Boys Basketball
King Philip, 74 @ Attleboro, 67 – Final – King Philip built a big lead, survived a rally from Attleboro, and held on for a key win on the road. The Warriors used a 20-point first quarter to establish a double-digit lead carried that advantage into the fourth quarter with a 58-46 lead after three quarters. A quick 6-0 surge — back-to-back threes from Tommy Martorano (19 points) and Tommy Kilroy — to start the fourth pushed the lead to its peak at 64-46 less than a minute into the final frame. But from there, it was a big run from the hosts as the Bombardiers rattled off a 17-2 run over the next five minutes as Jaiden Outland hit a 10-foot jumper to make it a one-possession game. Attleboro forced a turnover but KP got it right back on a steal and score from Tommy McLeish (career-high 15 points) with two minutes to go. A pair of free throws from Outland got the hosts within three again but missed on two chances to cut into the deficit. Trevor Clyde (11 points) converted a layup on the other end, KP got a stop, and Grant Kinney laid in a transition bucket to pull away in the final minute. Will Laplante added 17 points for KP while Outland led Attleboro with a game-high 24 points. Neo Franco added 15 points and freshman Connor Houle chipped in with a career-high 11 points for the Bombardiers.
Canton, 59 @ Stoughton, 54 – Final – Canton got off to a strong start in the first quarter and never trailed the rest of the way, securing a key Davenport division win on the road at Stoughton. Matt Chafin (15 points), Jamaal McConnell (11 points) and Caden Mirliani (10 points) each hit a three in the opening frame to help the Bulldogs build a 17-8 lead after eight minutes. The Black Knights battled to get back into it, trailing by three (34-31) at halftime but Canton kept the advantage through three (46-40) and throughout the fourth quarter. Zaza Francoeur added 13 points for the Bulldogs, scoring eight in the second half. Stoughton had four players reach double figures with Jayden Costa-Haywood leading the way with 13 points. Matt Greenspoon added 12 points and both Tagh Swierzewski and Jarred Daughtry had 11 points.
Taunton, 53 @ Franklin, 61 – Final – Franklin erased a first quarter deficit with a big second quarter, nearly pulled away in the third quarter, and then held off a late comeback bid from Taunton to stay undefeated on the year. Taunton senior Chris Perault (16 points) hit a pair of first quarter threes to give the Tigers a 14-8 lead after one but Franklin’s offense cashed in for 18 points in the second as junior Sean O’Leary started to get going. O’Leary had 10 of his career-high 34 points in the second to jump start the offense and Franklin also got points from Andrew O’Neill (10 points), Bradley Herndon, Justin Allen, and Hansy Jacques to stake a 26-21 halftime lead. An 8-1 start to the second half presented the Panthers with their first double-digit edge but the Tigers clawed back into it got it down to 47-38 going into the fourth. Taunton rallied with a 9-2 run inside the final four minutes and cut the deficit down to five in the final moments but Franklin pulled away for the win. O’Leary finished 10-for-14 from the line and hit 11 field goals — nine from 2-point range. Taunton junior Troy Santos scored 15 of his team-high 22 points after the break to keep the Tigers close.
Oliver Ames, 41 @ Mansfield, 58 – Final – Mansfield built a big lead with an impressive second quarter and then blew the game wide open with a dominant third on its way to a victory over Oliver Ames. The Hornets led by just three (10-7) after eight minutes but exploded for 19 points in the second as Trevor Foley scored eight of his 20 points (tied a career-high) in the second and Chris Hill (10 points), Eddie McCoy, JT Veiking, and Davon Sanders each chipped in with points to give Mansfield a 29-14 halftime lead. Mansfield’s offense continued on but the defense really impressed in the third, holding the Tigers to just four points — one field goal and two free throws. Foley added 10 more in the period as the lead ballooned to 47-18 going into the fourth. Sophomore Cole Craffey led OA with 13 points.
North Attleboro, 44 @ Milford, 58 – Final – Milford got off to a great start with 18 points in the first quarter and opened the second half with 19 points in the third quarter and never looked back in a win at home over North Attleboro. Luca Testa paced the Hawks early on, dropping 10 of his 13 points in the first quarter to help Milford stake an early 18-6 lead. North’s Givany Carney had nine of his team-high 16 points in the second to help the Rocketeers keep pace going into halftime (30-18) but Milford had five players contribute to the scoring in a big third quarter to pull away for good. Sophomore Andrew Rivera had 7 of his team-high 15 points in the third, Gus Coutinho added five more, and Testa, CJ Farrell, and Nick Araujo all added to the scoring.
Girls Basketball
Attleboro, 58 @ King Philip, 44 – Final – Attleboro broke the game open with a 15-6 third quarter, pulling out a big road win that leaves the Bombardiers alone in first place in the Kelley-Rex through a quarter of the league campaign. Lily Routhier scored seven of her team-high 15 points in the first, as Attleboro jumped in front 19-13. Emily Sawyer helped KP cut into the deficit by scoring 10 of her team’s 12 points in the second, making it a five-point game heading into the locker rooms. Sawyer would finish with a game-high 18. Kayla Goldrick scored 14 for Attleboro, including 11 in the second half, while Avery James added 13 and Vanessa Ellis had 10 points. The Bombardiers knocked down 10 three-pointers as a team, with James and Routhier each hitting three. Maddie Paschke joined Sawyer in double digits for the Warriors, scoring 12 points, and Jackie Bonner and Taylor Regan each scored seven.
Stoughton, 25 @ Canton, 50 – Final – Canton’s defense locked down the Stoughton offense, allowing no more than eight points in any quarter and only three points over the final eight minutes, to even its record at 2-2. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 29-14 lead at halftime, added a point to their lead in the third, and then outscored the Black Knights 12-3 in the fourth to put the game away. Samya DaSilva scored a team-high 11 points for Canton, including eight in the fourth. Erin Beatty scored nine points, all in the first half, and knocked down a pair of threes. Mercia Kolokithas had six, also with a pair from beyond the arc, and Ava McCoole and Emily McCabe each scored five points in the win. Freshman Kirsten McKay led all scorers with 12 points, 10 of them coming before the break. Leah McCarty added six points and Alyssa Edwards finished with five, including an and-one that was all of the Black Knights’ points in the fourth.
Foxboro, 89 @ Sharon, 40 – Final – Kailey Sullivan buried eight three-pointers and scored a career-high 30 points to lead the Warriors to a big road win that keeps them alone atop the Davenport division. Camryn Collins added 18 points and Addie Ruter had 16 for Foxboro, which had all 10 players get on the scoresheet.
Franklin, 59 @ Taunton, 39 – Final – Franklin got off to a strong start, jumping out to an 18-8 lead after one quarter, extended the lead to 15 at halftime and handed Taunton its first league loss of the season. Chloe Fales scored a career-high 19 points to lead the Panthers. She scored 13 of her points in the first half and went 8-for-10 from the line. Katie Peterson added 13 points, eight in the first half, and Lizzie Newman and Caelyn Leonard each scored seven for the Panthers. Taunton was led by Cali Melo, who scored all 11 of her points in the first half. Taryn Campbell chipped in with six points for the Tigers, who also got five points apiece from Jillian Doherty and Aaliyah Yera.
Milford, 29 @ North Attleboro, 43 – Final – North Attleboro put in a strong defensive performance to pick up its second win of the season. The Rocketeers held Milford to just 10 points in the opening half to build a double-digit lead. Milford rallied several times in the second half, but each time North was able to find a way to stymie the comeback. Sam Faria knocked down five from beyond the arc and finished with a career-high 20 points, powering the North offense to its third-highest scoring day of the season. Maryellen Charette gave North a post presence, finishing with 10 points.
Boys Swimming
King Philip @ Attleboro, 7:00
Canton @ Foxboro, 7:30
North Attleboro, 60 @ Milford, 76 – Final – Corey Rattray, Stefano Bonito, and Josh Anderson each won three events to lead the Hawks to the league win. Rattray took first place in the 100-free, as well as being part of the winning 200 medley an 200 free relay teams. Bonito was also part of both relay wins and also claimed the top spot in the 50 free. Anderson was on the 200 free relay and grabbed individual wins in both the 200 and the 500 free. Oskar Khoury also had a pair of wins for Milford, as part of the 200 medley relay and in the 200 IM.
Oliver Ames @ Sharon, 6:00
Girls Swimming
King Philip @ Attleboro, 7:00
Canton @ Foxboro, 7:30
North Attleboro, 82 @ Milford, 79 – Final – North Attleboro got a big day from Vivian Racine to pull out a close win over Milford. Racine took first in four events on Friday afternoon, finishing tops individually in the 100 breast and 200 IM. She was also part of the winning 400 free relay, along with Hannah Liang, Gianna Leco, and Sophia Roukhadze, and the 200 medley relay, with Cassie Hobson, Megan Atwood, and Liang. Leco also took first in the 100 fly. Milford kept it close from start-to-finish, thanks in large part to the three first-place finishes for Sarah Wengel. She was the top swimmer in the 50 free and the 100 free, and was part of the winning 200 free relay, joined by Caitlyn Bangert, Vedi Raval, and Madelyn Stochaj.
Boys Swimming
Mansfield, 63 @ Milford, 79 – Final – Milford’s Josh Anderson and Melson Arquillano each won a pair of individual races and were apart of separate winning relay squads to lead the Hawks past visiting Mansfield. Anderson won both the 200 free (2:18.46) and the 500 free (6:28.17) while Arquillano touched first in the 200 IM (2:07.06) and the 100 fly (55.05). Anderson joined Ben Prezza, Aaron McIaac, and Ethan Fielder to take first in the 200 free relay while Arquillano was apart of the winning 200 medley relay team with Correy Rattray, Prezza, and Jack Weiner. Weiner was also an individual winner, taking first in the 100 free (57.28). Mansfield picked up wins from Kevin McCarthy (50 free), Xavier Gwynne (100 back), and Ryan Morley (100 breaststroke).
Girls Swimming
Mansfield, 50 @ Milford, 90 – Final – Milford won a pair of relays and had five swimmers take first in individual races in a win over Mansfield. Maddie Stochaj won the 200 free, Latichcia Silva touched first in the 200 IM, Caitlyn Bangart took first in the 100 fly, Laysa Cuna won the 100 free, and Elizabeth O’Connor won the 500 free for the Hawks. The team of Emily Daudlelin, Vedi Raval, O’Connor, and Lalagui clocked in at 2:38.12 to win the 200 medley relay, and the team of Stochaj, Abigail Annantuoino, Cuna, and Bangert clocked in first for the 200 free relay. Mansfield got wins from senior captain Sofia Seifert (50 free, 100 breaststroke) and freshman Caroline Dalton (100 backstroke) and the 400 free relay team of Caitlyn Zajac, Cailtin Wagner, Lauren Morley, and Alexis O’Keefe. Caitlin Zajac took first place in the diving competition.
Boys Indoor Track (@ Wheaton College)
Canton, 42 @ Sharon, 49 – Final
Foxboro @ North Attleboro, 4:00
Oliver Ames @ Stoughton, 4:00
Franklin, 43 @ Attleboro, 56 – Final
King Philip, 23 @ Taunton, 73 – Final
Mansfield, 74 @ Milford, 16 – Final – Mansfield swept three events and took first place in six other events, including both relays, to run away with a big win over Milford. Jake Wall was once again a triple winner for the Hornets, taking first in the 55M, the long jump, and the high jump. Chamberlain Guthrie Jr. and Isaiah Kinds added key points by rounding out the 55M dash. Nate Kablik led a sweep in the 300M followed by classmates Grady Sullivan and Nolan Clarke while Riley Tremblay, Austin Tremblay and Clark Mackin took the top three spots for Mansfield in the 1000M race. Mansfield also got wins from Thomas Giudicianni (600M) and Chris Leonard (1 Mile). Senior James Comisky took first in the 2 Mile and Marco Monteiro won the shot put for the Hawks.
Franklin, 89 @ Attleboro, 11 – Final – Franklin swept all nine points (first three spots) in five events on its way to a big win over Attleboro. Jillian Fenerty won a pair of races, taking first in both the 55M dash and the 300M, the latter a complete sweep with Sophia Cuneo and Alexandrea Pond taking second and third, respectively. Franklin also swept the 1000M led by Allison Powderly’s first place finish, the 2 Mile highlighted by Colleen Golden’s win, the shot put with Darby Nicholson taking first, and the high jump with Ava Fraulo winning with a leap of 5-02.00. Attleboro’s Jahela Douglas took first in the long jump at 14-08.00.
King Philip, 31 @ Taunton, 60 – Final – Sweeps in the 300M, the 1000M, and the 1 Mile, as well as a pair of relay wins, helped Taunton earn key points in a win over King Philip. Phylicia Dias won the 300M followed by Brooke Aldrich and Giovanna Guarino, Colby Dunham took first in the 1000M followed by teammates Falynn Faria and Arianna Abbatangelo, and Emersyn Deponte was the winning in the 1 Mile race with teammates Kiley Quinlan and Sarah Mendonca rounding out the top three spots. Caelen O’Leary added a win in the 600M race for the Tigers. Isabelle Watson won both the high jump and the long jump for King Philip while Hannah Crocker took first in the shot put, Madeline Hill won the 55M hudles, and Ally Pochay was the winner in the 55M dash.
Field Hockey
Attleboro, 1 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – Attleboro scored very early in the game but Mansfield answered with a goal in the fourth quarter as the Bombardiers and Hornets split the points in a 1-1 tie. Madison Ellis gave the visitors in the lead just three minutes into the contest but Mansfield’s Stori Rounds found the back of the net in the fourth quarter to bring the Hornets level.
Canton, 4 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. – Ellie Bohane scored a pair of goals in the first three minutes of the second half to break open a two-goal game and help Canton remain perfect on the season. Bohane’s first came on a rebound after North goalie Hannah Bachand (14 saves) stopped a Maria Femia breakaway. Bohane added a second when she stole and outlet pass and drove across the face of goal. Femia opened the scoring for Canton with a first quarter goal and Samantha Vrabel doubled the lead with her first varsity goal in the second quarter.
Stoughton, 2 @ Foxboro, 6 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. – Foxboro scored twice in each the second and fourth quarters to pull away from an upset-minded Stoughton squad. Sophomore Dylan Rappoli scoed a hat trick for the Warriors, including the opening goal of the game. Stoughton equalized to knot the score 1-1 after a quarter of play. But freshman Mary Collins and Rappoli scored back-to-back goals in the second to give Foxboro a 3-1 edge at the halftime break. Kate Collins, Rappoli, and Mya Waryas added second half goals in the win.
Taunton, 0 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – Franklin celebrated Senior Night with a shutout win over visiting Taunton. Holding a 1-0 lead through two quarters of play, the Panthers scored twice in a one-minute span in the third quarter to pull away from the Tigers. Kaitlyn Carney scored an unassisted goal in the second quarter and then tacked on a big insurance goal in the third quarter. Stephanie Bell (from Sara Carney) scored just over eight minutes into the third to make it 2-0. Neilee Hess made eight saves in net for the shutout.
Milford, 0 @ King Philip, 5 – Final – King Philip raced out to a 3-0 lead by halftime and never looked back in a win at home over Milford. Senior captain Abby Nixon scored the first two goals of the game while junior Margo Riley added a third for the Warriors. Senior Paige Bergos (from captain Grace Crocker) and freshman Kelly Holmes (first career goal) scored in the second half for KP. Senior goalie Maddie Paradis (three saves) earned her first shutout in her first career start. Milford goalie Madison Hunt (23 saves) and Olyvia Whyte had strong games for the Hawks.
Sharon, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 6 – Final
Golf
Attleboro, 182 @ Mansfield, 152 – Final – Mansfield got back into the win column with a victory at home over visiting Attleboro. Nate Morreale was the match medalist, shooting a low-round of 36 to pace the Hornets. Ryan Dow added a 37, Joseph Gormley shot a 39, and Ryan Doherty carded a 40. Brendan Raymond led the Bombardiers with a team-low round of 42.
North Attleboro, 159 @ Canton, 146 – Final – Canton junior Will Gefteas fired a one-over round of 35 to pace the Bulldogs to a key division win at home over visiting North Attleboro. Thomas Singleton, Owen Donovan, and Andrew Middleton all shot 37 in the win. North Attleboro’s Sam Gallagher had a team-low round of 37, Jordan Paradis added a 39, Jake Gaskin carded a 41, and Dillon Harding finish with a 42.
Franklin, 161 @ Taunton, 198 – Final – Franklin went on the road and picked up a win over Taunton at Segregansett Country Club. Jack Paterson and Nolan Norton led the way for the Panthers, each carding a low-round of 39. Sean Connelly added a 41 and CJ Steel chipped in with a 42 for Franklin. Spencer Andrews had a team-low round of 44 for the Tigers.
Milford, 178 @ King Philip, 168 – Final
Stoughton, 185 @ Foxboro, 152 – Final
Boys Cross Country
Mansfield @ Attleboro, 3:45
North Attleboro, 24 @ Canton, 31 – Final
Foxboro @ Stoughton, 3:45
King Philip @ Milford, 3:45
Oliver Ames @ Sharon, 3:45
Franklin, 27 @ Taunton, 28 – Final – Franklin had five of the top nine runners, edging out a one-point win over host Taunton. Nicholas Calitri was the race’s winner, clocking in with a first-place time of 16:55. Declan Walmsley secured key points for the Panthers with a fourth-place finish (17:29). Griffin Sieczkiewicz (6th – 17:37), Josh Anderson (7th – 17:38), and Clancy Golden (9th – 18:07) rounded out Franklin’s scoring.
Girls Cross Country
Mansfield @ Attleboro, 3:45
North Attleboro, 24 @ Canton, 31 – Final
Foxboro @ Stoughton, 3:45
King Philip, 28 @ Milford, 28 – Final – The teams were tied at 28-28 through five scorers but King Philip won the tiebreaker with its sixth runner coming in before the Hawks’ sixth runner to give the Warriors the win. Milford’s Emma Lawrence won her third consecutive race, clocking in at 20:01 on her home course. Sophomore Sydney Kalil was second at 20:55 but KP had the next three runners, plus seventh and ninth overall.
Oliver Ames @ Sharon, 3:45
Franklin, 19 @ Taunton, 42 – Final – Franklin took the top three spots on its way to a win on the road at Taunton. Senior Angelina Perez crossed the finish line at 21:10 to win the race while freshman Angelina Batla was right behind (21:13) to take second overall. Senior Sydney Hawkins took third place for the Panthers (21:26). Taunton senior Lily Valcovic (21:45) was the top runner for the Tigers, taking fourth overall, while eighth grader Colby Dunham (22:04) was fifth overall.
Field Hockey
Attleboro, 7 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Attleboro earned its second win of the season and a sweep of Milford with another shutout win. The Bombardiers had 11 players find the score sheet with Amanda Burns and Shae Salisbury leading the way with two goals apiece. Sarah McMahon and Campbell Compton each recored a pair of assists while Laura McVeigh, Madison Ellis, and Kaelin Coleman all found the back of the net once for Attleboro.
Sharon, 0 @ Canton, 7 – Final
Oliver Ames, 1 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final – Oliver Ames and Foxboro split the points on Thursday afternoon, settling for a 1-1 draw at Sam Berns Field. Oliver Ames’ Sofia Anestam scored in the second quarter off of an assist from Georgia Costello. OA goalie Peyton Phillips made nine saves to help the Tigers earn a point on the road.
King Philip, 0 @ Franklin, 2 – Final – Franklin scored twice inside a four-minute space in the opening quarter and held off King Philip the rest of the way to get a key win. Amanda Lewandowski scored both for the Panthers, opening the scoring at 7:07 on an assist from Stephanie Bell and then doubling the lead just over three minutes later. Neilee Hess made five saves in the win for the Panthers. Head coach Michelle Hess praised the defensive play of Kendall Jones and Kate O’Rourke, and added that Sara Carney had a stellar outing in the midfield. KP senior goalie Makenzie Manning kept the Warriors in it with 18 saves and head coach Lisa Cropper said both senior Ali Beltramini and freshman Kelly Holmes played well.
North Attleboro, 2 @ Stoughton, 3 – Final – Stoughton nearly stole a point with a late fourth quarter surge earlier in the week in its trip to North Attleboro. This time around, the Black Knights completed the comeback. Trailing 2-1 late in the fourth quarter, Haley Nelson scored her second goal of the game to knot the score at 2-2 with 2:30 to go. Just 30 seconds later, Zofia Bangs deposited the go-ahead goal to give Stoughton a win at home. Lena Allie had 10 saves in net for Stoughton while head coach Dan Mark lauded the excellent defensive performances from Cate Downey and Julia Driscoll.
Taunton, 1 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. Taunton scored a fourth quarter goal to pull out a second straight draw against the Hornets. Mansfield jumped into the lead in the second quarter with freshman Lola Varricchione knocking in a loose ball in the crease. Alexandra Burnham picked up the assist. Taunton goalie Emily Gannon made a number of saves and defender Jocelyn Pagliuca stopped several Mansfield breakaways to keep it a one-goal game. In the fourth quarter, Alana Tavares slipped a pass through to Ashley Amaro and the junior forward got a touch past the last defender and raced half the field before scoring the tying goal.
Golf
Milford, 183 @ Attleboro, 177 – Final
Sharon, 168 @ Canton, 154 – Final – The Bulldogs had five golfers shoot 40 or better on Thursday afternoon at Blue Hill Country Club leading to a win over Sharon. Owen Donovan and Will Gefteas were the match co-medalists, each carding a round of 37. Mike Leonetti, Conor Hunter, Nate MacDonald, and Aiden French each shot a 40 in the win. For Sharon, Nathan Daley had a team-low round of 39, Eric Carter added a 41, and both Rosie Leonard and Noah Glassman carded a round of 44.
Oliver Ames, 175 @ Foxboro, 164 – Final – Foxboro earned a key division win at home at Foxboro Country Club against Oliver Ames. For OA, senior Logan Domenico had a team-low round of 42, senior Sam Kagan added a 43, and both freshman David Rogers and junior Jake Kaplan came into the clubhouse with a round of 45.
Franklin, 158 @ King Philip, 166 – Final – Franklin picked up its sixth straight win to open the season, earning its second straight close win over division foe King Philip. Jack Paterson and Brian Sandham led the way for the Panthers at Wentworth Hill Country Club, both shooting a team-low round of 38. Pat Dolan and Nolan Norton each added a 41 in the win. Mike Matheson was the match medalist, leading KP with a low-round of 37 while Jared Curran chipped in with a 40 for the Warriors.
Mansfield, 163 @ Taunton, 194 – Final – Mansfield continued its unbeaten start to the season with its second straight win over the Tigers, this time at Segregansett Country Club. Joe Gormley had the low-round for the Hornets, coming off the links with a 38 while Nate Morreale was right behind with a 39. Ryan Doherty added a 42 and Hunter Tang added a 44 in the win.
Stoughton, 179 @ North Attleboro, 161 – Final – North Attleboro defend its home green at Heather Hill Country Club, taking down visiting Stoughton behind a match-medalist round of 39 from sophomore Jake Gaskin. Tyler DeMattio added a 40 for the Rocketeers while both Sam Gallagher and Dillon Harding chipped in with a 41. Anthony Hern paced the Knights with a 42, Jonah Hochberg and Max Huminik each came in at 45 and Jake Curtis finished with a 47.
Boys Cross Country
King Philip, 41 @ Franklin, 18 – Final – Nicholas Calitri broke his own course record, setting a new time of 15:56 as he crossed first in Franklin’s win over King Philip. Griffin Sieczkiewicz (16:19) took second overall on the 3.05 mile course and Josh Anderson (16:21) rounded out the top three for the Panthers. Declan Walmsley (fifth, 16:52) and Clancy Golden (seventh, 17:21) also scored in the Panthers’ win.
Mansfield, 32 @ Taunton, 23 – Final – Taunton swept the top three spots in the race to earn its first ever win over Mansfield since joining the Hockomock League. Senior Nolan Tavares won the race in 17:11 while classmate Ty Cali (17:29) took second and freshman Brayden Cali (17:43) was third overall. Junior Ryan Strawbridge (17:51) and Andrew Cali (17:51.5) also scored for the Tigers.
Girls Cross Country
King Philip, 48 @ Franklin, 15 – Final
Mansfield, 24 @ Taunton, 32 – Final – Mansfield had the top three finishers in Thursday’s race, all finishing within a minute of one another to get a win over Taunton. Abigail Greenberg crossed the finish line at 20:39 to take first place for Mansfield while Tessa Lancaster (20:41) and Emma Lamson (21:26) took second and third, respectively. Cassidy Rice (seventh, 23:07) also scored for the Hornets. Senior Lily Valcovic was the top runner for the Tigers, taking fourth overall in 21:48. Eighth graders Colby Dunham (fifth, 22:16) and Emersyn DePonte (sixth, 22:52) had strong showings for Taunton.
Field Hockey
Canton, 7 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final – Canton’s Maria Femia recorded a hat trick as the Bulldogs opened with a big win on the road at neighboring Stoughton. Meghan LaBelle added a pair of goals to go along with Femia’s three tallies while Erin Lane and Sarah Cunningham each scored once in the win. Haley Nelson scored for Stoughton on an assist from Zofia Bangs.
Foxboro, 5 @ Sharon, 0 – Final
Franklin, 10 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Franklin scored four goals in the opening quarter and never looked back in a win on the road over Milford. The Panthers tacked on three more in the second quarter to build a 7-0 lead. Junior Kaitlyn Carney scored a hat trick and had three assists while Stephanie Bell also scored three times for the Panthers.
King Philip, 3 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final – King Philip senior Makenzie Manning shined in goal, turning away breakaway after breakaway to help the Warriors open the season with a tightly contested win over Mansfield. The Warriors held a 1-0 lead at halftime but each team found the back of the net twice in the second half. Senior Isabelle Crocker used her speed to get in behind the defense and scored twice for KP while senior Abby Nixon scored the opening goal of the game. Jenn Daniels and Lauren Barreiro played well in the win for KP. Abby Varicchione scored (on an assist from Grace Danehy) and registered an assist on a goal from Stori Rounds. Lily Danehy made 12 saves in goal for the Hornets.
Oliver Ames, 5 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery from this game – Georgia Costello and Julia Maclaine each scored twice and had an assist as Oliver Ames earned its first win of the season. Lexi Gennis added a goal while Haley Gilman registering an assist. Elleny Bau scored for North Attleboro.
Golf
Stoughton, 146 @ Canton, 189 – Final – Canton’s Thomas Singleton and Mike Leonetti shared medalist honors, each shooting a low-round of 36 to pace the Bulldogs at home over Stoughton. Will Gefteas and Owen Donovan rounded out the scoring, each carding a round of 37 for Canton. Stoughton’s Jake Curtis shot a team-low round of 43, Joe Mark added a 48, and both Max Huminik and Jonah Hochberg shot a 49.
Mansfield, 160 @ King Philip, 171 – Final – Mansfield senior Brian See was the match medalist for the third straight time, helping the Hornets pick up a win on the road against KP and improve to 3-0. See shot a 39 while Ava Haggis and Cian Goulet were right behind at 40. Joe Gormley and Jason See each shot a 41 for the Hornets.
Oliver Ames, 161 @ North Attleboro, 165 – Final – It came down to the final group but Oliver Ames was able to pull out a key win on the road. The Tigers trailed by four strokes with one group to go before junior Jake Kaplan, who shot one-over on the last seven holes, came in with a team-low 39 and senior Will Gianni carded a 40 to help Oliver Ames earn the win. Junior Carter Allbritton (41) added birdies on two of the first three holes and sophomore Daniel Paul (41) had a birdie on five. North Attleboro’s Dillon Harding was the match medalist with a round of 38, sophomore Jake Gaskin carded a round of 39, Tyler DeMattio added a 43, and both Aidan Weir and Sam Gallagher shot 45 on the middle course at Heather Hill.
Foxboro, 167 @ Sharon, 180 – Final – Junior Jack Watts was the lone golfer to score under 40, earning match medalist honors and helping Foxboro knock off Sharon. Watts carded a round of 39 on the front nine at Foxboro Country Club with Jack Rounds (42), Dylan Quinn (43), and Luke Davies (43) also scoring for the Warriors. Eric Carter led Sharon with a team-best round of 43 while Nathan Daley and Owen Kevorkian each shot a 45 for the Eagles.
Boys Cross Country
Stoughton, 35 @ Canton, 20 – Final – The Bulldogs had the top three placements to open the season with a win at home over Stoughton. Junior Kyle Downing picked up where he left off, winning the race in 18:34. Downing was followed by senior captain Jack Hernon (19:08) and senior captain Elias Jabbour (19:41). Sophomore Matt Hart (20:59) and freshman Luke Darling (21:44) also scored for Canton.
Sharon, 15 @ Foxboro, 50 – Final – Nicolas Olson (19:11), Liam Cody (19:26), and Brooks Stone (19:50) had the top performances for Foxboro.
Milford, 44 @ Franklin, 19 – Final – Franklin showed off its depth, taking first overall in the race and five of the top six spots overall in a win over Milford. Franklin’s Nicholas Calitri was the fastest on the day, taking first in a time of 16:01 on the 3.05 mile course. Josh Anderson (16:22), Griffin Sieczkiewicz (17:09), Clancy Golden (17:22), and Declan Walmsley (17:28) rounded out the scoring for the Panthers.
Mansfield, 20 @ King Philip, 35 – Final
North Attleboro @ Oliver Ames, 3:45
Girls Cross Country
Stoughton, 50 @ Canton, 15 – Final – It was a clean sweep for the Bulldogs, taking the top five spots in the race to get a win at home over Stoughton. Senior captain Marie Messinger was first overall with a time of 21:52. Junior newcomer Kiara Cerruti was second (23:53), senior Amanda Duffin crossed third (24:22), sophomore Johanna Bouwmeester took fourth (24:42), and junior Corinne Campbell was fifth (25:34).
Sharon, 26 @ Foxboro, 31 – Final – Foxboro had a trio of runners in the top five but Sharon was able to squeak out a victory on the road. Aine Fitzpatrick took second overall (22:52) to pace Foxboro with Emilia Lacy (third, 23:11) and Mabel Linck (fifth, 23:12) following shortly after.
Milford, 27 @ Franklin, 30 – Final – Milford swept the top three spots to earn a close win over the defending Kelley-Rex division champions. Junior Emma Lawrence ran away with the win in 19:17, sophomore Sydney Kalil took second in 20:08, and senior Kerry O’Connor rounded out the top three by clocking in a 20:32. Sarah Flanagan (21:19) and Eva Parson (23:35) rounded out the scoring for the Hawks.
Mansfield, 25 @ King Philip, 31 – Final – Mansfield took the top three spots in the race to earn a close win over King Philip. Senior Tessa Lancaster led the way for the Hornets, clocking in at 20:53.4 to take first place overall. Classmates Abigail Greenberg (21:35.6) and Emma Lamson (22:09.0) rounded out the top three for the Hornets. King Philip had the next four runners cross the finish line, led by senior Ava Pisani (22:50). Meg Sherwood (22:55), Katarina Precobb (23:32), and junior Maya Evans (23:41) followed suit for fifth, sixth, and seventh, respectively.
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.”
