Boston, MA
Boston Herald boys wrestling All-Scholastics and league All-Stars
Alexander Bajoras (St. John’s Prep)
Nate Blanchette (Central Catholic)
Michael Boulanger (Milford)
Thomas Brown (Chelmsford)
Luke Connolly (Bishop Fenwick/Northeast)
Jayden D’Ambrosio (St. John’s Prep)
Vinny DeMaio (Methuen)
Nick Desisto (Tewksbury)
Dominic Gangi (Methuen)
Cole Glynn (Central Catholic)
Cyrus Jones (Sharon)
Emmett Logan (Lowell)
Charlie Lussier (Whitman-Hanson)
Brent Von Magnus (Bridgewater-Raynham)
Yandel Morales (Andover)
Brent Nicolosi (Haverhill)
Jonah Paulino (Monty Tech)
Mason Pellegri (Milton)
Peter Rincan (Billerica)
James Tildsley (Shawsheen)
Sidney Tildsley (Shawsheen)
Michael Toppan (Gloucester)
ALEXANDER BAJORAS
ST. JOHN’S PREP
The junior heavyweight was the Div. 1 North sectional, then took second at the Div. 1 State, All-State and New England tournaments. A two-time Div. 1 State finalist, Bajoras was seventh in the All-States as a sophomore. The NHSCA All-American is an honor roll student who also plays football and competes in spring track. In the offseason, Bajoras trains at Smitty’s Wrestling Barn.
NATE BLANCHETTE
CENTRAL CATHOLIC
The senior went undefeated on the season, winning all 48 matches, including the Div. 1 North, Div. 1 State, All-State and New England titles. The Merrimack Valley Conference Wrestler of the Year ended his career with an 188-3 record, three New England titles and two All-State titles. Blanchette will continue his wrestling career at Rutgers.
MICHAEL BOULANGER
MILFORD
The Div. 2 Central and Div. 2 State champion at 138 pounds, the junior went on to post a 36-3 record on the season. An All-State finalist and New England place-winner, the Hockomock League MVP earned his 100th career win on Jan. 10. A member of the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society, Boulanger has a career record of 130-23.
THOMAS BROWN
CHELMSFORD
Unstoppable in the heavyweight class, the junior standout went 55-0 with 52 of those victories coming via pin. Brown won the Div. 1 Central/West sectional, Div. 1 State, All-State and New England title. Brown went on to take a third at the Nationals, earning All-American honors in the process once again. A three-time sectional, state and All-State champion, Brown has a career mark of 161-3 with 138 pins.
LUKE CONNOLLY
BISHOP FENWICK/NORTHEAST
Wrestling between 157 and 165 pounds during the season, Connolly was 20-0 in dual meets and posted an overall record of 41-2, giving him a career mark of 131-12. A two-time State Vocational and North Sectional champion, Connolly is a member of the National Honor Society. A three-sport captain, Connolly will play football at RPI.
JAYDEN D’AMBROSIO
ST. JOHN’S PREP
The 157-pound senior went 61-0, winning the Div. 1 North, Div. 1 State, All-State and New England titles. In three years at the varsity level, D’Ambrosio amassed an overall record of 160-10. The honor roll student will continue his wrestling career at Edinboro University.
VINNY DEMAIO
METHUEN
An all-Merrimack Valley Conference performer, the sophomore was 48-4 and advanced to the 157-pound finals at the Div. 1 North, Div. 1 State, All-State and New Englands. A three-time state-place finisher, DeMaio has a career mark of 130-16. A four-time honor roll student with a 4.0 GPA, DeMaio was second team all-MVC in football. In the offseason, DeMaio trains at Doughboy Wrestling Club.
NICK DESISTO
TEWKSBURY
The sophomore was rock-solid at 113 pounds, winning the Div. 3 Sectional and Div. 3 State titles. He placed second at both the All-State and New Englands, ending the season with a 46-5 record. The three-time sectional champion has a career record of 106-17. A member of the football team, Desisto is an honor roll student.
DOMINIC GANGI
METHUEN
The 113-pound senior was the Div. 1 North Sectional, Div. 1 State and All-State champion while placing in the New Englands. A first-team all-Merrimack Valley Conference performer, Gangi surpassed the 100-win mark this past season. A 2023 NHSCA Junior All-American, Gangi trains in the offseason at Doughboy Wrestling Club.
COLE GLYNN
CENTRAL CATHOLIC
The 106-pound junior was the Div. 1 State and All-State champion on his way to a 49-win season. A high honors student, Glynn is a two-time State and All-State place-winner. A member of the varsity soccer team, Glynn works out at Smitty’s Wrestling Barn in the offseason.
CYRUS JONES
SHARON
Jones had a terrific sophomore season for the Eagles, posting a 43-3 record at 150 pounds with 32 of the victories coming via pin. The Div. 2 Central Sectional champion was the runner-up at the Div. 2 State and All-State tournaments. The Marshfield Holiday Tournament champion and an honor roll student, Jones was the MVP in the Davenport Division of the Hockomock League.
EMMETT LOGAN
LOWELL
The 126-pound sophomore was a model of consistency, reaching the finals of the Div. 1 North, Div. 1 State and All-State tournaments, while placing sixth at the New Englands. Logan also won the Wayland Holiday and Timberlane Tournaments, ending the season with a 51-8 record, including 41 pins. A two-time sectional, state and All-State finalist, Logan has 105 wins in his career. In the offseason, Logan trains at Doughboy Wrestling Club in Lowell.
CHARLIE LUSSIER
WHITMAN-HANSON
A two-time Patriot League MVP, the 120-pound junior was the Div. 2 State champion and went on to take second in both the All-State and New England tournaments. A 2023 New England place-winner, Lussier is a member of the National Honor Society. In the offseason, Lussier trains at both the Metrowest and CBC wrestling clubs.
BRENT VON MAGNUS
BRIDGEWATER-RAYNHAM
The 132-pound junior won the Div. 2 South sectional and Div. 2 State titles, placed second in the All-States and sixth at the New Englands. For his career, Von Magnus is a two-time state champion and a three-time All-State place-finisher. An honor roll student, Von Magnus trains at Metrowest United Wrestling.
YANDEL MORALES
ANDOVER
A two-time Boston Herald All-Scholastic, the sophomore captured the 126-pound title at the Div. 1 North, Div. 1 State and All-State title, while taking a second at the New Englands. The Outstanding Wrestler at the Woburn Invitational, Morales ended the season with a 54-5. record. A two-time Sectional, State and All-State champion, Morales has a career record of 151-12.
BRENT NICOLOSI
HAVERHILL
Nicolosi had a great senior season at 165 pounds, winning the Lowell Holidays, The Div. 1 North Sectionals, Div. 1 State, All-State and New England titles. A two-time state champion and a three-time state place-winner, the NHSCA All-American ended his career with 208 wins. In the offseason, Nicolosi trains at Smitty’s Barn.
JONAH PAULINO
MONTY TECH
The 132-pound senior turned in an impressive 49-1 season. Paulino captured the Lowell Holiday title, the Div. 1 Central/West Sectional, Div. 1 State and All-State title, then took second at the New Englands. A four-time state champion and three-time New England place-finisher, Paulino ended his career with a 144-4 record. In the offseason, Paulino trains at Doughboy Wrestling.
MASON PELLEGRI
MILTON
The senior captain went 52-1 on the season, winning the Wayland Holiday, Bob Gay Invitational and George Bossi Lowell Holiday titles. Pellegri was equally as good in the postseason, capturing the Div. 2 Central Sectional, Div. 2 State and All-State titles, while taking a third at the New Englands. Pellegri ended his career with school records for wins (147) and pins (108). A member of the National Honor Society, Pellegri will wrestle at Harvard and major in both business and engineering.
PETER RINCAN
BILLERICA
The 120-pound sophomore was the Div. 2 North sectional, Div. 2 State and All-State champion, then took third in the New Englands to finish off a 55-1 season. As a freshman at Bedford High in New Hampshire, Rincan was a perfect 53-0 and won the New England title. Rincan trains in the offseason at Prophecy RTC.
JAMES TILDSLEY
SHAWSHEEN
A three-time Boston Herald All-Scholastic, the sophomore was a perfect 57-0, winning the Div. 1 North, Div. 1 State, All-State and New England titles. A three-time Lowell Holiday Champion, Tildsley was voted the Outstanding Wrestler at the All-State meet. He was an all-Commonwealth Athletic Conference linebacker for a Shawsheen team which went 11-1.
SIDNEY TILDSLEY
SHAWSHEEN
The junior is well on his way to becoming one of the most decorated wrestlers in state history. The 138-pounder captured his third straight Div. 1 North Sectional, Div. 1 State and All-State title to go along with his third George Bossi Lowell Holiday title. A three-time NHSCA All-American, Tildsley has a career record of 181-2. He was also the MVP of the CAC in football, earning All-Scholastic honors in the process.
MICHAEL TOPPAN
GLOUCESTER
The Northeastern Conference Wrestler of the Year, the 190-pound senior was the Div. 3 North, Div. 3 State and All-State champion, while placing sixth in the New Englands on his way to a 54-5 season. A two-time New England place-winner, Toppan ended his career with a stellar 181-29 record. A two-time track captain and honor roll student, Toppan will wrestle and study Construction Management at Roger Williams University .
LEAGUE ALL-STARS
BAY STATE CONFERENCE
Michael Nigro, Thomas Nguyen (Braintree); Jamie Evarts, Gabriel Thomas (Brookline); Dan Sullivan, Philip Watson, Kizen Semprum, Ben Lincoln, Adriana DeGroat (Framingham); Mason Pellegri, Kenny Hiraldo (Milton); Michael Mortarelli, Matthew Pini, Joseph Linton, Jake Ashman, Mike Whalen (Natick); Alex Rutley (Needham); Jon Jauregui (Newton North); Logan Murphy (Walpole); Jonah Ginsberg, Oliver Knight (Wellesley); Michael Brooks, Kevin Mackin, Jake Thompson, Naheem Ridore (Weymouth)
MVP: Mason Pellegri, Gabriel Thomas
BOSTON CITY LEAGUE
Samuel Guan, Nomar Kelly, Brian Lau, Anjue Liang (Latin Academy/O’Bryant)
CAPE ANN LEAGUE
Nathan Barstow, Jakob Hulett, James Fodera, Jason Kouyoumdjian, David Glynn, Gavin Iby (Lynnfield/North Reading); Miles Darling (Essex Tech/Masconomet); Trevor Kamuda, James Cordro, Aidan Burrier (Pentucket/Newburyport); Amir Alami, Nolan Merrill, Douglas Aylward, Lucas Bistany (Triton)
WRESTLER OF THE YEAR: Miles Darling, Douglas Aylward
CATHOLIC CONFERENCE
Braedon Goes, Jimmy Lally, Will LaValley, Ryan DeSouza, Jayden D’Ambrosio, Vincent Bilotti, Rani Haddad, Marc Pineiro, Alex Bajoras (St. John’s Prep); Issac Sydnor, Jack Gill, Rik Orup, Kazuki Goode, Jackson Carlo (Catholic Memorial); Elijah Cincotti, Jake Scanzillo, Matt Thorley, Peter Foley (BC High); Theodore Cardarelli, Jonathan McMahon, Landan Gray, Noah Miles (St. John’s Shrewsbury); Nate Sayers, George McAteer (Xaverian); Marcus Rojas (Malden Catholic)
MVP: Jayden D’Ambrosio
COMMONWEALTH ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Antoine Jackman, Garrett Ayotte, Gabriel Stickney (Greater Lowell); Dante Graziano, Dante Giusti, Brayton Carbone, Aiden Pimentel, Caleb Caceres, Sidney Tildsley, James Tildsley, Jake Metcalf, Ryan Murphy, Dominic Chaffee (Shawsheen); Anthony Midolo, Aiden Fogarty, Matheus Binda, Logan Hauck (Whittier); Jackson Cody, Ray Kochanski, Luke Connolly, Anthony Nichols (Northeast Metro Tech/Bishop Fenwick); Joshua Matos, Justin Toglia, Kaelib Reynolds, Michael Pena (Greater Lawrence)
MVP: Sidney Tildsley, Luke Connolly
DUAL COUNTY LEAGUE
THORPE: Penn Boger, Eddie Myles, Miles Mattaliano, Kian Amouzgar (Concord-Carlisle); James Snape, Eric Power, Quinn Bowles, Ronan Miller, Alex Greene-Barrios, Graeme Dierks, Henry Seo (Boston Latin); Elijah Colon, Nate Garozzo (Lincoln-Sudbury); Nathan Tobe, Nathan Hartunian (Wayland)
FOLEY: Drew Unger, Oliver Weiss, Dylan Kadish, Alex Rhein, Vincent Flemming, Nick Genin (Newton South); Anthony Ohanian, Josh Shin (Weston); Theodore Santos, James Agostino, Joey Agostino (Waltham); Nathaniel McCullagh (Cambridge); Eric Kantorovich, Andrew Livshin (Bedford/Acton-Boxboro)
MVP: Kian Amouzgar, Julia Vuckovic, Dylan Kadish, Suvi Talvitie
HOCKOMOCK LEAGUE
Cyrus Jones, Nick Varvak, Meghan Wiebe, Ashmith Yeruva (Sharon); Michael Boulanger, Aidan Baum, Tony Dew, Derek Marcolini, Robby Lyons, Owen Matthews (Milford); Adam Addeche (Foxboro); William Buffington, Kingston DeCosta, Ethan Harris, Elijah Prophete, John Mandeville, Michael Leskoski, Gabriel Leskoski (Taunton); Riley Carlucci, Jack Sauer (Franklin); Colby Cloutier (King Philip); Max Kupferman, Ruairi Ritson (Canton); Jaden Mendes (North Attleboro); Willer Rossow (Oliver Ames)
MVP: Cyrus Jones, Michael Boulanger
MAYFLOWER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Griffin Machie, Luis Garcia, Brennan Chisholm, Ryan Moitoso, Josh Hoskins, Brady Benfeito, Johnathan Borges, Malakai Risotti (Bristol Aggie/Dighton-Rehoboth); Matthew Keefe, Drew Daley, Daniel Keefe, Jacob Bettencourt, Colby Grenon, Nathan Hicks, Jack Ramondetta (Bristol-Plymouth); Giovanni Viola, Charles Graham, Jason Comeau (South Shore); Mason Green, Brandon Allen, Anthony Gagne, Jack Disharoon, Jace Silva (Tri-County); Jason Dorce (Southeastern)
MVP: Jacob Bettencourt, Luis Garcia
MERRIMACK VALLEY CONFERENCE
ALL-CONFERENCE: Brent Nicolosi, Cale Wood, Michael Morris, Shea Morris, Matthew Harrold (Haverhill); Jose Bethel, Thomas Brown (Chelmsford); Nate Blanchette, Cole Glynn, Caden Smith (Central Catholic); Jack Lightfoot, Nicholas Desisto, Manny Mengata (Tewksbury); Vincent Demaio, Joseph Bolduc, Dominic Gangi (Methuen); Peter Rincan (Billerica); Yandel Morales, Nicholas Archambault (Andover); Emmett Logan, Hussein Alobaidi, Chris Dubey (Lowell)
WRESTLER OF THE YEAR: Thomas Brown, Nate Blanchette, Brent Nicolosi
MIDDLESEX LEAGUE
ALL-CONFERENCE: Aryav Pimrale (Lexington); Jack Shea, Mikey Thomas, Jonny Moraes (Melrose); Aydin Lamb, Sean Callanan, Joe Lamonica, Jaden Fullerton, Zach Arria (Wakefield); Andre Sweet (Belmont); William Merkle (Reading); Dan Carreira, Brady Bekkenhuis (Arlington); Tommy Dicker (Watertown); Mohamed Said (Wilmington)
MVP: Aydin Lamb, Brady Bekkenhuis
PATRIOT LEAGUE
ALL-STARS
Noah Price, Jack Mahoney, Freddie Mahoney, Phoenix Soares, Cole Bonner, Matt Walsh, Jack Johnson, Will Marani, Jonny Radzevich, Noah Edwards (Duxbury); Conlan Geary, Matt Costello, Anthony Mann, Emma Leonido (Hanover); Aidan Chan, Jakub Wozny, Tucker Burke, Mia Dineen (Hingham); Liam Dillon (Marshfield), Nate Rosas, Decklan McDevitt, Logan Schipper (Pembroke); Max Sturtevant (Plymouth North); Brendan Nunley (Plymouth South); Edwin Vino, Nathan Doyle, Matthew Nellany (Quincy/North Quincy); Connor McLaughlin, David Murphy, Paul Cheverie (Scituate); Jacob Opachinski, Robert Lewis, Justin Vincenti, Talan Rondeau (Silver Lake); Charlie Lussier, PJ Katz (Whitman-Hanson)
MVP: Charlie Lussier, Anthony Mann
SOUTHEAST CONFERENCE
Olivia Polansky, Kennedie Davis, Lucas Santos, Brent Von Magnus, Jack Alves, Brenton Allain, Luke Driscoll, Fletcher Rinke, Jackson Rinke (Bridgewater-Raynham); Toril Patel, Walter Rodrigues, Aman Khalil, Jailen Jackson (Brockton); Seth Chuon, Kayden Chaney, Thomas Louisme, Josh Yentz (Durfee); Anthony Bojorquez, Anderson Dinis, Tayel Guzman, Prince Wright (New Bedford)
MVP: Brent Von Magnus, Aman Khalil
SOUTH SHORE LEAGUE
Josh Gonsalves, Iain Lindvall, Matt Patterson, Leo Pike, Ken Mentee, Tristian Sybertz (Middleboro); Mike Shannon, Dean Livermore, Ollie Buckley, Cooper Richards, Matt Badia (Cohasset); Luke Steele, Liam Hallet, William Fitzgerald-Klemp (Sandwich); Coleson Tully, Aaron Reed, Elena Thomas, Jack Reed, Michael Brennan (Carver); Keegan Butler (Rockland)
MVP: Matt Patterson
TRI-VALLEY LEAGUE
Logan Costello, Kevin Ozulumba, Adrian Guzman, Anton Puhach, Cam Antoniuk, Cauan Amaral, Matt Terry (Ashland); Landry Fitzgerald, Tyler Campbell (Bellingham); Manuel Garcia, Ryan Talon-Kelly, Matthew Garcia (Dedham); Baly Mikhail, Zak Robinson, Henry McElligott, Quinn Polny (Holliston); Aaron Butkus (Hopkinton); Dillan Mueller (Norton); TJ Wyman, Jared Tinlin, Nate Hsu (Norwood)
MVP: Anton Puhach
Boston, MA
A crowd scientist is helping the Boston Marathon manage a growing field of 30,000-plus runners
BOSTON (AP) — Running the Boston Marathon is tough enough without having to jostle your way from Hopkinton to Copley Square.
So race organizers this year turned to an expert in crowd science to help them manage the field of more than 32,000 as it travels the 26.2 miles (42.195 kilometers) through eight Massachusetts cities and towns — some of it on narrow streets laid out during Colonial times.
“There are certain things that we can’t change — that we don’t want to change — because they make the Boston Marathon,” said Marcel Altenburg, a senior lecturer of crowd science at Manchester Metropolitan University in Britain. “Like, I’m a scientist, but I can’t be too science-y about the race. It should stay what it is because that’s what I love. That’s what the runners love.”
The world’s oldest and most prestigious annual marathon, the Boston race was inspired by the endurance test that made its debut at the inaugural modern Olympics in 1896 — itself a tribute to the route covered by the messenger Pheidippides, who ran to Athens with news of the Greek victory over the Persians in Marathon.
After sharing the news — “Rejoice, we conquer!” — Pheidippides dropped dead.
Organizers of the Boston race would prefer a more pleasant experience for their runners, even as the field has ballooned from 15 in 1897 to as many as 38,000 to meet demand for the 100th edition in 1996. It has settled at around 30,000 since 2015.
As the race grew, it tested the limits of the narrow New England roads and the host cities and towns, which are eager to reopen their streets for regular commutes and commerce as quickly as possible.
“It would be kind of great someday to be able to grow the race a little bit more,” race director Dave McGillivray said. “The problem with this race is that it’s about two things: time and space. We don’t have either. … So, we’re trying to be innovative.”
That’s where Altenburg comes in.
A former German army captain who runs ultra marathons himself, Altenburg has worked with all of the major races, other large sporting events, and airports and exhibitions that tend to attract large crowds on ways to keep things safe and flowing smoothly.
For the Boston Marathon, which draws hundreds of thousands of spectators in addition to the runners, his models allow him to run simulations that help him see how the race might play out under different conditions.
“We have simulated the Boston Marathon more than 100 times to run it once for real. That is the one that counts,” Altenburg said in a telephone interview. “They gave me, pretty much, all creative freedom to simulate more waves, simulate more runners and — within the existing time window — they allowed me to change pretty much anything for the betterment of the running experience.
“And then we checked every aid station, every mile, the finish, every important point, (asking): Is the result better for the runner? Is that something that we should explore further?”
The most noticeable difference on Monday will be that the runners are starting in six waves — groups organized by qualifying time — instead of three. The waves, which were first used in Boston in 2011, help spread things out so that runners don’t have to walk after the start, when Main Street in Hopkinton squeezes to just 39 feet wide.
Other, less obvious changes involve the unloading of the buses at the start, the placement of the water and aid stations, and the finish line chutes, where runners get their medals, perhaps a mylar blanket or a banana, and any medical treatment they might need.
“For an event that’s as old as ours, 130 years, it allowed us to be a startup all over again,” said Lauren Proshan, the chief of race operations and production for the Boston Athletic Association.
“The change isn’t meant to be earth-shattering. It’s to be a smooth experience from start to finish,” she said. “It’s one of those things that you work really, really hard behind the scenes and hope that no one notices — a behind-the-curtain change that makes you feel as if you’re just floating and having a great day.”
Shorter porta potty lines would also be nice.
“What I loved about working with the BAA was how aware they are of what the Boston Marathon is. And they won’t change anything lightly,” Altenburg said. “So it was very detailed work from literally the moment the race last year ended to now. That we check every single option. That we really make sure that if we change something about this historic race, then we know what we’re doing.”
The BAA will look at the feedback over the next three years before deciding about expansion or other changes.
“Fingers crossed, hope for the best, but we’ll get feedback from the participants,” McGillivray said. “And they’ll let us know whether or not it worked or not.”
But keeping the course open longer isn’t an option. And the route isn’t going to change. So there’s only so much that crowd science can help with at one of the toughest tests in sports.
“I can talk. I’m a scientist. I just press a button and it’s going to be,” Altenburg said. “But the runners still have to do it.”
___
AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports
Boston, MA
From across Boston they flock to play for Latin Academy boys’ tennis, a co-op of 29 schools – The Boston Globe
“I’ve done a lot of different things in my life, but there’s no question in my mind that the youth development aspect of what I’ve done with kids and tennis in Boston is the most important work I’ve ever done,” said Crane, who has dedicated the last 30 years of his life to youth tennis.
Once upon a time, Crane served as a sports journalist for the New York Post, the defender general of Vermont, and the executive director of the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission.
He has been the head boys’ tennis coach at Latin Academy since 2009, and last season led the Dragons to their first Division 3 semifinal appearance in program history.
This season, the Dragons are trying to repeat that success, and are doing so with players from five Boston high schools (Latin Academy, O’Bryant, Josiah Quincy Upper, East Boston, and New Mission).
Sophomore Mayfre Moreta, a New Mission student, has never crossed paths in the school hallways with his doubles partner, Gio Waterman, who attends Latin Academy, but the pair still managed to rally from a set down to clinch the deciding No. 2 doubles point in last year’s D3 quarterfinals.
“I think [that win] speaks to our identity as a program,” said Waterman. “It’s so nice to play with all these new guys from other city schools. We share that bond of representing the city of Boston.”
Along with the unique co-op structure, Crane runs a no-cut program that carries roughly 35 kids ranging from seventh to 12th grade every year who vary from beginners to experienced tournament players.
“We don’t cut because we want to teach kids from all over the city how to play the game,” said Crane. “We want to give them a sport that they’ll play for the rest of their lives.”
Mateus Washington, a Latin Academy senior, is in his sixth, and final, year with the program. Although Washington has dueled the state’s top players at No. 1 singles this season, he is just as proud that he gets to lead his teammates every day.
Matthew J Lee/Globe staff
“It’s really cool to see how the seventh-graders of this generation look so much like I did in seventh grade,” said Washington, who has posted a 3-3 record this year. “It’s super eye-opening and enriching to be a part of their development.”
Crane recognizes that the team’s makeup is unique and oftentimes difficult to manage.
“Logistically, it’s difficult. The kids are coming from all over the city, and they can’t all show up at the same time because their schools get out at different times,” said Crane.
But above all, Crane is thankful he can give his kids — many of whom come from low-income situations — the chance to play tennis, as well as offer them summer jobs at Sportsmen’s, Franklin Park Tennis Association, and other tennis facilities around the city.
“What motivates me the most is getting to know these kids, building relationships with them, and figuring out how I can be of help to them. I want to help them grow, help them succeed on and off the court, and help them get ready for the rest of their lives.”
▪ Emily Cilley has yet to lose a match as the head coach of the Swampscott girls.
In Cilley’s first year with the program, the Big Blue (4-0) have put last season’s second-round loss to Dover-Sherborn in the rearview mirror.
Key to their success have been sophomore stars Nikki Carr and Ginger Gregoire. Carr has been dominant at first singles, posting a 4-0 record without dropping a set, and Gregoire has been a great option at second singles, logging a 3-1 record and securing the deciding 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory in the season opener against Bishop Fenwick.
“They are both very disciplined players who understand the balance between being cautious and being patient,” said Cilley. “Their technical skills are on point, and they aren’t intimidated by the person across from them.”
The Big Blue’s strong start has catapulted them to the top of the Northeastern Conference. They’ll look to continue their unbeaten streak against St. Mary’s next Saturday.
▪ The girls of Central Catholic are off to their best start in program history.
The Raiders boast a 6-0 record after taking down Lowell 5-0 on Saturday morning. The win was their fifth sweep of the season, with the only non-sweep coming in a 4-1 victory over Notre Dame (Tyngsborough).
Morgan Bateman has looked unstoppable at second singles, as she is yet to drop a set, and Ella Asmar has been just as impressive at third singles, posting an undefeated record.
Although Haley Wolters was responsible for the only loss by a Raiders player this season, she has logged impressive victories at first singles, such as a 6-2, 6-3 win against Chelmsford and a 6-1, 6-1 triumph over Lowell.
The Raiders have a chance to extend their winning streak to nine with matches against North Andover, Lowell, and Haverhill on the horizon, before they clash with undefeated Andover on April 30.
Webb Constable can be reached at webb.constable@globe.com. Follow him on X @webbconstable.
Boston, MA
Practice Report: Bruins Have Last Skate in Boston Before Leaving for Buffalo | Boston Bruins
“It is a division team, we’ve played them enough to know kind of what they’re about. They’ve had a great season. They’re a high rush team, a lot of speed and a lot of skill. It is going to be a fun matchup,” Lindholm said. “It is a fun challenge for us, coming in a little bit as an underdog and prove people wrong.”
Lindholm has also been quarterbacking the second power-play unit, which is primed to feature James Hagens. The 19-year-old forward signed his entry-level contract on April 8 and played in the final two games of the regular season. The B’s, however, did not get on the man advantage in either game, so Sturm has yet to see Hagens on the power play outside of practice. The coach thinks it is one of Hagens’ best assets, though.
“He doesn’t have to play or make special plays. He has some really good players on that unit. As long as he’s going to play fast and keep it simple – I think that is something that might be different from college and NHL,” Sturm said. “I think it will be fine because Buffalo, they will come, they pressure hard. So you don’t want to be surprised. You want to be quick, you want to be fast. That’s something that has to be in his mind.”
Hagens has been skating on the third line with Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov, and that stayed the same in Saturday’s practice. The three youngsters will all be playing in their first NHL postseason.
“Every night you have to give it your all. You have to give everything you possibly have. This is playoff hockey – you want to win every single game like always. Nothing changes, but there are a lot higher stakes,” Hagens said. “This is something you dream of. Something you grow up watching and praying that you could be in the moment one day and be playing in. Now that it’s reality, it’s something that is really surreal.”
After having a whirlwind start to his pro career, it has been helpful for Hagens to get full practices in with the group.
“It’s been great to be able to be out there, practice with these guys. Not only to learn the systems but to be able to talk to teammates, get feedback from coaches,” Hagens said. “Just the repetition, being able to do reps, try to learn day by day.”
The energy is palpable for Boston, but the team knows the work has just begun.
“Everyone is equal in this room. We’re a tight-knit group here, we’re all good buddies…Just go out there and play with that joy that we have in the locker room,” Lindholm said. “It is a really serious time of year, but I think within this room here, just go out there and enjoy, too. Play for each other – I think that’s how you win this time of year.”
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San Diego, CA2 hours agoGame 21: San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Angels