The number of students taking part in winter sports was higher this season than it has been in more than a decade, according to HHS Athletic Director Mr. Hutchinson. And while boys hockey and basketball had memorable tournament runs, Hanover athletes excelled in the classroom as well. The average GPA of the winter student-athletes was a 3.70 and all 18 teams earned MIAA Academic Excellence Awards. Congratulations to the athletes and coaches on a great season!

Boys HockeyThe boys hockey team had a promising season right from the start. Led by captains Connor Morris, Zach Taylor, Drew Cratty, and Paul McCabe, the team swept the league with a regular season record of 19-0-1. The top-seeded Indians cruised through the Division 3 South playoffs at Gallo, shutting down every opponent and landing a well-deserved spot in the state championship game. Unfortunately, in this year’s final at the TD Garden, the Indians fell short 2-1 to defending champ Shrewsbury. The team’s final record was 24-1-1 and the league MVP was given to Taylor, the team’s high scorer. Kevin Chandler was outstanding as goalie throughout the season. Cratty won the 2017 Jim Gormley Scholarship Cup.

Under the leadership of Coach Abban, the team’s 14 seniors have had an impressive career. According to the Patriot Ledger,  the Indians went 80-11-7 with a 15-3 mark in the tournament since these players were freshmen in 2014-2015. This group won South Sectional titles in 2016 and 2018, plus a Division 3 state title in 2016.

Boys Basketball

The boys basketball team’s quest for a repeat state championship ended in the Division 2 South semifinals, a bittersweet moment that capped a stellar season. Seeded 5th in the tournament, the squad lost to top seeded Boston Tech, 58-47, on March 7. JP Landry scored 18 points and two-time league MVP Matt Delahunt added 17. But Tech’s offense came out on top.

Coached by Mr. Hannigan, the team went 17-4 in the regular season and finished with an overall record of 19-5. Delahunt scored his 1,000th point and he, Landry, Aaron Boise and Jake McInerney were named Patriot League All-Stars. This was the team’s first season in Division 2 South after winning the D-3 South title last year. The captains were Matt Delahunt, JP Landry, and Aaron Boise. Eight seniors – Landy, Delahunt, Boise, McInerney, Jeremy Openshaw, Liam Flynn, Dan Hamza and Aidan Henderson – are graduating this year. But their legacy, combined with a pool of younger talent, will hopefully keep the program just as competitive.

Girls HockeyThe Cohasset-Hanover girls hockey team fell in the first round of Division 2 action to the Norwood Mustangs, 3-2. Led by captains Alyssa Wilcox, Morgan Lundin, Kate Mccarthy, and Lindsey Beiche, Co-Han was seeded 21st after finishing the regular season 8-8-5. Norwood, the 12th seed, won a hard-fought contest. Hanover’s Jacqui Manning, Anna Tedeschi, and Lily Tobin were named League All-Stars. The Scholar Athlete was granted to Morgan Foley and Lundin was given the Sportsmanship Award.

Girls BasketballAfter graduating several strong senior players last year, the team went through some rebuilding this year. Led by captains Taylor Scott, Lauren Gelly and Bridget O’Connor, the team fell short of qualifying for tournament with a record of 6-14. Scott and Janey Devlin were named Patriot League All-Stars. Though the team will lose its senior captains after this season, the remaining three starters and juniors Devlin, Erin Flynn and Kathryn Fallon will look to be leaders for next season.

Wrestling

Led by captains Rian Boutin, Cade Frucci, and Steve Zinke, Hanover wrestlers formed a joint team with Norwell for a solid season.  They competed with heart and sent several athletes to state competition. 

Though Boutin was sidelined this season with an injury, he and other seniors had memorable careers at HHS. His personal highlight was a gritty overtime win at the Cohasset tournament last year when he cracked open his head during the match.

Gymnastics

Although the team was very young, Hanover gymnastics proved that age did not matter this season. Captains Abby Stone, Julia Leskow, and Kaylee Harris led the team to a league title with a record of 12-0-0. Freshman Kaylene Boutin was an all-around all star, along with sophomore Hannah DeRice on floor, bars, and vault. The team broke the school record score of 136.95, held since 2003. With such young talent, the program will have nowhere to go but up.

Swimming and Diving

Led by captains Nick Jones, Brittney Champagne, Frank Gavin and Chloe McKee, the team sent several athletes to the Division 2 state tournament. Hanover’s top finisher was Lauren O’Sullivan, who placed 5th in one-meter diving. Jones finished 10th in the 100 individual medley. Danielle Taft earned 12th in the 100 free and 13th in the 100 back. Taft also combined with Channing Miller, Kelly Taft and Sarah Gavin in two relays. Next year’s swim captains will be Olivia Reddish, Lauren O’Sullivan, Danny Greene, and Danielle Taft.

Indoor TrackHanover debuted its first indoor track team this year, giving members of the Cross Country and Track and Field teams an opportunity to compete yearround. Indoor track is definitely a unique experience, with a shorter track translating to more laps, and a festive air in the arenas where the meets are held. Led by Coach Barrett, the inaugural team was small and struggled to compete against larger, established teams. Still, the athletes trained hard and built the foundation for future success. Captains were Alyssa Nee and Nick Courtney.

Skiing

Some people may not be aware that HHS has a ski team, but though the squad is small, they have fun on the slopes every winter. The team practices and takes part in weekly meets at Blue Hills, and travels to larger contests at Ragged Mountain three times a year. While the team, led by Coach McRae, did not send any skiiers to tournament, members improved their personal performances throughout the season.