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Playoff-bound Panthers: W-H football preps for North Attleboro on Friday

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The offensive line against Silver Lake. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The fifth-seeded W-H football team (5-2) will visit fourth-seeded North Attleboro (5-2) Friday at 7 p.m. in the first round of the Div. 3 South playoffs.

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High football team will attempt to do something Friday it hasn’t done in 17 years. That’s win a playoff game.

It’s been since the 2001 Super Bowl that W-H has found itself on the winning end of a postseason tilt.

It there ever was an opportunity for the Panthers to halt that trend, it would appear this is the one. The senior-laden Panthers (5-2) earned the No. 5 seed in Div. 3 South, drawing No. 4 North Attleboro (5-2) in the process. The two will square off at 7 p.m. at North Attleboro on Friday.

The last meeting between the two teams was two years ago when the Red Rocketeers knocked the Panthers out in the first round, 33-8. Then-sophomores Mike Connors, Jacob Nixon, Ethan Phelps, Rian Schwede and Quinn Sweeney played pivotal roles on that 2016 Panthers team.

That unit then brought the Panthers back to the playoffs last season, where they were ousted in the first round by Stoughton, 30-21.

W-H head coach Mike Driscoll believes it’s time where all that experience pays off.

“I don’t think they’re going to be overwhelmed by the situation,” Driscoll said. “We’ve already played a game at North Attleboro, so that field doesn’t intimidate our kids. They know what to expect. We know when we play the Hockomock we’re going to have to strap it up, and we’re going to have to play a physical game so these kids know what it’s like.”

Driscoll said if he’s learned anything over the past three seasons, all of which featured first-round playoff exits, it’s to not blow the postseason out of proportion.

“We are going to treat it like any other game and prepare the same way we normally prepare as opposed to making a big deal about it,” the eight-year head coach said. “It’s a regular game for us right now. It’s our eighth game on the schedule. That’s the way we’ve approached every week and we’re going to continue the same approach.”

The Red Rocketeers are no stranger to the spotlight, having advanced all the way to the Div. 3 Super Bowl last season, falling just short to St. John’s (Shrewsbury), 35-33. North Attleboro, allowing just a tick under 14 points a game, owns signature victories over King Philip (14-7), Foxboro (34-0) and Canton (14-10); Bishop Feehan (23-19) and Stoughton (21-10) account for its two losses. Senior quarterback Nick Raneri (seven passing and four rushing TDs), senior running back Brendan McHugh (10 rushing TDs) and senior WR Ryan Gaumond (six receiving TDs) power North Attleboro on offense.

“They’re very similar to us,” Driscoll said. “They got a great kicker, they play great ‘D’ and they grind it out on offense.”

The Panthers, allowing just over 10 points a game, have held opponents to 13 points or less in all five of their wins. They’ve posted shutouts twice, including last week against Plymouth North in a 21-0 victory. The Eagles mustered up just 18 yards against the Panthers.

“It was a game where we had the same records (4-2) and we knew that they were physical and we wanted to be physical and we certainty dominated the line of scrimmage and dominated on defense,” Driscoll said.

With a victory Friday, W-H would face the winner of No. 8 Stoughton (3-4) at No. 1 Duxbury (7-0) in the semis.

“We feel like we got a pretty good team and we told the kids after the game the other day we feel like we can beat anybody right now, so whoever’s in our way, we’re going to give it our all,” Driscoll said.

Week 7 sees some conclusion of regular season play

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Week 7 saw the golf team wrap up its season, as football preps for the postseason.

Week 7 of the fall sports season is in the books. In the seven-day span, the golf team wrapped up its campaign, while the football team concluded its first part of the season.

Meanwhile:

Boys’ cross country (3-4) raced past Scituate, 21-40, Tuesday, Oct. 16. Sophomore Theo Kamperides led the way for W-H, which placed eight of the top 10 runners, with a first-place finish at 17:44. Junior Brandon Hager finished second with a time of 17:48.

Girls’ cross country (3-4) also defeated Scituate, 18-44. Leading the pack for W-H, which placed six of the top seven runners, was junior Tori Boss, whose 21:28 time was good for first overall. Senior captain Maeve McDonough posted a 21:47, good enough for second.

Field hockey (2-8-6) opened the week with a 3-0 setback to Plymouth South. … On Wednesday, the Panthers fell to Plymouth North, 5-0. … W-H capped the three-game week with a 2-0 loss to Duxbury on Friday.

Football (5-2) blanked Plymouth North, 21-0, Friday, Oct. 19. Senior captain Ethan Phelps (17 carries for 124 yards) sparked the Panthers with three touchdowns of 19, 25 and 41 yards.

Golf (6-11) dropped a 229-248 decision to Hingham on Monday, Oct. 15. Senior captain Owen Manning shot a 4-over par 39 and classmate Pat Dever carded a 5-over. … The following day, W-H fell to Marshfield, 256280. Junior Matt Korzec contributed a 6-over par. … On Wednesday, in a tri-match, the Panthers edged Pembroke (260-261) but fell to East Bridgewater (255-260). … Brian Dempsey’s club, playing for the fourth straight day, wrapped up the season with a 229-256 loss to Hingham on Thursday. Manning shot a 4-over par 41, while sophomore Graham Stewart shot a 5-over par.

Boys’ soccer (3-12-1), despite goals from senior Nolan Clack, junior captain Jason Brodeur and sophomore Brendan Nehiley, lost to Duxbury by the final score of 7-3 on Tuesday, Oct. 16. …… On Thursday, Dave Leahy’s team was shut out 4-0 by league power Silver Lake. … … W-H fell to Duxbury, 2-1, Saturday. Clack scored the goal.

Girls’ soccer (10-1-3) tied Duxbury, 1-1, Tuesday, Oct. 16. Senior captain Sammy Smith had the W-H tally. …… On Thursday, the Panthers nipped Silver Lake, 2-1. The Panthers struck first just five minutes in on a goal from junior Riley Bina. Knotted at 1 late, junior Erin Wood scored the winner. …. On Saturday, freshman Kelsee Wozniak netted two goals as the Panthers rolled to a 5-1 victory over Rockland. Also scoring for the Panthers were Bina, sophomore Emily Blake and junior Zoe Cox.

Girls’ volleyball (5-10) topped Silver Lake, 3-1, Monday Oct. 15. After dropping the first set 27-25, the Panthers claimed the next three by scores of 25-19, 25-19 and 25-18. Senior Allison Hanlon led the way with 15 kills. …… On Wednesday, Ashley Balbian’s club was swept by Hingham, 3-0. The set scores were 2510, 25-14 and 25-16. Hanlon registered five kills in the loss. …… On Friday, W-H found itself up 2-1 but was unable to close the deal and fell to Marshfield, 3-2. The set scores were 25-20 (W-H), 25-20 (M), 25-19 (WH), 25-23 (M) and 15-10 (M). Senior Erin Leahy had nine kills, Hanlon had seven and junior Ella Sweeney racked up six.

Plays like team spirit: Rian Schwede’s versatility, unselfishness shining for W-H

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Schwede against Duxbury. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Senior captain Rian Schwede has done anything asked of him, and is flourshing in that role.

The general consensus about Whitman-Hanson Regional High senior Rian Schwede is simply stated: He’s as unselfish a player as you can ask for.

His talent blends quite well with his unselfish manner, too, and it hasn’t been more evident than over the last two weeks.

Due to an unforeseen change at quarterback early in the season, the Panthers needed a boost under center, and Schwede, who was on the receiving end of 19 passes for 300 yards and two TDs last season, stepped right in and is now sharing snaps with junior John Zeidan.

Quarterback isn’t completely foreign to Schwede, as he played it throughout youth football, but it’s never easy to accept a position change, albeit a partial one.

“I always love my receiver spot, but it was like second nature when coach told me [to play quarterback],” Schwede said.

But Schwede, who stands at 6-foot-3, isn’t just playing quarterback. He has also been been split out wide and lined up in the backfield, along with starting in the defensive backfield and on special teams and flourishing while doing so.

Over the past two weeks, Schwede’s posted five touchdowns and a two-point conversion rush, while recording an interception.

On some occasions — as in two games ago against Quincy — Schwede will see action at receiver, running back, quarterback, defensive back and placeholder all within the span of a quarter.

Senior kicker Jake O’Brien’s said Schwede’s unselfish attitude is nothing new.

“Since youth football, Rian has played a ton of different positions,” O’Brien said. “He will do anything to help the team be more successful. Rian definitely embodies the unselfish attitude that every football player should strive to have.”

Against the Presidents — a 39-0 shutout victory — Schwede found himself on the receiving end of a 30-yard TD from Zeidan, tossed an 11-yard score to classmate Jacob Nixon and rushed for a 2-yard TD.

The offensive outburst came after the Panthers were held to two touchdowns or less their previous three games.

“Rian has always been one of the leaders, that’s why he’s one of our captains,” W-H football head coach Mike Driscoll said. “He’s doing what Rian does. He’ll do whatever we ask him to do.”

Against Silver Lake last week — a 29-6 victory on senior night – Schwede fired a 57-yard TD to Nixon on a fleaflicker to open the scoring just 16 seconds in. Then, in a 2:06-span in the fourth quarter, he converted a key two-point conversion run to put the Panthers up by two-plus scores, came down with an interception and tossed a 76-yard TD to classmate Ryan Downing.

“Rian’s stepped into that role and he’s flourishing in it,” Driscoll said. “We know he’s got a cannon, and Rian’s done a great job for us.”

Schwede said the biggest adjustment has been studying all of the pages of the Panthers playbook rather than a few.

“The practices, they’ve just been kind of getting to know the whole entire offense, all the runs,” he said. “I was pretty down with all the pass routes and plays, but a majority of the runs I’ve started to learn.”

It’s on to Plymouth North (4-2, 2-2) for Schwede and the Panthers for a key, in terms of potentially hosting a playoff game, Patriot League Keenan Division battle.

“We got to have a real good week of practice and preparation and that’ll be it,” Schwede said.

Week 6 on books

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Girls’ soccer is headed back to the tournament for the 18th straight season.

Week 6 certainly had its high points at Whitman-Hanson Regional High, especially on the pitch as the girls’ soccer team punched its 18th straight trip to the state tournament.

Boys’ cross country (2-4) raced to a 24-37 victory over Silver Lake on Wednesday, Oct. 10. Sophomore Theo Kamperides finished second with a time of 18:05 and junior Brandon Hager finished fourth at 18:35.

Girls’ cross country (2-4) placed six of the top seven runners en route to a 20-43 victory over Silver Lake, Wednesday, Oct. 10. Junior Tori Boss (22:08) finished second, junior Niki Kamperides (22:12) finished third and senior captain Maeve Rooney (22:59) placed fourth.

Field hockey (2-5-6) played to a tie for its fourth game in a row, this time against Hanover, 2-2, Tuesday, Oct. 9. Sophomore Delanie MacDonald and junior Robin Goyette had the goals.

Football (4-2) downed Silver Lake, 29-6, on senior night Friday, Oct. 12. Senior captain Rian Schwede was 7 of 12 in the air for 158 yards and two scores, fellow senior captain Ethan Phelps contributed 10 rushes for 64 yards and a TD and classmate Nate Beath added eight carries for 56 yards and a TD.

Golf (5-6) fell to Duxbury, 242-272, to open the week Tuesday, Oct. 9. Senior captain Owen Manning led the way with a 5-over par 41…. The next day, Brian Dempsey’s club fell to Silver Lake, 242254. Manning led the way once again with a 5-over par.

Boys’ soccer (3-9-1) fell to Quincy, 3-1, Monday, Oct. 8. Senior Nolan Clack had the W-H goal. … Two days later, W-H, despite two goals from Clack, fell to Scituate, 5-2. … On Friday, the Panthers were blanked 3-0 by Plymouth North.

Girls’ soccer (8-1-2) topped Scituate, 1-0, Wednesday, Oct. 10. Freshman Kelsee Wozniak netted the winner off a feed from junior Delaney Hall. … On Friday, W-H qualified for the playoffs with a 3-0 shutout over Plymouth North. Junior Riley Bina scored the first goals, freshman Nora Manning had the second and Hall’s foot accounted for the third. Senior captain Skylar Kuzmich and sophomore Reese Codero combined for the shutout.

Girls’ volleyball (4-8) swept Plymouth North, 3-0, Tuesday, Oct. 9. The set scores were: 25-17, 26-24 and 25-20. Senior captain Nicole Scott registered 16 digs in the win. … On Thursday W-H suffered a 3-1 setback to Duxbury. After winning the first set 25-20, the Panthers dropped the next three by scores of 25-15, 2515 and 25-17. Senior Kylie Gervasio recorded 23 assists in the losing effort.

Gervasio settles into setter role

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Gervasio (front) during a Sept. 14 match with junior captain Olivia Martin peeking over her shoulder. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Kylie Gervasio has found her own on the court and in the school since joining the girls’ volleyball team.

Coming into the season, Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ volleyball head coach Ashley Balbian had a question mark penciled in for a key position — setter.

Little did she know that area of concern would be shored up by someone who last played competitively over 2,600 miles away in senior Kylie Gervasio.

Gervasio and her family moved from Whitman to Arizona when she was 10, only to return at the beginning of last year’s school year. Unfortunately for her, their move back occurred after tryouts so she missed the season.

For Gervasio, who played the sport throughout middle school and high school, not competing in nearly two years was tough, but when the season inched closer, she made sure to sharpen her skills.

“When I knew tryouts were coming up, I went out to the beach and volleyball courts with my best friend Jennifer and we practiced because she’s also a volleyball player and she helped me get back into it,” Gervasio said.

Balbian said Gervasio’s positive energy at tryouts caught her eye immediately and blended in with the rest of her returners.

“Even if she shanks a ball she’s still got a smile on her face,” Balbian said. “So right away I was like ‘I know I want her on my team.’”

That positive energy Gervasio and her Panthers teammates convey has made her joining the roster, which consists mostly of girls she had never met prior to tryouts, a seamless transition she said.

“Everybody here is so helpful and sweet,” said Gervasio, who has accumulated 93 assists in 24 sets. “Everyone is so cheerful and excited to play and always pumped up going to games. They made coming on to the team not feel weird.” 

Joining the volleyball team has just provided it with a boost, but its benefited her as well.

“Being new and everything last year, I had trouble making friends,” Gervasio said. “Being on the volleyball team and everything, I’ve never felt more enjoyment in going to school.”

Balbian said the Panthers’ 3-2 victory over Hanover on Sept. 17 (14 assists) and their 3-1 loss to Hingham on Sept. 28 (15 assists) stick out among many strong efforts put forth by Gervasio. Balbian said she expects to see much of the same production from her senior as the season wears on.

“She’s really been a game-changer for us,” Balbian said. “I knew I had one setter coming into the season. I wasn’t sure who was going to be my backup setter so she came in as the backup and now is the starter. I think she really had taken on that leadership role the more comfortable she gets.”

A look back at Week 5

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Week 5 is in the books.

Football and girls’ volleyball both got back into the win column in Week 5, while field hockey continued to play to ties.

Boys’ cross country (1-4) dropped its race to Hingham, 21-40, Tuesday, Oct. 2. Sophomore Theo Kamperides and junior Brandon Hager finished 3-4 for the Panthers.

Girls’ cross country (1-4) also suffered a setback to Hingham, 16-45, Tuesday,Oct. 2. Junior Tori Boss paced W-H with a fifth-place finish at21:37.

Field hockey (2-5-5) opened its week with a 1-1 tie against West Bridgewater on Monday, Oct. 1. Sophomore Delanie MacDonald scored the equalizer late. … On Tuesday, W-H tied Marshfield, 2-2. Trailing 2-0 in the second half, junior Robin Goyette pulled W-H within one, before MacDonald scored the equalizer for the second straight day. … On Thursday, it was the same story, but a different game for the Panthers, who found themselves in a 2-0. Halfway through the second, freshman Lauren Dunn made it 2-1, and then sophomore Lauren Clark drew them even at 2-2 five minutes later.

Football (3-2) picked up a 39-0 shutout win over Quincy on Friday, Oct. 5. Senior captain Rian Schwede caught (30 yards from junior John Zeidan), threw (12 yards to senior captain Jacob Nixon) and rushed (2 yards) for touchdowns. Seniors Nate Beath (2yard rush), Billy Martell (7yard rush) and Ethan Phelps (18-yard rush) also had scores.

Golf (5-4) dropped its Monday, Oct. 1 match to Hanover, 266-276. Senior captain Owen Manning paced the Panthers with an 8-over par 43. … On Wednesday, Brian Dempsey’s club, despite receiving a 5-over par 42 from Manning, fell to Scituate, 267-281. … W-H wrapped up the week with a 250-267 loss to Plymouth North on Friday. Manning shot a 6-over par.

Boys’ soccer (3-6-1) fell to Hingham, 1-0, Monday, Oct. 1. … On Wednesday, the Panthers fell to Quincy, 2-1, on a Presidents goal in the 79th minute. Sophomore Dalton Desrocher had the lone Panther goal. … On Friday, W-H was shutout by Weymouth by a 5-0final.

Girls’ soccer (6-1-2) tied Hingham, 0-0, Monday, Oct. 1. Senior captain Skylar Kuzmich turned away nine shots for the shutout. … The Panthers rebounded for a 5-0 win over Quincy on Wednesday. Freshman Nora Manning scored twice, while senior captain Sammy Smith, sophomore Anna Sullivan and freshman Olivia Borgen added single tallies. … Dave Floeck’s team dropped its first game of the season Friday, 2-0 to Weymouth.

Girls’ volleyball (3-7) was clipped by Pembroke, 3-2, Tuesday, Oct. 2. After winning the first set 25-22, the Panthers dropped the next two by scores of 26-24 and 25-20. W-H rebounded to triumph in the fourth set 25-23 but ran out of steam late and fell in the deciding set 15-13. Senior Kylie Gervasio had 24 assists and classmate Erin Leahy added 15 kills. … On Friday, the Panthers dropped the first set (2-519) but snatched the next three (25-17, 25-15 and 26-24) to best Scituate, 3-1. Sophomore Caileen Hurley had 12 assists and senior Allison Halon totaled eight kills.

Setting the tone: Owen Manning drives the W-H golf team to success

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Manning against East Bridgewater earlier this season. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Patriot League All-Star and two-year captain Owen Manning sets the tone for the Whitman-Hanson Regional High golf team, on and off the course.

It was the first day of school at Whitman-Hanson Regional High, which also happened to be the hottest day in two months, as the temperature approached the century mark.

The heat caused many coaches around state to cancel practice. W-H golf head coach Brian Dempsey decided that rather than forcing his team’s way through a sluggish day on the course, he was going to hold a meeting in his classroom. The Panthers went over rules and exceptions for the season.

It was what happened at the conclusion of that team meeting that set the tone for their 2018 campaign. Senior captain Owen Manning organized a trip down the course and brought along a number or his teammates – many of whom were underclassmen – and led them in putting drills for nearly two hours. The session consisted of playing the game “the wheel,” where each player gets a partner that they start opposite and if they miss the putt, they stay at their spot. A made putt advances the player, as they try to catch their opponent.

Freshman Patrick McBroom’s outlook on high school golf shifted after that practice.

“I just found out that [golf] was a commitment more than just being on the team,” McBroom said. “Some of us stayed that first day because we all have something to work on and can always get better. People always tell me that the short game is where we lose strokes, so I decided to dedicate my time at the range that day to just that.”

Sophomore Aidan Miller also took part in the session.

“Practices like that are what really help us get better,” Miller said. “Games like we play at practice help with concentration [and] teamwork.”

Manning said he felt it was his duty to act as a captain and pitch in when and where he can to try and set a standard for everyone to follow. 

“I just wanted to get the reps in and be dedicated to the sport,” Manning said of the first practice. “I love doing it and if I’m doing it, it’s going to show the other kids that they should do it. It really helps them.”

Dempsey said it came as no surprise to him when he caught wind of what his captain had organized.

“They were there for hours practicing doing drills and he’s leading them through that and everything,” the seventh-year head coach explained. “Everyone is still doing those same drills and he kind of set that tone early on, which again is a huge credit to him.”

It was a tone that was essential to set when he did, especially after the graduation of nine seniors, which opened the door for five freshmen, two sophomores, one junior and a senior to join the roster. Dempsey noted his club was expected to fall off from last season, when it went 9-8 and made the tournament for the fourth time in five seasons, but instead it’s done anything but take a step back. Through the Panthers’ first eight matches, they sit at 5-3. They opened at 5-1, their best start that Dempsey can recall.

“Where we’re so young, there’s so many inexperienced players, and there’s so many kids on the team that and they don’t really know what the norm is,” Dempsey said, “and in a lot of ways, that’s to our advantage. The things they’re starting early on, that’s all these kids know.”

Manning has been a steady presence since he joined the team as a freshman, but since being named a captain last season as a junior, he’s become a source of intelligence for Dempsey, who relies heavily on him.

“At the range, practice days, even before matches and stuff, he’s always someone I call over and just say, ‘Hey, what are you seeing on the course?'” Dempsey said. “I can’t be with every single player. He is very much like another coach on the team. I trust what he says.”

It’s a trust and confidence Dempsey has in Manning that the senior has built over the years. Last season, Manning was tabbed the team MVP and named a Patriot League All-Star. Against Duxbury, he carded a 2-over 36 to help the Panthers knock off the Dragons for the first time ever.

“He’s just grown a lot,” Dempsey said. “He’s really matured. He’s kind of come into his own. He’s more confident in who he is as a person and as a golfer.”

Golf is a family affair for Manning that stems from his father and has carried on into the next generation.

“It was mostly my dad who talked me into playing golf, but [my brothers], Cole and Cam, have been a big part of it,” Manning said. “They’ve been mostly a little better than me, so it gives me the edge to get out there and be as good as them and beat them when we play together.”

A Manning has been penned on the golf team’s roster for seven straight seasons. Cole played under Dempsey from 2012-2015 and Cam played from 2012-2014. Dempsey said he sees a lot of similarities in their approaches to the game.

“They put time in at the range [and] they put in the time at the putting greens,” Dempsey said. “They do the things that aren’t considered fun by most kids, but it pays off.”

So far this season, Manning has picked up where he left off last fall. He paced the Panthers to a season-opening win against North Quincy (2-over par 36), led the team to a win against Duxbury again (2-over par 36) and was match medalist in a triumph over Quincy (7-over par 42).

“I’ve improved a lot,” Manning said. “My game’s just developed a lot. Practicing chipping and putting is a big help because that’s where you shave the strokes off right there – the chipping and putting – the short game.”

Manning said his goals for the rest of the season are to continue to leave a positive and long-lasting impression on the rest of his teammates.

“I try to step up big when we go to the range,” he said. “Help other kids with their swing, do some drills with them and help them improve their game as much as possible.”

Keeping score in Week 4: Soccer teams, girls’ cross country, golf post wins

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Week 4 is in the books.

Week 4 had its ups and downs at Whitman-Hanson Regional High.

The ups were: girls’ soccer remained unbeaten, girls’ cross country got into the win column, and golf and boys’ soccer posted victories.

Boys’ cross country (1-3) dropped a close race to Plymouth North, 25-30, Wednesday, Sept. 26. Sophomore Theo Kamperides finished in third at 18:30 and junior Brandon Hager finished fourth at 18:40.

Girls’ cross country (1-3) got the best of Plymouth North, 26-31, Wednesday, Sept. 26. Junior Tori Boss covered the course in 22:21 to pace the Panthers. Junior Niki Kamperides finished fourth and senior captain Maeve McDonough finished with times of 22:48 and 22:52, respectively.

Field hockey (2-5-2) opened the week with a 3-1 loss to Plymouth North on Monday, Sept. 25. Junior Sophia Molinari scored the lone W-H goal. … On Wednesday, Todd Humphrey’s club fell to Duxbury by a 1-0 final. … The Panthers capped the week with a 1-0 loss to Scituate on Friday.

Football (2-2) dropped its Friday, Sept. 28 contest to Duxbury, 27-9. After a safety in the first quarter, W-H struggled to muster up much of anything on offense. Senior Mike Connors added a fourth quarter rushing TD.

Golf (5-1) had its first two contests of the week rained out, before it was able to get into action Thursday, Sept. 27 against Quincy. The Panthers were led by a 7-over par 42 from their captain Owen Manning in a 275-291 win over the Presidents.

Boys’ soccer (3-3-1) suffered a 4-0 setback against Silver Lake on Wednesday, Sept. 26. … On Thursday, Dave Leahy’s club defeated Plymouth South, 4-1. Junior captain Jason Brodeur scored twice in the triumph. … On Saturday, W-H fell to Plymouth North, 2-1. Sophomore Dalton Desrocher had the W-H goal.

Girls’ soccer (5-0-1) topped Silver Lake, 3-0, Wednesday, Sept. 26. Juniors Anika Floeck and Samantha Perkins and freshman Kelsee Wozniak supplied the W-H goals. … The Panthers played to a 2-2 tie against Plymouth South on Thursday. Trailing 2-0 12 minutes in, Floeck cut the deficit to 2-1 at halftime with a goal. Freshman Olivia Borgen notched the score at 2-2 in the second half with a goal.

Girls’ volleyball (2-6) won the first set but dropped the following three in a 3-1 loss to Hingham on Friday, Sept. 28. The set scores were: 25-20 (W-H), 25-11 (H), 25-23 (H) and 25-18 (H). Senior setter Kylie Gervasio posted 15 assists, senior Erin Leahy had 12 kills and libero Nicole Scott, a senior captain, had 25 digs.

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

New boys’ lacrosse coach excited to ‘get his hands dirty’

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Tyler Sabens is the Panthers’ new boys’ lacrosse head coach.

Newly-hired head coach of the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ lacrosse team, Tyler Sabens, is thrilled to get the opportunity to take the insight he’s gathered over the years and put it to use.

Sabens, whose hiring was announced Sept. 13 via a press release from W-H athletic director Bob Rodgers, takes over for Rob White, who spent five seasons at the helm of the Panthers. White, who Rodgers announced stepped down at the conclusion of last season, led the Panthers to the tournament each of his first three years, but the team combined to win just seven games over the past two springs. W-H went 5-14 in 2017 and 2-16 last season.

“I am extremely excited to join Whitman-Hanson as their new lacrosse coach,” Sabens said in an interview with the Express. “The foundation here, just in terms of the amount of athletes and the way that Whitman-Hanson looks at student-athletes, serves as a great base to build a successful lacrosse program.” Sabens, who is in his first year as a guidance counselor at Whitman Middle School, referenced the W-H girls’ lacrosse team, which has made the tournament four out of the last five seasons, as an example of using that “great base” to its fullest.

“They’re successful and a program that brings players back,” Sabens said.

After graduating from Falmouth High, where he was a two-time lacrosse captain, Sabens went on to play at Manhattan College from 2008-12. Sabens captained the Jaspers his senior season. In addition to expanding his overall knowledge of the game during his time in the Bronx, Sabens said he ascertained the true value of togetherness.

“When you’re playing in college, you’re with each other, you live with each other, you’re surrounded by each other so much that you’re really forced to buy into one another, never mind the game of lacrosse, but one another and being successful together,” Sabens said.

In 2014, Sabens entered the high school coaching ranks when he hooked on with Falmouth’s boys’ lacrosse team. He coordinated the offense and coached the goalies up until this past spring, when Falmouth made it all the way to the Div. 2 South Sectional final. Sabens said he grasped how to build a winning environment and mentality, which are both something he plans to establish at W-H.

“Culture is so important on how athletes and coaches look at process,” he explained. “If we’re not all focused on doing the little things great, and doing the little things like they’re supposed to be done – in the field, off the field, in the classroom, in the community – if we can do that, that will lead to the big things like winning, the program growing overall.”

Sabens was also a coach on Falmouth’s 2016 football team that won the Division 2A Super Bowl, running its tripleoption offense and coaching the running backs and cornerbacks.

The Falmouth native has coached JV hockey, power skating, hockey skill sessions, town basketball and lacrosse clinics.

“I would coach anything, honestly,” Sabens said. “Sports is sports to me.”

Sabens met with the returning players and anyone else interested in joining the team shortly after his hiring.

“I introduced myself to the guys [and] had them fill out a small questionnaire, just so I can find out a little more about them,” he said. “It was really nice to meet all of the guys, or most of the guys.”

Togetherness and positivity were stressed at thatWednesday meeting.

“It is instrumental and pivotal that we approach adversity as it comes along together with an outlook for one another, rather than individuals,” Sabens said. “If we don’t approach what’s about to come as a team and really genuinely together, it’s gonna be a long year and it’s gonna be a tough process to start building up.”

As part of his process of building the program up, Sabens said he’s on a mission to retain current players, acquire new players and bring back former players.

“My overall goal is to put a footprint and really hope that people end up respecting the program after this year and kids want to come play for the program,” Sabens said. “Guys want to come back and play for me next year.”

Sabens said he’s eager to get to work.

“This [is] one of the best opportunities I think a high school lacrosse coach can come across,” Sabens said, “to be able to enter the Patriot League with the stacked lineup and the opposition that we’ll be facing. That itself just raises the level of the game being played and the interest it’s gonna attract. I’m so excited to get my hands dirty in the Patriot League and to really start building this thing.”

Season Preview: Experience, leadership key for W-H cheerleading team

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GIVING A CHEER: Children in kindergarten through grade eight joined the W-H Cheerleading team in a Panther Club Clinic on Friday, Sept. 14, culminating in a chance to cheer for the football team under the Friday Night Lights. / Photo by: Sue Moss

All eyes are zeroed in on state title No. 14.

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High cheerleaders are back on the mats and in full force.

Forty kids turned out to tryouts in late August, enough for first-year head coach Alyssa Hayes, who took over the team on a temporary basis in February, before being named to the position full time in April, to fulfill her goal of forming a junior varsity team.

“This is the first time in a long time that we’ve had a JV team, which coach Keryn Cordo and I are so excited about,” said Hayes, a 2012 W-H graduate. “Having two solid teams again would be ideal.”

Decorated seniors Anna Franklin and Shelby Newcomb captain the varsity team alongside junior Ryley Hurley.

“They, honestly, the three of them are the best of friends, and that’s how they treat the rest of the team,” Hayes said.

The trio doesn’t just guide the team on the mats, but through the halls as well.

“We’ve got a lot of new freshmen and even [on the] first day of school, I saw them walking the freshmen around,” Hayes said. “They’re just going to lead this team 24/7, not just at practice.”

Hayes is expecting the same positive attitudes to push the Panthers forward this fall that did last winter, which culminated in state title No. 13.

“They seem to all really get along and love each other, which is something you usually have to build up to,” Hayes said.

The Panthers have seven returnees from that title winning team. In addition to their three captains, senior Maddy Anderson, junior Kaylee Diehl, and sophomores Olivia McCarthy and Savannah Po- irier are all back.

“I’m so excited,” Hayes said. “I can’t wait to get going. We already have our competition schedules ready, so I can’t wait to get started. I feel like I’ve been waiting for the beginning of the season for a while.”

And, first up on that competition schedule is the Oliver Ames Invitational on Sunday, Oct. 21. Six days later –on Oct. 27 – will be the Braintree Invitational.

“Now it’s just let’s start practicing those skills,” Hayes said. “You get the routine in August, so we’re trying to get some reps in and build up to states in November.”