Whitman-Hanson Express

You are here: Home / Archives for Bob Rodgers

W-H boys’ basketball captain Vallancourt bounces back from cancer

By

Ryan Vallancourt has scored in double-digits in six of the Panthers’ first seven games. / Photo by: Sue Moss

After a bout with cancer over the offseason, Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ basketball senior captain Ryan Vallancourt is grateful to be back on the court.

Ryan Vallancourt was going up for a routine layup during a summer league game this past July when life took an unexpected turn for the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ basketball captain. 

“I just felt, not like a shock, but a tingle throughout my body,” Vallancourt explained. “It was right in my balls, so I was like, ‘What the hell?’”

He felt a lump in the area the next day, so he texted his mom, who works in the emergency room at South Shore Hospital. He went down for an ultrasound and blood work. The next stop was Boston Children’s Hospital later that night for the results. 

“I had testicular cancer,” Vallancourt said. “I was shocked and I was scared, for sure. You never think it’s going to be you at 18. That became a bigger than basketball moment for me. I just remember the guy told me and I remember leaning my head back like, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’ I kind of broke down from there. It was a tough night for sure.”

For Vallancourt, life went from perfect to unknown in an instance. 

“Thirty five-game winning streak, at that point, best team in the state, only captain of the team, your life is going great right into college admissions time, you’re feeling good and then the next thing you know you’re a cancer patient at Dana-Farber,” said Vallancourt, Patriot League All-Star last season.

He underwent surgery the following Monday. Then in September he began chemotherapy, which lasted until mid-October. 

“That was tough — I’m not gonna lie,” Vallancourt said. “It was pretty intense chemo. I was on like three different kinds, I missed almost like the first month of senior year, which was tough for sure.” 

Despite bouncing in and out of the hospital, Vallancourt wasn’t about to be kept off the court. After all, it was the only place he could find peace and solace from the rigorous grind of chemotherapy.

“I was playing on the weekends during our AAU tournaments and that meant the world to me,” he said. “I just wanted to be with the guys. But honestly, the nights just being at the high school getting shots up in an empty gym was the best therapy I could have had, honestly. Just knowing I was going to get through it and keep that positive mindset. I would just say being in the gym made me forget about everything, honestly.”

LEADING BY EXAMPLE

W-H boys’ basketball head coach Bob Rodgers was in constant contact with his captain throughout the process. Rodgers said the conversations shed even more of a light on Vallancourt’s character and leadership off the court. 

“He would be texting me in the middle of his chemotherapy telling me how bad he felt for the little kids he saw going through it,” Rodgers said. “In my mind I’m thinking, ‘Wow, this kid is battling it himself and what he’s caring about the most is what he’s seeing other people do.’ It just says a lot about who he is and that he thinks about others first — and that’s what makes him a special leader.”

Not only did he feel bad for the children going through chemotherapy, but he took action. During the football season this past fall, Vallancourt organized a pediatric cancer night fundraiser. He and a few of his teammates helped raise $750 to buy gifts and essentials for the children at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. 

“Seeing all those kids in there, I wanted to do something that would raise awareness and make other people get checked and be more cautious about it,” Vallancourt said. “That night (fundraiser) really meant a lot to me.” 

BACK TO BASKETBALL 

Vallancourt has that same unselfish mindset on the court. 

“If you watch him in practice, he is trying to make everyone around him better,” Rodgers said. “He spends so much of his time trying to make them better and so much of his time trying to make our team better.”

Vallancourt’s teammates agree. 

“Ryan’s leadership is a special thing,” said junior Cole Champingie, one of eight first-year varsity players under Vallancourt’s watch this season. “He really helped me coming up this past year. I had no confidence in my game and felt out of place, but he boosted my spirits all the way up through tryouts and pushed me to get better in every workout we did and every practice.”

Vallancourt has also helped first-year varsity player, sophomore Evan Yakavonis, expand his game. 

“I would say Ryan is a terrific leader,” Yakavonis said. “I have learned so much from him on the court and off the court. He has helped me become a better defender by instructing me on what I could do better and showing me how to do it.”

Vallancourt’s work ethic is what rubbed off the most on sophomore Cian ÓBroin , also in his first year on varsity. 

“He’s helped me get better as a player because looking at how much work he puts in on and off the court it shows what I need to strive for,” ÓBroin said. “Sometimes when I was in the gym getting a workout in I would see Ryan come in and do simple shooting drills, all while doing chemotherapy, just to continue working.”

Now cancer-free, Vallancourt has developed a new perspective on basketball following his recent bout. 

“It has made me appreciate the time I have on the court and go that much harder,” Vallancourt said. “Just going to practice, like a Wednesday night practice, some kids may be like, ‘Ah, I got practice.’ But for me, you never know when it’s going to be your last day on the court. It could have been for me if I didn’t get it checked out.”

So far this season, Vallancourt has picked up where he left off last winter (scored 16 points in the Patriot Cup final against Hingham). He pumped in double-digits in six of the Panthers’ first seven games — in which they’re 5-2 — highlighted by a 25-point outing on Tuesday against Hanover, a 19-point outburst against Cypress Creek (Florida) and a 15-point performance against Silver Lake. He and the Panthers are scheduled to be back in action Friday, Jan. 14 at 6:30 p.m. on the road against Marshfield. 

“This season means the world to me,” Vallancourt said. “I’ve been looking forward to this my whole life — going to the camps when I was younger and working my way up from junior varsity to a lower varsity guy and to now here.”

Season Preview: 35-game winning streak or not, it’s a clean slate for boys’ basketball

By

Senior Amari Jamison is one of the Panthers’ top returnees. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ basketball team enters the 2021-22 season riding a 35-game winning streak.

Seven hundred and seventeen days. 

That is how long it has been since the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ basketball team lost a game. 

That is right, nearly two years. 

Seriously, its last loss was Dec. 26, 2019. 

After concluding the 2019-2020 campaign with 23 straight wins en route to a share of the Div. 2 state title, W-H went a perfect 12-0 last season and won the Patriot Cup. 

It enters the new year riding a state-best 35-game winning streak. But 22-year head coach Bob Rodgers is all about wiping the slate clean this winter. 

“I don’t look at it as a 35-game winning steak,” Rodgers said. “I look at it as 2020 had a 23-game winning streak and 2021 had a 12-game winning streak and right now 2022 is 0-0. I’m trying to keep it from being a distraction to the kids.”

The Panthers once again have some giant voids to fill. This time it is the graduation of their one-two punch in Patriot League Keenan Division All-Stars Nate Amado and Cole LeVangie. 

Amado dumped in 24.2 point and snagged 9.3 rebounds per game last season en route to being voted the Patriot League Keenan Division MVP. He has moved on to Babson College, where he is second on the team averaging 11.7 ppg.

LeVangie, who scored 13.6 points, grabbed 9.1 rebounds and dished out 8.3 assists per game last season, has fit in quite well at Suffolk. The freshman is posting 9.1 ppg. 

“I think it was very easy to know that when you have Superman and Batman on the floor something good is going to happen,” Rodgers said. 

The Panthers head coach added it will be a team effort to fill their shoes. 

“Right now, we are trying to establish our identity after losing two incredible impact players,” Rodgers said. “This year, the players know they have to count on each other and they may all have to step up a little bit more.”

Fortunately for Rodgers, he didn’t just have two league all-stars last season, he had four. And two of them are back in Amari Jamison and Ryan Vallancourt. 

Vallancourt captains the Panthers. He netted 6.1 points and dished out 4.8 assists per game last season. He will start at shooting guard. 

“We’re extremely lucky to have somebody of his character and his skill level to be leading our team,” Rodgers said. 

Jamison, who will start at small forward, dumped in 9.0 ppg and shot 41.3 percent from beyond the arc. 

“He’s a dynamic player and extremely athletic,” Rodgers said. 

The 6-foot-6, 260-pound senior Malcom Alcorn-Crowder will clog up the middle. He averaged 8.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game last winter. Senior Andrew Guardia will run the point, while classmate Dom Masone will man his post at power forward. 

W-H tips off its season on Tuesday, Dec. 14 at 6:30 on the road against Patriot League foe Scituate. 

“I want to focus on doing all of the little things that make up a successful basketball team and let the results just kind of fall into place,” Rodgers said. “It’s really easy to fall into the trap of looking at the past successes and trying to live up to state championships, winning streaks, league titles — all of that — and get lost in the idea that those happen because those teams took care of all those little details.”

Checking in with W-H AD Bob Rodgers

By

Following a year like we’ve never seen before, sports are back to normal — for the most part — at Whitman-Hanson Regional High.

The Express caught up with W-H athletic director Bob Rodgers for a preview of the 2021-22 year.

Q: What gets you most excited for a new year of athletics?

A: “It’s always exciting to come back in the fall and have this sense of renewal. Everyone has a chance to begin with a clean slate and soon we learn how hard the kids worked over the summer.”

Q: What’s your favorite part of the school year and why?

A: “The return to school is always my favorite time of year as we see our seniors take on a new leadership role in the school and the freshmen joining the Panther family.”

Q: How do you feel playing a sport benefits students?

A: “There are so many aspects to what sports can do for young people. They learn many life lessons and develop important characteristics such as dedication, discipline, resiliency, loyalty just to name a few. But I think it is the relationships that matter most. In many cases, kids are making friendships that will last a lifetime.”

Q: What are the highs and lows of being an AD?

A: “The best part is seeing kids grow from that young freshmen to that confident senior. It is a privilege to play a small role in that. The low point comes when people hold coaches and officials to a standard that no one can live up to. None of us, in any walk of life, can be perfect. It takes the joy out of the experience when this happens.”

Q: For those who don’t know, what goes into the role of an AD?  How much time do you have? 

A: “Being an AD encompasses so many different elements. From hiring, mentoring and supervising coaches to scheduling games, dealing with the financial challenges, building culture, training student leaders and administering all of the rules from the state and the league there really is very little time to take a breath.”

Q: When you look back on last year, what moment(s) stick out? 

A: “Two things come to mind immediately. The first is just how great it was to see kids back competing after losing that chance due to COVID the previous spring. We all had a renewed appreciation for what we have. The other was seeing the boys’ cross-country team go undefeated. Coach [Steve] George is such an amazing man and a terrific coach who is so deeply committed to our kids. Seeing them win it will be a highlight that will stick with me for a long time.”

Q: Have there been any improvements in athletics for this upcoming year?

A: “We continue to be a beta testing school for HUDL. All of our teams have access to this video system but now out at the fields we have HUDL focus and sideline which will give our coaches an automated way to record games.”

Q: Are there any changes in W-H athletics this season from coaches to schedule release? 

A: “We do have some new coaches this fall. Tony Reis replaces Dave Leahy as boys’ soccer head coach. Dave had to step away due to his work commitments. Zack Botelho is our new football coach taking over for Mike Driscoll, who retired to spend more time with his family. 

“One of the other major changes this school year deals with the MIAA. They have changed to a new website and scheduling system. The old app and website will not longer be the place to find schedules and information. Now people will want to download the arbiter sports app. A link to the schedule and calendar can be found at www.whathletics.com.”

Q: Are there any teams at W-H that you have your eye on to make a deep postseason run or perhaps surprise some people?

A: “Wow, that is such a tough question because the kids in so many sports have been working so hard. We are lucky that our teams compete at such a high level and sometimes we get a little spoiled. I know this, any W-H sporting event will be a fantastic event for Whitman and Hanson families to attend.”

Q: Are there any dates that fans of W-H athletics should mark down on their calendars for any reason?

A: “Maybe Christmas? It may be the only day of the year where there isn’t some W-H athletic practice or game taking place.”

Q: What are you hoping to see as the year gets underway?

A: “I want to see kids smiling, having fun and showing great sportsmanship.”

Amado, LeVangie go out on top

By

Nate Amado (left() and Cole LeVangie cut down the net following W-H’s Patriot Cup win. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Nate Amado and Cole LeVangie pointed the way for the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ basketball team this season.

Cutting down the net together during their senior years of high school was a moment Nate Amado and Cole LeVangie had dreamed about.

It was mission accomplished for the longtime friends and WHRHS boys’ basketball senior captains, who paced the Panthers to a perfect 12-0 record and Patriot Cup title, ending their high school careers on a 35-game winning streak.

The Patriot League Keenan Division MVP, Amado dumped in 24.2 ppg and corralled 9.3 rpg. LeVangie averaged a near triple-double, scoring 13.6 ppg, grabbing 9.1 rpg, and dishing out 8.3 apg en route to being tabbed a Patriot League Keenan Division All-Star.

“They’re two of the best to ever play at Whitman-Hanson,” said Athletic Director and 21-year boys’ basketball Head Coach Bob Rodgers.

But the two co-captains, who were the only returning starters from W-H’s 2019-20 state title team, led the way in more than just the stat sheet during this unprecedented winter season.

“Really from the first practice, I just saw that all of the players were so focused on trying to keep the Whitman-Hanson tradition going,” Rodgers said. “And Nate and Cole, being the leaders that they are, you could see them kind of take these younger players under their wing in terms of the right way to practice and approach a game.”

An example?

“Something I wanted to believe in was really keeping masks on,” LeVangie said. “I think that was the starting point and limiting our bubbles. I just really wanted to get through the season, try to provide an example for the rest of the teams in the league with just how we handled the whole situation.”

Said Amado: “If someone’s mask was down, you want to be the one to tell them to bring it up and lead by example. And on the court, we had 10 or 11 new guys to show what varsity was like.”

Junior captain-elect Ryan Vallancourt was one of those guys.

“Cole and Nate were just the best leaders and best friends I could ask for,” Vallancourt said. “They are the embodiment of what Whitman-Hanson basketball is. They have elevated me as a player as well as everyone else.”

While Amado and LeVangie often made it look easy on the court, both have gone through setbacks that they credit for helping push them to where they are today.

Amado was shooting to make the junior varsity team as a freshman. That didn’t happen. Then, he was aiming to make varsity as a sophomore but came down with the flu and wasn’t in the mix for the big club until they called him up later in the season.

“Players in all sports should look into his journey and recognize that it was his mindset and his ability and not to let those kind of setbacks derail him from his joy of the game and his goals for the game,” Rodgers said of Amado. “I’m very proud of him because a lot of guys would get negative, a lot of guys would hold a grudge, but he always just trusted us and he didn’t get negative and went out and did what he had to do. Everybody wants to point fingers when they don’t get what they want but they really have to do is ask themselves, ‘What can I do better to get what I want?'”

And that’s what Amado did.

“Nate made it such his sophomore year, we recognized what he was doing and he got brought up. What Nate accomplished is truly phenomenal.”

As for LeVangie, his basketball career was put in question at the end of his sophomore year, when he was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease.

“I lost a lot of weight that offseason,” LeVangie said. “Going into junior year, I didn’t really know what I was going to do on the court.”

He ended up coming back even better, tossing 11.4 ppg, helping propel W-H to the Div. 2 state title.

“Just with it paying off at the Garden, me being a really key contributor, it was definitely one of the best experiences of my life,” LeVangie said.

LeVangie will continue his basketball career at Suffolk University next winter, while Amado will play at Babson College.


“They should be very proud of what they accomplished because they certainly left a great legacy,” Rodgers said.

Vassil brothers commit to play basketball at Quincy College

By

Brothers Tom Vassil (left) and Ryan Vassil (right) sign on to play basketball at Quincy College. / Courtesy photo

Brothers Tom and Ryan Vassil will play basketball together at Quincy College next year.

Ryan Vassil estimated he grew 3 to 5 inches from his sophomore to junior year of high school last year.

His older brother Tom, who stands at 6-foot-11, was gearing up for his senior season on the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ varsity basketball team. So Ryan wanted to give the game a try.

“I had a big growth spurt,” Ryan said. “I was talking with [W-H] head coach [Bob] Rodgers and said, ‘Hey, I want to try out basketball.’”

Rodgers admitted this surprised him.

“You don’t normally have a kid approach the varsity coach when he’s never really played basketball and say, ‘I want to try and learn basketball. I see what my brother does and I want to give it a shot,’” Rodgers said.

But that’s what Ryan did. He attended basketball camp in the fall and earned a spot on the junior varsity team that winter. Then when the state tournament rolled around, the varsity team called him up, and he joined his brother. They ended the season as state champs following an 18-point win at TD Garden. Tom scored seven points in the victory.

“It was an awesome experience,” Tom said.

Said Ryan: “It was definitely a special moment, getting to play with Tom.”

Now the brothers will be teammates on the court again after signing on to join the Quincy College men’s basketball team.

“It means the world that we get to play basketball together,” Tom said. “But having him, someone who lives with me, we get to work all the time.”

Tom would have been going into his sophomore year of college this upcoming fall but opted for a post-grad year at Springfield Commonwealth Academy. He only played in three scrimmages before the went fully remote. He decided to unenroll. The good news? He was able to attend all of his brother’s home games this past season.

“It’s been really cool to see how much he’s improved because when he started — just like me — we couldn’t make wide-open layups, we weren’t catching the ball, so just to see the strides that he’s made is incredible,” said Tom, who didn’t begin playing basketball until his freshman year of high school. “He’s a really hard worker.”

The two have hit the court together as much as they can together — even before Tom departed briefly for school.

“When COVID started in March, we weren’t allowed to play basketball anywhere,” Tom explained. “We went to the police station and got kicked out because we weren’t allowed to play.”

Shortly after they started seeing a skills development coach, Chantel Jordan of Champ City.

“She helped me a lot with my skill and confidence,” Ryan said. “I started getting more confident putting the ball on the floor and creating my own offense. Before that, I was an offensive rebounder and then I started making my own plays.”

Ryan averaged 4.8 ppg this past season as a senior for W-H, which went 12-0 and captured the Patriot League Keenan Division crown.

“He wasn’t just a big strong kid, he became a skilled kid,” Rodgers said. “He became somebody with great hands around the basket. He became somebody who understood the game and the little nuances of how to read a defense and how to react to what defenses do. He did it in a short period of time.”

But it’s more than what Ryan did on the court that caught Rodgers’ eye.

“I always tell my team that you win with character first and Quincy College is getting two kids that are off the charts with that,” Rodgers said.

Quincy College men’s basketball coach Doug Scott said he’s excited to infuse some of the winning mentality they established at W-H into his program.

“We are very excited to have both of them,” he said. “I love recruiting guys that come from a winning culture and great coaching. Basketball aside, we are getting two great young men that can be very successful if they put the hard work in.”

Their goals before college?

“I want to get quicker and also stronger and be able to play about the rim,” Ryan said. “I want to be able to hopefully initiate some plays — have a better game off the dribble, not too much catch and shoot.”

Said Tom: “I just need to get back into shape and get my body right. I haven’t had the opportunity to play basketball on an actual court since November. I’m really looking forward to playing with Ryan again — just having that brother connection.”

Boys’ basketball nets Patriot Cup to cap perfect season

By

The Panthers pose after winning the Patriot Cup. / Courtesy photo

The boys’ basketball team capped off a perfect season by netting the Patriot Cup.

Make it 35 straight wins and a Patriot Cup to show.

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ basketball team completed a perfect 12-0 season with a 74-61 victory over league rival Hingham in the Patriot Cup final on Saturday, Feb. 20.

The Panthers trailed the Harbormen 58-56 with 4:50 remaining, before outscoring Hingham 18-3 — highlighted by a 15-0 run — the rest of the way.

“The kids locked in defensively and just owned the glass,” said W-H head coach Bob Rodgers. “We got the stops and the boards and that allowed us to get more comfortable on offense.”

Junior Amari Jamison gave the Panthers a 61-58 lead with 3:37 left when he knocked down three of his team-high 18 points.

Senior captain Cole LeVangie led the way with 16 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, while fellow senior captain Nate Amado and junior Ryan Vallancourt also scored 16 points apiece in the win.

“Not many teams challenged us this year, so it was impressive to see our kids show such poise,” Rodgers said. “I can’t say enough about our two junior guards. They both stepped up huge. Of course, we all have been privileged to watch two of the greatest players in school history in Nate Amado and Cole LeVangie and down the stretch they made the big plays when we needed them. I will sure miss both of them.

W-H, which has not lost since Dec. 26, 2020, heads into the offseason with the state’s longest winning streak at 35 straight.

“The entire team deserves so much credit for the road they had to travel to make this incredible season a reality,” Rodgers said. “COVID has taken so much away from so many people but these kids just refused to let it steal this season from them. It’s a great lesson for all of us about appreciating what you have and focusing on only that which you can control. Every member of this team should be proud of the league title and the Patriot Cup but more importantly about what kind of friends and teammates they were to each other.”

Season Preview: For boys’ basketball team, the focus is on now

By

Senior captain Cole LeVangie is a one of two returning Patriot League All-Stars for W-H. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Bob Rodgers’ bunch is aiming for its sixth Patriot League Keenan Division crown in the past eight seasons.

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ basketball team experienced that first-hand last season when it was deprived of a chance to finish off what it started in the Div. 2 state title game. 

So the mantra for this season is simple: 

“The biggest thing is to make sure we all appreciate every day we have,” said 21st-year W-H head coach Bob Rodgers. “We try to practice every day like it’s going to be our last practice and we have to hopefully play every game like it could be our last game – just appreciate what we have while we have it.”

That’s pretty easy to do when you have two guys like senior captains Nate Amado (13.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg last season) and Cole LeVangie (11.4 ppg, 5 rpg last season). Both are returning Patriot League All-Stars and two of the “most talented” players Rodgers said he has ever coached. But that’s just part of what makes them special. 

“They are just such tremendous teammates and phenomenal leaders and just good people,” Rodgers said. “I’m excited we get to play the season in part because all of these younger players get to play with them and they get to see how they go about their business and how unselfish they are. Obviously, their talent is off the charts, but what I will remember years from now is just how both of them are willing to do whatever it takes for our team to be successful and to help other kids grow.”

As for departures, reigning Patriot League MVP Stevie Kelly (14 ppg, 6.3 apg and 5.1 rpg last season) is gone from the point and Rodgers knows it will be a joint effort to make up for his contributions. 

“No, we don’t have Stevie Kelly,” Rodgers said. “But we have a trio of (junior) guards that have really stepped in nicely. Ryan Vallancourt is just so dedicated and has so much passion for the game of basketball. Amari Jamison’s potential is off the charts. His skill level and athleticism are something I haven’t really had in a long time. And Andrew Guardia is a steady Eddie — runs the position and gets people involved.”

And as always the defending Div. 2 state champions will rely on their ability to knock down the 3-ball.

“We have a lot of guys that can shoot it,” Rodgers said. “That’s one of the blessings like when you have two players like Nate and Cole, you don’t get worried that the other team is just going to try and just shut down those guys, but if the coach has that as their game plan, I think they’re going to have some difficulties because we do have some other guys that can shoot it.”

And why make playing W-H more difficult than it already is? Rodgers’ club is riding the state’s longest winning streak at 26 games, as it takes aim at its sixth Patriot League Keenan Division title in the past eight seasons. 

“A league championship is always where we start and since there isn’t a state championship on the line this year, I think that’s even more so this year,” Rodgers said. “One of the things I always say to the kids is you look at that banner with all of the league championships on it. Each one of those years represents a group of kids that came committed to a goal, came committed to a certain level of work ethic, and a team attitude. If you want to be on that you’ll have to replicate that same kind of effort.”

The Panthers are scheduled to be back on the court Friday, Jan. 22 at 6:30 p.m. when they host Plymouth North.

“I think that most of the teams in our league get up to play us for a lot of reasons,” Rodgers said. “We’re one of the games that they circle on the schedule and after having the season that we had last year, I think that will be even more so. I’m sure every team would like to be the team that stops our winning streak.”

W-H sports on pause

By

Sports at Whitman-Hanson Regional High are on pause until at least January 19.

Following the district’s decision to go full remote until January 19, the Whitman-Hanson Regional High athletic calendar will also be paused until then.

“Teams will continue to be engaged via zoom and other distanced activities,” tweeted athletic director Bob Rodgers. “Please wear your masks and stay safe during this time.”

“No one should be angry with anyone over the move to remote,” Rodgers added. “In our league, Marshfield, Plymouth North and Scituate are also in the same position and others are likely to follow. In addition, there are many other teams that are out because of quarantine.”

Both the boys’ and girls’ hockey teams as well as the boys’ basketball team had already opened their seasons. The girls’ basketball team still hasn’t played a game.

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

By

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

The wait is almost over.

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

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

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

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

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

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

That feeling is universal.

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

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

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

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

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

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

No football, cheerleading this fall

By

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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