Hawks Rack Up Titles, Smash Records in Winter Season

By Luke Curran, ’27

Sports Editor

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This year, our Hanover High School winter sports teams outperformed expectations and made historic achievements. Both boys basketball and boys hockey teams earned the top seed in their divisions and have advanced deep into the tournament. In wrestling, junior Emma Leonido earned her second state title, became the school’s first All-State Champion, and finished fifth in New England; seniors Conlan Geary and Peter Clarke won state titles. In indoor track, senior Ben Willis and junior Altonio Royster set records, broke them, and improved them again. Several individual athletes also hit career milestones. For a wrap-up of every winter sports team, read on.

Boys hockey – The team continued its pattern of success, reaching the state finals for the 7th time in 12 years. With an impressive 16-2-2 record, the Hawks earned the Patriot League Fisher Division title and captured the No. 1 seed in the Division 3 tournament. During the exciting season, senior captain Cam Melone scored his 100th career point. In the first round of tournament play on Feb. 26, the team easily defeated the 32 seed Easthampton 5-0. In the round of 16 on Feb. 28, they topped 17-seeded Lynnfield 6-1. In the Elite Eights on March 5, they won 4-3 over 9th seeded Essex Tech, with Melone netting a hat trick. In the Final Four on March 8, the Hawks beat 5th-seeded Shawsheen Valley Tech 3-1 with three unanswered goals in the third period, punching their ticket to face #3 Medfield in the championship game at TD Garden at 11 am on March 15. The Hawks took home the state crown in 2016 and 2022, and were celebrated as co-champions when the final was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID.

In addition to Melone, the team was led by captains Shane Mahoney and Henry Phillips, both seniors, and juniors Luke Munroe and Connor Hines. Several players won individual honors this season, highlighted by Melone’s selection as Patriot League MVP. Phillips, Munroe, junior Ryan Kisiel, and junior Shane Fanning were selected as League All-Stars. Mahoney received the League Sportsmanship Award, while senior Flynn Gardner was honored with the Boston Bruins–MIAA Sportsmanship Award. Brody Kiley was recognized as a League Scholar-Athlete.

Girls hockey – The team went 14-6-0 in the regular season and won the Patriot League Fisher Division Team Sportsmanship Award for the second straight year. They earned the 13th seed in the Division 2 tournament, capturing a 2-1 overtime win against No. 20 Walpole in the Round of 32. The season ended in the Round of 16 on March 2, with an 8-3 loss to 4th seeded Pembroke.

Senior Leah Toner won the individual League Sportsmanship Award, junior Kiki Carroll was named a League Scholar-Athlete, and league All-Stars were senior Vanessa Federico, junior Allie Condon, sophomore Liv McCormick, and sophomore Caitlin O’Neill. Federico also received the Boston Bruins-MIAA Sportsmanship Award. The team was captained by Toner, Federico, senior Heather McGinnis, and Condon.

Courtesy of Friends of Hanover Girls Hockey

Boys basketball – The team packed the gym many nights this winter in an exciting, nearly undefeated season. They went 19-1, losing only to Plymouth South, on their way to earning the Patriot League Fisher Division title and top seed in the Division 3 tournament. Senior Captain Ryan Mutschler was named Patriot League MVP. In the Round of 32 on March 1, the team topped #33 Randolph 56-44 at home, and Mutschler scored his 1000th career point. The team hosted 17th-seeded Lynnfield in the Round of 16 on March 4, winning a nail-biter 70-60 and earning another home playoff game. In front of a roaring crowd in a sold-out gym on March 8, the Hawks beat 8th seeded Medfield 65-40 to advance to the Final Four. It’s their longest tournament run since 2018. They’ll take on #12 Greater Lawrence Tech at Emanuel College on March 10 for a chance at the title game at Tsongas Arena in Lowell.

In addition to Mutschler, seniors Sebastian Brown and Sam Light led the team as captains. Mutschler and Brown were named Patriot League All-Stars along with seniors Cole Madden and Brad Peterson. Light was named a League Scholar-Athlete.

Girls basketball – After going 12-8 on the season, the team was seeded 9th in the Division 3 tournament. Captained by Ava Jones and Haley Ray, both seniors, and junior Sawyer Bradford, the team defeated #41 Lynn Classical 60-26 at home in the Round of 32 on March 1. They then took on 8th seed Pentucket in the Round of 16 on March 3, falling 51-30 to end the season.

The team’s hard work and strong spirit earned them the Patriot League Team Sportsmanship Award, while senior Shannon Murphy received an individual Sportsmanship Award. Bradford and junior Addie Monahan were named League All-Stars, and senior Hope Miller was recognized as a League Scholar-Athlete.

Wrestling – Led by senior captains Peter Clarke, Conlan Geary, and Matt Costello, it was a record-breaking and championship-filled winter. The team went 11-4 and finished second in the Patriot League Fisher Division. Clarke secured his 100th career victory on Jan. 8, while Geary broke the school’s career wins record in December with his 115th victory, surpassing Anthony Mann’s mark of 112. At the Division 3 Sectionals, Geary and Clarke each claimed first in their weight classes, leading the team to a third-place finish out of 16 teams. The success carried into the D3 state meet, where Clarke and Geary were crowned state champions alongside junior Emma Leonido, who regained the title she won in 2024 after missing a year due to injury. All three advanced to All-States, where athletes compete in multiple rounds over two days with others from all divisions and school sizes. Leonido captured HHS’s first-ever All-State Championship; Geary placed second, and Clarke finished fifth. The three advanced to the New England Championships in Providence, R.I., March 6-9, where Leonido finished 5th in her weight class.

Swim & Dive – Both the boys’ and girls’ teams competed with Marshfield this season. The girls captured their third straight Patriot League title and followed it up with a first-place finish at the Patriot League Championship meet. At the league meets, junior McKenzie Gezotis placed first in the 200 medley relay, fourth in 200 freestyle, and first in the 400 freestyle relay. Senior captain Grace Gilligan finished first in one-meter diving, scoring 192. At the Division 1 South Sectional, freshman Anna Tocchio placed third in both the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke and swam on two relays that finished in the top eight, helping the team earn a 10th-place overall finish. The boys went 5-2 on the season, with senior captain Dean Gomes competing in the Division 1 South Sectional in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 medley relay, and 200 freestyle relay.

Gymnastics – Hanover competed this season with Duxbury, gaining three gymnasts and a coach. According to senior captain Natalie Frank, the team was one of the smallest in years, so “our main goal wasn’t to just win competitions, but to build connections with new teammates.” Athletes tried new skills and events throughout the season, cheering each other on regardless of meet scores. Frank was recognized as a Patriot League All-Star in beam, Patriot League Senior Gymnast, and a Patriot Ledger Scholar-Athlete. Fellow senior captain Morgan Curtis received the Patriot Ledger Sportsmanship Award.

Dance – Led by senior captains Alana Cole, Sophia Rowsell, and Addison Goitia, the team performed at halftime during home basketball games. Throughout the season, they perfected several routines and hosted a clinic for youth dancers. The competition squad placed fifth in the Pom division at the MSAA State Championships on Feb. 28 with one of the highest scores in team history. A showcase performance at HHS on March 13 wraps up their season.