Connect with us

Boston, MA

Meehan sisters strengthen bond through UNC field hockey

Published

on

Meehan sisters strengthen bond through UNC field hockey


Every year, the Massachusetts State Field Hockey Coaches Association follows up the day of state championships with the Best of 60 Senior All-Star Games; awarding one final hoorah to the state’s top graduating players.

But this year, one of the very best couldn’t make it.

A different field hockey tradition unfolded the same weekend down in Chapel Hill, N.C., and Bishop Feehan North Carolina-commit Ava Meehan was absorbing it all in.

“I didn’t want to miss (the Best of 60), but … ” Ava said, before her mother, Kim Meehan, interrupted. “She was planning on flying home, but then UNC won the semifinal game.”

Advertisement

The same day of the all-star games on Nov. 19, the Tar Heels thrillingly outlasted Northwestern to win their 11th NCAA Div. I national championship. Ava, alongside the other commits to the program, was at Karen Shelton Stadium to celebrate with future teammates she’s excited to play with – none of whom she’s ever played with before.

Most of them are from Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New Jersey, or overseas. But one grew up in the same house.

Former King Philip star Alli Meehan, who graduated before Ava was a freshman in high school, won her second national championship with the Tar Heels as part of a special weekend. Being a part of the most decorated Div. I collegiate program, that’s won twice with her on the team, is an unearthly feeling.

With one more year of eligibility left, though, perhaps the only thing that could trump it is going for a three-peat with her younger sister.

“Not many people can even say they won one national championship, and the fact that I’ve won two, back-to-back – it’s crazy and (it) still hasn’t really set in yet,” Alli said. “The fact that we get to have a season together is crazy. … Just as an older sister, seeing (Ava’s) growth over the last four years, I’m so excited to get her here.”

Advertisement

“We’ve never been able to overlap,” Ava added. “We do everything together. I just can’t wait to play with my best friend.”

Through their second national championship run together, Alli and former Groton School standout Cassidy Thibodeau often joked with each other about the grit they bring to the Tar Heels. They are the only two players from Massachusetts to play for UNC in the last decade, a perennial contender with five national titles in that span. Only four other players from Massachusetts have won Div. I national championships since 2013, so they very much represent the state well.

Ava’s commitment will make it three players from here to join UNC’s ranks over 11 years. But funny enough, neither Meehan sister was originally headed to Chapel Hill.

After a stellar freshman season at Northeastern in 2019, COVID changed Alli’s perspective on where she wanted to be. The Patriot Field Hockey club Kim co-founded – motivated by giving her daughters a special place to train – instilled in Alli early on to always strive for excellence. That meant entering the transfer portal and sending emails to “a bajillion” Div. 1 programs. Every program, except UNC.

She thought joining the Tar Heels, coming off three straight titles, was a long shot. But the night before she was about to commit to Boston College, Kim told her she might as well reach out. So she did. And sure enough, shortly before hopping on the call, Alli got a different one from legendary UNC coach Karen Shelton.

Advertisement

“Me, never having been down south to UNC, committed right then and there over the phone because how can you pass up that opportunity,” Alli said. “It was just me and Ava at home, so I started screaming, ‘Ava! You’re not going to believe this!’ … Ever since I stepped foot on campus here, never have I ever once questioned that I’m at the right place.”

The same goes for Ava, which presented quite an internal struggle.

Visiting Alli down at UNC was always an unbelievable experience. The championship culture, the family environment, everyone’s connection to the Carolina blue – Ava was captivated by all of it. But as a Penn State commit, she was conflicted.

“Going down to watch my sister play in her games, the tailgates with the family after – I (kept saying), ‘I’m going to Penn State. I’m going to Penn State.’ But then I’d go down to UNC, and everybody would just act like a family. I was like, ‘This is where I want to be.’”

When longtime Penn State coach Char Morett-Curtiss retired, that was Ava’s opening to reevaluate and eventually de-commit. She reached out to UNC’s new head coach Erin Matson – who just became the youngest head coach of an NCAA national championship team at 23 – and met with her in February during another trip to see Alli.

Advertisement

Not too long after, it was Ava’s turn to get the call.

“I was crying, my sister was right there,” Ava said. “We were both in tears, we just couldn’t believe it. It’s amazing. I’m so grateful for this opportunity, and I just can’t wait.”

“They (now) both have Carolina blue bed comforters,” Kim added. “I do believe in destiny. I believe in all of that. I just feel like the cards keep leading us to Carolina.”

One of the very reasons Alli wanted a place like UNC is because of her desire and passion to be exceptional. She wants to represent the state well and make everyone that’s helped her along the way proud.

Being surrounded by the same ambition is a dream come true, and is an environment she adds to.

Advertisement

“She is hungry to learn, and she is constantly pushing her teammates,” Erin Matson said. “She is one of the hardest workers I know.”

Now, the person that brings out perhaps the most competitiveness out of her is about to be a teammate for the first time. Ava has already said she’s coming for Alli’s beep test record.

Finally, the two have a chance to show off what they can do together on the same team.

“The Meehan combination is something the world has not seen yet,” Alli said. “The driveway has seen it, but not the world.”



Source link

Advertisement

Boston, MA

Actor Tom Holland makes surprise visit to Campus School at Boston College

Published

on

Actor Tom Holland makes surprise visit to Campus School at Boston College


“Spider-Man” superstar Tom Holland dropped in for a surprise visit to the Campus School at Boston College, which will be receiving new adaptive equipment and technology thanks to a $25,000 grant from a nonprofit run by the actor’s family.

Holland, whose girlfriend Zendaya is shooting a film called “The Drama” in Boston and other Massachusetts towns, spent several hours Thursday in each of the six classrooms at the Campus School, which educates students ages 3-22 with extensive support needs, according to a press release from the college located in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

The British actor talked with students and even jumped in on tambourine and vocals during a music therapy session.

“We are so grateful to Tom Holland for taking the time to visit our small special needs school,” said Campus School Interim Director Thomas Miller. “He participated in a music session, posed for photos, and fully immersed himself into our students’ activities and their hearts.”

Advertisement

Nonverbal students were able to greet Holland using assistive technology, pressing switches or utilizing eye gaze devices to introduce themselves and welcome him to campus.

“Every single student was engaged, they were vibing off the room for sure. The way he engaged with them was really quite beautiful. He was just so natural and so caring,” said Jennifer Miller, the Campus School’s marketing manager. “He couldn’t have been more down to earth. He was fully, fully engaged with our students—they were absolutely the priority—but he was so friendly towards the staff as well.”

Hundreds of BC undergraduate and graduate students have been volunteers and teaching assistants at the Campus School, which was founded in 1970. Last year, a former volunteer’s mother, who knew the Holland family well, called Miller and recommended the Campus School apply for a grant from The Brother’s Trust, which supports nonprofits that “struggle to be heard,” the school said in its news release.

People around Boston have spotting celebrities — Zendaya and Robert Pattinson were seen around town for a reported A24 movie shoot, even popping in to a local pottery shop to unwind.

Last month, The Campus School was awarded a $25,000 grant that will be used to purchase assistive technology as well as a ceiling lift for physical therapy exercises.

Advertisement

The private, publicly funded, special education day school is located within the Lynch School of Education and Human Development on the Boston College campus. The Campus School benefits from innovative research in special education, graduate student Teacher Assistants, a thriving University-wide volunteer program, and meaningful relationships with Boston College athletes and teams, according to the school’s website.



Source link

Continue Reading

Boston, MA

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Boston Celtics prediction, odds, best bets for NBA today

Published

on

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Boston Celtics prediction, odds, best bets for NBA today


The Minnesota Timberwolves will face off against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden today at 3:30 p.m. EST. Led by superstars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics are strong favorites in this contest; our data model gives them a 73% chance of winning. However, we expect it to be closer than the oddsmakers believe, and have selected Timberwolves +8 (-108) as today’s best bet.

In preparation for this game between Eastern Conference contenders, the data analysts at Dimers have simulated the matchup 10,000 times, then compared the results to current NBA odds to inform the data-driven betting insights below.

This preview includes Dimers’ best bets and predicted scoreline for the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Boston Celtics. To unlock Dimers’ full suite of data-driven betting insights, which includes daily props, trends, and parlays, sign up for Dimers Pro with promo code SYRACUSE10, which will save you 10% off your first subscription payment.

Timberwolves vs. Celtics betting preview

Led by star players such as Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid, the Timberwolves are aiming to beat a Celtics side that boasts Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White.

Advertisement

Explore the interactive widget below to discover the latest spread, total, and moneyline betting odds and probabilities for the Timberwolves-Celtics matchup at TD Garden.

Check out all the important details on tonight’s game, as well as the best odds sourced from the top sportsbooks in the country, including Bet365, DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM.

Game details

The key information you need before the Timberwolves vs. Celtics NBA game.

Odds

Odds for the key markets in the Timberwolves-Celtics NBA game.

  • Spread: Timberwolves +8 (-108), Celtics -8 (-108)
  • Moneyline: Timberwolves +270, Celtics -330
  • Total: Over/Under 222.5 (-108/-110)

The odds and lines presented in this article are the best available from selected sports betting site at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Expert prediction: Timberwolves vs. Celtics

Utilizing trusted data analysis and machine learning, the experts at Dimers have performed 10,000 simulations of Sunday’s Timberwolves vs. Celtics matchup.

Advertisement

According to Dimers’ famous predictive analytics model, the Celtics are more likely to defeat the Timberwolves at TD Garden. This prediction is based on the model giving the Celtics a 73% chance of winning the game.

Furthermore, Dimers predicts that the Timberwolves (+8) have a 53% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 222.5 points has a 51% chance of going over.

As always, these predictions and probabilities are accurate at the time of publication but are subject to potential changes.

Timberwolves vs. Celtics best bet

Our top pick for the Timberwolves vs. Celtics game on Sunday is to bet on the Timberwolves +8 (-108).

This expert betting advice is formulated through detailed modeling and valuable wagering intelligence, designed to bring you the best possible plays.

Advertisement

Score prediction for Timberwolves vs. Celtics

Dimers’ predicted final score for the Minnesota vs. Boston game on Sunday has the Celtics winning 114-107.

This expert prediction is based on each team’s average score following 10,000 game simulations, offering a glimpse into the potential outcome.

NBA player props: Sunday

NBA player prop bets offer an enjoyable way to place wagers on the Minnesota vs. Boston matchup without necessarily betting on the outcome of the game.

Dimers, armed with the most reliable information available, projects key individual stats for each team, such as points, rebounds, and assists.

Anthony Edwards is expected to lead the way for the Timberwolves with 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. For the Celtics, Jayson Tatum is projected to have 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Advertisement

Timberwolves vs. Celtics prop picks

To get a better idea of how each player might impact the game, here is a breakdown of the projected box scores for both teams:

Minnesota Timberwolves prediction

  • Anthony Edwards: 25 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST, 3 3PT
  • Julius Randle: 23 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST, 2 3PT
  • Naz Reid: 14 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST, 2 3PT
  • Rudy Gobert: 13 PTS, 10 REB, 2 AST, 0 3PT
  • Jaden McDaniels: 13 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST, 2 3PT

Boston Celtics prediction

  • Jayson Tatum: 24 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST, 3 3PT
  • Jaylen Brown: 23 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST, 2 3PT
  • Derrick White: 15 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST, 3 3PT
  • Al Horford: 12 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST, 2 3PT
  • Jrue Holiday: 11 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST, 2 3PT

NBA Sunday: Timberwolves vs. Celtics

Get ready for Sunday’s game between the Timberwolves and Celtics in the NBA at TD Garden, which is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. EST. We emphasize that all of the NBA best bets and NBA predictions in this article are derived from 10,000 data-driven simulations of the Timberwolves vs. Celtics matchup, and they are accurate at the time of publishing to help you make more informed choices when placing bets at online sportsbooks.

Please note that when engaging in online betting, it is important to exercise responsible gambling practices and seek reputable sources for accurate and up-to-date information.



Source link

Continue Reading

Boston, MA

Pelicans' Brandon Boston honors a late friend in his pregame ritual. 'You don't ever recover.'

Published

on

Pelicans' Brandon Boston honors a late friend in his pregame ritual. 'You don't ever recover.'


Three years ago, Boston made a small change. He started tucking a five dollar bill into his shoe before taking the court. Five was significant to him because it was the jersey number his close friend and former college teammate, Terrence Clarke, wore.



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending