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Fall alumni season-ending check in

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Stay up to date with the Whitman-Hanson Regional High alumni playing at the next level.

With the winter season at the college level in full swing, it’s time to look back on how the Whitman-Hanson Regional High alumni did during the fall.

Football

Nick Villanueva(Curry) – Junior from Hanson led the Colonels’ receiving corps with 655 yards and six touchdowns, and he ranked second with 50 receptions en route to being named to the second-team All Commonwealth Coast Conference.

Women’s cross country

Sam Coletti(West Point) – Junior from Whitman finished at 23:00.7, the fourth fastest on the team, to spark the Black Knights’ fifth-place finish at the Patriot League Championships on Oct. 27.

Abby Newman(Bentley) – Junior who hails from Hanson finished 26thwith a time of 21:19 in the Shacklette Invitation on Sept. 1. … Also finished in the top 75 on Nov. 4 in the Northeast Championships.

Men’s soccer

Anthony Pasciuto(Keane State) – The Abington native started 12 games, posted six shutouts and a 9-4 record in his freshman campaign.

Women’s soccer

Katie Amado(Massasoit) – Amado, a Whitman resident, started 12 games in net, and she recorded four shutouts and 56 saves.

Lauren Bonavita(UMass, Amherst) – Freshman tied for a team-high seven goals and added five assists. … Hanson resident was selected to A-10 All-Rookie Team.

Betty Blake(Massasoit) – Freshman defender from Whitman ranked third on the team with 12 goals, and she dished out seven assists for a total of 31 points. … Had hat tricks both on Oct. 4 against Quinsigamond Community College and Oct. 16 against Bristol Community College.

Ari Comendul(UMass, Amherst) – Senior from Whitman scored a goal and recorded an assist.

Alexis Fruzetti(Southern New Hampshire) – Junior transfer from Duquesne scored four goals, two of which came in a 2-1 victory over Merrimack on Oct. 4. … Hanson native scored her other two in a 4-0 victory over Le Moyne on Sept. 8.

Rachel Kelly(Regis) – Junior from Whitman scored six goals and dished out three assists for a 15-point junior season.

Taylor Kofton(Boston University) – Norton native scored four goals to go with two assists during her freshman campaign.

Eve Montgomery(Manhattan) – Freshman who hails from Abington scored her first collegiate goal in a 2-0 victory over St. Peter’s on Sept. 29.

Brooke Newcomb(Massasoit) – Freshman from Whitman passed for four assists, three of which game in a 3-0 victory over Springfield Technical Sept. 22.

Alex Santos(Massasoit) – Sophomore Hanon resident ranked fourth on the team with nine goals to complement nine assists. … Scored five times in a 13-0 victory over Bunker Hill on Oct. 3.

Amanda Sesock(Massasoit)– Sophomore, also from Hanson, ranked fourth behind her two former high school classmates in goals with seven. … Also added seven assists.

Women’s volleyball

Halle Julian(Eastern Nazarene) – Freshman from Whitman ranked second on the team in blocks per set (0.51) and third in both kills (111) and hitting percentage (.257).

Jordyn Keith(Curry) – Sophomore, who is also from Whitman, played in a co-team-high 88 sets and posted 234 digs, good for third on the team.

Julian rises to the occasion for Eastern Nazarene volleyball

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Julian (No. 11) / Courtesy photo

Halle Julian earned an extend role in her freshman season at Eastern Nazarene College.

Coming into the season, Whitman native Halle Julian had two ways to measure success in her freshman campaign on the Eastern Nazarene College women’s volleyball team: individual improvement and team accomplishment. She can check off both of those boxes.

“It was just an awesome experience and I couldn’t have imagined a better freshman year,” she said.

The 2018 W-H grad made an impact immediately for Eastern Nazarene, which advanced all the way to the New England Collegiate Championship this season, where it fell to South Vermont, 3-1. The Lions’ final record was 20-7, –a significant improvement over their 11-19 campaign in 2017.

In her first season with the Lions, Julian, a middle hitter, saw action in 79 of the squad’s 93 sets; she ranked second on the team in blocks per set (0.51) and third both in kills (111) and hitting percentage (.257).

“For a freshman to come in and put up those kind of numbers in the first year of being a college player is pretty good,” said Eastern Nazarene women’s volleyball head coach Derek Schmitt.

Schmitt said Julian’s consistency on the court is why she saw significant playing time as a freshman.

“She had some pretty good offensive numbers in matches,” he said. “I thought she was consistent in her play and you could just count on her every night to go out there and be out there doing whatever it took to win. Try and score some points for us offensively and work hard for us blocking.”

Schmitt said he was surprised Julian cracked the learning curve that comes with being a freshman so quickly to make an impact right away.

“She was able to handle the change because the college game is definitelyfaster,” Schmitt said. “She was able to adapt quicker than I thought she would. I think she picked up on things quickerthan a lot of freshman would have.”

Julian credited her time playing for former W-H girls’ volleyball head coach Josh Gray as having a major impact on her.

“He taught me how to play the game I do today,” Julian, the Panthers’ all-time blocks leader on record, said.

Julian’s best match statistically this season came Oct. 11 against Gordon College; she registered a career-best 11 kills and swatted seven blocks.

“She really just developed as a middle blocker and as far as being able to handle the pace of the game and being able and being quicker to the outside to block the pin hitters and to be able to get better offensively and get better timing,” Schmitt said. “The good thing is she’s already got that 6-foot-2 frame, that’s not going to change.”

Julian said she’s already been in the gym as she strives to make an even larger impact for the Lions next fall.

“My goal is to improve my blocking because with this speed, you got to get out to block super fast and it’s hard to press over sometimes, but I definitely want to get better at my blocking,” she said. “I’ll use this season at motivation.”

Bonavita a score for UMass’ women’s soccer team

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Bonavita against UMaine. / Courtesy photo: Thom Kendall Photography

Lauren Bonavita, of Hanson, put forth seven goals in her freshman campaign, which was tied for the team high.

When Jason Dowiak was announced head coach of UMass Amherst’s women’s soccer team last December, Lauren Bonavita was the first person he called.

Since Dowiak had not recruited the incoming class, he needed to find out more about the team’s incoming freshmen. Dowiak had a solid idea of just what Bonavita, coming off a 43-goal season and 113-goal soccer career at Whitman-Hanson Regional High, would bring to the team – a dynamic scoring presence. Further game footage sent over by Bonavita affirmed his thinking.

“I got to see three or four mostly high school games,” Dowiak said. “What was unique about Lauren was her knack for being able to create really good, quality scoring chances. I think in one of the high school games she sent me she scored four goals.”

During the spring, Bonavita, who hails from Hanson, impressed him, while playing for her club team FC Boston.

“I think out of four or five spring games that we watched her play, only one of those games did we walk away saying ‘Ah, we kind of expect more,'” Dowiak said. “All of the other games she was the best player on the field and it wasn’t even close, and she was scoring a boat load of goals. I think in a matter of seven or eight club games last year she had 13 goals and 13 assists.

“And we were tracking, we started watching and we were like, ‘OK, so she had two or three that game. She had three in this one and then she only had one goal in this game but she had three assists. Obviously we started getting really excited of what she’s capable of.” When the fall arrived, that goal scoring was on full display for Dowiak’s Minutewomen and played a key role in their turnaround.

Bonavita tied for a team-high seven goals and added five assists as UMass went 11-6-1. It marked a four-win improvement on 2017 and the team’s first season above 10 wins since 2011.

In the Minutewomen’s opener against Maine, Bonavita set the tone of the fall in the 36th minute with the first goal of the season. “It was very, very exciting,” she said. In the first four Atlantic 10 games, Bonavita notched a goal and two assists – including the winning pass in a 1-0 victory over St. Bonaventure on Sept. 27. Thanks to this, UMass began conference play 4-0 for the first time in over 10 years.

“It’s not like all scoring,” said Bonavita, who was selected to the A-10’s All-Rookie Team. “It’s about helping the team and making the right decisions and helping the team and passing it to an open player. I was just able to help the team push toward the win whether it was offensively ordefensively.”

Bonavita said the most important thing she learned at W-H that translates into the college level is conditioning.

“Our fitness with coach [Dave] Floeck would be the two-mile run in the summer and just making sure you’re working throughout the sum mer to get your fitness up,” she said.

Bonavita also noted competing in a rigorous Patriot League throughout high school helped her to compete at the next level.

“Definitely playing against those high-competitive teams kind of set me up, I mean college is completely different, but setting me up for what I’m going to be looking at in college,” Bonavita said. “But Duxbury, Silver Lake and Hingham all have like club players who are playing in college, so it was definitely a high-competitive game and then coming to UMass it was similar and everyone was working together.”

Thanks to her strong performance this fall, Dowiak said he is excited to watch Bonavita’s growth over the next three seasons.

“I think that we’ve got an amazing player on our hands that we can really develop into someone that can come out and be productive against just about anybody,” Dowiak said.

Sweeney, Trongone anchors and leaders in the trenches

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From left, seniors Ryan Trongone and Quinn Sweeney. / Photos by: Sue Moss

Seniors Quinn Sweeney and Ryan Trongone have been playing on the line together their whole lives.

For Whitman-Hanson Regional High foot ball seniors and starting two-way linemen Quinn Sweeney and Ryan Trongone, most weeks their toughest competition doesn’t come on Friday nights. It doesn’t even come from the other team.

Every Wednesday during practice, the Panthers hold their pass rush championship. Each drill calls for one quarterback, one offensive lineman and one defensive lineman. After cycling through the rest of the team’s linemen, Trongone and Sweeney are almost a sure bet to be the last ones standing.

“Our practices are very competitive, especially on Wednesday,” head coach Mike Driscoll said. “They compete like crazy, those kids.”

Some weeks, Sweeney, who starts at right tackle and defensive end, gets the edge on Trongone. Other weeks, Trongone, who starts at left guard and defensive end, swoops under Sweeney .

“We’re pretty even with wins for that,” Trongone said. “It’s always fun to go against him.”

Said Sweeney: “We always make each other better. He works hard and gives 100 percent on every play.”

On game day, the two, who have been starting on both sides of the ball for the past two seasons, compete on the stat sheet as well.

“We’re all racing for first in sacks,” Trongone said. “The lead for sacks is a big race be tween us.”

Their work on W-H’s defense, which is surrendering under two touchdowns a game, has been eye-popping. Sweeney leads the team with 21 tackles for loss and Trongone is second with 14. In a 9-6 nail-biting win over New Bedford earlier in the season, the two brought down the opposing ball carriers behind the line of scrimmage five times.

“They’re the heart and soul of the line,” Driscoll said of Sweeney and Trongone. “Quinn has just blossomed into an incredible football player over the last two years. Ryan is just a steady kid. He has the best technique of any lineman I’ve ever coached. They’re dependable guys and come to play every day, every game. They start every game and they finish every game, and they’re just great players to have on the team.”

They’re not just reliable up front. They’re leaders there as well, always trying to find a way to bring their unit closer.

“We have a group chat with the linemen where we all go out and do fun things with each other,” Sweeney said. “We’ll go to Buffalo Wild Wings or fishing, just so we can bond with each other more and then when game time comes we know that we have each other’s back, and we know that we have this bond with each other.”

The two have been building chemistry on the offensive line since playing in Hanson Youth Football, where they won the Super Bowl as eighth graders. Sweeney was an offensive guard and nose guard and Trongone played defensive end and center.

“It’s almost instant where we can say, ‘Go get this guy,’ and the next thing you know we get a run for 10 yards,” Trongone said.

And Thanksgiving Day marks the final time these two linemen will step onto the gridiron as teammates.

“That’s gonna be rough because all the Hanson kids that played in eighth grade and a majority of them that played in high school,” Sweeney said. “I’ll never be able to play football with a group of kids like these every again.”

Said Trongone: “I’m sure by the time it comes there will be a lot of mixed emotions. Obviously the fact that we’re leaving football isn’t the greatest thing I want to leave behind but we’re doing it with the best team we’ve had.”

Season Review: For boys’ soccer team, an ‘unlucky, learning’ season

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The Panthers huddle up. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The Panthers had a four-win season due to a variety of reasons.

Head coach Dave Leahy described this past season as an unlucky, learning experience for the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ soccer team, which went 4-14-1.

The Panthers were down three key pieces before the season even began with the transfers of sophomores Peyton Collins to BC High and Joel Arsenault to Brockton and broken ankle of junior midfielder Adam Milewski, sustained in the preseason.

However, the Panthers hung tough at the outset — rallying around the losses rather than using them as excuses — as evident by their 2-0 start.

But once they got into their first half of league play, the Panthers dropped six of their next seven, and finding the net was becoming an issue. W-H pumped in just 10 goals over those seven games. Four of them came in a 4-1 victory over Plymouth South.

“The biggest difference between this year and last year (11-8-1) was the group of seniors,” the second-year head coach said. “Last year we had more seniors who had played together for many years. This year our group of seniors was smaller in numbers and had played together a lot less.”

As the fall wore on, W-H lost sophomore starter Brendan Nehiley for two weeks and junior starting goalie Andrew Sullivan for the last fourth of the season.

With the rash of injuries came opportunities, and sophomore Dalton Desrocher took advantage.

“Dalton Desrocher stepped up and had a consistent season in the center midfield positions, playing consistent defense, passing the ball well and adding a few goals,” Leahy said.

The boys did finish the year on a high note with a 2-1 triumph over Rockland.

“It was like our only playoff game,” Leahy said. “It was important for seniors to go away with a positive and for returning players to have something to build on in the preseason.”

The Panthers were led on offense by nine goals and three assists from junior captain Jason Broduer and seven goals and four assists from senior Nolan Clack.

The defense was buoyed by senior Ben Rogers and junior captain Stevie Kelly, the team’s lone Patriot League All-Star.

Leahy said as disappointing as the campaign was, he’s optimistic the team can use it to its advantage.

“We worked very hard as a group heading into the 2018 season, but bad luck got in our way,” Leahy said. “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.”

Season Review: Girls’ volleyball doubles win total

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The Panthers huddle up. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The Panthers were two wins away from making the tournament, and they certainly had their chances.

Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ volleyball team second-year head coach Ashley Balbian strongly believes her team had what it takes to make the postseason, despite falling short.

The Panthers finished the fall with an 8-11 record, which doubled their win total from the previous season, and put them two victories away from the playoffs. 

Of those 11 losses, three times the Panthers jumped out to advantages and twice took a 2-1 lead into fourth the set, only to have their opposition to battle back and claim the victory.

“I feel like that was our biggest challenge once we got halfway through the season, we could be successful in many one or two sets and we just couldn’t sustain it,” Balbian said. “It’s a long stretch of time, but just keeping our energy up and positivity was hard for us sometimes.”

Balbian said the biggest difference between this season’s team and last fall’s club was experience. The Panthers returned nine players, all of whom received playing time at the top level.

“I had so many girls returning on varsity,” Balbian said. “They had been playing together obviously last year but throughout the summer. A lot of them played on club teams together, which was helpful. I expected that this team would do well.”

But what Balbian didn’t expect was the starting lineup she’d be penning in at the end of the season. All five of the Panthers’ seniors ended the fall as starters, which was not foreseen going into the season. Kayla Crawford worked her way up to starting defensive specialist, Kylie Gervasio became a starting setter and Erin Leahy started at middle hitter. Seniors Allison Hanlon starred at outside hitter and Nicole Scott at libero, and both were league all-stars.

“I’m proud of them for [starting] because I wasn’t expecting all of the seniors to necessarily be starting,” Balbain said. “I’m proud they were able to earn those spots in the end and play together really well. That was huge for us.”

Hanlon registered her 200th career kill in the final game of the season, a 3-2 win over Bridgewater-Raynham.

“That’s a huge deal,” Balbian said.

Balbian did have some players set to return sprinkled in her lineup as well with junior captains Olivia Martin at right side hitter, Lexi Connolly at outside hitter, classmate Ella Sweeney at middle hitter and sophomore Caileen Hurley at setter.

“I want to see them be more confident on the court,” Balbian said. “I want to see them play together as much as possible.”

Season Review: Field hockey ‘D’d up

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The Panthers gather together during a home game. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Defense was the strength of the Panthers field hockey team this fall.

Defense.

It was the obvious strength of the Whitman-Hanson Regional High field hockey team, which finished the season with a 2-10-6 record.

“The defense had to stop amazing offenses, and they themselves were truly amazing,” fifth-year head coach Todd Humphrey said.

The Panthers surrendered just 32 goals on the season, five of which came in their second meeting with Keenan Division champ Plymouth North. Against the Keenan’s second best team, Duxbury, which qualified for the tournament, W-H held the Dragons to three goals in two games, as opposed to 13 goals in two games last season.

Even Fisher Division champion Scituate had a difficult time finding the back of the net against the Panthers, scoring two goals in two games. As a result of the stout defensive effort night in and night out, seniors Kathryn Dunn and Olivia Sheehan, who is a captain, were tabbed as Patriot League All-Stars.

“They were phenomenal on defense all season,” Humphrey said.

W-H’s backline also featured some youth in first-year varsity sophomores Skylar Leonard and Noelle Cornetta. The duo switched off playing on the right side.

“They are excellent defenders with a bright future,” Humphrey said. “They will be starting next season as right defender and center defender. Look for Victoria Ryan to take over for Olivia at left defender, that spot is crucial to secure and she has the skills to be effective.”

In net, sophomore Madi Savicke put forth a breakout campaign, posting a 1.67 goals against average.

“Madi is good at reading opposing offenses and getting in the right position to make a save,” Humphrey said. “She is also really good and communicates with the defense in front of her as well.”

As good as the Panthers were at stopping opposing offenses, their offense was unable to generate much of anything itself, poking home just 14 goals on the season. Losing senior captain and forward Annika Putur just seven games in, which they were 2-2-3 in, to a torn ACL threw a wrench into the Panthers’ plans. They didn’t win a game in her absence.

“It truly was a turning point in the season,” Humphrey said. “Annika is an incredible ball handler and was a massive contributor to our offense when she was on the field. When she left our line up, we had to reinvent ourselves up front.”

Sophomore Delanie MacDonald provided a silver lining during the team’s offensive woes, scoring a team-high five goals on the fall. Her classmate Lauren Clark had three.

“Delanie was great at positioning herself inside the arc to make a play,” Humphrey said. “Delanie was able to get quick and close shots away from goalies.

“Lauren worked great with Annika and had two goals with her support. She was able to get her other goal hustling on the grass field of Silver Lake.”

Humphrey said despite the impending loss of nine seniors, he firmly believes his club will be competitive next season.

“For the most part, the vacancies will be in the midfielder and forward positions,” he explained. “We do have talented players in the system to fill those spots. Look for the front seven to create more scoring opportunities next season. Defense should be solid. How we transition the ball will determine how well we do overall in the Patriot League.”

Season Review: Girls’ cross country coach aims to restore program dominance

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The girls’ cross country team. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Head coach Steve George is hoping the girls’ cross country team’s record starts to improve.

Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ cross country head coach Steve George is hopeful the program can be restored to what it once was. A force.

“When I speak with middle school kids and some of the high school kids who have chosen other sports, I’m disappointed only for the fact that I know there are incredibly gifted runners who won’t be joining us and are missing out on opportunities they can’t comprehend as children,” George said.

Over George’s five years at the helm, runners have gone on to compete at the likes of Bentley, John Hopkins, Lehigh, Tufts and West Point, among others.

While winning consecutive Div. 3 EMass titles again (2011 and 2012) is a long shot, being competitive in league play and finishing above .500 isn’t. It was just three years ago the Panthers went 6-2.

“Until we start attracting young women to this sport it will be difficult to compete with rivals Hingham and Duxbury,” George said.

Two years ago the Panthers concluded the fall at 2-6. Last year they were 3-4. This season they went 3-5.

“[It isn’t] for lack of trying on the part of the coaches or the kids that choose to be part of what I believe to be a truly wonderful experience,” George said.

The Panthers’ three wins came over Plymouth North (26-31 on Sept. 26), Silver Lake (20-43 on Oct. 10) and Scituate (18-44 on Oct. 16).

Junior Tori Boss was a standout for the Panthers and their top runner with a top average time of 21:26. Against Scituate she won, and versus Silver Lake she covered the course in 22:08 for a second-place finish.

“This year she trained hard, followed the plan and, not surprisingly, had great results,” George said. “Her athleticism and work ethic have made her our top runner. Tori runs consistently at the front of the pack in every practice and that has carried over into competition.”

Senior captain Maeve McDonough also put fourth her best season yet with an average time of 21:40 to be W-H’s No. 2 runner.

“Maeve showed enormous dedication,” George said. “Maeve loves distance running and consistently runs double-digit long runs which have helped her become a major contributor to the success of the team.”

Junior Niki Kamperides posted a 21:44 average time, a personal best and good for the Panthers’ No. 3 runner.

“Niki made a big jump this year following a freshman year with a knee injury that also slowed her down in her sophomore year but couldn’t keep her out,” George said. “That experience paid off and she has lowered her 5K time by more than five minutes. A strong and athletic runner.”

George said there were no surprises in terms of his top performers.

“On Day 1 we created training groups with what we thought would be our top 10 in group one,” George said. “That group has remained intact the entire season and in the weekly results as well.”

George said the season offered its fair share of excitement.

“We went into the season knowing Hingham, Duxbury, Plymouth North and Plymouth South had some phenomenal runners, so our expectations were not high,” George said. “But our kids’ effort and commitment were rewarded with a good record and some incredible times and finishes.”

Season Review: Boys’ cross country running toward bright future

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The boys during a Sept. 5 race. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The boys’ cross country team will return many of its key runners next season.

If this season was any indication, the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ cross country is heading in the right direction.

For the Panthers, despite their 3-5 record, nearly all of their production came from runners who will be back in the fold next fall. The team’s top seven was made up of three juniors, three sophomores and a freshman, with other underclassmen seconds behind.

Sophomore Theo Kamperides was W-H’s top finisher in every race en route to league all-star status. Kamperides, who owned one first-place finish, three second-place finishes and four third-place finishes, posted a personal-best average time of 17:29. 

“Theo is a tireless worker, always wanting to do more,” fifth-year head coach Steve George said. “He doesn’t enjoy days off and always wants to extend his weekly long run which we capped off at 15 miles this fall.”

Kamperides’ first-place finish at 17:44 sparked the Panthers past Scituate, 21-40, Oct. 16. Junior Brandon Hager (17:48) was right behind Kamperides in that race, like he was all season. Hager was W-H’s No. 2 runner with a career-best average time of 17:48.

“[He] has worked diligently to improve his running efficiency and form and it has paid off,” George said. “A quiet leader who leads by example and is very enthusiastic about working to bring back a championship to W-H.”

Rounding out the top three was freshman Evan Jewett, who posted an average time of 17:58.

“[He] arrived with virtually no experience but imitates his more experienced teammates in attitude and effort and has become a valued contributor early on,” George said. “His ability is exceeded only by his desire to improve, and he will.”

W-H’s other two wins came over Pembroke, 24-36, in its season opener and against Silver Lake, 24-37, Oct. 11.

“If one were to look at our race results [they’d] undoubtedly notice that with each successive week nearly all of our runners improved from his previous race,” George said.

While no runners caught George by surprise statistically, he said he’s always surprised when people he hopes will be good leaders become just that.

“Junior Adam Solari and senior Shane Schraut have been terrific captains,” George said. “Each has improved dramatically while mentoring our young runners. They actually do the little things like cleaning up our course following a meet, rather than delegate it to their teammates. As a result, nearly everybody pitches in.”

Schraut will be the Panthers’ only loss from inside their top 10 runners.

“Eight out of our second group (10-20) are either sophomores or freshmen, all of whom are talented runners who will return next year with more experience,” George said. “I am extremely optimistic for our future.”

Season Review: Golf team makes strides

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The golf team. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The golf team finished the season with a 6-11 record.

Although the Whitman-Hanson Regional High golf team failed to meet head coach Brian Dempsey’s goal of qualifying for the tournament, it made strides elsewhere.

For starters, senior captain Owen Manning put forth a career. Along with being named team MVP again and Patriot League All-Star, he qualified for the Div. 2 state finals, where he carded a 7-over par 79 to advance to the Mass Golf Junior Amateur Championship.

“This was definitely Owen’s best season,” the seventh-year head coach said. “He was much more consistent this year, always placing in the top two or three scorers for each match. He’s worked really hard to get here and having missed the cut last year by only one stroke, I know he was hungry to get back and prove himself.”

It was Manning 2-over par 36 that pushed the Panthers, who finished the year 6-11, over Duxbury, 238- 245, and a 3-0 start.“Beating them was a huge morale boost,” Dempsey said. “This gave everyone confidence that they can compete with other teams, even without the experience from year’s prior.”

The morale boost didn’t come from Manning’s showing, but rather came from junior Matt Korzec (2-over), senior Pat Dever (6-over) and junior Ian Brown (7-over) turning in key performances.

Brown continued to shoot well the following match, a 232-239 victory over Plymouth North, with a 3-over. From playing in one match the previous season, Brown took a significant step forward.

“From his change in his swing, to his willingness to step up to lead the team and younger players, Ian was a huge factor for us,” Dempsey said. “I’m really looking forward to see how his game improves even more for next year.”

Korzec shot a 4-over and sophomore Aidan Miller carded a 5-over in the win. Both battled it out all fall for the team’s No. 2 golfer.

“Statistically they didn’t have their best years, but their love for the sport and friendly competition will help them for next year,” Dempsey said.

After the Plymouth North triumph, the Panthers endured a rough patch. It began with a 250-252 loss to Silver Lake and spiraled into dropping 10 of their next 12.

“I think everyone started to realize that the pressure was building to maintain that type of play,” Dempsey said. “Couple that with the frequent bad weather, cancelations, and the fact that we then went on the road to some really difficult courses and teams, and reality kind of hit us hard. They finished strong and played really well against Hingham at South Shore Country Club despite the loss.”

Dempsey said he’s eager to see who steps up for the team next fall.

“I’m looking forward to next year [with] so many unknowns,” Dempsey said. “It will again be a blank canvas for us to figure out who we are and what we need to do. Anyone on the team can be the standout next year.”