Warwick Beacon All City 2011-12

JUNE 26, 2012

WARWICK BEACON

ALL CITY 2011-2012

ALL CITY TEAMS • ATHLETES OF THE YEAR • COACHES OF THE YEAR

MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Ryan Brannigan When football coach Keith Croft was preparing to give a speech about Ryan Brannigan at Bishop Hendricken’s athletic banquet, he didn’t have to think too hard about the theme. It was an easy choice.

“The word that comes to mind when I think of Ryan is winning,” Croft said.

And with good reason.

Brannigan graduated from Hendricken this year with a pretty full trophy case. He won two football state championships, two track state championships and four individual race titles at state track meets.

Throw in a Division I Super Bowl MVP award, and you’ve got one of the most decorated athletes to come through Hendricken in years.

It was a dream career.

“I’ll definitely remember the two football state championships, track All-States, track championships,” Brannigan said. “It was a lot of fun.”

When Brannigan arrived at Hendricken four years ago, he immediately impressed Croft and his coaches while playing for the freshman team. No matter where he was on the field, his speed and athleticism stood out.

That combination made him a

natural fit for track, and he ran with his potential in that sport.

As a junior, he was on the firstplace winning 4x400 relay team at indoor track states, a finish that helped the Hawks win the team title. He ran the same relay at outdoor states, taking first again.

This winter, Brannigan was a key part of two more winning relays at indoor states. The Hawks won both the 4x400 and 4x200.

For a lot of athletes, that’s a pretty good high school career in itself, but the track wasn’t even where Brannigan made his biggest mark.

On the football field, he shined.

“He was phenomenal,” Croft said. “He played in three straight Super Bowls, won the last two, and just willed us to victory in arguably the greatest upset in Rhode Island football history.”

Brannigan was a contributor as a sophomore when the Hawks lost to Barrington in the Super Bowl. The next year, Brannigan was a junior standout on a senior-laden squad that broke Hendricken’s 13-year title drought. Brannigan, who had played mostly receiver, switched to running back when

Ethan Ferreira got hurt late in the year, and he ended up scoring the game-winning touchdown in the Super Bowl.

That, too, would have been enough for a great high-school career, but for Brannigan, there was an encore.

As a senior this past season, he moved to quarterback and captained an inexperienced squad to a monumental upset of La Salle in the Super Bowl.

“It was pretty awesome,” Brannigan said. “Winning my junior year, I thought that was the best. But coming back, I always wanted to go out on top.

To be able to do it against La Salle, our rivals, I couldn’t think of anything better, especially with us being counted out.”

The Rams were 8-0 and heavily favored. They had blown out the Hawks in a regular-season meeting.

But that was early, when the Hawks were still finding their way. And, when Brannigan was still finding his way.

“He brought a calming presence, and he was a leader,” Croft said. “Even though he’d tell you he wasn’t where he wanted to be statistically – and maybe wasn’t where we wanted him to ■

PAGE 18

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Susie Cavanagh Susie Cavanagh is from an athletic family, and she’s always played sports. When she got to high school, she didn’t hesitate to fill up her calendar. Field hockey in the fall, ice hockey in the winter and golf in the spring.

“I wouldn’t really want it any other way,” Cavanagh said.

“It’s fun. I feel like I was kind of born to play sports. It runs in the family, so why not play?”

And in Cavanagh’s case, why not play well?

Every step of the way, that’s what the 2012 Pilgrim High School graduate did. She was a first-team AllStater in field hockey, she was a key contributor on the Pilgrim boys’ hockey team, and she finished second at the girls’ state golf championship.

It was a fitting senior year for one of the best athletes the school has ever seen.

“She’s one of the most talented female athletes Pilgrim’s ever had,” said field hockey coach Nisa San Giovanni. “I’ve been here 27 years and I could put her in the top two or three.

She’s one of those kids who can just do anything. If she had played softball, she’d probably be first-team All-State.”

Cavanagh grew up playing a lot of sports, but as part of a family full of hockey stars, she gravitated to the ice. At Pilgrim, though, she wasn’t content just focusing on one sport.

She went out for field hockey as a freshman and made the varsity squad right out of the gates. She’d never played before, but her hockey skills, for the most part at least, translated well “You could see it right away,” San Giovanni said. “It took her a little while to get used to the game, and she wasn’t used to the rules. It’s a lot slower, and she liked the speed of ice hockey. But it didn’t take her long.”

Cavanagh became a standout immediately and helped the Pats to a 12-2-2 record as a sophomore. After that, Pilgrim was moved up to Division I. It was a challenge, and the Pats won three games each year. But Cavanagh still made an impression, earning All-State honors in spite of the team’s record.

“She basically carried us,” San Giovanni said. “When she wanted to take over, she could.”

In the winter, Cavanagh returned for her third year as a member of the Pilgrim boys’ hockey team. She had played for the Warwick girls’ hockey co-op team in her freshman

year, but she decided before her sophomore season that playing boys’ hockey gave her a better chance to improve her game.

It was a decision that still sticks with her head coach at Pilgrim, Dave Tober.

“She just has this unselfishness,” Tober said. “She basically passed up three years of accolades, scoring titles, All-States to play on a boys’ Division II team, and it was all because she wanted to better herself as a hockey player.”

After not making a huge splash in her first two years, Cavanagh became a key part of the team this season. She centered the second line for the Pats, and helped lead the team to an 11-6-1 regular season and a spot in the Division II semifinals. She finished the year with six goals and four assists.

“That was awesome,” Cavanagh said. “I got a lot better as a player and to have the boys accept me was cool. It’s good hockey. It’s fast.”

In addition to her contributions on the ice, the fact that she was part of the team at all set the tone for the rest of the squad.

“The message she sent by being willing to give up the ■

PAGE 22

Warwick Beacon

FOOTBALL

18

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

ALL CITY TEAM T.J. BOYAJIAN

AUSTIN LEMIRE

ALEX LEDDY

Running Back • Warwick Vets

Offensive Line • Pilgrim

Linebacker • Pilgrim

Boyajian was the top offensive threat for the 'Canes and helped lead them to their first wins since 2008.

The anchor of a strong offensive line, Lemire helped the Pats run the ball well all season long.

Like his twin, Andrew, Alex could play anywhere. He had success on defense and as a powerful fullback.

DERICK DURAND

STEVE HALEY

JOHN LEONARD

Running Back • Toll Gate

Offensive Line • Toll Gate

Defensive Back • Hendricken

Durand was a workhorse for the Titans and a standout performer despite a tough season for the team.

Haley was a standout on both sides of the ball for the Titans, and did a lot of good work in the trenches.

Leonard was a standout in pass coverage all season for the 'Canes and was also a key leader.

LOU FALCONE

REUBEN HORACE

AARON WEBB

Fullback • Hendricken

Defensive Line • Hendricken

Defensive Back • Hendricken

Falcone stepped into a void in the backfield and emerged as Hendricken's most consistent runner.

Horace emerged as a force on defense for the Hawks and made several huge plays in key spots.

A key contributor on both sides of the ball, Webb was one of the top cover corners in the league.

LAIONEL CINTRON

MARIO MCCLAIN

SHANE KELLY

Wide Receiver • Hendricken

Defensive Line • Hendricken

Defensive Back • Pilgrim

Cintron was the Hawks' top threat on the outside and he caught the game-winning touchdown in the Super Bowl.

McClain played in the middle of the defensive line and helped the Hawks turn into a run-stuffing unit.

Kelly led a strong secondary for the Pats, excelling in pass coverage and finishing as a leading tackler.

MIKE MALLOZZI

CHAD JACKMAN

FRED PIERCE

Wide Receiver • Pilgrim

Defensive Line • Pilgrim

Defensive Back • Warwick Vets

Mallozzi emerged as a big offensive threat, making big catches nearly every week to help the Pats stay in playoff contention.

The Pats got a big lift from their line late in the season, and Jackman's pass rushing was one of the keys.

Pierce joined Leonard in giving the 'Canes a solid secondary.

He had a key interception in Vets' first win.

NICK SALOIS

ANDREW LEDDY

BOBBY LINEBERGER

Offensive Line • Warwick Vets

Defensive Line • Pilgrim

Kicker • Hendricken

Salois anchored the front line for the 'Canes and was a team leader as Vets shook off recent struggles.

Leddy played all over the place for the Pats but was at his best as a defensive force.

Lineberger stepped into the job and emerged as one of the most reliable kickers in the league.

MAX HEINTZELMAN

BRIAN REILLY

JESSIE SEDOMA

Offensive Line • Hendricken

Linebacker • Hendricken

Punter • Warwick Vets

An All-Stater and a Bryant commit, Heintzelman led a stout offensive line from his tackle spot.

Reilly picked up the slack after the graduation of four standout linebackers and helped captain the defense.

Also a quarterback, Sedoma had a big impact on special teams as well, with his punts often flipping the field for Vets.

ANDREW BRETING

JARRID WITHERSPOON

VINNY DEVITO

Offensive Line • Hendricken

Linebacker • Hendricken

Kick Returner • Pilgrim

After not playing in 2011, Breting returned, took over the starting center spot and carried a big load.

As one of the team's most athletic players, Witherspoon was a standout against the run and the pass.

Part of a dynamic duo with twin brother Jon, Vinny was a threat to take one to the house every time.

JON DEVITO

HONORABLE MENTION Michael Clapp, Hendricken Nick DeCiantis, Hendricken Marco DelVecchio, Hendricken Mitch Lucci, Hendricken Jullion Pope, Hendricken Billy Stewart, Hendricken Billy Grossi, Pilgrim Jon Korry, Pilgrim Carl Sjogren, Pilgrim

Punt Returner • Pilgrim

Derryck Anderson, Toll Gate Nick Carr, Toll Gate Mitch Howkins, Toll Gate Jose Javier, Toll Gate Steve Amalfitano, Warwick Vets Sean Banno, Warwick Vets Tony Lonczak, Warwick Vets Dom Moreira, Warwick Vets

DeVito's speed was as good as anyone in the division, and he was also a threat for the end zone.

COACH OF THE YEAR KEITH CROFT, HENDRICKEN

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Ryan Brannigan HENDRICKEN • QUARTERBACK (Continued from page 17) be – as the season wore on, he got better and better and more confident. I think his two best games of the season were our two playoff games. They may not have been his best games statistically, but just the way he managed the team and carried himself.”

After a semifinal win over South Kingstown, the Hawks squared off against the Rams and Brannigan did his best to power the upset. He scored a first-quarter touchdown and led a drive that culminated in a field goal

and a 10-0 lead.

The Rams came back and seemed to be in control when they went in front 14-10. But with four minutes remaining, the Hawks started an eight-play 62-yard drive and finished it when Brannigan found Laionel Cintron in the corner of the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown.

Brannigan had completed four of five passes on the clutch drive. For good measure, he broke up a pass on La Salle’s last possession, and the Hawks went on to the upset.

Six months later, the memory is still fresh.

“There’s always talk about it,” Brannigan said. “There are always pictures, and people want to talk about the catch.”

Brannigan ended up earning AllState honors for the second year in a row.

“To be honest, we had some questions about putting him at quarterback, just because he had been such a successful player at wide receiver and running back and defensive back,” Croft said. “At quarterback he might be losing touches, so there were concerns. But he answered all of them.”

Brannigan’s next step will be a col-

lege career. He’s set to play football at Division III Endicott College in the fall, a program that went 10-1 last year.

Brannigan may just keep winning.

“I think it’s a great fit for him,” Croft said. “I think his story is a story a lot of kids in Rhode Island need to listen to.

He had a chance to maybe go I-AA or Division II. He just made a decision that he wanted to play right away and play against kids who are at his level skill-wise. I think it’s a great move, and I think he’s going to have a great career there.”

-W.G.

Warwick Beacon

ALL CITY TEAM

Nate Sandin TOLL GATE • MIDFIELDER

GIRLS’ SOCCER

For three years, Nate Sandin started at center midfield for the Toll Gate boys’ soccer team, and for three years his teams came up short of a postseason bid.

In his senior year, though, Sandin – and his team – got over the hump.

After a decade-long playoff drought, Toll Gate returned to the playoffs this past fall, with Sandin as its top performer.

He scored nine goals and added 13 assists from his spot in the center, leading the Titans to a 7-6-3 record.

“First time as Toll Gate we’ve made the playoffs as 10 years, and he was a big factor as to why that happened,” Toll Gate head coach Tim Hayes said. “He was a big reason on the field, a big reason off the field.”

Sandin served as one of the team’s captains – along with his cousin, John Crowley – and those two formed the nucleus for a team that realized it was on the verge of something special and didn’t waste it.

As they really began to win, everybody began to believe.

“We started winning games, and the next thing you know we thought we could actually make something of this,” Sandin said.

Hayes thought the team had a chance from the beginning, but he knew Sandin would have to be one of the biggest pieces of the puzzle.

Hayes saw the skill in Sandin during his first two years as the team struggled in Division I, then saw him progress into a bigger, stronger player during his junior year with the team in Division II. Senior year, he put it all together.

“He makes so many players around him better,” Hayes said. “More players are able to get goals, he can draw two or three guys to him and then find the right pass. When he’s doing those kind of things and doing that kind of dirty work, we were a dangerous team.”

And that was the recipe for a special season.

Sandin is keeping his options open for the future, but he wants soccer to be still be a part of it. He’s considering going to CCRI and potentially playing for the Knights, or joining the Air Force and getting involved in a soccer program offered there.

- Kevin Pomeroy

ANTHONY ABEL

PHIL TANTIMONICO

Goalie • Hendricken

Midfielder • Pilgrim

Abel had big shoes to fill in his first year as a starter and did it admirably, helping lead the Hawks back to the playoffs.

A four-year starter, Tantimonico closed out his career with another solid season as Pilgrim’s top all-around player.

DAN L aPLANTE

TORREY STRICKLIN

Defender • Pilgrim

Midfielder • Hendricken

LaPlante played several positions for the Pats and had success at all of them. He was also a team leader.

Stricklin had a hand in everything the Hawks did on the field on his way to All-State honors.

NICK PEZZILLO

JOHN CROWLEY

Defender • Pilgrim

Midfielder • Toll Gate

Pezzillo shifted from forward to defender and helped solidify Hendricken’s unit.

Crowley played all over the field and was one of the top players in the division at every spot.

WILL HAY

CODY SULLIVAN

Defender • Warwick Vets

Forward • Warwick Vets

Hay was a vocal leader and a key to success on the back line for the ’Canes.

Sullivan provided a lot of the scoring punch for the ’Canes and was capable of a lot of production.

NATHAN DaCOSTA

JOSH SANDIN

Defender • Toll Gate

Forward • Toll Gate

A solid defender, DaCosta was also responsible for jump-starting much of Toll Gate’s offense.

The younger brother of Nate Sandin, Josh started as a freshman and was one of the state’s leading scorers.

HONORABLE MENTION COACH OF THE YEAR Kenny Charron, Hendricken Dan Levesque, Hendricken Kyle O’Connell, Hendricken Devon Crespin, Pilgrim Ian Giuttari, Pilgrim Luis Pimental, Pilgrim Josh Giarrantano, Toll Gate

David Moreno-Garcia, Toll Gate Dylan Robert, Warwick Vets Nikone Soupharath, Warwick Vets

SHIANNE SILVIA

EMILY FOX

Goalie • Pilgrim

Midfielder • Toll Gate

Silvia was a mainstay in net for the Pats, helping lead the team to a 14-4 finish.

A competitor and a team leader, Fox led the way for the Titans with her play in the midfield.

HEATHER WOLFENDEN

CASEY BENNETT

Defender • Pilgrim

Midfielder • Warwick Vets

Just a junior, Wolfenden led the charge for the Pats defensively and was one of the top overall players in the division.

Bennett built on a strong freshman season with a solid sophomore campaign for the 'Canes.

RYLEE CANDON

MEGAN SULLIVAN

Defender • Toll Gate

Midfielder • Pilgrim

Candon was a veteran on the back line for a young Toll Gate squad and flashed versatility all over the field.

Sullivan was a key player for the Pats, emerging as one of the team's top offensive options.

AMANDA RUGGIERI

LARISSA PAOLANTONIO

Defender • Pilgrim

Forward • Warwick Vets

A starter for several years, Ruggieri was a leader on and off the field for the Pats.

The 'Canes didn't get a lot of offense, but when they did Paolantonio was usually in the middle of it.

JEN KITTILA

TALIA D’AMBRUOSO

Defender • Warwick Vets

Forward • Pilgrim

A versatile performer, Kittila was a key for the 'Canes in their tough Division I slate.

D'Ambruoso emerged as Pilgrim's top scoring threat as the season went on.

HONORABLE MENTION COACH OF THE YEAR Emma Hindinger, Warwick Vets Liz Paras, Warwick Vets Katleyn Ravenell, Warwick Vets

TIM HAYES, TOLL GATE

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

ALL CITY TEAM

Cara Beneduce, Pilgrim Erica Hammond, Pilgrim Emma Mascoli, Pilgrim Ali Widmann, Pilgrim Courtney Crowley, Toll Gate Alex Girardi, Toll Gate Logan Gabrielsen, Toll Gate Karina Santos, Toll Gate Kyslin Caldarone, Warwick Vets

19

BOYS’ SOCCER

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

MIKE WEBER, PILGRIM

Kassandra Lussier PILGRIM • MIDFIELDER

The Pilgrim girls’ soccer team knew it was going to be good this past fall, but it also knew that to be as good as it hoped, it needed its center midfielder Kassandra Lussier to step up.

“Everyone on the team knew that we needed Kassy to score,” Pilgrim head coach Mike Weber. “You kind of looked for her to score.”

And she did score, but also helped everyone else to score.

As perhaps the most balanced player on a team with plenty of weapons, Lussier tallied 11 goals and 10 assists on the season, and helped the Pats to a 14-4 regular season.

While some girls could score, and others could spread the ball around, none could do both at the level that Lussier could.

“She was a deft passer,” Weber said. “She had the ability to find the open person and make the pass. And she had the ability to not make a lot of touches and make a shot. She was always pretty much accurate on net.”

Three girls on Pilgrim had at least 11 goals, including Lussier, and she had a hand in most of the team’s scoring.

It was a role she embraced from the start with a quiet confidence that made her a leader, despite not being overly vocal.

“My position on the field, it’s pretty much the center of everything,” Lussier said. “I played an important part. I kind of get to control everybody without actually controlling everyone.”

Lussier and her teammates were also playing with heavy hearts this season, as they were honoring two teammates – Bella DiPalma Elanna Zuller – who lost their lives in a car accident before the first game.

Their memories never left Lussier’s mind.

“We played for them, instead of just playing for soccer,” Lussier said. “It was all for them.”

And it turned out to be one of the best years in the program’s history.

Lussier was the catalyst.

“She had a very solid year,” Weber said. “She worked very hard.

All the kids like her and she’s quiet, but she just goes about her business in a quiet way.

Some kids have a little more flare or whatever, but not her.

She just kind of takes everything in stride.”

- K.P.

Warwick Beacon

BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL

20

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

ALL CITY TEAM

HONORABLE MENTION

JOHN ZUFFOLETTI

NICK CARR

Pilgrim

Toll Gate

Zuffoletti was one of the Pats' top hitters, and his work on the outside was one of the major reasons for the team's D-II title.

The biggest force at the net for Toll Gate all season long, Carr gave opposing teams fits with his defense.

BRENDAN BAKER

JASON FERGUSON

Hendricken

Pilgrim

Baker emerged this season as a big-time contributor for the Hawks, giving them another strong hitting option.

Ferguson stepped into the setter's role this season for Pilgrim and helped lead the way for a consistent offensive attack.

JOHN KANE Hendricken One of the best players in the state over the past two seasons, Kane paced Hendricken's offense with his powerful hits.

Rilwan Ilumoka, Hendricken Jahari Ford, Hendricken Matt Medeiros, Hendricken Matt McCabe, Pilgrim Dan Colabella, Pilgrim Tilden Thao, Pilgrim Jackson Burgos, Toll Gate Wellington Araujo, Toll Gate George Greenhalgh, Toll Gate Slawomir Hermanowski, Warwick Vets Joe DiMauro, Warwick Vets Max Andrade, Warwick Vets

COACH OF THE YEAR MIKE MCGIVERON, PILGRIM

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Sean St. Jacques PILGRIM Mike McGiveron has coached some talented players during his three-year run as the Pilgrim boys’ volleyball coach.

None of them have been as good as Sean St. Jacques.

St. Jacques, a senior, led Pilgrim to its first ever boys’ volleyball title this spring, and did so with his leadership and skill setting the tone every step of the way.

“That’s easily the case,” McGiveron said about St. Jacques being the best player he’s coached.

It wasn’t always that way, though. Prior to his senior season, St. Jacques was coming off a strong junior season, but it wasn’t anything

like the dominant senior season he put together.

The transformation took place in the off-season between his junior and senior years, where he began to play consistently. He joined a travel team, played in tournaments, and played as much volleyball as he could.

The results were evident when he took the court for Pilgrim.

He was serving better, hitting harder and doing everything he could to make the team the best it could be.

“He was jump serving at about 80 percent, which is ridiculous,” McGiveron said. “He put the ball wher-

ever he wanted on the court when he went to attack, with a power angle or just a soft cutter. He knows exactly where the block is.”

Suddenly, St. Jacques was one of the top players in the state, and the entire team followed suit. Pilgrim went undefeated for the season, and capped it off with a 3-0 sweep of fellow-unbeaten Barrington in the Division II title match.

In that match, St. Jacques had 18 kills and eight blocks.

“It was almost like a dream come true for the team,” St. Jacques said. “It was just perfect. We couldn’t have imagined it going any

PATTIE TURNER

AMANDA RODE

Toll Gate

Pilgrim

Toll Gate struggled at times this year, but Turner still stood out and earned All-State honors.

Rode was a team leader and a standout setter as the Pats put together their best season since 2003.

BETSEY HEIDEL

BRITTANY LANGLOIS

Pilgrim

Warwick Vets

Heidel was a standout for the Pats, never leaving the court and helping lead the team to a 10-4 record.

Langlois was the top player on a young Vets team and paced the attack with her play at the net.

JAMIE LAVOIE Toll Gate Lavoie was a standout defensive player for the Titans, and her leadership fueled the team's scrappy style.

COACH OF THE YEAR CLAIRE BAGGESSEN, PILGRIM

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

CELENA DIONNE PILGRIM People always encouraged Celena Dionne to play basketball. She was tall and it seemed like a natural fit.

There was one problem.

“I was really bad at basketball,” Dionne said.

But volleyball? That was a good fit too.

And there were no problems there.

Dionne became a varsity contributor early in her career at Pilgrim, and this season, she was one of the team’s top standouts. She and a big group of fellow seniors led the Pats to a 10-4 record, the

program’s best since 2003.

“It was definitely fun and it was great to end it that way in my senior year,” Dionne said. “It was awesome to finish it off like that. We had a lot of fun.”

The Pats started trending in a positive direction in 2010, when they went 7-7 with a team made up largely of juniors. That group kicked into a higher gear in 2011, finishing third in the division and winning a playoff match.

“We worked really hard,” Dionne said. “The

past few years, we were a little goofy. This year, I think we wanted it a little bit more and we worked for it.”

Dionne was at the center of Pilgrim’s success.

She was one of the team’s top threats at the net, and her jump serve consistently scored points.

“Celena had a great level of confidence, and I think that confidence was demonstrated while playing in the middle,” said Pilgrim head coach Claire Baggesen. “I think being a senior allowed that confidence to come

to its pinnacle point and shine. She did an extremely great job for us.

She was a driving force.”

Dionne plans to attend Johnson & Wales University in the fall. She won’t play volleyball there, but she wants to keep playing at the club level. If she didn’t, she’d miss Pilgrim volleyball even more than she already does.

“We were such a fun, good group,” Dionne said. “We all got along.

Everything was fun and relaxed. It was just a good team to be a part of.

I miss those girls.” -K.P.

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL

ALL CITY TEAM

HONORABLE MENTION Danielle LeBlanc, Pilgrim Tiffany Legare, Pilgrim Stefani Quaine, Pilgrim Jessica Brosnahan, Toll Gate Tori Porter, Toll Gate Amanda Graves, Warwick Vets Alexa Zinno, Warwick Vets

better. We just did as much as we could.”

The result was a championship and a phenomenal season for St. Jacques. He’s planning on attending CCRI in the fall, and playing volleyball for the Knights.

They’ll be getting a player who can do it all.

“I think a lot of the reason for our success was that he was wiling to put in the time to make others better,” McGiveron said. “We had such a well-rounded team and guys that were first year players. The reason that we were who we were was the time that he wanted to put in for the others to make them better.” -K.P.

Warwick Beacon

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Matt Plouffe-Jeremy DeMeo, Hendricken Christian Boyer-Marcus Caron, Hendricken Thomas Greenburg, Pilgrim Dan Gillis, Pilgrim Justin Allen, Toll Gate Ricky Weedon, Toll Gate

EVAN CHOMKA

ZACH PRINSCOTT

Hendricken

Hendricken

The No. 2 singles player for the Hawks, Chomka was consistent all year and played in the playoffs despite a broken wrist.

Playing third for the Hawks, Prinscott won the deciding point in Hendricken's semifinal match against La Salle.

JACK HOY

IAN GIUTTARI

Hendricken

Pilgrim

Hoy, who played No. 4 singles, suffered a loss in his first match of the season and then didn't lose again for the rest of the

Giuttari served as the Pats' No. 1 singles player all season, and he helped Pilgrim to three wins after a winless 2011.

CARLOS ARCINIEGAS & KELAN SULLIVAN Hendricken As the Hawks' top doubles players, Arciniegas and Sullivan often played with different partners to help Hendricken win.

COACH OF THE YEAR MIKE HAXTON, HENDRICKEN

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Nick Walsh

BOYS’ TENNIS

ALL CITY TEAM

HONORABLE MENTION

21

HENDRICKEN the top of the ladder and morphed from a doubles player his freshman year and No. 3 singles player his sophomore year into one of the best players in the state over the last two years.

He went 17-5 this season, and advanced to the semifinals of the state tournament before falling to eventual champion Jared Donaldson.

“His record speaks for itself,” Hendricken head coach Michael Haxton said. “He was great.”

Walsh beat up on nearly every opponent he faced. It was only the three players ranked ahead of him his senior year – Donaldson, Smithfield’s

GIRLS’ TENNIS

T h e B i s h o p Hendricken tennis team advanced all the way the state finals this spring, where it fell to perennial power South Kingstown.

And with the loss, the Hawks had to say goodbye to a senior class led by Nick Walsh, the team’s No.1 player for the past two years.

With Hendricken regularly advancing deep into the playoffs, it was Walsh who has provided stability at

Matt Kuhar and South Kingstown’s Tim Puterio – plus North Kingstown’s former No. 1 player Dan Hansen, who were able to beat him during his last two seasons.

Rarely did anyone else come close.

“He was the fourth best kid in the state,” Haxton said. “The only guys he couldn’t beat were Kuhar, Puterio and Donaldson.”

Donaldson, who is homeschooled, is one of the top ranked junior tennis players in the country, and was an unknown in the high school state ranks until deciding to play for Ponaganset late this spring.

That put Walsh in a tough

ALL CITY TEAM

situation, having to go up against Donaldson in the semis. But against a player who may turn out to be a future professional, Walsh was able to steal a game in the first set.

It may not seem like much on the surface, but it was something that few players in the state could have done.

“He had nothing to lose, and he knew it,” Haxton said. “I said, see how many games you can get off him.’ When he got that game, I said that was the goal. He didn’t get bageled and bageled, and there aren’t too many kids who can do that.”

- K.P.

HONORABLE MENTION

LAUREN SMITH

MACKENZIE KELLY

Warwick Vets

Toll Gate

Smith built on a good season last year by turning into Vets' most successful singles player.

She went 14-0 at No. 2.

Kelly played No. 3 singles for the Titans and was successful throughout the year, finishing at 11-3.

KAYLA LOPES

JULIETTA AYRIYAN

Toll Gate

Pilgrim

Lopes continued to excel for the Titans, moving up to No. 2 singles and finishing with an 11-3 record.

Ayriyan stepped into the lineup and had immediate success for the Pats, going 11-2 while playing No. 3 singles.

Courtney Smith-Alyssa Wilcox, Pilgrim Karissa Roun-Caitlin Barone, Pilgrim Alexis Dengel, Toll Gate Arianna Rizzo, Toll Gate Schuyler Teneyck-Liz Farnsworth, Toll Gate Julie Grant, Warwick Vets Megan Merlino, Warwick Vets Tauri Sequeira-Olivia Roy, Warwick Vets

OLIVIA FRENCH & CHLOE UNDERWOOD Toll Gate French and Underwood teamed up at No. 1 singles and picked up eight wins on the tough Division II circuit.

COACH OF THE YEAR GARY McCOMBS, TOLL GATE

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Maria Guirguis PILGRIM For the past four seasons, Maria Guirguis has been a mainstay somewhere near the top of the Pilgrim girls’ tennis ladder, and she’s validated that lofty status each and every fall.

She was the team’s No. 2 singles player her freshman year and then spent the next three years as the Pats’ unquestioned No. 1 player. All four years, she had a winning record.

And she saved the best for her senior season, where she went 10-4 and set the tone for Pilgrim’s first playoff appearance during her tenure.

It was a pretty strong finish to a high school career that was already one of the school’s brightest.

“It was definitely really fun playing No. 1,” Guirguis said. “It’s a lot of pressure, because you always try to come out for a win for the team. We

did make it to the playoffs, which is a huge accomplishment for Pilgrim because we haven’t gotten that far in my four years.”

And while Guirguis’ record spoke for itself, her head coach at Pilgrim, Shon Campbell, thinks that her level of play had a sort of trickle down effect on the rest of the team.

“There was no doubt that her ability raised the stakes for everybody who wants to be better and practice in the offseason,” Campbell said. “That’s what Maria did. She played all year round, and they basically saw that in her.”

The Pats made it to the quarterfinals of the playoffs, where they were knocked out by Scituate. Yet, there wasn’t all that much disappointment for Guirguis, who would have liked to

win but was happy she finally got to enjoy being in the postseason for the first time.

“The reward in and of itself was making it to playoffs for us,” Guirguis said.

“Playing No. 1 for the past three years, I’ve trained my whole life.

The reward was seeing the smile on everyone’s face when you tried your best and won.”

Guirguis’s next step will be attending URI in the fall.

The tennis coach had shown interest, but Guirguis is planning on turning her attention solely to school.

She’ll have quite a tennis career to

look back on.

“She’s just an excellent player,” Campbell said. “It was a complete privilege to coach someone with her type of skill.”

- K.P.

ATTENTION Kent Hospital and Tollgate area Medical Staff

51 KENT AVENUE, WARWICK

(In the Apponaug section)

401-732-6070

Warwick Beacon

FIELD HOCKEY

22

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

ALL CITY TEAM

Susie Cavanagh

COURTNEY CARDOZA

MOLLY TURNER

Goalie • Pilgrim

Midfielder • Toll Gate

In her first year as a starter, Cardoza held her own for the Pats in the rough-and-tumble Division I.

A multi-sport standout, Turner emerged last fall as one of the top field hockey players in the division.

NICOLE TURGEON

JAMIE CLAESON

Defender • Toll Gate

Midfielder • Toll Gate

Turgeon anchored the defensive group as the Titans put together their best season since 2008.

Claeson teamed with DiGiuseppe and Turner to give the Titans a solid, experienced presence in the middle.

BRIANNA BOUCHER

KAIANNA HANSEN

Defender • Pilgrim

Forward • Warwick Vets

A multi-year starter, Boucher led the way for the Pilgrim defense as it faced powerful offenses in D-I.

The 'Canes struggled in D-I play, but Hansen led the way all season, constantly pushing for scoring chances.

JULIANNA MOLLO

JENNA O’CONNELL

Defender • Pilgrim

Forward • Warwick Vets

Mollo joined Boucher as a key player on the Pats' defensive unit, helping lead the team to three wins.

O'Connell was one of the top all-around players for the 'Canes, showing versatility and skill.

ADRIANNA DIGIUSEPPE

KELLY VATTER

Midfielder • Toll Gate

Forward • Pilgrim

Part of a big senior class, DiGiuseppe helped lead the Titans from her spot in the midfield.

Vatter helped lead the way for the Pats, capitalizing on opportunities when she had the chance.

PILGRIM • FORWARD (Continued from page 17) personal accolades just sticks with everybody,” Tober said. “There’s no question she became a better player, but it’s hard to sell that to a lot of kids. She bought in. She had a great attitude and she was an absolute pleasure to coach.”

Cavanagh followed up her hockey season with a solid golf campaign in the spring. She qualified for the co-ed state tournament and just missed the cut. At the girls’ championship, she finished a close second to Prout’s Nicole Scola.

Now Cavanagh will turn her attention to a post-graduate year at Cushing Academy, where her calendar won’t clear up much. She’ll play all three sports there, and then will see what her options are for playing at the Division I college level.

“I’ll play all three there and then see what happens after that,” Cavanagh said.

As for which sports she prefers, it depends on the calendar – the very full calendar.

“I can’t really pick,” she said. “It changes with the season.”

-W.G.

HONORABLE MENTION COACH OF THE YEAR Molly Beagan, Pilgrim Emma Kunz, Pilgrim

Ami Marks, Pilgrim Rachel Anderson, Toll Gate

SHERRI BOISVERT, TOLL GATE

Kailen Browning, Toll Gate Claudia Collins, Toll Gate Stefani Abbott, Warwick Vets Christine Amaral, Warwick Vets Tina DiSanto, Warwick Vets

Katie Favino, Toll Gate

THALIA RIVERA-ORTIZ

MOLLY FOX

Warwick Vets

Toll Gate

Led by a strong showing in the vault, Rivera-Ortiz capped a good year by finishing 25th overall at the state meet.

Fox scored in both the floor and the bars events at the state meet, netting her a 37th-place finish.

KRISTEN HYLE Warwick Vets Hyle was the 'Canes' secondbest finisher at the state meet with a 23rd-place showing in her senior year.

COACH OF THE YEAR ANGELA CIDADE, WARWICK VETS

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Candis Kowalik WARWICK VETS Candis Kowalik has been doing gymnastics at a high level for a long time so she knew when she entered the high-school ranks that she’d be good.

But this was better than good.

Kowalik, a freshman at Warwick Vets, won the individual championship at the state gymnastics meet then finished second at the New England championships.

“It was really exciting,” Kowalik said. “I didn’t expect it. I knew I was going to do well because a lot of the girls up top, I’ve competed with. I knew I was going to do pretty good, but not that good.”

Kowalik has been doing gymnastics since she was 3 years old.

She wasn’t a star at first, but as

she stuck with it, something clicked. Competing for Warwick Dance & Gymnastics, she became a regular on the club scene in the state and the region.

At Vets, she immediately became a standout, and as the year went on, she started to emerge as the favorite for the state championship, despite her youth.

Still, there was a long way to go.

“She was ranked first out of all the kids, so we knew that she would be near the top,” said head coach Angela Cidade. “But she also hadn’t competed against some of the girls that were going to be her strong competition [at states].

We knew she would hopefully place top six, but we didn’t really know where. To see her in first is

really exciting.”

Kowalik followed up the state title with a second-place overall finish at New Englands, where she was hoping to just grab a medal in an event or two.

Next year, Kowalik will aim high again. She’s hoping to win another title and set a new alltime state meet scoring record. At the club level, she’s hoping to qualify for Level 10 Nationals.

Even with all that success and all those goals, Kowalik’s best memories from her big debut revolve around the team at Vets.

“When it comes to club gymnastics, it’s more individual,” Kowalik said. “When I came to Vets, we compete as a team and do everything as a team. It was a great experience.” -W.G.

GYMNASTICS

ALL CITY TEAM

HONORABLE MENTION

Warwick Beacon

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Billy Palmer HENDRICKEN • GOALIE

GIRLS’ HOCKEY

In hockey, the saying goes that a hot goalie can carry you a long way. Billy Palmer was that goalie for the Bishop Hendricken hockey team this year. And the Hawks reached quite a destination.

The junior became Hendricken’s go-to net-minder this season and was in net every step of the way as the Hawks surged in the playoffs and beat Mount St. Charles to capture the third state championship in school history.

“I think the biggest thing he provided was stability,” said Hendricken head coach Jim Creamer. “He had to beat out a couple of guys to get the job, but once he did, it really gave us a level of stability that we didn’t have before.

Stability breeds confidence, and everybody plays better when your goaltender is playing well.”

As a freshman, Palmer sat behind standout

Shane Benjamin. When Benjamin left for junior hockey before his senior season, Palmer and classmate Mitch Proulx were given a shot.

They alternated for much of the 2010-11 season before Palmer started to get more of the minutes this past season.

“There isn’t much difference between either one,” Creamer said. “Mitch is a great goalie in his own right.

Billy got hot at the right time.

I sort of had a feel and went in that direction. He didn’t let us down.”

In the championship series against Mount, Palmer made 34 saves in an overtime victory in game one. After Mount won 3-2 in game two, Palmer rose to the occasion again and made 21 saves in a 5-2 title-clinching victory. He was named series MVP. “That’s the goal – to win the state championship,” Palmer said. “And then beating Mount makes it even better. Every time I’m with those kids, we always talk about it. It’s definitely going to wear off at some point, but I’m never going to forget it.”

And Palmer went out on top.

Though he has one year left at Hendricken, he plans to leave the hockey team to play for the Boston Advantage in the Midget Triple A ranks. His ultimate goal is to play Division I college hockey.

“I know he has high aspirations for himself,” Creamer said, “and I think he’s going to be really successful.” -W.G.

DAN NOLTE

CODY WEAVER

Defense • Hendricken

Forward • Pilgrim

Nolte was the team's most productive defender, picking up 15 points - including 12 assists on the season.

Teaming with McGuirl on the Pats' first line, Weaver provided a huge offensive boost with 40 points on the season.

NICK BODZIONY

ROBBIE BUEHRER

Defense • Hendricken

Forward • Hendricken

A senior captain, Bodziony was a crucial part of a Hawks' defense that surrendered the second-fewest goals in Division I.

One of the Hawks' most dynamic players, Buehrer's 30 points tied him for fifth in Division I.

DYLAN LEGARIE

MATT CREAMER

Defense • Pilgrim

Forward • Hendricken

The top defender for the Pats, LeGarie also served as the team's third-leading scorer with nine goals.

Creamer burst onto the scene as a freshman, playing first line for the Hawks and leading the team with 32 points and 17 goals.

DANNY HOLMES

JUSTIN FINAN

Defense • Toll Gate

Forward • Hendricken

A presence all season in the back, Holmes was a model of consistency for the Titans from day one.

Though he was hurt for some of the season, Finan was the most physical of the Hawks' forwards, and he centered their top line.

NICK MCGUIRL

STEVE MATHEWS

Forward • Pilgrim

Forward • Toll Gate

McGuirl tied as the leading points-getter in all of Division II, totaling 51 on 25 goals and 26 assists.

The leading scorer for Toll Gate with 27 points, Mathews was in the top 20 on the Division II scoring list.

BOYS’ HOCKEY

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR ALL CITY TEAM

23

HONORABLE MENTION COACH OF THE YEAR David Mitchell, Hendricken Paul Filippone, Hendricken Ed Markowski, Hendricken Austin Navarro, Hendricken Corey Casale, Pilgrim Ian Giuttari, Pilgrim Ryan Oatley, Pilgrim Susie Cavanagh, Pilgrim

Dylan Russo, Toll Gate

Kyle Ellis, Toll Gate Kevin Vittum, Toll Gate Casey Correia, Toll Gate John McNally, Warwick Vets Bill Burr, Warwick Vets

ALL CITY TEAM

JIM CREAMER, HENDRICKEN

HONORABLE MENTION JULIANNA MOLLO, WARWICK CLAUDIA COLLINS, WARWICK

KAYLEEN MURPHY

ABBY ELLIS

Goalie • Warwick

Forward • Warwick

Murphy set the tone all season in the back for the Lady Titans with a 2.40 goals against average.

As a freshman, Ellis was the team's second-leading scorer with 14 goals and 26 total points.

JACQUI LYMAN

CASEY MCCORMICK

Defense • Warwick

Forward • Warwick

Lyman provided senior leadership and strength on the blue line and also chipped in with eight points.

McCormick provided a thirdscoring option for the Titans up front, tallying 11 goals on the season.

JAMIE CLAESON Defense • Warwick Though she had just two goals on the year, Claeson brought toughness and consistency to the Warwick defense.

COACH OF THE YEAR DAVE TIBBETTS, WARWICK

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Emily Fox WARWICK • FORWARD As the Warwick girls’ hockey team made the leap into the upper echelon of the state this past season, it’s no coincidence that its top player made a similar leap at exactly the same time.

Emily Fox, who just finished her junior year at Toll Gate, finished tied for first in the state with 37 points, and her 21 goals were second.

With Fox as the team’s most indispensable player, Warwick became the top public school team in the state, going 11-5 and qualifying for the playoffs with perennial D-I powers.

“One of the biggest things was her work ethic in practice,” Warwick head coach Dave Tibbetts said. “She works extremely hard. She pushes all the other kids to keep up with her level of play.”

Also a standout on the soccer field for Toll Gate, Fox played hockey growing up, but had typically played on boys’ teams.

When Fox got to high school and Warwick had a girls’ team, she was understandably excited to play.

And this season, when Fox saw that the team had a

chance to compete with the best, she was eager to seize the opportunity.

“We knew that we had to prove ourselves, because we were one of the only public schools in the division,” Fox said. “We thought we were going to have a really good season ahead of us, and we did.”

Fox’s energy was contagious, as Warwick improved throughout the season. Just about everybody got better, and it showed on the ice.

“We all work so well together,” Fox said. “My line was Abby Ellis, Claudia

Collins, Casey McCormick and Juliana Mollo.

I maybe scored the most, but they definitely played a significant role for the team as well.”

The team is now moving into Division I, as Rhode Island is splitting g i r l s ’ teams into two separate divisions.

Warwick will be one of two public schools in D-I, and the competition will be tough.

But in large part due to Fox, Warwick feels ready for that challenge. “ S h e ’ s helped the program grow by pushing all the other kids,” Tibbetts said. “We’re going to Division I next year, and she’s a big part of that.”

And Fox is thinking big.

“Last year didn’t come out as we hoped, but we hope that next year we’ll get a title,” Fox said. -K.P.

Warwick Beacon

WRESTLING

24

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

ALL CITY TEAM JOHN ALTIERI

NICK PARENTE

DEVIN HURST

106 • Warwick Vets

138 • Hendricken

170 • Warwick Vets

A sophomore star, Altieri won a state title for the second time in as many years.

Parente was one of seven medalists for the Hawks, taking fifth at the state tournament.

A runner-up as a freshman, Hurst made it back to the finals as a senior and came away with his first state title.

ROB LANNI

DAN COFONE

AARON HURST

113 • Hendricken

145 • Hendricken

195 • Warwick Vets

Lanni was a standout all year and finished fifth at the state tournament.

Cofone had a solid year and won three matches at the state tournament.

The younger brother of Devin, Aaron made a name for himself with a solid season and a good showing at states.

NATE COLICCI

CHRIS BARONE

BILLY STEWART

120 • Warwick Vets

152 • Hendricken

220 • Hendricken

After falling in the finals as a junior, Colicci finished his senior year in style, winning the state title at 120.

Barone advanced to the quarterfinals at states then just missed out on placing from the losers' bracket.

Stewart was one of the top wrestlers in the state in his weight class and took fourth at states.

AARON TRAVERS

GEORGE SCHMEIDER

DALLAS SAUER

126 • Toll Gate

160 • Warwick Vets

285 • Hendricken

Just a sophomore, Travers surged at the state meet, taking third place to qualify for New Englands.

After taking fourth as a sophomore, Schmeider set a goal of winning this year and came through with the state title.

Sauer finished off a good season with a fifth-place finish at the state tournament.

ANTHONY DIMAURO 132 • Hendricken DiMauro was a key contributor as a freshman and grabbed fifth place at states.

HONORABLE MENTION Dylan Bessette, Hendricken

Jordan DeSisto, Pilgrim

Ed Pierce, Toll Gate

Hunter Boesch, Hendricken

Chad Jackman, Pilgrim

Dante Procopio, Toll Gate

Jason Davol, Hendricken

Mark Lenz, Pilgrim

Max Procopio, Toll Gate

Nick DiMauro, Hendricken

Mark Tomaselli, Pilgrim

Casey Beauregard, Warwick Vets

Mike Gelardi, Hendricken

John DiGiuseppe, Toll Gate

Tom Galligan, Warwick Vets

Alex Knight, Hendricken

Joe Martinez, Toll Gate

Tony Lonczak, Warwick Vets

Lewis Stewart, Hendricken

Austin Medeiros, Toll Gate

Steve Cabral, Pilgrim

Dave Navilliat, Toll Gate

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Nick Salois WARWICK VETS • 182 It says something about the wrestling career Nick Salois had that he was actually a little disappointed in the way his senior season ended up.

While Salois won his second consecutive state title, he finished fourth at the New England championships, short of his lofty goals.

That’s the way it goes for a wrestler who’s had big success, and one who has even bigger expectations.

“My goals were higher than the states,” Salois said. “I just came up short but winning another state championship was nice. It kept that goal going strong.”

And outside of a New England title, there wasn’t much else Salois could ask for from his high school career. He won three medals at states – including the two champi-

onships – and he won two medals at New Englands.

Considering the beginning of his wrestling career, that’s quite a finish. When Salois first started wrestling, he wasn’t a natural. It took him a long time to find his way.

“When I started out, I was very bad,” Salois said. “My first four years, I only won two matches. Once I hit fourth grade, I hit a stride and just kept on winning and working hard.”

At Vets, he was part of a wave of talent that turned the program into a major contender. The ’Canes took second at states in Salois’s sophomore year, and he finished second in his weight class.

Last year, Vets won the state title, and Salois was at the center of it with his championship at 171.

This season, Vets didn’t have as much depth, and the ’Canes ended up short of the team title at states. But Salois was one of five individual state champions.

He rolled through the 182pound weight class, winning his championship match by a 91 score.

“I’m pretty happy with my career,” he said. “I worked hard. Just came up a little short at New Englands, but I became a two-time state champ.”

Salois will now pursue a college football career. He plans to play at Bridgewater State in the fall.

-W.G.

COACH OF THE YEAR KEVIN HENNESSEY, HENDRICKEN

Warwick Beacon

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Alex Powers

JON O’CONNELL 100 Breast • Hendricken

HENDRICKEN • 200 FREE • 100 BACK

GIRLS’ SWIMMING

There’s a certain amount of pressure that comes with swimming for a perennial powerhouse, especially one like Bishop Hendricken.

Heading into this season, the Hawks’ swimming program had won 22 consecutive state championships.

Like a lot of his teammates, Alex Powers didn’t mind the pressure.

“There’s a lot of pressure to make sure we keep winning,” Powers said. “It’s always a personal goal to improve your times, and then you help all the younger swimmers improve their times too, and it just works out great.”

And it really worked out great for Powers.

The senior led the Hawks to their 23rd state title in a row by winning two individual events and swimming on two championship relay teams.

“Our season was great, and our team did really well as a whole,” Powers said.

“We had really outstanding swims throughout the season and at states. Everybody helped us win. It was a great feeling.”

This Hendricken team didn’t have as much as depth as some of its predecessors. Their star swimmers like Powers and fellow senior A n d r e w

Robinson had to come up big.

They did.

“These kids did more with less than any other team I’ve had,” said head coach Dave Hanson. “They got as much out of themselves as they possibly could.”

Powers swam on the 200yard medley relay team and the 400-yard freestyle team, which both won championships. He also shined in his individual races. He took first in the 200 freestyle and the 100 backstroke.

“It felt amazing,” Powers said. “I knew going into it that I was going to have some pretty good competition. Personally, I love that feeling of competition and the thrill of the race. It was a great feeling.”

The title capped a great high school career for Powers, who was a mainstay for the Hawks every step of the way.

Powers will keep swimming at the next level. He’s heading to Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he plans to major in mechanical engineering. He also plans to swim and is hoping for more success.

“I’m hoping to set some team records and help the team win some big races,” he said. -W.G.

ALEX POWERS, JON O’CONNELL, ANDREW ROBINSON, CHASE MARTIN

O'Connell swam a strong race 200 Medley Relay • Hendricken in the 100 backstroke at states, finishing comfortably in sixth Those four led off the state meet with a first-place showing in the relay, setting the pace for Hendricken's state title. place.

ANDREW ROBINSON MICHAEL FEDORENKO, JAMES MANNI, 200 IM • 500 Free • Hendricken

ANDREW ROBINSON, ALEX POWERS

Robinson stormed to a second- 400 Free Relay • Hendricken place finish in the 200 IM and a dramatic first-place finish in the Hendricken's four swimmers closed out the state meet in style, dominating the final event en route to first place.

500 freestyle at states.

CHASE MARTIN 50 Free • Hendricken Martin picked up some muchneeded points for the Hawks by finishing in ninth-place in the 50 freestyle at states.

MICHAEL FEDORENKO 100 Free • Hendricken Fedorenko grabbed 13 points for Hendricken with a sixthplace finish at the state meet in the 100 freestyle.

CHASE MARTIN, JAMES MANNI, NICK TOMASSO, MICHAEL FEDORENKO 200 Free Relay • Hendricken The four Hawks' swimmers just missed first place, but still took second at the state meet in a time of 1:34.98.

BOYS’ SWIMMING

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR ALL CITY TEAM

25

HONORABLE MENTION COACH OF THE YEAR Jacob Fox, Hendricken Will Bailer, Toll Gate Zachary Arts, Toll Gate

DAVE HANSON, HENDRICKEN

ALL CITY TEAM

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

NINA YU, MACKENZIE KELLY, RACHEL YORSTON, COURTNEY ROGERS, MIKAYLA ROGERS, EMILY SMITH LAURA HOPKINS, MOLLY TURNER

Mikayla Rogers

200 Medley Relay • 200 Free Relay • Toll Gate

400 Free Relay • Toll Gate

Toll Gate's top four finished ninth at states in the 200 Toll Gate's four swimmers didn't compete at states, but medley relay and 10th in the 200 free relay. they came in eighth place at the divisional meet.

NINA YU 200 Free • 100 Back • Toll Gate Yu swam to 19th place overall at states in the 200 freestyle, and in the 100 back, she took seventh at divisions.

KATIE EVANS 200 IM • 100 Fly • Warwick Vets The best swimmer for the 'Canes, Evans swam to second at the DIII meet in the 200 IM, and was fourth in the 100 fly at sattes.

MACKENZIE KELLY 50 Free • 100 Free • 100 Breast • Toll Gate Kelly finished in 17th at states in the 50 free, ninth in the 100 free and at divisions she finished fourth in the 100 breast.

HONORABLE MENTION COACH OF Brenna Reeves, Pilgrim THE YEAR Taylor Ryan, Pilgrim Caitlin Pope, Pilgrim Courtney Smith, Pilgrim Casey Adams, Pilgrim

MICHAEL SEIDENBERG, TOLL GATE

TOLL GATE • 500 FREE • 100 BREAST Toll Gate swimming coach Michael Seidenberg knew Mikayla Rogers was a good swimmer. He coached her older sister, Becky, at Toll Gate, so he heard about times and success in the youth ranks.

But that doesn’t always translate.

“You have conversations with parents and you hear times, but you never know as someone’s coming up, whether they’re going to be successful in high school,” Seidenberg said. “You wonder if they’re going to be tired of it or burnt out. But Mikayla had the right attitude about it the whole time.”

And that attitude is already paying dividends.

Just a sophomore, Rogers was one of the top swimmers in Division II this year, and she made a splash at states, as well.

“I wanted to try to do better by just dropping times and doing the best I could do for my team,” Rogers said. “I think that’s what I did.”

After a strong dual-meet season, Rogers won the 100 butterfly at the Division II championships and finished a very close second in the 500 freestyle. At states, Rogers finished fifth in the 100 butterfly and

seventh in the 500 free.

“Her mental attitude is great,” Seidenberg said.

“She’s always upbeat and working hard. She does a great job helping out the other girls and she’s always willing to work hard herself.”

In addition to her postseason success, Rogers cracked the Toll Gate swimming record books. She has the second-best 500 freestyle time in school history and the thirdbest time in the 100 fly.

“Last year, my goal was just to make my letter,” Rogers said. “I exceeded that and I was happy. I just wanted to do the same thing this year.”

The season was a success in other ways, as well.

“Everybody on the team got together more and bonded,” she said. “When everyone gets together, it just makes the season a lot better.”

The Titans are hoping to increase their numbers over the next few years and become a stronger squad. In terms of individual goals, the sky is the limit for Rogers.

“I’m thinking she’s going to keep getting better,” Seidenberg said. “It all goes back to her attitude and how hard she works.” -W.G.

Warwick Beacon

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

26

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

ALL CITY TEAM

HONORABLE MENTION

COREY PALUMBO

LEE MESSIER

Guard • Hendricken

Forward • Hendricken

A hardnosed on-ball defender, Palumbo emerged as the leader of a scrappy Hawks team.

Messier was the best pure scorer for the Hawks, and stopping him was often the key focus of Hendricken's opponents.

NICK BOURDEAU

NICK CARR

Center • Hendricken

Forward • Toll Gate

Bourdeau provided the Hawks with an inside presence and allowed them to match up with some of the state's bigger teams.

Throughout the regular season, Carr emerged as one of the dominant big men in all of Division III.

Kazre Cummings, Hendricken Gerry Manning, Hendricken Ryan Morris, Pilgrim Kaelon Pittman, Pilgrim Luis Pimental, Pilgrim Jevonta Gonsalves, Toll Gate Austin Abramson, Toll Gate Mike Reyes, Toll Gate Dom Malaga, Warwick Vets Will Remak, Warwick Vets Scott Camara, Warwick Vets

COACH OF THE YEAR TOM RAYKO, TOLL GATE

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Ethan Dujon GUARD • TOLL GATE Ethan Dujon wanted to be a basketball player. This season, four years after he got cut from the freshman team at Toll Gate, Dujon wasn’t just a player. He was one of the best in the division, and he helped lead Toll Gate to one of its best-ever seasons.

“I remember freshman year, he said he really wanted to be a basketball player,” said Toll Gate head coach Tom Rayko. “He came back sophomore year and he just kept working on it. That mindset translated to everything he did.”

For Dujon, it was quite a journey. Every time there was a roadblock, like get-

ting cut as a freshman or playing poorly in a playoff loss as a junior, Dujon just picked up speed.

“I wasn’t the biggest kid or the strongest kid when I was coming up, but I always wanted to play at the next level,” Dujon said. “I just worked my hardest.

Every day in the summer, late nights, taking extra shots in the summer.”

It started to pay off last year, when Dujon had a good junior season. But the way that year ended is what really sparked the next step.

“Last season when we lost to Juanita Sanchez, I was injured in that game

their mindset was to win,” Rayko said. “They stuck together and made it happen.”

Now Dujon is focused on taking another step. He isn’t yet sure where he’s headed next year, but he’s gotten interest from Dean College, CCRI and Marianapolis Prep.

“If he finds the right fit, he can play at the next level,” Rayko said.

“The biggest thing he has going for him is that he’s willing to work. That goes a long way.”

-W.G.

and I played bad,” Dujon said. “I made up my mind after that I wanted to play college basketball. As soon as my teammates saw a couple of us take the lead, everybody started working hard. We knew we could go somewhere.”

And they certainly did.

Dujon averaged 15.3 points per game, and the Titans went 15-3 in the regular season. Though they lost a heartbreaker in the first round of the state tournament, the season as a whole was a great way for Dujon and a big senior class to go out.

“Ethan’s mindset and

Guilia Garcia, Pilgrim Katelyn Reph, Pilgrim Nicole Fraser, Toll Gate Lauren Barnes, Toll Gate Katie Gregory, Warwick Vets Kristen Gregory, Warwick Vets

CASEY BENNETT

BETSY HEIDEL

Guard • Warwick Vets

Forward • Pilgrim

On a team in need of a scoring option, Bennett emerged as the primary offensive weapon for the 'Canes.

Especially on the defensive side, Heidel was a force for the Pats whenever the opposition drove the lane.

LAURA M cGUIRE

MIRANDA COLEMAN

Forward • Toll Gate

Forward • Toll Gate

McGuire blossomed in her sophomore year as one of the better players on both ends of the floor for the Titans.

Coleman made her presence felt as an outside shooter and also with the energy she regularly brought to the court.

COACH OF THE YEAR IAN SMITH, PILGRIM

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Danielle LeBlanc GUARD • PILGRIM As the top threat on a team that struggled to compete in Division I, senior Danielle LeBlanc had to deal with the opposition using a ton of its energy to stop her game in and game out.

She still got the job done.

LeBlanc, who just finished her senior year at Pilgrim, led the Pats to their first victory in two full seasons in D-I, earned first-team All-State honors and scored her 1,000th career point during the year.

It wasn’t the greatest season in terms of wins and losses, but taking everything into account, there was still a lot

to be excited about when it was all said and done.

“She was always positive,” Pilgrim head coach Ian Smith said. “Considering the position that she was in, I think a lot of athletes would not have been as positive as she was.”

LeBlanc was also productive. She was the fifth-leading scorer in the state at 17.6 points per game, and her 1,000th point was a landmark moment for a program that has now had three 1,000point scorers in the last three years.

She also led the Pats in assists, and her game extended to defense, where she was the

team’s best on-ball defender, and to rebounding, where her athleticism at the point guard position made up for her small stature.

“Every game, two, three players guarded me at a time so there wasn’t much I could do, but I did what I could,” LeBlanc said. “I still tried to get everyone involved.”

She led by example, too, as her time and dedication during Pilgrim’s practices became contagious, even as the losses continued to pile up.

“She did a little bit of everything for us,” Smith said. “Obviously scoring, but leadership on the court, set-

ting the example, showing kids on the team the best way to play basketball. Her work ethic was hard – long off-season workouts, and in-season she was constantly working out.”

All that work helped pave the way for her next step in life, too, as LeBlanc is set to play basketball at Rhode Island College this coming winter.

“I’m excited, to say the least,” LeBlanc said. “The team, I met with them a couple of times, played pick-up with them. It’s just a perfect fit.”

- K.P.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

ALL CITY TEAM

HONORABLE MENTION

Warwick Beacon

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Reuben Horace

BILLY L’EUROPA

TYLER HENSELER

55 • Hendricken

3,000 • Hendricken

L'Europa ran well at indoor states, taking fifth-place overall.

Henseler stormed to a fourthplace in the 3,000 at states.

WEIGHT THROW • HENDRICKEN

GIRLS’ INDOOR

A few years ago, Reuben Horace thought any high school athletic success he had would come on a baseball field. He ended up having plenty of athletic success. He just wasn’t throwing a baseball.

In between football and baseball seasons, Horace needed something to do in the winter, so he started throwing the weight in indoor track. By this season, he became one of the top throwers in the state and he won the weight throw title at the indoor track state meet.

“I love baseball but I just fell in love with track,” Horace said.

Horace was a natural in the throwing circle and he competed at a high level almost immediately. As a sophomore he qualified for states, and the next year, he grabbed a medal at indoor states, while also giving up baseball for outdoor track in the spring.

This year, he delivered his best performance yet. He came into indoor states as one of the top throwers, but not the favorite. That honor went to Classical’s Joe Velez.

But Horace had the better day. His throw of 71-10.25 gave him the state title.

“It was pretty big,” Horace said. “Joe is a very good thrower and we’re pretty good friends. That day, I just threw a little better than him.”

Horace’s performance was just what Hendricken needed as it tried for its 17th consecutive state championship. The Hawks came up empty on that front, as Chariho snapped their streak. But Horace’s feat didn’t go unnoticed.

“We knew we were fighting for our lives in that meet,” said Hendricken head coach Jim Doyle.

“We only came close because of people like Reuben.”

Horace ended up grabbing another medal at outdoor states, taking fifth in the discus. Now he’ll turn his attention to a college career. Again, he would have pictured baseball, but a scholarship to throw at Boston University couldn’t be better.

“It was tough giving up baseball, but as soon as you start getting better with the hammer and the weight, it clicks,” Horace said. “I love baseball, but track is my second love. I’m really happy with the decision.”

- W.G.

KYLE O’CONNELL

ALEX PERREAULT

55 Hurdles • Hendricken

300 • Hendricken

O'Connell grabbed a third-place finish at the state meet.

One of the Hawks' fastest runners, Perreault grabbed third at states in the 300.

MIKE MALLOZZI

EVAN CARLEY

Long Jump • Hendricken

600 • Toll Gate

One of Pilgrim's best athletes, Mallozzi took 10th at states.

Carley fell just outside the top 10 at states, finishing 12th in the 600 for the Titans.

MIKE PECCHIA

HENRY SMITHERS

Shot Put • Hendricken

1,000 • Toll Gate

Pecchia earned a fifth-place finish at the state meet.

The Titans' top distance runner, Smithers took a 10th-place finish at the state meet.

MARK VUONO 1,500 • Hendricken Vuono emerged with a fourthplace at states in the 1,500.

RYAN BRANNIGAN, ALEX PERREAULT, KYLE O’CONNELL, POWER KANGA 4x200 • Hendricken Hendricken's four sprinters captured the first gold medal of the day at states for the Hawks, winning the 4x100.

JORDAN BARBOZA

ALEX PERREAULT, KYLE O’CONNELL, JORDAN BARBOZA, RYAN BRANNIGAN

High Jump • Hendricken

4x400 • Hendricken

Barboza took fifth at the state meet.

This quartet also took care of business in the relay, grabbing another first-place finish for the Hawks.

BOYS’ INDOOR

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR ALL CITY TEAM

27

HONORABLE MENTION COACH OF THE YEAR Cameron Ricci, Hendricken

Dylan Gardner, Pilgrim

Marcus Swift, Hendricken

Carl Sjogren, Pilgrim

Michael Potter, Hendricken

Matt Enos, Pilgrim

Connor Doyle, Hendricken

Cameron Devine, Pilgrim

Colin Tierney, Hendricken

Steve Croft, Pilgrim

Collin Manning, Hendricken

Derek Daluz, Pilgrim

Greg Beaudette, Hendricken

John Zuffoletti, Pilgrim

Adam McAteer, Hendricken

Thomas Martella, Toll Gate

John Coleman, Hendricken

Javier Restrepo, Toll Gate

Joe Vincent, Hendricken

Joe Frost, Toll Gate

Nick DeCiantis, Hendricken

Patrick Rocchio, Toll Gate

JIM DOYLE, HENDRICKEN

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

ALL CITY TEAM BREYON BROWN

BECCA O’DONNELL

55 • Pilgrim

Long Jump • Pilgrim

Brown didn't qualify for the final heat at states, but she came in 10th place in the preliminaries.

O'Donnell finished in fourth place in the long jump at states.

Jordan Gray 300 • TOLL GATE

Norm Bouthillier knew that Jordan Gray was going to be good on Toll Gate’s girls’ indoor track team back when Gray was just a freshman.

Weight Throw • Pilgrim “She had natural speed,” Bouthillier said.

600 • Toll Gate Dufault was the Pats' best finisher He turned out to be very right, as Gray has been one of the Moen added some points to the at the state meet, taking third.

Titans’ most versatile and consistent performers throughout Titans' team score with a seventhher four years on the team. place finish in the 600 at states.

In her senior season, Gray was near the front of the pack as usual, running on Toll Gate’s division-winning 4x200 relay team, and also claiming the 300 meter run at divisions. At Shot Put • Toll Gate states, she took fourth place overall in the 300 and ran a leg St. Amand picked up a fourth1,000 • Pilgrim on Toll Gate’s fifth place 4x400 team and eighth-place 4x200 place finish at states. team.

A freshman, Brunelle took home It was the type of strong performance in line with what fifth place in the 1,000 at the Bouthillier had come to expect from Gray after seeing her do state meet.

JORDAN GRAY, RYLEE CANDON, ERIKA it time and time again. During her sophomore and junior seasons, she ran to second-place finishes in the 300.

PENA, KATHLEEN MORLOCK “She was one of the most important pieces to the team for 4x200 • Toll Gate 1,500 • Toll Gate the past four years,” Bouthillier said. “She’s a senior, she’s The Titans' standout freshman The Titans' quartet continued its strong season with an graduating and she’s going to be really missed. She’s pretty much irreplaceable, because of her versatility when it comes Pena finished third in the 1,500 eighth-place finish at states in the 4x200. to doing the distances.” at the class meet.

One of the staples of Gray’s tenure at Toll Gate was how JORDAN GRAY, HALEN MOEN, ERIKA she improved from year to year. From freshman year to senior year, her times regularly dropped.

PENA, KATHLEEN MORLOCK Though her state meet time in the 300 during this year’s 3,000 • Pilgrim 4x400 • Toll Gate indoor meet was a little higher than it was in the past, she Tocco showed her distance Toll Gate performed well at states in the relays, and the had already improved on her time during the regular season. prowess at the state meet, where 4x400 was no exception with a fifth-place finish.

“I was able to improve,” Gray said. “I wanted to run a 40 in the 300 and I got really close. I ran a 41 flat. So I did imshe took 13th place.

That was a big goal for me.”

HALEY MOEN, ERIKA PENA, SHANNON prove.

Perhaps holding her back from an even better finish to the season was a bout with Lyme disease, which came on toGARVEY, TESS RUSSO 55 H • Toll Gate ward the end of the indoor season.

4x400 • Toll Gate Still, she fought through it and finished Morlock ran well at states, finishThese Titans' runners scored a few more points for Toll what she started. ing in 10th place in the 55 hurdles.

“She overcame some real adversity Gate, finishing sixth at states. to finish out the meet,” Bouthillier said.

Bouthillier wasn’t the only one who High Jump • Toll Gate noticed Gray’s prowess, though, as One of the Titans' top athletes, reshe’ll be running next year at gardless of event, Candon took Stonehill College in Easton, Mass. on the heels of her standhome sixth at states. out high school career.

“All four years have been great,” Gray said. “I always got better every year and I Nicole Fraser, Toll Gate Emma Mascoli, Pilgrim did a lot for my team every year. I had fun every year, Meghan McNulty, Toll Gate Destinee Barrette, Pilgrim and I’m happy track is Megan Merlino, Warwick Vets Maddison Caron, Pilgrim something I got into.”

-K.P. Liz Paras, Warwick Vets Maddie Thibeault, Toll Gate

HALEY MOEN

MAGGIE DUFAULT

KATIE ST. AMAND

MELANIE BRUNELLE

ERIKA PENA

NATALIE TOCCO

KATHLEEN MORLOCK

RYLEE CANDON

COACH OF HONORABLE MENTION THE YEAR

NORM BOUTHILLIER, TOLL GATE

Warwick Beacon

BASEBALL

28

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

ALL CITY TEAM BILLY WALKER

COLIN STAMPS

MIKE KING

Catcher • Hendricken

Outfielder • Toll Gate

Pitcher • Hendricken

A four-year starter, Walker was the team's No. 3 hitter the entire season and was one of its best all-around players.

A dynamic player for the Titans, Stamps hit in the middle of the order while setting the tone on the outfield grass.

As a junior, King burst onto the scene as one of the best pitchers in the state, while also hitting well.

P.J. MURRAY

BRANDEN HOXSIE

First Baseman • Hendricken

Outfield/Pitcher • Pilgrim

Murray emerged as a consistent hitter this season while also playing top-level defense at first base.

Hoxsie was a three-year starter for the Pats, hitting in the middle of the order and also serving as a top pitching option.

SHANE JOHNSON Pitcher • Warwick Vets

LOU UMBERTO

SHAWN CLAYTON

Second Baseman • Hendricken

Utility • Pilgrim

Hitting in the No. 9 spot for most of the year, Umberto acted as a second leadoff hitter and sparkplug for the Hawks.

Clayton played shortstop and catcher, and he also sparked the offense midseason when the Pats moved him to leadoff.

Without much varsity experience before this year, Johnson was one of the hardest throwers in the state..

KEVIN HICKEY Pitcher • Warwick Vets A mainstay in the 'Canes' rotation for the last three years, Hickey finished his career with another consistent season.

REED GAMACHE

T.J. BOYAJIAN

RYAN MORRIS

Third Baseman • Hendricken

Utility • Warwick Vets

Pitcher • Pilgrim

Gamache was a three-year varsity player for the Hawks and came up with a three-run triple in the state-title clinching game.

As the shortstop and leadoff hitter for Vets, Boyajian was the team's best hitter and was surehanded in the field.

After pitching last year as a freshman, Morris took a step forward this year as one of the premier sophomores in the state.

RICH BACON

BOBBY INDEGLIA

Shortstop • Hendricken

Pitcher • Hendricken

Bacon became one of the best players in the state with his steady defense and table setting at the top of the order.

Indeglia was the ace of the Hendricken pitching staff, and he won game one of the state championship series.

HONORABLE MENTION Justin Finan, Hendricken Mike Mallozzi, Pilgrim Nick McGuirl, Pilgrim Colin Douglas, Pilgrim Cole Furney, Pilgrim Ben Mann, Toll Gate Evan Stamps, Toll Gate Kevin Sanda, Toll Gate

Danny Greaves, Warwick Vets Bryan O'Mara, Warwick Vets

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Tom Pannone OUTFIELDER/PITCHER • HENDRICKEN The Bishop Hendricken baseball program has a tradition in center field that is unparalleled anywhere in Rhode Island.

From future Major League draft picks to future college stars, the middle of the Hawks’ outfield is rarely devoid of one of the state’s top talents.

And this season, that tradition continued with flying colors.

Senior Tom Pannone patrolled center for Hendricken, just as he has since his junior year, and he put his name firmly in line with the past greats.

Those stars include former No. 6 overall pick Rocco Baldelli, University of South Carolina star and recent eighth-round pick Evan Marzilli, Chicago Cubs prospect Jeff Beliveau and recently crowned Atlantic-10 Conference Player of the Year Jeff Roy. Now, there’s a spot for Pannone.

“We’ve had so many great players, and he’s right in there with them,” Hendricken head coach Ed Holloway said. “We were talking about all the center fielders that we’ve had, just

starting with Rocco and Jeff Beliveau and Evan Marzilli and Jeff Roy and now Tommy. It’s hard to pick any one of them.

They were all great players. He just kind of fell in line with them.”

Pannone had been a standout for Hendricken since his sophomore year, but it was this spring that he really put himself on the map.

Before the season, he signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Division I University of Miami, a perennial contender in the powerhouse Atlantic Coast Conference.

Then, he went on the field and delivered. He hit second in the Hawks order, and hit .394 with six home runs. He also pitched, and he morphed into one of the team’s best on the mound, where his ERA was a miniscule .14 and he struck out 81 batters in 50 innings.

“I think he was probably the most dominant player in the state,” Holloway said. “On the mound, he just dominated all the opponents. It was almost like two to one in strikeouts

and innings pitched.”

When June rolled around, accolades started to roll in. He was selected by the Cubs in the 33rd round of the MLB Draft, and then proceeded to take home MVP honors at the state championship baseball series, where he won his second title with the Hawks.

He hit a home run in the series and struck out 13 while allowing only one hit in the series-clinching game two.

“It’s amazing,” Pannone said after the game. “When I saw the MVP trophy the other day at the press conference I was like, ‘I want that.’ And I got it.

It’s great.”

He’s still deciding whether or not he’ll sign with the Cubs or play at Miami, but he already became a part of Rhode Island baseball history.

“It’s been a stressful season,” Pannone said. “I really can’t put it into words.

It’s really just been unbelievable.”

- K.P.

COACH OF THE YEAR ED HOLLOWAY, HENDRICKEN

Warwick Beacon

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Alex Perreault MIDFIELDER • HENDRICKEN

GIRLS’ LACROSSE

The Hendricken lacrosse team had an up-and-down 2012 season, finishing 5-5 before falling to Moses Brown in the Division I semifinals.

But it always seemed like there were more ups than downs with Alex Perreault on the field.

Perreault, a junior midfielder/attackman for the Hawks, made a huge difference when he could play. That, however, didn’t always happen, as he was limited at times because of a shoulder injury.

He missed three games during the middle of the season, then missed much of the second and third quarters in Hendricken’s semifinal loss to the Quakers.

In the second half of the season, though, when the Hawks really started to click, Perreault was playing regularly – and it showed.

“He added a whole different dimension when he played, and when he wasn’t in there you could tell when he wasn’t in there,” Hendricken head coach Kevin Murray said.

Perreault finished the season with 15 goals and 10 assists, but those numbers don’t accurately reflect the impact he had on the game.

When playing certain opponents, those teams would shadow him the entire game, making it nearly impossible for him to touch the ball.

That made it tough individually, but it also freed up space for his teammates to get the job done.

“It’s really difficult when you’re playing someone like La Salle,” Perreault said. “They have someone on me the whole time. I barely touch the ball. When I do touch it though, I can rely on my teammates. They help me out a lot.”

And Perreault, in turn, tried to stay on the field as much as possible. He played through some tough times, doing what he could to continue to play.

“He was a little banged up this year, but he played through some injuries,” Murray said. “He’s a good player, a lot of skill, played hard. It was very different for us when he was out there and when he wasn’t out there.”

Perreault should be good to go for next season, and then beyond.

He verbally committed to play lacrosse at Johns Hopkins University this past November.

“It was a fun season,” Perreault said. “The team was great. We all stepped up towards the end.”

-K.P.

JOSH GIARRANTANO

JACK HENDRICKSON

Goalie • Toll Gate

Midfield • Hendricken

Giarrantano excelled in his senior year, helping limit the opposition to a D-III low 48 total goals.

Hendrickson was a captain and a leader for Hendricken, as the Hawks made a run to the state semifinals.

JOHN McNALLY

C.J. MARRINAN

Defense • Warwick Vets

Midfield • Hendricken

The 'Canes gave up only 78 goals on the season, and McNally was a big reason why with his consistent play in the back.

On a team with a balanced offensive attack, Marrinan stood out as a player who could regularly find the back of the net.

MIKE PECCHIA

KYLE ELLIS

Defense • Hendricken

Attack • Toll Gate

Another captain for the Hawks, Pecchia set the tone for a defense that gave up the fourthfewest goals in D-I.

Only a sophomore, Ellis came on strong in the second half of the season as a consistent player on Toll Gate's offense.

COLBY CONNELL

KEVIN VITTUM

Defense • Toll Gate

Attack • Toll Gate

Both big and fast, Connell was the Titans' best player on a defense that was one of D-III's best.

Vittum was the Titans' most dangerous threat up front, helping Toll Gate reach the semifinals in Division III.

WILL HAY Midfield • Warwick Vets Hay was a sparkplug for the 'Canes, providing energy and a lift offensively whenever he was in the game.

HONORABLE MENTION Conor Garrahy, Hendricken Dan Nolte, Hendricken Jon Petteruti, Hendricken Casey Correia, Toll Gate Steve Haley, Toll Gate Nathan Brotman, Warwick Vets

Dan Pickering, Warwick Vets Kyle Corvese, Warwick Vets Diego Martinez, Warwick Vets

KAYLEEN MURPHY

SAVANNAH HERSEY

Goalie • Pilgrim

Wing • Warwick Vets

Murphy drew rave reviews around the state and her presence helped the Pats surge in the second half of the year.

Hersey grabbed a starting job as a freshman and became one of the top players in the Vets' lineup.

ALI WIDMANN

BETSY HEIDEL

Defender • Pilgrim

Center • Pilgrim

Widmann was a captain and the leader of the defense for a second straight year.

An athletic presence, Heidel emerged as one of the top players in the division and could take over games.

KELLY VATTER

MICHAELA GIUTTARI

Defender • Pilgrim

Wing • Pilgrim

Vatter joined Widmann as a returning starter and helped anchor the unit for the Pats.

Giuttari vaulted into the starting lineup as a freshman and was a key to Pilgrim's successful second year in the league.

BIANCA CAPELLI

AMI MARKS

Defender • Warwick Vets

Home • Pilgrim

Capelli was a steadying force on the back line for an untested and inexperienced Vets squad.

As one of the team's more experienced players, Marks has been a leader and a top scorer for two years running.

CARA BENEDUCE

JENNA FONTAINE

Wing • Pilgrim

Home • Warwick Vets

Beneduce was a key to success for the Pats and she consistently created offense with her speed.

Fontaine was a key player for the 'Canes, utilizing her speed to create offensive chances.

EMILY ALMONTE Wing • Warwick Vets Almonte was a facilitator in the middle of the field and the top scoring option for the 'Canes.

Brianna Boucher, Pilgrim Emma Kunz, Pilgrim Julianna Mollo, Pilgrim Lauren Almonte, Warwick Vets

Christine Amaral, Warwick Vets Casey Bennett, Warwick Vets Alyssa McCracken, Warwick Vets Liz Paras, Warwick Vets

COACH OF THE YEAR MIKE VADNEY, TOLL GATE

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

ALL CITY TEAM

HONORABLE MENTION

BOYS’ LACROSSE

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR ALL CITY TEAM

29

COACH OF THE YEAR TOM FLANDERS, PILGRIM

Haley McCusker HOME • PILGRIM The Pilgrim girls’ lacrosse team finished its second season in existence this spring, and it’s already developed one of the premier scorers in all of Division II. Sophomore Haley McCusker, who didn’t play lacrosse prior to joining the Pats during their inaugural season in 2011, scored 62 goals this year, which was the fourth most in D-II. In just her second year playing, McCusker helped the Pats to a 7-7 season, and at this point, it looks like the sky is the limit for both Pilgrim and its best offensive weapon.

“When she has her mind that she’s going to score a goal, it’s very, very difficult to stop her at any level, whether she’s playing against Division I, Division II, whoever,” Pilgrim head coach Tom Flanders said.

McCusker’s offensive output is made more impressive because she missed the early portion of the season with a sprained ankle.

She sat out for two weeks, then came back but still didn’t feel 100 percent until the final week of the season.

Her play, though, didn’t show it.

“Once I got back in the game everyone just started to click and started to work tougether as a team,” McCusker said.

“We just made it happen. The wins came, and it brought us to where we were at the end of the season.”

That said, McCusker’s development shouldn’t come as a huge surprise, given the time she puts in. She plays on a travel team during the off-season and played indoor during the winter.

The extra time spent playing lacrosse helped her learn to shoot and attack from both sides, while also just fine-tuning her overall game.

McCusker also embraces the moment, and Flanders is impressed by how poised she is in big moments, despite her young age.

“She’ll have a great goal and I’m like, ‘Man that was an unbelievable shot,’” Flanders said.

“She’ll look at me and say, ‘Did you have any doubt that that was going to happen?’”

Now, the likely step is more success for both McCusker and her team as they both continue to grow.

“I think we’re going to do really well next year,” McCusker said. “We’re going to have a great season.”

- K.P.

Warwick Beacon

BOYS’ OUTDOOR

30

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

ALL CITY TEAM

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

DEREK DALUZ

JORDAN BARBOZA

100 • Pilgrim

Triple Jump • Hendricken

After a great season, Daluz finished fifth in the 100 at states.

One of the Hawks' most versatile athletes, Barboza took eighth in the triple jump at the state meet.

STEVE CROFT

NICK DeCIANTIS

200 • Pilgrim

Shot Put • Hendricken

Part of a standout sprinting corps, Croft took home a medal with a fourth at states.

DeCiantis had good showings throughout the postseason and finished the year with a ninth at the state meet.

CARL SJOGREN

REUBEN HORACE

400 • Pilgrim

Discus • Hammer • Hendricken

Sjogren focused on other events at states, but he won the 400 at the city meet.

An indoor state champ, Horace took fifth in the discus and seventh in the hammer at states.

MARK VUONO

KYLE ST. JEAN

800 • 1,500 • Hendricken

Javelin • Hendricken

Vuono was busy at states, taking a 10th in the 800 and coming home with a medal after a second in the 1,500.

St. Jean led the Hawks' corps of javelin throws and took a fourthplace medal at states.

COLIN TIERNEY

STEVE CROFT, DEREK DALUZ, CARL SJOGREN, PHIL TANTIMONICO

3,000 • Hendricken

Tierney led the pack for the 4x100 • Pilgrim Hawks at the state meet, taking Pilgrim's strong sprinters came together to take first second overall in the 3,000. place and the championship at the state meet.

BEN MURPHY High Jump • Hendricken Murphy had a good year for the Hawks and finished ninth in the state meet.

JORDAN BARBOZA, MATT LOMBARDI, KYLE O’CONNELL, MARK VUONO The Hawks quartet grabbed a medal with a sixth-place finish at states.

BRENDAN McNAMARA EVAN CARLEY, JOE FROST, PAT ROC CHIO, HENRY SMITHERS McNamara qualified for states and took 16th at the championship meet.

4x800 • Toll Gate

LEE MOSES

COACH OF THE YEAR

At the end of a strong freshman season, Moses turned his attention to the long jump at states and took 12th.

110 HURDLES • 300 HURDLES • HENDRICKEN When Kyle O’Connell finished third in the 55-meter hurdles at the indoor track state meet, he immediately started looking ahead to the spring.

But soon after, it looked like he might miss the spring altogether. O’Connell tore the posterior cruciate ligament in his knee. The initial prognosis wasn’t good.

“It was a devastating injury,” said Hendricken coach Jim Doyle. “It looked like it would be season-ending.”

It wasn’t. O’Connell worked his way back early enough to qualify for states. Then he shocked everybody by winning the state title in the 110 hurdles.

“They said I wouldn’t be able to run the rest of the season, but the whole time, I felt like I’d be able to run,” O’Connell said. “They couldn’t tell me otherwise.”

Still, running and winning were two different things. But after finishing seventh in the preliminaries, O’Connell surged in the finals and won with a time of 15.73 seconds.

He edged Cranston East’s Angel Camilo by .03 seconds.

O’Connell couldn’t have been happier. He was confident coming in, but the championship still wasn’t expected.

“I knew, on a good day, I’d be able to do it,” he said. “But my knee is a little shaky so I was worried. It felt really good to win.”

The championship finished out a strong high-school track career for O’Connell, who came to Hendricken focused on soccer. He ended up as one of the Hawks’ top track standouts.

“I’ve always been that fast guy on the soccer team so I went I got to high school, I decided I would do track,” O’Connell said. “One of my friends said I should try the hurdles, and that’s what I did.”

O’Connell will head to URI in the fall, and he plans to run track for the Rams.

- W.G.

4x400 • Hendricken

Pole Vault • Hendricken

Long Jump • Hendricken

Kyle O’Connell

The Titans were the city's top 4x800 team at states, just missing a medal with a seventh place finish.

MIKE DANIELS, PILGRIM

HONORABLE MENTION Matt Casbarro, Hendricken John Celona, Hendricken John Cute, Hendricken Connor Doyle, Hendricken Mike Fedorenko, Hendricken Dan Grasso, Hendricken Tyler Henseler, Hendricken Power Kanga, Hendricken Adam McAteer, Hendricken Mike Potter, Hendricken Joe Vincent, Hendricken Matt Enos, Pilgrim Dylan Gardner, Pilgrim Peter Golish, Pilgrim

Carl Sjogren, Pilgrim Anthony Souza, Pilgrim Joe Frost, Toll Gate Tyler Inkley, Toll Gate Tom Martella, Toll Gate Max Procopio, Toll Gate Henry Smithers, Toll Gate Evan Anderson, Warwick Vets

Colin Tierney HENDRICKEN In 2010 and 2011, the Bishop Hendricken cross country team had some of the best success it’s ever had, winning titles left and right and competing at the national level. Not surprisingly, there was a lot of talent responsible for the success, and as the Hawks headed into the 2012 season, a lot of that talent had graduated.

Into the void stepped a corps of young runners, and sophomore Colin Tierney was one of the leaders of the pack. Together, the young Hawks kept the bar exactly where it was, winning the state title and the New England championship.

“It was crazy because it was almost a rebuilding year for us,” Tierney said. “We didn’t have many people coming back and we were a really young team. It was a great thing.”

The Hawks succeeded because of their depth. On a given day, any of their top six runners could lead the pack.

Tierney was as consistent as anybody. He finished eighth at states, second-best on the team, and took 20th at New Englands to lead the squad.

“We lost some outstanding runners,” said Hendricken head coach Jim Doyle. “Usually you don’t get athletes to fill those shoes until they’re juniors or seniors. Colin stepped up in a big way.”

Tierney started focusing on running when he was at Cole Middle School in East Greenwich. At Hendricken, he had success as a freshman in races geared toward underclassmen. Heading into his sophomore year, he really didn’t know what to expect.

Doyle wasn’t surprised that he was successful.

“You see potential in a lot of people, but a lot of people kind of figure ‘I’m good, I’m going to come out here and just be good,’” Doyle said. “Colin has potential but he also has a tremendous work ethic. That’s why he’s been successful.”

Now Tierney and the Hawks are committed to more success. Nearly everybody is back from last year and the goals will be high again in the fall.

“We’re going to strive for another big goal,” Tierney said.

“We want to get to Nike Nationals.”

- W.G.

TYLER HENSELER

MICHAEL POTTER

Hendricken

Hendricken

The junior paced the Hawks at the state meet, finishing fifth to lead the team to the title.

Potter became an instant star as a freshman and took 14th at the state meet.

MARK VUONO

COLLIN MANNING

Hendricken

Hendricken

A veteran leader for a young team, Vuono raced to ninth place at the state meet.

Another talented underclassman, Manning ran to 15th at states.

CONNOR DOYLE Hendricken Doyle was the fourth Hawk to cross the line at states, finishing just outside the top 10 in 11th.

HONORABLE MENTION COACH OF THE YEAR Greg Beaudette, Hendricken Cameron Devine, Pilgrim Ben Dinobile, Toll Gate Joe Frost, Toll Gate Brandon Golda, Toll Gate Brock Massa, Toll Gate Austin Medeiros, Toll Gate Pat Rocchio, Toll Gate

Henry Smithers, Toll Gate Dan Pickering, Warwick Vets

JIM DOYLE, HENDRICKEN

BOYS’ XC

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR ALL CITY TEAM

Warwick Beacon

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Maggie Dufault HAMMER • DISCUS • PILGRIM Like a lot of track and field throwers, Maggie Dufault had never competed – or even thought about it – before high school.

“I picked it up in ninth grade because my friend told me I needed a spring sport,” Dufault said. “So I decided to go out for the team.”

And then she decided to embrace it.

Dufault worked tirelessly on her throwing and steadily became one of the best in the state. She capped off her career in style by winning the hammer throw championship at the state meet.

“It’s a great way for her to finish,” said Pilgrim head coach Tom Dolce. “She’s worked hard for four years, a lot of it on her own. She does a lot of work at the gym, she sought help from other people.”

Dufault was a state meet regular for much of her career, grabbing two outdoor medals as a sophomore and one indoor medal and two outdoor medals as a junior.

After taking another indoor medal this winter, she wanted to leave with the top prize in the spring.

“It means a lot,” Dufault said. “Last year, I was third and everyone said I was favored to win this year. Then I started off the season pretty badly, but I decided this was the one thing I wanted.”

Dufault had a minor back injury the week of the state meet but didn’t let that impact her performance. Her throw of 151-05 was good for the title.

“It was a really good day,” Dufault said. “I hurt my back this week so I took about half the week off, and I was thinking, ‘Oh no, this is going to be a bad state meet.’ But when I got here, I told myself I could do it and my coaches were really encouraging.”

Dufault will now take her throwing talents to URI, where she’ll be part of the track and field team.

“I couldn’t have done it without my coaches,” she said. “It was just a really fun time.”

- W.G.

JORDAN GRAY

DESTINEE BARRETTE

100 • 200 • 400 • Toll Gate

Shot Put • Pilgrim

Gray was derailed by an injury before states, but she won the 400 at divisions and took first in the 100 and 200 at the city meet.

A versatile contributor, Barrette finished 10th at the state meet in the shot put.

HALEY MOEN

KATIE ST. AMAND

800 • Toll Gate

Javelin • Toll Gate

Moen finished second at the class meet before taking 12th at states.

St. Amand missed the state meet, but was a standout throughout the season in several throwing events.

JESS CAWLEY

MELANIE BRUNELLE

1,500 • Toll Gate

High Jump • Pilgrim

Cawley ran well during the season and finished eighth at the class meet.

Brunelle competed in several events but was at her best in the high jump, where she took eighth at states.

NATALIE TOCCO 3,000 • Pilgrim

DESTINEE BARRETTE, CLAIRE BIRNEY, EMMA MASCOLI, BECCA O’DONNELL

Tocco just missed qualifying for 4x100 • Pilgrim states, but took eighth in the The quartet just missed states but finished fourth at the Class A championships. division meet.

SHANNON GARVEY 100 H • Toll Gate Garvey qualified for states and finished 11th, tops among Warwick entries.

NORA HALL, HALEY MOEN, KATHLEEN MORLOCK, ERIKA PENA 4x400 • Toll Gate The Titans' squad came up with an eighth place finish at states.

GIRLS’ OUTDOOR

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR ALL CITY TEAM

31

KATHLEEN MORLOCK NORA HALL, HALEY MOEN, ERIKA

300 H • Pole Vault • Toll Gate

Morlock was a versatile performer all year and earned a medal at states with a sixth in the 300 hurdles.

PENA, TESS RUSSO 4x800 • Toll Gate The four grabbed one of two Toll Gate medals at states with a sixth-place finish.

BECCA O’DONNELL LJ • TJ • Pilgrim

HONORABLE MENTION

GIRLS’ XC

Breyon Brown, Pilgrim Mackenzie Caron, Pilgrim Emma Mascoli, Pilgrim Erin Phaneuf, Pilgrim Michelle Sanchez, Pilgrim Rylee Candon, Toll Gate Nora Hall, Toll Gate Stine Hildeness, Toll Gate

Alyssa Jordan, Toll Gate Katherine Lavallee, Toll Gate Erika Pena, Toll Gate Casey Soares, Toll Gate Madison Thibeault, Toll Gate Hunter Bastan, Warwick Vets Katie Evans, Warwick Vets Katelyn Ravenell, Warwick Vets

O'Donnell was one of the top jumpers in the state, taking fifth in the long jump at states and eighth in the triple.

COACH OF THE YEAR TOM DOLCE, PILGRIM

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

ALL CITY TEAM ERIKA PENA

CASEY SOARES

Toll Gate

Toll Gate

Pena burst onto the scene as a freshman and was Toll Gate's top finisher at states, taking 37th overall.

Soares helped lead the Titans all season and ran to 60th place at the state meet.

TESS RUSSO

SARAH GRACE PLANTE

Toll Gate

Warwick Vets

Solid all year, Russo was the Titans' second finisher at states.

She grabbed 46th.

Another standout freshman, Plante was Vets only state qualifier. She took 72nd.

NATALIE TOCCO Pilgrim A veteran leader, Tocco qualified for states and finished 51st overall.

HONORABLE MENTION COACH OF THE YEAR Emily Pride, Pilgrim Dana Goldblatt, Toll Gate Katherine Lavallee, Toll Gate Haley Moen, Toll Gate Danielle Petrangelo, Toll Gate Rachel Walker, Toll Gate Angie Marcks, Warwick Vets

JON DEMING, TOLL GATE

Melanie Brunelle PILGRIM

Melanie Brunelle never thought running would be her thing, but with her freshman year at Pilgrim in the books, it has already turned into a big thing.

Brunelle came out for the cross country team and immediately became the top runner in the city and won of the top freshman runners in the state. She won the city meet and was Warwick’s top finisher at states.

“I didn’t expect it because I had never run before,” Brunelle said. “I didn’t expect to be so good. When I won the city meet, it was a big surprise. I was excited.”

When she first started training with the cross country team, she started to get an idea of what might be in store Every time they went out for a run, Brunelle had no trouble sticking with the team’s best runners.

“As soon as I started, the top girl on the team, I would stay up with her for all our practices and our long runs,” Brunelle said.

Sure enough, that was a pretty good indicator. In the freshman race at the preseason Injury Fund event, Brunelle finished seventh.

And she just kept running.

Brunelle was a standout in dual meets and then surged to a first-place finish at the city championship. At freshman states, she finished ninth overall, and at varsity states, she finished 35th, ninth among freshmen.

“Being a freshman, just going to states was amazing,” she said.

And it was only the beginning.

Brunelle competed in indoor and outdoor track and was a standout in several events. In the fall, she’ll be back on the cross country course, looking for even more success, even if she never imagined it this time last year.

“I definitely want to get better and maybe even make it to New Englands,” she said. “That would be a great accomplishment.”

-W.G.

Warwick Beacon

SOFTBALL

32

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

ALL CITY TEAM COURTNEY BURATCZUK

JESSICA BROSNAHAN

First Baseman • Warwick Vets

Outfielder • Toll Gate

As a captain on a young team, Buratczuk helped provide leadership for the 'Canes and hit in the middle of the order.

A solid defender, Brosnahan also had a signature moment at the plate when she hit a walk-off home run against La Salle.

INGRID FREEMAN

STEPHANIE JOHNSON

Second Baseman • Toll Gate

Outfielder • Pilgrim

Though she regularly hit at the bottom of the order, Freeman was one of Toll Gate's most consistent offensive weapons.

Johnson was one of Pilgrim's best offensive weapons, as she provided a presence in the middle of its potent lineup.

KATELYN REPH

KAYLYN DION

Shortstop • Pilgrim

Utility • Toll Gate

The Pats relied on Reph to set the table from her leadoff spot, and she regularly made good things happen.

The leadoff hitter and shortstop for the Titans, Dion was a difference maker in both places.

COURTNEY CONKLIN

KATIE McCAUGHEY

Third Baseman • Toll Gate

Pitcher • Toll Gate

In her second year starting, Conklin was nearly flawless defensively and had a knack for the big hit as well.

McCaughey pitched nearly every inning this season for the Titans, and was at her best during Toll Gate's deep playoff run.

ELLEN M cDonnell

CARLY CABRAL

Outfielder • Pilgrim

Pitcher • Pilgrim

A freshman, McDonnell was a huge difference maker for the Pats in the field, on the mound and at the plate.

Charged with handling the majority of the mound work, Cabral rose to the occasion. She passed the 200 career strikeout mark.

HONORABLE MENTION COACH OF THE YEAR Stefani Quaine, Pilgrim Lauren Peladeau, Pilgrim Kelsey Johnston, Pilgrim Tiffany LeGare, Pilgrim Molly Turner, Toll Gate Amanda Graves, Warwick Vets

Liz Iadevaia, Warwick Vets Liz Bailey, Warwick Vets Bethany Rhodes, Warwick Vets

SHANA O’CONNOR, TOLL GATE

CATCHER • TOLL GATE Twenty-two times this season, Toll Gate senior Pattie Turner stepped up to the plate only to see the catcher stand up behind her and signal for an intentional walk. It was frustrating.

But it was also the ultimate sign of respect.

And it makes sense, given Turner’s track record. A fouryear starter at catcher, Turner became one of the most feared hitters in the state during her first three seasons. In season four, teams simply decided that they weren’t going to let Toll Gate’s top hitter take them down.

“She’s definitely well-respected around the state,” Toll Gate head coach Shana O’Connor said. “The teams know that she is a big threat when she comes up to the plate. She has proven herself time and time again.”

When given a chance this year, she continued to prove herself, as she hit close to .500 and was constantly on the basepaths – whether it be by walk or hit.

She also adjusted to the way she was being treated at the plate.

“My coach would tell me to get up there ready to swing,” Turner said. “Even when I knew when they were walking me, I was always ready to hit, but I usually just took the walk.”

Early in the season, in a 0-0 game with Warwick Vets, Turner was intentionally walked with the bases loaded, bringing in a run to make the score 1-0. That ended up being the winning margin. It wasn’t the standard method Turner had used to drive in runs during her first three seasons, but it helped her team get the win.

“The pressure that’s put up on her when she goes up to the plate, not knowing whether she’s going to have the opportunity to hit or not, can be very frustrating as a player,” O’Connor said. “For her to work through that shows the kind of ballplayer that she is.”

And at the end of the day, Toll Gate had its deepest playoff run in the four seasons that Turner has been on the field. The Titans were one of the final three teams remaining in the postseason in Division I. That made it a senior year to remember for Turner, even if some of the memories will revolve around four straight balls and a trip to first base.

“I think I’m going to remember it knowing mostly that I started so young, and I think I had a lot to learn and my coach helped me learn a lot,” Turner said. “My mental stability grew a lot by playing. I was able to get strong as a person and player too. I really have my coach to thank for that.”

Tuner will be playing softball at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., next spring.

- K.P.

BRANDON MACEDO

BRENDAN PAGLIARO

Hendricken

Hendricken

Macedo was the most consistent player all season for the Hawks, and had strong showings at states and New Englands.

Pagliaro was one of the top players all season for the Hawks and finished 19th at states.

JUSTIN MATRONE

SUSIE CAVANAGH

Hendricken

Pilgrim

Matrone had a solid season then took a leap at states, playing his way into the final group and finishing as the top Hawk.

Cavanagh just missed the cut at the boys' state tournament then finished a close second at the girls' championship.

DOM MOREIRA Warwick Vets Moreira was the most consistent player as the 'Canes delivered their best season in many years.

COACH OF THE YEAR JOE CICHON, HENDRICKEN

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Phil Krause TOLL GATE One year ago, Toll Gate’s No. 1 golfer, Phil Krause qualified for the state golf tournament as an individual, and he fired a 76 during the first day, putting him in contention heading into the final day.

But whatever the reason – pressure, just a bad day – Krause didn’t have it on day two, putting up a 91 and finishing well off the pace.

Fast forward to this season, and in his senior year, Krause didn’t make the same mistake twice. He shot an opening round 75, and then followed that up with a 78, giving him a tie for 10th place in the state and a fitting end to his high school career.

“I think he had that in the back of his mind from last year,” Toll Gate head coach Bill Russo said. “I think that served as a little bit of a motivating factor. At the same time, I don’t think he was worked up on it and dwelling on what he did in the past.

He’s got a very good demeanor for the game. He’s got a very level head.”

With a rigorous practice schedule and consistency throughout the regular season, he had every reason to feel confident.

Krause shot in either the high 30’s or low 40’s in just about every match during the regular season, and he carried

that steady play into the season’s most important event.

“The consistency is all about me practicing more, the correct way, and being more consistent in every single shot,” Krause said.

To top off the year, Krause’s showing at states qualified him for New Englands, where he shot a 76 at Bretton Woods in New Hampshire to finish in 25th place overall.

That officially brought a close to Krause’s high school years, where he was a fouryear varsity player for the Titans.

“I feel pretty solid,” Krause said. “I had a lot of ups and downs. I had some good

rounds, some bad rounds. For all four years I was very proud of myself as I grew as a golfer.

I got better and better and worked more and more on my golf game.”

But there’s still some golf on the horizon.

He’ll be attending Methodist University in North Carolina, where he’ll focus on Professional Golf Management, and he hopes to walk on to the golf team as well.

If that doesn’t work out, he’ll still be playing just about as much golf as possible.

“There’s always golf in my future,” Krause said.

-K.P.

GOLF

ALL CITY TEAM

HONORABLE MENTION Billy Palmer, Hendricken Garrett Quillen, Hendricken John Roderick, Hendricken Casey McCormick, Pilgrim Danny Holmes, Toll Gate Brandon McGuire, Warwick Vets Kyle Veyera, Warwick Vets

Pattie Turner