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Football team runs past Silver Lake to kick off season

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The football team rolled past Silver Lake in its opener.

It was worth the wait.

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High football team legged its way to a season-opening win.

The Panthers rushed for 280 yards and three touchdowns to kick off the season with a 24-9 victory over Silver Lake.

Senior Cam Cummings (19 carries for 85 yards, 2 TDs) and junior Will Stafford (13 carries for 85 yards) ran for 85 yards apiece.

Senior captain Jason Murphy got W-H on the board first when found paydirt from 12 yards out. 

Silver Lake cut it to 6-3 on a field goal before Cummings bowled his way into the endzone from 1 yard out in the second quarter.

Sophomore Cam Burrows hooked up with senior Declan Hanaphy on a 2-yard score to give the Panthers an 18-3 lead at the half.

Cummings capped W-H’s scoring in the third quarter with his second touchdown of the game — this time from 2 yards out. 

The Panthers (1-0) are back in action next Friday, March 19, hosting Marshfield at 6 p.m. 

Vassil brothers commit to play basketball at Quincy College

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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.”

Season Preview: Football team ‘extremely happy’ to be back together

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The field on Day 1. / Courtesy photo (@coachscarps)

The football team is finally back on the field.

There’s definitely a different feeling in the air, but at the end of the day football is still football.

After being apart for nearly 15 months, the Whitman-Hanson Regional High football team is back on the field — and it isn’t taking it for granted.

“It felt pretty good to be running around with the kids,” said head coach Mike Driscoll, who is entering his 10th year on the Panthers sideline. “We’re very, very fortunate and we’re extremely happy to be playing football. We’re very blessed to be out there — it feels great.”

The Panthers began practice on Feb. 22 and their first game is scheduled for March 12. That’s less than three weeks to prepare.

“It’s definitely different,” Driscoll said. “In the summer, normally we have our 7-on-7s and our workouts and everything leading up to it and you kind of know what you have.”

W-H has taken a few different approaches to account for missed time.

“We can’t have our usual meetings inside, so we’ve slowed things down,” Driscoll said. “We’re going to do what we can do. We’ve limited our playbook and we’re going to teach to our best ability and get ready to go out there and compete every Friday.”

The Panthers, who are looking to bounce back from a 2-10 campaign in 2019, will have a new-look offense this season.

“We’ve made a lot of changes to our scheme and we’re hoping that scheme fits our build better than in the past where we’ve had some really good running quarterbacks,” Driscoll said. “We don’t really have that right now so we’ve gone to more of a Wing-T-type set and we’re hoping that helps us out.”

The Panthers quarterback is still to be determined, at the time. Driscoll said there are five kids battling it out. That’s because senior captain Jason Murphy, a returning Patriot League All-Star, converted back to running back after he was thrust under center last year due to an injury.

“Jason is a great kid,” Driscoll said. “He has a great work ethic and is a real leader of the football team.”

Fellow senior captain Nik Dolan could take some snaps at quarterback.

“He’s gonna play all over for us,” Driscoll said. “You could see him lineup at wingback, you could see him at wideout, you could see him at quarterback, he’s gonna play one of those positions. Defensively, he’s gonna be our safety back there and he’s gonna be running the show.”

Griffin Mountcastle, a two-year starter up front, is another senior captain.

“We expect big things out of him as well on the line,” Driscoll said.

Senior Declan Hanaphy and juniors Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder, Hunter Baker, Zach Boisjolie, and Will Stafford will also play key roles this season.

W-H is scheduled to kick off its five-game schedule at home on March 12 at 6 p.m. against Silver Lake.

“The goal is to get five games in without having any interruptions,” Driscoll said. “We’re going to be competitive every week. This team is better than any team we’ve ever had in a few years. Athletically — it’s probably the most athletes we’ve ever had. But as a unit they have a long way to go as far as jelling that together.”

Season Review: Gymnastics hit its stride — on and off mat

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The team. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High gymnastics team had something to cheer about to end its season.

For the second straight year, the Whitman-Hanson Regional High gymnastics team capped its season with the Patriot League Sportsmanship Award.

“It means so much to us to have the other coaches in the league vote for W-H for this special award,” said second-year W-H head coach Alison Vance. “We were shocked and so thankful to receive it two years in a row. The girls are truly the kindest and most respectful group of girls I have coached in my 20-plus years. They are so happy to be a part of this league and love cheering on their fellow competitors.”

This season presented many changes and challenges for the Panthers. The toughest? They could only practice in their competition gym on weekends due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“We had to make use of the gym time to the best of our ability,” Vance explained. “We also got creative and used the Whitman Middle School gym on Wednesdays to go over routines and do some conditioning.”

The Panthers’ strategy worked. They started the season with a score of 123 and finished the winter with a mark of 125.6 in their last virtual meet.

Then at the Patriot League gymnastics championship meet, W-H finished in sixth place, missing fifth by 0.05.

“These girls made me so proud this year,” Vance said. “They always came to practice and meets prepared to give it 100 percent. They never gave up and improved each meet of the season. We had a few setbacks due to COVID, but the girls were so grateful to have a season, that they took those setbacks in stride. I was very impressed with their willingness to try new skills and improve the start value of their routines.”

Freshman Emma Mckeon paced the Panthers in that championship meet, placing sixth in the all-around. But her future with W-H is uncertain, as she was on loan from her club team.

“I know she had a blast this season and really wants to join us again next year,” Vance said. “I plan to speak with her club coach and my athletic director to find out if there is something we can work out next year.”

Mckeon wasn’t the only underclassman who impressed. Sophomore Riley Getchell took sixth on the beam at the championship meet, while freshman Khloe Drake was a contributor all season long.

“Riley had a great season, especially on beam, and continues to work hard,” Vance said. “She already has some exciting goals planned for next year. Khloe Drake improved her scores on beam and floor every meet. She did not compete in vault this year, but absolutely has the capability to. I am looking forward to seeing what new skills she comes up with next year.”

As for departures, senior captains Madison Scaccia and Savannah Poirier leave big shoes to fill — on and off the mat.

“Madison and Savannah not only had their best gymnastics seasons of their high school career, but they both have been the most positive role models for the underclassmen,” Vance said. “These girls are such well-rounded young ladies. They excel in athletics and in academics. They have positive attitudes and know how to encourage and support their teammates. They will be greatly missed next year.”

Vance said she hopes she can continue to build the program up.

“My plan last year was to speak with the eighth graders at both middle schools in June,” Vance said. “However, COVID made that impossible. I am hopeful I can have some sort of meeting with interested 8th graders at the end of this school year to drum up some attention and excitement. We also started a new Facebook page this year, so hopefully people in the community follow us and spread the word.”

Boys’ basketball nets Patriot Cup to cap perfect season

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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.”

Whitman-Hanson Express Postseason Accolades: Fall I Sports

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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

Dunn lifts girls’ basketball over Plymouth North at buzzer

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Junior Lauren Dunn’s tip in at the buzzer sends the girls’ basketball team to its fourth straight win.

It was Whitman-Hanson’s ball with nine seconds to go and the score tied at 43.

Junior Lauren Dunn knew just what she had to do.

“I was in the corner ready to crash,” she said.

And she came through. After Reese Cordero’s 3-pointer was off the mark, Dunn was there for the putback at the buzzer to lift W-H (5-2) over previously-unbeaten Plymouth North (6-1) and to its fourth straight win, 45-43, the final.

“Coach (Mike Costa) had the play all drawn up for Reese and it all just happened so fast,” Dunn said. “Reese shot it and I just had to go get it.”

“You always say when the shot goes up, a lot of people just watch the ball, especially at the end of the game,” said head coach Mike Costa. “But she snuck in there and was able to put one home.”

Not only was able able to put one home, but with 33 seconds remaining she threw the ball of a Plymouth North defender as she was falling out of bounds to give the Panthers new life.

“We wanted it bad,” Dunn said.

The Panthers trailed by as much as seven, 36-29, in the fourth quarter until junior Abigail Martin (14 points, seven rebounds) got going. Martin, who sat out most of the third quarter due to foul trouble, scored six points in the final frame, including a layup to put W-H up 43-41 before the Blue Eagles tied it at 43.

“She just brings a toughness that not many people in this league have,” Costa said of Martin. “She battles, she rebounds and she does the dirty work.”

W-H looks to keep its winning streak alive Friday at 6:30 p.m. when it hosts Marshfield.

“We’re just taking it one game at a time,” Costa said. “We’re just focused on us and not anybody else and we’re just letting the chips fall where they may.”

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

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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.”

Future Nittany Lion: Borgen bound for Penn State

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Olivia Borgen is Penn State-bound. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Whitman-Hanson Regional High junior Olivia Borgen will take her talents to Penn State University.

Her decision is in. 

Whitman-Hanson Regional High junior Olivia Borgen has committed to play soccer at Division 1 Penn State University. 

“Penn State has a very competitive soccer program and I definitely want to be challenged and improve my soccer game and I feel that Penn State will help me get to the next level,” said the Hanson native. “They are a very big sports school and I love that about Penn State.” 

An All-New England first-team selection this fall, Borgen also considered Boston College and Clemson. Ironically enough, Penn State is the only one of those schools she never visited. But, she didn’t need to. 

“My cousin, Lindsay, went there and she absolutely loved the school,” Borgen said. “I was at the 2015 [D1 NCAA women’s soccer] championship game in North Carolina, when they won and because it was in North Carolina, almost everyone was cheering for Duke, but I was definitely cheering for Penn State.”

Borgen said the first time Penn State saw her on the pitch was this past February at the Penn Fusion Showcase in Pennsylvania. She followed up with an email and asked them to watch her in game action.

“I’m glad I did because apparently, they liked what they saw,” Borgen said. 

How could you not? The Patriot League All-Star has netted 39 goals and dished out 25 assists over her first three seasons at W-H. She credited her high school head coach David Floeck for helping her become a goal scorer.

“When I came in as a freshman, I would always look to pass first, which in some cases is definitely the right move, but he always encouraged me to shoot when the opportunity was there and it really helped grow as an attacking-minded player,” said the speedy Borgen, who holds the W-H girls’ outdoor track 100-meter dash school record of 12.44. “That definitely helped my game.”

But despite her success so far, Borgen knows she has work to do as she gears up for her collegiate career. 

“I’m planning on getting stronger mentally and physically before I head to Happy Valley,” Borgen said,  “So, a lot of strength and conditioning and mental training to try and bring my game to the next level.”

Season Preview: Leadership is the key to momentum for boys’ hockey

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The senior captains. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Rob Peters enters his first year behind the bench of the boys’ hockey team.

Following its best season in at least 15 years, the momentum is strong for the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ hockey team. 

Now it’s first-year head coach Rob Peters’ job to keep it going. 

“Really good group of guys, good leadership by our seniors, everything has been good so far,” said Peters, who takes over for Chris Googins, after he stepped down to spend time with his family.

W-H was hit hard by graduation, losing Patriot League All-Stars Adam Solari (23 goals, 11 assists last season) and Chris Stoddard (nine goals, 28 assists last season). But the cupboard isn’t completely bare, as they do return sophomore standout Matt Solari (18 goals and 14 assists last season). Junior John Ward and freshman Luke Tropiano will join him on the first line. 

“We lost a lot of points up front,” Peters explained. “But Matt has gotten even bigger, stronger, he’s gonna be a great power forward for us. That top line is really jelling right now really well. I think they’re gonna be a really tough line to play against. They’re tough. They work hard.”

Peters said the first line and defense will power his club. Senior captains Jack Allen and Kevin Willis are back on the blue line, while fellow senior captain Bobby Siders, a league all-star last season, returns for his third year in net. 

“We’re gonna rely a lot on our backend,” Peters said. “Those guys have really stepped up nicely.” 

Junior goaltender Erik Dean and senior defenseman Josh Pike are also key returnees on the backend. Additionally, W-H had 11 freshmen try out for the team. 

“I’m just really excited where this club is right now,” Peters said. “They’re all jelling, coming together and they’re just a really good group of guys and I love coming to the rink every day.”