Massachusetts
Meet Massachusetts 20 Olympic athletes
PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 08: Spectators attend the Olympic Games handover ceremony on August 8, 2021 in Paris, France. On August 8, during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics, Anne Hidalgo, mayor of Paris, will officially receive the Olympic flag for the handover ceremony to mark Paris 2024 Olympic Games (July 26-August 11) and Paralympics (August 28-September 8). (Photo by Siegfried Modola/Getty Images)
With the 2024 Paris Olympics coming up shortly, it’s time to take a look at the 20 athletes from the commonwealth of Massachusetts who are heading to Paris to represent the United States. Massachusetts has an illustrious Olympic history ranking 21st in gold medals by state tied with Arkansas and Virginia. So let’s take a look at the twenty athletes from around the state hoping to add to Massachusetts and Team USA’s olympic history.
Massachusetts
Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson surprises Massachusetts boy with rare health challenges
Stuck at Boston Children’s Hospital, facing unimaginable health challenges, a 12-year-old Chelmsford boy received hope from Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson.
Henderson sent a video to Jack Jolie, rooting for the bubbly youngster to overcome all the obstacles stacked up against him. It was just 10 seconds, but Jack says the message means the world to him.
“What’s up, Jack? TreVeyon Henderson here, man,” the promising rookie says in the video. “Man, I hope you get better. I just want to let you know that I am praying for you, man. God bless, man.”
Jack received the video on Jan. 2. Eleven days later, he was discharged from the hospital and headed home. The boy will soon be evaluated for a liver transplant, as he is battling internal bleeding from portal hypertension.
On Sunday, Jack and his entire family will have their eyes glued to the television as the Patriots face the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. This is New England’s first championship game that Jack will fully remember, and he hopes that Henderson, his favorite player, “finds the outside” for a long rushing touchdown.
Win or lose, Jack says he will always root for Henderson and that the running back may not be aware of the full magnitude of his video of encouragement.
“It helps me a lot,” Jack told the Herald via phone ahead of Super Bowl weekend. “I know that they are there for me, and I know that everyone is here for me. It definitely is big.”
Jack’s mother, Meghan Jolie, says her son has the “best support system there is,” with a large family, a big group of friends, and “really understanding” teachers. The network has grown to include Henderson and the Patriots organization.
“It kind of brings it full circle,” the mother said of Henderson’s video. “It doesn’t take much to help, especially with these celebrity athletes. For them, to say ‘Send a 15-second video,’ hopefully it doesn’t take a whole lot out of their day to do, but it really meant a lot going through this type of time.”
As a 2-year-old in 2015, Jack was diagnosed with a rare form of severe combined immunodeficiency, which doctors describe as a life-threatening genetic disorder where infants are born with little to no immune system.
Jack then received a bone marrow transplant to combat the diagnosis, but his immune system rejected it. Over the years, the youngster has suffered from symptoms of graft-versus-host disease: scarring issues with his eyes, lung and liver disease, among others, his mother said.
Over the past few months, Jack has been admitted to Boston Children’s Hospital several times and spent time in between the intensive care unit and regular care. He was home less than a handful of nights between Dec. 20 and Jan. 13.
“It’s a lot of waiting and seeing,” Meghan Jolie told the Herald. “We take every day as it comes, deal with what we have to, and figure it out.”
Through it all, Jack has turned into a Patriots superfan. He watches more games than not, even when hospitalized, and has become knowledgeable about football and the NFL.
Proof: “I am really shocked by how much Mike Vrabel was able to change the team from four wins,” Jack said of New England’s head coach. “Now, they are in the stinkin’ Super Bowl.”
“The best part is that we have beaten a lot of great defenses,” the youngster said of the Patriots’ Super Bowl run, becoming the first team in NFL history to defeat three top-five defenses. “If we just get rolling in the beginning, we have a chance to win this one and get banner 7 here in Foxboro.”
Jack and his family attended the Week 15 loss to Buffalo. Despite New England’s 10-game winning streak ending, the young fan gained an ultimate VIP gameday experience, including club seats and pregame field passes.
Jack’s mother’s boyfriend, William DiTullio, applied for the opportunity, with the Patriots selecting the family for the experience.
While on the field, star cornerback Christian Gonzalez spotted Jack and threw a ball over to him. The family then went over by the tunnel where the Patriots are introduced, and Jack tried his best to get Henderson’s attention, but couldn’t.
“Jack has a very big personality, but his voice didn’t quite travel,” his mother said, chuckling.
In the loss, Henderson recorded two rushing touchdowns of over 50 yards. “We were going wild,” Meghan Jolie said.
Days after the game, Jack was admitted to the hospital. DiTullio shared Jack’s story with Stacey James, asking the Patriots’ vice president of communications whether Henderson could send Jack a little video.
A few days later, James emailed DiTullio, saying, “Hopefully this will brighten Jack’s spirits and let him know that we’re all thinking about him.”
“That stuff always thrills me,” DiTullio said of the video. “I just feel like there’s not a lot of that in the world today, and too many people are just self-absorbed.”
“They could have easily just taken the request,” he added, “and said, ‘We get a dozen of these a day, we can’t fulfill them all.’ I know how much he loves TreVeyon.”
Jack quickly responded to Henderson’s message, thanking him for the video.
“It really meant a lot, and I hope you guys have fun and do your best in the playoffs. … Maybe once I get out of Boston Children’s Hospital, we can maybe meet up sometime and play catch just because you’re my favorite player.”
Henderson responded to the video with a message on X the evening before the Patriots’ Divisional Round game against the Texans: “Glad you are headed home Jack! God bless,” the running back wrote.

Massachusetts
Mass. shopping center evacuated for gas leak when snow plow clips meter
About 100 people at a shopping complex in Hanover, Massachusetts, were evacuated from multiple businesses, including Macy’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods, because of a gas leak Saturday, fire officials said.
Firefighters arrived at Hanover Crossing within minutes after multiple 911 calls reported a gas leak in the area of 1775 Washington Street around 4 p.m., the Hanover Fire Department said. Firefighters learned on scene that an exterior gas meter assembly had been struck by snow removal equipment.
Hanover firefighters urged the public to avoid the affected area and initiated an immediate evacuation after confirming there was an active gas leak with a significant vapor cloud extending from the damaged meter, accompanied by a loud roaring sound. The department recalled all of its off-duty firefighters to help.
Evacuating occupants and establishing a secure hazard zone was complicated by the size of the parking area and the numerous access points throughout the shopping complex, the department added.
Eversource responded to the scene and secured the leak, which was below the shutoff valve, about an hour after it began, fire officials said. National Grid also responded to assist with securing electrical service in the affected area.
Once the gas leak was mitigated, firefighters conducted safety checks of nearby businesses, with several requiring ventilation. All but four stores were allowed to resume normal operations within one hour of the gas leak being secured.
The evacuation was done as a precaution, according to Eversource, which said they hadn’t heard of anyone needing to be taken to the hospital.
The scene was cleared around 6:45 p.m., however Hanover Inspectional Services and Eversource remained on site to complete repairs to the damaged utilities.
The public is reminded to call 911 immediately if a gas leak is suspected, including situations involving a strong odor, visible vapor cloud, or loud hissing or roaring sound. The fire department also said that extra caution should be used when operating snow removal or other equipment near utility meters.
Massachusetts
Friday’s high school scoreboard in Massachusetts
BOYS BASKETBALL
Archbishop Williams 71, Bishop Stang 57
Arlington 57, Woburn 51
Attleboro 66, Franklin 42
Beverly 80, Newton South 36
Bishop Feehan 89, Cardinal Spellman 51
BC High 64, St. John’s Prep 60
Bridgewater-Raynham 68, Dartmouth 54
Burke 107, Brighton 46
Burlington 71, Wilmington 40
Cambridge 61, Westford Academy 57 (2 ot)
Cathedral 79, Bishop Fenwick 68
Catholic Memorial 54, Malden Catholic 47
Concord-Carlisle 76, Wayland 67
EMK 67, Snowden 60
Georgetown 62, Manchester-Essex 56
Holbrook 89, South Shore Charter 84
Holland 107, Brighton 46
Holliston 68, Ashland 58
Hudson 74, Littleton 54
Ipswich 62, Hamilton-Wenham 55
Lincoln-Sudbury 52, Waltham 43
Marblehead 78, Peabody 45
Martha’s Vineyard 57, Dennis-Yarmouth 47
Marshfield 68, Whitman-Hanson 56
Masconomet 87, Danvers 43
Medfield 74, Bellingham 46
Medway 61, Millis 51
Milton 77, Weymouth 57
Mystic Valley 78, Innovation 57
Nantucket 78, Nauset 65
North Reading 75, Lynnfield 61
Norwell 69, East Bridgewater 50
Oliver Ames 65, Canton 58
Quincy 65, North Quincy 57
St. John’s (S) 56, Xaverian 55 (ot)
St. Mary’s (L) 85, Arlington Catholic 68
Seekonk 71, Apponequet 62
Shawsheen 60, Whittier 55
Somerville 58, Lynn English 52
Southeastern 74, Greater Lowell 54
Stoneham 62, Melrose 60 (ot)
Swampscott 60, Saugus 53
Walpole 49, Natick 46
Wellesley 48, Framingham 46
West Bridgewater 74, Dighton-Rehoboth 56
Westwood 60, Hopkinton 57
Winchester 86, Reading 56
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Barnstable 38, Falmouth 35
Bedford 62, Acton-Boxboro 55
Bishop Feehan 46, Cardinal Spellman 17
Bishop Fenwick 55, Cathedral 48
Blue Hills 30, Bristol-Plymouth 21
Boston Latin 48, Weston 31
Braintree 50, Needham 44
Burlington 45, Wilmington 25
Concord-Carlisle 48, Wayland 37
Danvers 56, Masconomet 19
Dartmouth 47, Bridgewater-Raynham 44
Dighton-Rehoboth 67, West Bridgewater 46
Durfee 59, Diman 23
Duxbury 53, Hingham 47
Foxboro 68, Stoughton 36
Franklin 73, Attleboro 57
Hamilton-Wenham 46, Ipswich 28
Hopkinton 60, Westwood 47
Lowell 55, Beverly 37
Lynn Tech 49, Rockport 28
Malden Catholic 57, Fontbonne 49
Manchester Essex 64, Georgetown 53
Mashpee 46, Falmouth Academy 38
Medford 51, Mystic Valley 25
Medway 53, Millis 35
Melrose 46, Stoneham 35
Milton 57, Weymouth 40
New Bedford 54, Brockton 41
New Mission 50, O’Bryant 45
North Quincy 62, Quincy 59
North Reading 60, Lynnfield 46
Norton 43, Dover-Sherborn 33
Norwood 44, Dedham 40
Old Rochester 59, Case 23
Pembroke 53, Plymouth South 38
Pentucket 42, Triton 16
Pingree 51, Lexington Christian 30
Rockland 55, Carver 38
St. John Paul II 45, Nauset 29
St. Mary’s (L) 65, Arlington Catholic 42
Shawsheen 47, Lowell Catholic 42
Silver Lake 52, Plymouth North 45
Snowden 50, EMK 19
Taunton 59, Sharon 32
Tech Boston 58, Batson Academy/Excel 19
Waltham 45, Lincoln-Sudbury 29
Wareham 41, Bishop Stang 30
Watertown 53, Wakefield 41
Wellesley 55, Framingham 50
Westford Academy 54, Cambridge 42
Winchester 47, Reading 35
Woburn 50, Arlington 45
GYMNASTICS
Medfield/Ashland/Dover-Sherborn 142.7, Hopkinton/Medway 141.6, Norton 138.05, Norwood 117.15
Melrose 136.35, Wilmington 136.1
Winchester 138.7, Melrose 136.35
BOYS HOCKEY
Canton 8, Mansfield 0
Dedham 2, Holliston/Ashland 0
Tabor 5, Nobles 3
Worcester Academy 5, Austin Prep 4
GIRLS HOCKEY
Bishop Feehan 2, Andover 1
MOA 4, Longmeadow 2
Nobles 4, Cushing Academy 0
Pingree 8, Winsor 0
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