Athletes of the Season

Boys’ basketball: Nate Amado | Senior – Named the Patriot League Keenan Division MVP, the Babson-bound senior captain poured in 24.2 ppg and snatched 9.3 rpg as the Panthers finished the season 12-0, extending their state-best winning streak to 35 games. Amado exploded for 34 points in a win over Hingham in the first round of the Patriot Cup.

Girls’ basketball: Abby Martin | Junior – The junior captain-elect elevated her game to new heights this season. A Patriot League Keenan Division All-Star, Martin poured in 14 points and snagged 21 rebounds in a win over Marshfield in their second meeting, and scored 17 points and corralled nine boards in a Patriot Cup victory over Plymouth North.

Boys’ hockey: Matt Solari | Sophomore – Only a sophomore, Solari picked up where he left off last season. He paced the rebuilding Panthers with 12 goals to go along with eight assists. Solari’s hat trick propelled W-H to a 4-3 win over Pembroke in the first round of the Patriot Cup. He has 29 goals and 22 assists so far in his career.

Girls’ hockey: Emily McDonald | Senior – For the third straight winter, McDonald is the Express’ Athlete of the Season for girls’ hockey. The senior captain and forward led WHSL with 14 points via six goals and eight assists. McDonald struck for two goals in a 3-3 tie against Norwell.

Gymnastics: Emma Mckeon | Freshman – Mckeon joined the squad on loan from her club team and made a sizable impact. During the regular season, she placed eighth in the bars and 11th in the all-around in the Patriot League. Then in the championship meet, she placed sixth in the all-around.

Coach of the Season

Girls’ Basketball: Mike Costa – Despite numerous COVID-19 pauses, Costa kept the Panthers on track. W-H finished the season 9-4, which included a six-game winning streak. Costa’s club advanced to the Patriot Cup finals, where its season came to an end. Costa said after the season: “Obviously this year wasn’t anything that anybody could have really predicted. But they were resilient all year trying to stay positive. I couldn’t have more proud of them, to be honest. It wasn’t always pretty but overall I thought it was a pretty successful year.”

*All photos, with the exception of Mckeon and Costa, are by Sue Moss

Athletes of the Season

Boys’ cross country: Theo Kamperides | Senior – Named the Patriot League Keenan Division MVP for the second straight season, the senior captain capped his high school cross country career by winning every race during the regular season to lead the program to a 5-0 record and its first league title since 2013.

Girls’ cross country: Myah Kamperides | Junior – The junior captain, who was the Panthers’ top runner, legged out two first-place finishes, a second and a third en route to being tabbed a Patriot League Keenan Division All-Star for the second consecutive fall. Kamperides holds a personal best time of 19:32.1.

Field hockey: Olivia Phelps | Junior – The junior forward, who was named a Patriot League Keenan Division All-Star, scored a team-high six goals and dished out a co-team-high three assists. Phelps potted the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win over Marshfield in the first round of the Patriot Cup.

Boys’ golf: Aidan Miller | Senior – Named the team’s MVP, the senior captain was a league all-star for the second straight fall, shooting just north of 4-over par. Miller led all scorers with a 4-over 38 against North Quincy in the Panthers’ only win of the season.

Boys’ soccer: Brendan Nehiley | Senior – A league all-star, Nehiley found the back of the net a team-high five times and added five assists. The senior captain scored twice in the Patriot Cup, including the winner against Hanover in the first round.

Girls’ soccer: Ava Melia | Junior – An EMass All-State first-team selection and league all-star for the second straight season, the junior defender was the backbone of the young Panthers’ defense that recorded four shutouts this season. Melia was an every-minute player.

Girls’ volleyball: Sophia Berardinelli | Senior – Senior captain and league all-star led the team with 162 assists, 142 digs and 30 aces from her setter position. Berardinelli had a season-high 27 assists in a 3-0 win over Silver Lake.

Coach of the Season

Boys’ cross country: Steve George – The seventh-year head coach guided his senior-laden squad to a perfect 5-0 regular season culminating in W-H’s first league title in eight years. George said after the season: “This is my seventh year here and until this season I was never certain every athlete bought into what we were trying to accomplish and how to get there.” 

*All photos by Sue Moss

Athletes of the Season

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Coach of the Season

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

*All photos by Sue Moss

Athletes of the Season

Boys’ cross country: Theo Kamperides | Junior – The junior was the Panthers’ top runner this fall, placing first overall in seven of eight Patriot League dual meets. Selected as the Patriot League Keenan Division’s MVP, Kamperides earned a spot in the Division 1 Championship meet and finished the season with a personal best time of 15:50.

Girls’ cross country: Myah Kamperides | Sophomore – In her first year running cross country, the sophomore placed first overall in eight of nine meets during the regular season en route to league all-star status. Kamperides posted a personal best time of 19:32.

Field hockey: Maddy Tassey | Senior – The senior captain potted a team-high 4 goals, while adding three assists for a total of seven points on the season. Tassey scored with three minutes remaining on Sept. 25 to give the Panthers a 3-2 win over Plymouth South for their first victory of the season.

Football: C.J. Giuliani | Senior – A Patriot League All-Star, Giuliani was a two-way starter for the Panthers. The senior captain rushed for 689 yards out of the backfield, while posting 68 tackles and five sacks on defense.

Boys’ golf: Aidan Miller | Junior – The junior represented the Panthers in the Div. 2 state finals, where he finished 51st out of 102 golfers. In three of W-H’s four wins, Miller was its low scorer. 

Boys’ soccer: Jason Brodeur | Senior – A two-year captain, Brodeur was selected as a Patriot League Keenan Division All-Star. The forward led the Panthers in goals each of the past two seasons and netted a career-high 17 this fall. He will play at Endicott.

Girls’ soccer: Olivia Borgen | Sophomore – The sophomore was both a first-team EMass selection and Patriot League All-Star. A midfielder, Borgen paced the 16-win Panthers with 22 goals and 13 assists, bringing her career totals to 30 goals and 17 assists.

Girls’ volleyball: Lily Welch | Sophomore – Voted as the team’s Rookie of the Year, Welch posted 89 kills, 57 solo blocks, 13 kills and five aces in her first campaign on the varsity club. She garnered 19 kills and a team-high five solo blocks in the Panthers’ first-round tournament match against Durfee.

Coach of the Season

Girls’ volleyball: Samantha Richner – The Whitman-Hanson Regional High alum took over the reins of the girls’ volleyball team this fall and led it to the tournament for the first time since 2016. The Panthers finished the season with a 12-9 record. Richner said after the year: “I am very pleased with the way the season played out. The team and I set a goal at the beginning of the season, which was to make tournament, and we were able to achieve that.”

*All photos by Sue Moss

Athletes of the Season

Baseball: Rian Schwede | Senior – The Panthers’ ace dazzled opponents to the tune of a 0.79 ERA and 7-2 record to punctuate a four-year varsity career that included three Patriot League All-Star nods. He will play at Endicott next spring.

Softball: Victoria Ryan | Junior – She is the definition of an impact player. A repeat league all-star, the junior led the young squad in average (.390), slugging percentage (.542), on-base plug slugging (.961) and home runs (two).

Boys’ lacrosse: Mason Gorman | Senior – Selected as a league all-star, the senior midfielder fueled the Panthers’ turnaround by pumping in 32 goals and dishing out a team-high 26 assists for a team-best 58 points.

Girls’ lacrosse: Riley Bina | Junior – Despite missing seven games due to injury, the junior midfielder paced the team with 37 goals and added 13 helpers. The captain-elect was a Patriot League All-Star.

Boys’ tennis: Brian Fox | Junior – The junior captain, who was named the team MVP, led the Panthers with a 5-11 record while competing in No. 1 singles. Posted key wins against Pembroke and Spellman during the Panthers’ two-match win streak.

Girls’ tennis: Lexi Connolly | Junior – Named a Patriot League All-Star, the junior captain was terrific all season out of her post in No. 1 singles. Had a key victory in a tight 3-2 win over Plymouth North.

Boys’ outdoor track: Theo Kamperides | Sophomore – A Patriot League All-Star, the sophomore was one of the Panthers’ top scorers this spring. With a 2-mile run of 10:40.00, he placed first in the Patriot League meet.

Girls’ outdoor track: Ally Bartlett | Senior – The Express’ girls’ indoor track Athlete of the Season in the winter, Bartlett participated, and scored, in the maximum of four events in every meet. The senior captain was W-H’s top scorer.

Coach of the Season

Girls’ tennis: Sue Sookiasian – In her sixth season at the helm of the girls’ tennis team, she guided the Panthers, who received most of their contributions from sophomores and juniors, to their first ever tournament victory, a 4-1 win over Bishop Feehan. Sookiasian said after the season: “As the season progressed, our team progressed. I think our girls picked up speed as the season went along and gained confidence and we really ended up strong.”

*All photos by Sue Moss

Athletes of the Season

Boys’ basketball: Stevie Kelly | Junior – From playing sparingly last season, Kelly worked his way up the depth chart and was a force on both ends of the court this winter. The point guard was third on the team in scoring at around 8 ppg and was tops in assists with over 130.

Girls’ basketball: Kathryn Dunn | Senior – The senior captain finished her Whitman-Hanson career a two-time team MVP and two-time Patriot League All-Star. The 5-foot-9 stretch forward paced the Panthers in points (11.5 ppg), rebounds (8 rpg) and steals (2.2 spg) this season. She will play at Curry.

Boys’ hockey: Owen Manning | Senior – Selected as both a Shriners and Patriot League All-Star, the forward tallied six goals and tied for the team lead with 14 assists. The senior served as an assistant captain.

Girls’ hockey: Emily McDonald | Sophomore – The sophomore forward was a staple on WHSL’s first line. A captain-elect, she ranked second on the team with 15 points, courtesy of six goals and nine assists.

Boys’ indoor track: Brandon Hager | Junior – The Panthers’ top scorer, he set personal bests in the 1,000-meter run (2:50.18) and 1-mile run (4:49.42). At the Patriot League championships, the junior placed second in the 2-mile run and was part of the second-place 4×400 relay team.

Girls’ indoor track: Ally Bartlett | Senior – The senior captain scored nearly 40 percent of the Panthers’ points this season. The team MVP, Bartlett posted team-bests in the hurdles (9.34 seconds), long jump (15-4) and shot put (26-4.5).

Wrestling: Damari Goldsmith-Greene | Sophomore – Goldsmith-Greene placed in four tournaments. A South sectional finalist at 138 pounds, he led the team with 120 points and 29 wins. He added seven pins.

Girls’ swimming/diving: Maddie Navicky | Junior – A three-time South Shore League All-Star and two-time team MVP, Navicky led the co-op in scoring. She was also a sectional and state qualifier.

Gymnastics: Sarah Bombardier | Junior – The junior earned the co-op’s top score of the season (32.55) and earned a 31.69 all-around meet average.

Coach of the Season

Boys’ hockey: Chris Googins – In the third season of his second stint with the boys’ hockey team, Googins brought the Panthers to the MIAA tournament for the first time since 2013. Googins said after the season: “It’s happening. Kids are actually taking the sport seriously and realizing that you got to play the game and train for the game year-round if you want to compete.”

*All photos by Sue Moss