News
#1 Amherst Heading Back to the Final Four
Mar 14th
From the Topix.com website:
AMHERST, MA The top-ranked Amherst College women’s basketball team punched its ticket to the 2010 Final Four this evening with an 80-65 win over Babson College in the Sectional Finals at LeFrak Gymnasium.
Read #1 Amherst Heading Back to the Final Four on the Topix.com website
Ecstatic fans cheer their a Cats to victory
Mar 14th
From the Topix.com website:
… always lined with orange. The town’s winter tradition culminated on Saturday, with the Lee High School girls basketball bringing back a seventh Division III state championship. The Wildcats beat Pentucket 56-42, seamlessly blending toughness and …
Read Ecstatic fans cheer their a Cats to victory on the Topix.com website
Hoopsters finish strong in tough season
Mar 11th
Read the entire article on the Wicked Local Walpole website:
One look at the Walpole High boys’ basketball team’s 5-15 record this season would give the impression that this was not a very good team at all.
After losing at the end of the season to Norwood, following a loss to Framingham that gave the Flyers’ their only win of the season, the Rebels found themselves tied for last in the Bay State Herget, a position they hadn’t held since the beginning of the decade.
That’s just one look, however. Another look would reveal a lot more, including the reason why there’s hope not only of getting back into the postseason next winter, but of even challenging for the Herget title.
First of all, Walpole played in arguably the deepest league in the state, especially with the highly competitive Bay State Carey Division included.
Also, of the 20 games the Rebels played this year, 17 of them were against teams that made the state tourney, another testament to how tough the Bay State League, …
Hunt over for WYBA title
Mar 11th
Read the entire article on the Wicked Local Walpole website:
The Hunt is over in the Walpole Youth Basketball Association.
Not only has Jim Kelliher’s seventh and eighth grade Georgetown team won the town league championship after eight years of trying, but co-coach Hunt Bergen, whose son Tim is now in college, has finally decided to step down as a coach after his eighth year.
“No more coaching after this year,” says Bergen. “But it’s a great program, very well organized and the kids get equal playing time. I think Ed Barmakian runs a great league, and John Borden runs a great website. But it’s time for me to step down.”
The end of Bergen’s run, long after the last Bergen graduated from the program, came after his Georgetown team knocked off the UConn team coached by Robert Gay in Sunday’s title game, 50-39.
The championship was one of many displaying the parity and competitiveness of the town-wide basketball association, which features teams from grades three through 12.
In order to win, fourth-place Georgetown had to knock off the top two teams in the league and succeeded. At the …
Mavericks win WYBA hoop championship
Mar 11th
Read the entire article on the Wicked Local Walpole website:
Anyone else walking out of the Elm Street School after a hard-fought basketball game the evening of Saturday, January 23, probably would have been pretty frustrated.
That was the night that the Mavericks of the Walpole Youth Basketball Association dropped to 2-4 a third of the way through the season after losing a 59-53 decision to the Wizards.
Coach Bruce Cameron’s band of high school athletes, which include sons Brian and Nate, had just been barely beaten for the fourth time, and were buried in the bottom of the league. Making the season even more frustrating for the Mavericks was that the four losses came by a combined 12 points, making an earlier 81-57 victory seem almost pointless in a way.
The coaches in the league have an uncanny ability to draft for parity, though, something Cameron realized when he told his 11 players not to give up, anything could happen in the WYBA.
Anything could, and did. The team went from the …
Rebels Suffer Disappointing Loss to Fontbonne Ducks
Mar 7th
From the WHSTheRebellion.com website:
The girls hockey team looks on in their game against Fontbonne.
The rink was cold, but the cheering fans and the excitement that filled the air created a warm atmosphere on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at the Canton Ice Hockey Arena. Hoping to advance to the semi-finals the Walpole Rebels faced off against the Fontbonne Ducks; however, the game ended in favor of Fontbonne with a final score at 4-1.
The first period consisted of many breakaways, tricky plays, and shots on goal. Fontbonne was able to keep the puck in Walpole’s defensive zone for a good part of the period and took 12 shots on goal against Rebel goalie freshman Bethany Welch. The Rebels had only four shots on goal, but senior captain Stephanie Frye was the first to score nine minutes and one second into the first period. For the remainder of the period no other goals were scored, but two penalties were issued: one to Fontbonne and one to Walpole both for hooking.
In the second period the Rebels fell behind quickly. Two minutes into the second period Fontbonne’s Elizabeth McCarthy scored a goal, the 100th point she had earned for the Ducks in her high school career. The Rebels rallied back and had seven shots on goal against Fontbonne goalie freshman Lea Coughlin, but she did not let one shot get by. The Ducks found holes in the Rebels defense and proceeded to attempt 18 shots on goal in the second period and score yet another goal at 8:54. Number eight Taylor Shepherd was responsible for the 2-1 lead, assisted by number 23 Meghan Collins.
The third period proved to be the best for the Fontbonne Academy girls. The period was action packed, and in favor of the Ducks. With five minutes of play number 20, Bridget O’Brien, was able to get past Welch once again and add another point to Fontbonne’s increasing lead. At 8:23 the referee handed out a penalty to a Fontbonne player for one minute and thirty seconds; however, this penalty was revoked and the Ducks were able to skate full force for the remaining minutes. With 3:53 left Fontbonne’s Karen McLaughlin got past Walpole’s defense and scored a goal assisted by Michelle Carroll increasing the ducks lead 4-1. For the last 3:50 that remained the Rebels skated furiously to score another goal, but the Duck’s defense was too strong to let another goal by.
When the buzzer went off to signify the end of the game the Fontbonne Ducks celebrated a job well done with four goals, and 36 total shots on goal. Although the Rebel’s season has ended for the year the number two seeded Fontbonne Academy will now advance onto the semi-finals against Duxbury in Bourne on Saturday, March 6, 2010. Although the Rebels lost, seniors Kristen Morrissey, Jacqui Dolan, Stephanie Frye, Kellie Duffy, Heather Foley, Jackie Kelleher, and Julia Tosone were able to make it to tournament and play on a highly competitive level with top seeded teams for their last year in high school.
Read “Rebels Suffer Disappointing Loss to Fontbonne Ducks” on the whstherebellion.com website
Wrestlers find success at Sectional Meet
Mar 7th
From the WHSTheRebellion.com website:
Walpole wrestling team poses for a picture at the Sectional Meet in Needham.
Needham High School hosted the Metro Sectional Championship meet on Saturday, February 15. Walpole fared well with five wrestlers winning their weight class in Sectionals, the Rebels sent all five Sectional Champions and Tom Lee to State Meet on . Four of the five wrestlers won by pin in the finals of the Sectional Meet.
At the SectionalMeet top seed Steve Shevory (125), who was expected to win, followed through with expectations and won his weight class with a 3-1 victory over Logan Turnbull from Needham. All other wrestlers were able to pin their opponents. Mike Cofsky (135) used his favorite move, the spladle, as a counter attack to his opponents attempt at a single leg takedown in the first minute of the Championship match. Sean Coyne (145) followed suit by pinning Zach Schwartz of Boston Latin also using the spladle.
The next Walpole wrestler who made it to the finals was Johnny White (160). White’s match was the toughest match in the finals for the Walpole wrestlers. Early in the third period White escaped a near pin and used the change in momentum to go on the offensive. White gained control of his opponent and was able to pin him with 2:14 left in the period.
Jamel Roy (215) did not let the disadvantage of being a first year wrestler and being outweighed by most of his opponents stop him from being a Metro Sectional Champ. He had the quickest championship match by pinning his opponents within 20 seconds of the beginning of the match.
The top six wrestlers of each weight class advance to the State Championship Meet. Along with the five Metro Sectional Champions Walpole also sent Tom Lee (119) who finished third in his weight class.
Unfortunately, Walpole did not have the same success in States as they enjoyed in sectionals. Shevory, Coyne, White, and Roy represented the Rebels in the the All-States Meet; however, none of the Rebels advanced past the preliminary round on Saturday Feburary 27.
Although the season did not end as well as the Rebels had hoped. Next year’s team will be returning four wrestlers with post-season experience. Senior captain Steve Shevory said, “I am proud of how well our wrestlers did this year. Next years team will have a lot of senior leadership and should pick-up where they left off in the post season.” First year head coach Devin Pacillo will also have a year of head coaching under his belt. Along with Lee, Cofsky, Coyne, and White, the Rebels have a plethora of skilled veteran varsity wrestlers such as Mike Siteman (112) Kevin Hickey (140) and Joe Wyman (152) who will round out the talented Rebel team for the 2011 season.
Read “Wrestlers find success at Sectional Meet” on the whstherebellion.com website
Track Sends Eleven to Divisionals, Two to All States
Mar 7th
From the WHSTheRebellion.com website:
Sophomore Justin Connolly qualifies for the Divisional Meet with the mile time of 4:48
Each track athlete faces the challenge of qualifying for Divisionals in a span of nine meets. The individual events in each meet have their own specific qualifying standards. The boys’ team ended with a winning record of 4-2 and six talented athletes met the requirements to participate in Divisionals: Seniors Skip Kitchen, Joey Rockwood, and Ben Goula; Juniors Alex Lee and Jackson Paslaski; and Sophomore Justin Connolly. The girls’ track team finished their season with a record of 2-3-1 and Senior Erica Hawley and Juniors Brigette Lawton, Liz Jelloe, Courtney Shea, and Jackie Clinton moved forward into Divisionals.
The Divisionals are a competition between all Division two track athletes. This year Walpole was successful in setting many personal records. The athletes compete in various events including hurdles, the high jump, the long jump, the mile, the 600, the 55, and the 1000. In the mile race competition Walpole broke two personal records with Shea at 5:31 and Connolly at 4:48.6. Rockwood ran a 36.99 second 300 meter sprint granting him a spot in finals; unfortunately, Rockwood was not as successful in his second race. Both Lawton and Jelloe ran the 1000 m and both set a personal record within seconds of each other.
The top five athletes in all four divisions and the next top four overall qualify for All States on February 26. Two of Walpole’s team members achieved a place in the onto All States competition. Erica Hawley set personal record in both the high jump, 5’5”, and the 55 meter hurdles, 8.85 seconds. Jackson Paslaski earned another spot for Walpole with his 20’1/2“ long jump.
With a goal of reaching the New England tournament on Friday March 5 both Palaski and Hawley competed in All States. Although Palaski set a personal record with a 20′4″ long jump he did not qualify for the next tournament. Despite Hawley’s below average height of 5 foot 2 inches in the high jump she managed to tie for fifth place with Milton’s Cheryl Tran. Hawley will move onto New Englands for high jump on March 5th.
Read “Track Sends Eleven to Divisionals, Two to All States” on the whstherebellion.com website
Blessed Sac race
Mar 5th
Read the entire article on the Wicked Local Walpole website:
The powerful senior Blessed Sacrament boys were shocked in the South Shore Parochial School League championship game Sunday by second-place St. Ann’s, 52-44.
In the short run, St. Ann’s of Quincy gets a tender memory to enjoy before the school closes later this year.
In the long run, however, it could mean the awakening of a monster known as Blessed Sacrament that may not go back to sleep until the season ends in the New England championships.
St. Ann’s discovered how the charity stripe got its name when the referees sent a parade of them to the free throw line throughout the game. St. Ann’s ended up getting almost half its points – 25 – from the line as the squad took 33 shots, or more than one a minute, in the 28-minute game.
The game was in stark contrast to Saturday’s semifinal, when the locals won an exciting 70-38 victory against an athletic Trinity Catholic Academy of Brockton, playing with a 6-foot-4-inch …
Blessed Sacrament dominates the paint
Mar 5th
Read the entire article on the Wicked Local Walpole website:
What’s that old saying about when a team is too good? It’s time to break them up?
If that’s the case, then maybe it’s time to break up the whole Blessed Sacrament school in Walpole.
The middle school is small by parochial standards, a lot smaller by public school standards, with about a couple of hundred students all told.
Most are from Walpole and many are from surrounding communities like Franklin and Sharon, but it seems like the common thread at BSA is that everyone can play basketball, and the rest of the South Shore Parochial League has taken notice.
Last year seemed to be a banner year when a group of seventh grade boys and fifth grade girls went deep into the league and state tourneys, with the girls losing by one point in the New England championships in Connecticut.
However the 2008-2009 season may pale in comparison by the time this campaign is over.
By the end of the regular season every one of the six league divisions but one had a Blessed Sacrament team playing …
Shepherd guides Fontbonne past Walpole, 4-1
Mar 4th
Read the entire article on the Wicked Local Walpole website:
The final score was 4-1 in favor of defending state champion Fontbonne, but last night’s Div. 2 quarterfinal game between the upstart Walpole High Rebels and Fontbonne Academy almost wasn’t quite so ducky for the winners.
It took two goals by junior left wing Taylor Shepherd, one on the power play, and a little bit of good fortune for the 16-3-2 Ducks to finally shake Walpole, despite the Rebels not being able to really unload its offense on Fontbonne. The Rebels were still within one (2-1) heading into the final period.
The good fortune came in part from getting penalties that left the Rebels shorthanded twice in the second period and in part from a variety of other circumstances.
Fontbonne’s first score came after the Ducks had iced the puck and it went straight to Walpole goalie Bethany Welch. Believing icing was going to be called her defenders didn’t move to Welch to help her clear the puck and their freshman goalie was, …
WHS first day of spring practices is March 15
Mar 4th
Read the entire article on the Wicked Local Walpole website:
The Walpole High Athletics Department came out with the schedule for tryouts and the first day of practice for all spring sports this week.
All spring sports are slated to open on Monday, March 15, at their appointed venues unless changed by inclement weather.
The sophomore, junior and senior baseball players are to meet in the locker room at Walpole High at 2:30, after school, on March 15. Freshman players are to meet at the tennis courts at the Johnson Middle School at 3:00.
All classes of softball candidates are to meet at 5:00 in the Walpole High gymnasium, unless the fields are ready to be used. If the fields are available, they are to report to them at 2:45 March 15.
Both the boys’ and girls’ lacrosse teams are also scheduled to start Monday, March 15, but as of this writing, place and time are yet to be determined.
Candidates for the teams are advised to contact their coaches or the athletic department for further information.
All track candidates are to meet March 15 on the Walpole …
