From freshmen making their debuts to a coach’s last meet to a team finally cracking through in the postseason, there was a lot that went on this past school year in sports at Whitman-Hanson Regional High.
Here is a complete look back on all the action.
FALL
FOOTBALL
Storyline: Seniors push football to eight-win campaign.
The rundown: The season didn’t come together like some were envisioning, but you won’t hear many complaints. The Panthers snapped a streak of three straight seven-win seasons with an 8-3 mark. W-H – led by its 21 seniors – opened the season with a bang, routing Marshfield, 41-13, and capped it by extracting revenge against Abington for a 16-0 victory on Thanksgiving. The Panthers still weren’t able to get it done in the playoffs, however, falling to North Attleboro, 21-13. During the season, senior captain Rian Schwede stepped in at quarterback for the first time since youth football and provided the Panthers with a jolt, while two-way linemen Ryan Trongone and Quinn Sweeney anchored the trenches. The Panthers will return little experience next season.
Top game: 16-0 victory over Abington on Nov. 22 (Thanksgiving) in frigid temperatures to get over the seven-win hump.
Top quote: “I told the seniors how proud we were of them for their four years in the program, and I told the younger guys to remember how it feels and do what those kids did and just continue on what they did.” – head coach Mike Driscoll
FIELD HOCKEY
Storyline: Field hockey flexes defense.
The rundown: In a season that was tough results-wise (2-10-6), mainly because of a stagnant offense, the Panthers’ defense shined bright. W-H let up just 32 goals, five of which came in one meeting. The backline was anchored by seniors and league all-stars Kathryn Dunn and Olivia Sheehan, while sophomore Skylar Leonard and Noelle Cornetta made the most of their time. Sophomore Madi Savicke starred in net with a 1.67 goals against average. As for the Panthers’ offensive woes (14 goals scored all season), which stemmed from losing senior captain and forward Annika Putur to a torn ACL, they should be eased with more experience under the belts of sophomores Delanie MacDonald (team-high five goals) and Lauren Clark (three goals).
Top game: 1-0 victory against East Bridgewater on Sept. 7. It wasn’t the most talented team W-H faced, but it was one of the most complete games it put forward. Clark had the goal.
Top quote: “The defense had to stop amazing offenses and they themselves were truly amazing.” – head coach Todd Humphrey
BOYS’ GOLF
Storyline: A Manning on a mission: Senior captain paces club.
The rundown: Senior captain Owen Manning put an exclamation point on his Panthers career, advancing all the way to the Div. 2 state finals for the first time, to cap a career as both a two-time team MVP and league all-star. Manning, who carded a 4.1-over par average, propelled the Panthers to a 4-0 start out of the gate. But the Panthers, who finished the season 6-11, went on to hit a rough patch, dropping 10 of their next 12, which head coach Brian Dempsey said was a result of mounting pressure and frequent poor weather and cancelations. Sophomore Aidan Miller and junior captain-elect Matt Korzec key the returnees next fall.
Top match: 238-245 victory over Duxbury on Sept. 13. After defeating the Dragons for the first time in program history the year prior, the Panthers notched another win over their rivals. Manning led the way with a 2-over par 36 and Korzec had a 3-over par.
Top quote: “I’ve improved a lot. My game’s just developed a lot. Practicing chipping and putting is a big help because that’s where you shave the strokes off right there – the chipping and putting – the short game.”– senior captain Owen Manning
BOYS’ SOCCER
Storyline: For boys’ soccer team, an unlucky fall.
The rundown: It’s tough to describe the Panthers’ season on the pitch without the word “unlucky.” Sophomore standouts Peyton Collins and Joel Arsenault transferred before the campaign kicked off and junior midfielder Adam Milewski went down with a broken ankle. Later in the season, W-H lost sophomore starter Brandon Nehiley for two weeks and junior goalie Andrew Sullivan as well to injuries. Rising senior captains, forward Jason Broduer (team-high nine goals last season), and defender Stevie Kelly (the team’s lone Patriot League All-Star) provide some hope that a 4-14-1 2018 campaign can be distant memory.
Top game: 2-1 victory over Rockland on Oct. 26. After all that didn’t go their way during the season, W-H headed into the offseason on a high note. Nehiley found Brodeur twice for goals.
Top quote: “We worked very hard as a group heading into the 2018 season, but bad luck got in our way. I hope the disappointments felt by returning players in the program will feel motivated to improve as much as they possibly can to get us back on the more successful side in 2019.”– head coach Dave Leahy
GIRLS’ SOCCER
Storyline: Freshmen supply the offense as girls’ soccer keeps up winning ways.
The rundown: Veteran head coach Dave Floeck, whose team hasn’t had a losing season since 1999, wasn’t sure what to expect out of his club heading into the fall. He was confident senior captain Sammy Smith was going to be an All-American force in the middle and classmate and senior captain Skylar Kuzmich was going to be a rock in net. Both were. What he didn’t see coming were his freshmen scoring 27 of his team’s 51 goals to lead it to a 14-2-4 record – capped by a 2-1 loss to Hingham in the Div. 1 South quarterfinals. Kelsee Wozniak had 11 of those goals, while Olivia Borgen and Nora Manning added eight apiece.
Top game: 1-1 tie against Hingham on Oct. 22. It wasn’t a win, but they’re not easy to come by against an opponent like Hingham. After tying the Harborwomen to kick off the month, they played to a draw again. After Hingham took the lead in the first, which it held for most of the second, junior Riley Bina scored the equalizer with eight minutes to go.
Top quote: “After you let up a goal you have to have a goldfish mindset. Forget about it [and] move on to the next save. You can’t let it get in your head or else you’ll let in another one and part of that is you just need to be a little crazy too because one, you’re diving at the ball all the time and two, you have to forget something that just happened even if it was your mistake.”– Skylar Kuzmich on playing goalie
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
Storyline: Senior-laden girls’ volleyball team moves in right direction.
The rundown: The girls’ volleyball team had a pretty decent campaign on the court, doubling its win total from the prior season to eight. Its nine returning players are a big reason why. Senior outside hitter Allison Hanlon and senior libero Nicole Scott turned in splendid campaigns, which resulted in league all-star status. Seniors Kayla Crawford (defensive specialist), Kylie Gervasio (setter) and Erin Leahy (middle hitter) were also starters. Rising senior captains Olivia Martin (right side hitter), Lexi Connolly (outside hitter), classmate Ella Sweeney (middle hitter) and rising junior Caileen Hurley (setter) will anchor the club next fall.
Top match 3-2 victory over Bridgewater-Raynham on Oct. 29. Already out of the playoffs and in the final contest of the season, the Panthers could have laid down. They didn’t, digging themselves out of a two-set hole for the victory. Hanlon registered her 200th career kill in that match.
Top quote: “It’s a big deal.”– Then-head coach Ashley Balbian on Allison Hanlon’s 200th career kill.
BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY
Storyline: Boys’ cross country finishes 3-5.
The rundown: The boys’ cross country team was young – its top seven will all be back next season. Sophomore Theo Kamperides, though, stood above them all, leading W-H in every single race. On the year, he owned a first-place finish, three second-place finishes and four third-place finishes. Junior Brandon Hager and freshman Evan Jewitt were the team’s second and third best. The Panthers are in a good spot moving forward.
Top meet: 21-40 victory over Scituate on Oct. 16. Kamperides sparked the Panthers with a first-place showing at 17:44 with Hager shortly behind him at 17:48.
Top quote: “Theo is a tireless worker, always wanting to do more. He doesn’t enjoy days off and always wants to extend his weekly long run which we capped off at 15 miles this fall.” – head coach Steve George on Kamperides
GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY
Storyline: The girls also finish 3-5.
The rundown: Head coach Steve George knows what the girls’ program has been – and he wants it to return to the pedestal atop EMass. But if numbers don’t rise, the girls will scuffle like this past fall, which concluded in a 3-5 mark. It certainly wasn’t for a lack of effort but really just the participation. W-H has a jumping off point to build from next season, its top runner, rising senior Tori Boss, and No. 3 runner, rising senior Niki Kamperides will both be back. It now needs the underclassmen to step up.
Top meet: 26-31 victory over Plymouth North on Sept. 26. Boss finished the course in 22:21 and Kamperides finished fourth as the Panthers got their first win of the season.
Top quote: “We went into the season knowing Hingham, Duxbury, Plymouth North and Plymouth South had some phenomenal runners, so our expectations were not high. But our kids’ effort and commitment were rewarded with a good record and some incredible times and finishes.”– head coach Steve George
CHEERLEADING
Storyline: Cheerleaders roll.
The rundown: Under the watch of second-year head coach Alyssa Hayes, the cheerleading team rolled to a Patriot League title, regional crown and state title – its 14th.
Top competition: Scoring a 198.7 at Worcester State on Nov. 18 to win the MSAA Division 2 state crown.
Top quote:“Their motivation, determination and drive has been unmatched these last few weeks. I am even more impressed with the way they handle themselves – they’ve managed to stay humble regardless of their state championship record. They don’t stop working hard after a win.” – head coach Alyssa Hayes
WINTER
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
Storyline: For the boys’ basketball team, all it does is win, win, win no matter what.
The rundown: Really, all it seems to do is win. Another year, another tournament berth for the boys’ basketball team – its 11thstraight after graduating its entire starting five for the second time in three years. The Panthers’ 18-7 mark gave them at least 16 wins for the seventh consecutive season. Seeded eighth in the Div. 2 South Sectional tournament, Bob Rodgers’ club knocked off ninth-ranked Dennis-Yarmouth, 60-57, and upset top-seeded Randolph on the road, 60-51, before falling to second-seeded New Mission in a semifinal thriller, 79-70. The team’s MVP, junior Stevie Kelly emerged at the floor general, while junior Ben Rice and sophomore Cole LeVangie were threats inside and out.
Top game: 60-51 win over top-ranked Randolph in the quarterfinals March 4. Kelly (13 points) had a key layup late to hold off the Blue Devils.
Top quote: “He’s a tenacious player for sure. He really gets after it. He’s a tremendous defender and a great leader on the floor.”– head coach Bob Rodgers on Kelly
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Storyline: A strong showing for girls’ hoop.
The rundown: Returning Patriot League All-Star Erin Leahy was expected to run the point and produce at a high level, but instead, she didn’t suit up at all due to injury. That didn’t stop then-head coach Jenna Olem from leading the squad to a 12-10 campaign, which ended with a tough 45-41 loss to Mansfield in the Div. 1 South tournament. Senior captain and league all-star Kathryn Dunn did it all for W-H, leading it in points (11.5) rebounds (eight) and assists (3.5) per game. She’ll leave an immense hole. The Panthers were a resilient bunch, winning eight games by 10 points or less, including an overtime win over Hoosac Valley, two-point thriller over Scituate on the road and two-point triumph over Duxbury at home. Rising seniors Hannah Damon, Britany Gacicia and Liv Martin, rising junior Reese Coedero and rising sophomore Lauren Dunn will play big roles next season.
Top game: 51-46 victory over Hoosac Valley on Dec. 28. Resiliency, grit, determination are all words used to recap this one as the Panthers stormed back from a 17-point deficit to knock off the hosts. Martin and Kathryn Dunn were both huge down the stretch.
Top quote: “A big thing at beginning of season was stressing our depth and players filling in necessary roles when called on. We’ve had big nights from a different players at different points in the season. When different players are able to stand out on different nights, it is a strength to our team.”– then-head coach Jenna Olem
BOYS’ HOCKEY
Storyline: Boys’ hockey battles way to tournament for first time since 2013.
The rundown: Head coach Chris Googins had nothing but praise for his club at season’s end, after making the tournament for the first time since 2013. While the Panthers, who fell to Westwood, 5-1, in the first round, flexed their immense depth all winter, their first line of junior Adam Solari (10 goals and 14 assists), classmate Chris Stoddard (13 goals and 10 assists) and Owen Manning (six goals and 14 assists) was money. Sophomore Bobby Siders shored up a desperate need in net going head-to-head with some of the best teams in the state. Manning and converted defenseman Ed Scriven will be tough voids to fill, but the Panthers, who finished 10-9-1 this winter, should be contending for the playoffs again next season.
Top game: 6-1 victory over Cohasset on Feb. 18. The Panthers needed three points in their final two games to make the tournament and this win game them four. A gutsy effort.
Top quote: “The kids are really buying into the importance of how much you have to work in the offseason and getting out of your comfort zone. Whether it’s working out or whether it’s trying to play high-level hockey in the offseason to compete with surrounding towns. It’s happening. Kids are actually taking this sport seriously and realizing that you got to play the game and train for the game year round if you want to compete.”– head coach Chris Googins
GIRLS’ HOCKEY
Storyline: WHSL not there yet as it skates to a 4-13-2 campaign.
The rundown: Head coach Kevin Marani thought he may have a playoff team at the outset of the season, but he didn’t. The Panthers showed flashes of what they could be if they put it all together, but their youth (15 combined freshmen and sophomores) led to some mistakes at times. Junior captain Alyssa Murphy (Kingston) was essentially the offense, netting 27 tallies and dishing out 15 assists to be in on 67 percent of the team’s scores.Sophomore Emily McDonald (Whitman) was second on the team with 15 points (six goals and nine assists). Both will lead the offense again next winter. Sophomore goalie Kat Gilbert, who turned away 481 shots, will provide experience in net.
Top game: 6-1 win over Stoughton on Feb. 16. One of the most complete games WHSL managed, where both the offense and defense were in the zone.
Top quote: “I said to the girls, ‘We’re so close. Once you start to win, it becomes a habit.’ We had a ton of one-goal games, two-goal games with an empty net.”– head coach Kevin Marani
WRESTLING
Storyline: Wrestling team finishes white-hot.
The rundown: The wrestling team may have gone 7-20, but four of those wins came in their final seven matches. It also sent three wrestlers to the state tournament, as opposed to zero the year before. Rising junior Damari Goldsmith-Greene, in the 138-pount weight category, was really the Panthers’ lone star, collecting a team-high 29 wins and placing in four tournaments and seventh at states. Freshmen Jason Rapoza (13 wins at 182) and Rocco Ruffini (10 wins at 220) gave the Panthers a quick glimpse into the future.
Top meet: 63-6 over Everett and 39-39 triumph over Bristol-Plymouth/Coyle & Cassidy on Feb. 2. Goldsmith-Greene had a pin and two wins on the day, senior Joel McInnis (145) had two pins and junior captain Steve Brooks had three pins to pace the Panthers.
Top quote: “We are losing only three seniors and two were starters. Time will tell, but offseason wrestling is the key for next season.”– head coach Gary Rabinovitz
GYMNASTICS
Storyline: New coach, co-op formed for gymnastics.
The rundown: There was a lot of turnover with the gymnastics team, which was in limbo before the season due to lack of turnout and no coach. That was until Sarah O’Shaughnessy accepted the coaching position and the program co-oped with Middleboro. The club finished 2-13. The team’s MVP, junior Sarah Bombardier was a bright spot as W-H’s only gymnast to compete in every all around, and she consistently scored 32 all-arounds, averaging eight on every event.
Top meet:132.1-121.25 victory over Norwell/Cohasset and 135.95-123.1 loss to Mashpee/Falmouth on Feb. 1. Bombardier had a 32.55 in all around.
Top quote: “I’m more trying to get them to come together. I know they didn’t think they were going to have a team at all, so I’m more trying to get them to come together.”– head coach Sarah O’Shaughnessy
GIRLS’ SWIMMING/DIVING
Storyline: Girls’ swimming/diving team has great year in pool.
The rundown: What a season it was for the Whitman-Hanson/Middleboro girls’ swimming/diving team, which finished 8-2. Junior captain Maddie Navicky was a star in the pool, qualifying for both sectionals and states, while pacing WHAM to a second-place finish in a deep South Shore League. Rising sophomore Abby Bonney, rising senior Niki Kamperides and rising junior Sabrina O’Connor were also key cogs all year.
Top meet: 89-84 victory over Rockland on Jan. 2, backed by splendid performances from Navicky in all three relay and a personal best from Bonney in the 50-yard freestyle in the final meet of the season.
Top quote: “During my freshman year, I saw that students were given the opportunity to swim with a nearby school as a co-op team, WHAM (Whitman Hanson and Middleboro), and I loved swimming at my grandparents’ pool, so I thought, ‘Why not try out?’” – Maddie Navicky
BOYS’ INDOOR TRACK
Storyline: Head coach Mike Driscoll gifted a ‘dedicated’ team during his final season.
The rundown: After 20-plus years coaching track at W-H, this was head coach Mike Driscoll’s final season, and he was complementary of his bunch that finished 2-3. He coined his group, one of the most “dedicated” teams he’s had. From senior captain Billy Martell to classmate Kyle O’Brien, the compete-level was there in practice and during meets. Junior Brandon Hager was the team’s top scorer. Junior Pat Bui was huge in the sprinting game and throwing the shot put.
Top meet: 51-48 victory over Pembroke on Jan. 4. Bui, Martell, fellow seniors Sean Kukauskas and Nic Fernandes clinched the win in the 4×200 replay.
Top quote: “That was a huge win for us. That was a big night for the kids. [Pembroke] is someone we all respect in the track world, and to beat them was a cool thing.”– then-head coach Mike Driscoll on the win over Pembroke
GIRLS’ INDOOR TRACK
Storyline: Tough season for girls’ indoor track team.
The rundown: Head coach Steve George isn’t much for team records, but he admitted his club’s 0-5 record was a bit tough to swallow. The Panthers only had 40 participants, so that put them in a hole often. Senior captain was W-H’s top point scorer, scoring nearly 40 percent of the team’s points in a bevy of ways. Sophomores Izzy Amado and Anna Sullivan both put forth strong winters as did junior Courtney Woodward.
Top meet: 54-46 loss to Plymouth North on Jan. 23.W-H wins came from: Sullivan (2-mile, 12:36.09), Woodward (600-meter dash, 1:54.15), Bartlett (55-meter hurdles, :09.68) and senior Dorothy DiMascio-Donohue (long jump, 14-foot-10 1/4) in the close loss.
Top quote: “The goal is to increase participation and with more athletes, achieve greater success in competition. Our kids are out there spreading the word that track is not all work, it can be a lot of fun, too.”– head coach Steve George
SPRING
BASEBALL
Storyline: Heartbreaking end for baseball team.
The rundown: The talent was certainly there and so were the aspirations to make a run at a state title. After an 11-1 start, it appeared the only thing that could hold W-H back from a Div. 2 state title was itself. The Panthers got cold in the homestretch, finishing the regular season 14-5. After a 2-1 victory over Plymouth South to open the tournament, W-H drew a tough Westwood squad, committed four errors and left 11 men on base and fell, 4-3. It was a heartbreaker because the Panthers led late but couldn’t hold on. It was also a heartbreaker because they will send off their three senior co-captains and four-year varsity players – Rian Schwede (three-time league all-star), Mike Cook (three-time league all-star) and Ethan Phelps (one-time league all-star) – into the sunset. The three racked up 61 wins and won two Patriot League titles during their time at W-H. The rotation now turns over to rising juniors Tommy and Bobby Marshall and Cole LeVangie. The offense will be led by rising senior Chris Zalewski.
Top game: 1-0 victory over Duxbury on May 7. What a game this was. An old-fashion pitchers’ duel featuring Schwede and former AAU teammate Charlie Coon with Schwede just getting the better of him. Tommy Marshall slammed the door for the save.
Top quote: “They knew what I thought and knew what they thought and it made it a nice smooth ride. We had a lot of great wins here. They’ve helped a lot. I will miss them. It’s been great having them, and I’m going to miss the heck out of them.”– head coach Pat Cronin on Cook, Phelps and Schwede
SOFTBALL
Storyline: Future really bright on softball diamond.
The rundown: The talent is there for a tournament team next season, it’s just about cleaning some things up. After finishing the spring 7-13 under first-year head coach Jordan McDermott, the Panthers will return all but one starter next year in catcher Kayla Crawford. League all-stars, freshman Annie Cook burst onto the scene at third base and junior captain Victoria Ryan was her steady self as second base. Cook also hit leadoff and was second on the team in hits (21) and fourth in average (.344). Ryan, who hit in the heart of the order, led W-H in average (.390), hits (23) and home runs (two). The team’s MVP, Emily McDonald led it with a .448 on-base percentage and by scoring 13 runs. Freshman Erin Burke and sophomore Abby Cleary will both have another season under the belt on the mound as well. There’s a lot to like about the softball team moving forward.
Top game: 25-6 rout of Scituate on May 25. Whenever you score 25 runs, regardless of the opponent, it’s a big deal.
Top quote: “I’ve always had high expectations from them. They’ve always been really, really good athletes and really good scholars and stuff like that so I’ve always tried to hold myself up to their standards and try my best to be like them.” – Annie Cook on following her siblings’ legacies on the diamond
BOYS’ LACROSSE
Storyline: Good signs for boys’ lacrosse.
The rundown: First-year head coach Tyler Sabens got to work, establishing chemistry and reviving a program that had won just seven games the previous two springs. The Panthers finished their campaign 9-11 – one game out of the tournament. The seniors led the way in the locker room and on the field, combining for almost all the offense and providing a steady presence in net. Senior captain and goalie Mario Troiani, a league all-star, stopped nearly 60 percent of shots on him. Fellow senior captain, midfielder Ryan Downing, scored a team-high 49 goals. Senior captain and midfielder Mason Gorman led the team with 58 points, while senior attackmen Shane Ross (35 goals and 18 assists) and Sean Joanis (31 goals and 21 assists) packed a punch on offense. Senior captain Ryan Trongone anchored the defense. They’ll be a lot of new faces next year.
Top game: 18-11 victory over Pembroke on May 14. Gorman, Ross and sophomore Aidan McCarthy all scored four times and Troiani 13 saves in net for the win.
Top quote: “They can see how the Duxburys and the Hinghams, Scituates operate, but if they don’t want to do the work on their own, it’s going to be very hard to build this. The guys gotta do some of the work, like wall ball and shoot on your own in order to get better as individual players. And also, just watch lacrosse. The more you watch it, the more you’re around it, the more the fundamental concepts tend to sink in that are important to building a successful program.” – head coach Tyler Sabens
GIRLS’ LACROSSE
Storyline: Injuries bite girls’ lacrosse.
The rundown:A season-ending injury to senior captain and defenseman Anikka Putur and a seven-game absence for Riley Bina due to a concussion were just a few of the injuries that threw a wrench in any plans of making the postseason. Bina still led the club with 37 goals and was a Patriot League All-Star, despite missing the time. Senior attack and captain Zoe Lyon was productive, scoring 35 goals and a team-high 53 points. Lyon, senior captain Sami Whitman (25 goals and nine assists) and classmate Taylor Ross (20 goals and seven assists) will be missed on offense. Look for sophomore Brooke Connors (12 goals and seven assists) to shoulder a lot of the offensive load next season with Bina. They should be surpass this season’s 7-11 mark.
Top game: 14-6 victory over East Bridgewater on May 29. After limping through the season, the Panthers – paced by four Bina goals – capped it in style with a blowout on senior night.
Top quote: “Riley earned the respect of her teammates due to her competitive nature and also her pure skill to transition the ball and find the back of the net with great shooting percentage. She also tended to score more goals in competitive games than against easier opponents.” – head coach AC Decker on Bina
BOYS’ TENNIS
Storyline: 14 new faces on boys’ tennis team.
The rundown: The boys’ tennis team’s record slipped from the previous season (from 5-12 to 3-13), but the number of new faces rose to 14, which signals second-year head coach Alyssa Hayes has the program trending in the right direction. Of course, now the results need to come. Junior captain Brian Fox was the club’s spark once again, leading it with five wins in No. 1 singles en route to being a Patriot League All-Star.
Top match: 4-1 victory over Pembroke on May 21. League wins are always a good thing. This win was followed by sweeping Cardinal Spellman the following match.
Top quote: “I definitely would call this season a success due to the growth and depth we were able to gain within the team.”– head coach Alyssa Hayes
GIRLS’ TENNIS
Storyline: Girls’ tennis nets history.
The rundown: This was the most successful girls’ tennis team on record at W-H, winning the program’s first tournament match ever, 4-1 over Bishop Feehan in the preliminary round of the Div. 1 South tournament. In No. 1 singles, junior captain went 9-9 and was the 11-11 Panthers’ lone league all-star. Junior captain Abby Pulling (12-6 in No. 2 singles) and sophomore Julia Benvie (9-2 in No. 3 singles) were the Panthers’ strength all season. The thought is that this is just the beginning for W-H, which is set to return everyone next spring.
Top match: 4-1 victory over Bishop Feehan on June 3 in the preliminary round of the Div. 1 South Sectional tournament to post the program’s first tournament win ever.
Top quote: “I knew they had that in them, it was just my job I feel to present that. I knew they could do this, I didn’t know if they knew they could do this and that was my role and my assistant Sue Moss’ role to get them to that point. They have the talent, they just needed to believe in themselves.”– head coach Sue Sookiasian
BOYS’ OUTDOOR TRACK
Storyline: Boys’ outdoor track goes 3-2.
The rundown: Head coach Stephen Schlicting was pleased with his team’s performance. The Panthers finished the season 3-2, had 60 active participants and saw more than 50 personal bests set in the final three dual meets. Senior captain Dan Kline was named the team’s MVP after having a monster spring in both the 110-meter hurdles and javelin, while also contributing in the 400-meter hurdles. Sophomore Theo Kamperides, who set personal bests in both the 1- (4:45) and 2-mile run (9:58.37), was the team’s long league all-star.
Top meet: 75-61 victory over Duxbury on April 24, which was sparked by a pair of relay wins.
Top quote: “Our goals going into the season were to recruit a larger number of athletes than in the previous years. We wanted those athletes to improve. We wanted to participate in the major invitational meets (state relays, Patriot League meet, Div. 2 state meet and the MSTCA decathlon.) All those goals were met.” – head coach Stephen Schlicting
GIRLS’ OUTDOOR TRACK
Storyline: Bartlett awesome outdoors as well.
The rundown: Senior captain Ally Bartlett picked off where she left off in the winter, leading the charge for the outdoor track team, participating and scoring in the maximum of four events every dual meet. Freshmen Olivia Borgen (team’s second leading scorer who was unbeaten in both the 200- and 400- meter dash) and Myah Kamperides (team’s third leading scorer) were also immense contributors. Those rising sophomores and rising seniors Ryley Hurley and Samantha Perkins will lead the way next spring, as W-H looks to improve on a 3-2 season.
Top meet: 72-64 victory over Duxbury on April; 24. Borgen was a double-winner in the 100- and 200-meter dash to push the Panthers over the top and to a 3-0 start.
Top quote: “I was asked recently about the importance of winning, and frankly, my response drew some surprise when I replied that winning was unimportant. But in our sport, the focus, as well as each athlete’s goal, is to improve each time out. We try to motivate our kids to establish a personal record every time out. While it may seem unrealistic, we had several meets where PRs totaled in the 60s. Each one is a win for me. Team wins will ultimately follow if every athlete does his/her part to improve.”– head coach Steve George
–This year in review is written solely by the Express, the Whitman-Hanson coaches have no input in what is written.
Baseball: Rian Schwede | Senior – The Panthers’ ace dazzled opponents to the tune of a 0.79 ERA and 7-2 record to punctuate a four-year varsity career that included three Patriot League All-Star nods. He will play at Endicott next spring.
Softball: Victoria Ryan | Junior – She is the definition of an impact player. A repeat league all-star, the junior led the young squad in average (.390), slugging percentage (.542), on-base plug slugging (.961) and home runs (two).
Boys’ lacrosse: Mason Gorman | Senior – Selected as a league all-star, the senior midfielder fueled the Panthers’ turnaround by pumping in 32 goals and dishing out a team-high 26 assists for a team-best 58 points.
Girls’ lacrosse: Riley Bina | Junior – Despite missing seven games due to injury, the junior midfielder paced the team with 37 goals and added 13 helpers. The captain-elect was a Patriot League All-Star.
Boys’ tennis: Brian Fox | Junior – The junior captain, who was named the team MVP, led the Panthers with a 5-11 record while competing in No. 1 singles. Posted key wins against Pembroke and Spellman during the Panthers’ two-match win streak.
Girls’ tennis: Lexi Connolly | Junior – Named a Patriot League All-Star, the junior captain was terrific all season out of her post in No. 1 singles. Had a key victory in a tight 3-2 win over Plymouth North.
Boys’ outdoor track: Theo Kamperides | Sophomore – A Patriot League All-Star, the sophomore was one of the Panthers’ top scorers this spring. With a 2-mile run of 10:40.00, he placed first in the Patriot League meet.
Girls’ outdoor track: Ally Bartlett | Senior – The Express’ girls’ indoor track Athlete of the Season in the winter, Bartlett participated, and scored, in the maximum of four events in every meet. The senior captain was W-H’s top scorer.
Girls’ tennis: Sue Sookiasian – In her sixth season at the helm of the girls’ tennis team, she guided the Panthers, who received most of their contributions from sophomores and juniors, to their first ever tournament victory, a 4-1 victory over Bishop Feehan. Sookiasian said after the season: “As the season progressed, our team progressed. I think our girls picked up speed as the season went along and gained confidence and we really ended up strong.”