Below are the official 2018 Hockomock League Boys Outdoor Track All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.
Hockomock League MVP
Michael Shannon, Mansfield
Hockomock League All Stars
Nathan Douglas, Attleboro
Colin Levis, Attleboro
Cordel Smith, Canton
Tyler Brogan, Franklin
Dylan Kehoe, Franklin
Aeden Angelone, King Philip
Michael Griffin, King Philip
Kevin Crawford, Mansfield
Jared DiLorenzo, Mansfield
Patrick Heavey, Mansfield
Nicholas Horn, Mansfield
Daniel Knight, Mansfield
Kevin McCree, Mansfield
Kalin Petrov, Mansfield
Collin Rice, Mansfield
Michael Shannon, Mansfield
Patrick Brogioli, Milford
Jack Kalil, Milford
Joseph Madden, Milford
Mario Bresko, North Attleboro
Omar Jasseh, North Attleboro
Tau Preacher, North Attleboro
Jonathan Shultz, North Attleboro
Matthew Tarantino, North Attleboro
Dylan Weir, North Attleboro
Jack MacAdam, Oliver Ames
Kalil Matier, Oliver Ames
Jason Windvogel, Oliver Ames
Christopher Gong, Sharon
Matthew McManus, Sharon
David Bell, Stoughton
Nicholas Joyce, Stoughton
David Peters, Stoughton
Jadin Bruneau, Taunton
Jacob DeAndrade, Taunton
Jahmeir Lewis, Taunton
Joe Manchester, Taunton
Owen O’Gara, Taunton
Honorable Mentions:
Alexander Boedeker, Attleboro
Colin Messinger, Canton
Ryan Proulx, Foxboro
Michael Hagen, Franklin
Josh Smith, King Philip
Greg Waters, Mansfield
Hugo Lopes, Milford
Sam Bullock, North Attleboro
Jack Mills, Oliver Ames
Jeffrey Thomas, Sharon
Ritchy Laguerre, Stoughton
Colin Quinlan, Taunton
Baseball
North Attleboro, 6 @ Attleboro, 2 – Final – North Attleboro scored all six of its runs in the top of the third inning to extend its unbeaten start to the season. Nick Sinacola started things with a walk, Jeff Gale reached on an infield single and Zach DeMattio walked to load the bases. Both Sinacola and Gale scored on an error and then Brendan McHugh knocked in Nate Pearce (2-for-3). Both Pearce and McHugh came around to score on a single from Nick Raneri (3-for-4), who crossed home for the sixth run on an error. Attleboro plated its two runs on three hits in the bottom of the third. Sinacola earned the win on the mound, striking out seven with three walks and three hits allowed. Attleboro sophomore Ryan Morry was strong in relief, allowing just two hits in 4.2 innings of work with no runs allowed.
Canton, 1 @ Franklin, 4 – Final – Jake Noviello allowed just one run in six innings of work, struck out six, walked four, and scattered four hits to lead the Panthers to a win on the road. Bryan Woelfel earned the win, pitching a scoreless seventh inning. Cooper Ross paced the offense, going 2-for-2 and scoring a pair of runs while Jack Nally had two RBI and Scott Elliott chipped in with a double and a run scored.
Sharon, 1 @ Mansfield, 9 – Final – Hockomock League leading hitter Dan Saraceno continued his stellar start to the season, going 2-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored to help the Hornets pick up a big win on the road. After Sharon took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, Mansfield plated four runs in the third, two more in the fourth and three in the fifth inning. Seniors Tyler Dalton (1-for-2, run) and Cullin Anastasia, juniors Mike Hargadon (2-for-2, two runs) and Sam Nugent (two runs), and sophomore Chris Jenkins (1-for-3, run) each knocked in a run for Mansfield. Sharon’s Drew Naisuler went 3-for-3 and scored on an RBI single from Max Tarlin. Mansfield sophomore John Carney earned the win in his first career start, striking out six with just one walk in five innings of work. He allowed just four hits and one unearned run.
Milford, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 16 – Final (5 inn.) – Oliver Ames pushed across six runs in the first inning and never looked back in a big win over the Hawks. Milford took the lead in the top of the first but OA’s bats came to life in the bottom half. Chris Pearsons went 4-for-4 with two RBI, Matt Muir was 4-for-4 with an RBI, and Nick Bloumbas went 3-for-4 with an RBI for OA. Michael Mulrean earned the win, allowing one walk and one hit in five innings of work, striking out six.
Softball
Attleboro, 3 @ North Attleboro, 4 – Final (8 Inn.) – Annabelle Hebard led off the eighth inning with a double and scored the game-winning run (her third run scored in the game) on a ball hit by Katie Daby, who also drove in a run with a second inning triple. Emily Nardelli drove in a run for North with a double in the fourth and Abby Gallagher and Olivia Capobianco each recorded two hits for the Rocketeers. Bella Erti went the distance to pick up the win and struck out 10. McKenzie Bergdoll and Makenzie Killough each hit homers for the Bombardiers.
Milford, 12 @ Oliver Ames, 0 – Final (5 inn.) – Milford’s Kelley Reichert was nearly perfect, allowing just one hit in the top of the fifth to earn the win in the circle. Reichert took the perfect game into the fifth but a leadoff single from Katie Mills broke it up. Reichert struck out five and helped her cause at the plate by going 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and a double. Emily Hartman added three hits, including a double, and an RBI, Emily Piergustavo had two RBI, including a solo home run, Maddy Bonvino went 2-for-2 with a double, Shannon Cormier added two hits and two RBI and Kate Irwin (three stolen bases) also had an RBI.
King Philip, 13 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – King Philip set the tone early, scoring nine runs in the first inning on its way to a big win on the road at Sharon. Marjorie Guerrier, Lillianna Rolfe, Nicole Carter, Allie Kuchy, Destiny Goyco all had two hits to lead the way. Faith Turinese allowed just one hit while striking out eight batters in five innings of work.
Boys Lacrosse
Attleboro @ Taunton, 7:00
Canton, 5 @ North Attleboro, 7 – Final – Canton dominated the first half and held a 2-0 lead but North was able to tie it up in the second half and scored two late goals to earn the win. “Our defense played well and our young middies stepped up and got it done,” said North Attleboro head coach Kevin Young. “Hats off to Canton, I thought they outplayed us. Fortunately. our guys held it together and earned a scrappy win.” Dan Conroy scrapped his way to a ground ball and tied the game at 3-3 in the fourth. After Canton retook the lead, Damien Curtis tied it 5-5. Nick Ward scored the game-winner for the Rocketeers with 3:30 left and Tommy Lindstrom sealed the deal with an empty net with 1:30 to go.
Boys Tennis
Attleboro, 0 @ North Attleboro, 5 – Final – North Attleboro’s three singles players combined to lose just one game total in a sweep over rival Attleboro. Richard Bermudez won 6-1, 6-0 at first singles while Christian Bermudez (second singles) and Jonah Manso (third singles) each won 6-0, 6-0. Senior Ben Pfeffer and junior Vikram Senthilakumaran won 6-1, 6-2 at first singles for North while sophomore Alex Pfeffer and freshman Sam Gallagher didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win at second doubles.
Taunton, 3 @ Foxboro, 2 – Final – Taunton swept singles play to edge out Foxboro on the road. Senior Francois Hennaux battled to a three-set win (6-1, 1-6, 6-4) at first singles, Brett Beaulieu impressed in a 6-1, 6-1 decision at second singles, and Mike Brigg recorded a 6-4, 6-3 win at third singles for the Tigers.
Franklin, 5 @ Canton, 0 – Final – Frankin notched an impressive win on the road, losing just seven games total to sweep Canton. Liam Marr (second singles), Saketh Saripalli (third singles), the team of Tyler DiPalma and Derek Wu (first doubles) and the pairing of Dan Angermeier and Tony Calderone (second doubles) all won 6-0, 6-0 for the Panthers. Franklin’s Rohan Herur battled to a 6-3, 6-4 win at first singles.
King Philip, 5 vs. Walpole, 0 – Final – King Philip won all five matches in straight sets to get a sweep over visiting Walpole. Marco DiStefano picked up a 6-3, 6-2 win at first singles, Nick Putney notched a 6-2, 6-1 win at second singles and Jack Cannon won 6-1, 6-1 at third singles. KP’s pairing of Sean Desrochers and Nate Ihley won 6-1, 6-2 at first doubles while Aidan Ignatius and Nick Ihley recorded a 6-2, 6-4 decision at second doubles.
Mansfield, 0 @ Sharon, 5 – Final – Sharon senior Fred Bondar prevailed with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Mansfield junior Luke Nickerson in a battle of two of the top players in the league. Andre Olivei earned a 6-0, 6-1 win at second singles and Danujan Thirumavalavan won 6-2, 6-2 at third singles for the Eagles. Sophomore Alberto Olivei and junior Max Brody won 6-4, 6-2 at first doubles while Arie Chinnappan and Russell Rapaport notched a 6-4, 6-2 decision at second doubles.
Girls Tennis
North Attleboro, 5 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – North Attleboro won all five matches in straight sets without dropping a game in three of them. North’s Jordan Willis (first singles), the team of Shurobhi Nandi and Azka Siddiq (first doubles) and the pairing of Leah Marceau and Tara Nair (second doubles) all won 6-0, 6-0. Senior Emily Chiasson won 6-1, 6-0 at second singles and classmate Katie Ovoian won 6-3, 6-2 at third singles for the Rocketeers.
Canton, 5 @ Franklin, 0 – Final – Canton went on the road and earned a sweep of Franklin, taking all three singles matches in straight sets. Natalie Keppler (first singles) and Rachel Kupferman (second singles) each won 6-0, 6-0 while Sarah Hernandez earned a 6-1, 6-2 win at third singles for the Bulldogs. The team of Caitlin Matthews and Stelina Michaelidis prevailed 6-0, 4-6, 10-6 at first doubles and the pairing of Jamie Cree and Jena Moyle picked up a 6-2, 6-0 win at second doubles.
King Philip @ Walpole, 3:45
Sharon, 5 @ Mansfield, 0 – Final – Sharon won all five matches in straight sets to record a win on the road at Mansfield. Lulu Yuan won 6-0, 6-1 at first singles, Emily Wen notched a 6-2, 6-2 win at second singles, and Katie Merport picked up a 6-0, 6-0 win at third singles. The team of Sophia Fein and Rithika Neti won 6-2, 7-5 at first singles for the Eagles and Lauren Glass and Makaila Cheung won 6-2, 6-2 at second doubles.
Milford, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final – Oliver Ames’ Maura Kiernan didn’t lose a single game at second singles and both of the Tigers’ doubles teams won to edge visiting Milford. The team of Kristin Bloumbas and Emily Yu won 6-1, 6-1 at first doubles while Olivia Groebe and Rachel Stryke paired together for a 6-3, 6-0 win at second doubles. Milford’s Julie Rabinowitz won 6-2, 6-0 at first singles and Olivia Marshall won 6-3, 6-2 at third singles for the Hawks.
Boys Outdoor Track
Sharon, 77 @ Canton, 59 – Final – For Canton, Cordel Smith was a triple winner after taking first in the long jump (21’5), high jump (5’11) and the 200M (22.4) while also adding a second place finish in the 100M (11.3). Shane Graham took first in the 400M (52.7), Colin Messinger crossed first in the 2 Mile (10:10.4) and the Bulldog 4×400 team (Gerry Sullivan, Zach Goldstein, Chris Milne, and Shane Graham) was first (3:44). Matt Floyd added a second place finish for Canton in the 400M hurdles (63.3).
Foxboro, 47 @ Milford, 89 – Final
Stoughton, 32 @ North Attleboro, 106 – Final
Oliver Ames, 74 @ Attleboro, 62 – Final – Oliver Ames’ Jack MacAdam was a triple winner, helping the Tigers edge Attleboro on the road. MacAdam took first in the 400M hurdles, the 110M hurdles, and the long jump to lead the Tigers. Other first place finishes for Oliver Ames included Jason Windvogel (1 Mile), Ethan Eckstrom (800M), Zane Reservitz (2 Mile), Ryan Tamasanis (high jump), Aaron MacDonald (triple jump), Anthony DeCosta (discus), Quinn Proudler (javelin), and Jack Mills (shot put).
Franklin, 45 @ Mansfield, 91 – Final – Mansfield swept the 100M, 200M, and the long jump to earn nine points from each event to get a win over visiting Franklin. Greg Waters (11.3), Khristian Conner, and Colin Eutsay swept the 100M for the Hornets, Mike Shannon (22.6), Jack Rivard, and Dan Knight took first, second, and third (respectively) in the 200M, and Jareme DiLorenzo (19’8), Joe Cappelletti and Andrew Williams took care of placements in the long jump.
Taunton @ King Philip, 3:45
Girls Outdoor Track
Sharon, 110 @ Canton, 26 – Final – Canton’s Sarah Collins took first in the 800M (2:32) and placed second in the 400M hurdles (67.8) to pace the Bulldogs. Chloe Pennacchio was first in the 2 Mile (13:09.7), Bronwyn Mahoney was second in the shot put (30’2), Maddie Rousseau took second in the 200M (27.4) followed by Leah Murphy (27.9). Freshman Olivia Rodman was third in the 400M hurdles (70.4) and the triple jump (31’3) for the Bulldogs.
Foxboro, 49 @ Milford, 86 – Final
Stoughton, 21 @ North Attleboro, 115 – Final
Oliver Ames @ Attleboro, 3:45
Franklin, 78 @ Mansfield, 58 – Final – For Mansfield, Amanda Mangano had a terrific day with three wins and a second place in another event. Mangano won the 100M (12.4), the 200M (25.3), and the high jump (5′) while taking second in the long jump (16’6). Junior Julia Hill had a 7-inch PR in the long jump to win with a jump of 16’7 and running a three second PR in the 400 hurdles for a second place in a time of 69.4. The Hornets’ 4×100 team of Gabrielle Devlin, Emily Quitzau, Samantha Hindman, Julia Harrison had a season-best time of 50.4 while sophomore Lily Goulding took first in the javelin (95’4″).
Below are the official 2017 Hockomock League Football All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.
Hockomock League MVP
Kelley-Rex
Shane Frommer, King Philip
Davenport
Chad Peterson, North Attleboro
Hockomock League All Stars
Kelley-Rex Division
Cam Furtado, Attleboro
James Weir, Attleboro
Elvin Sam, Attleboro
Brian Kosicki, Franklin
Jake Noviello, Franklin
Shane Frommer, King Philip
Jack Piller, King Philip
Brendan Lydon, King Philip
Jack Webster, King Philip
Andrew Dittrich, King Philip
Will Shield, Mansfield
Hunter Ferreira, Mansfield
Danny DeGirolamo, Mansfield
Vinnie Holmes, Mansfield
Anthony Berksza, Oliver Ames
Jack Mills, Oliver Ames
Zakim Harrow, Taunton
Dan Murphy, Taunton
Davenport Division
Brendan Albert, Canton
Alec Ragusa, Canton
Devin Hassett, Foxboro
Mike Henri, Foxboro
Kade Treannie, Foxboro
Patrick Kaveny, Foxboro
Patrick Brogioli, Milford
Will Pointer, Milford
Neil Arquillano, Milford
Chad Peterson, North Attleboro
Ryan Clemente, North Attleboro
Sam Bullock, North Attleboro
Marion Bresko, North Attleboro
Aidan Harding, North Attleboro
Justin Ly, Stoughton
Alex Sjoquist, Stoughton
Ruben Gonzalez, Stoughton
Jason Joseph, Stoughton
The Bulldogs will have a young squad this year, but one spot they have some experience is at linebacker, with senior Jude Albert leading the way. Starting at outside linebacker last season, Albert was a big time playmaker for Canton. Whether it was using his speed to get around the edge or through the gap up the middle to pressure the quarterback or stuff a runner, or it was reading the play and dropping back in coverage to matchup with a back, Albert is able to do it. Often times, it will take more than one blocker to take Albert out of the play and he showed last year that he won’t give up on a play either. If the defense fails to put someone in the way, opposing quarterbacks need to be on the lookout for Albert coming their way.
Standing at 6’4, its no surprise that Mario Bresko will be one of the top receiving options in the league this year, especially with Chad Peterson at quarterback. But Bresko will also be one of the top corner backs in the league as well. After starting last season and playing in some high pressure games, Bresko will bring experience to a secondary that might have some new faces this season. The speed that he shows on the offensive side of the ball is also a reason he can cover opponents defensively. And when it comes to a jump ball, you’re going to want to pick Bresko, who stars for Big Red’s track and field team in the high jump, placing first in the event at Hock Championships in both winter and spring.
Mansfield has plenty of experience returning in its front seven and that group will be led by Cox, a tenacious linebacker who should be involved in plenty of action for the Hornets defense this fall. Cox is coming off an all-star season on the lacrosse field and his speed and ability to read the game translates to football as well, where he can make plays from his outside position against both the ground game and in the pass rush. His quickness also allows him to drop into coverage when needed to cover tight ends or running backs downfield. The Hornets have high expectations for this season and Cox’s leadership on defense will be a big key to achieving their goals.
North Attleboro graduated a handful of all-league players on the defensive side of the ball from last season, but one of the key returning pieces is senior Zach DeMattio at the inside linebacker spot. While DeMattio will also see time on the offensive side of the ball in the backfield, he will be one of the anchors for the front seven on defense. Strength is certainly not a question for DeMattio, who is committed to play baseball at Wheaton College and is one of the top power hitters in the league. On top of his strength, he’s shown the ability to read the play and attack. His ability to make the tackle in one-on-one situations makes him one of the best linebackers in the Hock.
On a team blessed with depth and talent on the defensive side of the ball, Dittrich stood out for last year’s Div. 1A Super Bowl and Kelley-Rex champions. A ball-hawking defensive back, he seemed to always come through in the clutch for the Warriors. Three times – twice in the playoffs – he sealed a KP victory with an interception, including the D1A South sectional final. While the Warriors are known as a team that can bottle up a running game, Dittrich also gave them a playmaker in the secondary. In addition to his coverage skills, he can also help out in the running game and rush the passer from the edge.
Driscoll stepped into the lineup as a sophomore and started all 11 games at cornerback for the Panthers in 2016. He demonstrated the natural speed and instincts to be a top cover corner and second-year head coach Eian Bain said this his improvement from day one means that Driscoll will be one of the focal points of the Franklin defense this fall. With Driscoll and junior safety Nolan McLaney, the Panthers secondary should be a strength of the team for the next couple of seasons, as they try to shut down high-powered passing attacks like Mansfield, Taunton, and Attleboro.
Consistency was an issue at times for the Bombardiers defense last season, but they also showed flashes of versatility and talent. One of the players that emerged as a force for Attleboro was Evans, who played linebacker as a sophomore and was a constant presence around the ball. This year, he is listed as a defensive end, where he can use his speed to get around the edge on the pass rush, but he is also big enough to set the edge on running plays that head his way. There is a lot of optimism about Attleboro this preseason and Evans is a player who opponents will have to plan for in order to have success against a deep Bombardiers squad.
When it comes to the top two-way players in the league, Stoughton senior Justin Ly has to be near the top of the list. He showed off his speed and power running game last year and will certainly be one of the top backs again this season. But more importantly, Ly will relied upon to anchor Stoughton’s front seven after the Black Knights graduated so many starters. The combination of speed and strength that makes him a successful back are also the reasons he’s one of the top linebackers. Whether it’s in pass coverage, or in pursuit of a quarterback or running back, Ly shows great instincts to make the right play.
Mills is entering his third fall as a starter for the Tigers and has been an anchor for both the offensive and defensive lines. Last season, he was named a league all-star for OA and was named a HockomockSports.com Hock 5 Defensive Lineman. He made 30 tackles and used his imposing size and quickness off the ball to disrupt the opposition. Even when he did not make the play himself, Mills regularly draws double teams and holds up blocker to open lanes for teammates. It has been a difficult stretch for OA over the past two years, but Mills has earned his place as one of the top linemen in the league.
Anytime you have a player that lines up at both linebacker and fullback you know one thing is for sure: they like to hit. Matt Pond will see time at both positions this year but his main role will be as Foxboro’s starting inside linebacker. And because of his combination of football IQ and speed, expect Pond to be among the leaders of tackles in each game. The Warriors didn’t have a ton of experience on defense a year ago, but Pond stepped up to be a leader. Not only is Pond strong in the pass game, but when a blitz is called, he’s one of most dangerous linebackers in league because of his speed and ability to tackle in the open field.
Attleboro senior Cam Furtado (14) will be one of the key contributors for the Bombardiers this fall as they look to challenge for the Kelley-Rex title. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
Outlook:
The Bombardiers started the season 3-2, but closed with only one win in the final six games, including a pair of losses to league rival and eventual Super Bowl champion King Philip. Injuries piled up for Attleboro in 2016, but it gave a number of players the chance to gain valuable varsity experience and the Bombardiers have high hopes for improvement this fall.
Experience at the skill positions is one of the reasons for optimism at Attleboro. Senior Cam Furtado is slated to start the season at quarterback and has proven to be a dynamic playmaker. Classmate Elvin Sam emerged as a big play weapon last fall, whether in the backfield or split out wide, and tight end James Weir gives Attleboro an option in the middle of the field. Wideout Josh Therrien and running back Justin Cote could also play bigger roles with running back Marcus Blaise adding depth.
Attleboro also has a strong returning core on defense with Furtado, Sam, and Therrien in the secondary and Weir joining senior Nate Barboza and junior Jacob Weatherford at linebacker. Matt Corrado, Matt Jimenez, and Kyle Walsh will give the Bombardiers strength on both sides of the line and junior Nick Evans could be poised for a breakout year after moving from linebacker to defensive end. Sophomore Qualeem Charles is also a player to watch on the line.
“I am extremely excited about our senior group of players,” said Attleboro coach Mike Strachan. “We have some dynamic players in Cam Furtado and Elvin Sam and hopefully they can maximize their athletic talents. We have many returning starters from last season so we hope to build on that experience.”
Outlook:
The first season for the Panthers under new head coach Eian Bain was a struggle at times for a young roster that was adapting to new systems on both sides of the ball, but there is hope that the experience gained last fall will pay dividends in 2017. Franklin will have a number of returning players to count on this season.
Offensively, Franklin will have to find ways to make up for the production of graduated running back Jacob Wolowacki, who was a go-to weapon in the ground and passing games. Senior quarterback Jake Noviello will be counted on to lead the offensive unit after more than 1,700 yards and 15 touchdowns last fall. Junior wideout Sean Leonard started all 11 games last year and will be a tough matchup for defenses along with fellow receivers Jack Nally, Will Davis, and Evan Wendell and running back Sean Hofferty. Three-year starter Brian Kosicki will be the leader of the offensive line and tight end Patrick Morrison will be a weapon in the passing game.
On defense, the Panthers have depth in the secondary, including junior safety Nolan McLaney, who was second on the team in tackles last year. Junior Ryan Driscoll has speed on the corner and Bain called him the “focal point” of the defense. Nick Gordon will hold down the other corner spot. Senior defensive end Jackson Gilbert is coming back from injury that cut short his junior season and will add strength on the edge. Junior Riley Downing gives Franklin size and speed in the middle of the line.
“We are in year two of our process,” said Bain. “We are in a different place than we were a year ago…Fans should expect to see a better team in 2017. We have a roster full of experience and had great participation through the Franklin speed and conditioning program. In a league this good we have to bring our best every week.”
Outlook:
What will the Warriors do for an encore? King Philip won its third league title in the past five years, second outright Kelley-Rex title in the past three seasons, and completed an unbeaten season with a win over Reading in the Div. 1A Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium.
Despite losing a large and influential senior class, the Warriors are being picked by some to repeat at champs this fall. One reason for continued belief is the return of senior quarterback Brendan Lydon, who showed poise in the pocket and the ability to make accurate passes downfield in his first year under center in 2016. Yale-commit Shane Frommer is also back for his senior season and will be the feature back for the Warriors in a system that prides itself on pushing teams around on the ground. Beyond that, it will be up to a group of rookies to make an impact. KP will boast an entire new offensive line, anchored by senior Anthony Vahue, and all new receivers. Junior David Morganelli will be one of the options for Lydon.
The Warriors boast a bit more experience on the defensive side of the ball. Even though a good chunk of starters are gone, KP’s rotation last year allowed for players like Evan Rice (defensive end), Jack Webster (linebacker) and Dylan Leonard (safety) to see action. Frommer will be back opposite Webster while Vahue will also play on the defensive line. Andrew Dittrich returns as a starting corner back to anchor the secondary.
Although there are a lot of new faces on this year’s roster and a lot of leadership missing from last season’s championship squad, head coach Brian Lee has instilled a toughness that permeates the program and expectations are that KP will have a decent chance at lifting a trophy again this fall.
“We don’t get any points for last year, we don’t get spotted a touchdown because we went undefeated last year,” Lee said. “When it comes to high school football, it’s about taking those rookies and getting them ready for varsity speed, they have to be able to handle the bright lights on Friday nights. If we can get them up to speed, we should be okay.”
Outlook:
The Hornets finished second in the Kelley-Rex division last year, with the only Hock loss coming by three points to league champ King Philip. Mansfield was stunned in a playoff thriller against Marshfield, but then bounced back to beat Div. 1 playoff teams Needham and Newton North and will enter 2017 with typically high expectations, as the Hornets look to win their first league title since 2013.
A strength for Mansfield this fall will be the experience it returns at the skill positions led by senior wideout Hunter Ferreira, who has emerged as one of the area’s top receivers. The backfield will once again be loaded for the Hornets, who will count on seniors Danny DeGirolamo and Joe Cox and juniors Khristian Conner and Aidan Sacco. New quarterback Damani Scott will try to make use of that talent and the 6-foot-3 junior has a big arm to make plays downfield.
Cox and Ferreira will add strength and speed to the linebacking corps, while seniors Mike Shannon and Jareme DiLorenzo will provide a pass rush at the defensive end positions. Conner, Sacco, and DeGirolamo will all return in the secondary. If there are questions for the Hornets, it will be at the line of scrimmage; senior Will Shield and junior Colbey Eason have returned and will be the players to build around on the offensive and defensive lines.
“After one week, we are happy with work ethic and development of linemen,” said Mansfield coach Mike Redding, who is in his 30th season with the Hornets. “If we can get pieces of the puzzle sorted out up front on OL and DL, we’ll be a tough out. We have a very good collection of playmakers that can run and catch and we should score some points this year.”
Outlook:
The Tigers got off to a promising start to 2016, winning two of the opening three games including a dramatic one-point win over Franklin, but Oliver Ames struggled down the stretch against a difficult schedule. Now entering his third year, head coach Mike Holland is confident the program is heading in the right direction this fall.
According to Holland, the Tigers’ strength on the offensive side of the ball is the experience of playing in the system for several seasons and a greater understanding of the concepts. Senior Curtis Cann will lead the attack after taking over as the starting quarterback last season and he has several talented weapons on the outside in seniors Michael Mulrean and Noah Fitzgerald. Jay Fruci will be one of the returning players in the backfield, lining up behind a big offensive line.
Jack Mills will be a mainstay in the middle on both sides of the ball and is one of the top lineman in the league. He will be paired with fellow senior John-Michael Cole on the line, giving the Tigers depth in the trenches. Fitzgerald and Mulrean will also be important contributors in the secondary, while Fruci will bring athleticism to the linebacking corps. Holland wants his defensive scheme to take advantage of the team’s speed.
“Looking forward to the start of a new season. Our guys’ preparation and approach leading up to the season has been excellent,” Holland said. “We have guys with experience that need to play big, as well as some new guys that are in the mix to compete for spots.”
Outlook:
The Tigers narrowly missed out on a winning record in their first season under head coach Brad Sidwell and showed signs of improvement, including a narrow, three-point loss to Mansfield. In year two, Sidwell is hoping for even more and Taunton has potential on the roster to be a tough out in the league.
Losing wide receiver Adam McLaughlin to graduation will certainly impact the offensive attack, but junior quarterback Noah Leonard returns for his second season under center and will look to build on the experience he gained last fall. With a number of athletes at the skill positions, including senior Collin Hunter and junior Brayden Merrill at wideout and T.J. Mendes in the backfield, Taunton will use a number of formations and styles to cause matchup problems. Sidwell expects the passing game to be a major strength for the Tigers.
Defensively, Taunton will have a number of new faces, but has size and experience at the line of scrimmage. Seniors Paul Corrao and Zakim Harrow and junior Cam Correiro will all make a significant impact on the battle in the trenches. Senior Nuno Camara provides experience to the linebacking corps, while Merrill and Hunter will be important in the secondary.
“Moving into the second year, the players, coaches and fans are excited for the season but there is lots of work to be done,” Sidwell said. “Hopefully we can get off to a good start and provide some confidence to gain momentum into the difficult Hockomock League season.”
Below are the official 2017 Hockomock League Boys Outdoor Track All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.
Hockomock League MVP
Lucas Alves, Taunton
Hockomock League All Stars
David Seybert, Attleboro
Isaiah Rodriguez, Attleboro
Tyrell Estime, Attleboro
Chris Chieng, Franklin
Ethan Dunne, King Philip
Michael Griffin, King Philip
Jareme DiLorenzo, Mansfield
Kalin Petrov, Mansfield
Kevin Crawford, Mansfield
Kyle Amerantes, Mansfield
Michael Shannon, Mansfield
Nicholas Horn, Mansfield
Nicholas Hyland, Mansfield
Nicholas Rispoli, Mansfield
Patrick Heavey, Mansfield
Cameron Clark, Milford
Hugo Lopes, Milford
Jack Kalil, Milford
Patrick Brogioli, Milford
Ryan O’Toole, Milford
William Pointer, Milford
Brett Cloutier, North Attleboro
John Schultz, North Attleboro
Mario Bresko, North Attleboro
Matt Reimels, North Attleboro
Matt Tarantino, North Attleboro
Michael Tobey, North Attleboro
Kalil Matier, Oliver Ames
Juvan Elisma, Sharon
Ritchy Laguerre, Stoughton
Dylan Lynch, Taunton
John Chretien, Taunton
Lucas Alves, Taunton
Michael Volkmann, Taunton
Honorable Mentions
Brett Szlachciuk, Attleboro
Muhammed Sambo, Canton
Tom McNeil, Foxboro
Farley Asmath, Franklin
Sean Garrity, King Philip
Cameron MacIntyre, Mansfield
Joseph Madden, Milford
Liam Monahan, North Attleboro
Jack Mills, Oliver Ames
Tianrui Sun, Sharon
Tim Raeke, Stoughton
Ryan Leason, Taunton
For a history of recent Hockomock League Boys Outdoor Track All Stars, check out our history section.
2017 Hockomock League Boys Outdoor Track All Stars
For a history of recent Hockomock League Boys Outdoor Track All Stars, check out our history section. You can also see all stars from other sports in our history section. Attleboro Canton Foxboro Franklin King Philip Mansfield Milford North Attleboro Oliver Ames Sharon Stoughton Taunton Attleboro Canton Foxboro Franklin King Philip Mansfield Milford North Attleboro Oliver Ames Sharon Stoughton Taunton Attleboro Canton Foxboro Franklin King Philip Mansfield Milford North Attleboro Oliver Ames Sharon Stoughton Taunton Hockomock League Hockomock League Hockomock League Hockomock League Hockomock League Hockomock League Hockomock League Hockomock League Attleboro Canton Foxboro Franklin King Philip Mansfield Milford North Attleboro Oliver Ames Sharon Stoughton Taunton Attleboro Canton Foxboro Franklin King Philip Mansfield Milford North Attleboro Oliver Ames Sharon Stoughton Taunton Attleboro Canton Foxboro Franklin King Philip Mansfield Milford North Attleboro Oliver Ames Sharon Stoughton Taunton Hockomock League Hockomock League Hockomock League Hockomock League Hockomock League Hockomock League Hockomock League Hockomock League
Girls Basketball
Milford, 51 vs. Hopedale, 19 – Final – Milford junior Kate Irwin had a team-high 12 points while Emma Liskov added 10 points and Emily Piergustavo chipped in with nine points.
Mansfield, 9 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final – Mansfield had 15 different players register a point in a big win over Foxboro. Cullin Anastasia had two goals and two assists to lead the Hornets while Patrick McCafferty and Matt Farragher each netted a pair of goals. Tim Arnold, Adam Anastos, James Bezeau and Dylan Tivnan each registered two points as well.
Franklin, 3 @ Taunton, 5 – Final – Taunton battled to take a 3-2 lead through two periods and then finished off the Panthers in the third period. The Tigers scored an early third period goal to go up 4-2 before Franklin cut the deficit to one with 2:11 to play. However, Taunton scored an empty netter from its defensive zone with 34 seconds to go to ice the game. Zack Albert had four points, registering three assists and scored the game-winning goal. Nick Terry scored twice and had one assist while Jordan Hoey and Mike Volkmann each scored once. Justin Chappell made 24 saves to earn the win.
King Philip, 2 @ North Attleboro, 4 – Final
Wrestling
Sharon, 29 @ Canton, 31 – Final
Foxboro, 54 @ Stoughton, 21 – Final
Oliver Ames, 12 @ Franklin, 44 – Final – Oliver Ames received wins from Liston Funai (138), Dean Pacini (195) and Jack Mills (285).
Taunton, 28 @ King Philip, 51 – Final – Taunton picked up wins from Josh Alves (106), Josh Grasso (126), Elijah Simmons (195), Woudanly Danger (220) and Mason Frank (285).
Milford, 6 @ North Attleboro, 51 – Final – North Attleboro’s Nick Gould earned his 100th career win in the Rocketeers’ victory.
Swimming Boys
King Philip @ Attleboro, 3:30
Milford @ Canton, 5:00
Franklin, 45 @ Taunton, 49 – Final
Mansfield, 88 @ Oliver Ames, 95 – Final
Girls
King Philip @ Attleboro, 3:30
Milford @ Canton, 5:00
Franklin @ Taunton, 4:00
Mansfield, 91.5 @ Oliver Ames, 87.5 – Final
Gymnastics
Sharon @ King Philip, 7:30
Girls Hockey
Canton, 2 vs. Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake, 2 – Final – Canton twice battled back from a one goal deficit, including scoring the tying goal inside the final two minutes to earn the tie. Sophomore Lauren Fitzpatrick and senior Rebecca Eckler each scored a goal for the Bulldogs.
Girls Basketball
North Attleboro, 39 @ Cranston East, 67 – Final – North Attleboro’s Caroline Perry scored a team-high nine points but the Rocketeers couldn’t overcome 21 points from McKenzie Richards.
King Philip, 7 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Collin Cooke netted a hat trick to pace King Philip to the win. Stoughton sophomore goalie AJ Scott made 42 saves for the Black Knights.
Oliver Ames, 3 @ North Attleboro, 3 – Final – In a back and forth game, Oliver Ames netted the equalizer with just three minutes left to earn a point. OA junior Rory Madden scored his second goal of the game in the third period for the equalizer while Max Ward also had a goal in the tie. OA head coach Sean Bertoni said sophomore James Beatty had an outstanding game for the Tigers.
Wrestling
Malden Catholic Quad (Canton, Mansfield) – Canton went 4-0 on the day, including avenging an earlier season loss. The Bulldogs picked up wins over Milton (51-27), Malden (27-12) and Malden Catholic (53-27) as well as a 37-36 win over Mansfield. The Hornets also had wins over Malden (42-12), Malden Catholic (45-37) and Milton (43-34). Mansfield had five grapplers go undefeated on the day: Antonios Sevastos (106) and Shane Cremmen (182) went 2-0, Jayden Curley (160) and Vinnie Holmes (170) went 3-0 and senior Ford DelVecchio (220) went 4-0. Freshman Will Stratton (126) and junior Hunter Shea (195) both went 3-1.
Carver Quad (Foxboro) – Foxboro went 2-1 on the day.
Algonquin Quad (Franklin) – Franklin went 3-0 on the day, picking up wins over West Springfield, Algonquin and Framingham, to improve to 15-0 on the season.
Holliston Quad (Milford) – Milford went 2-1 on the day.
Norton Quad (Oliver Ames), 9:00AM – Oliver Ames went 2-1 at the Norton Quad, beating Brockton (42-33) and Sabis (48-21) but falling to the host Lancers (41-31). Cobey Williamson (120) went 2-0 with a pair of pins while Liston Funai (132) went 3-0 on the day. Ryan DeCosta (113), Brandon Belleton (138), Eric Berardi (152), Dean Pacini (195) and Jack Mills (285) each had two wins on the day.
Sharon Quad (Sharon), 10:00AM
Metheun Quad (Taunton), 10:00AM
Girls Hockey
Canton, 1 vs. Hingham, 1 – Final
Stoughton, 1 @ Marshfield, 15 – Final
Boys Gymnastics
Attleboro, 138 vs. Lowell, 133 – Final
Stoughton, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 6 – Final – Sophomore Brett Williams recorded five points as Oliver Ames scored a pair of goals in each period. Williams scored twice and had three assists to pace the tigers while Korey Sweezey, Max Ward and Jared Costello each scoring once. Stoughton sophomore goalie AJ Scott made 30 saves in the game.
Wrestling
Canton, 22 @ Foxboro, 52 – Final
Franklin, 48 @ Taunton, 11 – Final – Taunton picked up wins from Alex Simon (170), Nuno Camara (182) and Woudanly Danger (220).
Mansfield, 27 @ Oliver Ames, 47 – Final – Six of Oliver Ames’ nine wins came via pin in a big division win over Mansfield. Brandon Belleton (132), Liston Funai (138), Anthony Berksza (145), Eric Berardi (152), Dean Pacini (195) and Jack Mills (285) each won via pin for the Tigers. Ryan DeCosta (113), Cobey Williamson (120) and Sean Cosgrove (160) also picked up wins for Oliver Ames.
Milford, 30 @ Sharon, 52 – Final
Stoughton, 3 @ North Attleboro, 63 – Final
Swimming Boys
Mansfield, 71 @ Canton, 98 – Final
North Attleboro @ King Philip, 8:00
Milford, 38 @ Taunton, 55 – Final
Girls
Mansfield, 79 @ Canton, 91 – Final
North Attleboro @ King Philip, 8:00
Milford, 39 @ Taunton, 54 – Final
Girls Hockey
Canton, 2 vs. Plymouth, 1 – Final – Sophomore Maggie Malloy opened the second period with a goal while junior Kendra Farrelly netted what proved to be the game-winner later in the frame.
Franklin, 0 vs. Medway/Ashland, 3 – Final
Mansfield/Oliver Ames, 1 @ Westwood, 3 – Final
Stoughton, 2 vs. Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake, 9 – Final
