accepted the call from Coach Walsh and Coach Logan; it’s been fun to play alongside him again.”

Like MacDougall, Gerety’s experience with the Rox would not be all that it’s become without a former Hockomock League teammate.

As was the case when the two were at Franklin High, UMass Lowell catcher Jake Fitzgibbons has helped Gerety find his groove with the Rox.

“As a sophomore, Jake brought me in my first year on varsity when he was a senior… he taught me the ropes about Franklin Baseball, and just now taught me the ropes of being with the Rox, so he’s been a great role model for me,” Gerety said.

The Rox (8-25), who still have 13 home games left on their schedule, will continue regular season play through August 6th.

Hock foes

KP Grad Layman Signs With Seahorses Mikawa

Jake Layman
@go_seahorses/Twitter

By HockomockSports.com Staff

Former HockomockSports Player of the Year Jake Layman is heading overseas for his next professional basketball venture as he signed with Seahorses Mikawa of the Japan Professional Basketball League.

Layman starred at King Philip a decade ago, racking up a slew of accolades including Hockomock League MVP after averaging 26.5 points per game, 16 rebounds, and 5.8 blocks his senior year. After a terrific career at the University of Maryland, he was selected with the 47th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. The pick was traded to Portland, where he played in 141 games for the Trail Blazers over the course of three seasons.

In 2019, he signed a three-year, $11.5 million contract in a sign-and-trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves. A toe injury derailed a strong start to his first year in the North Star State, averaging 11.3 points and 3.2 rebounds a game coming off the bench in November but didn’t return to play again until February for three games before the NBA season moved to The Bubble and the Timberwolves’ season came to a close. He played in 79 games over the course of the next two seasons, playing a total of 243 NBA games over six seasons.

The Boston Celtics invited Layman to camp before the 2022-2023 season, and he appeared in a pair of preseason games but was waived on October 15th. He was set to sign with Baxi Manresa of the Liga ACB shortly after but another injury prevented him from joining the Spanish club.

Below is a statement from Layman released by the Seahorses Mikawa.

“I am absolutely ecstatic to announce my signing with the Seahorses Mikawa of the Japanese Basketball League. I couldn’t be more thrilled to join such a world-class organization that has shown an incredible desire to have me on board. The team’s strong vision and commitment to excellence align perfectly with my goals as a player.

One of the major factors in my decision was the opportunity to reunite with Coach Ryan Richman, whom I’ve known for over 10 years. Our relationship dates back to my time at the University of Maryland, where Coach Richman played a pivotal role in my development as a player. To have the chance to work with him again at a professional level is truly special, and I’m confident our connection will greatly benefit the Seahorses Mikawa.

Additionally, I’m eager to immerse myself in the vibrant basketball culture of Japan and embrace the passion of the Seahorses Mikawa’ fans. I look forward to this new chapter in my basketball career and am committed to making the most of every moment with the Seahorse Mikawa Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout my journey, and I can’t wait to get started.”

Jake Layman

Stoughton Hires Ireland As Next Athletic Director


Below is a press release from the Stoughton Public Schools announcing Robin Ireland as its next athletic director. Ireland replaces Chris Carbone, who was the athletic director for the 2022-23 school year.

STOUGHTON, Mass. – We are pleased to announce that Mr. Robin Ireland has accepted the position of Athletic Director for the Stoughton Public Schools effective July 1, 2023.

Mr. Ireland has been a health and physical education teacher in the Freetown Lakeville Regional School District since 2007. He has also served as the head coach of the Apponequet High School girls varsity soccer team since 2007, where his teams have won five conference titles and qualified for the state tournament 13 times. Mr. Ireland also has club soccer coaching experience and is a triathlete, serving as the membership coordinator for the Bay State Triathlon Team.

“I am looking forward to joining Stoughton Public Schools and I am excited to grow the athletic department. I would like to expand into the middle school to create more opportunities at that level for sports participation, open doors of accessibility for the entire Stoughton student population by starting a Unified Sports program, and grow connections and relationships in the Stoughton community,” Mr. Ireland said.

“I am a firm believer in the positive benefits of sports, athletics, and fitness and I know that a well run athletic department can have a positive impact not only on the athletes, but also on the entire community,” he continued.

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2023 Hockomock League Softball All Stars

Below are the official 2023 Hockomock League Softball All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.

Hockomock League MVP

Kelly Colleran, North Attleboro

Hockomock League All Stars

Sara Maher, Attleboro
Lily Routhier, Attleboro
Riley Camacho, Attleboro
Kailyn Durham, Canton
Emma Callahan, Foxboro
Sarah Boozang, Franklin
Callie Lake, Mansfield
McCoy Walsh, King Philip
Maddie Paschke, King Philip
Libby Walsh, King Philip
Charlotte Raymond, King Philip
Sarah Cullen, King Philip
Cae Pellegrini, Milford
Olivia Paglione, Milford
Kelly Colleran, North Attleboro
Maddie Homer, Oliver Ames
Katie Melendy, Oliver Ames
Alyssa Edwards, Stoughton
Ava Venturelli, Taunton
Bella Bourque, Taunton
Kaysie DeMoura, Taunton
Hayley Krockta, Taunton
Samantha Lincoln, Taunton

Honorable Mentions
Lauren Eby, Attleboro
Jessica Wright Canton
Vittoria Cuscia, Foxboro
Avery Chalk, Franklin
Ali Gill, King Philip
Molly Kucharski, Mansfield
Maeve Driscoll, Milford
Arianna McDavitt, North Attleboro
Devon Morris, Oliver Ames
Ally Foulsham, Sharon
Anna Hobbs, Stoughton
Mia Torres, Taunton

Below are the official 2023 Hockomock League Softball All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Softball All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Softball All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Softball All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Softball All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Softball All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Softball All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Softball All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Softball All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Softball All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Softball All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Softball All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Softball All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. 2023 Hockomock League Softball All Stars