Warwick Beacon All City 2012-13

Nobody likes a two-mile run, but when the Toll Gate girls’ soccer team laced up for their annual preseason tradition, Emily Fox never complained.

It was a chance to win something.

“I was probably the most competitive person on the team,” Fox said.

“We do a two-mile run every year, a hell week type thing. I was always really competitive with that. I wanted to win.”

Whether she was on the field or the ice – or the makeshift path for a preseason two-mile run – that competitive fire served Fox very well.

Fox was a standout athlete for four years and, in what turned out to be a tremendous senior year at Toll Gate, she earned second-team AllState honors in soccer and a first-team All-State nod in hockey.

It was a year to remember.

“I’ll definitely have my favorite memories from this year,” Fox said.

“I had a lot of fun.”

All the success wasn’t unexpected. Fox was a key player for Toll Gate soccer as a junior and an emerging star for a rapidly improving Warwick girls’ hockey co-op team that winter.

With the potential for more in 2012-13, Fox delivered.

On the soccer field, the Titans rebounded from a three-win campaign in 2011 to win five games and grab a playoff spot this year. Fox was a catalyst, regularly creating scoring chances from her spot on the wing.

“Toll Gate soccer has always been so big,” Fox said. “I’ve never been ■

PAGE 23

T.J. Boyajian never seriously considered hanging up his shoulder pads, but there was a moment when the thought crossed his mind. He had just finished a long summer of American Legion baseball, and he knew baseball was his future. He would soon commit to play at the Community College of Rhode Island. Football was slowly moving to the back burner.

“To be honest, I came in out of shape,” Boyajian said. “At the beginning of the year, I was really planning on focusing on baseball.”

Then a funny thing happened. Boyajian got on the field with his teammates, and as memories of their Thanksgiving win over Pilgrim came rushing back, he realized that something special was brewing.

That moment when football started drifting? It left as quickly as it came.

“As soon as I got into the pads and I got out there, I was like, ‘How could I miss this?’” Boyajian said.

He was thrilled that he didn’t.

Boyajian became one of the best players in the state and the ‘Canes made good on their potential by putting together their best season since 2008. For Boyajian, it was the most special part of a great senior year. He battled injuries in the spring, but still shined for the Vets baseball team.

He leaves Vets with a tremendous athletic career in the rearview mirror.

“It was more than I could ask for,” he said.

■

PAGE 18

Warwick Beacon

FOOTBALL

18

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

ALL CITY TEAM PATRICK GILL

DALLAS SAUER

JOSE JAVIER

Quarterback • Hendricken

Offensive Line • Hendricken

Linebacker • Toll Gate

Gill stepped right in as a dual threat and a leader, helping the Hawks to another title.

Slightly smaller than some of his linemates, Sauer was still a big, physical presence in the trenches for the Hawks.

Javier was a bright spot in a tough season for the Titans, showing a high motor and a nose for the ball.

REMY BLUE

AUSTIN LEMIRE

MATT DUFFIE

Running Back • Hendricken

Offensive Line • Hendricken

Defensive Back • Hendricken

Short in stature but not in heart, Blue was the Super Bowl MVP for the Hawks and the team's leading rusher.

The Pats struggled to move the ball at times, but their ground game got going late in the season and Lemire paved the way.

Duffie emerged as the Hawks' best defensive back, and in a fast secondary, that was an accomplishment.

MIKE SCARCELLA

GAGE POTTER

DAVE BABCOCK

Wide Receiver • Hendricken

Defensive Line • Pilgrim

Defensive Back • Toll Gate

One of the hardest working players on the team, Scarcella emerged as the team's top receiving option.

Big and strong, Potter helped clog the middle for a Pilgrim defense that tried its best to stop the run.

Versatile all over the field, Babcock was one of the best athletes on the Toll Gate team and never stopped fighting.

KEVIN BLANCHETTE

MARIO MCCLAIN

POWER KANGA

Wide Receiver • Pilgrim

Defensive Line • Hendricken

Defensive Back • Hendricken

In a struggling offense, Blanchette shone through, especially in the Thanksgiving Day game against Vets.

Quick off the ball, McClain was a force to be reckoned with whether the opposition was throwing or running.

Kanga came into his own in his sophomore year, taking a starting spot in the secondary and using his speed to excel.

TONY LONCZAK

MICHAEL CRISIONE

LEE MOSES

Tight End • Warwick Vets

Defensive Line • Hendricken

Defensive Back • Hendricken

A leader and an above-average athlete, Lonczak was an undersized but strong blocker and a solid receiver in the open field.

Versatile across the defensive front, Crisione was a big part of limiting La Salle in the Super Bowl.

Another sophomore, Moses used his elite athleticism to help the Hawks shut down the opposition's passing game.

NICK DECIANTIS

MARCO DELVECCHIO

BOBBY LINEBERGER

Offensive Line • Hendricken

Linebacker • Hendricken

Kicker • Hendricken

DeCiantis was one of the biggest linemen in the state, and led the Hawks' powerful ground attack.

The inspirational leader of the Hendricken defense, DelVecchio also made plays sideline to sideline.

One of the most consistent and effective kickers in the state, Lineberger gave the Hawks an important weapon.

JOHN MCNALLY

DAVID MACDONALD

JESSIE SEDOMA

Offensive Line • Warwick Vets

Linebacker • Warwick Vets

Punter • Warwick Vets

The 'Canes had a potent ground attack, in large part because of McNally's effort and drive on the line.

Tough as they come in the middle, MacDonald made a huge difference in the 'Canes' entire style of play.

Also the team's quarterback, Sedoma shone through most when it came time to switch the field for the 'Canes via a punt.

JOE VINCENT

JARRID WITHERSPOON

MIKE KELLY

Offensive Line • Hendricken

Linebacker • Hendricken

Kick Returner • Pilgrim

Another solid piece of the Hawks' offensive puzzle, Vincent helped the team control the clock when it needed to.

Capable of playing defensive end as well, Witherspoon emerged as one of the very best defensive players in the state.

A solid contributor, Kelly used his ability as one of the team's most consistent producers in the return game.

HONORABLE MENTION

MITCH LUCCI Punt Returner • Hendricken

Romario Rousseau, Hendricken Thomas St. Pierre, Hendricken Kazre Cummings, Hendricken Nick Mariano, Hendricken Andrew Sjodahl, Warwick Vets Carter Thomas, Warwick Vets Dennis Scalzo, Warwick Vets Ricky Antonio, Warwick Vets George Schmeider, Warwick Vets

Jeremy Morrissette, Warwick Vets Jackson Burgos, Toll Gate Chris Durand, Toll Gate Jake Lima, Toll Gate Zach Mitchell, Toll Gate Rob Quaine, Pilgrim Taylor Stringfellow, Pilgrim Dylan Gardner, Pilgrim

Lucci was tough as they come for the Hawks, as he fought for extra yards on his returns and hardly ever lost the ball.

COACH OF THE YEAR KEITH CROFT, HENDRICKEN

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

T.J. Boyajian RUNNING BACK • WARWICK VETS ■ Continued from page 17 His senior football season set the course. The ‘Canes went 1-6 his junior year but surged to an upset of Pilgrim on Thanksgiving. With a solid core returning, it was the perfect springboard.

The current seniors had witnessed two winless seasons in their first two years with the program, but all of a sudden, they were believing.

“It started Thanksgiving two years ago,” Boyajian said. “We weren’t supposed to win that game, but we came in believing we could do it. When we upset Pilgrim, it just rolled into this season.

We came together as a team and everyone bought into the system. That’s why we were so successful.”

Jessie Sedoma emerged as a threat to run and throw from the quarterback spot. The offensive line grew into a

steady unit. The defense improved.

And Boyajian ran. He finished the year with more than 1,500 yards rushing, and his penchant for breaking long runs made the Vets offense as explosive as any in the division.

The ‘Canes turned into a contender, knocking off Westerly in surprising fashion and contending for a playoff spot until a loss in the final week of league play.

Even after that, the ‘Canes were undeterred. They steamrolled to a 40-0 win on Thanksgiving, the largest margin of victory in series history. Boyajian rushed for 209 yards and four touchdowns.

“We should have been in the playoffs,” Boyajian said. “We had our opportunity and we didn’t get it done, but we came back strong and beat Pilgrim on Thanksgiving.”

Boyajian earned second-team AllState honors for his big season, but he

viewed his success through the lens of the football team’s resurgence.

“It was great making All-State and everything, but for me, it was really all about the program,” Boyajian said. “It wouldn’t have happened without everybody else on the team. As soon as I found out I made All-State, I told all the guys and I said, ‘Thank you.’ I told my linemen, ‘Whatever you guys want, I owe you.’”

And for all the accolades, the season was really defined by being part of a special team.

“That team was a family,” Boyajian said. “What we did these past two years was amazing.”

Boyajian was ready for another big baseball season on the heels of a secondteam All-State campaign in 2012. A shoulder injury kept him off the field for a time, but when he was on the field, he was the team’s catalyst and one of the

best players in Division II. Though Vets didn’t have the year it was looking for, finishing 9-7, it wasn’t for a lack of effort.

“We worked hard,” Boyajian said.

“Everyone worked for it.”

Boyajian will get plenty more innings on the field at Vets this summer, as he returns to the New England Frozen Lemonade/Shields Post 43 legion team.

Then it’s on to CCRI. “I’m wicked excited about it,” he said.

“It’s awesome that that all came together. Coach [Kevin] Rix and Coach [Ken] Hopkins have been watching me since my freshman year and they’ve always kept an eye on me. I’m excited for it because I know I’m going into a good program. I’m looking forward to the next step.”

And he’ll have a lot of fond memories of the last step.

-William Geoghegan

Warwick Beacon

ALL CITY TEAM

Shane Davidson

MATT CREAMER

DAN LEVESQUE

Goalie • Hendricken

Midfielder • Hendricken

DEFENSE • HENDRICKEN

Creamer took over in net and didn't disappoint, helping Hendricken stay in games when the offense was lacking.

Levesque emerged as the Hawks' top option in the middle, often threading passes to create scoring chances up front.

WILL HAY

JOSH SANDIN

Defense • Warwick Vets

Midfielder • Toll Gate

Typically a sweeper, Hay was Vets' most aggressive defender, and his energy and passion helped spark the team.

In his second year on the varsity squad, Sandin took on an expanded role this season as one of the team's go-to players.

CHRISTIAN WHITE

JOSE BELTRAN

Defense • Pilgrim

Midfielder • Toll Gate

A stabilizing force, White played strong defense and also pitched in with a few shots on the offensive end.

Beltran was perhaps the Titans' most skilled player, using his speed and athleticism to break away from defenses.

BRADY CHANT

LUIS PIMENTAL

Defense • Hendricken

Forward • Pilgrim

The Hawks didn't score very much this season, but Chant was a huge reason why they still nearly made the semifinals.

Quick and deceptively fast, Pimental was able to beat defenders with a move or two and create space.

BRANDON SILVESTRI

JUSTIN BATISTA

Midfielder • Hendricken

Forward • Warwick Vets

A solid defender and a playmaker in the middle, Silvestri hardly ever left the field in helping Hendricken to the playoffs.

A scoring threat every time he touched the ball, Batista broke on to the scene this year and scored eight goals.

During the regular season, the Bishop Hendricken soccer team scored 10 total goals in 14 games.

Predictably enough, the Hawks didn’t win a ton of games with that output, as they tallied just three victories and tied three others.

But there was a silver lining – the Hawks were almost never out of a game.

Their defense was too good.

In a year where bad luck haunted Hendricken’s offensive side, the Hawks nearly qualified for the state semifinals. Sweeper Shane Davidson was the anchor of that defense.

A senior captain, Davidson led from his spot in the back, as teams scored just 22 total goals against Hendricken.

“I love that either way – trying to stop them was huge,” Davidson said. “We

GIRLS’ SOCCER

realized that we were in a lot of 1-0 games. In practice I was extra tough on some kids because we knew that we needed that hard defense for 90 minutes to win games.”

Davidson and his teammates were heavy underdogs entering

the postseason, but they pulled off a big upset in the first round with a 1-0 victory over North Kingstown.

Hendricken had allowed four goals to the Skippers during the regular season.

But in the postseason, Davidson and his back line buckled down and kept a clean sheet.

“The big win was the NK win,” Davidson said. “That was huge, and it was a big confidence booster.”

That victory moved Hendricken to the quarterfinals, where it took on eventual state runner-up La Salle. Once again, Davidson and the Hawks’ defense led the way, keeping the Rams off the scoreboard for the majority of the game before La Salle finally broke through and escaped with a 2-0 victory.

Still, Hendricken had shaken off a three-win regu-

lar season to win a playoff game and nearly win another.

“It was a good season,” Davidson said. “It was a difficult journey.

We had a lot of young teammates. As a captain, for me, I tried to help the underclassmen learn throughout the year. The scoring was very unfortunate. It was unlucky. We hit the post – just bad luck. But we had a tough crew.”

- Kevin Pomeroy

HONORABLE MENTION

COACH OF THE YEAR

Chris Cambio, Hendricken Brexton Kinney, Hendricken Justin Matrone, Hendricken Mike Riccitelli, Warwick Vets Cody Sullivan, Warwick Vets Dylan Robert, Warwick Vets Nikone Soupharath, Warwick Vets

MIKE KENNEY, WARWICK VETS

Jordan DeSisto, Pilgrim Austin DeSantis, Pilgrim Travis Cherry, Pilgrim Nick Lodge, Toll Gate Justin Allen, Toll Gate

19

BOYS’ SOCCER

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

ALL CITY TEAM HANNAH PAGE

EMILY FOX

Goalie • Pilgrim

Midfielder • Toll Gate

In her first year in the net, Page made a huge difference on the back end, helping the Pats to the semifinals.

Fox established herself as Toll Gate's top two-way player and one of its most intense, as she led by her play and by example.

HEATHER WOLFENDEN

KARINA SANTOS

Defense • Pilgrim

Midfielder • Toll Gate

Wolfenden returned after a serious knee injury to establish herself as one of the premier defenders in Division II.

Fast, hardworking and offensive-minded, Santos continually made plays for the Titans near the goal.

ERICA HAMMOND

TALIA D’AMBRUOSO

Defense • Pilgrim

Midfielder • Pilgrim

The last line of defense for the Pats, Hammond was instrumental in holding opponents to the third-fewest goals in D-II.

Also contributing at the forward spot, D'Ambruoso made a living helping the Pats extend leads and then hold on to them.

COURTNEY CROWLEY

CARA BENEDUCE

Defense • Toll Gate

Midfielder • Pilgrim

The Titans made the playoffs, and Crowley's play on defense was a big reason why, especially with the team's lack of offense.

Beneduce's ball control and poise in the middle helped Pilgrim have one of its best years.

KATELYN RAVENELL

LARISSA PAOLANTONIO

Defense • Warwick Vets

Forward • Warwick Vets

A bright spot in a tough season for the 'Canes, Ravenell held her own as the team's best defensive presence.

Paolantonio scored in the Injury Fund game and continued to lead the 'Canes' offense the rest of the season.

HONORABLE MENTION

COACH OF THE YEAR

Nicole Starkey, Pilgrim Megan Sullivan, Pilgrim Talia Geremia, Pilgrim Jaime Given, Toll Gate Abby Ellis, Toll Gate Meg McNulty, Toll Gate Shannon Garvey, Toll Gate

MIKE WEBER, PILGRIM

Brooke Medeiros, Warwick Vets Kara McCrudden, Warwick Vets Casey Bennett, Warwick Vets

Katie Vieira FORWARD • PILGRIM The Pilgrim girls’ soccer team had one its best seasons in a long time this past fall, advancing all the way to the Division II semifinals.

It should come as no surprise, then, that the Pats also had one of the state’s best players leading the charge.

Sophomore Katie Vieira, in her second year as a fulltime varsity player, was fifth in the state with 34 points.

She scored 20 goals, added 14 assists and gave Pilgrim as consistent a scoring option up front as the division had to offer.

“She’s the first player I’ve had in a long time that just has a nose for scoring,” Pilgrim head coach Mike Weber said. “She’s gifted with tremendous foot skills and vision.”

With Vieira’s help, the Pats were tied with ExeterWest Greenwich as the highest-scoring team in Division II. Her output – and the team’s – is made more impressive given the added attention she received after her breakout freshman season in 2011. In a hurry, teams were well aware of who Katie Vieira was, and they set out to not let her beat them.

“I was getting twomanned in specific games, especially when we were playing the higher seeded teams like Exeter/West Greenwich, I had two or three girls on me,”

Vieira said. “I just had to stick it out and adjust to it.”

The positive in that approach was that Vieira was not afraid to pass the ball to a better scoring option. If she was double-teamed, that meant someone else was open, and more often than not she would find them.

“Not only could she score, but she was willing to give up the ball to a better option,” Weber said. “She’s a total team player, and she just has a nose for the net.”

Next season, Vieira will be a captain on the team in her junior year and be looked upon to handle even more of the scoring load, as Pilgrim is losing a large number of seniors due to graduation, and Weber is stepping down as head coach.

That leaves Vieira as the most important constant from last year into this fall.

“It’s my job as a captain and one of the leading goal scorers on the team to help the other girls get better and help the new girls on the team know what it’s like to play varsity soccer,” Vieira said.

She should be able to set a pretty solid example.

“It was very nice to have her play for me for the two years that she was there,” Weber said. “I think over the next two years she’s going to score a lot of goals.”

-K.P.

Warwick Beacon

BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL

20

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

ALL CITY TEAM

HONORABLE MENTION

MATT MEDEIROS

CHRIS FITTA

Hendricken

Pilgrim

The setter, Medeiros provided a stabilizing presence on the court and battled through injury in the team's near-upset of SK.

Another veteran for the Pats, Fitta used his intensity and hustle to spark a high-energy Pilgrim team time and again.

DONNY BAKER

JOHN MOORE

Hendricken

Warwick Vets

Just a freshman, Baker found his groove as the season wore on and became a dangerous piece of Hendricken's attack.

Moore was the steadiest player on a Vets team that showed signs of improvement as the season wore on.

Mario McClain, Hendricken Trent Medeiros, Hendricken Derek Vadnais, Hendricken Josh Salinger, Pilgrim Phil Nemirow, Pilgrim Christian White, Pilgrim Slawomir Hermanowski, Warwick Vets Will Remak, Warwick Vets Jose Javier, Toll Gate Matt Davis, Toll Gate

DAN COLABELLA Pilgrim

COACH OF THE YEAR

With the Pats moving up to D-I, Colabella returned as a strong middle, giving Pilgrim the firepower to compete.

MIKE HARRINGTON, HENDRICKEN

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Jahari Ford HENDRICKEN Mike Harrington has seen a lot of great volleyball players come through his program at Bishop Hendricken.

As far as outside hitters go, though, Jahari Ford was one of his best.

“He was as good as I’ve had in a long time, as far as a pure, talented, athletic outside hitter,” Harrington said. “Rocco (Baldelli) is in a class of his own. But Jahari’s set of skills fit that position really well.”

Ford was the most powerful player on a Hendricken team that was breaking in new players all over the court. A threeyear varsity player, he was relied upon to carry the load while the rest of the team

caught up to speed.

He didn’t mind one bit.

“He’s always wanted (to be the man), even as a sophomore when I pulled him up to help out in a couple varsity matches,” Harrington said. “He never really lacked confidence, and that’s obviously a good thing in the sport of volleyball and any sport.”

The Hawks struggled against some of the top teams in Division I during the season, before finding their groove toward the end of the schedule.

But as the team clicked, Ford and setter Matt Medeiros both came down with injuries.

It put the Hawks in a tough spot, and Ford missed the final

two weeks of the regular season. Yet, leading into Hendricken’s quarterfinal match with defending state champion South Kingstown, he wanted to give it a go.

“The last time we faced SK we lost, but we had that feeling walking away from them that we could beat them,” Ford said.

He could barely move around the court the day before the match, but he convinced Harrington to let him play and he contributed what he could. He had four kills in the match – while Medeiros also gutted it out – as Hendricken fought the Rebels tooth and nail before falling a few points

short, losing 15-12 in the deciding fifth game.

“No one expected us to battle SK like we did, take them to game five and then lose by three points,” Ford said. “No one expected that. That’s my goal as a player – to exceed expectations.”

And even though Hendricken’s season came to an earlyround close, there was plenty to be proud of.

“It was just the way that we went out that made it remarkable,” Ford said. “Our setter played, I played, and then everyone who was inconsistent the whole year really stepped up.”

-K.P.

Kelsey Kurbiec, Toll Gate Laura Kazanjian, Toll Gate Caitlin White, Pilgrim Michelle Asels, Pilgrim Alyssa McCracken, Warwick Vets Nina Soupharath, Warwick Vets

AMANDA GRAVES

JAMIE LAVOIE

Warwick Vets

Toll Gate

A solid senior leader, Graves provided stability and a veteran presence, not to mention some firepower.

Lavoie played solid defense all season long, and her offense helped keep the Titans in a number of matches.

MELISSA CONTI

JESSIE BROSNAHAN

Pilgrim

Toll Gate

One of the driving forces behind a solid season for the Pats, Conti's sets were second to none in the Warwick area.

The Titans' best net presence, Brosnahan used her strength and size to control matches offensively.

LIZ IADEVAIA Warwick Vets

COACH OF THE YEAR

One of the best athletes on the Vets team, Iadevaia showed her skill and consistency from day one.

JEAN MCGARRY, WARWICK VETS

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Betsy Heidel PILGRIM Betsy Heidel is the youngest of five. Competitiveness comes with the territory.

“Board games, stupid stuff, everything,” she said. “We always compete.”

On the fields and courts of Pilgrim high school, that served Heidel well. She remembers watching her brother and her sisters play sports there. When it was her turn, she became one of the school’s best athletes, starring in volleyball, basketball and lacrosse.

“I was always into sports,” she said. “Being on a team, striving for the same goal – no matter what the sport was, I just always loved that. It gives you confi-

dence, it gives you power. It’s something I’ve always loved.”

Heidel’s competitive streak and passion were constants for the Pilgrim volleyball team. In her junior year, the Pats had their best season in more than a decade. A big senior class graduated that spring, leaving some holes for this year. The Pats had their struggles, finishing 4-10, but it wasn’t for lack of effort.

“I feel like we came through and did the best we could,” Heidel said. “We worked well together and we had a lot of close games. We had a lot of good players who just didn’t get a lot of playing time last year. It was a decent year for what we had.”

Heidel served as a captain for the Pats and she was their most consistent player whether she was in the front row or the back.

“She never came off the court,” said head coach Claire Baggesen.

“She brought experience and a level of maturity that every team needs.”

Heidel became a varsity contributor early in her career, and Baggesen saw the potential immediately. Even though Heidel had no organized volleyball experience, she had played some with her sisters – and her athleticism spoke for itself.

“She comes from a family of athletes and volleyball players,” Baggesen said. “She had great

ability. It was just about building confidence. She got better and better.”

Even in a tough season, Heidel’s enthusiasm and consistency didn’t waver. She took upon herself to be a vocal leader in practices and matches. On the court, she was as steady as ever – even flashing a strong defensive game, something tall, athletic players don’t always want to work on.

“She was a multi-faceted talent,” Baggesen said.

Heidel will head to Rhode Island College in the fall, and she plans to try out for both the volleyball and lacrosse teams.

-W.G.

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL

ALL CITY TEAM

HONORABLE MENTION

Warwick Beacon

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Matt Plouffe, Hendricken Brandyn Garrahy, Toll Gate Jeremy Cullen, Toll Gate Kyle Morrissette, Warwick Vets Andrew Falaguerra, Warwick Vets Christian Boyer & Jordan Carvalhal, Hendricken

KELAN SULLIVAN

THOMAS GREENBERG

Hendricken

Pilgrim

Sullivan was the Hawks' No. 3 player, and he was a bright spot, finishing with a 7-6 overall record.

In a tough season for the Pats, Greenberg held his own at the No. 1 singles spot, finishing at a respectable 6-6.

JEREMY DIMEO

JUSTIN ALLEN

Hendricken

Toll Gate

DiMeo served as Hendricken's No. 4, and he was one of two Hawks above .500, with a 6-5 record.

The Titans' No. 1 player, Allen went just 2-10 but was the best player on a resurgent Toll Gate team.

MARCUS CARON & CASEY HODOR Hendricken The most consistent of all Hendricken's doubles combinations, Caron and Hodor teamed up for a 5-2 record.

COACH OF THE YEAR TAMRA GALLO, TOLL GATE

BOYS’ TENNIS

ALL CITY TEAM

HONORABLE MENTION

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Carlos Arciniegas HENDRICKEN

GIRLS’ TENNIS

Almost always a contender for the state championship, the Bishop Hendricken tennis team had somewhat of a down season. It went just 5-7, and missed the playoffs.

Yet, while wins were sometimes hard to come by, dedication was not – and it starts with Carlos Arciniegas.

Arciniegas, a junior who played No. 1 for the Hawks all season long, set the tone for the team, even if it didn’t show up on the scoreboard. He went 5-7 individually, and was named second-team AllState by the Coaches Association.

In his first year consistently playing on the singles ladder, it was a big responsibility that he readily embraced.

“Ever since I was a little kid, I always remember watching my sister play No. 1 (at North Smithfield),”

Arciniegas said. “She was No. 1 since her freshman year. I’ve always wanted to play No. 1. My freshman and sophomore year, I was really close to playing singles.”

That desire was evident in his game.

Not the hardest hitter in the state, Arciniegas was a return machine, keeping him in close matches against some of the best players out there.

“He’s as competitive and passionate about tennis as anyone that I’ve ever had,” Hendricken head coach Steve Crawford said. “I can say that unequivocally. I’ve had a lot of good tennis players here.”

And that bodes well for his – and the team’s future. Arciniegas will be back next season for his senior year, where he’ll open the season as the team’s No. 1

ALL CITY TEAM

player once again.

With another summer of practice and hard work under his belt, he figures to take another step forward, and thrust himself into the true upper echelon of players in Rhode Island.

“He needs to sophisticate his game and give it another dimension,” Crawford said. “That’s what he needs to do.

He knows that, and I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t do that.”

That’s certainly Arciniegas’s plan.

“A lot of the guys are making plans for next year saying their team is going to be like this or be like that,” he said. “I told them, ‘If the season starts tomorrow, we might not do well. But we still have a whole summer. I’ve seen a lot of guys improve dramatically over the year.’”

-K.P.

HONORABLE MENTION

LAUREN SMITH

ARIANNA RIZZO

Warwick Vets

Toll Gate

Playing in the No. 1 spot, Smith led the charge for a .500 Vets team with a 9-5 record.

Holding down the No. 3 spot in the lineup, Rizzo was dominant, going 11-2 and leading the team in winning percentage.

SKY TENEYCK

JULIETTA AYRIYAN

Toll Gate

Pilgrim

Teneyck was part of a strong singles group for the Titans, and her 9-4 record was the second best on the team.

Ayiyran had Pilgrim's secondbest singles record, but she was the team's best player from the No. 1 spot.

Thalia Rivera-Ortiz, Warwick Vets Jamie Yates, Warwick Vets Olivia Roy, Warwick Vets Courtney Smith, Pilgrim Jackie Falso & Rachel Deschenes, Toll Gate Joelle Nelson & Jenn Salerno, Warwick Vets

TAURI SEQUEIRA & GIULIANA MELO Warwick Vets Sequeira and Melo were Warwick's most successful doubles combination, winning seven of their eight matches.

COACH OF THE YEAR GARY GORMAN, TOLL GATE

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Mackenzie Kelly TOLL GATE Mackenzie Kelly planned to play soccer when she arrived at Toll Gate, but she took a detour to the tennis court when a friend suggested it.

She – and the Titans – are pretty happy about that.

Kelly has been a steady contributor from the first day she came out, and this season, she climbed her way to the top of the ladder.

Along the way, she found a sport she loves.

“I just love every aspect of it – being part of a team, the actual sport,” she said. “You never know what’s coming.

I love it.”

And Kelly doesn’t take the passion lightly. She started with off-season tennis lessons shortly after joining the team at Toll Gate. The lessons made her a better player and fueled her to

continue improving.

“I just wanted to have as much success as I could,” she said. “I knew it would make my parents my proud, and I knew it would make me proud.

Just the personal success is something I wanted to achieve.”

Kelly really saw the work pay off this year.

The Titans returned several standout players, all of comparable abilities.

But in ladder matches against her teammates, Kelly just kept winning.

“Everyone understood that we had a lot of good players and that everyone had a shot,” Kelly said. “Every challenge match was intense.”

Kelly grabbed the top spot and was solid there, finishing the season with a 6-6 record. The Titans went 9-3 as a team for their fifth straight winning

season.

“It was a great season,” Kelly said.

“Our team was super close and we had a ton of fun.”

Kelly had some close, three-set losses that kept her from an even better record, but that will just be fuel on the fire for next season. The Titans will bring back another strong group, and Kelly may have to fend off more challenges for the top spot on the ladder.

But she’ll be up to it – and she’ll be happy to be on the court.

“I was just named a captain so I already can’t wait,” she said. “I want the team to be just as close as we were last year and we’re going to shoot for a better record.”

-W.G.

21

Warwick Beacon

FIELD HOCKEY

22

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

ALL CITY TEAM

Molly Turner

COURTNEY CARDOZA

AMIBETH MARKS

Goalie • Pilgrim

Midfielder • Pilgrim

Cardoza faced a ton of shots in net, as the Pats struggled in Division I, but she stopped the vast majority of them.

A senior, Marks provided veteran leadership on a Pilgrim team that tried to stay positive.

JULIANNA MOLLO

SAVANNAH HERSEY

Defense • Pilgrim

Midfielder • Warwick Vets

Mollo was the anchor of Pilgrim's defense, often limiting some of the best players in the state.

A multi-sport standout for the 'Canes, Hersey's athleticism was on display on both sides of the field.

SAM SUPSKY

KELLY VATTER

Defense • Warwick Vets

Forward • Pilgrim

Supsky helped the Vets defense to a resurgent year, one in which the 'Canes were able to win five games.

As consistent a scoring threat as the Pats had, Vatter steadily became one of the Pats' top players.

JENNIE SULLIVAN

LAUREN ENOS

Defense • Toll Gate

Forward • Warwick Vets

Sullivan was a hard worker in the back for a Titans' team that was often forced into playing a lot of defense.

Enos didn't score a ton of goals for the 'Canes, but she regularly put pressure on opposing defenses.

JENNA O’CONNELL

MOLLY BEAGAN

Midfielder • Warwick Vets

Forward • Pilgrim

O'Connell led the 'Canes in points with 12, eight of which came on the four goals she scored.

Fast up front, Beagan tallied one assist in a season in which goals weren't exactly easy to come by.

HONORABLE MENTION

COACH OF THE YEAR

Brianna Florio, Pilgrim Haley Donahay, Pilgrim Jen Scotti, Warwick Vets Naomi Franzen, Warwick Vets Alyson Perry, Toll Gate Emily Durand, Toll Gate

JIM ARESON, WARWICK VETS

Molly Turner has no shame in saying she wasn’t very good at soccer.

After all, if she was a little better on the soccer pitch, she might never have found her way to a different field.

Turner started playing field hockey at Toll Gate, fell in love and emerged as one of the best players in the division during her four-year career.

She has soccer to thank.

“I wasn’t that good at soccer, so I decided I would try something different,” she said with a laugh. “I really just love the game. I had never played ice hockey and I had always wanted to. So field hockey was something I was drawn to.”

As soon as she picked up a stick, she realized she’d found a passion.

In the beginning, Turner’s athleticism carried her, and it was enough to make her a solid player. As she became more skilled and more driven, she turned into the team’s best all-around player.

Her best year came in 2011, when she and a strong group of seniors led Toll Gate to a sixwin season and a spot in the playoffs. With those seniors gone this year, Turner did her best to set an example for a young and inexperienced team.

“It was really a rebuilding year for us and we wanted to make sure all the girls

coming up would have the skills that they needed to keep playing after the seniors this year graduated,” Turner said.

Turner never wavered in that purpose, even though it was a tough year – and even though her numbers went down. The Titans finished without a win.

“We tried to band together as a team and overcome all the graduation losses we had from the year before,” she said. “It was tough, but I think we pulled together pretty well as a team. Hopefully next year, they can continue on.”

Though the Titans didn’t have a lot of success, Turner was a player any coach in the state would have liked to have.

And when Turner got a look at the cage, she was firing.

“I was probably a little too aggressive – hitting the ball too hard and too high,” she said with a smile.

“But I just tried to get as m a n y goals for our team as possible.”

Tu r n e r will attend the University of N e w H a m p shire in the fall and she’s hoping to play for the school’s club field hockey team.

-W.G.

KAYLEIGH DESJARLAIS

THALIA RIVERA-ORTIZ

Warwick Vets

Warwick Vets

With Kowalik hurt, Desjarlais stepped up and was the 'Canes' top performer at states, scoring a 30.100 all-around.

A veteran leader, Rivera-Ortiz made her second consecutive appearance at states and finished with a 27.050.

ALLIE QUINN

BRIANNA SANTOPIETRO

Warwick Vets

Toll Gate

Quinn had Vets' highest individual score in any event at states, grabbing an 8.450 on the vault.

A senior, Santopietro qualified for states in the vault and didn't disappoint, scoring an 8.200, good for 28th.

COACH OF THE YEAR STACY CAPONE-MELINO, WARWICK VETS

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Candis Kowalik WARWICK VETS A broken ankle kept Candis Kowalik from having another dream season.

But it was one of her best seasons anyway, despite the fact that she didn’t get a chance to defend her state title. Her Vets gymnastics team had the best season it’s had in years, and the squad was as closeknit as any Kowalik has ever been on.

“This year, we had a lot more teamwork,” Kowalik said. “A lot of the girls came together, we started practicing hard. We really started to look good out there. We became like sisters.”

That’s not an easy perspective to have for a gymnast who has never settled for anything less than the best. Kowalik came to Vets as one of the top club gymnasts in the state and she won the individual state championship in her freshman season.

But when she broke her ankle late in the season, the realization that she was still part of something special really kicked in.

“It was amazing to be a part of it,” Kowalik said.

And Kowalik certainly did her part. Before the injury, she was Vets’ top scorer in every meet and she would have been the favorite to win another championship.

She also set the tone for the ‘Canes – and it was hard for her teammates not to be sparked by her success.

“I definitely felt like I needed to be the leader of the team because I’m the only one with that much experience,” she said.

Kowalik was always willing to help, sometimes spending all of a Vets practice working with teammates on routines and skills before heading to her own practices

at night.

That helped the ‘Canes finish 11-1 and win the Division II regular-season championship.

Kowalik and the ‘Canes think that’s just the beginning. Half-a-dozen experienced gymnasts are set to come to Vets next year, where they’ll join an improving group of gymnasts that already have their team chemistry working well.

“Next year, we should be an even better team,” Kowalik said.

Back on her feet, Kowalik is aiming high in her individual goals, too. She’d like to break the all-time Rhode Island state meet scoring record.

“This year, I was hoping to beat the record, but I didn’t get the chance,” she said. “Next year, hopefully I can do it.”

-W.G.

GYMNASTICS

ALL CITY TEAM

HONORABLE MENTION Katie Foeller, Toll Gate Sloan Kinney, Warwick Vets

MIDFIELDER • TOLL GATE

Warwick Beacon

ALL CITY TEAM

Matt Creamer FORWARD • HENDRICKEN

GIRLS’ HOCKEY

In his freshman season, Matt Creamer took Rhode Island high school hockey by storm. He earned firstteam All-State honors, and was a huge piece of the Hawks’ state championship team.

One year later, Creamer was no longer anonymous.

But even with a newlyformed target on his back, he didn’t miss a beat.

Creamer followed up his breakout freshman campaign with an equally impressive sophomore campaign, earning All-State honors again and tying for the Division I lead in points with 38.

Though Hendricken lost in the semifinals to La Salle, Creamer came into his own as one of the best players in the state.

“It was obviously something that I was kind of nervous about,” Creamer said. “It’s a lot different.

Coming in your freshman year, there are no expectations. You have your personal goals, but no one knows who you are. Sophomore year, you’ve got a target on your back, but it’s challenging, which is kind of nice.”

Behind Creamer’s consistency, the Hawks steamrolled through the regular season, going 15-2-1 before being tripped up in the postseason.

“Regular season was obviously a big success,” Creamer said. “We had a tough run in the playoffs, but overall it was a good season.”

Boosting Creamer’s individual accomplish-

ments was the success of those around him. For the vast majority of the year, he played on a line with seniors Ed Markowski and Andrew Fera. It’s no coincidence that Markowski was the third-leading scorer in D-I, while Fera was fourth.

Creamer was the catalyst.

“It was really fun,” Creamer said. “The two of those guys, we had a lot of chemistry going from the first day we started doing it.

I’ve played with those guys since I was little. We knew each other coming in. We just got a lot of pucks to the net. They weren’t always pretty goals, but a goal is a goal.”

In two seasons of high school hockey, Creamer has 70 points. He still has two more years to add to that total.

“I think it’s all uphill from here,” Creamer said. “We’ve got a bunch of freshmen coming in who can contribute. A lot of juniors, lot of sophomores. It’s all positive. They’ll be some expectations, but the target won’t be on our back this year like last year.”

-K.P.

MITCH PROULX

KYLE VEYERA

Goalie • Hendricken

Defense • Warwick Vets

Proulx led Division I in GAA in his first year as the go-to guy and was named first-team AllState as a result.

The 'Canes struggled again this season, but it wasn't due to Veyera, who led the team in goals from his spot in the back.

TUCKER ALBERIGO

RYAN CHARETTE

Defense • Hendricken

Defense • Toll Gate

Alberigo was the top defenseman on a Hawks' team that surrendered just 29 goals in 18 regular season games.

Charette scored nine goals, good for second on the team, and was solid wherever he played.

COREY CASALE

STEVE MATHEWS

Defense • Pilgrim

Forward • Toll Gate

The Pats didn't score a lot this season, but Casale was a big reason they were able to stay close in many of their games.

Mathews was Toll Gate's leading scorer and most skilled player, scoring 13 times and adding 15 assists.

ANDREW FERA

DYLAN LEGARIE

Forward • Hendricken

Forward • Pilgrim

Fera was the fourth-leading scorer in Division I, with his 14 goals and 14 assists.

A converted defenseman, Legarie stepped up to lead the Pats' offense. He scored 27 times.

ED MARKOWSKI

SAM ADAMO

Forward • Hendricken

Forward • Pilgrim

Markowski, like his linemate Fera, was dangerous all year, finishing third in D-I with 31 points.

Adamo had 26 points this season, establishing himself as Pilgrim's second-best scoring option in his junior year.

HONORABLE MENTION

COACH OF THE YEAR

Dakota Hersey, Hendricken Craig Colson, Hendricken Steven Dumond, Hendricken Liam Strain, Pilgrim Bryant Palermo, Pilgrim Ryan Oatley, Pilgrim Jesse Butler, Toll Gate

JIM CREAMER, HENDRICKEN

Mike Palumbo, Toll Gate Dave Stachurski, Toll Gate Tyler DiPetrillo, Warwick Vets Bill Burr, Warwick Vets

ALL CITY TEAM

23

BOYS’ HOCKEY

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

HONORABLE MENTION Casey McCormick, Warwick Julianna Mollo, Warwick

KAYLEEN MURPHY

KELSEY HOLMES

Goalie • Warwick

Forward • Warwick

A captain, Murphy allowed only just 2.60 goals per game, and she made the fifth-most saves in the state.

Just a freshman, Holmes burst onto the scene with 22 points, including 14 goals - tied for the team lead.

SAVANNAH HERSEY

MADISON BALUTOWSKI

Defense • Warwick

Forward • Warwick

Hersey provided a steady defensive presence for the Lady Titans, showing toughness on the back end.

As a freshman, Balutowski scored 20 points and gave Warwick another strong option up front.

ABBY ELLIS

COACH OF THE YEAR

Defense • Warwick One of the top all-around players in the state, Ellis battled injuries but was still able to total 16 points.

DAVE TIBBETTS, WARWICK

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Emily Fox FORWARD • TOLL GATE ■ Continued from page 17 to tryouts with so many girls in my life. We were really determined to make playoffs, and we were happy with that.”

In addition to her role as playmaker, Fox tapped into that old competitiveness to keep her team fired up.

“I’m an extremely competitive person so I think that was always my role,” Fox said. “I was always trying to get everyone ready and focused. I think that’s something that needs to be done more.”

When soccer season ended with a tough 3-0 playoff loss to Barrington, Fox turned her attention to hockey, the sport

she’s always considered her favorite.

What happened on the ice perfectly matched that passion.

Fox grew up watching her sisters play for a then-brand new Warwick co-op team. It was a struggle for the Warwick squad back then, but Fox cheered for the Titans at every stop. From an early age, she and her family – her dad was an assistant coach for a time – were all about Warwick girls’ hockey. They wanted the best for it.

In the 2012-13 season, Fox and her teammates delivered it.

The Titans moved up to Division I and met the challenge, finishing with a 10-7 record

and even knocking off perennial power Mount St. Charles in the regular season. Though they didn’t meet their goal of playing for a state championship, they put together what was unquestionably the program’s best-ever season.

“We had a great year in hockey, definitely the best season we’ve ever had. Division II, we’d go in and beat teams 70 and it just wasn’t as much as fun,” Fox said. “Playing La Salle three times, Mount three times, Burrillville three times – it was great and it really kept us competitive. It was a challenge. Nothing was ever easy.

I’m mad we didn’t finish the way we could have finished, but it was still a great season overall.”

Fox was at the center of it.

Despite the uptick in competition, she maintained her status as one of the state’s leading scorers, ranking sixth in the league with 28 points and finishing with 14 goals. “”Emily’s been the backbone of the team since I’ve been here, not just in her points production, but her positive attitude and her work ethic,” said head coach Dave Tibbetts.

Fox also hit a milestone when she became the first player in Warwick girls’ hockey history to reach 100 career points.

“That was pretty awesome,” Fox said.

The team couldn’t have picked a more fitting history-

American U

Picture Frame

inc. U

CUSTOM FRAMING • MIRRORS & MORE Visit Our New LARGER Location

1094 Bald Hill Road (Rt. 2 across from Haxton’s)

401-615-9800

Hours: Monday – Saturday 10am-6pm

www.AmericanPictureFrame.com

maker, considering Fox’s own history with the team. She’ll leave it in good hands, with a lot of talented young players ready to take Warwick girls’ hockey to even greater heights.

For Fox, it was a fitting ending – but it won’t be the real ending.

Fox will enroll in the University of Rhode Island’s pharmacy program in the fall.

When winter rolls around, she’ll lace up her skates for the women’s club hockey team, one of the top club programs in the region.

The competitor still needs some competition.

“I’m so excited to keep playing hockey,” she said. “I can’t hang up the skates yet.”

-W.G.

Bring Us Your Favorite

Sports Photo (Or Any Favori te Photo)

for

CUSTOM FRAMING

Warwick Beacon

WRESTLING

24

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

ALL CITY TEAM JASON DAVOL

ANTHONY DIMAURO

HUNTER BOESCH

106 • Hendricken

145 • Hendricken

182 • Hendricken

Davol was the top performer in Hendricken's run to the team championship, winning the individual state title at 106.

DiMauro was part of Hendricken's crucial place-winning contingent at states, grabbing third.

Boesch surged into the 182 finals at the state tournament, where he finished as a runnerup.

ROB LANNI

JAMES SAURO

MIKE PEREIRA

120 • Hendricken

152 • Hendricken

195 • Pilgrim

Part of a deep Hawks team, Lanni did his part in the title run with a third-place finish at states.

A freshman, Sauro grabbed a spot in the lineup from day one and finished fourth at states.

Pereira had a steady season then did some of his best work at states, where he finished a round short of a medal.

NATE COLICCI

GEORGE SCHMEIDER

DALLAS SAUER

126 • Warwick Vets

160 • Warwick Vets

220 • Hendricken

After winning the state title in 2012, Colicci made it two in a row in dramatic fashion, winning his finals match in overtime.

Schmeider capped off a tremendous career in style, capturing his second consecutive state championship.

Sauer lost a quarterfinal bout at states but came back strong to finish in third place.

NICK DIMAURO

TONY LONCZAK

KYLE BRICHETTO

132 • Hendricken

170 • Warwick Vets

285 • Hendricken

DiMauro was upset at the state tournament but had a big season as one of the team's leaders.

Lonczak was a key contributor all season and delivered a strong showing at states, making the quarterfinals.

Brichetto scored points when the Hawks needed him during the season and qualified for states.

AARON TRAVERS 138 • Toll Gate Travers led the Titans all year then made an impressive run to the state finals, where he lost to Scituate's Serge Bouyssou.

COACH OF THE YEAR

HONORABLE MENTION Jordan DeSisto, Pilgrim Mark Lenz, Pilgrim Gage Potter, Pilgrim Steve Johnson, Pilgrim Davin Lourenco, Warwick Vets Aaron Hurst, Warwick Vets Ed Pierce, Toll Gate Tim Warner, Toll Gate Joe Brosnahan, Toll Gate John DiGiuseppe, Toll Gate Max Procopio, Toll Gate Austin Medeiros, Toll Gate

KEVIN HENNESSEY, HENDRICKEN

Dave Navilliat, Toll Gate Nick Celico, Hendricken Chris Barone, Hendricken

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

John Altieri 113 • WARWICK VETS John Altieri was halfway to a rare feat when he began his junior wrestling season at Warwick Vets. Altieri won state championships as a freshman and sophomore, and it was only natural to entertain thoughts of winning two more to finish with four, something that’s been done just a handful of times in Rhode Island wrestling history. Most recently, Altieri’s former Vets teammate Mike Meyers did it.

Halfway was enough to get Altieri dreaming – but it wasn’t enough for Altieri to really believe.

Three-fourths? That was enough.

Altieri won his third straight championship at the state tournament in February, winning the crown at 113 and making a believer out of himself.

“This was the year that really made me think I could do this,” Altieri said. “I was confident every year, but when I won the first two, it was still

like, ‘I’ve got two more to go.’

The third one means I just have one more to win.”

Wrestling has been a near life-long passion for Altieri, who started when he was just five years old. The sport was big in his family and he ran with it. At Vets, he was a huge addition to a talented team in his freshman year, and his state title helped the ‘Canes win the team state championship.

He won again in 2012.

As he headed into his junior season, he knew title No. 3 would be no easy task. Altieri’s success has put a target on his back. Every time he takes the mat, someone wants to beat him.

Altieri was determined to rise to the occasion. After his sophomore year, he dedicated himself to an off-season program and the results spoke for themselves.

“I put a lot of work in,” Altieri said. “This was really the first year I did off-season

wrestling, and it showed. I was in a lot better shape when the season came around than I was the last two years.”

Altieri breezed through the early rounds of the state meet, getting two pins and a major decision. In the finals, he faced Cumberland standout Cody Beaudette and had to dig deep for a 2-0 victory.

It was his toughest finals match yet, but he didn’t mind.

“I thought I could have wrestled better but I got the win,” Altieri said. “You’re always happy to win.”

Altieri was one of three state champions for Vets, and he went on to have the most success at the New England Tournament, where he made the semifinals before settling for a sixthplace medal.

Next year, Altieri will be looking for a better finish at New Englands – and he’ll be looking

for state title No. 4.

“My goal is to win states and New Englands,” Altieri said.

-W.G.

2013 BEST HOOPS BASKETBALL CAMP at Bishop Hendricken H.S. Two Great Weeks MONDAY-FRIDAY

July 22-26 & July 29-Aug. 2

S!

PLU

SUPER HOOPS *GET READY NOW*

FEE: $195/week ~ 9am-3pm

3-Days Middle/High School Camp Boys & Girls: Ages 11-18

Family & 2-Weeks Discounts Grade School: Ages 8-10 • Middle School: Ages 11-13 • High School: 14-18

August 5-7

Separate Instructions for Boys & Girls

CAMP FEE $170

Steve Ceseretti, Best Hoops Director (401) 463-6490 www.besthoopsbasketballcamp.com

Warwick Beacon

ALL CITY TEAM

Mike Fedorenko

MARC ANDREWS

JON O’CONNELL

200 IM • 100 Back • Hendricken

100 Breast • Hendricken

100 FREE • 200 FREE • HENDRICKEN

Andrews, a freshman, took fifth in the state in the IM and eighth in the backstroke.

In the second to last event at states, with the Hawks on the verge of the title, O'Connell finished in eighth in the 100 breast.

GIRLS’ SWIMMING

Every senior on the Bishop Hendricken swim team faces the pressure of extending the Hawks’ run of consecutive state titles. No one wants to be the class that doesn’t continue the tradition.

For Mike Fedorenko and his teammates, after the very first dual meet of the season, they were faced with the reality that they might be the class that comes up short.

Instead, they responded in dominating fashion.

After losing the first meet of the season to North Kingstown – the program’s first dual meet loss since 2005-06 – the Hawks rolled through the rest of the regular season before capping it off with a 24th consecutive state championship.

“Right from the beginning, we lost that first meet,” Fedorenko said. “We haven’t lost a dual meet in like five years. Everyone was telling us that weren’t going to be able to keep the streak going. We worked hard as a team. We came together.”

Fedorenko was at the forefront. The senior captain had Hendricken’s best two individual finishes at the state meet, coming in second

place in both the 100 and the 200 freestyle events.

He also swam anchor on the Hawks’ first-place 4x400 and 4x200 relay teams. Essentially, Fedorenko did it all, claiming four All-State selections in the process and cementing his place in Hendricken’s decorated swimming history.

That 4x200 relay had such a strong showing that it fell barely short of setting a new state record.

“He was a great inspirational leader on our team,” Hendricken head coach Dave Hanson said.

Fedorenko was a fouryear contributor on the varsity team, and he graduates with four team state titles under his belt and the knowledge that he helped keep the fabled streak alive.

“Everyone kept coming up to me, all the kids from NK,” Fedorenko said. “They would say ‘This is it, it’s all over for you guys.’ Boris from NK, he thought it was all over. The kids from Smithfield thought they were going to beat NK and Hendricken. Even though some people said we were the favorites, it was still up for grabs. After the 100 freestyle it was like, ‘Okay, it’s over.’”

Next season, Fedorenko will continue swimming at Division III University of Rochester.

-K.P.

CHASE MARTIN 50 Free • Hendricken

MARC ANDREWS, JON O’CONNELL, NICK TOMASSO, CHASE MARTIN

One of the team's top sprinters, Martin’s fourth-place finish in the freestyle at states added 15 points to the team total.

200 Medley Relay • Hendricken

NICK TOMASSO

CHASE MARTIN, JAMES MANNI, NICK TOMASSO, MIKE FEDORENKO

100 Fly • Hendricken In a race where the Hawks weren't expected to score, Tomasso swam well to grab 15th place.

The Hawks' quartet captured fourth place at the state championships with a time of 1:47.27.

200 Free Relay • Hendricken One of the top moments of the season was when the 200 free relay team came in first at states.

MICHAEL SUNDBERG JAMES MANNI, MARC ANDREWS, 500 Free • Hendricken

MICHAEL SUNDBERG, MIKE FEDORENKO

Sundberg edged out East Greenwich's Ian MacDonald for a huge third-place finish at states, good for 16 points.

400 Free Relay • Hendricken The Hawks capped their state championship day with a first-place finish in the relay, in a time of 3:25.04.

HONORABLE MENTION

COACH OF THE YEAR

Brendan Crowe, Hendricken Dan Fedorenko, Hendricken Jacob Fox, Hendricken Nick Carlson, Hendricken Will Bailer, Toll Gate

DAVE HANSON, HENDRICKEN

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

ALL CITY TEAM ABIGAIL SLATER

NINA YU

200 Free • 100 Free • Pilgrim

100 Back • Toll Gate

Slater took third in the 200 free at the Division III meet, and then followed that with a second place in the 100 free.

The only Warwick competitor to qualify for the event at states, Yu swam her way to a 29th-place finish.

KATIE EVANS 200 IM • 100 Fly • Warwick Vets

ABIGAIL SLATER, MCKENZIE CARON, SOPHIA CARACUZZO, TAYLOR RYAN

Evans left her mark in the IM 200 Medley Relay • Pilgrim with a first-place at the division The four Pats' swimmers finished just out of the scoring meet. In the fly, she won diviat the state meet, grabbing 19th. sions and was fourth at states.

SHANNON GARVEY 50 Free • Toll Gate Garvey had a strong showing at the Division II meet, finishing in 24th place for the Titans.

MOLLY TURNER 100 Breast • Toll Gate Turner earned a point for the Titans at the Division II meet, edging out Mount's Lexa Lauzier by one-tenth of a second for 16th.

25

BOYS’ SWIMMING

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

CASEY ADAMS, NICOLE GAUTHIER, BRENNA REEVES, MCKENZIE CARON 200 Free Relay • Pilgrim A solid group, the Pats took home seventh place at the Division III-meet with a time of 2:13.76.

ABIGAIL SLATER, SOPHIA CARACUZZO, MCKENZIE CARON, TAYLOR RYAN 400 Free Relay • Pilgrim In the final event of the state meet, these four girls came in 14th, scoring Pilgrim's only points of the day.

HONORABLE MENTION

COACH OF THE YEAR

Savannah Lewis, Warwick Vets Phone Htoo, Warwick Vets Rosario Romare, Pilgrim Courtney Smith, Pilgrim Laura Hopkins, Toll Gate Madeleine Hayes, Toll Gate

NISA SAN GIOVANNI, PILGRIM

Mikayla Rogers 500 FREE • TOLL GATE Mikayla Rogers was just catching her breath after the 500 freestyle at the state swim meet when she looked up at the scoreboard.

She had to catch her breath all over again.

“I looked up at the board when I finished and I couldn’t believe what I saw,” she said.

Rogers, the reigning Warwick Beacon Girls’ Swimmer of the Year, had expected another solid showing at the state meet. But this was something different. The junior took third overall in the 500, one of the best finishes by a Warwick swimmer in years.

She added a fifth-place finish in the 100 butterfly, capping a great year that she didn’t see coming.

“I really didn’t think I would do much better than I did last season,” Rogers said. “My times were right around the same and I didn’t think I could get any better.”

But she did. Her state meet time in the 500 was 5:28.16, nearly 12 full seconds faster than her state meet time from the year before, when she finished seventh. Her 100 fly time was more than a second faster.

With tougher competition in the state, she also thought it might be difficult to improve on her top-10 finishes from her sophomore campaign.

“I expected to level out,” Rogers said. “I

was so surprised.”

The 500 free was the biggest shocker. In the first 100, she felt like she was going slow but she was determined to stay at the feet of the swimmer in the lane next to her.

As it turned out, she wasn’t going so slow after all.

“For the middle 200, I just tried to keep that pace, keep kicking, steady breathing and just relax,” she said.

“For the last 100, I tried to get a peek up at the board and I couldn’t. The last 150, I just kicked it all into gear. I saw I passed one girl and then I saw another girl on the other side of the pool who I was even with. I wanted to pass her. I gave it my all.”

It worked. Rogers finished behind only Cumberland senior Courtney Kent and South Kingstown standout Gabrielle Dunkle.

In the 100 fly, Rogers wasn’t even in the top heat, but her performance was good enough for a second topfive finish.

“I wasn’t in the final heat so I didn’t expect to finish as high as I did,” Rogers said.

“That was just amazing.”

Rogers has one more year to chase more success. She may eventually level off like she thought – but she may just keep right on going up too.

“Next year, I’d like to drop more time if I can and possibly place a little higher,” Rogers said.

“And I would really like to help my team place better.”

-W.G.

Warwick Beacon

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

26

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

ALL CITY TEAM

HONORABLE MENTION

RYAN MORRIS

WILL TAVARES

Center • Pilgrim

Guard • Hendricken

Morris was Pilgrim's best offensive threat, controlling the paint and averaging more than 16 points a game for the Pats.

Hendricken's top offensive weapon, Tavares was a muchneeded scorer on a defensiveminded squad.

WILL REMAK

BEN MANN

Forward • Warwick Vets

Guard • Toll Gate

Remak showed the ability to take over games, leading Vets to multiple upsets on the strength of his long-range shooting.

With a brand new starting lineup, Mann ran the show for a Titans team that turned some heads in Division III.

John Murphy, Toll Gate John Coleman, Toll Gate Tyler Inkley, Toll Gate Kyle Toolin, Toll Gate Ryan Hagerty, Hendricken Matt Duffie, Hendricken Will Parmlee, Hendricken Carter Thomas, Warwick Vets Scott Camara, Warwick Vets Cole Furney, Pilgrim Dan Colabella, Pilgrim

COACH OF THE YEAR JAMAL GOMES, HENDRICKEN

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Kazre Cummings FORWARD • HENDRICKEN The Bishop Hendricken basketball team wasn’t always the most aesthetically pleasing group to watch this season, as defense and hustle ruled the day instead of a dynamic offense.

But with the personnel the Hawks had, that was the way they had to play. With a natural leader in Kazre Cummings to set the tone, the whole team embraced that mindset.

Hendricken wasn’t going to score in the 60’s most of the time, but neither were you.

Cummings made sure of it.

The 6-foot-3 swingman played some of the toughest defense in the state, and was one of Hendricken’s top offensive options as well, averaging

10.6 points per game.

“On the defensive end, I took it very personal,” Cummings said. “For me, not being able to have that offensive firepower that a lot of teams have, I wanted to find different ways to showcase what type of team we were. Defensively, it was who we were, and we embraced it.”

The season was up and down, as the Hawks lost a number of tight games throughout the middle portion, then had to scramble late to qualify for the Division I tournament and the state tournament.

Once they got there, though, they made their presence felt.

First, they made it to the semifinals of the D-I tourney before falling just short against Classical.

Then, in the state tournament, the No. 15 seeded Hawks upset No. 2 seeded La Salle in the Round of 16 behind 15 points from Cummings.

In the quarterfinals, Hendricken took on Hope and used its defensive energy to keep it close. Eventually, the Blue Wave pulled out a 48-47 victory, but the Hawks were a shot away from being in the Final Four. Cummings scored 18 points in that game.

‘He played his best basketball when we needed it the most,” Hendricken head

coach Jamal Gomes said.

“Down the stretch at the end of the season, come playoff time, and we needed to win to stay alive, he performed at his best. With Kazre, his effort was tremendous.”

Cummings will play basketball next season at Central Maine Community College in Auburn, Maine, something that validates the hard work he’s put in over the past few years.

“I’ve been wanting to play college basketball since I was 6-years-old,” Cummings said.

“This is really a dream come true to me.”

And his coach thinks that he’ll be successful, in basketball and beyond.

“His three years with me, he was a joy and a pleasure to coach,” Jamal Gomes said.

“He really was. He’s a good young man, who I know is going to make it far in life.”

-K.P.

Haley Donahay, Pilgrim Megan St. Jacques, Pilgrim Courtney Sheridan, Toll Gate Ingrid Freeman, Toll Gate Victoria Flynn, Warwick Vets Cassidi-Hunter Plouffe, Warwick Vets

KATIE GREGORY

LAURA MCGUIRE

Center • Warwick Vets

Forward • Toll Gate

One of the tallest players in the division, Gregory was a force to be reckoned with in the paint and on the glass.

McGuire's ball handling was instrumental in keeping the Titans' fast-paced offense upbeat and in gear.

BETSY HEIDEL

KATELYN REPH

Forward • Pilgrim

Guard • Pilgrim

Heidel emerged as a defensive force for the Pats, using her size and intensity to control the play on the block.

A slasher, Reph took the reigns as the team's primary scoring threat after the graduation of star Danielle LeBlanc.

COACH OF THE YEAR OWEN PAQUET, WARWICK VETS

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Casey Bennett GUARD • WARWICK VETS It’s not easy for a girl in the city of Warwick to grow up playing basketball. Without a youth league specifically for girls like some cities and towns have, opportunities are limited.

Casey Bennett didn’t mind taking the hard way.

“I have three brothers so I would always play with them,” she said.

“I played at the Boys & Girls Club and I was one of the only girls there.”

It’s safe to say the boys prepared her well.

Bennett, a junior, has been a varsity starter since her freshman year at Vets and she continued to emerge this season as one of the best scorers in the division – and as the ‘Canes’ most important player.

• Drawers do not need to be emptied • All furniture quilt wrapped • Full packing service available • Climate Controlled Storage • We ship cars • Low hourly rates • Senior citizen discount • Licensed piano movers • Free friendly estimates • Short notice & Saturday moves • Dependable, professional personnel • #1 in customer satisfaction

Direct Service to Florida & California

“I started varsity as a freshman, which was a little nerve-wracking,” she said. “I was more timid then but as the years went on, I knew I had to step up.”

On a team full of players without big basketball backgrounds, Bennett was a steadying force. She played the point and rarely left the floor. When her defensive-minded team needed points, she had the green light.

“I needed to score, but I also had to help everybody else score too,” she said. “I felt like it was my job to bring the team together.”

The ‘Canes had a tough season. It got off to a promising start, but they finished just 3-13 in league play and missed out on the playoffs.

Still, there were positives.

“I feel like we really worked as a team this year,” Bennett said. “A lot of the girls don’t have a big basketball background but as the year went on, we really came together as a team.”

And Bennett did what she could to keep Vets competitive. She averaged 14.5 points per game, which was good for 16th in the state.

Bennett also plays soccer and lacrosse for Vets and she’s exploring the possibilities of playing soccer in college. But next winter, she’ll still be on the basketball court, doing whatever she can to make Vets a contender.

“We’re losing some great seniors, but we’ve got a good group coming back,” she said. “We’ll be alright.”

-W.G.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

ALL CITY TEAM

HONORABLE MENTION

Family Owned & Operated Since 1905 “Make The People’s Choice”

401-737-6000

24 HOU 7-DA RS YS

Licensed & Insured

DOT# 102576 • ICC# 112784

www.peoplesmoving.net

Warwick Beacon

ALL CITY TEAM

Lee Moses

ALEX PERREAULT

BEN MURPHY

300 • Hendricken

High Jump • Hendricken

LONG JUMP • 55 • HENDRICKEN

Perreault was a key to Hendricken's track title. He finished second in the 300 at states.

Just a sophomore, Murphy grabbed a fourth-place medal at the state meet.

MARCUS SWIFT

CORY WOODBINE

600 • Hendricken

Weight Throw • Hendricken

Swift scored valuable points for the Hawks at the state meet with his sixth place finish.

Woodbine was the Hawks' top throwing performer at states, taking eighth overall.

HENRY SMITHERS

SHAWN MCASSEY

1,000 • Toll Gate

Shot Put • Hendricken

The Titans' top distance runner, Smithers grabbed a fifth-place medal at the state meet.

McAssey finished just outside the medals at the state meet, grabbing eighth.

GIRLS’ INDOOR

When Lee Moses starting doing track at Bishop Hendricken, it wasn’t with individual state titles in mind – it was for football.

A starter on the Hawks’ Super Bowl-winning football team as a sophomore, Moses wanted to try to stay in shape during the long offseason.

He did quite a bit more than that.

Moses captured the long jump state title with a leap of 22-feet, 2.25 inches. He ran anchor on Hendricken’s first-place 4x200 relay team, did the same thing on the Hawks’ third-place 4x400 team and took third individually in the 55-meter dash.

“I didn’t really picture myself winning all these awards and stuff like that,” Moses said.

“My coaches, t h e y ’ v e helped me through e v e r y thing.”

In just his second year of high school, Moses has become one of the state’s most prolific track stars. He’s a huge contributor on the outdoor scene as well.

In his four events at indoor states, Moses accounted for 32 points.

The Hawks scored 75 as a team, and needed just about all of them, as they edged out Classical for the state title 75-65.

“The times he ran

were amazing for young people,” Hendricken head coach Jim Doyle said. “We haven’t seen those times from people like that.”

At this point, with accolades rolling in regularly, Moses doesn’t just focus on track as a way to get him ready for football. While that’s certainly a positive side effect, now he’s enjoying the sport on its own.

“I do it because I like to stay in shape for football, but I like it because it’s fun,” Moses said. “You’re out there with all your friends.

It’s a good sport. It’s competitive, and it’s fun.”

It doesn’t hurt, either, that he’s pretty good.

“It’s pretty incredible what he’s doing,” Doyle said. “He comes off football season, and sometimes, him and (fellow sophomore Power Kanga), you think kids like that are so totally focused on football.

Those guys, when they got into track, they were completely committed to track.”

And with two more years to go, there isn’t a ceiling high enough for what Moses could accomplish.

“Right now I just want to keep training, keep getting better and just hopefully build it up and get to my full potential,” Moses said.

-K.P.

CONNOR DOYLE 1,500 • Hendricken Against a strong field, Doyle grabbed fourth in the 1,500 at states, scoring crucial points.

COLIN TIERNEY 3,000 • Hendricken Tierney had one of the team's best performances at states with a second-place finish.

GAGE POWELL 55H • Hendricken Powell qualified for states and finished 17th in the preliminaries.

ALEX PERREAULT, JOHN CUTE, POWER KANGA, LEE MOSES 4x200 Relay • Hendricken A top unit all season, the 4x200 squad raced to first place at indoor states.

27

BOYS’ INDOOR

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

ROMARIO ROUSSEAU, MATT LOMBARDI, ALEX PERREAULT, LEE MOSES 4x400 Relay • Hendricken The Hawks’ 4x400 team grabbed third at states, adding crucial points to Hendricken’s total.

ALEX DOHERTY, TOM GRIZZETTI, JARED BOULANGER, AVERY INGEGNERI 4x800 Relay • Hendricken The squad came up with a big performance at states, climbing to third.

HONORABLE MENTION Power Kanga, Hendricken Marco DelVecchio, Hendricken Alex Doherty, Hendricken Tyler Henseler, Hendricken Michael Potter, Hendricken Greg Beaudette, Hendricken Brandon Amo, Hendricken Joe Vincent, Hendricken Alex Cerbo, Hendricken

Steve Croft, Pilgrim Derek Daluz, Pilgrim Dylan Gardner, Pilgrim Peter Golish, Pilgrim Kevin Conner, Pilgrim John Nordin, Warwick Vets Jeremy Morrissette, Warwick Vets Tom Martella, Toll Gate Junior Rivas, Toll Gate

COACH OF THE YEAR JIM DOYLE, HENDRICKEN

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

ALL CITY TEAM RACHEL WALKER

MELANIE BRUNELLE

300 • Toll Gate

High Jump• Pilgrim

Walker was a solid contributor during the regular season and took 15th at the class meet.

Brunelle was one of the state's top performers in the high jump, taking fourth at states.

NORA HALL

DESTINEE BARRETTE

600 • Toll Gate

Weight Throw • Shot Put • Pilgrim

Hall just missed qualifying for states in the 600, but took sixth at the class meet.

Barrette took home two medals at states, finishing fifth in the weight and sixth in the shot put.

JESS CAWLEY 1,000 • Toll Gate Cawley was the Titans' only distance runner to qualify for states and she finished 14th.

MORGAN CANDON, ANNEMARIE MARTELLA, NINA THIBEAULT, ASHLEY CHIN 4x200 Relay • Toll Gate The unit just missed out on qualifying for states but finished seventh at the class meet.

ELIZABETH COSTELLO 1,500 • Toll Gate Costello didn't qualify for states but was a strong performer at the class meet, taking ninth.

NATALIE TOCCO

ANNEMARIE MARTELLA, ELENA CHACE, ASHLEY CHIN, ERIKA PENA 4x400 Relay • Toll Gate The Titans’ relay unit qualified for states and grabbed a top-10 finish.

3,000 • Pilgrim A cross country standout, Tocco carried momentum into the winter, where she finished 16th.

ERIKA PENA 55H • Toll Gate

JESS CAWLEY, NORA HALL, ELENA CHACE, KATIE LAVALLEE 4x800 Relay • Toll Gate The 4x800 squad delivered the team’s best relay finish, taking seventh at states.

Pena grabbed two sixth-place medals at states, one in the hurdles and one in the high jump.

HONORABLE MENTION

COACH OF THE YEAR

Madison Thibeault, Toll Gate Heather Allstrom, Toll Gate Abby Tillotson, Toll Gate Maddison Caron, Pilgrim Michelle Sanchez, Pilgrim Caitlin Blanchard, PIlgrim

TOM DOLCE, PILGRIM

Alyssa McCracken, Warwick Vets

Hunter Bastan, Warwick Vets Katelyn Ravenell, Warwick Vets Kayla Bourbon, Warwick Vets Bria McAloon, Warwick Vets

Rebecca O’Donnell LONG JUMP • 55 • PILGRIM Rebecca O’Donnell never expected to be a state champion.

In anything.

“I was pretty unathletic before I hit high school,” she said with a laugh.

But those days seem to be gone.

O’Donnell had been a standout jumper with the Pilgrim track team since her freshman year and she emerged as one of the best in the state this year in her junior season. O’Donnell won the long jump at the indoor track state meet, giving Pilgrim its first individual champ in years.

“It’s still so surreal,” she said. “When I think back to it, I can’t believe it. I knew I was going to do well but I didn’t know I would win.”

O’Donnell first tried the long jump in eighth grade gym class. After running cross country in the fall of her freshman year, she started jumping for Pilgrim that winter and qualified for the state meet. She was one of only two freshmen in the state long jump field.

“Something just clicked,” O’Donnell said. “I fell in love with it.”

With the help of Pilgrim head coach Tom Dolce and others like Erik Clinton and Pilgrim boys’ coach Mike Daniels, O’Donnell’s jumping reached new heights the next year, when she finished fourth at indoor states as a sophomore.

This year, she took another

leap. O’Donnell’s jump of 17 feet, 10 inches beat out Prout standout Karly Gregory and Mount St. Charles star Cassie Roberge.

“I definitely wanted to make top four, but first was not on my radar,” O’Donnell said.

O’Donnell followed up her indoor success with two medals at outdoor states.

Despite a sore hip, she finished second in the triple jump and third in the long jump.

She also led a growing group of Pilgrim jumpers.

At the state meet, the Pats had six entries between the long jump and the triple jump. O’Donnell’s knowledge and example are a big reason why.

“We have a great group of athletes and they’re all willing to help each other,” Dolce said. “Rebecca has been to a lot of camps and done a lot of work on her own. It’s nice to see.”

O’Donnell is starting to see the work pay off. In addition to all the medals, she’s exploring the possibilities of doing track at the next level.

But before she gets there, she’s got more to do at Pilgrim.

“My expectations are high for next year,” O’Donnell said.

“Hopefully I can achieve it.”

-W.G.

Warwick Beacon

BASEBALL

28

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

ALL CITY TEAM BEN MANN

JOHN TOPPA

MIKE MCCAFFREY

Catcher • Toll Gate

Outfield • Hendricken

Pitcher • Hendricken

A defensive stalwart and a sparkplug atop the lineup, Mann had a great senior season in leading the Titans to the playoffs.

A sophomore, Toppa grabbed a starting job and ran with it, emerging as one of the team's top hitters.

The sophomore lefty stepped into a big role for the Hawks and shined in his varsity debut.

JAREK KRAJEWSKI

ROB HENRY

RYAN CHARETTE

First Base • Hendricken

Outfield • Hendricken

Pitcher • Toll Gate

Krajewski was a solid run producer for the Hawks, and he did his best work in the playoffs.

The Brown University-bound senior maintained Hendricken's center field tradition with a good year.

The ace of the Titans' staff, Charette had a 1.93 ERA on the year and owned a fiveinning no-hitter.

MATT MURPHY

JOE MARTINEZ

STEPHEN NOTI

Second Base • Hendricken

Outifield • Toll Gate

Pitcher • Pilgrim

After a big game at McCoy Stadium in last year's finals, Murphy stepped into a regular role and was a steady performer.

Martinez finished out his career by hitting .302 and providing solid defense wherever he played in the outfield.

After limited innings last year, Noti stepped into a big role for the Pats and was the team's top pitcher.

ED MARKOWSKI

LOU UMBERTO

DANNY GREAVES

Third Base • Hendricken

Utility • Hendricken

Pitcher • Warwick Vets

A key hitter and a solid defender, Markowski was also an emotional leader for the Hawks

A wizard at shortstop, Umberto also did plenty of damage with his bat for the Hawks.

Greaves took on more innings this season and settled in as the ace of the Vets staff.

T.J. BOYAJIAN

JUNIOR RIVAS

Shortstop • Warwick Vets

Utility • Toll Gate

An injury hampered him, but when he was on the field, he was one of the best players in Division II.

Rivas was Toll Gate's leading hitter with an average above .400 and he also delivered several strong pitching performances.

COACH OF THE YEAR

HONORABLE MENTION Dillon Manfredi, Hendricken Gian Martellini, Hendricken Nick Boland, Hendricken Elijah Dressell, Pilgrim Tyler Galligan, Pilgrim Alex Lefebvre, Toll Gate

Zach Bacon, Toll Gate Evan Stamps, Toll Gate Austin Lamaire, Warwick Vets Tony Lonczak, Warwick Vets Pat DelSanto, Warwick Vets

ED HOLLOWAY, HENDRICKEN

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Mike King PITCHER • HENDRICKEN Mike King may very well have a long career in baseball, but it’s unlikely he’ll ever forget how special his senior year was at Bishop Hendricken.

“It was a great year,” King said. “Everyone says to really cherish your senior year because it goes by quick.”

There’s a lot to cherish. King was named a preseason high school All-American by Sporting News magazine back in March.

Once the season started, he backed up the lofty expectations.

As the ace of the Hawks’ pitching staff all season long, he posted a .31 earned run average during the regular season in leading Hendricken to a perfect 18-0 record.

Along the way he was named Rhode Island’s Gatorade Player of the Year, signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Boston College and led the Hawks’ to a

second consecutive state championship.

He went 4-0 during Hendricken’s postseason run, including a dazzling effort in the Hawks’ 5-1 victory in game one of the state championship series over North Kingstown.

“Mike King is basically almost a guaranteed win every time he steps on the mound,” Hendricken head coach Ed Holloway said.

As one of the most experienced returners from last season’s state championship team, King was named a captain this season and had to take on a leadership role with the pitching staff. He was the clear-cut No. 1, but after him was sophomore Mike McCaffrey and senior Dillon Manfredi, who had been seldom used at the varsity level.

King helped them get used to their roles, and the result was the best pitching staff in the state.

“He was a great leader for us,” Holloway said. “He took the lead of the pitching staff. He’s a great teammate for the pitchers, and they worked hard.”

When King enrolls at Boston College in the fall, he’ll be continuing a long tradition of Hendricken players moving on to play at the Division I level.

He knows he has to step up his game some, but if his senior season in high school was any indication, he’ll be just fine.

“At this level, I could miss a spot and still get away with it because the ability isn’t as good,” King said. “I think that I really need to be specific on where I pitch it and I need to develop my changeup. I’m only fastball, curveball right now. It’s going to come down to a lot of work in the fall with the coaches now. I think I’ll be fine. They’ll help me out.”

-K.P.

Warwick Beacon

ALL CITY TEAM

Conor Garrahy

KYLE CORVESE

JESSE BUTLER

Goalie • Warwick Vets

Midfielder • Toll Gate

ATTACK • HENDRICKEN

A four-year starter, Corvese anchored a strong defensive unit in Vets' best season ever.

Butler held a young group together with consistent work in the midfield for the Titans.

COLBY CONNELL

JON FINELLI

Defense • Toll Gate

Midfielder • Hendricken

Connell headed Toll Gate's strongest unit and helped the team make a late run to a playoff berth.

Finelli was solid all year and shined in the playoffs, delivering two goals in a semifinal loss.

JOHN MCNALLY

CODY SULLIVAN

Defense • Warwick Vets

Attack • Warwick Vets

One of the top defenders in DIII, McNally's steady play helped Vets deliver a big season.

The leader of the attack unit for the 'Canes, Sullivan was a steady contributor.

DAKOTA HERSEY

C.J. MARRINAN

Defense • Hendricken

Attack • Hendricken

With the Hawks lacking experience in the back, Hersey stepped up as a steady performer.

A versatile performer, Marrinan was a consistent scorer and a solid midfielder when asked to be.

GIRLS’ LACROSSE

Growing up, Conor Garrahy’s two brothers were lacrosse goalies. Matt graduated from Bishop Hendricken in 2002 and Ian graduated in 2009.

But instead of following in their footsteps, Conor Garrahy was turned in a different direction.

“My mom hated watching games with her sons in net,” Garrahy said. “I didn’t have that choice of playing goalie.”

Mom’s recommendation worked out pretty well.

Garrahy just finished his junior year at Bishop Hendricken, where he established himself as the Hawks’ top offensive option. He scored 39 goals on the season and added eight assists, giving him 47 total points.

“He was very consistent for us this year,” Hendricken head coach Kevin Murray said. “Scoring and also doing some other things for us – riding, and kind of being a little bit more involved in the offense.”

With AllAmerican Alex Perreault battling injuries most of the year and ultimately getting surgery about halfway through, Garrahy was forced into a larger role, but didn’t seem to mind.

In fact, even prior to Perreault’s injury, Garrahy was already being counted on heavily.

“He was one of the captains this year, got voted in

by the team as a junior,” Murray said. “That’s only happened a couple of other times at Hendricken with me – Briggs, and Larry Gallogly. That was a good spot for him at the beginning of the year.”

Garrahy’s growth in the sport is in part due to his dedication outside of the high school season. He plays in the summer and on a fall indoor team, all the while regularly going to the gym to try to improve his game.

“I got a lot faster, which helped me dodge and everything,” Garrahy said.

“I used to just be a crease player. This year I was able to do some other things.”

The Hawks made the playoffs this season and won their quarterfinal game against North Kingstown before losing by one goal to Moses Brown in the semifinals.

Garrahy scored a goal in that game but it wasn’t quite enough to get Hendricken back to the championship.

Still, Garrahy’s season was a special one, and he’ll be back for another season to try to lead the Hawks even further.

“We had some injuries and some other stuff going on that could have been a distraction, but it wasn’t for the guys like him,” Murray said. “He kept the focus and kept the run for the playoffs.”

-K.P.

WILL HAY Midfielder • Warwick Vets Hay was one of the leaders on Vets' semifinal run, and delivered consistent scoring punch.

HONORABLE MENTION

COACH OF THE YEAR

Andrew Fera, Hendricken Jim Iacoi, Hendricken Tyler Williams, Hendricken Chris Cesario, Hendricken Alex Perreault, Hendricken Anthony Zelano, Toll Gate Mike Palumbo, Toll Gate Steve Mathews, Toll Gate

FRED SCHWEIZER, WARWICK VETS

Nate Brotman, Warwick Vets Mickenzey Pacheco, Warwick Vets Tyler Moran, Warwick Vets

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

ALL CITY TEAM KAYLEEN MURPHY

BETSY HEIDEL

Goalie • Pilgrim

Center • Pilgrim

For a second straight year, Murphy's play in net had a lot to do with Pilgrim's success.

A mainstay in the lineup since the program's inception, Heidel did it all in a great senior season.

KELLY VATTER

EMILY ALMONTE

Defense • Pilgrim

Wing • Warwick Vets

Vatter was a mainstay on the back line for the Pats, helping power them to the D-III title game.

Building on a strong sophomore campaign, Almonte morphed into Vets' top scorer.

BRITNEY HOWLAND

SAVANNAH HERSEY

Defense • Pilgrim

Wing • Warwick Vets

Howland joined Vatter as an anchor in Pilgrim's defensive unit.

Hersey was a key as the 'Canes started to find their way after a rough 2012 season.

LAUREN ALMONTE

JENNA FONTAINE

Defense • Warwick Vets

Home • Warwick Vets

Capable of playing all over the field, Almonte stepped in where Vets needed her and delivered.

Fontaine continued to cement herself as one of the top scoring options for the improving 'Canes.

CARA BENEDUCE

AMIBETH MARKS

Wing • Pilgrim

Home • Pilgrim

Beneduce was a scoring threat and a key to Pilgrim's transition game.

Another of the program's founding players, Marks was a steady presence all over the field.

MICHAELA GIUTTARI Wing • Pilgrim Just a sophomore, Giuttari emerged as one of the top players in the state.

HONORABLE MENTION

COACH OF THE YEAR

Megan Sullivan, Pilgrim Erica Hammond, Pilgrim Kelsey Martin, Pilgrim Julianna Mollo, Pilgrim Victoria Flynn, Warwick Vets Bianca Cappelli, Warwick Vets Ricki Beaufort, Warwick Vets Katelen Pick, Warwick Vets

TOM FLANDERS, PILGRIM

Mark your calendar for “Music in the Park”

Wednesdays 6-8PM beginning in July through August Sponsored by O’Rourke’s Bar & Grill

29

BOYS’ LACROSSE

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Ne Summw Menuer

Haley McCusker HOME • PILGRIM Haley McCusker might have made a pretty good lacrosse defender.

But Tom Flanders and Charlie Benson weren’t going to wait to find out.

When Pilgrim started its girls’ lacrosse program, coaches Flanders and Benson put their most skilled players on defense, in an effort to build things from back to front. McCusker, who had played a little backyard lacrosse with her brother and father, was one of those who started on defense.

“With the girls who could catch and throw the best, we said ‘Let’s think defense first,’” Flanders said. “Haley would get the ball on defense, run it all the way up the field and go right in and score. Charlie and I said to each other, ‘Hey, we’ve got to make a change here.’”

They haven’t regretted it.

McCusker burst onto the scene last year and emerged as one of the top scorers in the state. As a junior this year, she helped power Pilgrim’s run to the Division III finals by leading the state in goals scored with 96.

It was quite a year.

“It was great to get to the championship,” she said.

“People weren’t expecting it so it was really cool. It was a great experience to be there at the beginning, when no one knew what to do, and to watch it get better every year.”

The Pats were led by a big senior class, and a balanced attack was one of their greatest strengths. A lot of

weapons could hurt you.

But McCusker was at the top of the list.

“She was one of the major factors in our success,” Flanders said. “Every team that played us had to account for her. She was in every game plan.”

The 96 goals were seven more than Lincoln School’s Larson Bennett, a future Division I college lacrosse player. McCusker also tallied 10 assists for 106 points, good for second in the state to Bennett. The nextclosest D-III player was N a r r a gansett’s Eileen Sullivan with 83.

“She put us over the edge,” Flanders said.

“Without her, we’re probably a playoff team, but I don’t know if we make it as far without that potent scorer. You don’t make up for that production. She’s a difference-maker.”

McCusker also plays soccer for Pilgrim and her lacrosse season doesn’t end in the spring. She plays with New England United in the summer, which gives her exposure to college coaches and has helped her improve by leaps and bounds.

“I wouldn’t have progressed as far as I did without that,” McCusker said.

McCusker will be back leading the Pats next spring.

And, no matter what they need on defense, it’s a safe bet McCusker will be scoring.

-W.G.

Warwick Beacon

BOYS’ OUTDOOR

30

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

ALL CITY TEAM

ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

LEE MOSES

BEN MURPHY

100 • Hendricken

High Jump • Hendricken

Moses delivered the Hawks' top sprint performance at states, finishing second in the 100.

Murphy had a strong season in jumping events and placed fifth in the high jump at states.

POWER KANGA

NICK KELLING

200 • Long Jump • Hendricken

Pole Vault • Hendricken

The sophomore sprinted to a fourth-place medal in the 200 at the state meet.

Kelling qualified for states with a solid season and finished 15th overall.

STEVE CROFT

REGGIE DERISIER

400 • Pilgrim

Triple Jump • Hendricken

Pilgrim's top sprinter, Croft grabbed a second-place medal at states.

Derisier picked up unexpected points for the Hawks when he surged to second at states.

HENRY SMITHERS

ALEX CERBO

800 • Toll Gate

Shot Put • Hendricken

Smithers continued a strong year with a 10th-place finish in the 800 at states.

Cerbo narrowly missed a state meet medal, taking seventh in the shot after a solid season.

CONNOR DOYLE

PETER GOLISH

1500 • 3000 • Hendricken

Discus • Pilgrim

Doyle placed third in the 1,500 at the class meet and took second in the 3,000 at states.

Golish was a medalist for Pilgrim at states, capping his career with a fifth-place finish.

GAGE POWELL

MATT CASBARRO

110H • Hendricken

Hammer Throw • Hendricken

The Hawks' top hurdler, Powell qualified for states and took 13th.

Casbarro was the team's top finisher in the hammer, taking 10th.

TOM MARTELLA

TYLER INKLEY

300H • Toll Gate

Javelin • Toll Gate

Martella was Toll Gate's top individual performer at states, grabbing a fifth-place medal.

ROMARIO ROUSSEAU, IAN MACLEOD, ANDREW GEREMIA, CAMERON RICCI

Inkley had a strong campaign and capped it off with a 10thplace finish at the state meet.

ALEX DOHERTY, JARED BOULANGER, AVERY INGEGNERI, MARCUS SWIFT

4x400 • Hendricken

4x800 • Hendricken

Solid squad grabbed important points for the Hawks at states with a fifth-place finish.

Hawks' unit delivered when it counted, taking third at the state meet.

COACH OF THE YEAR JIM DOYLE, HENDRICKEN

MARCO DELVECCHIO, JOHN CUTE, LEE MOSES, POWER KANGA

They were the top seed going in to the outdoor track state championship, and Bishop Hendricken’s quartet of sprinters didn’t disappoint.

The 4x100 team of Marco DelVecchio, John Cute, Power Kanga and Lee Moses made the most of their opportunity, setting a new personal best and breaking the school record in the process, all while taking first place in the state.

Winning a state title was another notch in that group’s belt, as it also won the title at the Central Division meet and the Class A meet.

Hendricken may not have won the team state title, but the 4x100 team did more than its part.

“They have complete dedication to track,” Hendricken head coach Jim Doyle said. “When they go out there, they set some goals. We have that school record in the 4x100 and they wanted to break it.”

The team – which ran together the whole season – shattered its qualifying time at state, as it went from a 43.20 to a 42.61.

DelVecchio ran the first leg, followed by Cute, Kanga and Moses.

While Moses, Kanga and Cute have been heavily successful in track in the past, DelVecchio – a football standout – stepped up to make the team complete.

“I think Marco DelVecchio wasn’t expected,” Doyle said. “He just was perfect. He self-dedicated and worked tremendously hard at becoming a better runner. He was an integral part of that team.”

DelVecchio was a senior, while Cute was a junior and Kanga and Moses were sophomores. Regardless of age differences, they came together on the track to produce a state championship.

“The thing that was amazing for me was that those guys were perfect every time,” Doyle said.

“They never dropped the baton.”

And, with just DelVecchio being lost to graduation, the other three should have a tremendous chance to team up with someone else next year and try to claim the crown again.

“There will be some great competition for that fourth spot,” Doyle said. “Those guys will just get better and better.”

-K.P.

HONORABLE MENTION Colin Tierney, Hendricken Tyler Henseler, Hendricken Alex Doherty, Hendricken Cam Ricci, Hendricken Dan Medici, Hendricken Will Parmlee, Hendricken Nick DeCiantis, Hendricken Brandon Amo, Hendricken Shane Olson, Hendricken Derek Daluz, Pilgrim

Christian White, Pilgrim Henry Smithers, Toll Gate Ben Dinobile, Toll Gate Patrick Rocchio, Toll Gate, Brock Massa, Toll Gate

ALL CITY TEAM

Colin Tierney

CONNOR DOYLE

COLLIN MANNING

Hendricken

Hendricken

HENDRICKEN

Doyle was the top finisher for the Hawks at states, taking fourth overall and leading the Hawks to the team title.

Manning provided valuable points as his 15th-place finish at states helped the Hawks secure the title.

TYLER HENSELER

MICHAEL POTTER

Hendricken

Hendricken

Henseler was the third Hawk to finish in the top 10 at states, taking seventh overall.

Potter finished 19th at states, sixth on the team, but was often near the top of the list for the Hawks throughout the season.

Colin Tierney didn’t have a shortage of solid cross country performances this season.

But the Hendricken junior saved his best for the end.

Tierney led the Hawks at the New England Championships in Maine, finishing in 14th place overall. His work, combined with the next four Hendricken runners across the finish line, was enough to lift the Hawks to a New England title.

“Going out there, our job was to run with each other and go for the title,” Tierney said.

The showing at the New England meet came on the heels of solid races at both the Class A Meet and the Rhode Island state championship. In both races, Hendricken won the title, and Tierney was a big reason why.

He finished in sixth at the Class Meet and fifth at the State Meet.

“He works hard, and the most important thing to him has always been the team,” Hendricken head coach Jim Doyle said. “I think he’s learned from my nephew Conor and Tyler Henseler and Alex Doherty, the seniors that are leaving. He has it in his mind to continue that tradition. He knows how important that is.”

On a team filled with consistent runners,

Tierney was perhaps the most consistent. He wasn’t always first on the team, but he was usually close to it, adding valuable points to the total.

Along with Doherty, Conor Doyle, Henseler, Collin Manning, Michael Potter and Greg Beaudette, Hendricken developed a solid group of runners who pushed each other and, more importantly, succeeded because of it.

“It’s really good,” Tierney said. “It leaves leeway. As much as you’re a team, you want to strive to run faster than your teammates to help out your team. It’s always an in-team competition among us. It allows us to excel.”

With another year left in his high school career, Tierney has set lofty goals. Already a standout in both indoor and outdoor track as well as cross country, he’s been training with the hope of leading Hendricken to another crown, and picking up some hardware of his own along the way.

“He’ll be in the mix for the state championship,” Doyle said.

“That’s his goal, to win an individual state title for cross country.

He’ll be right in the thick of things. He has the ability and the mind to do it.”

-K.P.

ALEX DOHERTY Hendricken A first-year contributor to the varsity squad, Doherty finished 13th at states, the fourth-best on the team.

HONORABLE MENTION

COACH OF THE YEAR

Greg Beaudette, Hendricken Brandon Lawton, Pilgrim Sam Eleuterio Pilgrim Patrick Rocchio, Toll Gate Evan Carley, Toll Gate Anthony Hart, Toll Gate Nick Mattiolli, Toll Gate Evan Cummiskey, Toll Gate

JIM DOYLE, HENDRICKEN

Brock Massa, Toll Gate John Soares, Toll Gate Ian Anderson, Warwick Vets

BOYS’ XC

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Hendricken 4x100

Warwick Beacon

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Destinee Barrette

ANNEMARIE MARTELLA

MELANIE BRUNELLE

100 • Toll Gate

High Jump • Pilgrim

HAMMER • SHOT PUT • DISCUS • JAVELIN • PILGRIM

Martella had a strong debut season for the Titans, emerging as one of the team's top sprinters.

Brunelle grabbed two medals at states, with a third-place finish in the high jump as her best.

MADISON STANLEY

CASEY SOARES

200 • Pilgrim

Pole Vault • Toll Gate

In her freshman season, Stanley was a top performer for the Pats, finishing eighth at Class A.

Soares scored key points for Toll Gate all year and finished 18th at states.

NORA HALL

REBECCA O’DONNELL

400 • Toll Gate

Long Jump • Triple Jump • TG

Hall was a state meet qualifier in the 400 and finished 13th on race day.

An indoor state champ, O'Donnell added a second in the triple jump and a third in the high jump.

Destinee Barrette started her track career at Pilgrim High School as a sprinter.

When her coach told her he wanted to try her as a thrower, she was game.

“I knew I had something special because everything I said, she absorbed like a sponge,” head coach Tom Dolce said.

It turned out to be a good move.

Barrette became a state meet regular in the indoor and outdoor track seasons over the next three years and she took it to a new level this spring when she qualified for outdoor states in all four throwing events – hammer, shot put, discus and javelin. She was the only girl in the state to do all four events and she placed in two of them, taking third in the hammer and fifth in the discus.

It was a busy day – and an impressive one.

“She’s probably the best all-around thrower I’ve ever coached,” Dolce said.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone entered in

putting so much pressure on myself, I think I really started to get it,” she said.

That attitude combined with a strong work ethic set Barrette on the path to big success. She took home two medals at indoor states then turned her attention to outdoor, where her four-event prowess was a big reason why Pilgrim emerged as one of the best teams in the state.

The Pats finished in a tie for third at states.

Barrette would have liked to come home with four medals, but two was pretty good and she tied the school’s hammer record in the process.

“Being realistic, it was a great day,” she said.

Barrette will now head to Rhode Island College, and she plans to throw for the Anchormen.

“I think when she gets into a weight lifting program, she’ll be even better,” Dolce said. “She’s going to have a very good career there.”

-W.G.

GIRLS’ XC

all four events. At divisions, she actually scored in all four. It was remarkable.”

Barrette never expected to have a day like that when she first started track. She wanted to try a little bit of everything so she was excited about the move to the throwing team, but she didn’t take to it right away.

“I didn’t like it at all,” she said. “It was frustrating. I would never PR. Coach always said you can’t hit a home run every time, but I really wanted to.”

By her junior season, she was taking that message to heart – and understanding it is what ultimately helped the home runs to come.

“When I stopped

DANIKA WAYSS 800 • 1500 • Pilgrim

MOLLY LYNCH, NICOLE MORALES, BECCA O’DONNELL, MADISON STANLEY

Another Pilgrim freshman, Wayss was the team's top 800 finisher at class and 15th in the 1,500 at states.

4x100 • Pilgrim

KATIE EVANS

NORA HALL, ERIKA PENA, ELENA CHACE, HALEY MOEN

3000 • Warwick Vets Evans was the top distance runner for the 'Canes and ran second in the 3,000 at the class meet.

ERIKA PENA 100H • 300H • Toll Gate An all-season standout, Pena did her best spring work in the hurdles, finishing seventh at states in the 100.

The Pats' top relay team just missed a medal at states, finishing seventh.

GIRLS’ OUTDOOR

ALL CITY TEAM

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

31

4x400 • Toll Gate The quartet kept up Toll Gate's 4x400 tradition with an eighth at states.

HALEY MOEN, SARAH LAVALLEE, JESS CAWLEY, KATIE LAVALLEE 4x800 • Toll Gate State-meet qualifers, the 4x800 squad ran well and finished 11th on the big day.

COACH OF THE YEAR

HONORABLE MENTION

TOM DOLCE, PILGRIM

Kayda Philip, Pilgrim Maddison Caron, Pilgrim Michelle Sanchez, Pilgrim Madison Thibeault, Toll Gate Courtney Jacobsen, Toll Gate Haley Rouleau, Toll Gate Victoria Bucci, Toll Gate

Alyssa Mathews, Toll Gate Victoria Smith, Toll Gate Hunter Bastan, Warwick Vets Katelyn Ravenell, Warwick Vets Bria McAloon, Warwick Vets

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

ALL CITY TEAM ERIKA PENA

MEGAN WILKS

Toll Gate

Pilgrim

After bursting onto the scene as a freshman, Pena was Toll Gate's top runner again this year, finishing 58th at states.

Wilks followed up a solid regular season with a strong showing at the state meet, where she finished 99th.

HALEY MOEN

ABBY TILLOTSON

Toll Gate

Toll Gate

Moen was a veteran leader for the Titans and the team's second finisher at states in 72nd overall.

Tillotson ran fourth for the Titans in the postseason, taking 36th at the class meet and 110th at states.

DANIELLE PETRANGELO Toll Gate Petrangelo had a big showing at the Class B meet, finishing 24th overall before running to 119 at states.

HONORABLE MENTION

COACH OF THE YEAR

Danika Wayss, Pilgrim Emily Pride, Pilgrim Jess Cawley, Toll Gate Katie Lavallee, Toll Gate Debbie Jessop, Toll Gate Sarah Grace Plante, Warwick Vets Liz Bennett, Warwick Vets Angie Marks, Warwick Vets

JON DEMING, TOLL GATE

Natalie Tocco PILGRIM Natalie Tocco was Warwick’s top finisher at the state cross country meet, but it was a top finish a few weeks prior that really made her season.

Tocco won the Warwick City Championship race in October and when she crossed the line in first, she couldn’t help but smile.

“It was the first cross country race I ever won,” she said. “That was probably the happiest moment of my year.”

And it was a year full of happy moments. Tocco, a senior, was the top runner in W a r w i c k throughout the fall season and then delivered solid indoor track and outdoor track seasons as a distance runner.

In the classroom, she was Pilgrim’s valedictorian.

Her cross country success was as satisfying as anything. Tocco came into the fall in the best shape she’d ever been in. It paid off quickly.

“I trained harder than I ever have,” she said. “I was really just trying to go out with a bang.”

She did that every step of the way, especially at the

City Championship. Tocco edged out some strong Toll Gate runners to grab first.

“I was so happy,” she said.

“I felt like the hard work really paid off.”

Tocco signed up for cross country in middle school, when she met one of Pilgrim’s captains. She was hesitant at first.

“I said, ‘I’m not much of a runner,’” Tocco said. “She said, ‘That’s OK. Nobody really is.’”

Tocco certainly became a runner.

“I kind of found my thing,” she said. “It was a sport I was good at, and I really enjoyed it.”

Tocco was a steady performer throughout her career, and her senior year capped it off. In addition to her success against Warwick competition, she finished 42nd at states in 20 minutes, 48.33 seconds.

“I was happy with it,” she said. “I didn’t run my best time but it’s a tough course and there was so much tough competition.”

And her best was good enough to be Warwick’s best.

Tocco is now set to attend the University of Vermont, where she’ll major in animal sciences on a pre-veterinary track.

She’ll also run cross country.

-W.G.

Warwick Beacon

SOFTBALL

32

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

ALL CITY TEAM ELLEN MCDONNELL

MADISON BALUTOWSKI

Catcher • Pilgrim

Outfield • Pilgrim

After a great freshman season, McDonnell continued to emerge as a star in her sophomore season.

Despite her youth, the freshman slotted into center field and the second spot in Pilgrim's order.

JESSIE BROSNAHAN

STEPHANIE JOHNSON

First Base • Toll Gate

Outfield • Pilgrim

Brosnahan filled a gap in the middle of Toll Gate's order and flashed some of the best power in the state.

A steady presence for three years, Johnson helped set the tone for Pilgrim's run to Rhode Island College.

INGRID FREEMAN

LIZ IADEVAIA

Second Base • Toll Gate

Utility • Warwick Vets

Freeman provided steady defense at second base and plenty of pop in the lineup in a strong senior season.

Iadevaia was a bright spot in a tough year for Vets, providing great defense and solid contributions at the plate.

KELSEY JOHNSTON

WITASHNAH ELLSWORTH

Third Base • Pilgrim

Pitcher • Pilgrim

Johnston was a mainstay in the middle of Pilgrim's dynamic batting order.

Taking over as Pilgrim's No. 1 pitcher, Ellsworth delivered a strong campaign in the circle.

JAMIE HOPGOOD

COURTNEY MARSH

Outfield • Toll Gate

Pitcher • Toll Gate

In her first year as a regular, the sophomore had a breakout season with the bat.

Part of a trio of Titans' pitchers, Marsh delivered some of the team's best performances.

HONORABLE MENTION

COACH OF THE YEAR

Caitlin Blanchard, Pilgrim Tayla Ferreira, Pilgrim Arianna Bordeleau, Pilgrim Jenna Beauchamp, Toll Gate Courtney Conklin, Toll Gate Arizona Hunt-Kirkland, Toll Gate Karly Mallette, Toll Gate Kayla Bourbon, Warwick Vets

BILL AQUILANTE, PILGRIM

Amanda Graves, Warwick Vets Emily Walason, Warwick Vets

Katelyn Reph SHORTSTOP • PILGRIM The Pilgrim softball team had its best season in more than a decade and made the trip to Rhode Island high school softball’s biggest stage at Rhode Island College.

No one enjoyed the trip more than Katelyn Reph.

The senior shortstop made her varsity debut in 2010, when the Pats went 3-15. This year’s team went 13-3.

“It was great to be a part of turning it around,” Reph said. “My freshman year was tough. We got more kids, more girls were interested.

And we worked hard.”

Plenty of players drove the turnaround, but Reph’s steady hand at shortstop and her ability to be a spark at the top of the lineup gave the Pats a constant presence that they could build around.

“She’s been there right from the beginning,” said Pilgrim coach Bill Aquilante.

“She was there for the losing season and she was there for the slow, steady progress up to the season we had this year.”

When Reph came out for the team her freshman year, Aquilante saw the potential right away.

“She stood out,” he said.

When she grabbed a starting job at second base as a freshman, she ran with it.

“She started hitting right away,” Aquilante said. “We knew what we had pretty quickly.”

Reph’s freshman success came so quickly that it actually changed Aquilante’s attitude toward playing fresh-

men.

“I realized freshmen can be ready,” he said. “She proved that.”

And she continued to prove herself every step of the way. After hitting .357 as a freshman and .354 as a sophomore, she really emerged as a junior, hitting .452 with a .531 on-base percentage.

As the Pats had their big season this year, Reph batted .475 and crossed the 100-hit threshold.

“Getting to 100 hits was awesome,” Reph said. “I look back and the season was definitely a success, even though we didn’t get as far as we hoped. All the girls worked hard and I thought we really excelled as a team.”

Reph led the way in that department.

“She always expected us to win,” Aquilante said “The work she puts in when no one’s looking is what makes her better. She sets such a good example. She came back a better player every year, and that’s something I’d like our younger players to learn from.”

That’s the legacy Reph will leave behind as she moves on – the Pats are certainly in a better position than when she found them.

Reph will attend Sacred Heart University in the fall and play club softball.

-W.G.

Casey McCormick, Pilgrim Rich Carothers, Pilgrim Rachel Willett, Toll Gate Kevin Browning, Toll Gate Andrew Rocchio, Toll Gate Kyle Veyera, Warwick Vets

JUSTIN MATRONE

GARRET QUILLEN

Hendricken

Hendricken

The team's No. 4 player all year long, Matrone broke out on the big stage to finish in a tie for sixth place at the state tournament.

Quillen fired a 78 on the second day of the state tournament, helping the Hawks finish in second place.

CLAUDIO SOUKAMNEUTH

DUNCAN MARSHALL

Hendricken

Hendricken

Only a freshman, Soukamneuth had the team's second-best scoring average and made the cut at states.

After not making the team last year, Marshall quickly became a huge contributor, playing in the Hawks' No. 2 slot all year.

BILLY PALMER Hendricken The team's No. 6 player for most of the season, Palmer shot an 82 on day one of the state tournament.

COACH OF THE YEAR RICK ANGELI, HENDRICKEN

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Brandon Macedo HENDRICKEN When Rick Angeli looks back on his inaugural year coaching the Hendricken golf team, Brandon Macedo will be the first player he remembers.

“As a first year coach you come in and you always remember the first group you have,” Angeli said. “Some guys, you choose to forget, and some guys like Brandon, they’ll always kind of be your guy. It was just a joy to even have one year to coach him. He represents everything that’s right about Hendricken.”

Macedo, a senior, was the Hawks’ No. 1 player from start to finish, using his consistency and drive to serve as a leader for the eventual state runners-up.

In his second season in the top spot, Macedo had a 39.4 stroke average and earned sec-

ond-team All-State honors from the Coaches Association.

He led the Hawks to an undefeated regular season, and his scores – although not his best of the year – counted both days towards Hendricken’s total at the state tournament.

“When we met in the winter for the first time, we stated our goal as winning the state championship,” Macedo said.

“That was pretty much what we strived for the whole year. Obviously the undefeated season was a bonus I guess.”

A Cranston West transfer after his freshman year, Macedo became a fixture atop the Hawks’ lineup. He was also instrumental in helping Hendricken beat West twice this season, especially when he fired a 36 the second time the two teams squared off.

“We have a pretty good-spirited rival-

ry with Cranston West during the regular season,” Macedo said. “I know the coaches over there are trying to get the best of me and I try to get the best of them. It’s definitely the matches I look forward to.”

In the fall, Macedo will attend St. Leo University in Florida and try to walk-on to the team’s Division II golf team.

And Angeli, the first-year head coach who never once had to worry about his top spot, will remember a player who helped lead Hendricken to a secondplace finish at states – the team’s highest finish since 2009.

“He is a quintessential leader,” Angeli said. “We couldn’t have a better leader than him. He’s committed to the team and the team’s success. Leadership is one of his great qualities.”

-K.P.

GOLF

ALL CITY TEAM

HONORABLE MENTION