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Dealing with a delayed spring sports season at Whitman-Hanson

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The spring sports season is delayed until at least May 4.

For the Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ tennis team, optimism was high — and rightfully so — as it looked toward this spring.

The Panthers are set to return all 18 players from last year’s team that won its first tournament game in program history.

Now, the girls’ tennis team, like the rest of the clubs, is grappling with a delayed start to the spring due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

“We were looking forward to our best season thus far,” said girls’ tennis head coach Sue Sookiasian. “Coach (Sue) Moss and I are keeping the faith that we will be able to have some sort of an abbreviated season.”

This spring is also key for the boys’ lacrosse team, but for the opposite  reason. The Panthers are tasked with making up for the loss of 10 seniors. Five of those seniors combined for 112 goals, one was its Patriot League All-Star starting goaltender and another was a captain on defense.

“It’s definitely tough because I would have liked to get a full season in to develop the younger guys because the majority of starters last year were seniors,”  said boys’ lacrosse head coach Tyler Sabens. “I’m hopeful that we’ll have a spring season even if it’s short.”

If all goes as planned and there are no further setbacks, that short spring season will get underway on May 4 with tryouts. Games will get underway about a week later, according to athletic director Bob Rodgers. 

Baseball skipper Pat Cronin, who started coaching 47 years ago, has never seen anything like this, but he understands the delay is necessary. 

“[I] Feel for the kids, of course,” Cronin said. “The seniors are in their final year and will be unable to ever get back the time missed. While virtually my entire life has been centered about the classroom and athletic fields, missing a season or part of a season is a small price to pay if we can help to save lives.”

Head girls’ lacrosse coach AC Decker, who was hired last offseason, is possibly facing his first spring without picking up a stick since he was introduced to the sport back in 1975. 

“The girls are devastated, especially the seniors,” Decker said. “I can tell that there were many players who were very prepared and ready for the season. The captains, Marissa Connell and Riley Bina (sitting at 92 career goals), organized teams for indoor leagues and kept the players motivated.

“Going into my second year, I felt much better prepared. We were hosting a small preseason jamboree, and I was able to set my schedule this year.”

Josh Lopes is set to enter his first spring at the helm of the boys’ tennis team. He doesn’t think the season will actually happen — and if it does — he won’t have a good feeling going in. 

“I don’t know much about the team at all, especially what the experience levels are,” Lopes said. “Quite a few are first-year players. I had met with anyone interested in playing but it does feel like we are going into the season essentially blind. I don’t really know what to expect in terms of ability and players. It was actually part of the excitement for me, thinking about what the possibilities could be.”

Steve George, the girls’ outdoor track head coach, noted it’s frustrating not being able to communicate with his athletes about potential practices and workouts because of a strict MIAA policy that states, “A coach may not directly or indirectly require an athlete to participate in a sport or a training program outside of the MIAA defined sport season.”

“This pandemic has created an immensely frustrating time for me as a coach,” George said. “I’m literally isolated from the athletes, but in addition there are rules placing limitations on what we can discuss or suggest out of season.”

With that said, he is immensely concerned about his athletes getting hurt if the season ends up getting underway.

“I have a growing concern about injury, if and when we do return,” he said. “Accelerating training would increase that likelihood, and the MIAA will proceed with caution to ensure adequate practices take place prior to competition. But many of the athletes will not want to hold back, despite a lengthy period of inactivity and that could be disastrous. My job is to keep them healthy and safe and that is how I intend to proceed.”

Boys’ outdoor track head coach Stephen Schlicting tries to post a tweet each day to keep in touch with his athletes, but he knows it’s not the same as seeing their faces. 

“It seems like a long time since I’ve seen the team,” said Schlicting, who also coaches the boy’s indoor track team. “I’m hoping we have this thing beat by May 4. We had a very good group this past winter, and I’m looking forward to the others who will join and start next month.”

Softball head coach Jordan McDermott has been doing her best to keep her players’ spirits up. 

“I did do a challenge for a week with the girls where I gave them a challenge and they had the option to do something,” McDermott explained. “I loved how I made it not only for the softball girls but for all those who follow my account; it was pretty cool to see other girls from other schools and towns get involved. I go live here and there on my account and try to check in on the student-athletes. My goal is to keep the girls engaged, active and optimistic.”

One thing is certain: each coach is devastated for their senior(s). 

Season Review: Girls’ indoor track meets expectations

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Sophomore Myah Kamprides was a league all-star. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The girls’ indoor track team finished the year 2-3.

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ indoor track team did not disappoint its sixth-year head coach Steve George this winter.

“The team certainly met my expectations,” said George, whose team finished with a 2-3 record after going 0-5 the previous season. “I looked for effort and improvement against Hingham and Plymouth North, both much bigger teams than ours. They can beat you with the sheer numbers of athletes it enters in its meets. We saw that improvement.

“Duxbury and Silver Lake are both very well coached and very competitive teams that present problems for our kids every season throughout the year. The ladies stepped up and beat each of those teams convincingly. Individually, I saw remarkable improvement each time out from our kids which is really the most important factor in how I judge the success of the team.”

George said his assistant coaches played a major part in the club’s success, going as far as coining them the team’s strength.

“Kim Coletti’s children went through the program and she understands the dynamic as well as anybody,” George said. “She communicates extraordinarily well with our girls. She understands and counsels them and is supportive and more importantly honest with them. Samantha Richner was an incredible multi-event athlete both here and at Bridgewater State and she brings knowledge in field events that is admired and respected by the athletes. And Rob Bunszell is a very enthusiastic, young coach who is intent on learning and passing it along.”

As far as the athletes, both junior Izzy Amado and sophomore Myah Kamperides earned league all-star status this winter.

A Patriot League all-star in cross country as well, Kamperides was the league’s top 2-miler and Panthers’ team MVP.

“[She] loves to double in the mile and 2 mile, from which we try to refrain to keep her fresh,” George said. “An incredibly hard worker, who logs high miles at impressive paces and loves every step of it.”

Amado posted a 3:15.32 in the 1,000-meter run during the Panthers’, 57-43, win over Silver Lake on Jan. 22.

“When I first met Izzy, I had every reason to believe she would become the next great mid-distance/distance athlete here at W-H,” George said. “And despite a love for and commitment to soccer throughout the year, she became a very good runner and this year. I’m very happy she gives us all she has in track and I hope she continues that next year.”

A two-year captain, senior Samantha Perkins was W-H’s second leading scorer and a multi-event athlete, competing in the pentathlon.

“She is an outstanding sprinter, hurdler, jumper and thrower,” George said. “She was an easy choice for this year’s Coaches Award on the basis of her contributions to the program, her effort in every practice and meet, and her leadership, all while being our second leading point scorer this season.”

Senior Ryley Hurley and sophomore April Keyes were W-H’s third and fifth leading scorers, respectively. Hurley was a top performer in the 300- and 600-meter runs, long jump and anchored the 4×200 relay team, while Keyes was the team’s top hurdler and chipped in as a sprinter, mid-distance runner and jumper.

George said while there is a plan in place to establish a local youth running league to meet several evenings per week during the summer, the biggest draw to his program is the quality of athletes.

“Not only in their athleticism, but their character and work ethic which should get parents motivated to get their kids out running,” he said. “I’m blessed to have zero discipline problems, intelligent student-athletes and young people who want to work hard – all traits which will make them healthy, happy and successful adults.”

Season Preview: Girls’ indoor track chasing ‘little victories’

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Despite a small team, head coach Steve George is expecting the girls’ indoor track team to be competitive.

Little victories are what the Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ indoor track team is striving for this winter.

“I will feel our season will be a success if our small team of 32 girls can win five to seven events each week,” said sixth-year head coach Steve George. “A small team by its nature has difficulty winning meets due to the sports scoring method of five, three and one point for first, second and third places in each event.”

Despite fielding a team of just 32 girls, George’s expectations aren’t any lower. 

“I expect our girls to rise to the occasion,” said George, whose club finished 0-5 last season. “We have a small team, but each of its members are very competitive.”

In the distance events, it will be sophomore Myah Kamperides and junior Anna Sullivan leading the way for W-H. In the mid-distance events, senior Tori Boss and junior Izzy Amado will each run the 1,000-meter run, 600-meter run and 4×400 relay. In the long sprints, seniors Ryley Hurley and senior captain Courtney Woodward could make an impact in the 300-meter dash and possibly the 600-meter run. Senior captain Samantha Perkins, junior Emma Rogers and sophomore April Keyes are expected to make an impact in the sprinting and hurdling events. 

As for departures, George knows he has his hands full with the graduations of Ally Bartlett and Dorothy DiMascio-Donohue. Bartlett scored nearly 40 percent of W-H’s points last winter, while DiMascio-Donohue competed in the indoor pentathlon. 

“I don’t know that I can replace [them],” George said. “They scored a lot of points for us last year in sprints, hurdles, jumps and relays.”

George said he believes this year’s strength will the 300-meter dash and 600-meter run, while he’d like to improve his team’s relay skills. 

“With a small squad, most of our kids are needed in two individual running events, so it leaves us a little lacking in the relays,” George said. “There is nothing more disappointing than being close in a meet going into the relays and knowing you can’t win those events.”

W-H returns to action Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 3:45 p.m. at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center against Hingham and Silver Lake. 

“What I’m really hoping for is that we can achieve a lot of little victories, and the success stories on our team result in those kids promoting this great sport and in increased participation in the coming years,” George said. 

Season Review: For cross country teams, it was a ‘memorable’ season

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There was no mincing words when head coach Steve George reflected on this past fall for both the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ and girls’ cross country teams.

“This has been my most memorable season thus far at Whitman-Hanson, and I can’t say enough about this great group of coaches and kids,” said the sixth-year head coach.

It began before the first meet.

“Starting this season with my coaching dream team of Steve Schlicting and Kim Coletti got things off on the right foot,” George said.

BOYS’ TEAM

Theo Kamperides leads the pack. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The boys’ team posted a 6-3 record — highlighted by wins over Plymouth South (25-34), Plymouth North (26-30) and Scituate (22-39) — during the dual-meet season, which was followed by a first-place finish at the Patriot League meet.

The leap of the junior Theo Kamperides to stardom and improvements from the rest of the Panthers’ pack were pivotal.

Kamperides posted a season to remember, culminating in a 66th-place (out of 181 runners) finish in the Div. 1 Championship meet. Kamperides finished in first place in all but one dual meet and was tabbed the Patriot League Keenan Division’s MVP.

“Theo had a remarkable season,” George said of Kamperides, who owns a personal best time of 15:50. “He is a hard-working, dedicated athlete and brings it every time out.”

Senior captains Brandon Hager and Adam Solari, junior Liam Cafferty and sophomore Nathan Tassey were also named league all-stars.

Hager had a personal best time of 16:45.

“When he arrived four years ago, his running mechanics were — by his own admission dismal,” George said. “Brandon worked on his form and worked hard. He perfected it over the past year and it has paid off.”

Tassey had a top time of 16:53 in his first season on the team.

“I am happy he chose cross country,” George said. “He is a gifted runner with an incredible attitude and a great sense of humor. He keeps us all laughing on the road. He has also remained healthy all season despite this being his first exposure to high mileage.”

Cafferty’s best time was 17:02.

“Liam, It didn‘t start off well for [him] with blistering that kept him out of action for a couple of weeks, but he turned it on when he got back,” George said. “Another kid with an outstanding attitude and dedication to the team. He has been a major contributor since his first day as a freshman.”

Solari, known more for his prowess on the ice, put together a productive campaign, finishing one second off of Cafferty’s time at 17:03.

“He has extraordinary leadership skills,” George said. “He has never let us down in any competition and always rises to the occasion at big meets. His incredible effort at the Patriot League meet put us over the top and he ran a great race at EMass.”

George said while he’s excited for the short-term future of the program, he has some concerns down the road.

“My philosophy has always been to encourage kids to participate in something, whether it be another sport or drama, band, robotics, anything; but be involved and take advantage of these opportunities,” he said. “I’ve got to somehow get the message out that running in general has a positive impact in every aspect of life. I‘ve experienced that on a personal and familial level and we are planning some projects to promote our sport and get more kids involved.”

GIRLS’ TEAM

Sophomore Myah Kamperides. / Photo by: Sue Moss

While the postseason success wasn’t there for the girls’ team, it exceeded George’s expectations, posting a 4-5 record for its best mark in four years.

“Going into the season, I anticipated a drop off from last year, but with the addition of Myah Kamperides and Bryn Miller, and an outstanding season from Anna Flynn, the ladies fared well overall,” George said.

Like her cousin, Myah, a sophomore, posted wins in seven of her eight dual meets en route to being named a league all-star, in her first year on the team after playing soccer as a freshman. Myah finished the season with a personal best time of 19:32.

“We thought Myah would be a major factor this year but had no way of knowing just how good she could be,” George said. “Myah exceeded expectations. Myah’s success came as a result of hard work, training with the boys’ squad several times per week and staying healthy throughout the season.”

Also an ex-soccer player, Miller, a junior, posted a top time of 21:11 in her first year on the team.

“Bryn is a bit of a worrier and that should ease as she gains confidence,” George said. “She has enormous potential, paired with a desire to improve. She doesn’t know how good she can be.”

Just a sophomore, Flynn ended the season with a personal best time of 21:19.

“Anna is probably our most fit athlete,” George said. “She works hard in the weight room and has increased her strength tremendously. She improved her time by over five minutes since last year and will drop a couple more before she’s through.”

Senior captain Tori Boss, senior Niki Kamperides, senior captain Tori Carleton and sophomore Sarah Boulger rounded out the Panthers’ top seven.

George said he’s already begun planning for next season.

“I’d love running at Martha‘s Vineyard in early September, but in retrospect our goals would have been better served had we run the Coaches Invitational in November and been more prepared for EMass,” he said. “We’ll be back, stronger and faster in 2020.”

Leaders of the pack: Running runs in the Kamperides family

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From left to right: Cousin Myah, brother Theo and sister Niki. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Myah and Theo Kamperides have combined to win nine races this season.

Theo Kamperides rounded the baseball field and set his sights on the finish line, where there were two people who could be heard cheering him on louder than everyone else — his sister Niki and cousin Myah.

Myah had just taken first in the girls’ race, while Niki took fifth overall to power Whitman-Hanson Regional High past Plymouth South.

Theo edged his Plymouth South opponent by one second to win his race to lift the boys’ team to victory. The trio — brimming with excitement— celebrated with a group hug at the finish line.

“I knew Myah won when we were warming up at the starting line,” Theo said. “It was awesome.”

While it’s a moment they said they won’t forget, it’s been a sequence they’ve replicated often this year. The sophomore, Myah, has won five of her six races, while Theo, a junior, has finished in the top spot four times, and Niki, a senior, remains the Panthers’ No. 3 runner.

“It’s always fun when you get kids who are almost a lock to come in first place,” said W-H cross country head coach Steve George. “But it’s far more enjoyable because they’re here every day practicing hard with smiles on their faces.”

The Kamperides began preparations for the season this summer, and they did it as a group.

“We would do workouts together on the track twice a week,” Niki said. “We’d also all go to the weight room twice a week.”

But even with a familiarity of Myah’s blazing speed, Niki said she’s taken aback by her cousin’s success. That’s because Myah didn’t even run cross country as a freshman last year.

“I’ve been really impressed, as a sophomore coming in with this as her first year at cross country, Niki said. “I think it’s amazing.”

Myah played soccer instead, until she changed her mind during the winter. She does attribute some of her success to her time on the pitch, though.

“I have a strong finish, so I felt like soccer gave me the ability to give me the strong finish that I have,” Myah said. “During winter track, I just fell in love with cross-country and the whole team convinced me to do cross-country instead of soccer.”

Myah’s first-place finishes against Marshfield (covered 2.85-mile course in 19:38), Hingham (covered 2.98-mile course in 19:47) and Duxbury (covered 5K course in 20:14) were the lone bright spots in a few tough meets for W-H.

Myah Kamperies was unbeaten in her first five races. / Photo by: Sue Moss

“Without her, we would have been shut out at Hingham, we would have been shut out at Marshfield and at Duxbury as well,” George said. “Those are some good teams and Myah’s beaten them all.”

Myah’s times have been so above the norm that George has her practice with the boys’ team a couple of days a week.

“Her training paces fall within the parameters of our lead boys’ group,” George explained. “On some easy days, because she is also capable of higher mileage, it makes sense for her to run with the boys. Other days, and almost always on workout days, she works with coach (Kim) Coletti and our top girls’ group.”

For Theo, he picked up cross country in the sixth grade, but he didn’t start running full-time until last year when he decided to do indoor track instead of wrestling.

Theo Kamperides has won four races this season. / Photo by: Sue Moss

“During wrestling season we would joke around that the only thing he likes were the stair workouts because they were running up and down the stairs,” said his sister Niki.

Said Theo: “Yeah, my favorite thing in wrestling was the running on the track.”

And when Theo honed in on just running, he rounded into form as the Panthers’ top boys’ finisher in every race last autumn, and then set personal bests in the 1-mile and 2-mile races during the spring.

“He was prepared during all three seasons from Day One and had a better base to work from,” George said. “Nobody works harder than Theo. He is the poster boy for success in distance running at W-H.”

Myah said she’s been feeding off her cousin Theo’s success for a while now.

“I remember the year before when I was going into my freshman year, we went on a run together because I always knew I was going to do track and he ran eight miles and I could only do four,” Myah said. “I was really impressed and that pushed me.

“Even last year when I played soccer, all my friends said, ‘He’s so fast.’ That pushed me too.”

While Niki’s times don’t quite rival her brother and cousin’s, she shares a part of the success.

“She has a lot of (influence on me),” Myah said. “She is one of the most positive people on the team. She just tells me and everybody to keep going during workouts.”

George echoed Myah’s sentiments.

Niki Kamperides is the Panthers’ No. 3 runner. / Photo by: Sue Moss

“Niki is a highly regarded team member,” he explained. “I find her to be incredibly funny and a teammate who is quite vocal in support of all her teammates. I’d love to have a dozen more just like her.”

And the Kamperides would love to have a dozen more seasons just like this.

“It’s great, it’s really fun,” Theo said. “I would want to not do it without them. When Niki graduates, it’s going to be really sad when she’s not here.”

Added Myah: “It’s fun because we’re all similar people and we always get along and enjoy each other’s company.”

Said Niki: “It makes me glad at the end of the school day to be able to have this with them because we’re not in classes together. To be able to do this together is really fun.”

Season Preview: A lot of competition for girls’ cross country

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Photo by: Sue Moss

The girls’ cross country team has a lot of competition within.

It’s quality over quantity for sixth-year head coach Steve George and his Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ cross country team.

The Panthers enter a new year with a competitive heap of runners as they look to rebound from a 3-5 campaign last fall.

“I’ve made efforts to increase the number of participants in the hope that more kids might translate into improved team results,” George explained. “We saw an increase early on, but have remained steady, with about 25 girls over the past three years. And actually, I’m happy with that. The quality of our top group has improved dramatically. This year, for example, we have 10 girls realistically vying for those important top-seven positions. And I would not be surprised at all if others joined them in the next few weeks.”

Senior Tori Boss was the Panthers’ top runner last season and she returns, looking to improve on an average time of 21:26.

“Tori Boss has tremendous ability and is one of our leaders and a captain this year,” George said. “She will be getting a push from two newcomers.”

Those newcomers are sophomore Myah Kamperides and junior Bryn Miller, both of whom come over from the soccer pitch. Myah Kamperides was a standout in the 2-mile during outdoor track.

Senior Niki Kamperides was the Panthers’ No. 3 runner and she’s also back, trying to lower her 21:44 average time.

“Niki Kamperides sat out track last year and is building back up at this point, but she has an incredible work ethic and desire to improve,” George said. “She will be a top-five runner early on.”

Senior captain Tori Carleton, sophomores Anna Flynn, Sarah Boulger and junior Allie Solari will likely round out the top seven early on.

“Many of the kids have improved, which is not necessarily surprising,” George said. “I’m excited about seeing where the girls end up after a couple of months of training and competition.”

Freshman Ella Bailey, sophomore Katelyn Sweeney and juniors Hailey Minicucci and Alaina Mustascio should also contribute significantly.

The Panthers open their schedule at home on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 4 p.m. against Patriot League foe Plymouth South.

“A successful season would be to have more wins than losses,” said the coach. “Our competitions with highly ranked teams from Hingham and Duxbury will be especially difficult. Silver Lake has added a couple of tremendous runners and will also be a tough team to beat. The truth is the Patriot League is very competitive from year to year and to be above .500 is not an easy task.”

Season Preview: Excitement, optimism high for boys’ cross country

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Theo Kamperides and Brandon Hager during a meet last season. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The boys’ cross country team welcomes back eight of its top nine runners.

Never in head coach Steve George’s six years at Whitman-Hanson Regional High has he returned as much talent as he does this fall.

George welcomes back eight of his top nine runners and 13 of his top 20 total.

“I’m excited and optimistic about our boys’ team,” George said. “We are not only returning many of last year’s top runners, but have additional boys who will be making contributions as well.”

George, whose club finished 3-5 last autumn, has gone as far as to call this a “pivotal” season for the program.

“I’ve changed up our summer training program for the first time in years, pushed the kids into the weight room all summer, and planned an aggressive in-season training regimen,” George said. “The kids are onboard with the changes and are pretty excited about the season as well.”

Junior Theo Kamperides leads the way for the upstart Panthers. With an average time of 17:29, Kamperides was the team’s top finisher last season and its lone league all-star. George said he believes Kamperides will become one of the program’s top-20 5k runners of all time before the season’s over.

“He’ll have to run sub-16:53,” George explained. “But Theo is only entering his junior year and will become stronger and faster as he matures. Theo has so many things on his side. The prototypical build, the work ethic, his ability to follow our plan with precision, but most importantly, he just loves to run.”

Senior captain Brandon Hager was the Panthers’ No. 2 runner last fall with an average time of 17:48, and should be up there again this season.

“Brandon is a grinder,” said George. “When he started with us he needed to work on his running mechanics and even learn how to do a proper push up. But he has worked on perfecting both and is a great example of how a kid can improve once he is committed to doing so.”

Fellow senior captains Nick Hanley (team’s No. 4 runner last season) and Adam Solari (team’s No. 9 runner last season) also should be top runners.

Juniors Matt Butler, Liam Cafferty and Chris MacDonald all ran top-seven times last fall and will contribute heavily, as should sophomore Nathan Tassey, who hit the ground running in track last year.

George said he is also excited about a group of six underclassmen, which includes sophomores Jack Carron, Gordon Johnson, Aiden O’Brien and Domenic Uva, along with juniors Andrew Bergin and Aidan McCarthy.

“I have to believe somebody will become a surprise before long,” George said. “Nearly all participate in other sports during the year and aren’t run training full time like those kids currently at the top. With a month or so of training at the level we’ve asked them to train, who knows what will come of it.”

As for now, the only surprise so far for George was that sophomore Evan Jewitt, the team’s No. 3 runner last fall, opted not to return.

W-H begins its campaign at home on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 4 p.m. against league foe Plymouth South.

“In the Patriot League, there are quite a few good teams and an abundance of talent,” George said. “Our kids are very aware that in order to make this a successful season, we have to be prepared come November, but still we’d like to get off to a good start. We’re doing all we can to accomplish that.”

Season Review: Girls’ spring track squad is sprinting toward bright future

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The team. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The girls’ team had a combined 35 freshmen and sohpomores.

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ outdoor track team received some high praise this season. It wasn’t just from its own coaching staff, either.

“The Hingham coach said nobody will enjoy facing us over the next few years,” recalled fifth-year W-H head coach Steve George.

That feeling could be because of several factors. After a 2018 season that saw just 35 girls competing, the number of freshmen and sophomores alone matched that number this spring. That’s a good place to start.

“I expected improvement over last year from Day 1, when more than 60 girls attended our first practice,” George said.

A lot of them were big contributors also, such as freshmen Olivia Borgen and Myah Kamperides.

Borgen, who is also known for her prowess on the soccer field, was unbeaten in both the 200- and 400-meter dash during the Patriot League season, while only losing once in the 100-meter dash. She already holds the school record in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.44, which she raced to May 7, and was the team’s second leading scorer.

“[She] is an incredibly talented sprinter,” George said.

Kamperides was third on the team in scoring with solid showings in the 2-mile run and discus.

“The sky is the limit for Myah, who is already comfortable running the practice paces of her male counterparts,” George said.

Juniors Ryley Hurley and Samantha Perkins were also big contributors who will be back next season.

In her first year doing outdoor track, Hurley was the team’s fourth leading scorer. She qualified for states in both the 400-meter dash and 400-meter hurdles, is a 4-foot-6 high jumper and among W-H top 100- and 200-meter sprinters.

“Despite being a newcomer to our sport, she is already a valued, and contributing, member of our team,” George said.

Perkins, a captain, was the Patriot League’s top javelin thrower thanks to a 111-foot-1-inch heave May 7.

“[She is also] one of our top sprinters and hurdlers as well,” George said.

Senior captain Ally Bartlett put forth another season to remember, participating and scoring in the maximum of four events ever dual meet. She was the team’s top points getter and one of eight seniors who left a lasting impact.

“All were on the team for several years and will be missed by their teammates and by me, certainly,” George said. “The group is pretty diverse in terms of talent, but they are all quality kids with bright futures ahead of them.”

The Panthers finished the spring with wins over Plymouth North (69-67), Scituate (91-45) and Duxbury (72-64), while losing to Hingham (85.8) and then Silver Lake (73-63), due to the unavoidable absences of several athletes for a school commitment.

“I was asked recently about the importance of winning, and frankly, my response drew some surprise when I replied that winning was unimportant,” George said. “But in our sport, the focus, as well as each athlete’s goal, is to improve each time out. We try to motivate our kids to establish a personal record every time out. While it may seem unrealistic, we had several meets where PRs totaled in the 60s. Each one is a win for me. Team wins will ultimately follow if every athlete does his/her part to improve.”

George said he believes the season was a success.

“I’ve been fairly consistent during my time here stating that the strength of any track and field team lies in the number of participants, and those among that number willing to put in the effort every day to improve,” he explained. “This year, our overall numbers rose and among our newcomers there were quite a few who were willing to accept the challenge of giving it 100 percent for the nearly three months we spent together.

“But, in my opinion, it is the rest of the coaching staff (Stephen Schlicting, Rob Bunszell, Samantha Richner, Jen Scarpelli, Kim Coletti, Denise Taylor and Julia Cosgrave), which justly, in addition to the kids, deserves credit. “[They’re] all former athletes, are working hard to return W-H to the position it once held in the sport.”

Season Review: Girls’ indoor track team put forth strong effort

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The Panthers set many individual marks.

For the Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ indoor track team, the record wasn’t there, but the effort was.

The Panthers, despite an 0-5 mark on the season, did what they could.

“Indoor track is always a tough sell because we train in the cold and there are, admittedly, other options for the student-athletes,” said head coach Steve George. “I couldn’t have been more pleased with their efforts.”

George credited the 0-5 campaign to a lack of depth. The Panthers had nearly 40 participants, which is low compared to the rest of the Patriot League.

“We are rarely shut out in any single event, but while we have one athlete scoring, our opponents have two,” said George, whose team dropped three meets by 18 points or less. “It’s tough to win when you’re outmanned to that degree.”

The Panthers did still have their share of wins, even if they didn’t show up in their record.

“Victories for a team like ours come every week in individual events, so each time we compete there are bright spots,” George said. “We were competitive each week overall.”

Junior Courtney Woodward was one of many bright spots for W-H.

“[She] moved from distance to mid-distance this year and ran the team’s best times in the 300- and 600-meter runs, along with jumping in with our 4×200 and 4×400 at times, [and] was a major contributor,” George said. “The switch to mid-distance, which she suggested following last year’s campaign, was the right move at the right time for both Courtney and the team.”

Just a sophomore, Izzy Amado was a key contributor.

“In my opinion, [she’s] the strongest athlete since Samantha Coletti graduated three years ago,” George said. “Izzy is a very good miler, an extraordinary 1,000-meter runner and closes the gap or extends the lead in incredible fashion in every relay she enters. One of our spring heptathletes.”

Amado’s classmate, Anna Sullivan, was also strong in bevy of events and is another spring track heptathlete.

“[She’s] our top miler and two miler and anchors our 4×400 and 4×800 relays,” George said. “Just a gifted distance runner who impressed in her first indoor season.”

George coined Dorothy DiMascio-Donohue as a ‘senior who can do it all.’

“She can sprint, hurdle, high jump, long jump and run mid-distance and relay events,” George said. “[She] competes in both the indoor pentathlon and spring heptathlon and is a leader in track and in the classroom.”

Senior captain Ally Bartlett was W-H top points getter, scoring nearly 40 percent of the team’s points.

“[She is] the team’s best in hurdles, long jump and shot put,” George said. “Also a pentathlete/heptathlete and team MVP and Commitment Award recipient.”

George said his vision for the program remain unwavered.

“The goal is to increase participation and with more athletes, achieve greater success in competition,” he said. “Our kids are out there spreading the word that track is not all work, it can be a lot of fun, too.

“What I always hear is that kids just don’t want to put in the effort involved in the sport. While that may apply to some, I don’t think it can be universally applied to our students. All I hope for is that kids will try it, then decide. Nearly 50 years ago I did and fell in love with the sport.”

Season Preview: Girls’ indoor track faces a deep Patriot League

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The Panthers will be led by captains Ally Bartlett and Samantha Perkins.

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ indoor track team is aiming to stay afloat as it works its way down a grueling schedule.

“Ideally, we would like to win several meets in what has become a very deep and talented Patriot League,” said fifth-year head coach Steve George, whose team went 1-3-1 last winter. “But realistically, we have eight to 10 girls who are very athletic and have the experience needed to be successful this season.”

With their multi-event experience and success, seniors Ally Bartlett (captain) and Dorothy DiMascio-Donohue and junior Samantha Perkins (captain) will boost the club.

“All three girls can long jump, high jump, throw the shot put, run the hurdles and dash events and can run mid-distance events if called upon,” George explained.

George said he is also counting on junior Courtney Woodward, sophomore Hailey Minicucci and freshman Skylar Jordan to fill similar roles of competing in multiple events.

“Courtney moves back from distance/mid-distance where she was good, to faster events at which she is very good,” George said. “Hailey is a speedster and Skylar is a diamond in the rough and will improve dramatically through the season.”

In the mid-distance and distance events, the Panthers will be led by the cross country team’s top runner, junior Tori Boss, and senior Maeve McDonough. Sophomores Izzy Amado and Anna Sullivan are also valuable pieces due to their versatility.

“[I] feel certain that we will be very competitive in the 600, 1,000, mile and 2-mile each week,” George said. “I’m also confident with our 300 runners.”

It’s the sprinting, hurdles and relays that have been a focal point on improvement for George. The Panthers added former standout, Samantha Richner to their staff to build up the group.

“Bringing on coach Richner addresses the areas of sprints, hurdles and field events and we are hoping to see improvement in those areas,” George said. “Putting together our relay teams (4×400 and 4×200) is a priority as is getting them in sync with each other. Obviously handoffs are crucial in those events and we are working with all the potential relay runners to find a good fit.”

George said a few freshmen have caught his attention early on, but most namely Emily Hanrahan.

“Emily looks like a terrific shot putter,” the coach said. “[That’s] something we have been looking for since I arrived five year sago.”

The Panthers are back in action Friday, Dec. 21 at 4:30 p.m. against Hingham at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center in Roxbury.

“With a relatively small team of 35, we necessarily move kids to different events every meet,” George said. “Almost everybody with experience has had to participate in various events already and they are ready to do whatever it’s best for the team.”