Our fall sports teams have showcased their talent and determination this tournament season. Girls soccer won the program’s first state title in 20 years, while competitive cheer and a first-time cross country runner qualified for states. Football made it to the state semifinals, and boys soccer and field hockey reached playoffs as well. Crowds that have come out for the numerous home games have been treated to plenty of action and heart.

Girls Soccer – The Hawks (#4) won their first state title in 20 years after beating Dedham (#12) 1-0 in the title game at Walpole High School on Nov. 19. Sophia Foley scored the winning goal on a pass by Eva Kelleher, and the team survived a penalty kick in the final minutes. Led by senior captains Mary Carven, Cailyn McCarthy and goalie Mia Pongratz, the game was a fitting end to an amazing season!

Flying high from their Patriot League Fisher Division championship, the team kicked off the post-season by edging Martha’s Vineyard (#29) at home Nov. 6 by a score of 2-1. Goals were netted by Foley, a league MVP, and Sophie Schiller. The team next hosted Pentucket Regional (#13) in the round of 16 on Nov. 9, winning by a score of 2-0. Foley and Schiller combined for scoring once again. The Hawks beat North Reading 1-0 in double overtime in the round of 8 on Nov. 12 to secure a spot in the Final Four. Ayla McDermod scored the winning goal and Pongratz continued her outstanding work in goal. They qualified for the state championship after topping Dover-Sherborn (#8) in the Final Four. The game, played Nov. 16 at Weymouth High School, was scoreless through two overtimes before Hanover won on penalty kicks. Natalie Mutchler defended the goal and Callie Baldwin sank the winning shot.

The last time the team made it to the title game was 2000, when they beat Gateway 1-0.

Football: The Hawks (#4) made it to the state semifinals after a season where they often dominated the competition. Led by quarterback Ben Scalzi, their tourney run was nothing but thrills. In the round of 16 on Nov. 4, they defeated Westwood (#13) 42-7. Nick Freel made it to the end zone three times in front of the home crowd, with additional TDs by Joe Curran, Vinny Mancini and Aidan Boutin. In the quarterfinals on Nov. 10, Hanover hosted Walpole (#5) in a nail-biter of a matchup. The lead changed several times in the second half, with Hanover sealing a 40-37 win in the final minutes of the game. The team faced top-seeded Milton in the Final Four on Nov. 18 at Weymouth High School. Down 20-8 at halftime, the Hawks soared back to a 30-26 lead in the second half. A Milton interception in the fourth quarter led to a touchdown and the Hawks lost 32-30. They finished their impressive season by winnig the annual Thanksgiving Day game against Norwell. Scalzi, Curran, Freel, Ben Hickey and David Quinlan were named Patriot League All Stars. Colin Kilgoar won the league academic achievement award and Shane Coleman was honored for sportsmanship.

Competitive Cheer: The team headed to the MSAA State Championships at Worcester State University on Nov. 20 vying for its first-ever state title. With another strong performance full of energy and skills, the team fell short of its goal but finished with a solid fifth place. During the season, the team won two cheer invitationals before winning the Patriot League Fisher Division title on Nov. 5.  The league championship event, hosted at Whitman-Hanson Regional High School, also saw the squad named Grand Champions with the highest score of any team. They next took home first place at the South Sectional competition at Duxbury High School on Nov. 13, earning a spot in the state competition.

Boys Soccer: Hanover (#11) made it to the round of 8 before their strong season came to an end. They fell to Belchertown (#3) 3-2 on Nov. 12; goals were scored by A.J. Leone and Ryan Butzbach. The Hawks began the tournament by beating Tantasqua (#22), 2-1, in a round of 32 match on Nov. 4. Goals were scored by Tyler Richards and Ned McCann, with solid work in the goal by James Solari. In the round of 16 on Nov. 9, the Hawks topped Greater New Bedford Vocational Technical High School (#27), 4-0. Goals were scored by James McDermod, Dan Bevilacqua, Aidan Richards and Ben Elliott, with Solari earning the shutout.

Field Hockey: Hanover (#10) extended its Patriot League Fisher Division championship season by topping Auburn (#23) Nov. 5 in the round of 32. The Hawks won on the home field 4-1, with three goals by Katie Radzik, league MVP and All Star, and one by Mae Buchanan. For the round of 16, they traveled to Swampscott (#7) on Nov. 8 but lost 2-1. In addition to Radzik, five other players were named leage All Stars: Ava Toglia, Mary Kate Vermette, Merrie DeCoste, Sam Burke, and Kenzie Foley. Coach Bostwick helmed the league all-star game on Nov. 15. Congratulations on a great season!

Cross Country: Sophomore Cam Bradford had a solid debut season for the team, earning Patriot League MVP, finishing 27th at the Divisional championships and qualifying for states. She finished 50th out of 180 runners at the state meet, held at Fort Devens on Nov. 19. The team sent six girls and six boys to the Divisional Championships, held at Stanley Park in Worcester on Nov. 12. The team also competed in the league championship at Hingham High School on Oct. 29. Jack Douglas and Anna Mahoney earned league sportsmanship honors for the season, and Tom Perkins and Jillian Farrell were named scholar-athletes.

Golf: Junior captain Chris Doherty competed in the Division 2 state championship on Oct. 25 at Maplegate Country Club in Bellingham.

Photo Albums from Fall Season

Field hockey senior night 10/21

Girls soccer 9/15/22

Girls Soccer 10/25

Golf 10/6

Boys soccer 11/4

Football state semifinal from the Patriot Ledger

Football state semifinal highlight video from the Patriot Ledger

By Paulina Leskow, ’24

Staff Writer

The US Open is a hardcourt tennis tournament that is held every August in Queens, New York, serving as the final Grand Slam event of the year. It follows the Australian Open in January, the French Open in May, and Wimbledon in June. While each tournament is packed full of excitement for tennis fans, the 2022 Women’s US Open was a rollercoaster of emotions. Serena Williams played her last tournament, with the crowd roaring in support and honoring her incredible career. In addition, Ons Jabeur received a much higher ranking in the world of professional tennis players despite a tough loss, and Iga Swiatek set history as the first Polish woman to win the US Open. 

Anticipation for the US Open was high when Serena announced in early August that the tournament would be her last before retiring. Serena, 41, began her career at age 14, winning her first US Open in 1999 when she was just 17. Since then, she has won the US Open another five times and claimed 17 other Grand Slam titles. She also won four Olympic gold medals. Talk about an amazing career! The crowds roared for Serena as she stepped on the court, expecting to be finished in the first round due to age and injuries; however, Serena made it to the third round of the tournament, playing well but unable to defeat Aija Tomljanovic from Australia. The world of tennis lost an amazing player, a number 1-ranked professional for 319 weeks who, with her sister Venus, has transformed the game. But it will be exciting to see what Serena has in store for her future.

While Serena was making history, Ons Jabeur also had quite the tournament. Ons is one of the greatest tennis players to come out of Africa, specifically Tunisia, and without a doubt she will continue to make her country proud with her amazing play. Jabeur made it all the way to the finals of the US Open, but fell short of the title. Despite her loss, Ons increased her professional ranking from number 5 at the start of the tournament to number two after the final. She is loved around the world for her varied game and dropshots as well as her attitude, being very open to the fans, the media, and other players. 

The player who ended Jabeur’s title hopes and was crowned champion of the US Open was Iga Swiatek of Poland. At just 21 years old, Iga has won three other Grand Slam titles. This tournament was not easy for Iga. She had a lot of tough games leading up to the final, but was able to persevere and take the trophy home. The number one player also made history for her nation as the first Polish tennis player to ever win the US Open. Iga is only getting started on her tennis career, and the next few years of tennis will be greatly impacted by her amazing performance. 

Sources:

• https://www.instagram.com/iga.swiatek/?hl=en
• https://www.dw.com/en/win-or-not-ons-jabeur-has-created-a-tennis-legacy-in-tunisia-and-north-africa/a-63066706

By Ben Freedman, ’25

Staff Writer

Congratulations to the Hanover boys varsity hockey team who won the Massachusetts D3 state championship at the TD Garden on March 20. Led by their five captains Coach Abban, the team claimed the title after an exhilarating playoff run, and an awesome 5-3 win over top-seeded Marlborough. Freshman phenom Michael Munroe scored two goals, senior Max DaSilva had one and senior Robbie Hanna added two, including an empty netter to clinch the win.

“It’s awesome,” DaSilva told HNIB News after the game. “It’s always been a dream to end my career this way.”

On their playoff journey, third-seeded Hanover won four games prior to going to the championship, two of which were very suspenseful.  They started the playoffs March 5 with a 5-0 win over Old Rochester Regional High School, ranked 30th. Next they overpowered 13th seeded Dracut with an 8-0 win on March 8. For the round of 8 on March 12, Hanover topped 6th-ranked Medway 2-1. In the semifinals on March 15, the Hawks beat second-seed Scituate 2-1. Throughout the playoffs, the team showed its depth, with scoring from seniors Tyler MacDermott, Quinn Brown, Nate Curtis, Charlie Cataldo and junior Ben Lines. Junior Liam Monahan was solid in the net.

Hanover won D3 state titles in 1997, 2001 and 2016 at the Garden, as well as a D2 title in 2007. The team rallied this year behind the slogan “unfinished business;” their last trip to the Garden was canceled due to COVID in March 2020; they were declared co-state champions but wanted the full Garden experience this time. And they got it, in front of a huge cheering section of fans.

Best of luck to the seniors on the team who are graduating this year, and best of luck to next year’s team!

Pictures from the championship game

The Hawk Staff

After an exciting season of winter sports, Hanover High has two state champions and many strong performances in the books.

Boys hockey, ranked third in the state, captured the Division 3 state title with a 5-3 win over top-seeded Marlboro at the TD Garden on March 20. They started the playoffs March 5 with a 5-0 win over Old Rochester Regional High School, ranked 30th. Next they overpowered 13th seeded Dracut with an 8-0 win on March 8. For the round of 8 on March 12, Hanover topped 6th-ranked Medway 2-1. In the semifinals on March 15, the Hawks beat second-seed Scituate 2-1. The team rallied behind the slogan “unfinished business.” Their last trip to the Garden was cancelled due to COVID in March 2020; they were declared co-state champions but wanted the full Garden experience this time. And they got it, in front of a huge cheering section of fans.

Sophomore Anthony Mann earned the first wrestling state title in school history at the Division 3 tournament Feb. 18-19. He won his title match in the 138 lb weight class with a pin early in the third period. Mann and senior Garrett Arnold both advanced to All-States on Feb. 25-26. Mann lost in the quarterfinals and Arnold lost a tough match in the first round.

Boys basketball and girls hockey qualified for the tournament but fell in the early rounds.

Boys basketball, ranked 20th with a record of 9-11, kicked things off with a home win over Advanced Math & Science Academy on March 1. The Hawks beat AMSA, ranked 45th, by a score of 66-28. The team then faced 13th seeded Oakmont on March 4, failing to advance after a 65-55 loss.

Girls hockey, ranked 31st, lost a gutsy first-round matchup against second-seeded Braintree High School on March 3. The team fell 2-1 with a goal scored by Abigail Hanna. This was the team’s first solo season after pairing with Cohasset in the past, and they finished with an impressive 8-8-2 regular-season record.

Other HHS teams recorded some strong performances to round out their seasons.

For indoor track, HHS sent several athletes to the the Division 4 state finals at the Reggie Lewis Center on Feb. 17. Freshman Hannah Geary finished fifth in the 1000 meter run, sophomore Sophia Foley finished 11th in the mile, and junior Jillian Farrell was 19th in the two mile. The 4×800 relay featuring Geary, Foley, junior Anna Mahoney and sophomore Ayla McDermod finished 14th. Sophomore Marvin Felix earned 8th place in the 55 meter dash.

In gymnastics, HHS finished fourth in the Patriot League championship on Feb. 13. Meghan DeRice, a junior, placed 4th in the individual vault and floor competitions. Freshman Emma Lyons tied for 5th on the bars and sophomore Morgan Sullivan earned 2nd place for floor.

The swim and dive team, which competes with Marshfield, sent senior Caris Mann to the state championship in two individual events: the 200 IM and 100m breaststroke. Mann earned personal records in both events and 10th place for the breaststroke. The 400 freestyle relay, which Mann also competed in, finished 14th. Overall, the girls finished 18th out of 41 teams.

The HHS Dance Team travelled to Worcester Tech High School on March 5 to compete in the 2022 MSAA State Dance Tournament. 

While the girls basketball team fell short of making the tournament, they were led by top scorers Dani Tilden and McKalah Gaine, both seniors who were also named Patriot League All-Stars. Senior Caroline Moody earned the Sportsmanship Award and senior Rachel Meehan won Scholar Athlete.

According to athletic director Mr. Hutchison, students participating in sports this winter season earned an average grade point average of 3.8.  This impressive achievement includes each winter program, including every level of each sport, earning MIAA Academic Excellence Awards with the highest level of awards earned by the girls’ swim and dive team and dance team. 

Wrestling photos courtesy of Mrs. Arnold

Girls Hockey photos

More boys hockey photos

By Paulina Leskow, ’24

Staff Writer

Winter is one of the most special times of the year. Many people associate winter with the holidays, no school, and warm hot chocolate by the fireplace. When others think of winter, they picture fresh powder and the mountains opening up for skiing and snowboarding. Debates over which is the better sport have been going on for decades. Some prefer whichever sport they mastered first. Others are unwilling to try the other because they have gotten used to one.

In an informal survey of about 20 HHS students, I found that more than half felt skiing was the better sport, while just 15 percent prefered snowboarding. But nearly a quarter of people surveyed couldn’t decide because they love them both.

Fans say thatboth sports offer great views from mountaintops and lots of chances to make fun memories with family and friends. And when you get going fast enough, whether on skiis or a snowboard, you can feel like you’re flying. The techniques and style of skiing and snowboarding are very different, though, and there are advantages and disadvantages to both. Below are some of the pros and cons for each sport:

Snowboarding Pros

• Less equipment so easier to transport and take on and off, boots more comfortable
• Easy to control falls and get back up faster
• Both feet are on the board, making it easier to steer
• Turning is simple and only requires the toe and the heel
• Similar to skateboarding, could be easier to learn for skaters
• Easy to get the hang of even at an older age
• Easy to do tricks, and it looks really cool on the slopes

Snowboarding Cons

• More difficult to maintain balance
• Hard to ride on a ski lift with snowboard on, and annoying to have to unstrap and restrap the board every time you get on or off
• Can get stuck in powder or snow very easily
• Difficult to learn to stay up; many elbow, knee and tailbone bruises will result

Skiing Pros

• Easy to maneuver, steer and control speed downhill
• Easier to ride on icy patches on skis than on a snowboard.
• Easier to get on and off a ski lift with skiis on
• Easier to balance
• Ski poles are beneficial and really fun to use.

Skiing Cons

• Takes a long time to learn, and harder to pick up at an older age
• Bad habits can be produced easily and are very difficult to rid of
• Difficult to get back up on two feet after a fall, especially if a ski falls off
• Ski boots are stiff, leading to sore muscles in the legs and bruising
• Gear and lift tickets can be pretty expensive
• Easy to lose control and crash if going straight down the trail

Whether you prefer skiing, snowboarding or both, it is important to stay safe on the slopes, and to have fun while the snow is still on the mountains!

featured image: https://trustcarehealth.com/blog/snowboarding-and-skiing

Special Thanks to Mr. Hutchinson, HHS Athletics Director

The MIAA fall tournaments are underway for our Hanover Hawks.  On Wednesday the volleyball team defeated Saint Paul Diocesan in convincing fashion, 3-0.  Then yesterday, the field hockey team defeated Nipmuc 1-0 by scoring late in the fourth quarter and blocking multiple shots on goal in the final minutes.

Tonight , football will host the Minnechaug Falcons at 7:00 PM.  Admission to the game is $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens.  Digital tickets are required and can be purchased at gofan.co.  

On Saturday there is a soccer double-header at the Harry Gerrish Memorial Field.  At 4:00 PM, the girls host Archbishop Williams.  Then at 6:30 PM, the boys host Stoneham.  Admission to each event is $5 for adults and $3 for senior citizens.   Admission is FREE for students thanks to a sponsorship by the Don Bunker Insurance Agency of Hanover.  Student tickets are still required for statistical purposes and can be obtained at the same site, gofan.co, as all other digital tickets.

The football and soccer games will be live-streamed by Hanover Community Television (HCTV).  To watch the games, visit HCTV’s Educational Channel.  

The MIAA website is a great resource for tournament brackets, seedings, pairings, and upcoming games.  For your reference, the sports accessible on the MIAA site in which Hanover is competing are each in division 3, unless otherwise noted in this communication. 

A few currently scheduled away tournament events are below.

Volleyball: Friday, 11/5, 4:00 PM at Cardinal Spellman – MIAA Division 3 Statewide Tournament

Cross Country: Saturday, 11/13, 11:30 AM at Gardner Golf Course – MIAA Division 2 Tournament

Competitive Cheer: Sunday, 11/14, TBA at Marshfield High School – MSAA South Sectional Tournament