FALL SPORTS EXTRA 2026 published by
The Inquirer and Mirror
Page 2
Fall Sports Extra 2026
Thursday, October 29, 2026
Nantucket Angel Warriors are growing! Get involved today.
The Nantucket Angel Warriors are a youth-led movement promoting a wholesome, healthy, fun lifestyle for the island’s young people. Some planned activities include:
The Creation of a Teen Newspaper – The N.A.W. Times (with guidance from The Inquirer and Mirror)
Art Classes • Culinary Classes Racquet Sports • Music Teens, tell us what you want. We’ll try to make it happen. Download our app for managing your attendance and visit our website to sign up and receive updates on all of our activities.
Carpe Diem! The time is NAW!
NAW is a project of The Community Foundation of Nantucket.
NantucketAngelWarriors.org
Thanks to Nantucket-based Veysey Software Solutions, who built our website using volunteer resources.
Scan to Donate
@NantucketAngelWarriors
Media Sponsor The Inquirer and Mirror
www.ack.net
Fall Sports Extra 2026
Page 3
FALL SPORTS EXTRA 4
BOYS SOCCER
5
FIELD HOCKEY
6
GIRLS SOCCER
7
IK All Day!
FOOTBALL
7 Days • Breakfast & Lunch 7am - 2pm • Dinner Tues.-Sat. 5:30 - 9pm
8
508-228-2639 • 1 Chin’s Way • IslandKitchen.com
VOLLEYBALL
9
GOLF
THANKSGIVING THANKSGIVING
10
CROSS COUNTRY
AVAILABLE TO ORDER AVAILABLE TO ORDER
11
CHEERLEADING PUBLISHED BY
The Inquirer and Mirror Editor Joshua H. Balling
Sports Writer Patrick Scanlon
Photographer Kaie Quigley
Publisher Robert Saurer
Advertising Sales Mary Cowell Sharpe
Production Meghan Luksic
©2026 The Inquirer and Mirror One Old South Road, Nantucket, MA • 508-228-0001
Contact Customerservice@bartlettsfarm.com for more info Open Daily | 33 Bartlett Farm Rd | 508.228.9403 | Bartlettsfarm.com
Page 4
Fall Sports Extra 2026
Thursday, October 29, 2026
Boys soccer looking to make deep playoff push
Photo by Kaie Quigley
Luiz Souza brings the ball upfield in Nantucket’s 2-2 home tie with Abington Oct. 10. By Patrick Scanlon pscanlon@inkym.com
Photo by Kaie Quigley
Raakin Brannigan battles a Monomoy defender for the ball.
The boys varsity soccer team got off to a dominant 8-1 start, but a recent stretch of three losses and a draw has slowed the Whalers’ momentum. Now 9-4-1, Nantucket is looking to regain its early-season form with a Cape & Islands League title still within reach. “We’re shooting for the league title. We’ve got a little bit more work to do there,” head coach Rich Brannigan said. “We’re in a good spot from all that work we did early in the season. We would love to finish in the top five of the power rankings. We did slip a little bit there. Hopefully doing this kind of work will get us a home game.” Before the lone win during this turbulent stretch, a 2-0 victory over Dennis-Yarmouth with goals
“We’re shooting for the league title. We’ve got a little bit more work to do there. We’re in a good spot from all that work we did early in the season. We would love to finish in the top five of the power rankings. We did slip a little bit there. Hopefully doing this kind of work will get us a home game.” – Rich Brannigan Head Coach from Alec Anguelov and Calvin Guevara, the Whalers had gone three straight matches without a victory: a 2-2 draw against Abington, a 4-3 loss at St. Mary’s of Lynn and a 3-0 loss at home to Monomoy. All this came at the end of a six-game winning streak, during which the team really found its stride.
Looking at the season as a whole, Nantucket has been dominant. It was 9-1 in a 10-game stretch, with its lone loss coming at Norwell 2-1. The six-game winning streak from September to October set up the Whalers nicely for a top playoff seed in Division 3. But this late slip saw Nantucket fall to ninth in the latest MIAA Division 3 power rankings. Finishing within the top 32 gets a team to the playoffs, but things get murky once it’s time for the bracket to get finalized. “That stuff is never guaranteed. The top 32 make it, but the top 16 don’t necessarily host because you also qualify for the playoffs if you get a .500 record or better,” Brannigan said. “So somebody below 32 might be 5-55. They qualify even though their power ranking doesn’t put them
BOYS, PAGE 19
www.ack.net
Fall Sports Extra 2026
Page 5
Field hockey hitting its stride at exactly the right time By Patrick Scanlon pscanlon@inkym.com It’s good to get hot at the right time. And no team on Nantucket knows that better than the varsity field hockey team. The Whalers started the season 1-6-2 but have since turned the corner with a stretch of four wins in five games. The team now stands at 5-8-2 with a playoff push in sight. “We’re attacking with a lot more speed and getting to the front of the net. I think we were still working some things out earlier in the season and we were shuffling some pieces up front,” head coach Dan Weber said. “But we’ve gotten to a place where we’re pretty settled in the lineup and our rotations within that lineup. I think it’s leading to some better chances.” Currently sitting at No. 24 in the MIAA Div. 3 power rankings, the Whalers need to finish in the top 32 of those rankings or finish with a .500 record or better to at least make a play-in game. “I definitely keep an eye on them,” Weber said regarding the power rankings. “I have a decent idea on how they work and what are
FIELD, PAGE 19
Sophia Sullivan squares off with a Sturgis East player for control of the ball earlier this season.
Photo by Kaie Quigley
GO WHALERS!
Page 6
Fall Sports Extra 2026
Thursday, October 29, 2026
Girls soccer eyes playoffs in up and down season By Patrick Scanlon pscanlon@inkym.com
The girls varsity soccer team still has a shot at the playoffs in a season that has seen highs and lows throughout. The Whalers are currently 5-9. The Whalers’ team motto reads, “Little me, big team.” That philosophy of spreading the ball around and working together as a team has seen them overcome adversity throughout the season. Nantucket started 0-3 before three straight wins against Monomoy 3-1, at Seekonk 3-2 and at Saint John Paul II 5-1. That game against the Lions saw a Grace Schroeder goal off a Harper LeBrecht corner kick, a Caroline Chatti score, Ruby Steadman with two goals of her own and a goal from freshman Brianna Lara. The hot stretch was one of the best strings of play the Whalers put together this season. “They were on cloud nine,” LeBrecht said after the Saint John Paul II game. This season has seen improvement throughout, even if those improvements haven’t always resulted in wins. “One area where our team has grown
GIRLS, PAGE 20
Photos by Kaie Quigley
Left: Senior Emma Woodbury settles against St. John Paul. Right: Freshman Caroline Chatti controls the ball against Sandwich.
JOIN our Production Crew!
WATCH Fall Sports!
Direct, operate a camera, conduct sideline interviews, commentate or help out with any other area you’re interested in with the broadcast!
Football, Soccer and Volleyball LIVE on NCTV Ch. 1072 & YouTube
Email sports@ournctv.org or call 508-901-5499 to join up.
SCAN to watch LIVE games
Follow & Subscribe @nantucketsportsconnection
@acksportsconnection @ournctv
www.ack.net
Fall Sports Extra 2026
Page 7
Football looking to redeem season in Island Cup By Patrick Scanlon pscanlon@inkym.com
The varsity football team may not be headed back to the playoffs after last year’s Cape & Islands League title, but this team still has a lot to play for under firstyear head coach Fernando Jones. The Whalers are 1-5, with their lone win coming in the season opener, 16-8 over East Bridgewater. Since then, they’ve lost 28-0 at Blackstone Valley, 14-13 on a last-second missed 29-yard field goal against Falmouth, 22-6 at Nauset, 29-10 against Dennis-Yarmouth and 28-13 at Sandwich. “Staying engaged in the game, it can be discouraging if things are going bad,” Jones said of the improvements the team has made as of late. “Guys are encouraging, still getting loud, still being physical. I’d say that all has been an improvement.” The team started off hot with the defensive-minded 16-8 win in its first game, when defensive back Kyden Whitfield made ESPN Sports Center’s “Top 10 Plays” with a game-sealing interception. But since then, nothing has really gone its way. The scores, however, haven’t been the complete story of the Whalers’ progression this year. “It has been really good to just see how the boys have come from the first day of practice, even up until now,” Jones said. “I know it hasn’t been a great season, but
Cape Cod Times photo by Ron Schloerb
FOOTBALL, PAGE 20 Running back David Guillen-Taveras fends off Autumn Walker of Nauset in the Whalers’ 22-6 road loss to the Warriors.
liaM yb re rO
Tu-T urs: 6:30am - :30pm Fri-Sat: 6:30am - 3:00pm Sun-Mon: C OSED
:
GO WHALERS!
Fall/Winter 0 6 Hours:
ORDER F
F OR TES FROM THE B E SHOP!
Fruit Brea s
Blueberry & Cranberry Granola
Pumpkin & Blueberry Pies
Nantucket Golf Club Foundation is proud to support Whalers Sports
Portuguese Brea
CALL (508) 228-2797 OR VISIT US AT 17 ½ OLD SOUTH ROAD TO ORD R!
Page 8
Fall Sports Extra 2026
Thursday, October 29, 2026
Veteran volleyball looking for return to the postseason By Patrick Scanlon pscanlon@inkym.com For the first time in coach Mikayla Lyons’ three-year tenure at Nantucket, the varsity volleyball team has a shot at finishing the season with a winning record. Currently 8-5 with four matches remaining and potentially a fifth due to the rescheduling of a postponed contest, Nantucket is headed in the right direction to make the playoffs. A .500 finish or better guarantees a postseason bid in Division 3 of the MIAA. As the regular season winds to a close, 10 seniors were honored last week in a different way than the team is used to. Captains Viktoria Bozhkova and Julie Pires, alongside Cariela Acosta Guzman, Bessie Aguilar Escobar, Kate Kinsella, Chelsea-Ann Welch, Onieka Rickards, Penelope Hamill, Accaylia Sterlin and Mayra Aguilar Escobar, were all celebrated at a Whalers Seniors vs. Whalers Non-Seniors scrimmage on Friday. “This is the first time we’ve done something like this. We’ve always had our senior game either the last game or last week of the season,” Lyons said. Logistical issues with the Mashpee team
VOLLEYBALL, PAGE 20
Quinn Canty, left, and Julie Pires sky to block a ball at the net against Sandwich earlier this season.
ISLAND LUMBER
ISLAND LUMBER From Cellar to Roof to Garden to Landscaping…
We’ve Got You Covered!
Rock Solid Whaler Pride! We’ve Got You Covered!
From Cellar to Roof to Garden to Landscaping…
Serving the Island We’ve Got You Covered! for Whaler over 50 years Rock Solid Pride!
Rock Solid Whaler Pride! www.islandlumber.net • 508-228-2600 • 1 Polpis Rd
Serving the Island for over 50 years www.islandlumber.net • 508-228-2600 • 1 Polpis Rd
www.islandlumber.net 508-228-2600 • 1 Polpis Road
Photo by Kaie Quigley
www.ack.net
Fall Sports Extra 2026
Page 9
Resilient varsity golf wraps up successful season 10-7 By Patrick Scanlon pscanlon@inkym.com
Photos by Kaie Quigley
The varsity golf team was the first fall sport to see its season come to a close, with a 13th-place finish at the MIAA Division 3 South Sectional Championship at Easton Country Club Oct. 20. The Whalers finished the season 10-7. Winners of six straight matches from Sept. 10 through Sept. 29, including victories over top teams like St. John Paul II (272-276) and Monomoy (257-264) early in the season, Nantucket started strong. “My favorite part of the season was that middle stretch there,” head coach Sam Herrick said. “We went on a great run. A lot of people were meshing. Watching, in particular, Alex Horton and Sam Lucas as a twosome and how they thrived and won all their matches together, that was a big highlight for me. Watching these kids see what they could accomplish and get some wins in the process.” The Whalers’ best round of the season came from sophomore Lucien Silva, who shot a 40 on a par-38 course at Miacomet. Along with Lucas, who will be returning next season, Silva made up two of the top
Left: Sophomore Lucien Silva chips onto the green. Right: Senior Edward Taveras hits out of the bunker at Miacomet.
GOLF, PAGE 22
What do domestic violence, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, and exploitation all have in common?
COME BY FOR LUNCH, DINNER, AND MONDAYS KIDS EAT FREE! You are never alone.
If you are a victim of abuse and don't know where to turn, there is free & confidential support available 24-hours per day.
24-Hour Hotline: 508.228.2111 www.asafeplacenantucket.org 19 Amelia Drive - Nantucket, MA 02554 • 508.228.0561
OPEN DAILY ‘TIL STROLL Visit us at 2 Broad St. ORDER ONLINE
BUY 9 CYCLONES GET THE 10TH FREE!
Page 10
Fall Sports Extra 2026
Thursday, October 29, 2026
Cross Country looking to excel at divisional meet By Patrick Scanlon pscanlon@inkym.com
The varsity cross country team is looking forward to the divisional championship, where the Whalers will try to improve on an already successful season. The boys team holds a 5-1 overall record, while the girls sit at 1-4. Nantucket’s most recent meet saw 19 personal bests and two season-best times as the runners followed the race plan at the Cape & Islands League championship on Martha’s Vineyard Saturday, where both teams finished fourth in the Atlantic Division. “The ability to finish workouts successfully has been one of the major improvements this season. They’ve improved their pacing,” head coach Matt Phipps said. The best times of the season came from standouts Brian Kimball for the boys and Grace Hanlon from the girls. Kimball posted a personal best 17:07 in the 5K at the league championship, good enough for third place, and a 17:08 in Wrentham, while Hanlon also posted a personal best 20:42 at the league championship meet, good enough for fifth place, after notching two 21:03 times this season.
RUN, PAGE 22
Go Whalers!
“TALENT WINS GAMES, BUT TEAMWORK AND INTELLIGENCE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS” - Michael Jordan
Proud to support the Whalers—always!
Photo by Kaie Quigley
The Whalers boys cross country team on the course against Sandwich earlier this season.
NANTUCKET BOYS & GIRLS CLUB FALL SPORTS
THANK YOU!
508-228-6240 nantucketenergy.com 25 Bunker Road Nantucket, MA 02554
OUR LICENSED PLUMBERS & TECHNICIANS ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS LOOKING OUT FOR YOU 24/7/365! COMPETITIVE RATES. SAVINGS INCENTIVES. EFFICIENT & PROFESSIONAL PROPANE SERVICES
To the coaches, volunteers, staff, and sponsors who made our flag football, soccer, field hockey, and cheer seasons possible — we couldn’t do it without you. nantucketboysandgirlsclub.org
www.ack.net
Fall Sports Extra 2026
Page 11
Cheerleading brings the energy to Whalers games By Patrick Scanlon pscanlon@inkym.com
Nantucket High School’s varsity cheerleading squad has been at every home and away football game this year, providing the energy and halftime performances the Whalers and their fans have come to expect. “It’s been great coaching these girls this fall alongside my assistant coach, Hillary Reynolds,” varsity cheer head coach Jazmine Kasperzyk said. “We have a great group who are very enthusiastic about cheerleading and are always ready to give it their all during practices and football games.” This team will graduate six seniors as the season comes to a close: captains Shanniqua Fowler, Khloe Welch and Thea Harnishfeger, alongside Sahranda Gilling, Stacy Mancia and Nevaeh Keyes. “Half of our team consists of girls who are brand new to cheerleading,” Kasperzyk said. “The returning cheerleaders have done a great job of taking the new girls under their wing and getting them comfortable with the sport. Cheerleading is made up of a lot of things, but one is trust. This group works
CHEERLEADING, PAGE 22
Photo by Kaie Quigley
The Nantucket varsity cheerleading squad on the field at Vito Capizzo Stadium.
R ELECTRI E D C RY
NANTUCKET TO CAPE COD. CAPE COD TO NANTUCKET. We’ve got you.
Residential, Commercial, New Construction, Renovations & Service Calls Ryder HVAC, Heating & Cooling Lutron Lighting Control & Automated Shades Kohler Generator Dealer: Sales, Installation & Service
Moving
Full homes to single items, handled from start to finish.
Shipping
On island or off, we handle the logistics.
Storage Secure Cape Cod storage, receiving, and delivery.
ISLAND LOGISTICS, NANTUCKETMOVINGCOMPANY.COM MADE EASY. From full-home moves to single-item deliveries, we 508-221-5675 • info@nantucketmovingcompany.com handle the details between Nantucket and the mainland.
LET’S G Let’s keep
WHALERS the cup!
508-228-1496 office@ryderelectric.us 12 Mary Ann Drive P.O. Box 479 Nantucket, MA 02554
Page 12
Fall Sports Extra 2026
WHALERS BOYS SOCCER 2026
Thursday, October 29, 2026
Danny Aguiar
Alec Anguelov
Jason Ayala
Raakin Brannigan
Aldo Lemus Castro
Pedro Delgado
Parker Furtado
Calvin Guevara
Jayden Harriott
Ponpiya “Cabu” Luangsuwan
Marcos Leandro Hernandez Maldonado
Richard Pires
Stoyan Popov Jr.
Tigger Sirisophapong
Photos by Patrick Scanlon
Nicholas Sosa
Luis Souza
Rudolph “RJ” Thompson
Edvin Valentukevicius
Rich Brannigan II Head Coach
WHALERS JV BOYS SOCCER 2026
Front row, (from left): Michelle Delgado, Ethan Anderson, Xavier MacEachern, Oliver Sullivan, Forest Furtado, Jaxon Viera, Traolach Yelverton, Adonay Merlos. Back row (from left): Carlos Segura Gregorio, Jeremiah McCarthy, Dylan Paniagua, Rojus Rascius, Juan Alcaron, Sam Lemus, Lucas Miskinis, Prokhor Artemenko and Coach Caio Gomes. Photo by Patrick Scanlon
www.ack.net
Fall Sports Extra 2026
WHALERS GIRLS SOCCER 2026
Page 13
Molly Bedell
Caroline Chatti
Peregrine Devine
Amelia Fernandes
Lila Garrette
Brianna Lara
Harper LeBrecht
Eden Myers
Madden Myers
Kamila Escobar Rauda
Grace Schroeder
Ruby Steadman
Rosie Sullivan
Ford Veysey
Photos by Patrick Scanlon Chloe Washington
Emma Woodbury
Doug LeBrecht Head Coach
Know the Score No one covers Whalers sports like The Inquirer and Mirror, delivering scores and stories in real time.
To subscribe visit ack.net/subscribe.
The Inquirer and Mirror Nantucket’s Trusted News Source Since 1821
Page 14
Fall Sports Extra 2026
Thursday, October 29, 2026
WHALERS CROSS COUNTRY 2026
Boris Boychev
Morry Cardona
Ben Congdon
Nick Ferrantella
Jimmy Fuller
Grace Hanlon
Daisy Hayden
Camden Hollis
Brian Kimball
Will Manning
Leila Noddin
Liam Oviedo
Devin Owen
Dominic Pasys
Finley Seip
Harlan Wright
Photos by Patrick Scanlon Head Coach Matthew Phipps
Ellie Arita
WHALERS CHEERLEADING 2026
Juliette Bell
Shanniqua Fowler
Sharanda Gilling
Dea Grozdanova
Thea Harnishfeger
Nevaeh Keyes
Stacy Mancia
Photos by Patrick Scanlon Alisson Rodriguez Taelyn Thompson Tejada
Khloe Welch
Adriana Yarmy
Jazmine Kasperzyk Head Coach
www.ack.net
Fall Sports Extra 2026
Page 15
WHALERS FIELD HOCKEY 2026
Polina Chumak
Madison Coulter
Alina Davis
Lorelei Fox
Magdalena Gonzalez
Inna Nikolova
Clare Oberly
Megan Olson
Rowan Paul
Evelyn Phelps
Devon Roche
Olivia Snell
Veena Stone
Sophia Sullivan
Photos by Patrick Scanlon Alice Tejada
Lily Tilton
VOL. 204 NO.
24 USPS 264-720
•
: Should Nonprofits ute for ib tr n co they es? town servic
Mass.
rd begins Select Boa in lieu of payments ussion taxes discRobe rts
h By Sara nkym.com sroberts@i week dist Board last nonThe Selec of asking possibility ents cussed the make paym taxes, voluntarily property profits to a great in lieu of milproviding to the town swered the still “They are could y left unan how they but largel fit, but they of pay question of lot public bene lion-dollar izations to services. A these organ y required to. have rely on town convince daren’t legall rofits, they money they nge is apparent, accor these nonp oyee housing, ey. challe empl Rann The in y sor Rob bought Kaie Quigle le that live and asked to town asses Photo by have peop come to me say that country ing have has they the dy d they “Nobo I will ors aroun 8A. housing, a PILOT. has ol, demonstrat Story and photos, employee to enter into T that we do have, go to the scho tion. Rotary joined of it,” Milestone Trump’s administra children thatcosts money.” the one PILO about getting out ers at the ld me dozen island s of President Dona and that talked to – Jill Vieth About three orDELIVER: ing Auth sting the action Ranney said. ucket Hous n currently STAND AND No Kings Day, prote Select Board The Nant for izatio organ Saturday only 5A ity is the T, PAGE
A print or digital subscription to The Inquirer and Mirror gets you immediate access to the stories as they are reported.
about s expressed Concerns ’s traffic impact Planning Board OplKex ub cl com l ita sp ho proposed new PILO
sdale Club Private Hen 10 acres proposed for Road th off Old Sou
Quigley By Kaie nkym.com kquigley@i got its first ing Board The Plann private memRoad a proposed look at Old South club off only bersby proposed Monday. dale Club, Hens nder Alan The Club co-fou a racquet West moor feature r, a would ess cente Worden, lex, a welln riding, regen sports comp back r, horse gardens and golf cente capes and by rty owned erative lands prope of acres more on 10 ts family. the benefi the Valero ed stress communiWorden has bring to the ers, the club wouldproposed 580 memb its proty, not just educational thropy to from philan recreation. to gramming E 10A
Quigley By Kaie nkym.com kquigley@i a approved ing Board tal housing The Plann Cottage HospiVesper Lane Nantucket lex off comp rns al and clinic bulk of conce after the and abutMonday members board y ssed. raised by by Kaie Quigle were addre it Drone photo where ters last month a $69 million, 48-un er Lane lot for cliniPlans call 2.4-acre Vespge Hospital’s new and a new building lot it The lex apartment the largely-vacant ect Nantucket Cottahousing comp y on and cal facilit existing Prosp clinical s from its d be built. owns acros woul said nts us. ed the and reside Street camp board first review be were been insufficient r of spaces would When the questions evSeptember, the buildings, granting a waive an island where project in ropriate on the size of s. raised about parking spaces providnt inapp d to space count er of ery parking the plan was altere developme the numb impact the In response, 11A residents. ed and the L, PAGE on nearby er of HOSPITA would have felt the numb have members may Board sed PD s propo Workshop/A parking space .
aine ing for Ukr those fight ney to help ur jo s r’ he ac A history te LE, PAG
An aerial
rendering
osed club
of the prop
at 64 Old
South Road
HENSDA
ts.” with were my paren ey that began 50 journ It was a money with ng raise a fundraising him helpi Ukraine, teers its volun States for By Dean that recru d States to initiative kym.com s the Unite les to dgeddes@in – Lucas Judso from acros and deliver vehic ase ne It wasn’t ly bearded help purch ry units. truck to Ukrai , a heavi ng ered milita Valdo Lucas handi Deliv When showed Ukrainian himself m in Estonia, y teacher long before he found rs thousands of mechanic Eddie Oraze N.Y. histor soldie lyn, to friend his Brook keys tor son, a to Nantucket. to find over the Judson and te the drone detec inatthe with lifelong ties never had miles away. delivery was coord how to opera ers installed in they , ia his latest jamm Fortunately ur drive from Eston His first about to drive and radar Help99, while ized in the they were ex- out. Their 26-ho ed through effort is being organ brief stay and pickup truck the two Americans any May d without ine, fundraising for Ukraine. to Kyiv in into Ukra with capital passe al people we Ukrainian through Car nervous look. one of sever traveled to changed a what have ered to Judson is thinking, have attack. they deliv s ties who “We were recalled Judfor use by Nantucket The truck Special Operation lves into?” r vehicles 3rd port Ukraine to delive gotten ourse s previously Ukraine’s ded to trans r Two other was inten dangerous its military. rer and Mirrong into Regiment Inqui ies suppl nnel profiled by The through Drivi ded perso soldiers and bring woun of a replace- made similar trips volunteer organiate areas and were in need drone Ukraine, a separ ut. They aged by a Geddes
Dan Weber Head Coach
Reporting That Matters
Since 1821 Sections • www.ACK.net • $4.00 ws Source Three Pages • Trusted Ne Forty-Four Nantucket’s • Thursday, October 22, 2026 •
r, Nantucket, er and Mirro The Inquir
Ava Watson
become “Wars have which is ded now, .” crowdfun ergasting n truly flabb
Courtesy
Ukrainian
of Lucas Judson
soldiers stand aine.
Subscribe for as low as $1/month. Visit ack.net/subscribe The Inquirer and Mirror • Nantucket’s Trusted News Source Since 1821
Page 16
Hunter Bistany
Fall Sports Extra 2026
Thursday, October 29, 2026
WHALERS GOLF 2026
Paxton Fitch
Alex Horton
Edward Holland
Emil Ivanov
Sammy Lucas
Jackson Remick
Photos by Patrick Scanlon Lucien Silva
Edward Taveras
Head Coach Sam Herrick
Assistant Coach Nate Roberts
WHALERS JV GOLF 2026
Image courtesy of Sconset Golf
From left: Coach David Webb, AJ Applegate, John Oberly, Weylin Mooney, Marco Graves, Mason Twomey, Harrison Trivelas, assistant coach Bob Day, Ryan Boulter, Iyaras Suwannakon, Sander Reinemo, Thomas Brooks.
www.ack.net
Fall Sports Extra 2026
Page 17
WHALERS VOLLEYBALL 2026
Krisanjanique Beckford
Eva Blake
Viktoria Bozhkova
Quinn Canty
Emanuelly Sophia Coelho
Bessie Aguilar Escobar
Mayra Aguilar Escobar
Cariela Acosta Guzman
Penelope Hamill
Sianna Ivilova
Kate Kinsella
Brenna Latlippe
Julie Victoria Pires
Onieka Rickards
Photos by Patrick Scanlon Accaylia Sterling
Chelsea-Ann Welch
Claire Zachary
Makaila Lyons Head Coach
WHALERS JV VOLLEYBALL 2026
Back row (from left): Melayna Grimes, June Vultee, Peyton Barrett, Natalia Ferreira, Ava Raab, Coach Moneak Phillip. Middle: Sophie McAuley, Ashanti Estevez Garcia, Samantha Abreu. Front: Janae Panton, Natori McLean, Yoselyn Benitez Rivas, Marlaya Francis, Nashla Garcia Germosen. Missing: Vivian Crosby, Summer Roberts, Alany Quijada Escobar Photo by Patrick Scanlon
Page 18
Fall Sports Extra 2026
Thursday, October 29, 2026
WHALERS FOOTBALL 2026
Jhoan De La Rosa
Pavlin Aleksiev
Keegan Bedell
Keegan Canty
Jermaine (“JJ”) Chennis Jr.
Jake Clarke
Mason Conrad
Evan Cranston
Elmer Deras
Diego Ziad Bonilla Diaz
David Estevez-Garcia
Iley Foley
Jordan Fox
Tevaughn Graham
Alejandro Gutierrez David Guillen-Taveras
Beckett Herlihy
Luis Lima
Eli MacIver
Trevor Malloy
Edgar Mancia
Saul Cabrera Martinez
Diego Nunez
Jose Nunez
Patrick Popores
Boone Psaradelis
Carlos Ramos
Ellis Roberts
Kyle Rowe
Malachi Seip
Russell Simpson
Jasper Soares
Photos by Patrick Scanlon Ronaldo Sullivan Kayin Thompson
Kyden Whitfield Jonathan Williams
Head Coach Fernando Jones
www.ack.net
Fall Sports Extra 2026
Page 19
Field: Hockey team hitting its stride at exactly the right time (Continued from page 5)
good results and what are not so good ones. I think they’ve done a good job of identifying the best teams over the six or so years that they’ve been implemented.” After the slow start, the team has turned its season around at the right time. Now, its sights are back to where they usually are: winning the Cape & Islands League. “Our number-one goal is to win our division in the Cape & Islands League. We’ve done that five or six years in a row now. That’s our goal,” Weber said. “We have to take care of our league games coming up against St. John Paul and the Vineyard. I think if we take care of those games, we’ll put ourselves in a good spot. Be strong in those other games for sure, but definitely focus on those league games.” On Senior Night two weeks ago the season really started to shift. The Whalers secured their largest win of the year in a 6-0 drubbing of Sturgis East. Nantucket had three goals in the first quarter, with two from Evie
Phelps, two more from Rowan Paul, one from Aliana Davis and Ava Watson netted her first varsity goal. Every senior had either a goal or an assist, besides goalkeeper Magdalena Gonzalez, who got the shutout win. This match was part of a stretch of winning four out of five games, getting the Whalers closer to the record they need to make the postseason. It has all been made possible by their passing attack as of late. “In field hockey, something that’s really important, maybe different from other games, diagonal passes are the death of a team,” Weber said. “You want the ball to go flat, which is straight side to side. Or through, which is straight up. The diagonal passes get picked off a ton, so we’ve been emphasizing lately passing the ball horizontally and vertically.” The Whalers are graduating five seniors, with Magdalena Gonzalez, Clare Oberly, Sophia Sullivan, Ava Watson and standout Evelyn Phelps’ time playing field hockey for Nantucket coming to an end.
Ava Watson celebrates after scoring earlier this season.
Photo by Kaie Quigley
Boys: Looking to make deep playoff run and 19th league title since 2002 (Continued from page 4)
Goalie Parker Furtado is psyched after making a save on a penalty kick against Abington earlier this season.
Photo by Kaie Quigley
in the top 32. Once you start putting in these extra teams, the bracket starts to get messy. I can never figure it out.” The Whalers cannot control their power ranking, but the team can control how it finishes this season. They have looked fantastic at points, like on Sept. 30, when they beat Cape Tech 7-0 with a first-half hat trick from Calvin Guevara. Getting back to that early-season success will be crucial to Brannigan’s squad taking home its 19th league championship since 2002. “It would be great. They work so hard and a lot of times we have that underdog feeling,” said Brannigan. “Small school out on an island. Limited resources. Lots of extra logistical issues. We sort of do fall into that category. The David versus Goliath situation at times. So punching above your weight is great and we’ve always done that as a team. It’s in our culture, it’s in our DNA.” Brannigan’s teams are no strangers to winning. They secured 15 straight league championships during their dynasty streak, but the Whalers couldn’t win the league in 2025. “If we can get the job done and become league champs, this one would be really satisfying for the team,” said Brannigan. The Cape and Islands League title is still up for grabs, and these final games of Nantucket’s season will show where the Whalers stand in the league and the playoff picture as a whole.
Page 20
Fall Sports Extra 2026
Thursday, October 29, 2026
Girls: Soccer eyes playoffs amidst up and down season (Continued from page 6)
most this season is building up from the backfield,” LeBrecht said. “We are a young team who works hard for each other and has a lot of potential and determination.” With 11 new players on the team this season, there have been some growing pains. But across the board, players have stepped up with the occasional flash of greatness
this fall. After a losing skid that saw four losses in five games, the Whalers bounced back with a 3-0 win at Monomoy Oct. 14. Emma Woodbury found the net first off a corner kick from Steadman. Then LeBrecht scored off another assist from Steadman. In the second half, the Whalers notched their final goal of the game on another goal from LeBrecht off her own steal.
“We have some great talent in the net, some hard-working defenders, fast, skilled midfielders and anxious strikers,” coach LeBrecht said. Nantucket will most likely not finish in the top 32 of the MIAA Division 3 power rankings, meaning the only way to get into the postseason will be with a record of .500 or better. With four games remaining and a record of 5-9, this season is not over just yet.
Most importantly, the team gels well together on and off the field. On Oct. 24, it held a pumpkin party, where they had dinner, dessert and carved pumpkins while bonding at a teammate’s house. It was one of coach LeBrecht’s favorite moments from the season. The Whalers will graduate three seniors: captain and goalie Madden Myers, Kamila Escobar and Woodbury.
have been consistent, they’ve maintained positive mindsets, motivating the rest of the players, taking interest in younger players as well. They’ve been great.” Other captains include Eli MacIver, Russell Simpson, Keegan Bedell and Evan Cranston. They have led a standout defensive unit that has provided the Whalers with chances late in games and has forced 14 turnovers on the season, seven interceptions and seven fumble recoveries. “The defense has been integral,” Jones said. “They’ve provided us with additional opportunities to stay in the game. These
scores would obviously be much worse without them. We’ve played good enough defense to probably get some of those games, and as coach I have to take responsibility on that aspect. But the defense has really been playing very good.” Some say a win against your rival can make a losing season a success. That’s not true in all places, but on Nantucket it definitely is. The Whalers host Martha’s Vineyard Saturday in the 76th meeting between the two teams and the 45th Island Cup. Nantucket holds a 39-32-3 record against the Vineyarders. The Vineyard ha as 1-4 record, its lone
win coming Oct. 16 against Monomoy. “This is one we need to get. We need to focus and we need to practice hard. This is a huge game. It matters to the community, it needs to matter to everybody on this staff,” Jones said. “As long as we do everything we need to do, and practice the way we need to do, I feel very confident in my boys.” You can watch the Island Cup on the Nantucket Sports Connection on Nantucket Community Television’s HD Channel 1072 and on its YouTube page. The game starts at 3 p.m., while coverage goes live on the NSC at 2:30 p.m.
(Continued from page 8)
Another one of Lyons’ favorite moments of the season came in a straight-sets win at Sturgis West Sept. 28. “I had a very full-circle reflective moment because there was a time in my first year, when we played in that exact same gym, and I had players screaming at each other. I had never seen anything like that in any sport and any coaching that I’ve done and it was horrific,” Lyons said. “But this year I could see in that moment right when we were down early, and one of my players, who definitely does take things really seriously, I saw her smile. I just saw the growth.” The team rallied from 13 points down to win set one, and then complete the 3-0 win over Sturgis West. It also proved that this team has each other’s backs when the going gets tough. Now, as the season concludes, they’ll need their strong core to play together, like they’ve done so often this season. “I know our season ends in like a week, but it doesn’t feel like it yet,” Lyons said. “We are staying humble but staying hungry. Hopefully we get to the playoffs, but we’re also the type of team that’s pretty superstitious and we don’t want to jinx anything. We’re taking it one game at a time.”
Football: Whalers looking to redeem disappointing season in Island Cup (Continued from page 7)
there has still been a ton of growth, a lot of positive actions and behaviors. It’s been nice to see how resilient they are.” Senior captains like David Guillen-Taveras, who has rushed for five touchdowns on the season so far, have kept the Whalers confident. Guillen-Taveras had a 57-yard burst against Falmouth in a 150-plus-yard performance that served as his breakout game of the season. “They’ve been pillars of stability,” Jones said of his senior captains. “Obviously a lot of things haven’t gone our way, but those kids
Volleyball: Veteran squad looking for a return to the postseason
Mayra Aguilar Escobar at the service line earlier this season.
Photo by Kaie Quigley
caused the game and senior night to be pushed from its original date. When the conflict was brought up to the varsity volleyball team, they had a unique solution. “They said, ‘Why don’t we just do seniors versus non-seniors?’ and I thought that was amazing,” Lyons said. “It was really special and this group of 10 senior players and three senior managers, we’ve been so incredibly lucky to have them. I’ve been so fortunate to work with them for the past few years and really have my time with them so I’m glad that we got to do something different and special for them and I think they really enjoyed it.” This team has shown a different hunger than the first two years under Lyons, and that was evident early this season in its first game at Nauset, the coach said. “Our first real game of the season the girls were chomping at the bit to win that game, and then they went and they won that game,” she said. “It was such an awesome way to start the season, so that was really cool.” Both captains excelled, with Bozhkova notching 14 kills and Pires making 16 digs to go with four kills. Canty recorded seven kills and Acosta notched 12 digs and four aces. A whole-team effort got them in the win column in five sets, winning the final set 15-13.
www.ack.net
Fall Sports Extra 2026
The Inquirer and Mirror HALLOWEEN PARADE and COSTUME CONTEST SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31 Contest registration begins at 3 p.m. Parade begins at 4 p.m. at the fountain on Main Street. Prize for Best Group Costume and more!
Your furry friends can win too! Enter your pet’s Halloween photo at ack.net/contests from Oct. 1 - Oct. 29 Winner of the pet contest will lead the parade in town! The I&M is proud to continue this annual event in partnership with Town of Nantucket Office of Culture & Tourism and the Nantucket Chamber of Commerce and these additional sponsors
Page 21
Page 22
Fall Sports Extra 2026
Thursday, October 29, 2026
Cheerleading: Varsity squad brings the energy to Whalers, home and away (Continued from page 11D)
very well together and is eager to keep progressing on their skills.”
Fall and winter cheer are different teams at Nantucket High School. The fall cheer team is a mainstay on the sidelines, while the winter team goes out for competitions.
“I am looking forward to seeing what else we accomplish by the end of the season,” Kasperzyk said. The cheerleading team will be roaming
the sidelines and showcasing its halftime routine Saturday, Oct. 31, at the Island Cup Homecoming game against Martha’s Vineyard.
(Continued from page 10)
“The mindset has been continuing to stick together,” Phipps said. “Trusting that our training has been good and consistent and that with proper tapers for the big meets, we can hit times well below what we have all season while training hard.” Nantucket has an invitation to the divisional championship Nov. 14. If the Whalers qualify as a team or any individuals qualify, they’ll head to the Massachusetts state tournament Nov. 21. “Last year we had three qualifiers on the girls team,” Phipps said. “I’m hoping we can end up with more this year, if not a team qualification.” Practices now ramp up for the postseason, where Nantucket will try to make some noise and advance deeper into the playoffs. “It’s the same things as always: consistency and teamwork,” Phipps said about what practices have been like recently. “Easy runs as a team, workouts with your group and showing up every day for practice.” You can check out Nantucket varsity cross country’s “Whaler Spotlight” video, produced by the Nantucket Sports Connection, at ournctv.org.
Run: Cross country looking to excel at divisional meet
Daisy Hayden, left, and Anna Cronin on the cross-country course.
Photo by Kaie Quigley
Other top boys finishers at the league meet were Morry Cardona (12th) in 18:13, Jimmy Fuller (20th) in 19:31, Nick Ferrantella (21st) in 19:33, Hayden Roberts (23rd) in 19:40, Ben Congdon (24th) in 19:41 and Harlan Wright in 19:52. On the girls’ side, Hanlon was followed by Lelia Noddin (eighth) in 21:13, Anna Cronin (12th) in 21:50, Juliet Coulter (22nd) in 24:56 and Daniella Morris (28th) in 28:09. The Whalers’ meet against Dennis-Yarmouth Sept. 29 was one where everything came together for Phipps’ crew, as both the boys and girls teams came out victorious. On the boys side, Kimball ran a 17:27, while Cardona finished at 19:11, alongside Roberts at 19:42. On the girls side, Hanlon finished 21:28, alongside Leila Noddin at 22:40 and Anna Cronin at 22:43. “We were firing on all cylinders that day,” Phipps said. As the team looks forward to the postseason, the coaching staff wants to see it continue to run as one unit.
Golf: Resilient team returning low-scoring core next season (Continued from page 9)
three scorers on the team this year. “Sammy and Lucien put in the time in the offseason. They took lessons. I saw them at Miacomet every time I was there,” Herrick said. “They have a big desire to get better. The good thing about both of those guys, as they are going to be thrust into a leadership role next year, is that they set the precedent for everybody else. Look what Sammy and Lucien did. They worked on their game all summer and all spring, and they were the number one and number three guys in scoring this year. I know they’re going to go back into it and want to get better, and show the younger guys if they practice like them they’ll play like them.” In the sectionals, Hunter Bistany led the Whalers with a 91 over 18 holes, followed by Horton’s 92, Silva’s 93, a 98 from Lucas, a 99 from Emil Ivanov and a 100 from Paxton Fitch. Their final match of the season doesn’t tell the whole story of their successful year, but it will be something for the players returning to the team to learn from.
“Our biggest improvement, for our top guys especially, was how they managed the course,” Herrick said. “Knowing what would be a good shot to hit versus what would be a bad shot to hit. How would they manage the hole? Instead of just going up there and just hitting the ball, saying, ‘I’ve been missing a little bit right so I’ll aim a little bit left here, and if I do hit right, I’ll be safe.’ Dissecting each shot rather than just hitting each shot.” Lucas, Silva and Horton represented Nantucket in the 69th annual Cape Cod and the Islands High School Golf Championship Oct. 23, finishing in sixth place out of 16 teams. Silva shot an 87, while Horton and Lucas both shot an 89. While Nantucket will graduate five seniors this year – Ivanov, Bistany, Fitch, Horton and Edward Taveras – the future looks bright for the team, with Silva and Lucas tasked with leading the Whalers forward and building on a season that saw six straight wins. You can check out Nantucket varsity golf’s “Whaler Spotlight” video, produced by the Nantucket Sports Connection, at ournctv.org.
Emil Ivanov on the tee at Miacomet earlier this season.
Photo by Kaie Quigley
www.ack.net
Fall Sports Extra 2026
Get in the Game
In-Depth Coverage of Whalers Sports presented by
The Inquirer and Mirror www.ack.net @inkysports
Schedules Scores Players
Page 23
Page 24
Fall Sports Extra 2026
Thursday, October 29, 2026
Salutes all student athletes including the 2026 Whalers of the Week: Whalers of the Week 9.17 - David Guillen-Taveras – Football • Grace Hanlon – Cross Country 9.24 - Stoyan Popov – Boys Soccer • Madden Myers – Girls Soccer 10.8 - Aldo Lemus Castro – Boys Soccer • Evie Phelps – Field Hockey 10.15 - Parker Furtado – Boys Soccer • Mayra Aguilar-Escobar – Volleyball 10.22 - Jake Clarke – Football • Harper LeBrecht –Girls Soccer