Boston, MA
Fall golf All-Scholastics and league All-Stars
Will Balz (Weston)
Isabel Brozena (North Reading)
Jack Carstensen (St. John Paul)
Matt Costello (Bishop Stang)
Carson Erick (Hingham)
Charlie Fearing (BC High)
Bobby Fish (Danvers)
Nicolas Gebhardt (St. John’s Shrewsbury)
Johnny Gillooly (Milton)
Owen Hamilton (Duxbury)
Tripp Hollister (St. John’s Prep)
Ryan Keyes (Wellesley)
Peter le Gassick (Old Rochester)
Terry Manning (St. John’s Prep)
Jack Martin (Nauset)
Ronan Mooney (St. John’s Shrewsbury)
Matthew Oliviera (Bishop Stang)
Zach Pelzar (Weston)
Charlie Potter (Dover-Sherborn)
Cole Redder (East Bridgewater)
John Scully (Winchester)
Chad Tordone (Barnstable)
Brandon Vitarisi (Reading)
HONORABLE MENTION
Brendan Burke (North Andover)
Chris Doherty (Hanover)
Zac Georgantas (Foxboro)
Tim Hill (Dover-Sherborn)
Spencer Kates (Wayland)
Cooper Mohr (North Andover)
Ilan Rashdan (Westford Academy)
Riley Reardon (Arlington Catholic)
Erika Redmond (Concord-Carlisle)
Ethan Sullivan (King Philip)
Richie Thayer (Bridgewater-Raynham)
WILL BALZ
WESTON
The junior tied for sixth in the Div. 3 North sectional and also tied for third at the Div. 3 state championships. The 2023 NHSGA National Invitational attendee will also attend the match in 2024. The 2022 Div. 3 state champion and North sectional champion is a member of the Modern Music Masters Honor Society is also the chess club co-president.
ISABEL BROZENA
NORTH READING
The senior captain led the Hornets’ to their first state final appearance in 20 seasons while also going undefeated individually on the season. The four-time team MVP and two-time Cape Ann League Kinney Division Player of the Year was the runner-up in the Div. 3 girls’ golf state championship last season. Brozena also qualified for the 74th Girl’s Junior Championship. The National Honor Society member and honor roll student is committed to play golf at Xavier University.
JACK CARSTENSEN
ST. JOHN PAUL
The Div. 3 state champion with a 3-over par as his team placed second in Div. 3. The Cape and Islands co-MVP holds the top scoring record as well as par scoring totals for a season. The senior is a four-time Cape and Islands All Star and a member of the National Honor Society. The honor roll student will play golf at the University of Montevallo.
MATT COSTELLO
BISHOP STANG
The Catholic Central League MVP had a 35.75 scoring average while also winning the CCL Conference while shooting a 65. The senior was a medalist at the Cape Cod High School Invitational with a 73. The seven-year varsity team member went 34-0 in league play and was part of the 2021 Div. 2 state champion squad as well as the Div. 2 2021, 2022 and 2023 sectional champion teams. The honor student will play golf at the University of Connecticut.
CARSON ERICK
HINGHAM
The three-time Patriot League All Star and 2022 Patriot League MVP placed third with a 3-over 75 in the Div. 1 state tournament while taking the Div. 1 South sectional title. The senior is a 2023 American Junior Golf Association Rolex Scholastic Junior All-American Honor Roll member.
CHARLIE FEARING
BC HIGH
The senior placed tied for second with a 1-under 71 as he sunk seven birdies at the Div. 1 North sectional which qualified him for the Div. 1 state title. He tied for third at the NE Junior PGA Qualifier out of 70 players with a score of 74 (2-over) as he qualified for both the NE Junior PGA Championship and the Avidia Cup. The high honors student and BC High Presidential Merit Scholar is a member of the National Honor Society and plans to study computer science and ethics in college.
BOBBY FISH
DANVERS
The Northeastern Conference All-Conference player went 10-0-2 on the season while qualifying for the Div. 2 state tournament where he finished tied for 11th. The senior has also made the Northeastern Conference All-Star team and won team MVP for three years. Fish also played in US Challenge Cup events and is going to college for business.
NICOLAS GEBHARDT
ST. JOHN’S (SHREWSBURY)
The Catholic Conference All Star and champion placed sixth in the Div. 1 Central sectional as well as tied for third (3-over) in the Div. 1 state title while his team took home both crowns. The senior also qualified for the Massachusetts Junior Amateur Match Play tournament. The National Honor Society member and honor roll student will be taking a gap year for golf next year.
JOHNNY GILLOOLY
MILTON
The Div. 2 North sectional medalist with an even par 72 also placed tied for sixth with a 6-over 76 in the Div. 2 state finals. The senior also averaged 37.94 in dual matches. The member of the National Honor Society is unsure of where he will attend a four-year college yet.
OWEN HAMILTON
DUXBURY
The two-time Patriot League MVP had the best scoring average across his four years in the program. The senior was a medalist at the Div. 2 South sectionals and finished top 11 at the Div. 2 state finals the past two seasons. The honor roll student is also a top-ranked disc golf player and hopes to attend Babson College in the fall with his brother.
TRIPP HOLLISTER
ST. JOHN’S PREP
The junior finished second in Div. 1 North sectionals with a 71 and had a scoring average of 36.83 with 15.3 putts per round. He played in the IMG Junior World Tournament as well. The honor roll student also is part of the track and field team and plans to play golf in college.
RYAN KEYES
WELLESLEY
The Bay State Conference individual title champion also won the Div. 1 South sectional individual title and placed tied for third in the Div. 1 state title match with a 3-over 75. The 2021 Div. 1 individual state title champion averages a 35.4. The senior is committed to Columbia University.
PETER LE GASSICK
OLD ROCHESTER
The three-year South Coast Conference All Star was a medalist in 11 of 16 matches on the season with a 36.9 9-hole scoring average. The junior placed sixth in the Div. 2 state final with a 6-over 76 and was part of the 2022 Div. 2 state title team. He qualified for the 2023 and 2024 Mass Junior Amateur tournament.
TERRY MANNING
ST. JOHN’S PREP
The three-time Catholic Conference All-Star and now two-time All-Scholastic placed second in the Catholic Conference tournament, placed second in the Div. 1 North sectional with a 1-under 71 and was tied for seventh in the Div. 1 state tournament with a 4-over 76 while his team placed second. The senior also plays basketball and will be taking a gap year to follow his dream of playing Div. 1 golf and making the sport his profession.
JACK MARTIN
NAUSET
The three-time Cape and Islands League All Star and one-time Cape and Islands MVP placed third in the Div. 2 state finals with a 4-over 74. The two-year captain also averaged 37.3 and notched three hole-in-ones in a calendar year in his career.
RONAN MOONEY
ST. JOHN’S SHREWSBURY
The junior tied for third with a 3-over 75 as St. John’s of Shrewsbury won the Div. 1 state title. In 2022, he shot a 2-under 69 and qualified for the N.E. Interscholastic Golf Championships at Mohegan Sun. The honors student plans to study business and entrepreneurial management in college.
MATTHEW OLIVEIRA
BISHOP STANG
The three-time Catholic Central League All Star was a co-medalist with a 72 in the Div. 2 South sectional and then was part of the Div. 2 state title runner-up squad. The two-time All-Scholastic was part of the Div. 2 state title in 2021 and was Catholic Central League MVP in 2022. The first honors student and National Junior Honor Society member hopes to play golf at the collegiate level while studying finance/business.
ZACH PELZAR
WESTON
The senior shot a 3-under 75 in the Div. 3 state title to lead his team to the title after hitting a 2-under 70 to win the Div. 3 North sectional crown as well. He also shot 70 and 68 respectively in the sectionals and states last season to win both events. Pelzar is committed to play golf at Emory University.
CHARLIE POTTER
DOVER-SHERBORN
The Tri-Valley League MVP and two-time Tri-Valley League All Star was a medalist at the Div. 2 Central sectionals and won the state title with a 1-over 71 as his team won the team title as well. The sophomore hopes to play collegiate golf after he graduates.
COLE REDDER
EAST BRIDGEWATER
The South Shore League Sullivan Player of the year placed tied for eighth while shooting an 81 in the Div. 3 state championship. The four-time South Shore League All Star also placed fourth with a 78 in the Central sectional tournament to advance to the state final for the first time in program history. The honor roll student is considering joining his brother at UMass in their turf management program or heading to a trade school to pursue a career in the trades.
JOHN SCULLY
WINCHESTER
The three-time Middlesex League All-Conference and All-Star team member placed fifth at the Div. 1 North sectional with a 72 as Winchester placed as runner-up. The 2022 Middlesex League MVP also tied for 12th at the Div. 1 state title with a 5-over 77. The National Honor Society member also plays tennis.
CHAD TORDONE
BARNSTABLE
The Cape and Islands MVP finished tied for seventh in the Div. 1 state final match while also placing third in the South sectionals. The five-time Cape and Island League All Star is also a three-year captain. The four-year high honor roll student and member of the National Honor Society will be attending Babson College to play Div. 3 golf next year.
BRANDON VITARISI
READING
The Middlesex League MVP had one of the greatest seasons in school history, going a perfect 11-0. The senior was tied for fourth with a 75 in the Div. 2 South sectionals and placed second with a 2-over 72 in the state finals. The honor roll student and National Honor Society member will attend Saint Anselm College to play golf.
LEAGUE ALL-STARS
CAPE AND ISLANDS
Chad Tordone, Colin Gleason (Barnstable); Jack Martin, Sean Kipperman, Max St. Aubin (Nauset); Jackson Rocco, Casey Huse, Christian Whittle (Monomoy); Chris Shanahan, Declan Norris, Gavin Powderly (Falmouth); Luke Silvia, Nick Rabani, Jack Debettencourt (Martha’s Vineyard); Mya Murphy, Jared Cole (Sturgis West); Colton Chambers. Bradley Knapp, Henry Kathawala (Nantucket); Ryan Weisner (Sturgis East); Ben Catalano, Tripp Germani (Cape Cod Academy); Michael Keif (Rising Tide); Jack Carstensen, Timmy Adams, Matt Curley, Sam Scioletti (St. John Paul)
MVP: Chad Tordone, Jack Carstensen, Henry Kathawala
CAPE ANN LEAGUE
FIRST TEAM: Deven Henehan, Paul Daley (Lynnfield); Colby Arel, Jack Oreal (Newburyport); Isabel Brozena (North Reading); Aidan Gray (Essex Tech); Mason Colby (Triton); Ty Southhall (Georgetown); Cooper Miller, Aidan Noonan (Hamilton-Wenham); Sam Kesterson (Rockport); Charlie Jepsen (Ipswich)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Isabel Brozena, Cooper Miller
CATHOLIC CENTRAL LEAGUE
Matt Costello, Matt Oliveira, Nathaniel Mello, Noah Cormier, Michael Zeller (Bishop Stang); Shea Newhall, Kyle Rush, Andrew Potter, Micah Hashikawa (St. Mary’s); John Kane, Gavin Walsh (Bishop Feehan); Aaron McCarthy, Brady Sullivan (Archbishop Williams); Louie Spychalski, AJ Picano, Mike Carter (Bishop Fenwick); Riley Reardon, Pat Clair (Arlington Catholic); Jai Karani, Ben Catton (Cardinal Spellman)
MVP: Matt Costello
CATHOLIC CONFERENCE
Ethan Addazio, Quinn Matthews (Malden Catholic); JJ Campbell, Charlie Fearing, Drew Garelick (BC High); Terry Manning, Seamus O’Holleran, Tripp Hollister (St. John’s Prep); Thomas Constantine, Connor Walsh, Quinn Dumas (Xaverian); Charlie Novack, Aidan Kelly (Catholic Memorial); Nic Gebhardt, Ronan Mooney, Savar Bhasin, Cael Duggan, Curtis McDonald (St. John’s Shrewsbury)
COMMONWEALTH ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Matt Tramonte, Liam Milne, Colin Lawson, Max Carpenter (Shawsheen); Jayden Auger, Noah Davidopoulos (Nashoba Tech); Derek O’Brien, Ben Morse (Minuteman); Ben Murphy, Aidan Low (Greater Lawrence); Cameron Carriea, Brian Curtis (Northeast); Dante Gentile, Evan Koes (Lowell Catholic); Jacob Torpey, Brody Simmons (Greater Lowell)
MVP: Matt Tramonte
DUAL COUNTY LEAGUE
ALL-LEAGUE: Erika Redmond (Concord-Carlisle); Spencer Kates (Wayland); Tristan Spiess (Boston Latin); Jason Ahn, Varun Murthy (Acton-Boxboro); Hugo Young (Lincoln-Sudbury); Maddie Smith (Westford Academy)
ALL-STARS: Zach Pelzar, William Balz, William Goldstein (Weston); Evelyn Parkerson, Richard Wells (Boston Latin); Jay Keenan, Connor Lent (Acton-Boxboro); Henry Behrens (Cambridge); Ilan Rashdan, Peier Li, Justin Davighi (Westford Academy); Nico Dischino, John Davis (Waltham); Matt Seney, Champa Vistesin (Lincoln-Sudbury); Will Spring, Ahrinn Desai (Concord-Carlisle); Caleb Hong, Dustin Whitaker (Newton South); Ryan Capobianco (Bedford) Jamie Lehr, Joey Burke (Wayland)
PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: Erika Redmond, Spencer Kates
GREATER BOSTON LEAGUE
Frankie Annunziata, Chris MacDonald (Revere/Malden); DJ McDonough, Anthony Madarese (Medford); Emmett Easton (Somerville); John Crowley, Riley Driscoll, Jacoby Comeau (Lynn English); Kyle McKenna, Cooper Dalferro (Lynn Classical); Makenzie Powers (Everett)
MVP: Emmett Easton
HOCKOMOCK LEAGUE
Dane Holske, Bradley Lehtonen (Attleboro); Travis Thomas, Huck McCready (Canton); Zac Georgantas (Foxboro); CJ Steele, Caden Sullivan, Liam Lewandowski (Franklin); Evan Regan, Ethan Sullivan (King Philip); Brendan Vokey, Nate McClean (Mansfield); Anthony LaPierre, Jacob Hipolito (Milford); Tyson Laviano, Caiden Alberigo (North Attleboro); Braden Shapiro, Lucas Riley, Sean Kearns (Oliver Ames); Dylan Cummings (Sharon)
MVP: Ethan Sullivan
MAYFLOWER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
NORTH: Alex Dennehy, Mike Repucci, Dylan Roach (Blue Hills); Brady McCarthy, James Hoey (South Shore); Cooper Phillips, Matthew Cairns (Southeastern); Erik Larson (Tri-County); Sean Rideout (Norfolk Aggie)
MVP: Alex Dennehy
SOUTH: Matt Nawoichik, Asher Graff, Zephyn Johnson (Upper Cape); Owen Boutria, Cooper Spirlet (Westport); Devin Maloy, Donny Azar (Bristol-Plymouth); Bob Leach (Diman); Brayden Wright (Cape Tech)
MVP: Matt Nawoichik
MERRIMACK VALLEY CONFERENCE
Jacob Morgan, Lucas Jenney (Andover); Harry Garland (Central Catholic); Ryan Adams, Jake Lessard, Jacob Carlson (Chelmsford); Colin Underwood (Dracut); Tommy Murphy (Haverhill); Cooper Mohr, Tyler Faraz, Brendan Burke (North Andover); Matt Cooke (Tewksbury)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Brendan Burke, Jacob Carlson
MIDDLESEX LEAGUE
LIBERTY: Carson Muse, John Scully, Cole Cassidy, Brendan Buck, Julian Ragosa (Winchester); Brandon Vitarisi, Jack Murray, Brady Keaveney (Reading); Ryan Nortz, Rohen McKenzie (Belmont); Owen Shea (Arlington); Jeff Lo, Sabrina Wu (Woburn)
MVP: Brandon Vitarisi
FREEDOM: Bobby Cyr (Wilmington); Mitch Deveau, Daniel Crossman (Burlington); Joe Aronis, Charlie Conway, Ryan Fariq, Mike Taranto, Jacob Utter (Stoneham); Roddy McGillicuddy, Noah Fay (Melrose); Connor Jones, James Erickson (Watertown); Patrick Maloney (Wakefield)
NORTHEASTERN CONFERENCE
ALL-CONFERENCE: Bobby Fish (Danvers); Riley Fenerty (Salem); Tyler Feldberg, Cole Velardo (Masconomet); Joe Orlando, Drew Johnson (Gloucester); Charlie Grenier, Marty Ryan (Marblehead); Ryan Murphy (Winthrop)
ALL-STARS: Eli Wickham (Winthrop); Brendan Glowik, Bryce Clark (Danvers); Matt Ryder, Mike Ryan (Peabody); Simon Quicken, Jacob Hershfield, James Bickell (Marblehead); Ryan Jones (Saugus); Isaiah Francis, Nick Tarantino (Gloucester); Dylan Brother, Brenden Sheehan (Masconomet); Lucas Carbone (Beverly); Jason Bouffard (Swampscott)
GOLFER OF THE YEAR: Bobby Fish
PATRIOT LEAGUE
KEENAN: Owen Hamilton, Matt NeJame, Mike Yucuis (Duxbury); Carson Erick, JD Flynn, Drew Golden (Hingham); JD Ambrose, Justin Ford (Marshfield); Sam Magnarelli, William Sears (Plymouth North); Cam Cardarelli (Silver Lake); Blake Belcher (Whitman-Hanson)
MVP: Owen Hamilton
FISHER: Owen Barth, Joe Dacosta, Chris Doherty, Matt Reynolds (Hanover); Aidan Bridges, John Toland (North Quincy); Declan Battell (Pembroke); Matt Walsh (Plymouth South); Jack Dunn (Quincy) Meyer Gack, Tom McMellen, Luke Ryan (Scituate)
MVP: Chris Doherty
SOUTHEAST CONFERENCE
Will Gangi, Tom Moreira, Ian Emery (Dartmouth); Richie Thayer, Jack Balutis, Matt Lydon (Bridgewater-Raynham); Brady Sullivan, Devin Viera (Durfee); Ryan Sinnott, Ryan Walsh (Brockton); Craig Baptista, Luke Tarpey (New Bedford)
MVP: Richie Thayer
TRI-VALLEY LEAGUE
Rebecca Kriegsman (Ashland); Charlie Potter, Tim Hill, Sean Scannell, Mason Melchionda, Grant Mayer (Dover-Sherborn); Mikey McGovern (Holliston); Parker Winn (Hopkinton); Joey Nee, Aaron Ravech, Jack Branca, Sadie Cumming (Medfield); Owen Spellman, Gavin Shipos (Medway); Shawn Clary (Norton); Tommy O’Brien (Norwood); Lillian Guleserian, Gunther Guleserian, Patrick Dalton (Weston)
MVP: Charlie Potter
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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Denver, CO2 hours agoDenver Nuggets Altitude broadcasts now being offered in Spanish for first time ever
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Seattle, WA2 hours agoNeed to shred? Free drive-up/ride-up shredding Wednesday at Village Green West Seattle
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San Diego, CA3 hours agoGame 21: San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Angels
