Update


The fall season will wrap up this week as Whitman Hanson has one team still left alive in Patriot Cup play (more on girls soccer below). The last two months have been a challenge for everyone as sports returned with many modifications. The student athletes deserve so much credit for adapting and keeping the focus on being part of a team. The true benefits of high school athletics were on full display with our students demonstrating commitment, dedication, sacrifice and character. All of this would not have been possible without our outstanding coaching staff which includes the head coaches and all assistants. It hasn't been easy but they never complained and just did everything they could to keep sports alive for our students. We are very lucky at Whitman Hanson to have such an incredible group of people working for our kids.

With the fall coming to a close, our attention now turns to the winter. As of this writing, we are cautiously optimistic that we will have many sports. However, students, parents and staff have to be realistic that if we do not work together to stop the spread of COVID and get our numbers down, everything we have worked for will be in jeopardy. In neighboring communities there have been reports of underage drinking parties, large gatherings and other activities that simply will lead to a sports, and perhaps school, shutdown.

This is a big week ahead for winter sports. The MIAA sport medicine committee will be hearing from each specific sport regarding their modification proposals. From there, it heads to the Covid task force and then to the MIAA Board of Directors. We should get many answers by the end of the week. What we do know now, is indoor track will be moved to "Fall 2" which is late February. Wrestling is likely headed to the spring season and cheerleading will be combined into one season also held in the spring. We will provide an update during then week on Twitter @whathletics and again in this newsletter next week.

Now let's get to some action on the field.


1. The girls soccer team was the number two seed in the Keenan Division in the Patriot Cup. This created a first round matchup with Fisher top seed Scituate which resulted in a 3-1 loss. But the format of the cup meant that the Panthers were not eliminated. Instead, they advanced to play a very strong Plymouth North team on Saturday and recorded a thrilling 1-0 overtime win when senior captain Alexis Billings kicked home the game winner late in the extra session. Keepers Kylee Colclough and Reese Codero were sensational to combine for the shutout. Abby Carew, Ava Melia, Makenna Marshall and Skylar Jordan were outstanding defensively for the Panthers while Lauryn Fostello, Kayla Cassidy and Nora Manning and Olivia Borgen turned in strong performances. The Panthers advance to the semifinals where they will travel to Hingham on Tuesday at 4pm. As a reminder, only parents with school issued lanyards may attend the game.
2. The boys soccer team won their Patriot Cup opener at Hanover, 2-1 before falling in heartbreaking fashion in double overtime at Duxbury, 3-2. In the Hanover win, Junior keeper Ethan Smith was terrific in net making a series of spectacular saves to keep the team in the game. WH got on the board first when Junior Jayden Stafford found sophomore Manny Osorio for a nice goal. Just before halftime with Hanover pressing Senior Brendan Nehiley scored from an assist from Peyton Collins on a beautiful strike from 20 yards out. In the Duxbury game, WH got on the board first when senior Captain Peyton Collins buried a low shot off a scramble from a corner. A few minutes later Duxbury scored and quickly answered that to make it 2-1. Peyton Collins would answer shortly after on a brilliant free kick for WH to make it 2-2 in the 3rd quarter before Duxbury ultimately won the game to end the season for the Panthers.
3. The Whitman-Hanson Field Hockey team opened Patriot Cup play by beating Marshfield, 1-0 before seeing their season come to end by losing to Silver Lake by the same score. In the Marshfield win the Panthers dominated the first half forcing the Marshfield Rams to play defense. Defenders Junior Rosie MacKinnon and Senior Captain Noelle Cornetta were instrumental at transitioning the ball back to the Panther forwards and keeping the ball in Marshfield's end. The score remained scoreless through the end of the third quarter. Panther Junior forward Olivia Phelps broke the tie about 5 minutes into the fourth with a goal right in front of the Marshfield keeper. The helper goes to forward Senior Captain Lauren Clark. The Silver Lake game was an added challenge as the Lakers are the only team in the league to play on grass. The team battled hard and once again represented the black and red with tremendous class.
4. Whitman-Hanson volleyball dominated over Pembroke 3-0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-16) in the first round of the Patriot Cup before losing by the same score in the second round at Plymouth North. In the Pembroke win, Juniors Abby Martin and Lily Welch led the team in kills with 6 each, while fellow junior Anna Stone and senior Sophia Berardinelli were not far behind with 4. Berardinelli led the team in aces with 4 and senior Caileen Hurley had 3. The girls showed great improvement all season and always represented WH the right way.
5. Whitman-Hanson Boys Cross Country followed up its undefeated, title winning season with a first place finish at the Patriot League Championship Meet on Wednesday at Hingham to win the Patriot Cup. Leading the way on the 5K course was Senior Captain, Theo Kamperides, who won the meet for the second straight year in a time of 16:49. Also starring for the Panthers were Senior Captain Liam Cafferty (5th overall, 17:40), Junior Nathan Tassey (7th, 17:58), Senior Captain Chris MacDonald (9th, 18:15) and Junior Gordon Johnson (12th, 18:25.).
6. Whitman-Hanson Girls Cross Country closed out its season with a 6th place finish at the Patriot League Championship Meet on Wednesday at Hingham. The top finisher for the Panthers was Junior Captain Myah Kamperides who placed 9th overall in a time of 21:01<x-apple-data-detectors://1>. Right behind her in 10th place was Senior Isabelle Amado with a time of 21:18<x-apple-data-detectors://2>. Also scoring for Whitman-Hanson were Senior Captain Bryn Miller (39th; 23:15<x-apple-data-detectors://3>), Junior Sarah Boulger (48th; 23:46<x-apple-data-detectors://4>) and Freshman Sky Bucci-Anderson (56th; 24:12.).




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