Boys Basketball
Canton, 67 vs. Bishop Feehan, 65 – Final (OT) – Canton’s Matt Chafin hit a late three to help the Bulldogs force overtime and both Zaza Francoeur and Julius Hicks connected from downtown in the extra period in a win over Bishop Feehan. With the Shamrocks up by a point, Chafin (18 points) hit a corner three with under 10 seconds to go to make it 53-51. Feehan hit a layup at the buzzer to force overtime. Jamaal McConnell (18 points) opened the extra period with a traditional three-point play and then hit Francoeur (14 points) for a three on Canton’s next trip up the court. After Feehan closed the deficit down to two, Chafin drove to the layup for a bucket late in the shot clock. Hicks added a three on Canton’s next possession to push it to 64-59. Chafin added a key free throw in the final seconds to ice the win.
Foxboro, 82 @ Hopkinton, 80 – Final (OT) – Foxboro senior Sam Golub erupted for a career-high 40 points to help the Warriors topple the Hillers on the road. The Warriors staked a lead after the first quarter after connecting on five threes in the opening eight minutes, including three from Golub. But Hopkinton rallied to take the lead at halftime (33-31) and increased it to 60-52 going into the final quarter. Golub hit three more three-pointers in the third to keep the Warriors close, and Foxboro held the hosts to just 10 points in the fourth to rally back. Golub had seven more in the fourth while Ryan LeClair (11 points), Ryan Cotter (11 points), and Alex Penders (11 points) also scored to bring Foxboro back in it. In overtime, Golub stayed hot with four field goals, including one more three for a total of eight for the game, and Penders had a big block in the final seconds to preserve the win.
Oliver Ames vs. Cardinal Spellman, 6:30
Stoughton, 59 vs. Medway, 55 – Final – Trailing by two with under a minute to go, Stoughton finished off its comeback with a 7-1 run over the final 50 seconds to take down visiting Medway. Jarred Daughtry (11 points) cut the deficit to one with a free throw, and off a miss from the line, Tagh Swierzewski kept the play alive and Jayden Costa-Haywood, who scored a team-high 23 points, converted the putback for the lead. Stoughton got a stop on defense and Liam Pearl hit two from the line with 24.1 seconds to go to extend the lead to 57-54. Medway was off the mark on two free throws on their end and sophomore Matt Greenspoon iced the game with two more free throws with 1.6 seconds to go. Costa-Haywood scored 11 points in the fourth while Swierzewski, Greenspoon, and freshman Anthony Alessi each had a three in the final frame.
Taunton, 61 vs. Dartmouth, 57 – Final – After letting a halftime lead slip away in the third quarter, Taunton finished strong with 22-point fourth quarter to pick up the win and snap Dartmouth’s unbeaten start to the season. The Tigers cashed in from the free throw line in the fourth, going 9-for-13 from the line over the final eight minutes. Junior Troy Santos scored 13 of his team-high 17 points in the second half while junior Tyson Carter gave Taunton a huge boost with a career-high 14 points. Chris Perault had nine points all in the first half and freshman Jakari Innocent added nine points, including five in the fourth quarter.
King Philip, 59 vs. Leominster, 51 – Final – King Philip played its best defensive game of the season to hand Leominster its first loss of the season. The Warriors held the Blue Devils to just nine points in the second quarter as KP turned a one-point deficit at the end of the first quarter into a five point halftime lead. KP kept its distance with a 40-33 lead going into the fourth and then went 9-for-12 from the line in the final eight minutes to ice the win. Senior Will Laplante hit four three-pointers and poured in a game-high 25 points to pace the KP offense while Tommy Martorano tossed in a trio of triples and finished with 14 points. Sophomore Tommy Kilroy had five points but also played outstanding defensive game for KP. King Philip will take on Framingham at 4:00 on Thursday.
Girls Basketball
Franklin, 70 vs. Carlsbad (Calif.), 54 – Final – Franklin had five players score in double figures and dominated on the glass to overcome 32 points from Carlsbad star Madison Huhn and pick up a non-league win and hand head coach John Leighton his 300th career victory. The Panthers jumped out to a quick start, scoring 21 points in the first and building an 11-point lead. Huhn, who is committed to Miami (Ohio), caught fire in the second, with 18 of her team’s 21 points to cut the lead down to five at the break. After a nearly even third quarter, the Panthers exploded for 21 points in the fourth to break things open and seal the win. Katie Peterson was the top scorer for the Panthers with 21 points, including seven in the first and eight in the third quarter. Sophomore Chloe Fales added 13 points, knocking down three from beyond the arc, including a pair of triples in the fourth to help Franklin pull away. Bridget Leo scored 11 points, six of them in the first, and Lizzie Newman and Caelyn Leonard each added 10 points.
King Philip, 34 @ Framingham, 71 – Final
Oliver Ames, 29 vs. Walpole, 49 – Final – OA was held to only four points in the second quarter and six in the fourth, as the Tigers fell in the opener of the Sue Rivard Tournament. Walpole led by three after one, but a 12-4 second quarter opened up a double digit advantage (24-13) at halftime. The Tigers had a solid start to the second half, but Walpole built the lead back to 12 after three and didn’t look back. Sarah Hilliard led OA for the second straight game, scoring 12 points and grabbing five rebounds. Maddie Homer chipped in with six points and 10 rebounds. OA will face Bishop Fenwick in the consolation round.
Sharon, 61 vs. Silver Lake, 58 – Final – Jasmine Davis was unstoppable on Wednesday, scoring 34 points and grabbing 26 rebounds to lead the Eagles to the final of the Quincy Holiday Tournament. Davis also dished out three assists and had a pair of steals and blocks. In the closing seconds, her two free throws sealed the win for Sharon. Carmen Leonardi (six points, three boards, and two assists), Eva Poulton (six points), and Thea Caproni (five points) also gave the Eagles solid all-around performances. Sharon faces the host team in the tournament final.
Boys Hockey
Attleboro, 2 @ Norton, 9 – Final – Attleboro scored once in the first period and once in the third but the Bombardiers weren’t able to recover from four goals in the first seven minutes by Norton. Nick Fernandes scored off of an assist from Michael Lachance with three minutes to go in the first period while sophomore Austin Bessette scored his first career goal just over three minutes into the third with assists from Colin Flynn and Owen Parker.
Canton, 4 @ Westwood, 1 – Final
Franklin, 1 vs. St. Mary’s, 2 – Final
Mansfield, 4 vs. Shrewsbury, 5 – Final
Taunton, 5 @ Middleboro, 7 – Final
Girls Hockey
Canton, 0 @ Notre Dame Academy, 3 – Final
Hockomock Stars, 0 vs. HPNA, 7 – Final
Wrestling
Lowell Tournament (Foxboro, Franklin, Milford), 12:00
Marshfield Holiday Tournament – Taunton had one champion and two finalists and finished third as a team while Sharon had three finalists to earn fifth overall at the Marshfield Holiday Tournament. Taunton’s Ethan Harris was the top seed in the 182 bracket and used a pair of falls and one decision while Sharon’s Cormac Horlbogen, the second seed, had two decisions and one fall to each reach the final. Harris took the individual bracket with a 16-2 major decision in the final. Taunton’s Ben Mandeville (145) and Logan Frank (220) and Sharon’s Ashmith Yeruva (106) and Cam Birnbaum (126) all reached the finals. North Attleboro was 18th overall with Austin Dean (160) taking fourth, Mansfield was 22nd with Colton Johnson taking first in the 220 bracket, and Oliver Ames finished 27th with Nathan Lipski (145) finishing sixth.
Gymnastics
Mansfield, 126.25 @ Oliver Ames, 130.50 – Final
Attleboro @ Oliver Ames, 130.50 – Final
Boys Hockey
Attleboro, 10 vs. Tri-County, 4 – Final – Attleboro exploded for six goals in a scoring-filled second period and went on to pick up a win over Tri-County. The Bombardiers scored less than three minutes into the game and twice just seconds apart late in the period to establish a 3-0 lead. The two teams combined for nine goals in the second period, including four in a row from Attleboro with under seven minutes to go. Michael Lachance paced the offense with a hat trick while Antonio Mancini, Nathan Conroy, and Jack Moran scored their first career goals.
Foxboro, 4 @ Blue Hills, 2 – Final
Franklin, 7 @ King Philip, 0 – Final – Franklin scored a pair of goals within the first five minutes of the contest and erupted for five goals in the second period to skate away with a big non-league win over King Philip. Dan Daley put the visitors ahead just 68 seconds into the game, and Ryan Sicchio doubled the lead with 10:03 to play in the first. Sicchio scored a minute into the second and completed his hat trick before four minutes expired in the second. Anthony Lampasona, Vinnie Pasquarosa, and Dylan McEvoy each added a goal in the second.
Mansfield vs. Warwick Vets (R.I.), 7:00
Oliver Ames, 3 vs. Rockland, 1 – Final – Oliver Ames jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first period and tacked on a key insurance goal in the third to hand head coach Jimmy Tierney his first career win. Dan Paul opened the scoring for the Tigers off of an assist from Jack Corey, and sophomore Shaun Teehan doubled OA’s advantage by finishing off an assist from Jack Perron. After Rockland cut the deficit in half in the second, Perron (from Landon Grothe and Sean McCarthy) iced the game with a third period goal.
Stoughton/Brockton, 3 vs. Dartmouth, 4 – Final – Charlie Caputo, Colby Strunk and Brendan Twohig each scored once but the Black Knights fell at home to Dartmouth.
Taunton, 5 @ Apponequet, 2 – Final – Taunton senior Colton Scheralis continued his strong start to the season, finding the back of the net four times to pace the Tigers to a win over Apponequet. Connor McGrath also scored while Dylan McCaughey, Conner Goranson, Travis Cashman, Breighdyn Simmons, and Brady Gomes all recorded assists. Cam Tomaszycki made 16 saves in the win.
Girls Hockey
Canton, 3 @ Franklin, 2 – Final (OT) – Click here for a photo gallery of this game. – Freshman Kayleigh Koen scored the game-winning goal on the power play to give Canton a thrilling 3-2 overtime win on the road at Franklin. The Bulldogs twice took the lead, first in the final minute of the first period and then again with under six minutes to play in the game. But Franklin had an answer each time in regulation, tying the game at 1-1 less than two minutes into the third and then with just under two minutes to play to force overtime. Ellie Bohane gave Canton the lead with 47.8 seconds left in the first period, slamming home a rebound after a good save from Franklin goalie Izzy Brown. After a scoreless second period, Franklin found the equalizer early in the third. Shaw Downing ripped a wrist shot through traffic that took a deflection off a stick and in to make it 1-1 with 13:18 left. Canton cashed in on a 5-on-3 power play late in the third as Izzy Cusack redirected a low shot from Maya Battista to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead with 5:40 to play. The Panthers answered again as Downing kept the play alive, Molly Hurley tossed the puck in front and Julia Flynn buried it to make it 2-2 with 1:44 left. After a penalty gave Canton an offensive zone face off, Audrey Koen won it back to Battista, who slid it across to Kayleigh Koen and she buried his wrister for the win.
Hockomock Stars, 4 @ King Philip, 8 – Final – Nicole McDonald, Kelly Holmes, and freshman Katie McGann each scored twice to lead the Warriors to a league win. Eighth grader Ella Morgan and freshman Lydia Maxwell also found the back of the net for KP, each scoring the first goals of their varsity careers. Holmes added three assists and eighth grader Calleigh Brady had a pair of helpers, while Maxwell, Morgan, and Mara Boldy each assisted on one goal. Mallory Johnston and Haley Bright combined for 21 saves in the win.
Stoughton/Sharon, 1 @ Newton North/Newton South, 8 – Final – Stoughton’s Ava Buckley scored the lone goal for the Black Knights. Sharon eighth grader Sarah Scappaticci starred in net, making 56 saves in the loss.
Wrestling
Sharon, 54 @ Canton, 21 – Final – The defending league champs opened the dual meet season with a convincing win at Canton. Ashmith Yeruva, Vehnil Rangaraman, Cam Birnbaum, Nick Varvak, Aaron Stafford, Mason Lelling and Cormac Horlbogen all won their matches by pin for the Eagles.
Taunton, 57 @ King Philip, 18 – Final – The Tigers received wins from Johnnie Mainer Smith, Calvin Riveras, Ryan Jones, Xavier Sandoval, Anthony Vieira, Ben Mandeville, John Mandeville, Ethan Harris, Avery Justa, Logan Frank, and Bobby Tran in the win over King Philip.
Oliver Ames, 54 @ Mansfield, 30 – Final – Oliver Ames junior Anthony Stone (160) picked up his first varsity win with a first period pin and senior Nathan Lipski had a thrilling first round pin to beat the buzzer as the Tigers beat Mansfield. OA also got wins from freshman Jonah Bornstein (106), senior Jake Manthous (182), junior Nick Bosader (195), and sophomore Wood Habens Pierre-Louis (285).
Swimming
Attleboro @ North Attleboro, 7:30
Gymnastics
Mansfield, 136.25 @ Attleboro, 132.2 – Final – Mansfield’s Maddie Morris won a pair of events, Sophie Moore and Riley Charest each won one, and the Hornets opened their season with a win over Attleboro. Morris won both the beam and the floor (9.2), Moore took first in the vault (9.1) as well as third on the bars (8.3), and Charest was first on the bars (8.5) and second on the floor (9.05) to pace the Hornets. Attleboro’s Caroline DiMarco was top three in all four events, taking second in each the vault (9.0), the bars (8.4), and the beam (8.5) and third on the floor (9.0).
Boys Basketball
Oliver Ames, 66 @ Southeastern, 67 – Final – Oliver Ames led after each of the first three quarters but Southeastern scored the go-ahead bucket with just over two seconds to play to steal the win from the Tigers. Junior Zach Tagliamonte scored a team-high 25 points for the second straight game to pace the Tigers. Jake Grimaldi chipped in with 17 points and Drew Baxter had 10 for the Tigers.
Stoughton, 72 @ Weymouth, 61 – Final – Deadlocked after three quarters, Stoughton poured in 24 points and get some key stops to secure a win on the road at Weymouth. Freshman Matt Greenspoon hit a big three and added another field goal in the fourth quarter to spark the Black Knights, finishing with 11 points (all in the second half). Senior Connor Andrews scored nine of his team-high 24 points in the final frame and junior Rayan Sablon had 11 of his 19 points in the last frame to help Stoughton get the win.
Girls Basketball
Sharon, 46 @ East Bridgewater, 63 – Final – Jasmine Davis scored 27 points and added 20 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough as the Eagles fell on the road in a non-league game. Rachael Hager chipped in with 12 points for the second straight day.
Stoughton, 35 @ Canton, 60 – Final – Fay Gallery led the way for the Bulldogs with 23 points, including four three-pointers, as Canton extended its win streak to five games. The Bulldogs held a three-point lead after one and extended it to 10 by halftime. The Black Knights stayed within 13 heading to the fourth, but Canton outscored the visitors 19-7 over the final eight minutes to pull away for a big win. Kiara Cerruti scored 14 and Sydney Gallery added seven for Canton. Kate Bulger scored 13 for the Black Knights, including six in the first, and Vanessa Phelimond and Raina Tat each scored six.
Boys Hockey
Attleboro, 1 @ North Attleboro, 8 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. – Troy Carlisle scored a pair of goals and assisted on two other, helping North sweep the season series against Attleboro. Carlisle opened the scoring with a breakaway goal four minutes into the game and then picked up an assist about four minutes later when he set up Jack Dluhy in the slot. Attleboro goalie Nick Piazza made a pad stop but Joe Quinn knocked in the rebound. North hit the post twice in the first and Attleboro had a shot cleared off the line. Carlisle got his second when he stole the puck in the attacking zone and found the top corner. Nick Longa made it 4-0, assisted by Nik Kojoian and Mark Ayvazyan. North then got two more 39 seconds apart to lead 6-0 after two. Quinn scored his second off a Dluhy assist and Brody Gaulin was credited with a tip of Austin Comery’s shot from the point. Kojoian got his second assist early in the third when Anthony Westcott’s shot from the point went in off the bar. Gaulin added a 4-on-4 goal with 8:37 to play, assisted by Brady Sarro. Attleboro got on the board in the final 90 seconds, as Sean Marshall went the length of the ice on the power play and buried his shot in the top corner past North goalie Nate Kelly (eight saves). Piazza finished with 46 saves in the loss.
Oliver Ames, 0 @ Canton, 7 – Final
Foxboro, 1 @ King Philip, 6 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. – King Philip sophomore Brad Guden scored a hat trick to lead the Warriors to a league win over Foxboro at the Foxboro Sports Center. King Philip scored twice in the first, three times in the second, and tacked on one more in the third to get the win. Guden set up KP’s first goal, carrying possession into the offensive zone before teeing up classmate Sam Naggar for a one-timer from the blue line that found its way through. Less than two minutes later, John Campbell used a nice move in front to beat the goalie, assists going to Sean Crowther and Kevin Birenbaum. Foxboro cut the deficit in half with 8:08 to play in the first as senior Ben Ricketts intercepted a clearance attempt and fired a wrister that was partially stopped but trickled over the line. Guden lit the lamp twice in the second, first firing a low wrister from the blue line that found the back of the net, and then minutes later, had another low shot take a fortunate deflection off a Foxboro skate and into the back of the net. Crowther came flying down the left side before roofing a shot with less than two minutes to go to make it 5-1 after two periods. Guden completed the hat trick in the third, finishing off a pass from Crowther for a 6-1 edge. Senior Josh Marcoux made 33 saves in net for Foxboro.
Franklin, 7 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – Franklin scored three goals in each the first and second periods on its way to a league win on the road over Taunton. Christian Shabbick scored a hat trick for the Panhters, scoring with eight minutes left in the first (on an assist from Ben Paterson) to make it 3-0, again less then two minutes into the second (from Anthony Lampasona) to make it 4-0, and then completed the hat trick (on another assist from Paterson) to push the lead to 6-0. Dylan Marchand added a pair of goals, Ryan Sicchio scored on the power play in the first period, and Paterson lit the lamp once and had a total of three assists. Freshman Jack O’Connor made 16 saves for the win. Taunton sophomore Conner Goranson scored off of an assist from senior Nathan Fernandes in the third period. Freshman Cam Tomaszycki made 46 saves in net for the Tigers.
Stoughton, 7 @ Cardinal Spellman, 2 – Final – Stoughton’s Sean Farley scored a pair of goals to help the Black Knights pick up their second win over Cardinal Spellman this month. Ryan Summers, Joe McNulty, Cooper Card, Colin Alessi and Charlie Caputo each added one goal for Stoughton.
Girls Hockey
Canton, 4 @ Medway/Ashland, 1 – Final – Audrey Koen scored a pair of goals to lead Canton to a third straight win and its fifth win in the last six games.
Franklin, 0 @ Medfield, 1 – Final (OT)
Mansfield/Oliver Ames, 2 @ Westwood, 2 – Final
King Philip, 9 @ Dedham, 0 – Final
Stoughton/Sharon, 2 vs. West/East Bridgewater, 7 – Final
Wrestling
Canton, 12 @ North Attleboro, 69 – Final
Sharon, 62 @ Foxboro, 14 – Final – Ashmith Yeruva, Vehnil Rangaraman, Adam Landstein, Cam Birnbaum, Nick Varvak, Kyle Samuels, Aaron Cashton, Phil Varvak, Cormac Horlbogen, Ethan Siao, and Ron Loebl each won for the Eagles, who clinched at least a share of the Davenport division title with the victory.
Mansfield, 21 @ Franklin, 49 – Final
Milford @ King Philip, 6:00
Oliver Ames, 78 @ Stoughton, 6 – Final – Senior Gio Juste, juniors Ryan Widdop, Kyle Hardie, and Victor Romeiro, and freshman Rory Gallagher-Lambert each earned a pinfall win for the Tigers.
Taunton, 72 @ Keefe Tech, 9 – Final – Ryan Jones (113), Christian Balmain (152), John Mandeville (160), Peter Ye (195), and Logan Frank (220) all won by pin to help Taunton secure a win on the road over Keefe Tech.
Boys Swimming
North Attleboro @ Canton, 5:15
King Philip, 29 @ Taunton, 43 – Final
Girls Swimming
North Attleboro @ Canton, 5:15
King Philip, 63 @ Taunton, 17 – Final
Boys Hockey
King Philip, 2 @ Archbishop Williams, 6 – Final
North Attleboro, 5 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final
Girls Hockey
Canton, 2 vs. Westwood, 1 – Final
Franklin, 3 @ Medway/Ashland, 3 – Final (OT) – Franklin freshman Julia Flynn scored a hat trick to help the Panthers erase a two-goal deficit and earn a tie. Flynn tipped in a shot from Shaw Downing to put the Panthers ahead but Medway/Ashland scored three straight to stake a 3-1 in the third period. Flynn scored twice in short succession (assists from Katie LeBlanc and Ava Vilella) to tie it 3-3, where it stayed through an extra overtime period. Izzy Brown had a strong game in net for Franklin.
Mansfield/Oliver Ames @ Nauset, 6:00 (@ Charles Moore Arena)
King Philip, 1 @ Braintree, 2 – Final
Wrestling
Hingham Quad (Foxboro), 9:00
Westford Academy Tri-meet (Franklin) – Franklin had a successful showing on Saturday, pinning down wins over both Westford Academy (66-18) and Algonquin (40-36). Matthew Leaman, Riley Carlucci, Brendan Collins, Ahmed Jawando, Jonathan Owen, Alex Fracassa, Alex Foley, Augustus Granata, Ryan Parlon and Nolan Sheridan each had a pinfall victory on the day.
Milton Quad (Oliver Ames) – Oliver Ames swept all four matches at the Milton quad and had five grapplers pick up a win in each match on Saturday. The Tigers had a dominant win over Excel Academy (73-6) while also pinning down victories over Walpole (66-18), Norwood (56-21), and host Milton (47-33). Elyor Ruzmatov (113), Victor Romeiro (120), Nathan Lipski (132), DJ Lipski (160), and Jaden Hinton (285) all went 4-0 for the Tigers.
Marlboro Quad (Sharon) – Sharon continued its momentum from its big dual meet over OA earlier this week into the weekend, picking up three more impressive wins. The Eagles earned wins over Marlboro (54-21), Essex Tech/Masconomet (49-24), and St. John’s Shrewsbury (57-15). Ashmith Yeruva, Adam Landstein, Cam Birnbaum, Nick Varvak, Kyle Samuels, Aaron Cashton, Philip Varvak, and Cormac Horlbogen all went undefeated for the Eagles.
Methuen Quad (Mansfield, Taunton) – Taunton split its two meets at Metheun, picking up a win over Silver Lake (72-6) but fell to the host Rangers (45-33). Brandon Mendes, Xavier Sandoval, Ben Mandeville, Christian Balmain, Ethan Harris, and Logan Frankl each picked up a pair of wins for the Tigers while Michael Leskoski, Ryan Jones, Anthony Vieira, Brian Haen, John Mandeville, Elijah Prophete, and Robert Tran each won once.
Gymnastics
Franklin, 142.5 @ Canton, 127.7 – Final
Mansfield @ Sharon – Postponed to Sunday, 1/30 at 7:00.
Girls Basketball
Attleboro, 55 @ Milford, 43 – Final – Attleboro made it two wins in two days by jumping out to a big halftime lead and holding off a Milford comeback attempt in the fourth quarter. Meghan Gordon scored a game-high 21 points, including 15 in the first half, while Maddalena Mannucci Pacini led the Hawks with 19 points. After scoring 17 in the first half on Tuesday night, Gordon was held to three points in the opening quarter on Wednesday, but Kayla Goldrick scored five of her 14 to help the Bombardiers take a 16-10 lead. Attleboro’s defense stepped up in the second, holding the Hawks to just four points (all of them by Pacini). Gordon caught fire in the second quarter, scoring 12 of Attleboro’s 16 in the frame, including a pair of threes. Leading 32-14 at the break, Attleboro kept up the offensive barrage in the third, adding another 16 points, but the Hawks found the range to match them. Goldrick had six in the quarter for Attleboro, while Pacini had five in the third and Jess Douglas knocked down one of her two second half threes. In the fourth, Brooke Ferreira scored five of her seven points and helped Milford close out the game with a 13-7 quarter and cut the lead down to a dozen. Lily Routhier chipped in with six points in the game for Attleboro.
Boys Hockey
Attleboro @ Oliver Ames – Postponed to TBD.
Foxboro, 3 @ Taunton, 4 – Final (OT) – Taunton earned its first league win of the season, scoring an overtime goal to hand Foxboro its first loss of the season. Junior forward Connor McGrath scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner in overtime, to lead the way for the Tigers. McGrath also registered an assist while junior Colton Scheralis scored once and recorded two assists. Junior Dylan McCaughey scored and had an assist, and Nathan Fernandes, Travis Cashman, and goalie Cam Tomaszycki (25 saves) each had an assist. The Warriors got goals from Dylan Pothier, Tom Marcucella, and Connor Hayes.
Franklin, 4 vs. Hingham, 2 – Final – Franklin saw its two-goal lead disappear in less than three minutes but the Panthers had an immediate response and secured one of their best wins of the season over one of the state’s top teams in Hingham. The Panthers had a dream start when Adam Quinn (from Ben Jarosz and Liam O’Reilly) scored just 14 seconds into the contest for a 1-0 lead. Dom Lampasona netted an unassisted goal with just over three minutes left in the first for a 2-0 lead at the first intermission. Midway through the second, Hingham scored a pair of goals in 2:31 but Franklin’s Anthony Lampasona (from Quinn) put Franklin back ahead just 27 seconds later. Lampasona (from Logan Marchand) netted his second of the game with 3:20 left to secure the win. Sophomore Cole Pouliot-Porter had a strong game between the pipes with 34 saves against the Harbormen.
Girls Hockey
Canton, 3 @ Dedham, 0 – Final
Franklin, 0 @ Westwood, 5 – Final
Mansfield/Oliver Ames, 3 @ Norwood, 4 – Final
King Philip, 3 @ Medfield, 0 – Final
Stoughton/Sharon, 1 vs. Medway, 9 – Final
Wrestling
Foxboro, 57 @ Canton, 21 – Final
Taunton, 37 @ Franklin, 27 – Final – Taunton won eight matches, including four by pinfall, to secure its first win over Franklin since joining the Hockomock League nearly a decade ago. Mike Lesksoki (106, 3:03), Christian Balmain (152, 3:29), Avery Justa (220, 0:44), and Logan Frank (285, 3:13) all won by pin to score six points each, Brandon Mendes (120, 17-4) won by major decision, and Anthony Vieira (126, 6-2), Xavier Sandoval (132, 8-5), and Ethan Harris (182, 3-1) each one by decision. Franklin picked up wins from Riley Carlucci (113, 16-0), Tim O’Leary (138, 0:51), Alex Fracassa (145, 11-0), Connor Dillon (160, 9-4), Alex Foley (170, 3;45), and Nolan Sheridan (195, 14-7).
Milford, 39 @ Mansfield, 0 – Final – Milford won five of the seven matches by pinfall to secure a victory over a shorthanded Hornets squad. The Hawks picked up wins from Michael Boulanger (113, 5:02), Robert Lyons (120, 3:39), Paul Hough (152, 5:08), Dan Alves (160, 3:42), Ryan Donovan (170, 12-4), Cameron Phillips (195, 0:13), and Hampton Kaye-Kuter (220, 4:50).
North Attleboro, 46 @ Stoughton, 4 – Final
Sharon, 37 @ Oliver Ames, 33 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this match – Vehnil Rangaraman’s pin at 113 gave the Eagles a big momentum boost, Adam Landstein and Cam Brinbaum followed with back-to-back pins at 120 and 126, respectively, and Aaron Cashton’s pin at 152 clinched the match as the Eagles secured a key division win over Oliver Ames, moving to 3-0 in Davenport action. Mason Lelling earned a key three points at 182, Ethan Siao won a close 2-1 match for three points at 220, and Nick Varvak prevailed in overtime at 132 for three more points. Ashmith Yeruva had a major decision at 106 to secure four points. Oliver Ames got wins from Gio Juste (170), Anthony Hoffman (195), Jaden Hinton (285), John Dobbin (138), Kyle Hardie (145), and DJ Lipski (160).
Boys Swimming
Canton, 74 @ Milford, 93 – Final – Click here for full results – Canton had more individual winners and won two of the three relays, but Milford’s depth was on full display as the Hawks took two of the top three spots in all but one individual race. Jack Weiner was a two-time winner for Milford, taking first in both the 50 free and the 100 free, and Corey Rattray added a first place finish in he 100 backstroke. Weiner was joined by Aaron McIsaac, Ben Pezza, and Josh Anderson to take first in the 200 free relay, and all three of those swimmers added key points with individual top three finishes. Canton’s Talis Veidis won a pair of individual races (500 free, 200 free) and was apart of both of the Bulldogs’ two winning relay teams.
Stoughton @ North Attleboro, 7:30
Boys Hockey
Attleboro vs. Dighton-Rehoboth/Seekonk, 5:30
Canton, 1 vs. Barnstable, 1 – Final
Foxboro, 2 vs. Northbridge, 1 – Final – Jack Watts and Ben Ricketts each scored once as the Warriors opened their season with a win over Northbridge. Matt Grace had the helper on the first goal while Brady Callahan and Dylan Pothier set up Tickets for the second goal. Josh Marcoux earned the win in net for Foxboro.
Franklin @ Catholic Memorial – Postponed to TBD.
Mansfield, 2 @ Barrington (R.I.), 2 – Final
Taunton, 4 @ Stoughton, 4 – Final – Taunton’s Conner Goranson scored a pair of third period goals, his second with less than a minute to help the visiting Tigers take a point one the road at Asiaf. Nathan Fernandes and Michael Lucier each had a goal and an assist while Colton Scheralis and Loran Corcoran both chipped in with a pair of assists. Charlie Caputo and Colby Strunk both scored a pair of goals for the Black Knights.
Girls Hockey
Mansfield/Oliver Ames, 3 vs. Bishop Feehan, 4 – Final (OT)
Stoughton/Sharon, 1 vs. Hanover, 7 – Final
Wrestling
Marlboro Quad (Canton), 11:00
Foxboro Super Quad (Foxboro, Sharon) – Sharon went a perfect 3-0 on the day, picking up wins over Plymouth North (60-38), Boston Latin (53-30), and Plymouth South (44-36). Ashmith Yeruva won all three of his matches at 106, picking up three pinfall wins including one in 40 seconds against Boston Latin. Adam Landstein (120, three pins each less than a minute in), Aaron Cashton (152, two pins), and Cormac Horlbogen (182, three pins) all went 3-0 as well for the Eagles.
Braintree Quad (Mansfield), 10:00
Milford Tournament (King Philip, Milford) – Milford took first place with eight individual champions while King Philip finished third after sending four grapplers to the finals. The Hawks soared to a first place finish with 269.5 points, Ashland took second with 177, and KP finished third at 139.5. Aidan Baum (106), Michael Boulanger (113), Robert Lyons (120), Joseph Testa (132), Paul Hough (152), Dan Alves (160), Cameron Phillips (195)m and Hampton Kaye-kuter (220) all won for the Hawks while William Conniff (170) was the lone champion for the Warriors.
North Attleboro Quad (North Attleboro), 10:00
Marshfield Super Quad (Oliver Ames), 9:30
Weymouth Super Quad (Stoughton), 9:00
Sandwich Early Bird Invitational (Taunton) – Taunton continued its strong start to the season by cruising to a first place finish at the Sandwich Early Bird, recording 243 points with six individual winners and two more finalists. Brandon Mendes took first in the 120 bracket, winning all four matches by pinfall, taking out the top three seeds along the way. After a bye in the first round, Xavier Sandoval had back-to-back pins before winning the 132 final with a 6-0 decision. Ben Mandeville had four pinfall wins to claim the 145 bracket, top-seed Christian Balmain took two matches by pinfall then two more by decision to win at 160, Ethan Harris won two matches to secure the 182 title, and Peter Ye beat all three of his opponents by pin for the 195 title. Michael Leskoski (106) and Anthony Vieira (126) each took second for the Tigers.
Boys Hockey
Canton, 4 @ Lincoln-Sudbury, 5 – Final (OT) – Canton built a 3-1 lead early in the second period but needed a goal in the final minutes to force overtime at 4-4. Jack Digirolamo and Brendan Tourgee put the Bulldogs ahead 2-0 in the first period and a goal from Colin Blake made it 3-1 early in the second. L-S responded with two goals to make it 3-3 after two periods and then took a lead with just over five minutes left. With the goalie pulled, Leo Owens knotted it at 4-4 with 1:21 to play. L-S scored the winner in overtime with just over a minute to play.
Franklin, 2 @ Weymouth, 4 – Final
North Attleboro, 0 @ Bishop Feehan, 3 – Final
Girls Hockey
Canton, 1 vs. Natick, 4 – Final
King Philip, 4 @ Milton, 1 – Final
Stoughton/Sharon, 0 @ Cambridge, 4 – Final – Janelle Murphy played well in net for the Knights with 44 saves.
Wrestling
Westford Academy Quad (Foxboro), 9:00
Mt. Hope (R.I.) Quad Meet (Franklin) – Franklin split for the day, picking up a pair of wins in four matches. The Panthers earned wins over Barnstable (39-18) and Pilgrim (46-6) but dropped two tight contests to Hope (39-38) and Lowell (42-38).
Sharon Quad (Sharon, Mansfield) – Sharon went a perfect 4-0 on the day, rolling to four big wins in the first quad meet of the season. The Eagles had wins over Brookline (54-24), Mansfield (66-12), Leominster (72-4), and Lincoln-Sudbury (82-6). Ashmith Yeruva (106), Vehnil Rangaraman (113), Ben Grabie (160), Gabe Korn (170) and Ron Loebl (285) all earned their first varsity wins on the day for the Eagles.
Milford Quad (Milford) – Milford opened its season in style, picking up convincing wins in all three of its matches on the day. The Hawks knocked off Tewksbury (62-15), Marblehead/Swampscott (69-12), and Wayland (66-16). Aidan Baum, Mikey Boulanger, Robbie Lyons, Joey Testa, Danny Alves, Ryan Donovan, Jack Cruz, Cam Phillips, and Hampton Kaye-Kuter all went 3-0 on the day for Milford.
Devin Ness Memorial Tournament (Oliver Ames) – Oliver Ames took fourth overall in the Devin Ness tournament after sending five wrestlers to the finals. Elyor Ruzmatov (113) had three wins all by pinfall to win his bracket while Giovany Juste won three of his four matches by fall to win at 170. Deric Lipski, Jr. (160), Kyle Hardie (138), and Nathan Lipski (132) each finished second overall for the Tigers.
Watertown Quad (Taunton) – Taunton won all three of its matches to kick off the 2021-2022 season with a bang. The Tigers were victorious over Bristol Aggie (66-15), Watertown (78-6), and Carver (69-12). Brandon Mendes (120), Anthony Viera (126), Xavier Sandoval (132), Luke Fraga (138), Ben Mandeville (145), Christian Balmain (160), Elijah Prophete (170), Ethan Harris (182), Peter Ye (195), and Logan Frank (220) each had three wins for the Tigers.
Ashland Tournament (North Attleboro) – The Rocketeers sent five wrestlers to the finals of the Ashland Early Bird Invitational and earned second place overall. Keysun Wise (285) was the lone champion on the day for the Big Red while Austin Dean (195), Christopher Galligan (138), Jaad Ismail (170), and Tanner Ferguson (120) all earned second overall.
2019 Boys Record: 1-5 2019 Girls Record: 0-6 Coach: Martin Tighe
The Attleboro boys cross country team has one of its best group of returners, perhaps one of the strongest teams in quite some time. And on the girls side, head coach Martin Tighe has one of the best runners in the league in senior Kelly Neuendorf, a top finisher at last year’s Hockomock League Championship meet. The Bombardiers host opponents at the Highland Park Cross Country Course, which was designed by Tighe and Bishop Feehan coach Bob L’Homme.
Senior Nathan Seybert will be in the mix for one of the fastest runners in the Hockomock League this season. In six dual meets last season, Seybert finished in the top three each time, taking first against both Feehan and Taunton. Tighe notes that Seybert will run around 16:10 or better this season. Attleboro also had Ethan Sylvia, Neil Bowie, Shane Cataloni, and Zachary Stromfors have strong finishes at the league championship meet last year.
On the girls side, Neuendorf is fresh off a top 10 finish at the league championships, clocking in at 20:28.32. She was first in the dual meet against league champion Franklin and finished no worse than third in the six dual meets. Other top runners from the league championship meet last season included Kimberly Esteban, Jazlyn Miller-Villanueva, and Diana Blouin.
“I’m looking forward to the X-C season as are many athletes and coaches,” Tighe said.
2019 Boys Record: 2-4 2019 Girls Record: 1-5 Coach: David Hiltz
Both the Canton girls and boys have spots to fill in their starting lineup but both squads have top runners back on the course this season. The Bulldogs call Pequitside Farm home, a 3.01 mile course that is mixed with trails, grass, and hills that make it one of the more challenging courses in the Davenport.
The boys squad graduated four of the top seven from last season but bring back its three captains in senior Jack Hernon, senior Elias Jabbour, and junior Kyle Downing. Downing was Canton’s top runner throughout last season, culminating in team-best finish at the league championship meet. After the top three of Downing, Hernon, and Jabbour, the Dogs have four spots in the lineup up for grabs. Sophomore Matt Hart, who had a solid freshman season, is a candidate for a breakout year.
“The boys have a good mix of returners with some new faces who have joined,” said head coach David Hiltz. “If we can build some depth with our four and five, run consistently, and stay healthy we should compete within each meet and strive for that third dual meet win (after a 2-3 finish last year).”
The girls have a strong core of three returners, led by senior captains Marie Messinger and Jesse Hart. Messinger was Canton’s top runner at Hocks in 2019 while Hart had strong showings against both Foxboro and Stoughton a year ago. Sophomore Johanna Bouwmeester had a breakout season as a freshman a year ago, including 41st place at Hocks. With four spots in the lineup open, it’s been a mix of other returners as well as some first time runners and freshmen competing for the openings.
“Although graduating senior leadership, there is a good mix of youth and experience that will make the top seven,” Hiltz said. “Similar to the boys, building depth in the four and five spots will determine how successful the team is this fall, with those spots going to some younger runners. A goal of the team is to increase the dual meet wins, and this year with three home meets and strong senior leadership should help in that process. Staying consistent and healthy will be key to their success this season.”
2019 Boys Record: 1-4 2019 Girls Record: 3-2 Coach: Wayne Relleva
With Joe Cusack taking over as athletic director this past school year, Wayne Relleva takes over as head coach for the Warriors’ cross country teams. Relleva will have a pair of young squads with just four seniors on the boys team and just one on the girls side.
Hosting teams at the Payson Road Fields, the Warriors are hoping home course advantage can lead to a strong start to the season as Foxboro hosts its first two meets. The boys squad features 19 total runners with senior captain Liam Cody leading the way. Relleva is also looking for junior Nicolas Olson and sophomore Brooks Stone to play big roles for the Warriors this season.
“For the season, I’m hoping to be highly competitive, improve, and win some races,” Rellava said. “Being as young as we are we have lots of room to grow over our five race season.”
Captain Amy Conley is the lone senior on the girls team and will lead the way for 10 sophomores and a freshman. Half of those sophomores are returners from a season ago, including Aine Fitzpatrick, who could be a major factor in the lineup this season. Relleva is also looking for sophomores Emilia Lacy, Mabel Linck, and Sophia Sougaris to factor into the scoring this year.
“I’m excited to see how this young team grows and comes together over our season, it should be fun to watch,” Relleva said.
2019 Boys Record: 5-0 2019 Girls Record: 4-1 Coach: Nick Bailey & Paul Trovato
Both of Franklin’s cross country squads are coming off league titles and will be looking to replicate that success in 2020. The boys team has won three straight Kelley-Rex titles and have a strong group of runners back this year to try and make it four straight. The girls bring back a pair of Hock all stars from last year’s squad that finished second at Hocks.
“With a strong senior and junior class the 2020 Franklin Boys XC team is looking forward to some tough competition once the races get underway,” said boys head coach Nick Bailey. “This team has put in the hard work necessary to be competitive in the Hockomock League and they have adapted well to social distancing guidelines we are all part of.”
Franklin will be hosting opponents on a course around the high school instead of Dacey Field. The course is a relatively fast course with a mixture of roads and fields that is 3.1 miles long. Senior Nicholas Calitri will be one of the top runners in the entire Hockomock League, fresh off a third place finish at the league meet a year ago. He will be joined by senior Declan Walmsley, who factored into the scoring in the dual meets last season and took 12th overall at the league meet, senior Josh Anderson (54th at Hocks), and junior Griffin Sieckiewicz (33rd at Hocks).
“Quite a few athletes on the team have made some great improvements since their last races all the way back in February and March and have adapted well to the new challenges that have come with the Fall 2020 season,” Bailey said. “One way or another, this will be a memorable year for our cross country team”
All-Hock selections Sydney Brady (10th at Hocks) and Caitlin Casey (18th) lead the way for the Panthers, who shared the division title with OA last year. Brady is a captain along with classmates Sydney Hawkins (who took 10th at Hocks) and Liz Petit. Juniors Charlene Peng and Liliana Duffy will bolster the Panthers lineup following successful sophomore campaigns, both finishing inside the top 30 at Hocks. RuthAnn Mulvey, a sophomore, and Angelina Perez, a senior, make the Panthers one of the deepest squads in the league.
“Last season the team finished second at the Hockomock Championship Meet. This team has a strong group of dedicated runners who are working hard and should be competitive in the Kelley-Rex Division,” said head coach Paul Trovato.
2019 Boys Record: 3-2 2019 Girls Record: 3-2 Coach: Scott Kramer & Lauren Farkash
The King Philip boys and girls cross country teams are in different situations heading into the 2020 season. The girls return their top three runners from last year’s Hockomock Championship race; all three finishing in the top 30. The boys team, however, graduated four of its top five runners from the same meet, including the Gatorade Runner of the Year Mike Griffin and Michael Norberg, who was fourth at Hocks.
But neither team is paying much attention to the past with the focus on the five-race season ahead. Senior Jovan Joseph will pace the pack for the boys, gaining plenty of valuable experience from last year’s group. Joseph is coming off a strong junior campaign that finished with a top 20 finish at the league meet. Head coach Scott Kramer is looking for a combination of juniors and sophomores to fill out the rest of the lineup. Liam Noke, Andrew Noke, Brandon Berdos, Ryan Andrews, and Matt DiFiore will all compete to be in the scoring for KP.
“The returning guys had a great summer of training,” Kramer said. “Captains Jovan Joseph and Sam Evans really ran a great program and it will be tough for any newcomers to get in the pack for us.”
KP has moved the finish line of its 5K course at the Rice Complex in Wrentham but the distance hasn’t changed. The King Philip girls squad, coming off a fourth place finish as a team at Hocks, has its top three runners back in juniors Maya Evans and Meg Sherwood as well as senior Ava Pisani. All three had strong seasons in 2019 with Evans emerging as one of the top competitors in the Hock as seen by her fourth place finish in 19:51.50 at Hocks. With some open spots in the lineup, head coach Lauren Farkash has been happy with the depth so far in training. Leah Burke and Kat Precobb are returners from last year while freshman Bridget Swezey could make an immediate impact.
“My goal this year is to just provide the girls a sense of normalcy during these unusual times,” Farkash said. “Our focus is creating good memories, strong bodies and minds, and having fun! We are not worrying about PRs or win/loss records, their enjoyment of the sport and their physical and mental health is most important!”
2019 Boys Record: 2-3 2019 Girls Record: 3-3 Coach: Ian Flanagan & Carolina DiBiase
Both the Mansfield boys and girls team are aiming to get back atop the Kelley-Rex division this season. After a 14-year run as league champs, Mansfield has been on the outside looking in over the past three seasons and will be relying on some new faces to lead the way this year. On the girls side, the Hornets have a handful of top runners back from last season to try and challenge for the division title. Mansfield will host teams at the Plymouth Street Soccer Fields (5K).
The Hornets lost their top three runners from the Hockomock Championship meet to graduation so head coach Ian Flanagan will be looking for new faces to step up. Mansfield is loaded with upperclassmen who had strong offseasons and run similar times. Junior Collin Stevens finished at 17:43.61 to take 31st overall and will be one of the top runners for the Hornets this season. Seniors Tim Corkery, Ryan Rispoli, and Trevor Flint, as well as junior Chris Leonard, will help round out a well-balanced lineup.
“We have some big shoes to fill from last year losing three of our better runners but the guys on this team are hard workers who are up for the challenge,” Flanagan said. “We also have some promising young guys who will really benefit from this season and will impact some meets this year.”
The girls are under new leadership this season as Carolina DiBiase, who has coached at MHS in the past, takes over for longtime coach Derek Ellis. DiBiase has one of the top runners returning this season in senior captain Tessa Lancaster, who crossed the finish line sixth at the league championships last year. Senior Emma Lamson is the other captain on the team and one of the top runners on the team (22nd at Hocks) as well. Senior Abby Greenberg and junior Cassidy Rice will be runners to watch this season while juniors Sophia Allen and Alanna Conley and freshmen Jen Mullert will help push the pack. Senior Anne Riley and sophomores Alexis DiVasta and Devin Anderson return as starters from last season.
“I am looking forward to seeing what they can do this season,” DiBiase said. “I have taken a break and have really enjoyed getting back into things. The girls look strong and they are ready to run and improve each week.”
2019 Boys Record: 4-1 2019 Girls Record: 3-2 Coach: Dan Gordon & Glenn O’Connor
Expectations are sky high for the Milford girls cross country team as the Hawks are aiming to soar above the competition in the Kelley-Rex division. Meanwhile, the boys might have a small squad but it includes some strong runners eager to make some noise against new competition.
The Milford girls have good reason for such high expectations with a strong group of top runners from the Hockomock League leading the pack. Senior Emma Lawrence will be among the top runners in the region after a strong offseason. In her first season running cross country, Lawrence had a remarkable year that included a 5th place finish at Hocks. She will be joined by sophomore Sydney Kalil (48th at Hocks) and a pair of indoor track league champions in Sarah Flanagan and Kerry O’Connor. Flanagan won the 300M race and O’Connor, who clocked in at 22:38.00 at last year’s league championship meet, was the Hock champ in the 600M. Maren Halpen, Haley Jansons, Eva Parsons, Kate Pease, Fiona Jordan, Stephanie Goulet, and senior captain Brittany Silverman will make the Hawks one of the deepest teams in the league.
“We’re so glad we have a season,” said Milford head coach Glenn O’Connor. “Nobody is going to happy to see the Lady Scarlet Hawks on their XC schedule.”
Dan Gordon takes over as head coach for the boys team, which has reason for optimism after some strong preseason times. Junior James Comisky is back after a strong sophomore campaign and will pace the pack for the Hawks this season. In a preseason 5K scrimmage against Mansfield, Comisky was the top finisher. Sophomore Mark Butters has grown a lot as a runner from his debut season last year and will be a key piece for Milford this season. Captain Jack Jansons will be one of the leaders for the Hawks this year.
“I am looking forward to having a safe, fun, and competitive season,” Gordon said. “My goals are that everyone leaves faster and more knowledgeable about how to race well when it matters most.”
2019 Boys Record: 3-2 2019 Girls Record: 3-2 Coach: Anne Marie McGrail
North Attleboro could be set for a breakout season for both the boys and girls teams this season. Five of the seven Rocketeer boys who scored at the league meet last season were either juniors or sophomores while only two seniors scored on the girls side, meaning North Attleboro should have a deep squad for the 2020 season.
Juniors Christopher Galligan and Griffin Goueck placed 39th and 53rd, respectively, at the league meet last season while junior Mark Carlson, junior Casey Poirier, and senior Jack McLaughlin all clocked in under 19 minutes.
On the girls side, Natalie Kaiser (32nd at Hocks) and Olivia Forbes were lost to graduation but the other six to factor into the scoring were juniors, sophomores or freshmen. Senior Melissa Sapini had North’s top placement for the girls last year when she clocked in at 21:11.52.
2019 Boys Record: 5-1 2019 Girls Record: 5-1 Coach: Kyle Sousa
The Kelley-Rex division could run through Easton this season, for both the girls and the boys. The girls split the division title with Franklin last year but bring back two of the best runners in the league and are poised for a repeat. The boys didn’t win the division but had a stellar showing at Hocks and took first place as a team with five runners in the top 20.
Of those five, the boys have three runners back – senior Kyle Sarney, junior Owen McMorrow, and senior Nathan Reservitz. Sarney will look to build on his fifth place finish at Hocks and be in the mix for one of the fastest runners in the Hock. McMorrow (13th) and Reservitz (17th) weren’t far behind so the Tigers will have a strong nucleus to lead the pack. Head coach Kyle Sousa described the boys team as a seasoned group with a lot of competitive experience.
Catherine O’Donnell and Meghan Reardon highlight a strong girls team for the Tigers. The duo finished in succession at the league meet with O’Donnell clocking in at 20:05.32 for seventh place and Reardon just a couple of seconds behind for eighth overall. Sousa is hoping that a very deep squad will translate to some dual meet wins in the quest for a second straight division title.
“Everyone around the Hockomock League and the state at large knows that the 2020 Season is going to look different than any season before it,” Sousa said. “Now more than ever, we are training through unpredictable adversity, and adapting in real time to the daily curveballs that some with a global pandemic. Never have I been so impressed by the commitment of the young men and women of Oliver Ames Cross Country. Their focus is unwavering — their commitment resolute. We are so grateful to be able to compete this fall. The Hockomock League is one of the premiere cross country leagues in the state, and we are hungry to cut our teeth on the exceptional competition in front of us. It is going to be a tough and gritty season in the Hock and we hope to be right in the thick of it.”
2019 Boys Record: 5-0 2019 Girls Record: 5-0 Coach: Tim Cimeno & Katelyn Decknick
There will be a big hole on the sidelines this season as the Eagles are set to start the 2020 season without coach Alan Conway, who passed away at the beginning of September. Conway was incredibly well-liked around the Hockomock League by runners and his peers.
On the course, the Eagles will be looking to defend their Davenport division titles as both the boys and girls earned a banner during the 2019 season. The girls will rely on a mix of veterans and new faces as they navigate a competitive field. It will start with junior Daphne Theiler, who was second overall at the league championship meet last season (19:41.21). Theiler will be joined by seniors Margaret Li and Berta Faktorovich, two runners are placed in the top 35 at Hocks. The Eagles also have some great new first year runners including sophomores Hannah Li and Grace Hu, as well as freshman Eva Olszewski.
“The girls team is hard working and there is great team spirit,” said head coach Katelyn Decknick. “As defending Hock Champs, we look strong. The team has a nice blend of well established talent and new runners hungry to race.”
The boys squad is returning five of their top seven runners while there are plenty of new faces (60 total on the team) eager to battle for a spot in the lineup. Seniors Sid Reddy (25th at Hocks), Mark Starovoytov (26th), Bradley Weiss (34th), and Jordan Saks, plus junior Balint Mihajlovits will lead a balanced and deep group of runners. New faces to watch include Matthew Lally, Ashmith Yeruva, and Jack Bates. Sharon will host home meets at Deborah Sampson Park (2.83), a flat and fast course.
2019 Boys Record: 0-5 2019 Girls Record: 0-5 Coach: Dave Barbato & Alexis Van Voorhis
There is a lot of potential when it comes to the Stoughton boys and girls cross country teams. The Black Knights made big strides as the season progressed a year ago and head coaches Dave Barbato and Alexis Van Voorhis are hoping that trend continues in 2020.
The girls lost their top runner in Rebecca Lally to graduation so the Black Knights will be relying on Elaine McCarty and Danielle Lawrence to pace the pack this season. Van Voorhis said both runners have looked strong in the two weeks of workouts and is expecting McCarty and Lawrence to work together throughout each race. Stoughton has a deep roster this year than last season and will be looking for Avrie Martin and freshman Lilly Branco to translate their track skills to the cross country course. Junior captain Jessica Maddalena is a key piece but will miss the season due to injury.
“If I were to use one word to describe this team and our season, it would be potential,” Van Voorhis said. “I have hope for every single girl on this team, that if we put in the work, this team could potentially emerge stronger and more determined than when we started. They are all fantastic people, and I am looking forward to seeing everyone’s improvement throughout the rest of the season.”
The boys team is hoping a year of experience will translate into better times as the Black Knights host opponents on a new course this season. The new course goes around the grounds of the new high school; it’s mostly flat (5K) and should be fast. The squad features four returning runners including captain Bob Currier, Colin Ozturk, Mike Henriques, and Aiden Castillo.
“The strength of their team lies with these juniors,” Barbato said. “If they can be tough, if they think they can be good and if they learn they belong up near the best from other teams Stoughton could win more than they lose.”
2019 Boys Record: 0-5 2019 Girls Record: 2-3 Coach: Jessica Ouellette & Mike Kelley
With a mix of top runners and a deep roster, the Taunton girls team enters the season with high hopes. And there is equal optimism on the boys side with a large group of talent back for the 2020 season.
The girls team features some of the top returning runners in the Hockomock League and a deep roster is providing head coach Mike Kelley with a range of options in his lineup. Senior captain Lily Valcovic and junior Nia Mainer-Smith have emerged as the top two runners for the Tigers this season while senior captains Livvy Weber and Olivia Dias give Taunton plenty of depth of experienced runners. Kelley’s roster got a big boost with a large eighth grade class, including Emersyn DePonte and Colby Dunham, who have quickly established themselves in the top five on the team.
“We’re much deeper than last year, to the point where we’ll be trying to displace other team’s fourth and fifth runners with our sixth and seventh,” Kelley said. “Being able to run in larger packs also takes pressure off individuals. The veterans have been terrific setting the example. We have four eighth graders in our varsity top ten, so the future is bright.”
On the boys side, the Tigers only lost two of their top 10 so there will be plenty of competition in-house and head coach Jessica Ouellette is hoping that translates to some success in the dual meets. Senior captains Ty Cali and Nolan Tavares return as the top two runners, as well as junior Ryan Strawbridge and sophomore Jack Pawlowski, who have put in some serious training over the summer. The Tigers have two runners to watch this year in freshmen Brayden and Andrew Cali, whose PRs last year are 17:39, and 17:50, as eighth graders.
“This is one of the stronger teams Taunton Boys XC has seen,” Ouellette said. “I’m hopeful that we can have our number three runner make a jump to sub-17 to solidify a fast 1-2-3. We have some promising younger talent as well as strong seniority up front. We have a great group of guys, who are motivated to work hard and work together to win.”
