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A Year of Panther Sports in Review: 2018-19

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From freshmen making their debuts to a coach’s last meet to a team finally cracking through in the postseason, there was a lot that went on this past school year in sports at Whitman-Hanson Regional High.

Here is a complete look back on all the action.

FALL

FOOTBALL

Storyline: Seniors push football to eight-win campaign.

The rundown: The season didn’t come together like some were envisioning, but you won’t hear many complaints. The Panthers snapped a streak of three straight seven-win seasons with an 8-3 mark. W-H – led by its 21 seniors – opened the season with a bang, routing Marshfield, 41-13, and capped it by extracting revenge against Abington for a 16-0 victory on Thanksgiving. The Panthers still weren’t able to get it done in the playoffs, however, falling to North Attleboro, 21-13. During the season, senior captain Rian Schwede stepped in at quarterback for the first time since youth football and provided the Panthers with a jolt, while two-way linemen Ryan Trongone and Quinn Sweeney anchored the trenches. The Panthers will return little experience next season.

Top game: 16-0 victory over Abington on Nov. 22 (Thanksgiving) in frigid temperatures to get over the seven-win hump.

Top quote: “I told the seniors how proud we were of them for their four years in the program, and I told the younger guys to remember how it feels and do what those kids did and just continue on what they did.” – head coach Mike Driscoll

FIELD HOCKEY

Storyline: Field hockey flexes defense.

The rundown: In a season that was tough results-wise (2-10-6), mainly because of a stagnant offense, the Panthers’ defense shined bright. W-H let up just 32 goals, five of which came in one meeting. The backline was anchored by seniors and league all-stars Kathryn Dunn and Olivia Sheehan, while sophomore Skylar Leonard and Noelle Cornetta made the most of their time. Sophomore Madi Savicke starred in net with a 1.67 goals against average. As for the Panthers’ offensive woes (14 goals scored all season), which stemmed from losing senior captain and forward Annika Putur to a torn ACL, they should be eased with more experience under the belts of sophomores Delanie MacDonald (team-high five goals) and Lauren Clark (three goals).

Top game: 1-0 victory against East Bridgewater on Sept. 7. It wasn’t the most talented team W-H faced, but it was one of the most complete games it put forward. Clark had the goal.

Top quote: “The defense had to stop amazing offenses and they themselves were truly amazing.” – head coach Todd Humphrey

BOYS’ GOLF

Storyline: A Manning on a mission: Senior captain paces club.

The rundown: Senior captain Owen Manning put an exclamation point on his Panthers career, advancing all the way to the Div. 2 state finals for the first time, to cap a career as both a two-time team MVP and league all-star. Manning, who carded a 4.1-over par average, propelled the Panthers to a 4-0 start out of the gate. But the Panthers, who finished the season 6-11, went on to hit a rough patch, dropping 10 of their next 12, which head coach Brian Dempsey said was a result of mounting pressure and frequent poor weather and cancelations. Sophomore Aidan Miller and junior captain-elect Matt Korzec key the returnees next fall.

Top match: 238-245 victory over Duxbury on Sept. 13. After defeating the Dragons for the first time in program history the year prior, the Panthers notched another win over their rivals. Manning led the way with a 2-over par 36 and Korzec had a 3-over par.

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

BOYS’ SOCCER

Storyline: For boys’ soccer team, an unlucky fall.

The rundown: It’s tough to describe the Panthers’ season on the pitch without the word “unlucky.” Sophomore standouts Peyton Collins and Joel Arsenault transferred before the campaign kicked off and junior midfielder Adam Milewski went down with a broken ankle. Later in the season, W-H lost sophomore starter Brandon Nehiley for two weeks and junior goalie Andrew Sullivan as well to injuries. Rising senior captains, forward Jason Broduer (team-high nine goals last season), and defender Stevie Kelly (the team’s lone Patriot League All-Star) provide some hope that a 4-14-1 2018 campaign can be distant memory.

Top game: 2-1 victory over Rockland on Oct. 26. After all that didn’t go their way during the season, W-H headed into the offseason on a high note. Nehiley found Brodeur twice for goals.

Top quote: “We worked very hard as a group heading into the 2018 season, but bad luck got in our way. I hope the disappointments felt by returning players in the program will feel motivated to improve as much as they possibly can to get us back on the more successful side in 2019.”– head coach Dave Leahy

GIRLS’ SOCCER

Storyline: Freshmen supply the offense as girls’ soccer keeps up winning ways.

The rundown: Veteran head coach Dave Floeck, whose team hasn’t had a losing season since 1999, wasn’t sure what to expect out of his club heading into the fall. He was confident senior captain Sammy Smith was going to be an All-American force in the middle and classmate and senior captain Skylar Kuzmich was going to be a rock in net. Both were. What he didn’t see coming were his freshmen scoring 27 of his team’s 51 goals to lead it to a 14-2-4 record – capped by a 2-1 loss to Hingham in the Div. 1 South quarterfinals. Kelsee Wozniak had 11 of those goals, while Olivia Borgen and Nora Manning added eight apiece.

Top game: 1-1 tie against Hingham on Oct. 22. It wasn’t a win, but they’re not easy to come by against an opponent like Hingham. After tying the Harborwomen to kick off the month, they played to a draw again. After Hingham took the lead in the first, which it held for most of the second, junior Riley Bina scored the equalizer with eight minutes to go.

Top quote: “After you let up a goal you have to have a goldfish mindset. Forget about it [and] move on to the next save. You can’t let it get in your head or else you’ll let in another one and part of that is you just need to be a little crazy too because one, you’re diving at the ball all the time and two, you have to forget something that just happened even if it was your mistake.”– Skylar Kuzmich on playing goalie

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL

Storyline: Senior-laden girls’ volleyball team moves in right direction.

The rundown: The girls’ volleyball team had a pretty decent campaign on the court, doubling its win total from the prior season to eight. Its nine returning players are a big reason why. Senior outside hitter Allison Hanlon and senior libero Nicole Scott turned in splendid campaigns, which resulted in league all-star status. Seniors Kayla Crawford (defensive specialist), Kylie Gervasio (setter) and Erin Leahy (middle hitter) were also starters. Rising senior captains Olivia Martin (right side hitter), Lexi Connolly (outside hitter), classmate Ella Sweeney (middle hitter) and rising junior Caileen Hurley (setter) will anchor the club next fall.

Top match 3-2 victory over Bridgewater-Raynham on Oct. 29. Already out of the playoffs and in the final contest of the season, the Panthers could have laid down. They didn’t, digging themselves out of a two-set hole for the victory. Hanlon registered her 200th career kill in that match.

Top quote: “It’s a big deal.”– Then-head coach Ashley Balbian on Allison Hanlon’s 200th career kill.

BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY

Storyline: Boys’ cross country finishes 3-5.

The rundown: The boys’ cross country team was young – its top seven will all be back next season. Sophomore Theo Kamperides, though, stood above them all, leading W-H in every single race. On the year, he owned a first-place finish, three second-place finishes and four third-place finishes. Junior Brandon Hager and freshman Evan Jewitt were the team’s second and third best. The Panthers are in a good spot moving forward.

Top meet: 21-40 victory over Scituate on Oct. 16. Kamperides sparked the Panthers with a first-place showing at 17:44 with Hager shortly behind him at 17:48.

Top quote: “Theo is a tireless worker, always wanting to do more. He doesn’t enjoy days off and always wants to extend his weekly long run which we capped off at 15 miles this fall.” – head coach Steve George on Kamperides

GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY

Storyline: The girls also finish 3-5.  

The rundown: Head coach Steve George knows what the girls’ program has been – and he wants it to return to the pedestal atop EMass. But if numbers don’t rise, the girls will scuffle like this past fall, which concluded in a 3-5 mark. It certainly wasn’t for a lack of effort but really just the participation. W-H has a jumping off point to build from next season, its top runner, rising senior Tori Boss, and No. 3 runner, rising senior Niki Kamperides will both be back. It now needs the underclassmen to step up.

Top meet: 26-31 victory over Plymouth North on Sept. 26. Boss finished the course in 22:21 and Kamperides finished fourth as the Panthers got their first win of the season.

Top quote: “We went into the season knowing Hingham, Duxbury, Plymouth North and Plymouth South had some phenomenal runners, so our expectations were not high. But our kids’ effort and commitment were rewarded with a good record and some incredible times and finishes.”– head coach Steve George

CHEERLEADING

Storyline: Cheerleaders roll.  

The rundown: Under the watch of second-year head coach Alyssa Hayes, the cheerleading team rolled to a Patriot League title, regional crown and state title – its 14th.

Top competition: Scoring a 198.7 at Worcester State on Nov. 18 to win the MSAA Division 2 state crown.

Top quote:“Their motivation, determination and drive has been unmatched these last few weeks. I am even more impressed with the way they handle themselves – they’ve managed to stay humble regardless of their state championship record. They don’t stop working hard after a win.” – head coach Alyssa Hayes

WINTER

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Storyline: For the boys’ basketball team, all it does is win, win, win no matter what. 

The rundown: Really, all it seems to do is win. Another year, another tournament berth for the boys’ basketball team – its 11thstraight after graduating its entire starting five for the second time in three years. The Panthers’ 18-7 mark gave them at least 16 wins for the seventh consecutive season.  Seeded eighth in the Div. 2 South Sectional tournament, Bob Rodgers’ club knocked off ninth-ranked Dennis-Yarmouth, 60-57, and upset top-seeded Randolph on the road, 60-51, before falling to second-seeded New Mission in a semifinal thriller, 79-70. The team’s MVP, junior Stevie Kelly emerged at the floor general, while junior Ben Rice and sophomore Cole LeVangie were threats inside and out.

Top game: 60-51 win over top-ranked Randolph in the quarterfinals March 4. Kelly (13 points) had a key layup late to hold off the Blue Devils.

Top quote:  “He’s a tenacious player for sure. He really gets after it. He’s a tremendous defender and a great leader on the floor.”– head coach Bob Rodgers on Kelly

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Storyline: A strong showing for girls’ hoop.   

The rundown: Returning Patriot League All-Star Erin Leahy was expected to run the point and produce at a high level, but instead, she didn’t suit up at all due to injury. That didn’t stop then-head coach Jenna Olem from leading the squad to a 12-10 campaign, which ended with a tough 45-41 loss to Mansfield in the Div. 1 South tournament. Senior captain and league all-star Kathryn Dunn did it all for W-H, leading it in points (11.5) rebounds (eight) and assists (3.5) per game. She’ll leave an immense hole. The Panthers were a resilient bunch, winning eight games by 10 points or less, including an overtime win over Hoosac Valley, two-point thriller over Scituate on the road and two-point triumph over Duxbury at home. Rising seniors Hannah Damon, Britany Gacicia and Liv Martin, rising junior Reese Coedero and rising sophomore Lauren Dunn will play big roles next season.

Top game: 51-46 victory over Hoosac Valley on Dec. 28. Resiliency, grit, determination are all words used to recap this one as the Panthers stormed back from a 17-point deficit to knock off the hosts. Martin and Kathryn Dunn were both huge down the stretch.

Top quote:  “A big thing at beginning of season was stressing our depth and players filling in necessary roles when called on. We’ve had big nights from a different players at different points in the season. When different players are able to stand out on different nights, it is a strength to our team.”– then-head coach Jenna Olem

BOYS’ HOCKEY

Storyline: Boys’ hockey battles way to tournament for first time since 2013.   

The rundown: Head coach Chris Googins had nothing but praise for his club at season’s end, after making the tournament for the first time since 2013. While the Panthers, who fell to Westwood, 5-1, in the first round, flexed their immense depth all winter, their first line of junior Adam Solari (10 goals and 14 assists), classmate Chris Stoddard (13 goals and 10 assists) and Owen Manning (six goals and 14 assists) was money.  Sophomore Bobby Siders shored up a desperate need in net going head-to-head with some of the best teams in the state. Manning and converted defenseman Ed Scriven will be tough voids to fill, but the Panthers, who finished 10-9-1 this winter, should be contending for the playoffs again next season.

Top game: 6-1 victory over Cohasset on Feb. 18. The Panthers needed three points in their final two games to make the tournament and this win game them four. A gutsy effort.

Top quote: “The kids are really buying into the importance of how much you have to work in the offseason and getting out of your comfort zone. Whether it’s working out or whether it’s trying to play high-level hockey in the offseason to compete with surrounding towns. It’s happening. Kids are actually taking this sport seriously and realizing that you got to play the game and train for the game year round if you want to compete.”– head coach Chris Googins

GIRLS’ HOCKEY

Storyline: WHSL not there yet as it skates to a 4-13-2 campaign.   

The rundown: Head coach Kevin Marani thought he may have a playoff team at the outset of the season, but he didn’t. The Panthers showed flashes of what they could be if they put it all together, but their youth (15 combined freshmen and sophomores) led to some mistakes at times. Junior captain Alyssa Murphy (Kingston) was essentially the offense, netting 27 tallies and dishing out 15 assists to be in on 67 percent of the team’s scores.Sophomore Emily McDonald (Whitman) was second on the team with 15 points (six goals and nine assists). Both will lead the offense again next winter. Sophomore goalie Kat Gilbert, who turned away 481 shots, will provide experience in net.

Top game: 6-1 win over Stoughton on Feb. 16. One of the most complete games WHSL managed, where both the offense and defense were in the zone.

Top quote: “I said to the girls, ‘We’re so close. Once you start to win, it becomes a habit.’ We had a ton of one-goal games, two-goal games with an empty net.”– head coach Kevin Marani

WRESTLING

Storyline: Wrestling team finishes white-hot.     

The rundown: The wrestling team may have gone 7-20, but four of those wins came in their final seven matches. It also sent three wrestlers to the state tournament, as opposed to zero the year before. Rising junior Damari Goldsmith-Greene, in the 138-pount weight category, was really the Panthers’ lone star, collecting a team-high 29 wins and placing in four tournaments and seventh at states. Freshmen Jason Rapoza (13 wins at 182) and Rocco Ruffini (10 wins at 220) gave the Panthers a quick glimpse into the future.

Top meet: 63-6 over Everett and 39-39 triumph over Bristol-Plymouth/Coyle & Cassidy on Feb. 2. Goldsmith-Greene had a pin and two wins on the day, senior Joel McInnis (145) had two pins and junior captain Steve Brooks had three pins to pace the Panthers.

Top quote: “We are losing only three seniors and two were starters. Time will tell, but offseason wrestling is the key for next season.”– head coach Gary Rabinovitz

GYMNASTICS

Storyline: New coach, co-op formed for gymnastics.

The rundown: There was a lot of turnover with the gymnastics team, which was in limbo before the season due to lack of turnout and no coach. That was until Sarah O’Shaughnessy accepted the coaching position and the program co-oped with Middleboro. The club finished 2-13. The team’s MVP, junior Sarah Bombardier was a bright spot as W-H’s only gymnast to compete in every all around, and she consistently scored 32 all-arounds, averaging eight on every event.

Top meet:132.1-121.25 victory over Norwell/Cohasset and 135.95-123.1 loss to Mashpee/Falmouth on Feb. 1. Bombardier had a 32.55 in all around.

Top quote: “I’m more trying to get them to come together. I know they didn’t think they were going to have a team at all, so I’m more trying to get them to come together.”– head coach Sarah O’Shaughnessy

GIRLS’ SWIMMING/DIVING

Storyline: Girls’ swimming/diving team has great year in pool.

The rundown: What a season it was for the Whitman-Hanson/Middleboro girls’ swimming/diving team, which finished 8-2. Junior captain Maddie Navicky was a star in the pool, qualifying for both sectionals and states, while pacing WHAM to a second-place finish in a deep South Shore League. Rising sophomore Abby Bonney, rising senior Niki Kamperides and rising junior Sabrina O’Connor were also key cogs all year.

Top meet: 89-84 victory over Rockland on Jan. 2, backed by splendid performances from Navicky in all three relay and a personal best from Bonney in the 50-yard freestyle in the final meet of the season.

Top quote: “During my freshman year, I saw that students were given the opportunity to swim with a nearby school as a co-op team, WHAM (Whitman Hanson and Middleboro), and I loved swimming at my grandparents’ pool, so I thought, ‘Why not try out?’” – Maddie Navicky

BOYS’ INDOOR TRACK

Storyline: Head coach Mike Driscoll gifted a ‘dedicated’ team during his final season.

The rundown: After 20-plus years coaching track at W-H, this was head coach Mike Driscoll’s final season, and he was complementary of his bunch that finished 2-3. He coined his group, one of the most “dedicated” teams he’s had. From senior captain Billy Martell to classmate Kyle O’Brien, the compete-level was there in practice and during meets. Junior Brandon Hager was the team’s top scorer. Junior Pat Bui was huge in the sprinting game and throwing the shot put.

Top meet: 51-48 victory over Pembroke on Jan. 4. Bui, Martell, fellow seniors Sean Kukauskas and Nic Fernandes clinched the win in the 4×200 replay.

Top quote: “That was a huge win for us. That was a big night for the kids. [Pembroke] is someone we all respect in the track world, and to beat them was a cool thing.”– then-head coach Mike Driscoll on the win over Pembroke

GIRLS’ INDOOR TRACK

Storyline: Tough season for girls’ indoor track team.

The rundown: Head coach Steve George isn’t much for team records, but he admitted his club’s 0-5 record was a bit tough to swallow. The Panthers only had 40 participants, so that put them in a hole often. Senior captain was W-H’s top point scorer, scoring nearly 40 percent of the team’s points in a bevy of ways. Sophomores Izzy Amado and Anna Sullivan both put forth strong winters as did junior Courtney Woodward.

Top meet: 54-46 loss to Plymouth North on Jan. 23.W-H wins came from: Sullivan (2-mile, 12:36.09), Woodward (600-meter dash, 1:54.15), Bartlett (55-meter hurdles, :09.68) and senior Dorothy DiMascio-Donohue (long jump, 14-foot-10 1/4) in the close loss.

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

SPRING

BASEBALL

Storyline: Heartbreaking end for baseball team.  

The rundown: The talent was certainly there and so were the aspirations to make a run at a state title. After an 11-1 start, it appeared the only thing that could hold W-H back from a Div. 2 state title was itself. The Panthers got cold in the homestretch, finishing the regular season 14-5. After a 2-1 victory over Plymouth South to open the tournament, W-H drew a tough Westwood squad, committed four errors and left 11 men on base and fell, 4-3. It was a heartbreaker because the Panthers led late but couldn’t hold on. It was also a heartbreaker because they will send off their three senior co-captains and four-year varsity players – Rian Schwede (three-time league all-star), Mike Cook (three-time league all-star) and Ethan Phelps (one-time league all-star) – into the sunset. The three racked up 61 wins and won two Patriot League titles during their time at W-H. The rotation now turns over to rising juniors Tommy and Bobby Marshall and Cole LeVangie. The offense will be led by rising senior Chris Zalewski.

Top game: 1-0 victory over Duxbury on May 7. What a game this was. An old-fashion pitchers’ duel featuring Schwede and former AAU teammate Charlie Coon with Schwede just getting the better of him. Tommy Marshall slammed the door for the save.

Top quote: “They knew what I thought and knew what they thought and it made it a nice smooth ride. We had a lot of great wins here. They’ve helped a lot. I will miss them. It’s been great having them, and I’m going to miss the heck out of them.”– head coach Pat Cronin on Cook, Phelps and Schwede

SOFTBALL

Storyline: Future really bright on softball diamond.  

The rundown: The talent is there for a tournament team next season, it’s just about cleaning some things up. After finishing the spring 7-13 under first-year head coach Jordan McDermott, the Panthers will return all but one starter next year in catcher Kayla Crawford. League all-stars, freshman Annie Cook burst onto the scene at third base and junior captain Victoria Ryan was her steady self as second base. Cook also hit leadoff and was second on the team in hits (21) and fourth in average (.344). Ryan, who hit in the heart of the order, led W-H in average (.390), hits (23) and home runs (two). The team’s MVP, Emily McDonald led it with a .448 on-base percentage and by scoring 13 runs. Freshman Erin Burke and sophomore Abby Cleary will both have another season under the belt on the mound as well. There’s a lot to like about the softball team moving forward.

Top game: 25-6 rout of Scituate on May 25. Whenever you score 25 runs, regardless of the opponent, it’s a big deal.

Top quote: “I’ve always had high expectations from them. They’ve always been really, really good athletes and really good scholars and stuff like that so I’ve always tried to hold myself up to their standards and try my best to be like them.” – Annie Cook on following her siblings’ legacies on the diamond

BOYS’ LACROSSE

Storyline: Good signs for boys’ lacrosse.   

The rundown: First-year head coach Tyler Sabens got to work, establishing chemistry and reviving a program that had won just seven games the previous two springs. The Panthers finished their campaign 9-11 – one game out of the tournament. The seniors led the way in the locker room and on the field, combining for almost all the offense and providing a steady presence in net. Senior captain and goalie Mario Troiani, a league all-star, stopped nearly 60 percent of shots on him. Fellow senior captain, midfielder Ryan Downing, scored a team-high 49 goals. Senior captain and midfielder Mason Gorman led the team with 58 points, while senior attackmen Shane Ross (35 goals and 18 assists) and Sean Joanis (31 goals and 21 assists) packed a punch on offense. Senior captain Ryan Trongone anchored the defense. They’ll be a lot of new faces next year.

Top game: 18-11 victory over Pembroke on May 14. Gorman, Ross and sophomore Aidan McCarthy all scored four times and Troiani 13 saves in net for the win.

Top quote: “They can see how the Duxburys and the Hinghams, Scituates operate, but if they don’t want to do the work on their own, it’s going to be very hard to build this. The guys gotta do some of the work, like wall ball and shoot on your own in order to get better as individual players. And also, just watch lacrosse. The more you watch it, the more you’re around it, the more the fundamental concepts tend to sink in that are important to building a successful program.” – head coach Tyler Sabens

GIRLS’ LACROSSE

Storyline: Injuries bite girls’ lacrosse.

The rundown:A season-ending injury to senior captain and defenseman Anikka Putur and a seven-game absence for Riley Bina due to a concussion were just a few of the injuries that threw a wrench in any plans of making the postseason. Bina still led the club with 37 goals and was a Patriot League All-Star, despite missing the time. Senior attack and captain Zoe Lyon was productive, scoring 35 goals and a team-high 53 points. Lyon, senior captain Sami Whitman (25 goals and nine assists) and classmate Taylor Ross (20 goals and seven assists) will be missed on offense. Look for sophomore Brooke Connors (12 goals and seven assists) to shoulder a lot of the offensive load next season with Bina. They should be surpass this season’s 7-11 mark.

Top game: 14-6 victory over East Bridgewater on May 29. After limping through the season, the Panthers – paced by four Bina goals – capped it in style with a blowout on senior night.

Top quote: “Riley earned the respect of her teammates due to her competitive nature and also her pure skill to transition the ball and find the back of the net with great shooting percentage. She also tended to score more goals in competitive games than against easier opponents.” – head coach AC Decker on Bina

BOYS’ TENNIS

Storyline: 14 new faces on boys’ tennis team.  

The rundown: The boys’ tennis team’s record slipped from the previous season (from 5-12 to 3-13), but the number of new faces rose to 14, which signals second-year head coach Alyssa Hayes has the program trending in the right direction. Of course, now the results need to come. Junior captain Brian Fox was the club’s spark once again, leading it with five wins in No. 1 singles en route to being a Patriot League All-Star.

Top match: 4-1 victory over Pembroke on May 21. League wins are always a good thing. This win was followed by sweeping Cardinal Spellman the following match.

Top quote: “I definitely would call this season a success due to the growth and depth we were able to gain within the team.”– head coach Alyssa Hayes

GIRLS’ TENNIS

Storyline: Girls’ tennis nets history.

The rundown: This was the most successful girls’ tennis team on record at W-H, winning the program’s first tournament match ever,  4-1 over Bishop Feehan in the preliminary round of the Div. 1 South tournament. In No. 1 singles, junior captain went 9-9 and was the 11-11 Panthers’ lone league all-star. Junior captain Abby Pulling (12-6 in No. 2 singles) and sophomore Julia Benvie (9-2 in No. 3 singles) were the Panthers’ strength all season. The thought is that this is just the beginning for W-H, which is set to return everyone next spring.

Top match: 4-1 victory over Bishop Feehan on June 3 in the preliminary round of the Div. 1 South Sectional tournament to post the program’s first tournament win ever.

Top quote: “I knew they had that in them, it was just my job I feel to present that. I knew they could do this, I didn’t know if they knew they could do this and that was my role and my assistant Sue Moss’ role to get them to that point. They have the talent, they just needed to believe in themselves.”– head coach Sue Sookiasian

BOYS’ OUTDOOR TRACK

Storyline: Boys’ outdoor track goes 3-2.  

The rundown: Head coach Stephen Schlicting was pleased with his team’s performance. The Panthers finished the season 3-2, had 60 active participants and saw more than 50 personal bests set in the final three dual meets. Senior captain Dan Kline was named the team’s MVP after having a monster spring in both the 110-meter hurdles and javelin, while also contributing in the 400-meter hurdles. Sophomore Theo Kamperides, who set personal bests in both the 1- (4:45) and 2-mile run (9:58.37), was the team’s long league all-star.

Top meet: 75-61 victory over Duxbury on April 24,  which was sparked by a pair of relay wins.

Top quote: “Our goals going into the season were to recruit a larger number of athletes than in the previous years. We wanted those athletes to improve. We wanted to participate in the major invitational meets (state relays, Patriot League meet, Div. 2 state meet and the MSTCA decathlon.) All those goals were met.” – head coach Stephen Schlicting

GIRLS’ OUTDOOR TRACK

Storyline: Bartlett awesome outdoors as well.

The rundown: Senior captain Ally Bartlett picked off where she left off in the winter, leading the charge for the outdoor track team, participating and scoring in the maximum of four events every dual meet. Freshmen Olivia Borgen (team’s second leading scorer who was unbeaten in both the 200- and 400- meter dash) and Myah Kamperides (team’s third leading scorer) were also immense contributors. Those rising sophomores and rising seniors Ryley Hurley and Samantha Perkins will lead the way next spring, as W-H looks to improve on a 3-2 season.

Top meet: 72-64 victory over Duxbury on April; 24. Borgen was a double-winner in the 100- and 200-meter dash to push the Panthers over the top and to a 3-0 start.

Top quote: “I was asked recently about the importance of winning, and frankly, my response drew some surprise when I replied that winning was unimportant. 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.”– head coach Steve George

 

–This year in review is written solely by the Express, the Whitman-Hanson coaches have no input in what is written. 

A Year of Panther Sports in Review: 2017-18

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The sports season was decked with numerous storylines, highlights and memories this year at Whitman-Hanson Regional High.

From August to June, it was a grind to the end. Here is a complete look back on all the action.

FALL

FOOTBALL

Storyline: Junior-laden football team inching toward ultimate goal.

The rundown: For the third straight season the football team finished the fall at 7-4 and fell in the first round of the tournament (30-21 to Stoughton). However, of the Panthers’ four losses, three came by two touchdowns or less and in the other (23-9 against Duxbury), they maintained a brief 7-0 lead before it spiraled out of control. The Panthers will return a solid core of nine rising seniors with starting experience under their belt as they look to get over the hump.

Top game: 28-24 victory over Plymouth North on Oct. 6 in which junior quarterback Ethan Phelps drove down the field 60 yards with 50 seconds to go for the game-winning score.

Top quote: “I’m very proud of this team. I’m very happy with the way that the seniors handled things and I’m very happy with the way we’re moving.”– head coach Mike Driscoll

FIELD HOCKEY

Storyline: Field hockey nets success, posts best season in over 30 years.

The rundown: In its third campaign back at the varsity level after a 30-year hiatus, the field hockey team – led by a 15-player senior class – set highs in goals scored (30) and wins (six). Three teams deep, the program fielded a record 64 girls. It’s going to be a new-look varsity team this coming autumn, but the upcoming girls now have the experience from the lower levels.

Top game: 8-2 victory over Norwell on Oct. 27 during the final game of the season that saw all the Panthers goals come from seniors playing in their final game. Captain Tina Woodward led the way with four tallies.

Top quote: “I can’t even begin to tell you how special that group is. They’ve been with me since the beginning. They shaped [and] molded the entire program and just their positive attitudes and their willing to take risk has elevated our entire program, and I couldn’t be more proud of them and grateful.”– head coach Todd Humphrey on his senior class

BOYS’ GOLF

Storyline: Consistency lies on the green.

The rundown: As under-the-radar as it flies, the boys’ golf team is one of the most consistent programs Whitman-Hanson offers. The Panthers – paced by seniors Tommy Bombardier, JP Drier (captain), Nick Duffy and Anthony Palmacci, junior Owen Manning (captain) and sophomore Matt Korzec – finished the year at 9-8 and qualified for the tournament for the fifth time in the past seven years. W-H will look to regroup on the fly as it will lose nine seniors off its roster.

Top match: 232-241 victory over Duxbury on Oct. 11 for the program’s first ever win over the Green Dragons.

Top quote: “I’m very proud of the recent success of the program. I give all the credit to the leadership on the team each year. The commitment of players to the sport continues to grow every year.” – head coach Brian Dempsey

BOYS’ SOCCER

Storyline: Boys’ soccer turns it around under first-year head coach Dave Leahy.

The rundown: W-H made short memory of a one-win 2016 as it finished 11-8-1 this fall under the watch of new head coach Dave Leahy. Included in the Panthers’ 11 wins was a 2-1 triumph over Catholic Memorial in the preliminary round of the Div. 2 South Sectional tournament before a 4-0 loss to eventual sectional champion Oliver Ames in the first round. W-H will return many of its top offensive threats this coming fall, but has big shoes to fill in net with the departure of Anthony Pasciuto. There will be no easy replacement for captain Kyle Nehiley either.

Top game: 2-1 victory over Catholic Memorial Nov. 4. Seeded No. 13, W-H faced a 1-0 deficit to No. 20 CM with 20 minutes to go before knotting it at 1-1 and winning it in penalty kicks thanks to an epic performance by Pasciuto in goal.

Top quote: “I am extremely proud. This team had to learn a lot and do it quickly together. They came together and worked hard for each other and kept pushing forward. It was a fun ride.”– head coach Dave Leahy

GIRLS’ SOCCER

Storyline: Girls’ soccer flexes depth amid injures.

The rundown: The girls’ soccer team’s miraculous season was halted in the Div. 1 South Sectional semifinals with a 2-1 overtime loss to Newton South. The Panthers, who finished the year with a 17-2-1 record, battled through a rash of injuries over the fall, including playing the entire season without All-American Taylor Kofton. In Kofton’s absence, fellow senior Lauren Bonavita took her game to a new level, notching 43 goals and breaking the school-record with 113. The Panthers graduated a hefty senior class, but return significant key pieces, such as goalie Skylar Kuzmich and defenders Olivia Johnson and Sammy Smith, among others.

Top game: 2-1 victory over Hingham on Nov. 7 in the quarterfinals. Seeded sixth, the Panthers visited the Harborwomen and rallied back from a 1-0 deficit behind a pair of Bonavita goals. W-H fell to Hingham, 3-1, in the regular season.

Top quote: “We’re fortunate that we have a number of good players and sometimes I think people who don’t know our team real well may focus on a couple players who get the headlines. We’re very fortunate to have a number of talented players.” – head coach Dave Floeck

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL

Storyline: Young girls’ volleyball team finally finds grove.

The rundown: The Panthers entered the season with some holes to fill due to the graduation of many integral pieces from the previous fall. Sitting at 2-17 with two games to go, W-H won out, defeating Middleboro and Bridgewater-Raynham, both by 3-1 scores, to end the season with a 4-17 record. The string of success had head coach Ashley Balbian wishing there was more time left to the season. Key graduates include Amanda Anderson, Halle Julian and Tori Perry. Rising senior Allison Hanlon and rising juniors Alexis Connolly, Olivia Martin and Ella Sweeney will headline the returnees this fall.

Top match: 3-1 win over Middleboro on senior night Oct. 25. Mammoth games from seniors Julian (18 kills) and Perry (40 assists) pushed the Panthers past the Sachems.

Top quote: “It was huge boost in confidence, especially for the girls that are younger on the team and were getting more time on the court, and they feel a little more prepared coming in with the seniors leaving next year.”– head coach Ashley Balbian on the season-ending two-game winning streak

BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY

Storyline: Newman leads charge as boys’ cross country finishes 4-3.

The rundown: Senior Andrew Newman was unbeatable in his first five meets, racing to first-place finishes in everyone as the Panthers finished the season at 4-3. Senior captains Jack Ryan and Alex Uva and freshmen Liam Cafferty and Theo Kamperides played large roles for the Panthers as well.

Top meet: 15-50 win over Silver Lake on Oct. 10. This was the Panthers most convincing win — in terms of its margin. Newman won at 16:38 and finishing second through fifth were Ryan, Cafferty, Kamperides and Uva.

Top quote: “Andrew’s consistent improvement is a result of his effort over and above what we ask for. With high school runners, we’d ordinarily see a drop off in performance given the number of miles a runner like Andrew logs each week. We have not seen that in Andrew. He thrives on high mileage.”– head coach Steve George on Newman

GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY

Storyline: Norve, girls’ cross country team race to 3-4 mark.

The rundown: The girls’ team, which finished at 3-4, was in a lot of close meets, as three of its losses came by 15 or fewer points. One runner who stood out from the rest was Nicole Norve. The senior captain hustled to a first-place finish in the Panthers’ first five races. Seniors Julia Cosgrave and Camryn Boyce were about were a steady presence all season. The fall also saw 16 Panthers establish personal records.

Top meet: 27-28 victory over Plymouth South on Oct. 24. W-H, despite Norve’s second-place finish, still was able to edge the Patriot League’s other Panthers in a meet for the ages, and their final one of the season.

Top quote: “She wants to improve every time out and loves a challenge. Nicole’s success may stem from the fact that she is strong enough to run hard virtually every day, recover, and do it again the next.”– head coach Steve George on Norve

WINTER

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Storyline: Boys’ basketball overcomes tough start to make tournament and grab share of league title.

The rundown: It wasn’t your typical W-H boys’ basketball team on the floor this season as the 3-ball wasn’t one of its strengths, rather its inside game. Buoyed by Patriot League Keenan Division MVP, senior Sean Leahy (19.7 PPG, 9.2 RPG), the Panthers went 16-5, which marked the sixth straight season in which they won at least 16 games, made the Division 2 South Sectional tournament for their 10th straight campaign and grabbed a share of their third consecutive Patriot League Keenan Division title and fourth in the past five years. All that came after a 5-4 start to the season. In the playoffs, the sixth-seeded Panthers succumbed to 11th-seeded Nauset, 65-56, in the first round.

Top game: 68-51 victory at Hingham on Feb. 9. Twenty-seven points from Leahy willed the Panthers to a blowout win over the Harbormen, which moved them into a first-place tie for the Keenan Division lead. Hingham dealt W-H its worst loss in over 10 years (71-45) four weeks before. Junior Tajh Hunter held Hingham star John Gates to one point in the win.

Top quote: “It was definitely a tough matchup, he’s definitely one of the best shooters in the league. I just moved my feet, tried to stay with him and tried not to let him get in my head.”– Tajh Hunter on guarding Hingham’s John Gates

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Storyline: Girls’ basketball trusts the process.

The rundown: The girls’ basketball team – boasting just two seniors – finished the winter with an eight-year best 13-9 record. The Panthers opened the season 7-0 – which included a 3-0 trip to Florida that resulted in a tournament title – but scuffled in the second half, going 6-9 the rest of the way. But, for a young team (six juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen), the second-half dip was not a surprise. In the tournament, W-H – back in Div. 1 South for the first time since 2012 due to realignment – bowed out to Wellesley, 46-37, in the first round. Fifth-year head coach Jenna Olem will return a bevy of key players this coming winter as rising seniors and captains Kathryn Dunn and Erin Leahy will lead the way.

Top game: 56-34 win at Hanover on Dec. 21. Behind 12 points and six rebounds from Dunn and 10 points and three blocks from senior Alyssa Nicholson, W-H stunned the Indians for the first time since 2011.

Top quote: “It was just important to stay focused and stay positive each day. To play present was also a point of emphasis. No season goes by without having to withstand some adversity.”– head coach Jenna Olem

BOYS’ HOCKEY

Storyline: Boys’ hockey flips the script on last season, narrowly misses out on tournament. 

The rundown: The boys’ hockey team knew it was better than what its previous season’s record indicated, and that was certainly the case. The Panthers increased their win total from one to eight this winter and just missed out on the tournament by two points. After a 6-3-1 start, injuries took a toll on W-H as it finished the year at 8-10-2. Senior Ryan Sawtelle led the defense and classmates Korey Howard (18 goals, 10 assists) and Alex Uva (9 goals, 16 assists) provided a chunk of the offense. Key returnees next winter include: rising seniors Ed Scriven (11 goals, 11 assists) and Owen Manning (7 goals, 6 assists) and rising junior Adam Solari (8 goals, 11 assists). Rising sophomores Jack Allen, Josh Pike and Kevin Willis also form a solid nucleus set to return inside the blue line.

Top game: 6-1 victory over Plymouth North on Lori Sawtelle Night Jan. 6. The Panthers honored the late mother of its captain Ryan Sawtelle and potted five goals the game’s final nine minutes for the victory.

Top quote: “We definitely knew what we were playing for tonight and this whole season, too, so it meant a lot.” – Ryan Sawtelle of the win on Lori Sawtelle Night

GIRLS’ HOCKEY

Storyline: Girls’ hockey mounts some success amid rebuild.

The rundown: Head coach Kevin Marani didn’t want to use the term “rebuild” at the outset of the winter, but after the final whistle was blown there was really no other way to describe the season. Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake entered the year tasked with making up for the loss of over 80 percent of its offense from the previous season and many key defensemen. The young Panthers – who sported 15 new players – hung tough, and finished the year with a 2-18 record. Freshman Emily McDonald, from Whitman, ranked third on the team with three goals.

Top game: 3-2 victory over Plymouth on Feb. 2. WHSL stunned a white-hot Plymouth team, which had beaten it 8-1 earlier in the season.

Top quote: “In the tryouts, she was pretty good and every game she got better. Now she’s one of the better players. We expect big things from her next year, absolutely. She’s a very, very smart player, got great hands, strong skating. She’s got all the ability. You could see if by the end of the year, she was carrying the play. She’s a good player, very good player.” – head coach Kevin Marani on McDonald

WRESTLING

Storyline: Youth takes over wrestling mats.

The rundown: The future is bright for the wrestling team, which finished the year at 7-13. Of the Panthers top four wrestlers, three are set to return next winter. Rising junior Steve Brooks led the team with 19 wins, rising sophomore Matt Butler was second with 11 and rising senior Joel McInnis posted 11 pins, which was good for third.

Top meet: 45-36 victory at Duxbury on Jan. 10. Butler, Ben Cordingley, Damari Goldsmith-Greene, Myles McInnis, Theo Kamperides, Steve Osborne and John Youngman all posted victories in the triumph.

Top quote: “We had a great group of freshmen this season and I am looking forward to many of them playing a big role in next year’s team. These kids are the future of our program. With another class like these guys next year, we could be a force before too much longer. I really see us winning 75 percent of our dual meets next year, [but] time will tell.”– head coach Gary Rabinovitz

GYMNASTICS

Storyline: Blackstone, gymnastics team surprise many. 

The rundown: Perhaps the biggest surprise of the winter was the success of the gymnastics team. The Panthers went from just three wins the year prior, which was its first season, to a 9-4 record this season. Senior first-year member Britney Blackstone seemed to be the missing piece W-H needed as she put together a spectacular campaign which ended in postseason competition.

Top meet: Dec. 19 victory over Pembroke/Silver Lake (123.3), Marshfield (123.05) and Hingham (121.75) with a score of 125.1. With the win, the Panthers matched their win total from the previous season.

Top quote: “I like to think that I’m very approachable and they think of me as a good role model. The big sister, someone fun that they can talk to and then they can put any stresses or worries away and bring their positive attitudes into the gym and use that to help them perform their best.” – head coach Rachel Sferruzza

BOYS’ SWIMMING

Storyline: Pham, W-H dives into boys’ swimming/diving.

The rundown: W-H expanded its partnership with Middleboro – which already included a girls’ swimming/diving team – with the formation of a co-op boys’ swimming/diving team. Freshman Brian Pham took the pool by storm, qualifying for sectionals in a pair of events. Junior Nate Manley also chipped in by scoring in a few meets for the co-op, which finished with a 3-5 record.

Top meet: 80-62 win over Rockland on Jan. 9. Pham swam a 1:09.41 in the 100-meter breaststroke in the victory.

Top quote: “We are one team – Middleboro and Whitman Hanson. W-H having a boys’ team allows us to increase the numbers for that team and it also gives us depth as a team.”– W-H head coach Sean Siciliano

GIRLS’ SWIMMING

Storyline: Girls’ swimming/diving swims to success.

The rundown: The co-op – under the leadership of senior captain Phoebe Bonney –  improved on its season last winter with a 5-3-1 record. Rising juniors Niki Kamperides, Madison Navicky and Sabrina O’Connor, all from W-H, performed well in the pool.

Top meet: 90-69 victory over Rockland on Jan. 9. O’Connor posted her highest score ever with 185 in diving and Navicky also swam to a first-place finish.

Top quote: “She can swim pretty much anything and she is just fun to have at practice. She is an amazing swimmer and an amazing leader and she is so coachable. I think that she will be one of the biggest contributors for the girls team this season.” – W-H head coach Sean Siciliano on Navicky

BOYS’ INDOOR TRACK

Storyline: Seniors dominate for boys’ indoor track.

The rundown: The Panthers, who finished the season at 2-3, owned wins over Duxbury (55-45) and Silver Lake (54-45) and were clipped by Hingham (57-43) and Pembroke (57-41). Senior captains Brian Edwards and Andrew Newman (Patriot League All-Star) and classmates Brett Holmes (Patriot League All-Star) and Jack Ryan (Patriot League All-Star) all qualified for the Div. 3 All-State meet. Junior Billy Martell also put forth a solid season in the 300 meters and on the 4×200 relay team.

Top meet: 55-45 win over Duxbury on Dec. 19. The Panthers won the final two events – 4×200 and the 4×400 relays – to hand the Green Dragons their first loss of the season.

Top quote: “These kids worked really hard. We had a small senior class with only six seniors, but four of them are state-level competitors. I’m happy with the young kids, I’m happy with the older kids, we had a lot of freshmen, we had a lot of new kids this year, so the numbers are good.” – head coach Mike Driscoll

GIRLS’ INDOOR TRACK

Storyline: Girls’ indoor track puts rough start behind it, finishes season at 1-3-1.

The rundown: After an 0-3 start to begin the season – partly due to injuries – girls’ indoor track bested Silver Lake (51-49) and tied Pembroke (49-49) to finish the winter strong. Senior Nicole Norve was the team’s lone league all-star and represented the Panthers in the Division 3 All-State meet, where she placed 10th in the 1,000-meter run (3:09.28) and 12th in the 1-mile run (5:26.81). Seniors Camryn Boyce and Julia Cosgrave provided a steady presence. Freshmen Isabelle Amado, Hailey Minicucci, Alaina Mutascio and Emma Rogers all showed some real ability in multiple events.

Top meet: Jan. 24 51-49 victory over Silver Lake. Trailing by three, the relay team of Dorothy DiMascio-Donohue, Cosgrave, Courtney Woodward and Victoria Boss bested its competition, winning the meet for W-H.

Top quote: “The Patriot League is an extremely competitive league with some enormously talented athletes. We faced the very best teams during those first [three] weeks. While we kept it close with most, we had some key athletes go down with injuries.”– head coach Steve George

CHEERLEADING

Storyline: Cheer on: Cheerleaders capture state title No. 13.

The rundown: The Panthers – brought together by the phrase “we believe” – overcame heaps of adversity to capture their 13th MSAA Division 2 state title. W-H – captained by rising senior Anna Franklin – also won the Patriot League title.

Top competition: March 11 state title competition. On its home floor, W-H boasted a 200.1 score to claim the title. Milford, which finished second with a score of 196.2, edged the Panthers, 195.40-194.70, the week before in the South regional competition.

Top quote: “They came together, they worked hard from the second they arrived on Sunday to the second they left. I could see it in their face. I could tell that this is what they worked for and they weren’t going to let anything stop them.” – head coach Alyssa Hayes on her team’s state title win

SPRING

BASEBALL

Storyline: Baseball team looking ahead to next spring.

The rundown: Not even two games in, the baseball team was dealt a major blow when it found out its ace and reigning Patriot League Keenan Division MVP – senior James Dolan – wasn’t going to be able to pitch due to tendonitus. While that would have been the downfall for many teams, it certainly wasn’t for the Panthers. Rising senior Rian Schwede (5-3, 51.1 IP, 1.64 ERA) asserted himself as the ace and classmate Ethan Phelps (3-0, 36.0 IP, 1.36 ERA) burst onto the scene on the hill. W-H finished 15-6 and grabbed a share of its second straight Patriot League Keenan Division crown, but was subject to a first-round exit in the Div. 2 South Sectional tournament via a 3-0 loss to Nauset. Schwede, Phelps and fellow rising senior Mike Cook (.394, 22 RBIs) key the returnees next spring; all were league all-stars. Dolan (.317) and classmates Ryan Sawtelle (.400) and Caleb Burke (.294) are the only three starters to graduate.

Top game: 3-2 victory over Hanover on May 4. In his first varsity start on the mound, Phelps dazzled the Indians, hurling a complete-game win while throwing just 16 balls. It was one of only three losses over the course of the regular season for Hanover.

Top quote: “I’m just having so much fun coaching these guys, they’re a blast.”– head coach Pat Cronin

SOFTBALL

Storyline: Softball builds for future.

The rundown: Like the baseball team, the softball team went the entirety of the spring without its ace as an injury in the first game of the year sidelined senior Colleen Hughes for all but four games. In her absence, freshman Abby Cleary tossed 94.1 of W-H’s 125.1 innings and collected five wins. Senior Hailey Norris paced the young Panthers offense – which had as many as six freshmen and sophomores penned into their lineup and manning pivotal positions – with a .418 average, 15 runs and 18 RBIs. Sophomore Victoria Ryan was not far behind Norris, hitting at .382 with 12 RBIs and 13 runs scored. Freshman Reese Codero hit at a .377 clip and scored 13 runs.

Top game: 15-6 victory over Hingham on May 10. Up 1-0 entering the bottom of the first, W-H surrendered six runs in the bottom of the frame. Stagnant on offense until the fourth, the Panthers busted it open with four runs in the frame, followed by a three-run fifth, a two-run sixth and a seven-run seventh.

Top quote: “They definitely showed glimpses of potential and how good they could be when they put it all together. Whether it was for a few innings or a few games, we did a lot of good things this year despite our record.”– head coach Jenna Olem

BOYS’ LACROSSE

Storyline: Boys’ lacrosse hangs around.

The rundown: Boys’ lacrosse concluded the spring with a 2-16 mark, but dropped six of those tilts by five goals or less. Junior defender Ryan Trongone was the team’s lone league all-star and classmates Mason Gorman, Sean Joanis and Shane Ross found the back of the net many of times.

Top game: 12-6 victory over Cardinal Spellman on April 3. The Panthers rallied back from an early deficit to claim their first win of the season as eight different players scored. Rising senior Mario Troiani had 22 saves in net.

Top quote: “To come in here and get a victory [gets] the ship going in the right direction. It’s a long season, we’re nowhere near where we can be at the end of it. Against Hingham (17-2 loss), we crawled, Scituate (13-6 loss) we walked and today we ran.” – head coach Rob White on the win over Cardinal Spellman

GIRLS’ LACROSSE

Storyline: Girls’ lacrosse never backed down.

The rundown: Staring at a 1-6 record with 11 games remaining, if the girls’ lacrosse team was going to make the tournament then it could only afford to drop three more contests. The girls won two must win games – on consecutive days – to close on the regular season, punching their ticket to the postseason for the program’s fourth time in five years. In the tournament, W-H downed Nauset on the road, 10-4, in the preliminary round, before succumbing to top-seeded Notre Dame Academy, 18-3, in the first round. The season saw senior captain Kasey Molito set to the single-season saves record – which now stands at 268 – and classmate Lauren Bonavita become to first W-H athlete ever to score 100 goals in two sports. The Panthers’ final record was 10-10. The Panthers will graduate eight of 12 starters, but rising seniors and captain-elects Anika Putur (defense), Samantha Whitman (eight goals, two assists) and Zoe Lydon (30 goals, 23 assists) along with rising junior Riley Bina (29 goals, 21 assists), provides them with a solid core to build around.

Top game: Preliminary round victory against Nauset, 10-4, June 5. W-H faced an early 3-0 deficit, but never backed down and rallied for a win behind five goals from Bonavita.

Top quote: “I’m actually really proud. It’s something I’ve been aiming to work on, aiming to get.”– Kasey Molito on setting the single-season saves record

BOYS’ TENNIS

Storyline: Stability at the helm of boys’ tennis team.

The rundown: The boys’ tennis team – under the watch of first-year head coach Alyssa Hayes – finished the year on a three-game winning streak with victories against: Quincy (3-2), Cardinal Spellman (5-0) and Braintree (4-1). Sophomore Brian Fox, despite a slow team start, rallied off four straight victories in No. 2 singles from May 2 to May 7. The Panthers finished the season with a 5-12 record.

Top match: 5-0 sweep of Cardinal Spellman on May 23. Victories from singles players Tyler Rice, Brian Fox and Eric Muha and the doubles teams of Sean Leahy/Jason Bannon and Stephen Collins/Matt Hickey sparked the Panthers.

Top quote: “I think consistency is so important in any sport, in any classroom, so if I can give them that consistency and kind of just make sure that they know practice is important, matches are important, being here is important, that it’ll kind of carry forward into their matches.”– head coach Alyssa Hayes

GIRLS’ TENNIS

Storyline: Girls’ tennis almost makes tournament.

The rundown: It was a tale of two halves of the season for the girls’ tennis team. The Panthers put a tough 1-5 start to the spring behind them, pulling off wins in their next four contests to reach the .500 mark. Sitting at 9-10 with one match to go, W-H had to win to make the tournament, but was swept by Duxbury, 5-0, ending the season with a 9-11 mark. The Panthers return a heavy dose of their team next spring with No. 1 and No. 3 singles players and rising juniors Alexis Connolly and Abby Pulling back. Julia Benvie (rising sophomore), Nandita Kumar (rising junior), Divya Kumar (rising sophomore) and Chloe Wilson (rising junior) also contributed in doubles play. Senior captains Jess Green and Hannah Faghan will be missed.

Top match: 5-0 victory over Cardinal Spellman on May 1. Wins by Connolly, Green and Pulling in singles, coupled with doubles wins from Faghan and Nandita Kumar and then Chelsea Getchell and Benvie propelled the Panthers to the sweep, and the match was the start of a four-match winning streak, pulling them to .500.

BOYS’ OUTDOOR TRACK

Storyline: Boys’ outdoor track battles tough. 

The rundown: The boys’ outdoor track team – under the direction of first-year head coach Steven Schlicting – finished the spring with a 1-4 record. W-H captured that win in its first meet of the season with a 125-10 rout of North Quincy. Senior captain Jack Ryan, classmate Andrew Newman and junior Billy Martell were standouts all season long.

Top meet: 125-10 win over North Quincy on April 3. Martell led the way for the Panthers with wins in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and triple jump.

Top quote: “I’m really excited. There’s over 50 boys on this team. We’re up as far as numbers are concerned [from the winter season].”– head coach Steven Schlicting

GIRLS’ OUTDOOR TRACK

Storyline: Girls’ outdoor track finishes 1-4.

The rundown: Competing against some of the top competition in the state, such as Duxbury, Hinghan and Plymouth North, the girls’ track team raced to a 1-4 record. In their fourth meet of the season, the girls clipped Silver Lake by the final score of 73-63. W-H had a solid mix of upperclassmen and underclassmen contributing all season. Freshmen Isabelle Amado and Anna Sullivan were standouts.

Top meet: 73-63 victory over Silver Lake on May 8. Junior Dorothy DiMascio-Donohue led the way with wins in the 400-meter hurdles and high jump as eight Panthers recorded victories in the triumph.

Top quote: “A winning record [is our goal]. We have five dual meets scheduled and three of the teams are some of the top teams in the state in Hingham, Duxbury and Plymouth North High School, so they’re very difficult opponents but we hope to maybe steal one of those meets.”– head coach Steve George