Mansfield Claims Second Consecutive Hock Meet Title

Mansfield gymnastics
Mansfield gymnastics secured its second straight Hockomock League championship meet title. (@mhs.gymnastics/Instagram)

By Kat Cornetta || HockomockSports.com Contributor

HANOVER, Mass. — One week before this year’s league championship meet, defending Hockomock League gymnastics champion Mansfield fell to Attleboro 139.1-137.35 —  their first loss of the season. This past Friday night, the two met again at the annual Hockomock League Championships, and the Hornets would get their revenge.

Mansfield won the league meet held at Hanover’s Starland Sportsplex with a score of 144.35 — the only team to eclipse 140 — earning the league meet and Davenport titles for the second consecutive year. 

Click here for more than 200 photos from the 2025 Hockomock Gymnastics Championship.

“It’s great that we did it last year too,” said Mansfield senior Bridget Boni, who finished fourth place in the all-around. “I love this team so much. Everyone worked so hard and everyone is so deserving.” 

The Hornets earned the title thanks to their difficulty and depth. Even without one of their standouts, senior co-captain Andrew Znoj, who is recovering from injury, Mansfield had the meet’s most difficult vaults and floor exercise tumbling. Freshman Paige Austin won the floor title among the non-all-around gymnasts with a 9.2, showcasing good leaps and enough power to ensure her last tumbling pass was as well done as her first. Junior Sophie Moore’s 9.5 won floor among all-arounders. 

On uneven bars, Mansfield’s gymnasts also wowed, with a good mix of difficulty and clean skills. Their feet were pointed, their legs straight, and their low-to-high bar skills were not sloppy. Again, Austin won the event among non-all-arounders with a 9.0. 

League, sectional, and state meets are known for a “balance beam trap,” where teams can be flying high throughout the meet and then take their turn on beam, get ahead of themselves, and make mistakes. This was not a problem for the Hornets, who kept their wits about them on their beam rotation. Several gymnasts completed back handspring series, and the dismounts were hit. Mansfield placed three gymnasts in the top four of the event: Austin, Riley Mattson, and Ava Redding went 2-3-4 among non-all-arounders, while Moore placed fourth on the apparatus among all-arounders. 

Runner-up Attleboro, who went undefeated in the regular season and won the Kelley-Rex division, was powered by senior Caroline DiMarco, who finished second in the all-around. She was second on uneven bars and floor exercise and third on vault. 

The Bombardiers struggled with depth Friday night. They proved the week prior that they could go toe-to-toe with Mansfield, but could not in their rematch.

“We had three solid scores on every event, but that fourth score is so important in meets like these,” said Rich Butler, longtime Attleboro coach. “It just fell off for us tonight.” 

Click here for results from the 2025 Hockomock Gymnastics Championship.

Closing the meet on floor exercise, Attleboro hit every routine. After some disappointing routines throughout the meet, it was a great way to end their night.  The Bombardiers gained confidence throughout the meet, and it was evident on that apparatus. Their tumbling was some of the highest of the night, and they hit their landings. 

“We ended the night strong,” said Butler.

Attleboro sophomore Logan Medeiros joined DiMarco on the all-around podium, finishing fifth. She also placed third on bars and sixth in a strong beam field. 

Click here for more than 200 photos from the 2025 Hockomock Gymnastics Championship.

King Philip junior Abby Lefebvre won the all-around title with a 37.5. It powered the Warriors to third place with a 136.95. Lefebvre won every event but floor exercise among her fellow all-arounders. Lexi Weintraub placed in both the balance beam and floor to lead Oliver Ames to fourth place as a team with a 136.45. Courtney Waugh finished tied for first on floor, another bright spot for the Tigers. 

Other highlights of the meet included Madi Turner’s strong showing for Foxboro, earning fifth place in the all-around, including hitting her difficult dismount on uneven bars. Franklin’s Kendra Love won vault among non-all-arounders with a 9.3. The Panthers closed their meet on uneven bars with a slate of great performances, including a beautiful flyaway dismount from anchor Abby Robillard. Canton all-arounder Jayda Proffitt showed gorgeous form throughout the evening, especially on floor exercise.

Mansfield gymnastics Mansfield gymnastics Mansfield gymnastics Franklin gymnastics Foxboro gymnastics

Girls Wrestling Gaining Momentum in the Hockomock League

Hockomock Girls Wrestling
Stoughton’s Jade Fray and Milford’s Chloe Boccia wrestle as part of a girls showcase as the Hockomock League championship meet. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

By Josh Perry || HockomockSports.com Managing Editor

The best wrestlers in the Hockomock League gathered at Stoughton High on Saturday for a day’s worth of competition in the hopes of earning the title of Hockomock champion. On Thursday, Stoughton coach Andrew Iverson announced that, for the first time, the league was adding a showcase for girls wrestlers at the league’s championship meet.

It is an acknowledgement of how the sport has expanded in recent years. According to multiple reports (and something noted by each of the coaches and wrestlers spoken to for this story), girls wrestling is the fastest growing sport in the country across all levels, from youth to high school to college. The NCAA recently announced women’s wrestling as the 91st official championship sport, starting in 2026.

“Adding a Hockomock girls tournament would be the next step,” said Stoughton senior Angie Berry last week. “Girls dual meets are definitely awesome. Even doing a Davenport versus Kelley-Rex dual meet, just because the numbers are still low, I think that would be an awesome opportunity. Being a Hock champ would be really cool.”

Oliver Ames senior Amaya Smith added, “We want to make it as inclusive as possible, but the league could focus on giving the girls their own spotlight. I think it would allow more girls to take it seriously as a girls sport rather than joining a boys sport.”

Nearly all of the 11 teams in the league have at least one girl in the program. Coaches are adapting, schedules are growing with more girls-only tournaments (like Stoughton’s Toughtown Tournament) or separate divisions for the girls to compete against each other (like at OA’s Devin Ness Tournament), and the league highlighted that growth with Saturday’s 12-match showcase.

Building bonds with new teammates in a new sport

It is never easy to try a new sport. Walking into a room of people, many of them older, many of them already friends, and trying to find your niche is difficult and rarely happens right away. It takes time to prove yourself and build relationships with your new teammates. That challenge is amplified when you’re the one girl, or one of only a handful, in the room and when the sport requires a different level of physicality to any other.

“It definitely was pretty intimidating because I didn’t really know anyone,” said Mansfield junior Tessa Johnson. She laughed, “There were fully grown men and you’re just a tiny little freshman.”

Hockomock Girls Wrestling
Mansfield junior Tessa Johnson. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

Johnson’s brother Colton was a captain during her freshman season, but her parents were initially reluctant to let her take part. Watching Mansfield’s first female wrestler, Greta Hobbs (who went on to wrestle at Western New England) helped overcome that hesitation. Through her brother, Johnson knew many of the names of the wrestlers even if she was meeting them as teammates for the first time. In her first match, Johnson (who was at the time and is still the lone female wrestler on the team) wrestled a fellow freshman and won.

“After about a week, I just became really close with a lot of the kids and became friends with them and now it’s just so much easier,” Johnson explained. “Wrestling is my favorite sport. I’ve gotten some of my best friends from playing the sport.

Click here for Results and a Photo Gallery from the 2025 Hockomock League Wrestling Championships.

Berry’s father, Ray, is an assistant coach at Boston Latin and coaches at Frontier Wrestling based at American Grit in Canton. She has been around the sport her whole life and started wrestling in eighth grade, although she admitted it wasn’t until the summer before her sophomore year that she “got the bug” and fell in love with the sport.

“The hardest part is getting started,” Berry said. “Just walking into a room being the only girl isn’t easy in any setting and then when it’s a martial arts setting it’s even harder. Having other girls present makes it so much easier for the other girls to pick it up.” Berry was the lone female wrestler on the team when she started as a sophomore, but she is one of four in the program this year.

Like Johnson, Berry found that after putting in the work in practice she quickly became part of the team. No one was worried about the boy-girl dynamic when they were going through another grueling workout.

“The first day I walked into the practice room sophomore year, it just felt like I was there with them,” she said. “I was their equal. I never really felt like I was less than them. We always had an understanding that we’re going through wrestling together. It’s a hard sport, so we’re all just going to get through it together.”

Stoughton senior Ava Vieira, who picked up the sport in January of last year, added, “The worst part was trying to find a wrestling partner. It was really awkward looking around and stuff, but it was honestly a very welcoming environment. By day two, I knew everybody’s names and we were best friends.”

Former Sharon wrestler Meghan Weibe, who is currently a member of a club team at Lehigh University, had no wrestling experience when she started as a freshman (“I was really bad actually,” she joked) but she loved weightlifting and wanted a sport that focused on strength. She admitted that having Sarah Kinsman already on the team and having her friend Samantha Rabkin also trying out at the same time was probably the only reason she gave it a shot.

“It is very intimidating to join a sport with a bunch of men that you don’t know,” Weibe explained.

“By the end, the boys on the team were my brothers. The thing that really helped me get over that was that I was very willing to learn and they were very willing to teach. They loved helping me and it was a lovely environment that I was lucky to be a part of.”

Hockomock Girls Wrestling
OA senior Amaya Smith. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

Smith laughed and said she got tricked into trying wrestling. She had been a manager for the football team and former OA coach Adam Pomella asked if she would be interested in doing something similar for wrestling. There were only a couple of female wrestlers and Smith thought she would give it a try and support her friends.

“The more that you put effort into something, the more you want to stick with it,” said Smith, who is committed to play field hockey at Merrimack next year. “I learned to love wrestling by mistake.”

When she first started, Smith said that it felt like “two teams” because girls events were typically separate. The coaches worked hard to support them and make everyone an important part of the team and, eventually, Smith felt more comfortable.

“As I got along with the people and started going to more practices and working hard,” she said, “I felt like everyone’s energy matched and it was less about being boy/girl and more about being wrestlers and trying to improve each other.”

Building a community across the league

Having gone through the experience of walking into a male-dominated sport and of getting on the mat in practice and varsity meets with the guys, there is a shared experience that connects the female wrestlers across the league and the state.

Smith said, “We’ve all had the first day when we were nervous to wrestle against boys or nervous to do the sport. It’s hard to get yourself into the sport as a girl and to see yourself having a place in that environment, so all the girls understand each other.”

Weibe acknowledged there is a constant struggle between wanting to support fellow female wrestlers and help form a community that can grow the sport for more women to take part, but also being a competitor and wanting to win (both for yourself and your team).

“I think women’s wrestling is at this moment right now where the amount of people who are joining is amazing because it will give other women the opportunity to wrestle women and to have this camaraderie with women,” she said. “There was also the other side that you wouldn’t want to be the person who is only looking out for the women.”

Stoughton senior Ava Vieira. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

Johnson remarked, “Any time that I see a girl on the mat or we’re at a dual meet and there’s a girl who is wrestling a kid from my team, I know I should be rooting for the kid on my team but it’s always great to see a girl win or give a good fight.”

“It’s really unique,” Berry said. “You can’t really talk to someone about it who hasn’t gone through it. I feel like getting off the mat and being able to talk to (fellow senior) Ava (Vieira) and just talk through things, it’s really awesome.”

More female wrestlers means less wrestling the guys

Weibe, who wrestled at 165 in high school, didn’t compete in an all-girls tournament until she took part in states last year. It was mentally taxing. She knew that she was a strong wrestler but, in a very competitive weight class, Weibe wasn’t seeing the results on the mat. She worried that she was letting the team down, despite her coaches’ reassurances.

Having the opportunity to compete against other female wrestlers gave her a different perspective on the sport.

“It made me fall in love with wrestling all over again because it was the sport at its purest form,” she said. “It didn’t feel like a mismatch to me.”

Weibe added, “The men’s bodies are just bigger than yours and it’s hard to get better quickly. Especially now, I’m on a women’s team and I can feel myself getting better at wrestling so much faster because I have the opportunity to train skill stuff where I’m not going to be overpowered.”

Click here for Results and a Photo Gallery from the 2025 Hockomock League Wrestling Championships.

The sport is growing at a rapid rate but teams still only have a few experienced female wrestlers on their teams. Programs like Frontier Wrestling have helped introduce the sport to younger age groups and adding female coaches to the staff (for example at OA) also provide positive representation on the bench.

More tournaments are providing girls brackets and, across the state, there are more all-girls tournaments being offered, although that presents its own challenge for coaches who might have wrestlers competing in multiple locations or multiple days in the same weekend.

Stoughton senior Angie Berry. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

Smith said that fear of wrestling guys is still a factor for some girls who are considering the sport. “The girls that I’ve asked to join the team or tried to get interested in wrestling have been like, ‘Oh, do you have to wrestle boys?’ I’m not going to lie to them, sometimes you have to.”

When asked if she prefers competing in the all-girls meets, Smith replied, “It makes the sport more fun. I’ll wrestle a boy but I prefer to wrestle girls and I prefer it feeling like my own space and my own sport.”

Vieira added, “Everything the boys get, we should have for the girls too. More stuff that the boys have but just girls-only would make the sport grow so much faster.”

Johnson also noted that having more competitions for the girls will increase the visibility for individual wrestlers. The boys are always looking at their rankings and know exactly who they need to beat in their weight class. Now, she hopes the girls can have that same level of excitement and coverage.

“I wrestled my first girls tournament that wasn’t all-states or something like that and it was really good because I got to see more girls and get more experience,” Johnson said. “It made it way more competitive and a lot more fun.

Johnson continued, “It made it feel like how the guys view wrestling. It was cool that I got to have those girls who you know and maybe you’ve wrestled them before.”

Winning is a lot of fun

The Hockomock League has a long history of success in wrestling. From state title-winning teams to individual champions at all levels, winning is part of the expectation for Hock wrestlers. It has been no different for the girls.

Last year, Sharon placed third as a team at the all-state meet and second at New Englands. Overall, the league had six wrestlers qualify for the New England tournament.

Weibe was the all-state champion at 165 pounds and, with a 4-0 decision in the final, won the New England title as well. Rabkin, who is now wrestling at Western New England, was second at both all-states and New Englands. Smith took fourth at all-states and became the first OA wrestler (male or female) to place at New Englands, finishing fourth.

“It’s definitely awesome to have the opportunity to win,” said Berry, whose first tournament victory was at last year’s Div. 2 states and who has won her weight class three times this season. “In years past, I might have gone to one girls tournament the whole year, so it’s awesome to be able to get a bracket and a medal like the guys do.”

Hockomock Girls Wrestling
Milford sophomore Amelia Hough. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
Vieira, who finished fifth at all-states last year and started this season with a win at the Devin Ness Tournament, said, “Ooh, it was so good. It’s just so satisfying. I trained so hard and I actually have physical proof. I put it on my wall and everything.”

She is already looking forward to the postseason competition. “I looked on Flo(Wrestling) and kind of stalked some people,” Vieira said. “I’m going to have some really tough opponents and I can’t wait. There are New England finalists, a couple-times state champion, and it’s like yes, let’s go!”

“The worst part about matches is the anticipation before them,” Smith explained. “You know that feeling when you’re about to sneeze? And then when you finally sneeze it feels great. It’s like, thank goodness that’s over with it. I think that’s a big hook to the sport. You’re so relieved, so proud of yourself, when you win.”

“That’s what made me fall in love with the sport is getting past all the setbacks and actually just focusing on myself and focusing on my skills and winning.”

For the love of the sport

Wrestling is hard work. The effort that goes into every practice, the conditioning, the drills, all the preparation that goes into getting onto the mat for a match and being able to go toe-to-toe with your opponent is hard.

The struggle is part of the enjoyment.

Johnson said with a laugh, “If you didn’t have anything else to talk about then you can talk about how much practice just sucks. It just makes you feel equal. Everybody is there putting in the same amount of work.”

“I love that it takes your willpower and hard work,” Smith explained. “There are no shortcuts in wrestling. You have to rely on how you do in practice for how you’ll do in your matches.”

Berry said, “I like everything that you learn with it. That’s the best part. I like the values and the hard work and seeing it pay off when you start picking things up and start putting things together.”

Vieira said simply, “I love it. There aren’t a lot of sports like it. It’s aggressive.”

With the league adding a girls showcase to its championship meet, there is a new opportunity to highlight how far girls wrestling has come and capitalize on the momentum that is already building in the Hock to take the sport to the next level.

Everyone agrees that the showcase is just the start and, when the numbers support it, having a full girls tournament is the goal for the Hockomock League.

“A girls division would be huge,” Weibe said. “I think it would make the growth of the sport happen a lot faster. The skill level that you’d see from women would go crazy. Women would get so much better so much faster.”

Click here for Results and a Photo Gallery from the 2025 Hockomock League Wrestling Championships.

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2024-2025 Hockomock Indoor Track Preview

2024-2025 Hockomock Indoor Track Preview
 
By HockomockSports.com Staff

EDITOR’S NOTE: Please note, HockomockSports reached out to all coaches seeking information for our annual previews.

2024-2025 Hockomock Indoor Track Preview

Canton

2023-2024 Boys Record: 1-4
2023-2024 Girls Record: 3-2
Coach: Anna Amico & Brian Gotsell
Fresh off a fifth-place finish at Hocks last year, the Canton girls team brings back a lot of its top point scorers from a season ago and will be looking to make a splash this winter.

Senior captains Klara Redquest, Kenzie Bennett, and Sally Hoban set the tone for this hardworking group. All three will have a big impact on the team at different events. Redquest is a veteran of the distance events and the Bulldogs boast two top returners there in junior Nora Giannacopoulos, who took third at Hocks in the 1000M, and junior Lexi Piazza, who is coming off a strong debut in cross country and was third at Hocks in the 600M last year. Along with that trio, Maddie Driscoll and indoor track newcomer Natalie Hales will give Canton a lot of depth in the distance events. Hoban is a leader in both the jumps and throws; the volleyball standout will also give Canton some points in the hurdles and sprints. Senior Kailyn Durham (shot put) and sophomore Grace Martinek (long jump) could score key points as well.

Martinek will be joined by Chloe Dubuisson to anchor the sprints this winter after both scored well in both spring and indoor track last school year. Bennett (hurdles) and classmate Kate Sheil (sprints) are also in the mix to score for Canton.

“This is an exciting group who works hard every day, encourages one another, has fun, and competes every day,” said head coach Anna Amico. “There is much potential and we are excited to work every day to reach it!”

On the boys side, the Bulldogs are looking to have an improved season after going 1-4 in the dual meets. With nearly 50 athletes, it’s the largest boys team in recent memory. Head coach Brian Gotsell will turn to captains Pranav Addanki, Christian Hanlon, and Riley Swearingen to lead the way. Hanlon, fresh off a strong cross country season, will be a top option for the Bulldogs in the 300M and the long jump, Addanki competes in the 1000M, and Swearingen is the go-to option on the distance events. Casey Lee and Angel Assad are new to indoor track but had successful spring seasons and will look to contribute in the sprints and jumps. John Martinek handles both the 55M hurdles and the 400M hurdles.

Adding depth to the middle distance along with Addanki are Dalton Wong, Sam Siegal, Shawn Smith Manzi, and Ben Weaver, while Swearingen is joined by Tristan Grant and Tyler Baird in the distance events.

“We are a young team with a lot of passion and desire,” Gotsell said. “I am hopeful and excited to see what we can do in the Davenport this winter.”

2024-2025 Hockomock Indoor Track Preview

Franklin

2023-2024 Boys Record: 5-0 (Kelley-Rex division champions)
2023-2024 Girls Record: 5-0 (Kelley-Rex division champions)
Coach: Nick Bailey & Paul Trovato
The Franklin girls have won three straight Hockomock championship meet titles, including back-to-back convincing wins, and with a strong mix of returners and some new additions, the Panthers are in a position to compete for a fourth in a row.

It’s hard to ignore the talent the Panthers, including Hock champs Sophia Cuneo and Sarah Dumas, and the Panthers’ talented trio at shot put: Lily Deforge, Liz Hopkins, and Darby Nicholson. But the athletes Franklin does bring back this winter are cause for optimism. Senior Ella Chandaria has experience in a variety of events and will help anchor the hurdles and sprints along with classmate Sophie Arena, junior Jossie Camp, and sophomore Meghan Markarian. Chandaria will also lead the way for the shot put with classmates Allie Brown and Molly Kruse. The jumps will feature Camp and Markarian along with senior Lainey Costa and sophomore Callie Joyce.

Costa and Joyce are also a part of Franklin’s mid-distance and distance crews, which will also get contributions from senior Meghan Griffith and juniors Madison Bruno, Savannah Copeland, and Stella Nappa. Junior Sadie Kent and freshmen Phoebe Cuneo and Grace Marinella are candidates to help bolster the sprints while a large contingent of underclassmen — sophomores Annabelle Santiago and Olivia Wrobleski along with freshman Madison Griffith, Hannah Griffith, Hannah Dulong, and Samanthan Feigan — should add depth in the mid-distance and distance events. The shot put will feature newcomers Monica McIntyre and Ella Marzullo, along with Marinella.

“The combination of both veterans and new members should provide the team with the necessary athletes to make the team competitive in the Kelley-Rex Division of the Hockomock League,” said longtime head coach Paul Trovato.

The boys also have some key athletes back spread across all events and have a chance to compete for the Hock title after a third-place finish last year. The reigning Kelley-Rex division champs will have some stiff competition in the dual meets but there is a very strong group of returners eager to defend the crown. Junior Stephon Reed is back to compete in the 55M dash and 4×200 relay — two events in which he placed in at Hocks last year — as well as the high jump. Senior Aidan Thorne is another top returning sprinter and will look to compete with the best in the long jump. Senior Jack Halter had an impressive PR at Hocks last year with a third place in the 1000M and will also be a key piece in Franklin’s 4×400 and 4×800 relays. Cross country standout Jonathan Pink is back to anchor the distance events for the Panthers while Cole Sidwell is coming off a strong year on the gridiron to help lead the shot put. Alex Fioravanti and Kyle Twomey will add depth to the distance events, and John Duffy (sprints) and Pete Gubka (hurdles) will also help in the jumps.

“This group knows how hard it is to be successful in this league and with two weeks of practice in the books, are ready to start competing in the coming weeks,” said head coach Nick Bailey. “Nothing will come easy but we’re excited about where this season will bring us.”

2024-2025 Hockomock Indoor Track Preview

Mansfield

2023-2024 Boys Record: 5-0 (Davenport division champions)
2023-2024 Girls Record: 4-1
Coach: Kevin Butera & Chris Fong
After winning the Hock championship meet title in 2023, the Hornets needed to reload in order to compete again in 2024. Mansfield did just that and walked away with a second straight title last winter. Now the Hornets are ready to reload once again in search of a three-peat.

The Hornets graduated over a half dozen Hock champs from last year but with over 90 athletes on this year’s squad, there are candidates to try and seize those spots. Senior captain Myles Brown is one of the top returning sprinters, fresh off a second-place finish in the 55M dash at Hocks last year, and was also a member of the Hornets’ 4x200M relay that set a new school record. Senior captain Marco Geminiani had a terrific season on the pitch with the Mansfield soccer team and is now back on the track to defend his Hock crown in the 600M while also competing in the 1000M and relays. Mansfield’s two other senior captains are Ben Dury, who was part of the Hock title-winning 4×800 relay team, and Tino Marrese, who steps in as the top hurdler for the Hornets.

There’s even more senior leadership with Kyle Dickinson, Matt Sullivan, and Colby Quersher — all integral pieces of Mansfield’s relay teams as well as mid-distance and distance events. Junior Joey Federline had a strong cross country season and will look to compete with the top runners in the league in the 1 Mile and 2 Mile races. Senior Jared Gardner is another option that Mansfield will turn to in the sprints, hurdles, and jumps, sophomore Ryan Johnson will be a potential scorer in the mid-distance and distance races, and freshman Nikita Cherapuhka is one to keep an eye on as a potential immediate impact runner for the Hornets.

“It’s the same story as always for us…who will step up and fill in the gaps after graduating another tremendous senior class,” said head coach Kevin Butera, who noted the Hornets will need some guys to step up in the sprints, jumps, and throws. “We have a strong returning cast of distance runners that got a lot of experience last winter and spring, that should really be a strength for us. Between our returners and some of the newcomers, we have some great competition for varsity spots that will hopefully really improve that group by the season’s end. The team has a great group of senior leaders that will keep us in the mix for Hocks and beyond.”

Oliver Ames

2023-2024 Boys Record: 2-3
2023-2024 Girls Record: 5-0 (Davenport division champions)
Coach: Kyle Sousa
With two of the top sprinters in the Hockomock League back in the fold this winter, the Oliver Ames girls team is ready to defend its Davenport division crown.

Senior Grace Okocha had a pair of fourth-place finishes in the 55M dash and the 300M at D3 states last year and will be among the top sprinters in both the Hock and the state. Sophomore Lavender Kozaka had a strong winter and that momentum carried over to a terrific spring, including a sixth-place finish at the MIAA Meet of Champions in the 100M dash. That 1-2 punch gives OA one of the best sprint duos in the state. Kozaka is also one of the top returning long jumpers in the Hock. Senior Braelyn Graham is the reigning Hockomock champion in the 1 Mile and is back to defend her crown against a loaded field. Senior Aubrey Thibault will handle hurdles and jumps for OA.

On the boys side, the Tigers are looking to build on last year’s fourth-place finish at Hocks. Junior Patrick Dunlap will be all over the place at the TRACK at New Balance, competing in the hurdles and both the high jump and the long jump. And looking to build on a dominant cross country season, senior Alex Callanan and junior Landon Sarney will anchor the distance events this winter.

2024-2025 Hockomock Indoor Track Preview

Sharon

2023-2024 Boys Record: 4-1
2023-2024 Girls Record: 0-5
Coach: Ben Stoller
Sharon enters the season with some of the top individual talent and there’s a good chance we will see some Eagles competing for titles late in the postseason.

Junior Nina Kyei-Aboagye had a year to remember last school year, with championships in both winter and spring track. In indoors last year, she was the Hock champ in the 300M, second at states, and took second at the MIAA Meet of Champions in the same event. This past spring, she carried the momentum and ran past the competition to win the state title in the 200M. This winter, she will be back competing as one of the top runners in the 55M dash and the 300M, as well as the Eagles’ relays. Senior captains Gabby St. Claire and Callie Weader will add depth in the sprints along with sophomores Eva Lobo Delaney and Maria Emilia Sanchez Verkkonen, and freshman Linda Jenner. Senior captain Sophie Foulger will anchor the distance crew with freshman Michelle Zheng looking to contribute right off the bat.

“It’s very exciting to have someone on our team who can make a legitimate claim to be the fastest girl in Massachusetts,” said Sharon head coach Ben Stoller. “We have a solid supporting cast of sprinters to go along with Nina. Unfortunately, we lack the depth needed to win meets, so this team approaches competitions with an individual mindset. It’s about working hard, being the best you can be every day, and trying to hit those PRs at the meets.”

Speaking of champions, this year’s Hockomock cross country champion Alex Blumen, who is committed to running at Wesleyan University, will look to challenge for the 1 Mile title after finishing third at Hocks last year, as well as the 2 Mile. Senior Josy Brown-Wright is coming over from the basketball team after having a breakout outdoor track season and will be a huge addition to the squad. He was the Hock champ in the 400M hurdles during the outdoor season and this winter he’ll be competing in the 300M and anchor the Sharon 4×400 relay. Junior Tobiah Stessman will be busy on meet nights as he will compete in the hurdles, long jump, and high jump.

On top of Stessman, the Eagles boast a deep hurdles crew that also features senior captain Kaden Tsang and juniors Cole Feifer and Rain Zheng. Senior captain Simon Jenner will be adding shorter races to go along with his usual 600M race, and the distance squad is boosted by cross country standouts Alex Pinnix and Matteo Lozano. Junior Vlad Shkolnikov is hoping his speed will transition from the pitch to the track, senior Tommy Farkas is one of the top sprinters for the Eagles, and freshman Max Moir could be an instant impact runner in the mid-distance races.

“The boys went 4-1 last year, but we have our work cut out for us as we move up to the Kelley-Rex this year,” Stoller said. “We have some serious talent on this team. However, we’re lacking depth compared to the other big schools. Many of our guys will have to step up and score in two or three different events if we want to win meets.”

Athletes to Watch

Alex Blumen, Sharon – Coming off a first-place finish at Hocks in cross country, Blumen will be relied upon for a couple of distance races this winter for the Eagles.

Lauren Bober, Foxboro – Had a breakout year as a sophomore last winter and is now back in the mix in the 300M and relay races.

Myles Brown, Mansfield – One of the fastest sprinters in the league, he will be in the mix for the Hock title in both the 55M dash and 300M. A key member in Mansfield’s relays too.

Alex Callanan, Oliver Ames – Fresh off a top 10 finish at Hocks this fall for cross country, Callanan is back to defend his Hock title from last winter in the 1 Mile race.

Ella Chandaria, Franklin – Whether it’s hurdles, sprints, or throws, Chandaria is one of Franklin’s top competitors.

Emersyn DePonte, Taunton – One of the most experienced runners in the Hockomock League, DePonte will be a top distance runner in her last indoor season.

Chloe Dubuisson, Canton – Dubuisson has plenty of experience competing in a variety of events so she’ll be a crucial piece for the Bulldogs this winter.

Patrick Dunlap, Oliver Ames – Between hurdles, relays, and jumps, Dunlap is going to be busy on meet nights and will account for a lot of potential points for the Tigers.

Taylor Feliciano, Milford – Took fourth last year in the 300M at Hocks and helped the Hawks 4×200 relay team post a league-best time on opening night.

Molly & Katie Galgoczy, North Attleboro – Molly is coming off a second-place finish at Hocks this fall for cross country, and Katie, a Southern Miss commit, is back to compete this winter.

Nick Gallagher, King Philip – Threw a huge PR at Hocks last year to claim second overall and will be competing for the top spot in the shot put this winter.

Marco Geminiani, Mansfield – The defending Hock champ in the 600M will have some stiff competition. After a good fall season on the pitch, Geminiani will be looking for more success this winter.

Chloe Guthrie, Mansfield – One of the fastest sprinters in the league, Guthrie was named a Hock all star last winter.

Jack Halter, Franklin – As a junior, claimed third place in the 1000M at Hocks and started this year with a league-best time in the event.

Madeline Hill, King Philip – Whether it’s in the hurdles, the relays, or the jumps, Hill will be busy competing on meet nights.

Eamonn Kelly, Foxboro – The Warriors are looking for big performances from the junior in distance events and as a member of the relays.

Lavender Kozaka, Oliver Ames – It’s a crowded field in the sprints and Kozaka quickly joined the top pack as a freshman last year.

Nina Kyei-Aboagye, Sharon – Made a huge splash last school year both indoor and outdoor, where she won both the 100M and 200M races at D3 states.

Andrew Luyiga, Stoughton – Coming off a strong season playing center back for the Black Knights, Luyiga will look to make a mark in the high jump this winter.

Aaron Martin, Attleboro – After a strong junior year, Martin is back to compete for the Hock crown in the 300M (third last year) and will be a vital piece on the Bombardiers’ 4×400 relay.

Aloiye Okhipo, Milford – The 55M hurdles is always one of the most competitive events and Okhipo took third at Hocks last year and started this winter with a school record in the event.

Grace Okocha, Oliver Ames – Will challenge for the league title in the sprints and also help OA on its relay teams.

S’staarr Parham, Attleboro – Coming off a strong sophomore year, Parham is one of the top jumpers in the Hock.

Landon Sarney, Oliver Ames – Claimed the Hockomock League title in the 2 Mile last winter as just a sophomore. He will be one of the top distance runners again by the end of the season.

Aidan Thorne & Ethan Thorne, Franklin – These two cover a lot of the events on meet night and are among the best in each one they participate in.

Noah Williams, Attleboro – Had a breakout season in the shot put as just a sophomore and started this season with a PR in the event, a meet-best 49-00.50.

2024-2025 Hockomock Indoor Track Preview

2024-2025 Hockomock Swimming Preview

2024-2025 Hockomock Swimming Preview
 
By HockomockSports.com Staff

EDITOR’S NOTE: Please note, HockomockSports reached out to all coaches seeking information for our annual previews.

2024-2025 Hockomock Swimming Preview

Attleboro

2023-2024 Boys Record: 6-0 (Kelley-Rex division champions)
2023-2024 Girls Record: 4-1
Coach: Darbie Sawyer & Sarah Butler

2024-2025 Hockomock Swimming Preview

It’s hard to start the conversation about this season without acknowledging the success the Bombardiers had last year. The boys put together one of the best seasons in program history, culminating in a south sectional championship and a fourth place at states. With 12 top place finishers gone to graduating, it’s a bit of a new start for the boys in blue.

As Attleboro integrates some new faces into new faces, it will lean on senior Andrew Collins and sophomore Ayden Gietz, who will both be top swimmers for the team this year and expand on the races they competed in a year ago. Freshman Kris Kotnisz could make a splash right off the bat, with sectionals and states in sight. That trio joined with Ryan Norman to secure a pair of relay wins in the Bombardiers’ season-opening win over Seekonk.

“I am excited to see younger swimmers step up,” said Attleboro coach Sarah Butler. “We know that we are a different team than the last 4 years – swimmers have set goals for this season, mostly personal goals, and we are excited to work all season to meet those personal goals and expectations.”

The girls team will be a smaller group and it will welcome some new faces so the Bombardiers will lean heavily on four talented and experienced swimmers. Three-time Hockomock League MVP Zuri Ferguson, who swam in the Olympics this summer for Trinidad & Tobago, is a multi-time state champion and will look to make one last splash this winter before heading south to the University of Florida next year. Ferguson is joined by Ava Dougherty, Samantha Provost, and Caroline Lynch-Bartek; that group placed at states last year in the 200 medley relay.

Doughtery has improved across the board but will be one of the top swimmers in the breaststroke this winter after taking second at Hocks last year. Provost also had a strong offseason and will be used across a multitude of events for the Bombardiers this year while Lynch-Bartek is the go-to option in the freestyle races.

Foxboro

2023-2024 Boys Record: 4-3
2023-2024 Girls Record: 1-6
Coach: Joel Stein

2024-2025 Hockomock Swimming Preview

With a strong core of returners, the Foxboro boys team could make a big splash in the Davenport division this season.

Two-time Hock all star Evan Stein returns for his senior season, fresh off a fourth-place finish at Division 2 states last year in the 100 back, along with a sixth-place finish in the 100 free. Stein finished fourth or better in four events at Hocks last year and owns or shares in 10 of 11 school records, so he will certainly be one of the top swimmers in the Hock this year. Senior Matthew Rochford is a go-to option in the breaststroke, junior Josh Netson excels in the free, and sophomore Brandon Franciosi will look to build on a strong debut year; that group of four gives Foxboro a formidable relay team. Sophomores Tyler Brazell and Nikunj Nagpa are coming off strong offseasons while freshmen Andrew Gallagher, Ronan Callahan, and Declan Do could make an immediate impact.

The Warriors return a couple of state qualifiers on the girls side. Captain Ava Gallagher went to states in both the 500 free and 100 fly and was a Hock all star while junior Molly Lockwood qualified in the same events. Add in the experience of junior Darrah Bertumen and the Warriors have a strong core to lean on as they look to challenge for the Davenport division. Sophomore Hannah Ouellette and freshmen Izzy Gove and Niamh Kelly are new to the team and will be instant contributors; Yassmine Bougoussa, Mynerge Janvier, and Noah Cohen are familiar faces back in the pool this winter. That depth will be key as Foxboro looks to improve on its eighth-place finish at Hocks last year.

2024-2025 Hockomock Swimming Preview

Franklin

2023-2024 Boys Record: 2-3
2023-2024 Girls Record: 5-0 (Kelley-Rex division champions)
Coach: Carl Cederquist
The Franklin girls are in the midst of a dynasty-like run in the Hockomock League and it’s going to be hard to slow them down this winter.

The Panthers have a new head coach in Carl Cederquist, who has come out of retirement and has over 40 years of coaching experience. With over 30 swimmers on the girls team, there’s a lot of optimism for the dominance of the Hock to continue. Kseniya Baghdasaryan and Taylor O’Neil are back to give the Panthers a boost on the girls side while Brendan Collins and Owen Chandaria are looking to do the same on the boys team.

There are plenty of familiar faces too. Harika Birali is back after a third-place finish in the 100 backstroke at states plus a fifth-place finish in the 100 free. Ava Pecora and Sasha Baghdasaryan are both veterans on the team that competed at states last year. On the boys side, Zack Pecora, Miller Wasik, and Ollie McCarthy are all top swimmers looking to help the Panthers bounce back from finishing eighth at Hocks last year.

“We have a couple of young exciting freshman joining the team and we’re are looking forward to having a great season and a Hockomock Championship,” Cederquist said.

2024-2025 Hockomock Swimming Preview

Mansfield

2023-2024 Boys Record: 4-4
2023-2024 Girls Record: 3-5
Coach: Brian Schwartz
After only graduating one senior from last year’s team, the Mansfield girls team comes into the season looking to challenge for the Davenport division title.

One of the main reasons that the Hornets will be in the conversation this season is senior Addison MacDonald, who had a pair of top 10 finishes at states last year with a fifth-place finish in the 500 free and eighth in the 200 free. With some depth around her, the Hornets will step into the title hunt conversation. Junior Clara Schreiber has shown a lot of improvement in each of the last two seasons and could be in line for a breakout year for Mansfield, who will be looking to send a relay team or two to the postseason. Another big asset to the team is senior diver Danielle Fligor, who was the Hockomock League champion last season.

Mansfield will have a bit of a youth movement on the boys side after graduating a talented senior group from last year. Juniors Andrew Fleischmann, Nathan Qu, and Jeffery Lim are prime for strong seasons as returners while sophomores Jackson Keyes and Patrick Murray are looking to build upon stellar rookie years and qualify for the postseason this winter.

Milford

2023-2024 Boys Record: 6-1
2023-2024 Girls Record: 4-3
Coach: David Chaplin, Katherine Lemire, Oliver Michalewski
Both the Milford boys and girls teams are coming off winning seasons a year ago in the dual meets and will be looking to take it to the next level this winter.

“The goal is a division championship and on to the postseason,” said head coach David Chaplin. “To that end, we have added the Milford Invitational during Christmas break, a six-team seeded championship format featuring Hock friends Franklin and King Philip along with New Bedford, Ashland, and Dedham.”

The team leadership and culture have transitioned smoothly to this year’s captains: Aaron McIsaac, Ben Pezza, Cory Rattray, Brighid Howland, and Vedi Raval. Beefing up the regular season schedule should help prepare both squads for their goal of the postseason. On the boys side, Rattray is coming off a season in which he competed in four events at states, highlighted by individual races in the 50 free and the 100 free. Both McIsaac and Pezza joined Rattray and Ethan Fiedler in competing at states in relays; the group took seventh overall in the 200 free. Fielder is also a strong swimmer in both the fly and breaststroke, sophomores Connor Hayes, Lucca Ramos, and Eli DeBarros provide crucial depth, and freshman Ishmeal DaSilva could make a splash in his rookie season.

Head coach Katherine Lemire noted how the addition of Sharon to the Kelley-Rex certainly makes things interesting, and along with Attleboro, Franklin, and the Scarlet Hawks, it could be the deepest division the league has seen. Milford will turn to Howland and Raval to lead the way, and both will be key components in the relays. Sophomore Mackenzie Roy had a terrific rookie year and is a candidate to help the Hawks solve their recent drought of sectional qualifiers.

“I love the energy this team is bringing to the table so early on in the season,” Michalewski said. “It feels as if last season ended and this season began without any time lapsing in between. Most athletes are in the same racing form at the beginning of this season as they were at the conclusion of last year’s season. The coaching staff is really excited to see what these two teams can do this year.”

Oliver Ames

2023-2024 Boys Record: 1-5
2023-2024 Girls Record: 4-2
Coach: Morgan O’Hara
New head coach Morgan O’Hara knows the Tigers can have success in the pool: she’s lived in. Just five seasons ago, she was a major part in leading Oliver Ames to its second straight win at the Hock championship meet.

Now O’Hara is looking to lead the Tigers back to the top as the head coach. She’s joined by assistants Makayla Paquin and Sophie Hirtle, and all three have earned top finishes at Hocks in the past. In fact, O’Hara still owns two meet records as a member of the 200 and 400 free relays in 2019. This season, she will be leaning on four senior captains Addison McDonagh, Puqi Luo, Mackenzie Merrill, and Angela Chiereghio to lead the way.

So far this season, the Tigers participated in the Milford relay carnival to start the year as well as a crossover meet against Franklin. O’Hara noted there has been some growth already in this group and a high level of compete.

“Our four leaders are ones to watch out for in the Hock, and we are looking forward to a great season!” O’Hara said.

2024-2025 Hockomock Swimming Preview

Sharon

2023-2024 Boys Record: 6-0 (Davenport division champions)
2023-2024 Girls Record: 4-2
Coach: Sara Barbera
This could be a big winter for the Eagles, who return a lot of talented swimmers on both the boys and girls teams.

Starting with the boys, who finished second overall at Hocks last year, there is a lot of optimism with this group. Junior captain Brac Buffa had a breakout season last winter, taking first in the 500 free and third in the 100 fly at Hocks, and will be looking to push to get back to the postseason for the second straight season. He is joined by seniors Sammy O’Reilly and Ray Luo, who competed at sectionals in the 200 free relay last year, as captains for this year’s Eagles team. Sophomore Leo Tran was another breakout swimmer as a freshman, taking second in the 100 free (by less than one second) and third place in the 200 free at states (by less than three seconds). Alex Ng and Justin Hsu also have experience at sectionals from last year and freshman Shaurya Bedre is a swimmer to keep an eye out for this winter.

There were a lot of girls swimmers from the Hock who had a lot of success in the postseason but one of the best was Sharon’s Feining Huang, who was a double state champion after winning both the 200 free and 100 fly; on top of that she was the Hock champ in the 200 IM and set the championship meet record. She will obviously be one of the top swimmers both in the Hock and statewide this season and will keep Sharon in the mix for the Kelley-Rex title. Senior captains Avital Gerts (500 free state qualifier) and Hannah Spears will lead the way for the squad this year. Newcomers Cora Shea, Wilma Zeng, and Daisy Ryu are all candidates to make an immediate impact for the Eagles.

2024-2025 Hockomock Swimming Preview

2024-2025 Hockomock Wrestling Preview

2024-2025 Hockomock Wrestling Preview
 
By HockomockSports.com Staff

EDITOR’S NOTE: Please note, HockomockSports reached out to all coaches seeking information for our annual previews.

2024-2025 Hockomock Wrestling Preview

Canton

2023-2024 Dual Meet Record: 8-19-1
Coach: Nick Matt
The Bulldogs took a step in the right direction as a program last year, improving their dual meet record and doubling their win total as a team. While the Dogs graduated two of the top wrestlers in recent program history in Max Kupferman and Ruairi Ritson, there is still plenty of optimism for this season to keep trending in the right direction.

Canton has four wrestlers returning from last year that placed at sectionals. Jacob George will compete at 120, Matt Morin wrestles at 132, Matt Sica battles at 157, and senior Seamus Brown brings a lot of experience at 165. All four grapplers competed at sectionals last year and will be looking to improve on their sixth-place finishes this winter. Newcomers Calvin Quinn (106) and Shnider Theodore (215) could make an immediate impact after successful youth careers before high school.

“We’re excited about the group we have this year,” said Canton head coach Nick Matt. “Our returning wrestlers have been working hard in the offseason, and we expect improvement. The new wrestlers bring a lot of potential, and we’re looking forward to seeing them grow and make an impact right away.”

2024-2025 Hockomock Wrestling Preview

Mansfield

2023-2024 Dual Meet Record: 1-19
Coach: Mike Pailler
After battling through a tough season with a younger team, Mansfield brings back a good amount of familiar faces eager to compete at a higher level this winter.

The combination of the experience gained from last season plus a strong offseason has Mansfield in good shape coming into the year. Junior Tessa Johnson is coming off a terrific breakout sophomore campaign that finished with a third-place finish at states and a fourth-place finish at New Englands. Competing at 144 this year, Johnson will look to make a run at the state title. Senior Nate Jackson is another veteran back in the mix after battling injuries for the majority of each of the last two seasons. As a freshman, Jackson claimed the Division 2 Central sectional title and will be looking to have a strong senior season as a team captain wrestling at 138.

Juniors Jacob Pereira, Colby Sulkala, and Nate Pailler are all back after showing a lot of promise during their sophomore season. Pereira, who will wrestle at 144 and 150, made a lot of progress last year in his debut season with the sport, Sulkala (215) is looking to build off a fourth-place finish at Hocks last year, and Pailler — who wrestled at 190 last year — has bumped up to heavyweight after playing along Mansfield’s offensive line this fall. Sophomore Andrew Simmons is looking to build off an impressive rookie season last year and will make the switch from 138 to both 150 and 157 this year.

“We’ve had some grades with lower numbers recently, and a lot of guys have gotten some early opportunities to get varsity experience,” said Mansfield head coach Mike Pailler. “A good portion of the group really bought into the sport, and we had a solid offseason commitment from a good number of our wrestlers; it’s made a considerable difference in our early practices this season. The energy in the room has been great, and we’ve added some good young talent to the group. We’ll look to our seniors (Nate Jackson and Tristen McGeough) to lead a young group that has some good experience under their belt.”

Milford

2023-2024 Dual Meet Record: 24-2 (Kelley-Rex division champions)
Coach: PJ Boccia
Milford has established itself as one of the top programs in the state in recent years and the Hawks are looking to stay there this winter.

The reigning Division 2 Central sectional champions were just two points away from a Division 2 state championship last year so there’s plenty of motivation coming into this season. Seniors Aidan Baum and Michael Boulanger were D2 state champs and both reached the finals at all states while junior Derek Marcolini is a defending sectional champ that finished second at states. That trio is just the tip of the iceberg for a deep and talented Hawks squad.

Dylan Wright returns after a strong season that culminated in Hock honorable mention honors. Josiah Carney, Luke Donis, and Ryan Fils are looking to build off top-three finishes at sectionals last year.

2024-2025 Hockomock Wrestling Preview

North Attleboro

2023-2024 Dual Meet Record: 13-12
Coach: Geoff Burgess
A young Rocketeer group battled through a difficult schedule last winter. With the majority of its lineup returning this season, North Attleboro is looking to be a contender against Foxboro for the Davenport division title and make a run at the Division 2 central crown.

North Attleboro boasts six wrestlers who placed fifth or better at sectionals last year, including one who was top five at states and another who finished sixth at all states. Jayden Mendes reached the finals at Hocks, was second at sectionals, third at D2 states, and sixth at all states to cap off a tremendous season. Now competing at 126, he will look to build on that success from a season ago. Alex Robin is another grappler who reached states (fifth overall) for the Rocketeers, taking fifth overall at sectionals as well; this season he’s up to the 138 bracket and battled to a third-place finish as the Ashland Early Bird.

Joseph Brucato took third at sectionals last year and is already off to a terrific start this winter after taking first at the Ashland Early Bird in the 150 bracket, opening with a 4-0 decision before three consecutive falls to get the title. Drew Mingo (157), Dylan McCall, and Braeden Thrasher (144) are all also returners back in the mix after placing at sectionals. The Rocketeers also have junior Mike Canova (132) and senior Cody Hill (285) as potential top wrestlers this year.

Oliver Ames

2023-2024 Dual Meet Record: 13-11-1
Coach: John McKeon
Although the Tigers posted a winning record in the dual meet season, Oliver Ames is aiming to have an even more successful winter this time out.

“As a team, we are looking forward to bouncing back after a down season by our standards,” said OA head coach John McKeon. “We’re hoping to be in the mix for the Davenport title and get back toward the top part of the leaderboard for D2 South. We had a strong offseason, with a number of returning wrestlers on the mat, and hope we can translate it to some success during the year as well.”

Oliver Ames senior captain Willer Rossow was just one win away from a spot at all states last year and that was all the motivation he needed coming into this year. He was named a Hockomock League all star last year and is closing in on 50 career wins as the season gets underway. His offseason work and determination were on full display as he started the year in impressive fashion with four victories — all in different fashions — to claim the individual title at 190 at the Devin Ness Memorial tournament at OA. Another returner who had a huge season a year ago is senior captain Amaya Smith, who went all the way to New Englands and finished fourth overall. The Tigers have been one of the top teams incorporating girls into the sport and Smith’s leadership and accomplishments have been a great example.

Junior Jonah Bornstein already has over 50 career wins but is eager for more. Described by McKeon as a very intelligent wrestler, Bornstein had third-place finishes at both Hocks and sectionals a year ago. He showed great improvement as the year went on last year and don’t be surprised if he takes the next step this year and emerges as a top grappler at 120.

2024-2025 Hockomock Wrestling Preview

Sharon

2023-2024 Dual Meet Record: 21-6
Coach: Jeff Sonis
Sharon has battled through some tough competition in the Davenport the last couple of seasons, winning the title in three of the last five seasons.

Now the Eagles are set to face a whole new set of challenges in its switch to the Kelley-Rex, including the four-time defending division champs Milford and three-time sectional champs Taunton. Sharon has two returning Hockomock all stars in Nick Varvak and Cyrus Jones, the reigning Davenport division MVP. Those two will be key leaders as Sharon looks to replicate the success from previous years. Mitch Thaler is back after a fourth-place finish at sectionals last year, David Mitkov had a strong run and qualified for states last year, and Adam Loebl is another veteran back on the mat this winter.

Stoughton

2023-2024 Dual Meet Record: 3-19
Coach: Andrew Iverson
Stoughton head coach Andrew Iverson knows the Black Knights can be successful on the mat. The former Hockomock meet champion and all star has lived it himself. For now, it’s about building the program — brick by brick — back up into a competitor in a crowded Davenport division.

We are continuing to rebuild, taking advantage of our middle school program with the help of legend Coach Brian Conrad running the program,” Iverson said. “Conrad has been a vital part of the growth of this program, but he also is a vital help for a lot of the teams around the area. A lot of our success within our athletes all leads back to Coach Conrad preparing them throughout the offseason.”

Looking to capitalize on that strong offseason, the Knights have a handful of their top wrestlers back in the fold this winter. Senior captain Angie Berry is the defending Division 2 state champion at 120 and was a runner-up at all states. Berry has improved each year and has lofty goals for this year. Stoughton is another program that has developed a strong interest from girls and Berry’s leadership and talent have been infectious in the program. Senior Ava Vieira is coming off a top-four finish at all states and third at all states; after competing up at 165 for most of last year, she will compete at 150 this year.

Junior captain Jack Gallan battled through a tough sophomore season, going up against some of the top wrestlers in the state, and still qualified for states after taking fourth at sectionals. Gallan has bumped up from 138 to 150 after a big offseason and is very experienced with three years under his belt. Seniors Joe Vasconcelos and Charlie Andella are also looking to finish their careers on a high note this winter.

“I am very excited in the direction of this program as we continue to build, brick by brick,” Iverson said. “The ‘NoExcuses’ mentality and culture we hammer home through our athletes really translates to these kids and a full buy-in into becoming the best version of themselves daily. We will be coming for that Hock league title in due time, we will bring a team State championship to this program in due time, and we will continue to build individual state champions throughout the process. Stoughton wrestling is going nowhere.”

Taunton

2023-2024 Dual Meet Record: 13-17
Coach: Adilson Galvao
Head coach Adilson Galvao and his staff have done a great job transforming Taunton into a top program in the Hockomock League. Less than a decade ago, the program struggled to win a dual in the league and is now a top competitor in a crowded and competitive Kelley-Rex division.

The Tigers had five Hock champs last year and have three of them back in the fold. Elijah Prophete is one of the best wrestlers in Massachusetts, claiming the Division 1 title at 215 last winter. He’s joined by Kingston Dacosta (165), who was fourth at D1 states, and Michael Leskoski (132), who was also fourth at states after winning the Division 1 south sectional title at 120. That trio gives Taunton a strong core to build around.

Potential other standouts this year include Antonio Maldonado (215), Cody Truelson (120), Austin Faria (285), Josh Millerick (157), and Anthony Vieira (150).

WRESTLERS TO WATCH

Aidan Baum, Milford – The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse commit is back to defend his state championship and make a push for all states after reaching the finals last year.

Angie Berry, Stoughton – Berry had a breakout season last winter, securing the state championship at 120. After taking second at all states, she’s back to challenge for the top spot this year.

Michael Boulanger, Milford – One of the most experienced grapplers in the Hock, the reigning Kelley-Rex division MVP Boulanger won D2 states at 138 and finished second at all-states in a match that went to overtime.

Riley Carlucci, Franklin – After taking third at Hocks, Carlucci went on to win the D1 south sectional title and was fourth overall at states. He was also named a Hock all star.

Raj Jetty, Foxboro – Jetty was in the mix in a lot of big tournaments last year, taking fourth at Hocks, third at sectionals, and fifth at states.

Tessa Johnson, Mansfield – Although just a sophomore last year, Johnson wrestled her way to a third-place finish at states and an appearance in the finals at all states.

Cyrus Jones, Sharon – After winning the D2 central sectional crown last year, Jones — last year’s Davenport division MVP — will be in the mix for a state title after reaching the finals last year.

Derek Marcolini, Milford – During his sophomore season, Marcolini earned Hockomock all star honors, won Hocks and sectionals at 113, and finished runner-up at states.

Jayden Mendes, North Attleboro – Mendes reached the finals at 113 for both Hocks and sectionals and battled to a third-place finish at states.

Elijah Prophete, Taunton – The senior recently earned his 100th career win and won a Division 1 state title at 215 last season.

Willer Rossow, Oliver Ames – Rossow has piled up the wins (almost 50) in a hurry and landed fourth place finishes at sectionals and states last year, and was named a league all star.

Jack Sauer, Franklin – A returning Hockomock League all star, Sauer put together a terrific season last winter with a Hock title at 132. He’s started this year with a tournament title at 144 at the Ashland Early Bird.

Amaya Smith, Oliver Ames – Coming off a third-place finish at states and a fourth-place finish at all states, Smith enters the season with lofty goals.

Nick Varvak, Sharon – Varvak was one of four Eagles to reach the Hock finals last year and also had strong showings at sectionals (second) and states (third).

2024-2025 Hockomock Wrestling Preview

2024 Hockomock League Golf All Stars

Below are the official 2024 Hockomock League Golf All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.

Kelley-Rex Division MVP

Evan Regan, King Philip

Davenport Division MVP

Tyson Laviano, North Attleboro

Hockomock League All Stars

Christopher McMahon, Attleboro
Jacob Bettencourt, Attleboro
Huck McCready, Canton
Travis Thomas, Canton
Zac Georgantas, Foxboro
Ryan Wood, Foxboro
Liam Lewandowski, Franklin
Caden Sullivan, Franklin
Jack Nelson, Franklin
Evan Regan, King Philip
Cam Hasenfus, King Philip
Jason Silva, King Philip
Brendan Vokey, Mansfield
Hayden O’Connor, Mansfield
David Fleming, Milford
Zach Hipolito, Milford
Tyson Laviano, North Attleboro
Maxx Zides, North Attleboro
Braden Shapiro, Oliver Ames
Alex Dias, Taunton

Honorable Mentions
Tyler Veronesi, Attleboro
Joey Ryan, Canton
Ryan McGuire, Foxboro
Ben Burgess, Franklin
Thomas Gormley, Mansfield
Robbie DeGasperis, Milford
Caiden Alberigo, North Attleboro
Matthew Drohen, Oliver Ames
Joshua Binder, Sharon
Gavin Alexson, Stoughton
Jonathan McGrath, Taunton

Below are the official 2024 Hockomock League Golf All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Golf All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Golf All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Golf All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Golf All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Golf All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Golf All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Golf All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Golf All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Golf All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Golf All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Golf All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Golf All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. 2024 Hockomock League Golf All Stars

North Attleboro Runs Away From Mansfield To Win D3 Title

North Attleboro football Ryan Bannon
North Attleboro senior Ryan Bannon fights his way into the end zone for a touchdown for the Rocketeers against Mansfield in the Division 3 Super Bowl. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

By Josh Perry || HockomockSports.com Managing Editor

FOXBORO, Mass. – The last time Ryan Bannon was on the field at Gillette Stadium, he was a freshman water boy, cheering his brother Tyler in a state title game defeat to Marblehead. Three years later, he returned as the Davenport division MVP and the centerpiece of a formidable North Attleboro running game.

This time, he would leave the field a state champion.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Bannon (20 carries, 85 yards) scored three touchdowns and North Attleboro (11-2) out-gained rival Mansfield 238-26 on the ground, rolling to a 35-0 victory in Friday night’s Div. 3 Super Bowl. North swept the season series with the Hornets (including a 14-10 win at the end of October) and clinched the program’s first state championship since 2002.

“I was a key player on the sideline last time,” Bannon joked about his freshman experience. “Now, it just feels amazing to win the game and be one of the key players and leading my team.”

North coach Mike Strachan, who also played for the Rocketeers, added, “Our kids talked about finishing plays and finishing the season the right way. I give all the credit to them.”

In a game between rivals with strong defenses, the team that got the first lead and the opportunity to play from in front was going to have a massive edge. North wasted no time grabbing the breakthrough. On Mansfield’s third play from scrimmage, Patrick Hamilton ripped the ball loose and Nathan Rivera pounced to give the Rocketeers the ball at the Hornets 38.

Just seven plays later, North was in the end zone. Senior Chase Frisoli (13 carries, 71 yards) got things started with 12 yards over a pair of rushes. Facing fourth and one, Bannon burst through the center of the line, spinning his way down to the five. On the next snap, Frisoli followed Bannon to the right side and dove in for six. The extra point was blocked.

“We’ve kind of leaned on them all year long and they’ve done a great job,” Strachan said about his defensive front. “I think it speaks to the preparation that these guys put in every day and we got better as the year went on for sure.”

Mansfield (9-4) tried to answer on its next possession. Tommy Vallett (8-of-19, 93 yards) connected with fellow junior Andrew DeGirolamo (five catches, 79 yards) for 35 yards down to the North 23. After the Hornets were backed up five yards, the North secondary locked down and forced three incompletions and a turnover on downs.

The Hornets started well on the next possession too, as Vallett again hit DeGirolamo, this time for 14 to midfield. A holding call backed Mansfield up and Bryce Kiser made a nice play to breakup a pass and the North defense perfectly read a screen play resulting in Reid Clemente sacking Vallett back at his own 39.

North got the ball back at the 25 and went on a nine-play, 75-yard drive to go up by two scores. Frisoli patiently waited for a seam and gained 19 to the 47. Bannon then gained 16 yards on three carries. Frisoli went play action and hit Kiser down the right sideline for 33. Bannon would put the finishing touches on the drive when he bulldozed his way into the end zone from the 10. Frisoli added the two-point conversion for a 14-0 lead.

Mansfield had a shot at the end zone on the final play of the half, but Bannon was there to bat the pass down.

“We just never got in sync,” said Mansfield coach Mike Redding. “They defer, we get the ball and instead of driving, you’re down 6-0. Then we settled down a little bit but they get the big pass play. Down 6-0 at the half, we’re okay but now it’s 14-0 and they get the ball to start the second half.”

The Rocketeers got the ball coming out of halftime and added to the lead. Facing third and eight from his own 30, Frisoli rolled out to his left and, with Ramari Fernandes bearing down on him, managed to fire a strike to Lucas Crovo, who hauled in a 46-yard completion. Bannon moved the chains on third and short, Frisoli gained 10 more to set up first and goal, and Bannon finished off the drive with a one-yard dive.

After a pass interference call gave the Hornets a first down at the 48, Bannon stopped Sean McCoy (eight carries, 21 yards) for no gain. Brady Paradis then read a throwback pass from Gio Scarpellini to Vallett and stopped that for a loss of four. On fourth and 14, Vallett lined up to punt before rolling to his right and trying to find Gabe McIntyre coming across the defense. The pass fell incomplete and North took over in Mansfield territory.

Frankie Strachan (seven carries, 60 yards) gained 24 with an inside handoff and Paradis took the ball around the left edge for 16 more. On the third play, Strachan powered his way up the middle for a 4-yard touchdown. Frisoli found Kiser for the two-point conversion and a 28-0 lead with 2:06 left in the third.

Redding admitted, “Bottom line, we were just physically overmatched. Tonight, they had too many big bodies up front and then they’ve got Strachan and Bannon lead blocking. It’s a lot of size, strength, and athletic kids coming downhill. They’re the best team in the division and they proved it tonight.”

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

North would get another possession and the chance to run out the clock. Bannon would put the finishing touches on the night and on the championship by diving in from the one with his third score. Austin Clemente tacked on the extra point and the North celebrations were well underway.

“It means everything for the team,” Bannon explained. “Since December [last year], 6:30 in the morning we go work out. We knew this was our year. We had the best senior class in a long time and there’s no better feeling than ending it like this.”

Strachan remarked, “I can’t even tell you [how it feels]. For me, to be able to do it at North Attleboro with these kids and these seniors and these captains was just awesome. I’m just super proud of them.”

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Super Bowl Title Perfect Ending For Four Year Starter Frisoli

Chase Frisoli
North Attleboro senior Chase Frisoli had a perfect ending to his long career at quarterback for the Rocketeers. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

By Josh Perry || HockomockSports.com Managing Editor

FOXBORO, Mass. – Three plays into the second half of Friday night’s Div. 3 Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium, North Attleboro (11-2) faced a third and eight at its own 30. The Rocketeers led rival Mansfield 14-0 at halftime but the Hornets had a chance to make a big stop and potentially get the ball back with decent field position.

Senior quarterback Chase Frisoli dropped back to pass. He went through his reads, but saw nothing open so he rolled out towards the North sideline. With Mansfield defensive lineman Ramari Fernandez about to deliver a big hit, Frisoli fired a dart deep down field to classmate Lucas Crovo.

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“We had a curl-flat concept,” Frisoli explained after the game. “[Bryce] Kiser was the curl and Crovo was in the flat. Their safety rolled down over the curl and outside backer took the flat, so there was really nothing there.”

“I rolled out left, tried to extend the play. Crovo he’s a very smart player, he took it upfield and I saw him, I put it out there for him, and he made a great play. It was awesome.”

Even with his jersey askew after taking the hit, Frisoli was fired up on the sideline after completing the pass. North would finish off the drive with a touchdown and would roll to a 35-0 victory, earning the program’s first state championship since 2002.

It was the perfect ending for the senior signal caller, who bookended his career with Super Bowl appearances.

“This means everything,” he explained. “I’ve been playing youth football here since second grade with the same exact guys. It’s so satisfying. For my last game ever, for us to get a state championship, is everything.”

Playing on the biggest stage in high school football is nothing new for Frisoli. As a freshman, three years ago, he started North’s last Super Bowl appearance. He went 10-of-18 for 144 yards and made big plays in the second half to help the Rocketeers come back from two scores to tie the game at 28 apiece, before Marblehead added another score to win the title.

It is rare for any football players, let alone quarterbacks, to be four-year starters and Frisoli used all of that game knowledge and experience to his advantage on Friday night.

“I went from the youngest kid on the field to the oldest kid on the field, so that was really big for me,” he said. “The experience of all the games I’ve played, it really helped me get a lot of guys’ nerves under control and get my nerves under control.”

After the North defense forced a fumble on the opening drive of the night, Frisoli would cap off a short drive with a five-yard touchdown, waiting for a seam to open and then diving through it to get to the end zone. It turned out to be the winning score.

He added a 19-yard run to kickstart North’s second scoring drive and caught Mansfield with a play-action pass to Kiser for 33 yards into the red zone. North would tack on a second touchdown before halftime to build a good cushion.

After the impressive completion to Crovo, Frisoli added a 10-yard run to the four and then three more to the one before classmate Ryan Bannon punched it in for the second of his three scores on the night.

Two weeks ago, in the Final Four against top seed Reading, Frisoli carried a shorthanded lineup to the title game, rushing for more than 300 yards to set up the all-Hock Super Bowl. The final was a composed performance from a quarterback taking advantage off all his offense’s weapons being healthy.

North coach Mike Strachan took over the year after the last Super Bowl appearance but, at the final whistle, he was quick to mention to Frisoli how much growth he has seen in the quarterback over the past three seasons.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

“That’s what I said to him at the end, you started here as a little baby and now you’ve grown up and you’ve won it,” Strachan said. “His maturity level has been off the charts. His leadership is phenomenal.”

Frisoli tried to put into words how it felt to walk off the field in his final high school football game as a champion.

“There’s something for this senior class’ legacy that can be talked about forever now,” he said. “Our senior class worked hard as a group, harder than anyone I’ve ever been around, and it paid off and we can talk about it for the rest of our lives.”

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Foxboro Offense Stutters in Super Bowl Loss to Shawsheen Tech

Foxboro football
Jonathan Balde (center) and a handful of Foxboro players tackle Shawsheen Tech quarterback Sid Tildsley in the Division 5 Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

By Josh Perry || HockomockSports.com Managing Editor

FOXBORO, Mass. – Almost exactly a year ago, Foxboro (8-4) piled up the offensive stats to win its first state championship title in 17 years. The Warriors scored 42 points and got 141 yards on the ground from star back Ben Angelini to beat Hanover and lift the trophy.

Friday evening’s Div. 5 Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium was the complete opposite. Foxboro was stuck in neutral against top seed Shawsheen Tech (12-0), amassing only 58 yards of total offense (just 21 yards on the ground) and ran only a single play in the opposition half of the field. The Shawsheen Tech offense hardly lit up the scoreboard, with only 142 total yards and six first downs, but the Rams scored two fourth quarter touchdowns and pulled out a 14-0 victory.

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It was a bit of revenge for the Rams, who were beaten 42-12 in a fiery Final Four encounter last season.

“They packed the box with nine kids and we didn’t execute to spring him, hence the score,” Foxboro coach Jack Martinelli said about the inability to get Angelini (18 carries, 39 yards) and the ground game going. “We couldn’t move the ball and I think it came down to that.”

The game could have been very different for the Warriors. On the second play of the game, Mike Marcucella (6-of-21, 37 yards) went deep to Cam Deleskey, who was able to spin back to his outside shoulder and haul in the pass then made a great move to elude a pair of tacklers for what looked like an 85-yard touchdown. But, a penalty flag in the backfield negated the big play.

Martinelli said, “The first one being taken away changed some momentum, not as an excuse. We just didn’t move the ball good enough to put them behind the sticks. Pretty damn good defensive game both ways, just couldn’t break one.”

Despite the offense’s struggles, the Foxboro defense came out determined to keep the Warriors in the game. On Shawsheen Tech’s first drive, Gabe Beaule stopped the first play for no gain and Deleskey made a nice play to break up the third-down pass and force a punt. The next possession was also a three-and-out after Jon Sacchetti broke up a pass and Matt O’Keefe’s pressure forced another incompletion.

Foxboro’s third drive started near midfield but ended with Will Holloway picking off a Marcucella pass on the sideline. The Rams couldn’t take advantage of the turnover, as Beaule made another tackle for loss and an incompletion on third and long forced a punt, although Jack Finn was able to pin the Warriors inside their own 10.

Shawsheen Tech QB Sidney Tildsley (21 carries, 65 yards and 4-of-11 passing for 46 yards) returned a punt 26 yards down to the Foxboro 16. It looked like the Rams were finally going to be able to get the breakthrough, but Beaule stopped Tildsley for a short gain on third down and James Dee-Gaffney sacked Tildsley for a loss of 12 on fourth.

Momentum was short-lived, as Marcucella was sacked on first down and the Warriors went three-and-out again.

“It was [a big stop] and we didn’t take advantage,” Martinelli said. “The momentum never swung either way for most of the game. Give their kids credit, they swung the momentum hence the end result.”

With five minutes left in the second, Foxboro started to put together a drive, as Angelini gained 13 out to the 42 (his longest run of the night) and, after an offsides penalty, Foxboro had third and one at the Rams 49. The Warriors lost two yards on the next play back across the 50 and they were forced to punt.

Early in the third quarter, Sacchetti gave Foxboro more life when he picked off a Tildsley pass on the sideline. The Warriors took over at their own 46, but they lost four yards over the next three plays and couldn’t capitalize on the great field position.

Andrew Higgins did drop another punt inside the Shawsheen Tech 20 forcing the Rams to start from their own 17. Despite starting deep in its own territory, Shawsheen Tech managed to put together the best (only) drive of the game, marching 83 yards on 16 plays.

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Jack Banda converted a third and short to move the chains and Tildsley hit Dyllon Pratt for 10 yards to convert another third down into Foxboro’s half of the field. The big play was a 33-yard pass to Zack Timmons as he leaked out of the backfield, getting all the way to the Warriors 10. Trevor Palmer stuffed Tildsley for a loss on the next play and Ryan Foley made a touchdown-saving tackle on second down, but Tildsley punched it in from a yard out to make it 7-0 with 7:15 to play.

Foxboro wanted a quick response and got a boost when Nolan Gordon was interfered with, gifting a first down near midfield. Tildsley made plays in all three phases, intercepting a Marcucella pass to end the possession. The ball was punted right back to Foxboro but another interception, this time by Banda, was returned inside the Warriors five.

Tildsley capped off his night and effectively sealed the title with a two-yard plunge that made it 14-0 with just 2:37 left on the clock.

“They all played tough,” Martinelli said about his team’s effort, particularly on defense. “I’m proud of them for that.”

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King Philip Can’t Clear Final Hurdle, Falls to Top Seed CM

King Philip football Keigan Canto-Osorio
King Philip junior Keigan Canto-Osorio is tackled short of the goal line by a pair of Catholic Memorial defenders at Gillette Stadium. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

By Josh Perry || HockomockSports.com Managing Editor

FOXBORO, Mass. – All season long, King Philip (12-1) has been preparing for the challenge of taking on Catholic Memorial (11-1) in the Div. 2 Super Bowl. The Warriors have never shied away from the ultimate goal of facing the Knights for the third time with the state championship on the line.

KP got its chance on Thursday night in the final game of the night at Gillette Stadium, but for the third time in four years, the Knights proved to have too much for the Warriors to handle. CM’s high-powered offense racked up 469 yards of offense (including 334 on the ground) in a 39-21 victory, denying KP a second straight D2 title and ending its win streak at 25 games.

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“They have too many dudes to contain,” KP coach Brian Lee explained. “We practice as long as we can practice and we come up with some schemes and then a kid breaks a tackle and he’s gone. They’re big, they’re strong, they’re fast, they’re just better. All you can do is keep playing as hard as you can play.”

He added, “You’re just trying to come up with answers and it’s really hard to find weaknesses over there.”

The game got off to a wild start.

On the first play from scrimmage, Lasean Sharp (eight carries, 148 yards) took the handoff between the left guard and tackle, found a seam, and raced 65 yards for the touchdown. After Boston College-commit Mekhi Dodd (19 carries, 129 yards) added the two-point conversion, CM led 8-0 with just 10 seconds off the clock.

KP came back with the perfect response. On the second play of KP’s opening possession, Drew Laplante (17 carries, 157 yards) took a draw to the right side, finding a hole, cutting to the outside, and streaking away untouched for a 64-yard score. Zach Gebhard (6-of-16, 86 yards) hit Keigan Canto-Osorio for the two-point conversion and after a minute of game time, it was all tied up at 8-8.

The Warriors settled down after that frantic start, as Drew Herlin and Liam King stuffed a run for a loss of two and Luke Gunning and Canto-Osorio combined to sack CM quarterback Kise Flannery and force a punt. Although KP went three-and-out, Tommy Kilroy pinned the Knights back at their own eight.

CM marched down field with Flannery (8-of-12, 135 yards) connecting with Caleb Garrity for 33 yards down to the KP 33. The ensuing snap got away and Nick Gallagher pounced on it to get KP back the ball. Unfortunately for the Warriors, three plays later they put the ball on the ground and CM took over at the KP 45.

Kilroy stuffed Sharp for no gain on third and two and Aiden Astorino stepped up to tackle Dodd short of the sticks on fourth down to keep the game tied. The ensuing punt was a short one and CM started again in KP territory.

This time, the Knights capitalized. On third and four, Flannery got loose for a 26-yard rush down to the three, and three plays later he punched it in for a 14-8 edge.

After another KP punt, CM went on a 10-play, 62-yard drive to extend the lead to two scores. Flannery picked up a big third and long with an 11-yard pass to Gavin Brown and then, on fourth and four, he rolled out to his right, eluded a potential sack, and flicked a pass behind the KP secondary to Dodd for a game-changing 37-yard touchdown with 30 seconds left in the half.

Laplante would break a 47-yard run to give KP a shot at the end zone with just seven seconds remaining, but a pair of back-corner fades fell incomplete.

“I would usually never try and score at the end of the half like that,” Lee said, “but you have to try and keep it close because once the floodgates opened, once we started throwing, it gets out of hand for us. You can play for a while, but eventually, they wear you down.”

KP got the ball to start the second half but was forced to punt. CM took over at its own 15 and needed just six plays to tack on another score. Dodd took the first snap and broke it for 37 yards. Two plays later, he took a toss to the left and went up the sideline for 30 more. Flannery would cap the drive with a three-yard keeper and it was 26-8.

The Warriors started their next drive well, as Gebhard found Jack Assini open for 11 yards and they got as far as the CM 39 before turning it over on downs. A short punt gifted KP great field position and the Warriors cashed in. Gebhard hit Hayden Schmitz on a slant for 15 and on the next play Schmitz was wide open on the left side for a 42-yard TD reception to cut the lead down to 12.

CM made sure momentum was short-lived. Sharp took the first play 51 yards all the way to the KP 20. The defense stiffened, as Tallan King and Herlin stuffed Flannery to bring up third and four and then Will Bubluski and Astorino brought down Dodd for a yard. KP had the chance to get the ball back, but Sharp managed to get four yards around the edge and then Dodd took the next snap up the middle for a nine-yard score.

Bubluski and Herlin had sacks of Flannery to end a CM possession, but Brown intercepted a Gebhard pass to get the ball right back. Flannery hit Garrity for a 22-yard completion and Sharp finished off the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run.

KP would still have time for one more drive, as King fought his way into the end zone from the six, with Sean Woods tacking on the extra point to round out the scoring.

It was a disappointing night for the Warriors, but it takes nothing away from what continues to be the most remarkable stretch of success in program history. This was KP’s seventh Super Bowl appearance in the past eight seasons, including three wins.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

“I can try to explain to people what it takes to be here seven years out of eight and they wouldn’t believe me,” he said. “That’s what breaks my heart for them is they work so hard. You get what you earn and we couldn’t earn it on the field tonight. We got here, we got the shot, I’ve just got to figure out a way to get over this next big hurdle.”

Lee continued, “We’re not here for a consolation prize or a participation trophy. We came to win, we want to win, so it feels like a letdown right now, but when you look at the season and how they compete…they’re a special, special group.”

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