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Season Review: Togetherness a strength for wrestling team

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Photo by: Sue Moss

The wrestling team finished with a 7-20 mark, but was white-hot in the homestretch.

Whitman-Hanson Regional High wrestling coach Gary Rabinovitz is coining the 2018-19 season a success.

For the Panthers, who finished the year with wins in four of seven matches, despite their 7-20 mark, they made progress. They sent three wrestlers to state tournaments, as opposed to zero last season, had a sectional finalist and their first tournament champion in two years.

Sophomore Damari Goldsmith-Greene (138 pounds) was a standout for W-H all season long, collecting a team-high 29 wins, placing in four tournaments and finishing seventh at states.

“Damari is a very coachable student-athlete and gives it 100 percent every day in both practice and matches,” Rabinovitz said. “He is a class act and has not even come close to reaching his potential as of yet. I like to say when a wrestler really gets it that he flicks the switch. Damari has certainly flicked the switch and this happened at the sectional tournament. Going forward he will not look back.”

Rabinovitz credited junior captain Steve Brooks (152), who missed 17 matches, with providing the Panthers with their first high point of the season with a win at the Weymouth Tournament on Jan. 12.

“Steve does a great deal of offseason wrestling and I believe that is the key to his continued success,” Rabinvotiz said. “Steve is in the same zone as Damari, he too believes he can win every match that he competes in.”

Junior Bethany Ralph provided the Panthers with another high point, finishing second in the first-ever girls’ wrestling state championship.

“For the past three years Bethany Ralph has been a model of consistency for our team,” Rabinovitz said. “She is one of the hardest workers on our team day in and day out, giving 110 percent every single day. She took a big lead this season and I look forward to her senior leadership next season. Bethany has proven that hard work does pay off.”

Freshmen Jason Rapoza (13 wins at 182) and Rocco Ruffini (10 wins at 220) gave the Panthers a quick glimpse into the future. Junior captain Tyler Cullinan boasted 19 wins, 12 of which came by pinfall, at 160 pounds.

Rabinovitz said togetherness was his team’s strength.

“The team support, especially at the end of a long season when only two wrestlers are left competing was impressive,” Rabinovitz said. “Nearly half the team showed up to practice over the final two weeks to support both Damari and Bethany.”

Sophomore Matt Butler, who was second on the team last season with 16 wins, was held to just 7 matches, in which he was 6-1 in, due to injury.

As for the future, the Panthers will return 12 of 16 tournament place winners and Rabinovitz said he has high optimism for the 2019-20 season already.

“We have several really competitive eighth graders that we have been waiting for and they will finally arrive for next season,” Rabinovitz said. “We are losing only three seniors and two were starters. Time will tell, but offseason wrestling is the key for next season.”

A leader on the team: WHSL’s Maddie Soule to serve

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Maddie Soule. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Maddie Soule, a four-year player, will enlist in the Army after hockey season.

Maddie Soule’s importance to the Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake high school girls’ hockey team doesn’t show up on the stat sheet.

The senior defenseman from Hanson has one point this season. It was a goal back on Jan. 27.

Soule’s niche is elsewhere. It’s her leadership.

“She is a great leader and just a good kid,” said WHSL head coach Kevin Marani. “That’s what we need.”

Soule, a team captain and four-year varsity player, has seen the highs and the lows of the program. After winning back-to-back SEMGHL titles in her first two campaigns, the team has collected just five wins since, as it undergoes a massive rebuild. She is one of just three seniors on the roster.

“[Being a captain] is a lot harder because of our record,” Soule said. “It takes its toll on these girls, especially me, so I to set the tone and keep everyone’s attitude the same and make sure everyone is still committed and giving fill effort.”

Soule described her leadership style as “intimidating.”

“I just feel like people take me more seriously because I’m all business,” she said.

With a passion for leadership, coupled with hockey, Soule will head into the Army after she graduates in May.

“I just knew that I wanted to start doing something right away out of high school,” she said. “I realized going into the Military will help me with my job because I want to go into law enforcement. I’ve always wanted to serve my country.”

Her training kicked into full gear in the fall.

“I met with my recruiter at 5 a.m. at the track at the high school and we worked out,” Soule said.

Being a hockey captain also works to her benefit.

“Making sure everyone follows has prepared me a lot for the future,” Soule said. “Hockey prepared me with mental toughness and physical toughness so I can take hits and get up.”

Soule said her memories as part of the WHSL girls’ hockey team will be everlasting.

“I’ll remember my freshman and sophomore year when we were back-to-back league champs,” said Soule. “My sophomore year we were two games away from going to the Garden.”

Soule said she hopes she left a permeant stamp on the hockey co-op.

“I kind of helped build the program, my freshman year it had just started, so I feel like I was part of starting it,” Soule said.

Pair of Panther hoop teams headed to postseason … again

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Both Whitman-Hanson basketball teams will play in the tournament.

For the third straight season, Whitman-Hanson Regional High’s boys’ and girls’ basketball teams have clinched playoff berths.

This is also the fourth time in the last six years both W-H basketball programs have earned a spot in the postseason.

11 STRAIGHT FOR THE BOYS

Photo by: Sue Moss

It’s almost always a sure bet veteran coach Bob Rodgers will have his team in the postseason no matter who it’s tasked with replacing at the season’s outset.

The boys clinched their spot on Jan. 29 with a 67-57 victory over Scituate at home, giving them their 11th win of the season.

“I’m always happy for the kids when we clinch a tourney spot because it’s such a special experience,” said Rodgers.

Senior captain Joey DePina paced the Panthers (16-6) with 16 points, while junior point guard Stevie Kelly tossed in 11.

“Joey DePina has been the heart and soul of our team,” Rodgers said. “His leadership has been instrumental in our team’s success. He is such a great teammate who is loved and respected by everyone on the club.

“Stevie Kelly has been the driving force behind our team this year. He has grown so much as a player and as a person. We are very proud of him.”

The Panthers have been buoyed by a balanced attack all season.

“Our depth is definitely our advantage,” Rodgers said. “We play more kids than most teams and while some may criticize that approach, we feel like having as many kids as possible contributing we create a culture where everyone has motivation to practice hard every day.”

Rodgers said his club knows exactly what it has to work on.

“Overall our team toughness and rebounding is an important part of the game that we have to improve,” said the coach.

The Panthers will aim to keep it simple in the playoffs.

“The only goal is to win that first game,” Rodgers said. “You can’t get too far ahead of yourself. Every team in the tournament can beat anyone, so you just have to stay focused on the game in front of you.”

GIRLS HEADED BACK

Photo by: Sue Moss

It’s taken a complete team effort for the girls’ basketball team to clinch a spot in the tournament for the third year in a row.

Jenna Olem’s club (12-8) picked up its 10th victory Feb. 13 with a 53-44 triumph over Silver Lake behind a monster 18-point, 15-rebound effort from senior captain Kathryn Dunn.

“Every team sets out to clinch a tournament spot,” Olem said. “As the season wore on I knew it was definitely within reach and it was just a matter of when.”

After losing senior captain and point guard Erin Leahy in the first practice of the year, the Panthers have been piecing it together.

“A big thing at beginning of season was stressing our depth and players filling in necessary roles when called on,” Olem said. “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.”

W-H has relied heavily on its defense (allowing 41 ppg), as its offense has been inconsistent at times, averaging 53 ppg in wins and 35 PPG in losses.

“We’re working on getting off to better starts offensively in the first quarter, knowing how to close out teams when we have a lead late and rebounding,” Olem said.

The goal?

“Pull an upset in the first-round tournament said,” Olem said.

WHAM’s Navicky goes ‘the extra mile’

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Maddie Navicky / Photo by: Sue Moss

The junior is Whitman-Hanson/Middleboro’s top point-getter this season.

Entering the winter of her freshman year, Maddie Navicky was certain about a couple of things: she enjoyed competing and she loved to swim.

However, she had never mixed the two. That was about to change.

“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),” Navicky said, “and I loved swimming at my grandparents’ pool, so I thought, ‘Why not try out?’”

Trying out blossomed into of the best decisions she has ever made. Now a junior at Whitman-Hanson Regional High, Navicky is a two-time South Shore League All-Star and back-to-back team MVP. This season, she’s WHAM’s top scorer and a sectional and state qualifier, which are both firsts for her.

“She is just a really hard worker,” said WHAM head coach Everett Clark. “She’s always trying to push it and go the extra mile.”

It’s that type of attitude since Day One that’s sparked Navicky’s success.

“At our practice, lane one is the fastest swimmers and lane six are the beginners,” Navicky, the first competitive swimmer in her family, said. “During my freshman year I was in lane six and I really wanted to strive to make the goal to get into lane five at the end of the year.”

Not only did she leap a lane, but she developed a deep-rooted passion for the sport because of its competitiveness. After all, she did run cross country in the fall.

“First, it was hard because swimming is draining and it uses every single muscle in your body,” Navicky said. “With all the work put into it, I kept seeing quality improvement in my times and that kind of really pushed me to get better.”

That quality improvement flowed into her sophomore year, as she lowered her time in all of her events: the 100-yard backstroke, 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle and 50-yard freestyle.

This season she’s topped those times yet again with a 58.57 in the 100 free, a 2:11.21 in the 200 free, a 1:12.28 in the 100 back and a 26.12 in the 50 free. She qualified for states in the 100 free and sectionals in the 50 free, both during the Dec. 14 meet against Randolph.

Clark said it’s not just Navicky’s speed in the pool that makes her stand out, but also her willingness to lead by example, which is why she was recently named captain. Clark said he has no better recollection of her leadership than from earlier in the year.

“We were trying to make sectionals for the 400 free relay and we didn’t, and her response is always saying, ‘If I had dropped another second, that could have made the difference,’” Clark recalled. “She didn’t turn to the other three swimmers and say, ‘You could have done better,’ and they could have. It would have been easier for them to drop more time than her, but that’s not how she looks at it.”

Clark said Navicky’s leadership is just important as her point production.

“She’s always trying to push it and go the extra mile, that’s why she’s a captain,” Clark said. “That’s how she’s always been, just always wanting to do a little better. She’s great with her peers. She never asks someone to do something she won’t do.

“You really want someone who is willing to go the extra effort and put the extra time in and not just tell people about it and she shows it, she demonstrates it and lives it. That’s what we want as a leader.”

Navicky said her goal is to continue to take her skills to the next level.

“I’ve made so many friendships in high school that I think in college if I join a swimming team it will help me expand more and branch out and become more comfortable with everyone,” Navicky said.

But she still has another year and a half donning red, orange and black, and she’s aiming high.

“I would like to qualify in sectionals and states for more events, especially the 200 free,” Navicky said. “That would be my ultimate goal by the end of the year.”

Kelly sparks Whitman-Hanson boys’ basketball to win

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Stevie Kelly calls out a play.

The junior scored 10 points to go with six rebounds and six assists in the comeback win.

Whitman-Hanson Regional High junior Stevie Kelly is known for his defensive prowess on the soccer field, but he’s making a name for himself on the hardwood at point guard. 

Kelly opened up his whole toolbox Friday night and the Panthers needed every bit of it to fend off Patriot League foe Silver Lake, 56-54.

“It was a pretty big win,” Kelly said. “Every Patriot League game is big for us.” 

In a fourth quarter that the Panthers (8-2) entered down, 40-37, it was the 5-foot-10 Kelly, who scored five of his 10 points in the final frame to complement six rebounds and six assists on the night, right in the middle of the comeback.

With 7:33 remaining, Kelly drained a triple from the top of the arc, evening the score at 40.

After senior Cole Lewis (10 points) shot the Panthers ahead, 49-47, with a pair of 3-pointers, the Lakers (3-5) would pull even before Kelly passed to a streaking Rian Schwede inside the lane and he laid it in for two.

Clinging to a one-point lead late, Kelly jump cut into the lane for two, giving the Panthers a 55-52 lead, which was enough. 

“He’s a tenacious player for sure,” said W-H head coach Bob Rodgers of Kelly. “He really gets after it. He’s a tremendous defender and a great leader on the floor. He had some big buckets for us down the stretch.”

With the help of six points in the first quarter from sophomore Cole LeVangie (team-high 16 points), the Panthers jumped out to a 18-10 lead after one. 

The Lakers proceeded to outscore W-H, 18-8, in the following quarter to claim a 28-26 halftime edge. 

Kelly sparked the Panthers out of halftime, motoring to the hoop for two, while picking up a foul in the process. His free throw put the Panthers up, 29-28. 

Stevie Kelly

Later in the frame, Kelly drove into the lane and kicked it out to a wide-open Ben Rice on the right side, who drained a three, giving the Panthers a 37-35 lead. 

“It helps (me) with all the shooters we have,” Kelly said. “They work really hard in the offseason.”

The Panthers will visit Hanover next Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. 

“We just got to get tougher around the hoop and play harder,” Kelly said. 

Boys’, girls’ hoop fly high in Week 5

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Looking back on Week 5.

In their only games of the week, the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams took care of business.

Boys’ basketball (6-2) downed Duxbury, 66-55, Friday, Jan. 4. Junior Ben Rice led the way with 24 points and sophomore Cole LeVangie added 14 to pace the Panthers.

Girls’ basketball (5-2) edged Duxbury, 44-42, in a thriller Friday, Jan. 4. Senior Anna O’Neill hit the winning 3-pointer with 1:23 to go. Junior Brittany Gacicia produced a team-high 13 points to guide the Panthers to their fifth straight win.

Boys’ hockey (4-4-1) opened its week by doubling up Cohasset, 6-3, Wednesday, Jan. 2. Freshman John Ward led the offensive outburst with two goals, while sophomore Kevin Willis, junior Chris Stoddard, junior assistant captain Adam Solari and senior captain Ed Scriven all added tallies. … On Saturday, Solari and junior Calvin Cooper struck for goals in the third but the Panthers fell to Quincy, 5-2.

Girls’ hockey (0-5), despite a hat trick from junior captain Alyssa Murphy (Kingston), was nipped by Pembroke, 5-3, Saturday, Jan. 5. The Panthers drew within 4-3, but an empty-netter sealed the Titans’ win.

Boys’ indoor track (2-1) bested Hingham, 51-48, Friday, Jan. 4. The 4×200 relay team of Sean Kukauskas, Billy Martell, Nic Fernandes and Pat Bui clinched the Panthers’ win. Other wins came from Brandon Hager (mile, 4:52.08), Martell (shot put, 40-foot-7), Kyle O’Brien (600m, 1:30.20), Theo Kamperides (2-mile, 10:40.60) and Kakauskas and Jake Caterer both tied for first in the high jump with 5-foot-2 leaps.

Girls’ indoor track (0-3) fell to Hingham, 55-41, Friday, Jan. 4. Senior captain Ally Bartlett took first in the 55-meter hurdles (:09.64) and scored second in the long jump (14-foot-11 ½) and shot put (23-foot-7). Other winners included sophomores Isabelle Amado (1,000m, 3:14) and Anna Sullivan (mile, 5:58) and junior Tori Carleton (2-mile, 13:40).

Gymnastics (0-5) fell to Plymouth on Friday, Jan. 4 by a 124.45-114 score. Senior Sarah Bombardier finished with a 30.1 all-around score to lead the co-op.

Boys’ swimming/diving (2-2) fell to Hanover, 87-85, Thursday, Jan. 3.

Girls’ swimming/diving (3-1) dropped its meet to Hanover also Thursday, Jan. 3 by a 94-88 decision. Sabrina O’Connor, Madison Navicky, Niki Kamperides, Abigail Bonney, Lillian Graham and Mariella Crowley performed well in the defeat.

Wrestling (3-12) hosted its Panther Invitational and sophomore Damari Goldsmith-Greene placed third at 138 pounds.

*Express weekly roundups consist of games from Monday to Saturday.

Catching up with … W-H alum Samantha Coletti

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Samantha Coletti leads the pack. / Courtesy photo

Coletti outlines what a normal day for her is like and more.

Time’s flying for Samantha Coletti at Army West Point.

The Express chatted with Coletti, a three-season runner for the Black Knights, about her experiences thus far and to find out where she hopes to end up.

Q: How would you describe your college experience in general thus far?

A: “It was challenging from the start and it continues to challenge me daily. I am just now learning how to deal with it better.” 

 

Q: For those who don’t know, what makes West Point unique?

A: “Traditions. There are so many traditions that are so unique and special to anyone who graduates the Academy. The comradery of the Corps is also a very unique thing. Everyone here is so willing to help each other out through the struggles.”

 

Q: Why West Point? What made this the right fit for you?

A: “I chose West Point because I wanted to be challenged mentally and physically. More importantly I wanted to serve and become a better leader that people want to follow.”

Q: What’s a normal day like for you?

A: “Normally, I wake up at 5 a.m. and go to a morning track practice (lifting), then we have formation at 6:50, followed by classes beginning at 7:30 and ending at 3:15 (lunch formation at 11:50). From there, I go straight to practice and train. After practice I would usually go straight to dinner and back to my room to do my homework. Of course some days include other activities and plans, but this is an outline of a typical day at West Point.”

 

Q: How do you balance being an athlete and student?

A: “I have to stay focused and get on a daily schedule. Usually I plan out my entire day by the hour to make sure I can get everything done.”

 

Q: What’s been the best advice you’ve received about being a student-athlete and who did it come from?

A: “My coach always tells us to focus on what you’re doing at the moment. When you’re at track practice, you’re not thinking about school and when you’re at school do your best to focus on what needs to get done.”

Q: What’s been your greatest accomplishment as an athlete so far? When did it come?

A: “My greatest accomplishment so far as an athlete was breaking the star meet (Army vs Navy) record last outdoor season at Navy in the 1000.”

 

Q: What’s been your greatest accomplishment off the field so far? When did it come?

A: “My greatest accomplishment off the track so far has been affirming in August of last year. I have committed myself to five years active duty after graduation and three more in the reserves.”

 

Q: What are your goals the rest of the way?

A: “My goals are to ultimately meet the world class athlete standards before graduation so I could be a part of the world class athlete program and run for the Army after graduation. My other main goals are to stay focused, continue running without injury, and to graduate and lead soldiers.”

O’Neill sends girls’ basketball past Duxbury, to fifth straight win

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Anna O’Neill hits the winner as the Panthers knock off Duxbury, 44-42.

It was a moment in the making. 

Anna O’Neill’s name has not been called on much this season. In fact, she didn’t play at all in the two victories posted by the Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ basketball team at the Hoosac Valley Tournament.

But O’Neill got her opportunity Friday, and she made the most of it. 

With 1:32 remaining, the senior guard rose up and drained a 3-pointer from the left side of the arc to send the Panthers past Patriot League Keenan Division rival Duxbury and to their fifth straight win. 

“I knew she was going to get hot for us and she came up clutch for us,” said W-H head coach Jenna Olem. 

Said O’Neil: “Coach kept telling me to work and work at practice and she gave me a shot and I hit it. It’s really exciting.” 

After a pair of Dragons misses from the charity stripe, senior Meg Henaghan sealed the win with an offensive rebound.

W-H (5-2) trailed by as much as eight in the second quarter but cut its deficit to 25-23 at the half behind the scrappy play of junior Brittany Gacicia (eight points in first half). 

“We knew it was going to be intense,” said W-H head coach Jenna Olem. “We got off to a slow start but they played really hard and there was just a lot of hustle plays at the end to keep us alive.”  

The Panthers gained a 33-31 edge heading into the fourth on a late 3-pointer by senior captain Kathryn Dunn.

The Dragons (3-4) received a double-double from senior Sam Brennan (10 points, 14 rebounds) and 21 points from senior Teagan Curran. 

Olem noted she was impressed by the play of senior Leah Badger and junior Hannah Damon.

The Panthers host Pembroke Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. 

“They’re finally finding what their strengths are and understanding what their roles are,” said Olem.

Keeping score in Week 4: Panthers claim pair of tournament titles

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Top photo by: Paul Scarpelli and bottom photo by: Sue Moss

A look back on Week 4.

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High sports teams triumphed to a pair of tournament titles – one on the court and one on the ice – in a victory-filled Week 4.

Boys’ hockey (3-3-1) defeated Cashman Tournament host Rockland, 3-0, in the first round Wednesday, Dec. 26. Junior Ed Collins sparked the offense with two goals and senior assistant captain Adam Solari had the other. Sophomore Bobby Siders earned the shutout in net. … On Saturday, the Panthers topped Southeastern/West Bridgewater/Bristol-Plymouth, 3-2, to take home their first Cashman Tournament title. Goals came from freshman John Ward, junior Chris Stoddard and senior assistant captain Owen Manning, and Siders collected the win in net.

Boys’ basketball (5-2) collected two wins in its annual trip to Florida. After kicking off the Haines City Tournament with a 68-60 loss to Colonial High School (Fla.) on Thursday, Dec. 27, the Panthers rebounded for back-to-back wins. … On Friday, Bob Rodgers’ club, keyed by 26 points from junior Ben Rice, shot its way to an 84-75 victory over Archbishop McCarthy (Fla.). Senior captain Joey Depina and junior John Zeidan dumped in 12 points apiece in the victory. … Before staying for a few more days to soak up the sun, the Panthers capped their tournament schedule with a 63-57 win over Viera High (Fla.) on Saturday. Rice led the way with 13 points, totaling 53 over the three games en route to being named to the all-tournament team.

Girls’ basketball (4-2), competing in the Hoosac Valley Holiday Tournament, rallied back from a double-digit deficit to knock off host Hoosac Valley, 51-46, in overtime Friday, Dec. 28. Senior captain Kathryn Dunn sparked the first-round win with 15 points, including a late 3-pointer to force the extra frame. Junior Liv Martin also had 15 points, 12 of which came from the 3-ball, in the win. … On Saturday, Dunn (tournament MVP) was at it again, netting a game-high 18 points, including the winning trey, as Jenna Olem’s club claimed the tournament title with a 42-38 win over Greenfield.

Girls’ hockey (0-4), despite an offensive outburst, dropped a close one to Marshfield, 7-6, Thursday, Dec. 27. Junior captain Alyssa Murphy (three goals), sophomore Ellie Grady (two goals) and freshman Lily Ulvila (one goal), all of whom go to Silver Lake, sparked the offense. … On Saturday, the co-op lost to Archbishop Williams, 8-1. Freshman Abby Powers (Kingston) had the goal.

Catching up with … W-H athletic trainer Lexie Watkins

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Lexi Watkins looks on as her clinical student helps a Panther to his feel. / Photo by: Sue Moss

A Q&A with Lexie Watkins.

Not only is Lexie Watkins an athletic trainer at Whitman-Hanson Regional High, but she’s a teacher as well.

The Express caught up with Watkins, who has been at the school since 2013, to find out a little bit about her past and find out why she is where she is today.

Q: So, can you tell me a little bit about your background?

A: “I’m from Coloma, a small town in Michigan. I went to Albion College in Albion, Michigan for my undergrad (athletic training and PE double major, 2004). I went to Brown University in Providence, R.I., for my master’s in public health (in 2010). After Brown, I worked for a couple of years doing research at Boston Children’s Hospital, which is why I ended up staying in this area.”

Q:When did it dawn on you that you wanted to be an athletic trainer and why?

A:“I went to college thinking I would go on to medical school, and I stumbled into athletic training the second semester of my freshman year. I took an introduction to athletic training class and loved it. I was a three-sport athlete in high school and played softball in college, so I really enjoy being around athletics, and athletic training seemed to give me a great mix of athletics and medicine. Plus, I love working with the high school age group and being involved at the high school setting.”

Q: In addition to being an athletic trainer at WHRHS, are you a trainer elsewhere?

A: “I’m not currently an athletic trainer anywhere else. I do work some per diem for tournaments and camps throughout the year, but otherwise I’m mostly only at Whitman-Hanson.”

Q: Did you have training experience elsewhere prior to your arrival at WHRHS in 2013?

A: “I worked for Cambridge Health Alliance in Somerville and covered Bunker Hill Community College athletics and semi-professional football for two years. I’ve also worked for Attleboro High School, Brown University and Curry College as a per-diem athletic trainer and Grosse Pointe South High School (Michigan). As a per-diem athletic trainer, I’ve covered Boston College men’s club ice hockey, Tufts University men’s club ice hockey, semi-professional rugby and college rugby.”

Q: What brought you to WHRHS?

A: “I enjoy being at the high school level, and Somerville was quite the commute as I live on the South Shore.”

Q: What do you like most about your position at WHRHS? How are the athletes?

A: “I most enjoy working with the student-athletes. It’s fun to get to know them outside of class, and be there for some of their most successful moments on the field/court. Though I’m also there for some of their worst moments, in the case of major injuries, it’s rewarding to have an athlete trust you enough to let you look at them when they are in pain. I have also enjoyed working with the coaches here. They have all been respectful of my position, which makes it easy to discuss athletics with them. I also enjoy that every day is different and challenging; I never know what is going to happen that day.”

Q: Has your athletic trainer position changed, if at all, at all over the years?

A: “There is more paperwork associated with concussions than when I started working as an athletic trainer; the state of Massachusetts mandates reporting of concussions, so each one is documented on a special form, and each athlete with a concussion must do a return-to-play program, which is documented as well. The guidelines for caring for and diagnosing concussions have changed since I began working as an athletic trainer, we are much more conservative now than we were in 2005.

“As an athletic trainer, I have to stay up to date with the latest research and therapies, and a lot has changed in that arena since I started. For example, kinesiotape and Graston didn’t exist when I first started working. Bracing and padding has also improved – better materials to construct pads on the fly, and athletes can now buy a lot of additional braces and pads.”

Q: Can you tell me a little about the class you teach at the high school?

A: “The class is sports medicine. I taught it for the first time last fall, and it was created as a complimentary class to anatomy and physiology, which is taught in the science department. Sports medicine expands upon what is learned about the skeletal and muscular systems in anatomy and physiology, and also teaches the students about medical terminology, injury evaluation and documentation. The class is great for anyone interested in a medical career, not just sports medicine, and prepares the students for certification in CPR as well. So far I’ve gotten great feedback from the students that have taken it.”

Q: What’s a normal day like for you?

A: “I am considered a part-time teacher, part-time athletic trainer. I generally teach the last two or three classes of the day (depending on the rotation that day) and stay until games are finished in the evening.”

Q: What else do you do at WHRHS?

A:  “I am also a clinical instructor for Bridgewater State University, and I frequently take on a student to be here at WHRHS with me.”