By Ben Freedman, ’25

Staff Writer

As the students and staff know, the Hanover High school’s varsity football team got off to an excellent start. This is not only due to Hanover’s extremely talented roster, but also the significant coaching staff, and the ecstatic fanbase that attends the games. With a 5-2 record after a Homecoming win over Pembroke Oct. 22, the team is ranked 6th out of 31 teams in Division 3. This sets up exciting possibilities for the upcoming tournament, and the varsity players are planning to go all the way.

“If we are healthy, we have a team that can win the state championship,” said Dylan Rice, #3, a senior wide receiver.

David Quinlan, #2, a junior wide receiver and defensive end, agreed. “I do really think we have a shot to take it,” he said. “Everyone keeps saying ‘oh next year,’ but I truly think we can go back to back (and win this year and next year). If we have everyone healthy and at the top of our game, we really have a shot.”

Michael Landolfi, #1, a junior and the team’s quarterback, said the secret to their success this season after a disappointing Fall 2 last year, is commitment. “I think we have a lot of kids back from last year and we are very locked in,” he said.

The Hawks are captained by Rice, Quinlan, Landolfi, senior Thao Lanagan and junior Joe Curran. The team’s performance has been stunning, with the squad racking up more than 30 points in six of its seven games. For Nick Freel, #10, a junior linebacker and running back who has scored a good share of those points, the Sept. 10 game against Whitman-Hanson showed the team its potential. Hanover won 33-20.

“There was a lot of skepticism going into the season, but that game helped us realize just how good we can be,” Freel said.

Hanover fans have been psyched for the return of a normal football season. 

“I love going to the football games and it feels good after a year of not having games,” said Nieve Rowlette, a senior.

Anna Bucchianeri, a senior who sings in the chorus at the games, agreed. “I think it’s a very good social event for everyone, especially after COVID 19.”

Kaya Bianculli, a junior, said attending the games gives you a chance to see people you don’t always see in school. “The environment is really fun and energetic,” she said.

Senior Jack Johnston agreed. “They’re fun and electric!” He hopes to be there when the team comes up against Plymouth South again. Hanover’s’ 42-35 loss against them Oct. 1 was a nailbiter that the Hawks would love to avenge.

For players on the freshman and JV squads, attending the games is a preview of what’s ahead for them.

“It’s a super fun experience to go to the games, and you get to see what it’s like to watch a varsity football game,” said Noah DeMeule, a member of the freshman squad.

Michael Bean, a sophomore nose guard/defensive tackle on JV, added “Personally I feel like it’s nice to be there to support the team and the players.”

Whatever happens this year, the team and fans are confident exciting football is here to stay in Hanover.

“Next year the team is going to be even better since most of our team is juniors,” said Rice. “They will have another shot of making a deep run into the tournament and winning a state championship.”

Those long-term plans for success are echoed by junior Sam Healy, #77, a left guard/defensive tackle. “The hope is to win the following games, and then to win the championship the next two seasons,” he said. “Coach Landolfi always talks about playing like a championship team and to not let one bad play turn into another.”

Featured pictures are from the Hawks’ 47-13 win over Dighton Rehoboth on Sept. 24. For more, click on the link:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/RTt879bKBjHKLRSo6

Special Thanks to Mr. Hutchison, HHS Athletics Director

Excitement for our Hanover Hawks is growing as teams prepare for the postseason.  This year marks the first MIAA Statewide Tournament, different from past years when the tournament began within regional sections.  Along with this new format is a new seeding system based on power rankings and anticipation is growing.

Current MIAA Power Rankings (for applicable fall sports)

Boys Soccer (4-9-2): Currently ranked 16th out of 62 teams in Division 3.

Field Hockey (5-6-1): Currently ranked 18th out of 54 teams in Division 3.

Football (4-2): Currently ranked 6th out of 31 teams in Division 3.

Girls Soccer (12-3): Currently ranked 4th out of 66 teams in Division 3.

Volleyball (4-13): Currently ranked 28th out of 57 teams in Division 3.

The regular season for the majority of fall sports ends next weekend.  There are a few opportunities to come to HHS to support your Hawks as they finish the regular season.  For links to schedules for each team, visit the MIAA Schedules tab on the Hanover Athletics website.

Cheer, Cross Country, Golf

There are three other fall programs that power rankings do not apply; competition cheer, cross country, and golf.  The competition cheer team will compete Oct. 23 at their first competition of the season, the Duxbury Invitational.  The squad is scheduled to perform at 11:25 AM and spectators are permitted.  Best of luck to the competition cheer team at the Duxbury Invitational.

The cross country teams have completed the regular season and are in preparation for the Patriot League Championship, hosted at the Marshfield Fair Grounds on Oct. 30.  Afterward, the teams will participate in one last invitational before competing in the MIAA Cross Country tournament on Nov. 13 at Stanley Park in Westfield.

The golf season is complete and the program celebrated its successes at a team gathering Oct. 21.  Congratulations to the coaching staff and student-athletes on a successful season.  A special congratulations to the following Patriot League Award recipients: Scholar-Athlete Liam Monahan, Sportsmanship recipient Charlie Cataldo, and All-Stars Charlie Cataldo and Chris Doherty.

Some Pictures and Media Coverage

Girls Cross Country

Boys Cross Country

Volleyball

Football

Field Hockey

Girls Soccer

Boys Soccer

By Paulina Leskow, ’24

Staff Writer

One of the most intense and movement-based sports played at Hanover High School is volleyball. The Hawks volleyball team practices very hard and never gives up. Although they do not have the greatest win record, their strength and determination encourages others to fight for every point like they do. Whether it is the JV1, JV2, or Varsity, every member of the team loves playing the sport for it enhances not only teamwork and communication, but also makes them stronger.

“All season I have been impressed with the attitude in the volleyball program,” said Varsity Coach Colleen Smith. “Day in and day out, the girls come to practice looking to get better despite their records.”

Currently 2-10, the team has gone five sets in two nail-biter matches and has had several other close sets. “To me the record is no indication of the talent that is on this team and we really just need to get a win to get over the slump,” Smith said.

Due to the coronavirus the past two years, the team has had to play and practice with masks on. Even though it is a struggle, the players work through it. Every weekday after school, the girls practice in the gym, putting in as much effort as if it were a game. In addition, Varsity not only practices on Sunday nights, they wake up every Thursday morning to attend practice at 5:30 am. Talk about commitment! Even though they are tired those mornings, the team is eager and excited to play. Senior captains Lauren Salvas and Allie Calabro lead the team and encourage the girls to try their best and never give up.

“Our captains have set the tone this season and are not only vocal leads but also lead by example in practices and games,” Smith said.

The coaching staff, which also includes Coach Andrea Hurley and Coach Kate Manning, not only arrives at every practice with energy and motivation, but they also love what they are doing and help the team have fun while they are playing. With a few weeks left in the season, hopefully the team can pull off more wins and continue to have fun. 

Fast Facts

• Captains: Lauren Salvas and Allie Calabro
• Coaches: Kate Manning  (Jv2), Andrea Hurley (Jv1), and Colleen Smith (Varsity)
• Practices: Jv1 and Jv2 are every day after school, Varsity practices Thursday at 5:30 in the morning, Sunday nights and every weekday
• Record: 2-10
• Wins: Against Plymouth North, Silver Lake
• Photo Gallery in The Enterprise
• More pics
• Stats on MaxPreps

By Carson Butler, ’21

Contributor

It had been 700 days – and a new school mascot – since Hanover Baseball had said the words “Play Ball!” Since that day, ten spots had opened on the varsity team, which meant that one thing this year’s squad would not have was experience. The team’s four captains – Ryan Pelish, Brendan Poirier, Carson Butler, and Ian Kirby – all have some varsity time under their belt. And one thing this team has shown in practice is the ability to compete for their jobs and bring the energy day in and day out. The boys had not yet played together on a team for the high school, but had developed a great chemistry throughout the summer and fall seasons of 2020. That chemistry and energy would be tested as the Hawks took the trip up north to Quincy for the season opener May 7.

Adams Field is a great venue for any fan to catch a game and is player-friendly with the well-prepared infield ready to go on game day. In years past, Hanover has enjoyed playing Quincy, ensuring they reach the top of the Patriot League by winning the games they need to win and beating the teams they need to beat. The same situation would need to occur Friday. Pelish pitched five strong innings, allowing only two earned runs with plenty of support from his offense. Poirier, Wes Bryan, Jack Fish, Tim Porter and Carter Zielinski all added hits to the box score. The players with no varsity experience stepped up, an encouraging sign for games to come as the captains’ bats will heat up as well.

With a 5-2 lead heading into the 6th inning, Hanover sent out Butler to shut the door and attempt a six-out save. Coming in from shortstop, Butler struck out two of the three batters faced to make it a 1-2-3 inning. While still holding a comfortable 5-2 lead heading into the 7th inning, the wheels started to fall off. With Butler unable to get ahead in the count as he faced the 7th, 8th, and 9th batters in the lineup, the base runners snowballed into four runs in dramatic fashion. Quincy walked it off and won by a score of 6-5. 

Butler reflected on his outing. “I need to be better out there. I owe it to my teammates and especially to Pelish after a 5-inning gem,” he said. “It sure is a tough pill to swallow, but with all of the work I have put in this offseason mentally and physically, I can live with the results knowing my teammates have my back. Believe me, I will be back. The commitment and the understanding of being all in will be prevalent in games to come.”

Surely a disappointing loss, the team looks to move on as the Hawks take on North Quincy, Scituate, and Plymouth South in the week ahead.

By Ava Toner, ’22

Staff Writer

She shoots … She scores!!! The girls’ basketball team won the Patriot League Championship this season despite the uncertainty this year has presented. The tournament run, capped by a 50 – 43 win over Whitman- Hanson in the final, was a massive turnaround from last season when they got knocked out in the first round of playoffs. For junior Dani Tilden, the success could be attributed to “changing positions of starters this year” and “being more committed.” She was at the gym twice a day to shoot.  Mckalah Gaine, a junior, said the team’s increased “preparation before each game” and “drive because we all wanted to win” led to this season’s major success. 

Due to COVID, only minor details of game play were altered including no coin tosses, tipoffs or passing the ball in from underneath the hoop. However, the pandemic had a huge impact on the social impact of the sport. There were no team dinners or locker rooms and seats were assigned on the bus trips. But the girls managed to overcome these obstacles and still maintain a connection on the court, which became apparent as their games grew more competitive. Group chats and joking at practices helped the team bond, Gaine said. The girls’ commitment and teamwork was able to completely transform the squad from underdogs to champions. 

This season included a milestone for Coach Brian Fisher, who on Jan. 25 racked up his 200th career win. He and his father, Bob, have more than 860 wins between them.

Sadly, the team will be losing many key seniors, including captains Emily Flynn and Clare Connolly, but they are hopeful that they can adapt to their changing lineup and are excited to see what new talent will be coming next year.

 

Featured image: https://goccusports.com/news/2020/10/1/sun-belt-releases-mens-basketball-conference-schedule.aspx

By Ronan Henderson

In a decade filled with some of the craziest plays ever, it would be much too difficult to pick the greatest sports moment of the decade. Therefore, starting with 2010 and going up, I will be ranking what I believe were the greatest sports moment of each year. 

2010 – New Orleans Starts 2nd half of Super Bowl with onside kick 

In what will go down as one of the most gutsy play calls in the history of the NFL, Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints decided to kick an onside kick to start the second half of Superbowl XLIV. Whether it was a smart call or not, the play ultimately worked and the Saints went on to win the Superbowl 31-17 over the Indianapolis Colts. 

2011 – David Freese’s Heroics in Game 6 of the World Series

With his team down 3-2 in the Series, and the Texas Rangers just out away from the title, St. Louis Cardinals’ third baseman David Freese stepped into the box. With men on first and second, it was believable to think that Freese might be able to work some magic. He did just that, hitting a two-run triple which ultimately tied the game up at 7 and forced extra innings. To make things even crazier, Freese got another at-bat in the bottom of the 11th, with the score tied 9-9. Sure enough, Freese came through again and delivered a solo shot that took the game for the Cardinals and forced a game 7. The Cardinals went on to win the Series.

2012 – Michael Phelps Thrives at London Olympics

Michael Phelps. You hear the name and immediately think the greatest swimmer of all time, right? Phelps showcased that tremendously during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, winning four gold medals and two silver. This was one of his signature performances as a swimmer, and he will most certainly be known as the most decorated swimmer in Olympic history for decades to come. By the time he retired after the 2016 Games, he had accumulated a record-breaking 28 medals, the most of any Olympian in the history of the modern games.

2013 – Alabama Vs Auburn Ends in “Kick Six” as Time Expires

In what will go down as one of the craziest moments in not only college football history, but all of sports, the Auburn Tigers accomplished the unthinkable and sucked the life right out of the Crimson Tide. In the closing second of the 78th Iron Bowl, with a tied score of 28-28, Alabama head coach Nick Saban elected to try a 57-yard field goal rather than just take the game to overtime. Just as you would expect, the kick ultimately was short (it would be a difficult shot for an NFL kicker, let alone one in college) and Auburn had Chris Davis lined up under the posts. Davis would not only catch the short attempt, but take it 100 yards to the house in walkoff fashion. There has never been such a crazy ending to a college football game since.

2014 – Odell Beckham Jr. Makes Greatest Catch in NFL History

In the history of the NFL, it is safe to say that there have been some insane catches. It is also safe to say that Odell Beckham Jr. made one of the best. During a competitive game between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys, the rookie Beckham was on the receiving end of defensive pass interference by Brandon Carr. Rather than fall to the ground without looking, Beckham stayed with the play and went up for the catch, hauling it in with only three fingers. He also managed to keep both of his feet in bounds, which in itself was kind of amazing. In fact, this catch was so crazy that the jersey that Beckham wore that game is now sitting in the pro football Hall of Fame. 

2015 – Butler Intercepts Wilson with 2 Minutes Left to Clinch Patriots Super Bowl

Super Bowl 49 was a heavyweight matchup between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks that lived up to the hype. For the majority of the game, the lead went back and forth. But with 7:55 left in regulation, the Patriots had a TD reception from Danny Amendola to make it 24-21. After a 3 and out, the Patriots got the ball back once again. On this drive, Tom Brady hit Julian Edelman with a 3-yard TD pass to make it a 28-24 game with 2 minutes remaining. Somehow, the game would get even more entertaining, with an absolute circus catch from Jermaine Kearse that set up the Seahawks perfectly for a TD. After getting stuffed on the next play, it was clear that the Seahawks were going to run the ball again with Marshawn Lynch. For some weird reason that sports fans still can’t understand to this day, Pete Caroll decided to do a slant pass. That is where the hero Malcolm Butler comes into play. With 26 seconds remaining on the clock, Butler read the pass by Wilson and ultimately picked him off, clinching the Patriots fourth Super Bowl title. As a sports fan, this game was an emotional rollercoaster, and by far the best of 2014.

2016 – Chicago Cubs Break 108-year World Series Drought

In one of the most exciting World Series matchups in recent memory, this 7-game heavyweight battle featured everything a sports fan could want. The Chicago Cubs’ return to the World Series had all sports fans wondering if it was finally the end of the curse. For the last 108 years, the Cubs had never won a World Series and had several “scapegoats” such as the Steve Bartman incident (a fan grabbed a foul ball that was still catchable in game 6 of the 2003 NLCS) and the black cat incident (feline runs in front of the Cubs dugout, cursing them and causing them to lose their divisional lead late in the 1969 season). The Cubs played with fans’ hearts when they went down three games to one to the Cleveland Indians. Two wins later, they found themselves 9 innings – or, in this case, it happened to be 10 innings – between either breaking or continuing the curse. The Cubs went up early in game 7, taking a 6-3 lead into the eighth inning. The Indians responded with an offense of their own and tied it up at 6. After a 15-minute rain delay that just completely killed the flow of the game, the 10th inning began. It ended with the Chicago Cubs as 2016 World Series champs. This whole series must be counted as one of the most entertaining ever, especially when you consider the rarity of a series ending in extra innings.

2017 – Patriots Comeback From 28-3 Deficit in Super Bowl

This was an obvious pick, considering it was one of the greatest comebacks in all of sports history. Trailing 28-3 with 2:08 left in the third quarter, it would have been easy for Patriots fans to give up. Like many other fans, though, I thought, “This is Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. . . if anyone can make a 25-point comeback, it’s them.” A quarter later, the entire NFL fan base (aside from those rooting for the Atlanta Falcons) realized this was the greatest game ever played and that Tom Brady had solidified himself as the greatest quarterback of all time. Two James White TDs, a Danny Amendola TD, and a couple of 2-point conversions later, it was 28-28 headed into overtime. With this momentum, the whole world knew that if the Patriots won the coin toss they would drive the length of the field and score. Wide receiver Matthew Slater called “heads” and, sure enough, the Patriots won the toss. A series of 10-yard chunks and a 13-yard penalty put the Patriots in scoring position. (Insert Celine Dion “My Heart Will Go On” music) White ran to the left and kept on running to the New England Patriots fifth Super Bowl title. This game was not only the best sports moment of 2017, but in the history of the NFL.

2018 – #1 Seeded Virginia Upset by #16 UMBC in First Round of March Madness

Prior to the 2018 March Madness tournament, no 16th-seeded team had ever upset a top seed. To put that into perspective, teams seeded 16th have a 1-135 record vs number one seeds since the tournament was born. This was one of the craziest feats to happen this decade, especially considering that every March the headline is, “Will this be the year a 16th seed advances to the second round?” It is especially crazy to think that not only did the UMBC Retrievers upset Virginia, but it was a blowout. The final score was 74-54 in what will go down as one of the most historic games in NCAA basketball history.

2019 – Tiger Woods Wins the Masters

In what is one of the most feel good stories of the decade, Tiger Woods won his first Masters since 2005. After jumping onto the scene in 1997 by winning his first major championship, Woods immediately won over golf fans with his elite play and energetic charisma. He continued to dominate for the better part of 15 years, winning 14 major championships. Unfortunately, after a series of personal scandals and injury after injury, both Tiger’s play – and the love he received from the fans – fell off the map. Finally, after 11 years without a major championship, Woods wrote the ultimate redemption story, thriving in his Sunday red en route to his 5th masters win. For a guy that had been through so much, you can’t help but love this story for both Tiger and for the sport of golf itself.

 

Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/02/sports/world-series-score-cubs-indians.html

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2278065-odell-beckham-jr-makes-ridiculous-1-handed-td-catch-while-being-dragged-down

https://www.si.com/golf/2019/12/16/tiger-woods-2019-moments-masters-win-comeback

https://www.espn.com/nfl/game?gameId=400927752

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/22800763/umbc-pulled-most-unforgettable-did-just-see-upset-ncaa-tournament-history-knocking-no-1-overall-seed-virginia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upOmjohOvb4

https://www.mlb.com/news/memories-of-david-freese-2011-world-series

https://www.espn.com/nfl/game?gameId=400749027

 

By Drew Murphy

To say the Boston Bruins have been amazing this year is an understatement. Tonight, they begin their 19th Stanley Cup Final and have a shot at winning their 7th NHL championship.

The Bruins started out by grinding out the regular season, finishing second in their division and second in the whole league with over 100 points on the season. In the first round of playoffs, they faced the Toronto Maple Leafs,a league rival and Original Six foe. Over the years, the Bruins have consistently beaten the Leafs in the playoffs, including a miraculous comeback in 2013 when the Bruins scored four goals in the dying minutes of the first game of the opening round series . This year, the two teams went to seven games in a grueling battle that ended with suspension, bruises and blood. 

Next up was the Columbus Blue Jackets, another very tough team who happened to be coming off the most historic first-round ever. As the last-seeded team in the playoffs, the Blue Jackets beat the top seed in a four-game sweep. The Bruins again faced a team that would give them a run for their money.  The Bruins had a 3-2 lead in the series heading into game 6, which started off extremely fast-paced with plenty of scoring chances for both teams. Eventually, veteran forward David Krejci put one home, giving the Bruins momentum and the rest of the game was theirs. David Backes and Marcus Johansson scored and the Bruins won 3-0. 

In the semifinals, they faced the Carolina Hurricanes, an unlikely opponent that grinded its way through the early rounds. The Bruins took care of them in a four game sweep, getting contributions from all four lines and especially Tuukka Rask, the goaltender having one of the best performances in the playoffs.

Going into the finals against the St. Louis Blues, the Bruins are locked in and focused and know what they need to do to win. With contributions from 1st line All-Stars Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak to 4th line standouts Sean Kuraly, Joakim Nordstrom, Noel Accarica and Chris Wagner,  the Bruins will be in great shape. The fans and the team are ready for the Boston Bruins to bring home their seventh Stanley Cup.