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‘Tis the season: Panther athletes get set to play on a very different field

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The fall sports season starts on Friday, Sept. 18 at Whitman-Hanson Regional High.

The wait is almost over.

After nearly six months without high school sports, the fall season is finally set to get underway tomorrow at Whitman-Hanson Regional High.

Cross country, field hockey, boys’ golf, soccer and girls’ volleyball will all begin practice. Football and fall cheerleading were moved to February.

“These have been difficult times for all of us, but especially our kids,” said W-H athletic director Bob Rodgers. “I am so excited to see them back with their coaches and teammates. I’m not sure people truly understand how much being part of a team means to our students but I know this will help them deal with these uncertain times.

“Our teachers have been working so hard for the return to school and the same holds true for our coaches. I hope everyone remembers that this is uncharted territory for all of us and we will do the best we can to serve our students the best we can. We will learn as we go and adjust when necessary.”

There are a few major changes coming to some sports. Field hockey will be played 7-on-7 instead of 11-on-11. There will be no throw-ins, slide tackling or heading the ball in soccer.

“This season is most certainly challenging, but we will meet this challenge with a covered smile,” said boys’ soccer head coach Dave Leahy.

That feeling is universal.

“I’m very excited that we get the chance to play this season,” said girls’ soccer junior Kelsee Wozniak. “It’s definitely going to be a challenge with the new rules, but the fact we even are allowed to play is great.”

Said girls’ volleyball junior Lily Welch: “All of my teammates and I are super excited about having a season. Even though it’s hard under the guidelines, we have all been getting together and training with each other. We have also had the chance to be teachers and work with the incoming freshman and I love that.”

There also won’t be a state tournament, but Wozniak said she’ll have no issue staying motivated playing in the Patriot League.

“We play in a very strong conference with talented teams,” she said. “Our goal is to compete and win our league. That will drive us every day to work very hard as a team.”

Regardless of what this upcoming season will look like or even how it may play out, one thing is certain heading into it.

“I can’t wait to get started,” said boys’ and girls’ cross country head coach Steve George.

No football, cheerleading this fall

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Football and cheerleading have been pushed off from this fall to a “sandwich” season in February.

There won’t be any Friday night lights or Thanksgiving Day football this coming fall.

The MIAA Board of Directors has moved football and fall cheerleading back to the spring in a season it’s calling “Fall II,” that will run from Feb. 22 to April 25. Both are deemed high-risk sports.

“It is the best case scenario for our players and our seniors to get a season in,” said Whitman-Hanson Regional High football head coach Mike Driscoll. “Obviously, we would like life to be normal and have a regular fall season, but that is not the case right now. We will make the best out of the current situation and our guys will be hungry and ready to go come the end of February.”

W-H cheerleading head coach Alyssa Pietrasik also understands the move.

“We are disappointed that we won’t have our fall season, there’s something special and unique about those Friday nights under the lights and the extreme competitiveness of fall cheer,” she said. “But in reality, our day will come when the world is a safer place. Right now we need to buckle down and keep our distance so that we can get to business come February. But I will say that I can’t wait for that day to come.”

The regular fall season, which will include soccer, gymnastics, cross country, field hockey, girls’ volleyball, and boys’ golf, will start on Sept. 18.

The Patriot League will play its games in a bubble, which means schools will only play games against teams in their respective division (Keenan or Fisher). W-H is in the Keenan Division with Duxbury, Marshfield Plymouth North Silver Lake and Quincy. However, there are a few executions: boys’ soccer will face North Quincy, while field hockey and girls soccer’ and girls’ volleyball will play one game against Notre Dame Academy (of Hingham). The league will conclude play with the Patriot League cup, which will end no later than Nov. 20. There won’t be a state tournament.

“This  isn’t really about championships, it’s not about banners in the gym,” said W-H athletic director Bob Rodgers at last Friday’s school committee meeting. “It’s about giving kids participation — allowing them to be part of something.”

Codero commits to Roger Williams for basketball

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Reese Codero dribbles. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Reese Codero will play basketball at Roger Williams next season.

A three-sport varsity contributor at Whitman-Hanson Regional High, rising senior Reese Codero is taking her talents to the next level.

Codero has committed to play basketball at Roger Williams University, a Division III school in Bristol, Rhode Island, that competes in the Commonwealth Coast Conference.

“I felt it was a good fit for me because I think I will be able to be successful academically but also challenged at the same time,” said Codero, who is planning to study criminal justice. “I have seen the team play a couple of times [and] I really admire their style. They are a type of team who plays together and not every girl for herself. They compete at a high level and I want to be a part of that.”

This past winter, Codero emerged as the Panthers’ starting point guard helping guide the program to its best regular-season record (14-6) since 2009-10 and first playoff win in eight years. She scored 7.1 ppg and dished out 3.2 apg en route to earning Patriot League All-Star status. And she is fully expecting to elevate her game as she writes the final chapter of her W-H basketball career.

“Before I get to Roger Williams, I am looking to grow not only as a player but as a person as well,” said Codero, who also plays soccer and softball. “I want to work on my game and have my weaknesses become strengths. I plan to keep improving everyday physically and mentally. During the upcoming high school season, I want to help my team compete for a league championship and to get better as a team.”

But before basketball, she’ll take aim at another league title in the fall in net for the girls’ soccer team.

Fall sports delayed until at least mid-September

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Fall sports will be delayed until at least Sept. 14.

It could have been worse.

The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association has pushed back the start of the fall sports season until Sept. 14 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

“I think by making this move, it gives us the best opportunity to have a sustained program,” Whitman-Hanson Regional High athletic director Bob Rodgers told WHDH 7 News’ Byron Barnett. “We could come back at the normal date and it could be very likely we’d be out again. It could have a domino affect. I’m pleased with the decision.”

Rodgers also noted the start date is for tryouts and practices, so games may be on hold until mid-October.

“I think we’re going to have a really workable plan,” Rodgers said. “It won’t be normal, it won’t be what we’ve always had. But let’s face it, this is an unprecedented time, nobody has ever gone though this before.”

“I think we’re probably going to shorten the regular season a bit and then there’s been some talks about whether we change the whole playoff format for a year. Maybe we keep it more regional. Maybe we keep it more district-oriented.”

In addition to a shortened season, Rodgers said he’s expecting some other changes, such as having to rely on parents for transportation to and from games, a limit of guests in attendance and likely no Friday night lights.

“There’s going to have to be some compromise,” he said.

Rodgers said he’s also expecting some bumps along the way.

“My biggest concern is the whole start, stop thing,” he said. “Once we get into this, there will be people that will test positive, and it’s a matter of ‘How do we address those positive tests?'”

Rodgers said his message to the athletes is to just stay positive.

“Stay confident that we’re going to make this happen,” Rodgers said. “If we keep these numbers down then we will have sports. We will have school. I think we have to keep doing what we’re doing.”

A new bench boss: Rob Peters takes charge of boys’ hockey

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Rob Peters is the new boys’ hockey coach and he’s no stranger to the Patriot League.

Rob Peters knows firsthand what the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ hockey team is capable of after serving as an assistant coach for Scituate the last two seasons. 

Not only did the Panthers go 2-0 against the Sailors last year during league play, but they also ended their season in the Division 2 South quarterfinals. 

“They’re (Whitman-Hanson) well respected, very difficult,” Peters said. “It’s always a dog fight to play Whitman-Hanson.”

Fortunately for Peters, he doesn’t have to worry about playing the Panthers anymore, after they hired him as their next head coach last month. 

“It’s definitely exciting being back behind the bench head coaching and kind of build off of a great, respected program,” Peters said. “I’m definitely excited to be a part of that.”

Peters succeeds Chris Googins, who stepped down to spend more time with his family, and Peters knows he has some big shoes to fill. Googins took the program from a one-win season in 2015 (his first season back in his second stint behind the Panthers bench) to its best campaign in at least 15 years this past winter, going 17-6-1 and earning a trip to the South semifinals. Peters said his philosophy mirrors the program’s current style quite well. 

“I like to coach a very disciplined, defensive-minded-first team, so I like having kids with good characters,” Peters said. “That’s what I saw as an outsider and then when I started to go through the interview process and learn more about Whitman-Hanson and who they are as a school and a community, there’s a lot of similarities with how I live my everyday life. As I went through the interview process, it reassured me that it was going to be a good fit.”

Peters’ duties at Scituate included running the power play, coaching the forwards and leading film sessions. Additionally, he owns and operates his own hockey skill development company. He also worked in community development and branding for the New Jersey Devils organization. 

“I think I’ll be able to add a little more versatility and a little more skill development [to W-H],” Peters said. 

A question for any new W-H boys’ hockey coach should be: How do you keep the program relevant?

“I want to try and have a little more input with their youth program,” Peters said. “I want to really get them excited to play for Whitman-Hanson hockey — kind of build from the bottom up.”

“Year after year, players change but the systems, the character, and everything that comes with the game mentally stays. If we create a family atmosphere, I think we can overcome anything.”

And the Panthers’ are going to have to overcome the graduation of a few key forwards in Patriot League All-Stars Adam Solari (23 goals, 11 assists) and Chris Stoddard (nine goals, 28 assists). However, they will return a league all-star in net, Bobby Siders, and freshman forward standout Matt Solari (18 goals, 14 assists). 

“I want to make the playoffs — that’s a big goal,” Peters said. “They had a really big year last year. We lost some key forwards but I think we are still going to have a great roster and character. I’m excited to see what these guys got. I want to get back in the playoffs — where they were last year.”

Season Review: A championship run for boys’ basketball

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The Panthers celebrate a win at TD Garden. / Photo by: Sue Moss

This season’s boys’ basketball team earned the program’s first-ever state title.

Preparation for the state championship game was underway when Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ basketball head coach Bob Rodgers heard his phone ring. He had a hunch what it was going to be about.

“We just finished our film session and scouting report and we were about 15 to 20 minutes into the on-court portion of practice when I got the phone call,” Rodgers said. “I stepped out of the gym to take it and walked in and I could see the kids. We all knew it was inevitable.”

The Panthers Div. 2 state title game against Taconic was canceled. While the initial reaction was heartbreaking, Rodgers said it didn’t take long to put it into perspective.

“One thing I told the kids is to look up at the banners in the gym on that boys’ basketball league championship banner, there’s a co-champion in there,” said Rodgers, who wrapped up his 20th year on the Panthers’ bench. “Nobody knows what year it is. It’s such a great accomplishment for the kids to win our first-ever state championship. It’s not going to say co-champions, it’s going to say state champions. That’s what they are.

“We were all pretty confident we were gonna be able to complete it if we were able to play that last game.”

It’s tough to argue with that. The Panthers (25-2) hadn’t lost in nearly two and a half months and were riding a state-best 23-game winning streak.

“When I realized how good of a basketball team we were was when we were at Scituate,” Rodgers said. “Scituate was an outstanding basketball team and we played near flawless basketball and made a big statement (75-45 victory).”

One of many big statements for the Panthers, who knocked off Div. 1 contenders Brockton (75-70) and Mansfield (72-59) to win the Roundball Classic, and capped the season by getting over the hump at TD Garden with an 86-68 rout of Beverly. 

“The accomplishments of the team, to end the season with a win at the TD Garden,” Rodgers said, “so many positives we can take from it.”

The Panthers were buoyed by a balanced attack all season — led by senior captain Stevie Kelly. The Clarion University commit was a stat-sheet stuffer, recording 14 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game en route to being named Patriot League Keenan Division MVP.

“Stevie is a great story,” Rodgers said. “He was cut from the middle-school basketball team and he is somebody who has a tremendous work ethic and if he’s not good at something, he’s going to keep practicing it until he gets better at it. He’s like having another coach on the team. He’s one of the all-time best players that ever played at Whitman-Hanson.”

Many of Kelly’s assists were to fellow senior captain and Patriot League Keenan Division All-Star Ben Rice. Rice, who stands at 6-foot-7, knocked down 77 3-pointers, leading the team with 14.7 ppg to complement 5.9 rpg. 

“He just had such a passion and love for basketball and the basketball gods rewarded him by making him 6-7,” Rodgers said of Rice, who will play at Connecticut College next season. “I think he played his best basketball at the end of the season.”

Juniors Cole LeVangie (11.4 ppg, 5 rpg) and Nate Amado (13.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg) were also named Patriot League Keenan Division All-Stars. The captain-elects combined for 99 3-pointers. 

“They’re both incredible, multi-dimensional basketball players,” Rodgers said. “They can shoot it, get to the hole, they can rebound, they can handle it. They both have very similar styles of play. They’re both extremely coachable, very kind and outstanding leaders. I’m really excited about having them as the foundation for trying to continue what we’ve been having going on at Whitman-Hanson for a long time.”

Seniors Tommy Vassil (headed to play at Springfield Commonwealth Academy prep school next year) and John Zeidan were also key parts of the Panthers’ run this season. 

“I consider us to be a character-based program,” Rodgers said. “We try to be the best people we can be. Not perfect people by any means but my kids take pride that they’re role models for the younger kids in the community. They have been through the Whitman-Hanson experience as kids so they recognize the importance they have on the future of Whitman-Hanson basketball and take great pride in it. For me, that’s what makes this program special.”

Googins steps down as W-H boys’ hockey coach

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Whitman-Hanson Regional High is looking for a boys’ hockey coach.

After the program’s best run in at least 15 years, Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ hockey head coach Chris Googins has stepped down.

“This is a huge loss for our school, but I get it,” said W-H athletic director Bob Rodgers. “Not only is Chris a tremendous coach, he is an even better father. His youngest son is playing hockey in college and he simply did not want to miss the opportunity to share that journey with him.”

Googins served six seasons as the boys’ hockey coach in the early 2000s before departing to take over the head coaching responsibilities at Framingham State University. He returned to W-H in 2016, as the Panthers skated to a one-win campaign. This past season, they won 17 games and earned a berth in the Div. 2 South semifinals. 

“Coach Googins touched all the bases as a high school coach,” Rodgers said. “ He taught his players so much more than just hockey and in his final lesson to the boys he showed them that family always comes first. We are fortunate that he will remain with our school in his current teaching position.”

Season Review: Boys’ hockey team stayed on-message

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The Panthers celebrate a goal against Scituate. / Photo by: Sue Moss

It was a special season on the ice for the boys’ hockey team.

If you can get a team to collectively buy into the same message, usually good things will follow. 

So, to see his Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ hockey team go on the program’s longest postseason run in at least 15 years didn’t take head coach Chris Googins by surprise one bit. The Panthers posted a 17-6-1 record and went all the way to the Div. 2 South semifinals, where they fell to eventual co-state champion Canton. 

“They really just stayed true to what their goal was and that was just trying to do their part to make the program better,” said the 10th-year head coach. “They didn’t care who got the points or the glory, they were just more interested in the program moving ahead. It does take a core group of kids to help establish a culture to have some relative success.”

It started with seniors Eddie Collins, Calvin Cooper, John Hagan, Adam Solari, Chris Stoddard, and Reed Watson, all of whom were four-year players who won just one game their freshman year.

“It can’t be mentioned enough of what a great character-driven core of seniors these have been,” Googins said. “None of them have left. They’ve always tried to push each other. I know there’s three kids who have letters on their jerseys, but anyone of them I would be comfortable calling a captain.”

Patriot League All-Stars Adam Solari and Stoddard keyed the offense. Adam Solari led the team with 23 goals to go with 11 assists, while Stoddard had a team-high 28 helpers to complement nine goals.

“They’re two different types of players and I think that’s why they had such a good year together,” Googins said. “Chris is more of a pass-first type of a kid and Adam is a shoot-first type of kid and it’s a great formula. They really did not care who scored, it was always about the end result.”

Freshman Matt Solari was the other piece of the Panthers’ top line and made quite the first impression, finding the back of the net 18 times with 14 assists. 

“He’s very fortunate that he played in three postseason games, three tournament games,” Googins said. “We’ve got other important kids coming back along with Matty who played significant time in the tournament.”

No one played more significant time in the tournament than junior goaltender Bobby Siders, who oftentimes stood on his head. A Patriot League All-Star, Siders recorded 26 saves in a 2-0 shutout victory over Scituate in the quarterfinals.

“Bobby is a hockey player,” Googins said. “He knows when we need a whistle and he knows when to deflect a puck in a certain corner. He’s constantly communicating. He really has been the backbone of this team. He’s going to continue and hopefully elevate his game because we are losing some production.”

Junior blueliners Jack Allen and Kevin Willis should once again form a strong nucleus in front of Siders next winter. 

“They know the system, they communicate very well with each other,” Googins said. “Looking for much bigger and better things from all of them.

“The bottom line is the heart, the desire, the work ethic, that’s there. But now there has to be a little more sport-specific training and it comes down to skating. You have to be able to skate at a higher level and make quick decisions. That starts in the weight room and working on legs.

Googins said he believes this season could be a turning point for his program, which had struggled to gain traction in the past. 

“Moving forward, the new normal is to get to this level annually and try to see if you can get some good opportunities and move forward,” Googins said. “We talk a lot about the word complacency and we try not to let it infect our team and I’m hoping getting into the tournament and trying to go deep is kind of the new normal. 

“There’s a lot of good programs at Whitman-Hanson and these kids all see it and want to try to get their program to where they’re contenders every year.”

Whitman-Hanson Express Postseason Accolades: Winter Sports

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Athletes of the Season

Boys’ basketball: Stevie Kelly | Senior – Kelly repeats as the boys’ basketball Athlete of the Season after fueling the Panthers’ run to the Division 2 state title. The Patriot League Keenan Division MVP recorded 14 points, 6.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game. He will play Division 2 college basketball next season at Clarion University.

 

 

Girls’ basketball: Brittany Gacicia | Senior – The senior was a constant on both ends of the floor for the Panthers, who finished with their best record since 2009-10 and won their first tournament game in eight years. A back-to-back Patriot League All-Star, Gacicia led the team in points (11.9), rebounds (7.1) and steals (2.5) per game.

 

 

Boys’ hockey: Adam Solari | Senior – The senior assistant captain scored a team-high 23 goals and dished out 11 assists, leading the Panthers to their longest run in at least 15 years, which ended in the Div. 2 South semifinals. The forward was named a Patriot League All-Star.

 

 

Girls’ hockey: Emily McDonald | Junior – Make it two straight winters as the girls’ hockey Athlete of the Season for McDonald. The junior assistant captain and forward notched nine goals and added five assists for WHSL, which made the tournament for the first time in three years.

 

 

Boys’ indoor track: Theo Kamperides | Junior – The junior went undefeated in the 2-mile run during dual-meet competition and set a personal best time of 10:06.26 at the Division 3 state meet. He was named a league all-star for the third consecutive season. 

 

 

Girls’ indoor track: Myah Kamperides | Sophomore – Named a Patriot League All-Star, the sophomore was the league’s top 2-miler with a time of 11:49. Also the Athlete of the Season for girls’ cross country, Kamperides was selected as the team’s MVP.

 

 

Wrestling: Steve Brooks | Senior – The senior captain tied the program’s all-time pins record with 32. A Patriot League All-Star, Brooks finished third at Div. 2 South Sectionals and fifth at Div. 2 States at 160 pounds. He will wrestle at Plymouth State.

 

 

Girls’ swimming/diving: Maddie Navicky | Senior – The senior captain finishes her career as a four-year South Shore League All-Star, two-time team MVP and back-to-back Athlete of the Season in girls’ swimming/diving. She will continue her academic and athletic career at the University of Lynchburg.

 

 

Gymnastics: Sarah Bombardier | Senior – A four-year varsity gymnast and W-H’s lone senior, Bombardier led the way on the vault with an 8.65 average. The captain and team MVP was also the gymnastics Athlete of the Season last winter.

 

 

Coach of the Season

Boys’ basketball: Bob Rodgers – Talent was certainly plentiful, but it takes a coach to put the pieces of the puzzle together and that’s just what Rodgers did in his 20th year at the helm of the Panthers, leading the program on a 23-game winning streak and to its first ever Div. 2 state title. Rodgers said after the season:“The accomplishments of the team — to end the season with a win at the Boston Garden, there are just so many positives we can take from this season. They were just the greatest kids.”

 

*All photos by Sue Moss

Hurley a double-sport star this winter

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Senior Ryley Hurley starred on both the mat and track this winter.

Ryley Hurley was feeling ambitious this winter and wanted to try something different. So, she did.

Already a four-time state champion cheerleader, you weren’t going to keep her off the mat. But with the cheerleading team opting to be noncompetitive for the season, that opened the door for Hurley, a senior at Whitman-Hanson Regional High, to flash her talents as a double-sport athlete. She knew it and joined the girls’ indoor track team.

“I really enjoyed being a part of two teams,” Hurley said. “It kept me fully involved with the school spirit and I love that. I had track practice every day after school, including days with meets. On days where we had to cheer at the basketball game, we would have a practice beforehand.”

Despite the busy schedule, she flourished. In addition to being named the MVP of the cheerleading team, Hurley was one of the girls’ indoor track team’s top point-getters.

“I am so proud of what I have accomplished not only this past winter season, but all four years of high school,” Hurley said. “Being a part of a team is so special. Even if the outcome was not what we hoped for, the bonds that I have made along the way make every practice and moment worth it.”

Hurley’s track career began middle school, but she didn’t participate in high school until last spring after some persuading.

“I recognized her athletic ability previously after watching the cheerleading practices, which took place in the gym while we practiced on the indoor track,” said W-H girls’ indoor and outdoor track head coach Steve George. “She was, in my opinion, that team’s most athletic member and its best gymnast. I felt she could be a very good track athlete.

“I asked a couple of our team members who had been cheerleaders, Dorothy DiMascio-Donohue and Allison Bartlett, to encourage Ryley to join the team.”

Hurley made a statement, qualifying for states in both the 400-meter dash and 400-meter hurdles. This winter, she excelled in 300-meter dash, high jump, long jump and as a leg on the 4×200 relay team and racked up the third most points on the team. She was unable to participate in the pentathlon after having her wisdom teeth extracted.

Ryley Hurley in track. / Photo by: Sue Moss

“She has the gift of speed and that along with her natural athleticism make her a track athlete with unlimited potential,” George said. “She also brings with her a genuine enthusiasm and willingness to take on any event when asked, adding the long and high jump to her resume.”

Hurley said picking up track last spring benefited her when the cheer season rolled around this fall.

“Doing track last spring and continuing the training all year really helped improve my stamina,” she said. “I was in shape and ready to go for the start of my fall season.”

Hurley’s passion for cheerleading began in second grade and has never wavered.

“From the first moment that I took the mat to compete I knew I was in it for the long haul,” Hurley said. “I loved learning new tumbling skills as well as learning new stunting positions throughout the years.”

She wrapped up her high school cheerleading career with four state titles, an NCA National title and a New England title.

“She is an athlete that has in one two-minute routine quite literally been in almost every stunting position,” said W-H cheerleading head coach Alyssa Hayes. “I would say that’s a rare feat, especially for high school cheer. She is our best jumper. She is one of our captains. She motivates the team. I could go on and on.”

Hurley and head cheerleading coach Alyssa Hayes. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Hayes said Hurley’s grit and determination make her special.

“I have seen her encounter obstacles in both youth and high school cheerleading, academics, tough losses, and regardless of each problem she pushes through until coming through to the other side,” Hayes said.

One of those obstacles is a tumbling block, which is a mental hurdle that keeps you from completing a tumble kill that you’ve done — even moments before.

“Mine has surfaced throughout the years usually after a fall of some sort,” Hurley said. “When the block would appear, I never gave up, not even once. Through multiple tumbling classes and talking myself through it I continue to try and push past it.”

Hurley said when she looks back on her time at W-H, one day comes to mind before any other.

“My greatest high school athletic memory so far was winning States for the first [during] time winter season of my freshman year,” Hurley said.

*This story will run in the Express’ print edition on Thursday, May 7.