Whitman-Hanson Express

You are here: Home / Archives for Nate Rollins, Express Sports Correspondent

Sachems end WHSL season: Team finishes best campiagn

By

The teams shake hands at game’s end. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake girls’ hockey bowed out of the Div. 2 state tournament with a 2-0 loss to Winchester.

KINGSTON — They say all good things must come to an end. For the Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake girls’ hockey team, that proved true Sunday.

The co-op gave it everything they had, but came out on the wrong end of the stick in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Winchester in the first round of the Division 2 state tournament held at The Bog Ice Arena.

Sixth-seeded WHSL (15-4-3), which was in the midst of its best campaign since its inception in 2014, allowed a quick goal 3:05 in, and could never recover, as No. 11-seed Winchester added another tally late in the third to secure its victory. The Sachems silenced a WHSL offense, which found the back of the net 120 times coming in, and had only been shut out once (5-0 against Duxbury Feb. 5) all season.

“They did a good job shadowing Hannah [Tracy] and Mel [McAleer] all game, taking away time and space for them to create offense,” WHSL head coach Kevin Marani said. “They played a strong game.” 

Winchester (14-4-4) will meet No. 14 Canton (12-4-6) in the quarterfinals Saturday at 5:15 p.m. at Galo Ice Arena.

At the 11:55 mark of the first period, the Sachems’ Mariah Redler snuck behind the WHSL defense and found herself all alone with netminder Melissa Crone and flung a shot on goal. The senior goaltender looked as if she had made the stop, the referee at the goal line signaled for the save, but the referee at center ice overruled him.

“It absolutely did not go in the net, but sometimes you’ve got to fight through those things,” Marani said. “Melissa was great in goal all game, like she’s done for us all season.”

The Sachems had a few more quality chances on net – including a Redler blast from the face-off circle – but Crone stood strong in goal. WHSL found itself on the power play with 9:14 remaining in the second period, but failed to even record a shot onnet. Late in the second period, Mary Kate Webb ripped a blistering shot on Winchester goalie Baile Lazarus, who turned the senior captain away with a glove save.

With time winding down in the second frame, Tracy found herself in 1-on-1 with Lazarus, who yet again rose to the occasion to preserve the shutout.

2:59 into the third period, Meave Hickey beat Crone on a wrist shot to push the Sachems ahead 2-0, and that is where it would stand.

Over the past three seasons, the Panthers have snatched back-to-back SEMGHL Northeast titles, have not missed the MIAA tournament and have gone 3819-5. 

Screen Shot 2018-01-12 at 11.50.57 AM

Melanie McAleer (Hanson) was a focal point of the Sachems’ defense. / Photo by: Sue Moss

But this go-around had the makings of something special. Not only was it the first year WHSL had made it out of the preliminary round of the tournament, it was the last season on the ice sporting red and black for seniors Tess Corkery, Crone, Sophia Dauksevicz, Katie Johnson, McAleer, Tracy and Webb. 

If there was ever a lining coming from the defeat, it is the mark all seven of them have had on the underclassmen of the team. They helped establish a culture, a tradition, a foundation and most importantly a hockey program.

“They’re a great group of girls,” Marani said. “With them, they brought girls that could have gone to other schools and now that they get the fever of WHSL hockey, I think they’re going to stay.”

All-Star skaters: McAleer, Tracy named to Shriners team

By

Hanson’s Mel McAleer and Hannah Tracy have been selected to skate in the Shriners All-Star Classic on Sunday, April 2 at 2 p.m.

Two members of the Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake high school girls’ hockey team have been tabbed to skate in the Shriners All-Star Classic.

Hanson residents and WHSL captains Mel McAleer and Hannah Tracy will be representing the co-op as members of the South roster in this year’s event on Sunday, April 2 at 2 p.m. at the Canton Ice House.

The Shriners All-Star Classic features the best players in the state and squares off the North against the South. After the rosters are finalized, each player is tasked with raising money for Shriners Hospitals for Children, a health care system of 22 hospitals dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing pediatric specialty care, innovative research and outstanding teaching programs for medical professionals.

WHSL head coach Kevin Marani said he couldn’t be more proud to have two of his players in this prestigious contest.

“It means a lot to our program because of the game and what the game represents,” Marani said. “I’m very happy.”

MCALEER

For McAleer, this will mark her second straight trip to the event. “I would say being nominated for the Shriners [All-Star Classic] twice was absolutely my biggest achievement on the ice,” McAleer said.

McAleer, who has scored a lot of goals — 110 to be exact — in almost four seasons competing for Whitman-Hanson/Pembroke and then WHSL said it’s a great honor to be known as one of the best hockey players in Massachusetts but that says little about her as a person.

“Being able to be use my ability to create [an] opportunity to give back to those who really need it as much as I do is a greater accomplishment that any number of times I can put a puck in a net,” McAleer said.

With the Division 2 state title game slated to take place in mid to late March, this will be the final time McAleer skates as a member of the Panthers.

“I am most excited for the game because it will be a great completion and it will ultimately be the last time I represent WHSL on the ice,” McAleer said.

TRACY

For Tracy, who was on the bubble of cracking the roster last season, this will be her first time in the Shriners All-Star Classic. The Whitman-Hanson senior said she received word of her nomination while skimming through her email and almost accidently deleted it.

“I was excited that I’m going to be playing up against the best in the state in a game that has such a strong meaning behind it,” Tracy said. “Playing next to some of the best and some of the girls I’ve played with over the years is exciting, so it will be a fun time.”

Tracy has racked up 21 goals and dished out 22 assists thus far this season and has been an integral part of WHSL’s success since its inaugural campaign in 2014— helping the co-op reach the postseason for its third straight year. In this contest, she said she isn’t worried about the fi- nal score.

“The most exciting part about playing in this game is even if my team wins or loses we still win by helping out the Shriners Hospital,” Tracy said.

The 1-2 duo of McAleer and Tracy is split up most of the year due to their instant impact on whoever they play with, and Tracy said she is hopeful the two can skate on the same line in this event.

“It’s a good feeling knowing you can play with a teammate,” Tracy said. “We don’t play together much during the season, but when we do we areunstoppable.”

FUNDRAISING

In preperation for the game, the two participants have set up GoFundMe campaigns to raise money for the Aleppo Shriners Children’s Transportation Fund.

McAleer’s page can be found at: https://www.gofundme. com/shriners-all-starclassic- hockey

Tracy’s page can be found at: https://www.gofundme. com/3c9qoa8?lang=en-US

WHSL hockey nets second consecutive league title

By

Players shake hands after the game. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The Panthers have locked up the SEMGHL Northeast Crown for a second straight season.

PEMBROKE – The Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake high school girls’ hockey team continues to show unprecedented success in just its third season.

On Saturday, Feb. 11, WHSL notched a convincing 9-2 victory over Scituate at Hobomock Arenas. The win gave the Panthers their second straight SEMGHL Northeast crown.

Screen Shot 2018-01-12 at 1.00.38 PM

WHSL players celebrate a goal. / Photo by: Sue Moss

“It’s a big deal,” WHSL head coach Kevin Marani said. “Anytime you win your league it’s a big deal and to do it two years in a row with such a young program is pretty good.”

Mel McAleer (Hanson) and Hannah Tracy (Hanson) combined for five goals and two assists as starting defenseman Katie Johnson (Kingston) and Delaney Grace (Halifax) rose to the occasion on the backline to power the Panthers to their third straight victory.

It took WHSL (13-3-2, 9-0-1) all of 30 seconds to get on the board as McAleer was there to clean up a rebound and snipped a shot on Scituate (3-10-2, 3-7-0) goaltender Annabel Christenson that beat her stick side, pushing the Panthers in front 1-0.

Just 59 seconds later, Tracy lit the lamp with a goal that beat Christenson top shelf, glove side off an assist from captain Mary Kate Webb (Kingston) to make it 2-0.

Alyssa Murphy’s (Kingston) 16th tally of the season extended WHSL’s cushion to 3-0 3:41 into the contest.

Tracy and Webb added two more goals in less than a minute as the Panthers held a 5-0 advantage at the end of the first period.

At two minutes into the second frame, sophomore Zoe Lydon (Hanson) joined in on the offensive outburst with her second goal of the season, off assists from Emily Knight (Whitman) and Sarah Govoni (Hanson), making it a 6-0 game.

GAME PLAN

“We wanted to go out and have a good solid first period and [we wanted to] get all the girls that come to practices at 5 a.m. and deserve [it] to get in the game and we did,” Marani said.

Two quick WHSL penalties put the Sailors on a 5-on-3 power play, and Alaina Roman was finally able to break through Panthers netminder Mellissa Crone (Kingston) for a goal to pull Scituate within five, 6-1, with 6:35 remaining in the second period. 

Screen Shot 2018-01-12 at 1.00.46 PM

Hannah Tracy skates into position during her three-goal/one-assist game. / Photo by: Sue Moss

“It was at that point and they had 5-on-3 and we were just having fun at that point, so it was lack of breakdown probably,” Marani said.

Unfortunately for the Sailors, who were still on the power play, WHSL was far from done and Tracy’s short-handed goal less than a minute later, giving her a hat trick – made it 7-1.

“She’s been key all year,” Marani said. “Obviously, she and Mel are a class of their own.”

Both teams would poke home one more tally apiece as McAleer and Liv Haley found the back of the net to make it an 8-2 game at the end of the second period.

Sophomore Maddie Soule (Hanson) capped the scoring with 5:09 remaining in the game with her first goal of the season to push WHSL’s lead to 9-2 and that’s where it would stand.

YOUNG TALENT

“We have a good group of young talent and they’re learning from very good players,” Marani said. 

Screen Shot 2018-01-12 at 1.03.49 PM.png

Co-captain Mel McAleer scored two goals and an assist. / Photo by: Sue Moss

WHSL’s one tie in the league came in a 2-2 decision against Cohasset/Hanover Wednesday, Dec. 21.

The Panthers have pumped in 27 goals over their past three outings and are outscoring opponents 97-36 through their 18 games.

“They’ve done everything we’ve asked them to do all year,” Marani said. “By no means is this the finish, like we just talked about, we want to compete for the state championship and I’m very proud of every single girl in there.”

Boys’ hoops net first back-to-back league titles

By

The Panther players and coaches gather for a team photo after winning their second consecutive league title Feb. 10. / Photo by: Sue Moss

With a 56-42 victory over Hingham, the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ basketball team has won its league for the second straight season.

WHITMAN – On Friday, Feb. 10, the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ basketball team felt a sense of accomplishment. 

The Panthers defeated Hingham, 56-42, to capture the Patriot League Keenan Division, giving the program back-to-back titles for the first time.

W-H, which graduated eight seniors, including its entire starting five, from the roster that made it to the Division 2 state semifinals last year, has defied all odds thus far.

“It’s pretty emotional,” Panthers head coach Bob Rodgers said of the win. “I think when a lot of people don’t give you a chance to do something, in particular these kids that had to keep hearing about last year’s team. They wanted their own identity and they came into this season with just some thing to prove.”

When W-H (13-3, 11-2) needed a basket, Nikko Raftes was there to deliver. The Panthers, who led by as much as 10 in the fourth quarter, watched their advantage shrink as Hingham (8-8, 8-5) sliced its deficit to five, 45-40, midway through the final frame. On W-H’s next trip down the court, Raftes drilled a turnaround jumper to push the Panthers lead to 47-40.

“Such a big play,” Rodgers said. “That was probably the dagger when he hit that.”

On the ensuing W-H possession, the senior captain then spotted up from beyond the arc and drilled a 3-pointer to push the Panthers cushion to 10, 50-40, all but sealing their victory. 

Screen Shot 2018-01-12 at 12.36.14 PM

Lucas Franklin, who had six points in the game, adds two to the tally. / Photo by: Sue Moss

“He’s amazing,” Rodgers said. “He’s just one of the best shooters we’ve had and we’ve had a lot of good shooters.” 

Two Raftes free throws in the final minute made it a 56-42 game.

Screen Shot 2018-01-12 at 12.36.25 PM

Jacob Hanson-Bartlett is guarded by Hingham’s big man Lorgan Larsen who stands at 6’8″ in some close action under the basket. / Photo by: Sue Moss

However, the Harbormen, who were out to avenge a 52-37 loss to W-H Jan. 13, gave the Panthers a bit of a scare early on. Luke Tamulevich (16 points in first half) kick started the Panthers offense with a 3-pointer, steal and layup to push W-H in front 5-0Jacob Hanson-Bartlett is guarded by Hingham’s big man Lorgan Larsen who stands at 6’8″ in some close action under the basket. / Photo by: Sue Mos

“Luke has been one of the biggest offensive weapons we’ve had all year,” Rodgers said. “He’s somebody who can get it done on both ends of the floor.” 

Hingham would battle back behind the play of center Logan Larsen, and pulled ahead 12-11 at the end of the opening quarter.

W-H would begin to drive to the basket to begin the second quarter, despite the lengthy presence of Larsen inside, which opened the floor for four treys in the frame.

With W-H trailing 24-23, Raftes drilled a 3-pointer to push it ahead by two, igniting an 8-0 run.

Hingham followed up the triple with a pair of fouls, two missed field goals and a turnover.

Tamulevich’s trey with under a minute remaining in the second quarter – giving W-H its largest lead of the first half, 31-24, –capped off the run.

The Harorbmen sliced their deficit to as few as six in the third quarter, but W-H allowed just three field goals in the stanza to retain its lead. 

The victory extends the Panthers winning streak to four games, which they are holding opponents to 44 points per contest

Tamulevich led all scorers with 19 points, Raftes chipped in 15 and Jacob Hanson-Bartlett added 10 points and seven boards (five offensive).

“We just have to keep doing what we do,” Rodgers said. “Great plays don’t win championships, the boring plays win championships. All the little things [such as] boxing out, closing out and all of that.”

3 wrestlers head to states

By

Seniors Jake Filicicchia, Alex O’Roak and John Will have advanced to the Division 2 state tournament after placing in the top four of their respective weight classes in the Division 2 South Sectional tournament held Saturday at North Attleborough High School.

Three members of the Whitman-Hanson Regional High wrestling team are moving on.

Seniors Jake Filicicchia, Alex O’Roak and John Will have advanced to the Division 2 state tournament after placing in the top four of their respective weight classes in the Division 2 South Sectional tournament held Saturday at North Attleborough High School.

Filicicchia came in as the No. 2 seed in the 113-pound weight class and took care of his first opponent, Will Stern of Sharon, besting him via pinfall in 1:28. He then claimed victory over Sam Roberts of Duxbury by pinfall 0:25 in. Filicicchia then met Silver Lake’s Daniel Walsh, who he toppled 6-0 to avenge an early season loss to the Laker. Filicicchia wrapped up his day falling 7-0 to top-seeded Jacob Garcia of Marshfield.

“Jake has worked very hard in the offseason to improve his wrestling skills,” W-H head coach Gary Rabinovitz said. “Jake set some high goals for himself this year and has worked hard to achieve them. He also studies all of his opponents to get any advantage he can”

In the 182-pound weight class, Alex O’Roak went 2-1 on the day to earn his spot in the Division 2 state final. O’Roak, who came in as the No. 6 seed, ousted Stoughton’s Bobby Shaughnessy by pinfall in 1:27 and knocked off second-seeded Joe Freda of Hingham via pinfall in 3:24. O’Roak would then fall in the final to Marshfield’s Joe Pomella.

“Alex had an up and down season as he was nursing a shoulder injury most of the way,” Rabinovitz said. Entering the sectionals, he was 13-13 and was the last-seeded wrestler in his weight class. Alex pulled it all together and finished second and now has a season record of 15-14.”

Entering as the No. 3 seed in the 220-pound weight class, John Will earned a pinfall in 3:33 over his first opponent, Dylan Burns of Pembroke. In his second-round match against Dimitri Kalogeras of Sharon, Will took an inadvertent head butt to his right eye, but finished off his opponent by a pin in 4:40. After being cleared by the trainer and being forced to wear a head mask to prevent his eye lid from any further trauma,Will knocked out Marshfield’s Jeremy Edwards in a 4-3 decision. Will ended the day with 3-0 loss to North Attleboro’s Brad White.

“John has been a true team leader all season long,” Rabinovitz said. “He wrestles hard and never gives up. Like Jake, he works very hard every day and is pushed by my assistant coaches.”

Rabinvotiz, who is in his first season as the head coach of the Panthers, said he could not be any prouder to have three wrestlers representing his program in the Division 2 state final.

“The three finalists — Alex, Jake and John — are all four-year wrestlers,” Rabinovitz said. “I truly believe that if you put in your best effort and stay with it you can be successful in wrestling. All three of the guys have proven that.”

The Division 2 state tournament will run from Friday, Feb. 17 to Saturday, Feb. 18, at Algonquin Regional High School and kicks off Friday at 3 p.m.

To advance to the MIAA All-State Tournament, each wrestler must place in the top four of their respective weight class to guarantee a spot.

Mass. ADs to honor Sue Moss: W-H alum takes the photos that keep memories

By

Whitman-Hanson Express volunteer photographer Sue Moss is being honored.

From student to teacher to coach to memory maker, Sue Moss’ role has transformed over the years at Whitman-Hanson, but her love for the Panthers has not. Now, she is being rewarded for her lifelong dedication to the school.

Moss has been selected by the Massachusetts Secondary School Athletic Directors Association as this year’s District C Joao Rodrigues Distinguished Service Award recipient. She has appeared at thousands of Panthers athletic events with camera in hand, snapping countless photos, where they soon appear on her Flickr, which fittingly features the panther statue as her profile picture, before they are used on the Whitman-Hanson athletic site and the Whitman-Hanson Express. Moss, who also takes pictures for the yearbook, said she’s the type of person who likes to fly under the radar.

“I just want to make things happen,” Moss said. “I’m very flattered and I’m very honored.”

The award will be presented to Moss March 30 by the MSSADA at their annual awards dinner held at the Resort and Conference Center in Hyannis.

The Joao Rodrigues Distinguished Service Award is assigned to one nonpaid individual chosen from 61 nominees put forth by the District C schools based on their continued involvement with high school activities at the local level.

Whitman-Hanson athletic director Bob Rodgers put Moss’ name forward and she was selected as the Patriot League representative in June before being tabbed as the district winner.

“This award not only recognized people who devote their time and energy to their communities, but I feel the best candidates are the people who inspire others to want to give back,” Rodgers said. “I think every student who has come in contact with Sue realizes how community service is something we should all aspire to make part of our lives.”

Moss’ time in Whitman dates to her childhood as she worked her way through the public school system. She said it was in her backend years as a student at Whitman-Hanson when she began to ascertain the true power behind giving back to her town.

“My loyalty is always there,” Moss said. “I believe in paying it forward. There were a lot of good people when I was in high school who did a lot of good things for us that they didn’t have to. But back when I was a student, there wasn’t anyone around capturing all the games so that you’d have a souvenir as you graduated from high school and went onto the rest of your life.”

Moss jumped into teaching at Whitman-Hanson in 1971 and spent 35 years as a physical education and then technology educator.

While there, she played an integral role in the athletics of the school. Moss helped to create the first girls’ cross country team and first girls’ outdoor track team in the early ’70s.

“Back in those days, Kevin Black and I used to take slides,” Moss said. “When we put a banquet on at the end of the season, we’d have those pictures to share with the parents and everybody else. I had a habit at the end of the year, after the banquet, I would pull out all the senior slides and I would give them to them.”

None of Moss’ images have ever been for purchase and that’s something on which she prides herself.

“All my images are up there in cyberspace, as the saying goes,” Moss said. “They can go get them anytime they want. The parents can go find the ones that they want so it’s good and they don’t have to pay for them. You shouldn’t have to pay for all that stuff. None are mine are for sale, even for the visiting team that might get an occasional shot. I just tell them where to find them and they can download them for free.”

Moss, who retired in ’06, said she has always and will continue to strive for the perfect image that can last a lifetime.

“I keep looking for that ‘wow’ photo,” Moss said. “Every once in a while, you get one, not every year, but you get one. It’s the joy that the kids take seeing themselves captured, whether I shoot a funny one or I shoot one where they don’t know that I’m shooting, which I try to do a lot. Those are the ones that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.”

W-H falls to Westwood in Hingham Holiday Hoops Classic

By

Screen Shot 2018-01-12 at 11.28.59 AM

Senior captain Taylor McVeigh (22) and sophomore guard Kathryn Dunn (33) join the battle for ball control under the boards vs. Westwood in the Hingham Holiday Classic. / Photo by: Nate Rollins

The Panthers dropped to 2-3 on the season with a loss to Westwood.

HINHGAM – A late Panthers charge was not enough Friday evening as the Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ basketball team fell to Westwood 47-40 in the consolation game of the Hingham Holiday Hoops Classic.

“I told the girls it’s never a matter about play as hard as we can, you always bring that intensity,” W-H head coach Jenna Olem said. “It’s about playing a little bit smarter, taking care of the ball a little bit better and really just our Achilles’ heel all year has just been being able to put the ball in the basket when it counts.”

The Panthers hung with the Wolverines for a majority of the contest but a tough third quarter proved too much to overcome.

W-H (2-3) found itself in a hole early on as Westwood opened the game on a 7-2 run, sparked by five points from senior captain Haley Connaughton, as the Wolverines knocked down three of their first seven shots from the field.

The Panthers, despite nine turnovers in the quarter, clawed their way back to tie the game at 10-10 at the end of the first quarter.

Westwood (5-1), which connected on four of its first seven field goals to begin the second, started to ramp up the defensive pressure on the Panthers — limiting them to eight points in the quarter — and took a 23-18 advantage into halftime.

The Wolverines opened the third quarter on a 5-0 run to push their lead to double digits at 28-18.

Back-to-back field goals extended the Wolverines, who missed a string of nine consecutive field goals in the quarter, lead even further as they held W-H to four points to extend their lead to 35-22 entering the final frame.

Screen Shot 2018-01-12 at 11.32.37 AM

Senior captain Sarah Saccardo spots up for a potential 3-pointer. / Photo by: Nate Rollins

“Sometimes we’re just beating ourselves in not being able to capitalize on the chances we need to and not go on enough runs,” Olem said. “We’ll get stops, but we won’t get any baskets to counter those stops.”

Back in it

Trailing 43-32 with 2:08 to go, things started to jell for the Panthers offense as they went on an 8-2 run — capped by Erin Leahy’s 3-pointer — to slice the Wolverines lead to 45-40 with nine ticks remaining.

However, Westwood was able to successfully inbound the ball after the make and two makes from the charity stripe squashed the W-H comeback.

“We only scored four points in the third quarter and then I put my defensive lineup in there a little bit and we held them and we scored 18 points in the fourth quarter and definitely gave ourselves a chance to win,” Olem said

McVeigh paced the Panther attack with 11 points as O’Brien chipped in nine.

At the conclusion of the game, McVeigh and O’Brien were named to the All-Tournament Team.

“They’re phenomenal,” Olem said. “I can’t ask for better coached players, better leaders, more experienced good kids. They’ve given me everything they got every time and they’re a great model for the entire program.”

Season resumes

W-H returns to Patriot League action at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6 at Plymouth North.

“We just got to get back to work,” Olem said. “We’ve been practicing really hard. We have to try to win one game each week to get into the tournament.”

Catching up with Brenndan Rogers

By

A Q&A with Whitman-Hanson Regional High alum Brenndan Rogers.

Brenndan Rogers had an illustrious career as a two-sport athlete at Whitman-Hanson Regional High.

On the hardwood, the shooting guard netted 774 points over his career and played a pivotal role on the Panthers’ school-record 22-win campaign last season that ended at the TD Garden in the Eastern Mass. final — averaging 15.8 points per game in the postseason.

On the diamond, Rogers was eerily as dominant — posting a 7-1 record, one more win than the team had the prior season, and 0.80 earned run average over 52 1/3 innings during his final go-around. In the Panthers’ opening playoff game, Rogers hurled five innings of two-hit ball to power W-H past Somerset Berkley 11-0.

Last March, Rogers committed to play basketball at New England College, where he majors in business. In nine games for NEC, the Hanson native is averaging 10.1 points per game and is shooting 42.1 percent from the field for a Pilgrims squad (7-2) that is off to its best start since 2010-11.

The Express caught up with Rogers to reflect on his time at W-H and to see how he is adapting to college thus far.

Q: What did you learn on the hardwood at W-H?

A: “The importance of teamwork and working with a good group of guys towards a common goal. Also, the value of hard work and doing everything in life with your best effort.”

Q: How has the transition to college been on the court?

A: “The transition into college sports is just the beginning of a new process. You’re now at a level where you’re competing against the best of the best high school athletes. Also, you’re going up against guys that are grown men at 23 or 24 years old. Everything in your game has to be taken up a notch and your body needs to be at top shape. But most importantly, trusting the process with your teammates and coaches to become a successful athlete at a higher level.”

Q: How has the transition to college been in the classroom?

A: “Moving from high school to college classes was a big jump for me. I wasn’t the best high school student so it was important for me to bear down and get good grades. The work is a lot more challenging, but the professors prepare you well enough so that you can deal with the assignments. You also have a lot more time to complete assignments so time can be helpful.”

Q: What is one valuable lesson you acquired at W-H that you have taken to the collegiate ranks?

A: “A valuable lesson learned in high school was that everything happens for a reason. And no matter how hard life can be sometimes, you should never let it affect who you are.”

Q: What’s your fondest memory from W-H?

A: “My fondest memory at W-H would definitely be bringing the entire school and community to TD Garden during my senior basketball season. We had an amazing run and were one of the best teams in school history. On the other side during baseball, pitching and winning the first tournament game in eight years for W-H was a great moment for me.”

Q: Who is your favorite professional athlete and how has s/he inspired you?

A: “My favorite professional athlete would defiantly have to be Paul Pierce. He was a big inspiration growing up, watching him lead the Celtics for so many successful seasons. He inspired me to push through any hard times and difficulties as he went through some rough years in Boston but always stuck through it with the team.”

Q: What goes into your offseason preparation?

A: “The offseason was full of a lot of running and weight lifting. Going from high school to college sports calls for a lot of preparation going into the season. Running helped with staying in shape and getting faster for a fast pace college game. Weight lifting was important to get stronger to play with older and experienced competition.”

Q: What day of the week do you most look forward to?

A: “My favorite day of the week is either Friday, or Saturday. Both days are usually when I have games so it’s the highlight of the week.”

Q: What’s your favorite food?

A: “My favorite food is either chicken or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Both have been my top favorite foods since I was a kid.”

Q: What’s been your biggest accomplishment at college thus far?

A: “My biggest accomplishment so far in college would either be my team’s success, or my personal success in the classroom. Our team ended first semester at 7-2, and is heading into next semester with a lot of momentum. In the classroom, I finished the semester with a 3.4 GPA.”

Andrew’s Special Olympics family: Whitman meet and greet outlines program’s success

By

Andrew

Andrew Parkes tends first base for his Special Olympics team. / Courtesy Photo

It was an emotional Thursday for many.

WHITMAN — Tears, joy and smiles filled the air Thursday evening at the Whitman Public Library.

Nellie Gooden, the grandmother of Whitman Special Olympics participant Andrew Parkes, spoke during a meet and greet on Dec. 8. Not only did she speak, but she was able to share hugs and laughter and shed her appreciation for grandson’s “Special Olympics family” for the first time in person.

Gooden has been Andrew’s guardian throughout his life, and the two set foot in the United States roughly 15 years back, emmigrating from Jamaica. With family in Atlanta, that is where they went.

As Gooden aged and Andrew grew, it became immensely challenging for her to meet his needs on a consistent basis, so she made the decision to place him in a group home in Brockton. Three years ago, the Whitman Special Olympics received a phone call asking if it had space for another athlete to join — that athlete was Andrew. Coach George Coffey said the program was thrilled to add Andrew on the field, but even more delighted to have him as a person. “Andrew is a gift,” Coffey said. “He is warm, loving and the politest person I have ever met.”

Andrew is now enrolled in multiple sports in the program — competing on the soccer pitch and softball diamond — while improving his skills on the hardwood in Easton.

“Andrew is a great soccer player and exceptional softball player,” Coffey said.

The one area that separates the Special Olympics from most programs is its family-first mentality and Andrew has fit right in.

“Our players accepted him as a friend and the families accepted him as a member of our families immediately,” Coffey said. “My family has had Andrew to our home for various holiday celebrations. My grandkids love Andrew.”

Since Andrew joined the Special Olympics program in Whitman, Coffey said he has always made it a point to keep Gooden up-to-date on what her grandson was doing through various phone calls and by sending newspaper clippings and pictures down to her.

“I thought it was important for her to know he has family and friends here in Massachusetts that love him,” Coffey said. “We thought it was important that she see and experience the love we all have for Andrew. When she goes home, she will be sad but she will know Andrew is with Family.”

Season Preview: Next goals in the pool: Girls’ swim team members showing growth, potential for coming season

By

Middleboro/Whitman-Hanson girls’ high school swimming/diving head coach Sean Siciliano feels his team has “good variety” in the events as it prepares for the new season.

The Middleboro/Whitman-Hanson girls’ swimming/diving team is eager to make a splash this winter.

Five years back, in an effort to offer more females the opportunity to participate in sports at Whitman-Hanson, the school partnered with the longstanding Middleboro girls’ swimming team to form a co-op.

Swimming is one of the unique sports which focus on both individual and team results. Not only can the club qualify for the postseason, but each individual swimmer can as well based on personal times throughout the season and as part of relay teams.

Legacy

One key swimmer the club will be poised with finding a replacement for is Abigail Bailey (Whitman-Hanson). The two-time captain was tabbed a Patriot League All-Star over her final two seasons and was part of the fastest 400-yard freestyle relay team in program history, ranks eighth in the 50 freestyle and ninth in the 200 individual medley.

From Middleboro, 2015-16 Patriot League All-Stars Lauren Foley and Alyssa Lusardi boasted lustrous careers also, having both qualified for states last winter.

Each meet features a wide array of events including: the 200-yard medley relay, 200-yard freestyle, 200-yard individual medley, 50-yard freestyle, 1-meter dive, 100-yard butterfly, 100-yard freestyle, 500-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle relay, 100-yard backstroke, 100-yard breaststroke and 400-yard freestyle relay. Coach Sean Siciliano said depending on the meet and the other teams’ times, swimmers will be shuffled around so they can maximize their score.

“Based on the first couple weeks, I think we will have good variety,” Siciliano said. “We have many girls that should be very versatile in multiple events, which is always helpful in swimming.”

Returning

Junior Phoebe Bonney is one returning swimmer Siciliano said he will be leaning on to have a solid season for multiple factors.

“I think that her versatility and her leadership will be huge for the team this year,” the third-year coach said.

As for newcomers, freshman Niki Kamperides has caught the eye of Siciliano thus far.

“She has shown great growth through the first couple weeks and I feel that she will be a big part of the team’s success,” Siciliano said.

After its first two contests, the club will break for the holiday and Siciliano said he always looks ahead to that next battle, which will be on Tuesday, Jan. 3 this season.

“I am looking forward to the North Quincy meet,” Siciliano said. “We have double sessions all week. Our athletes come out in amazing shape and do some great times after this week.”

W-H on deck

In addition to Bonney and Kamperides, other Whitman-Hanson swimmers on the roster include: Mary Hutchings, Maeve McDonough, Maddie Navicky, Sabrina O’Connor and Nadear Suraphanpirosh.

Middleboro/Whitman-Hanson girls’ swimming will take on Rockland Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 4:30 p.m. at Burkland Pool in Middleboro to kick off its slate of meets.

“I hope to continue to grow the program and get more girls to swim and continue to grow the great partnership that we have with Middleborough,” Siciliano said.