Weekly Update

Now that the holidays are over, the winter season is full steam ahead.  It is very important that all student athletes keep academics as their top priority.  First semester grades will determine eligibility for the rest of the winter season and for the spring season.  All coaches allow students to miss practice or arrive late in order to make up academic work.  If a student is struggling in any class they should speak with their teacher to come up with a success plan.

Now to our update….

1)      The girls basketball team captured the Falcons Holiday Classic in Bradenton Florida by winning all three of their games.  Their biggest challenge came against the host school, St. Stephen’s Episcopal.  The Panthers had only one lead the entire night but it came when it mattered most, at the end.  Olivia Martin (14 points) drilled a three pointer with 15 seconds left off a great pass from Brittany Gacicia (13 points) and Reese Codero (12 points)  knocked down 2 free throws as the girls rallied to win the game, 57-54.  The girls will be back in action at home Monday night against North Quincy to try and improve on their 4-2 record.

2)      The boys hockey team also took home a tournament championship of the winter break.  Captain Adam Solari scored 3 goals and Sean Doucette netted his first varsity goal as the Panthers beat Rockland in the championship game of the Cashman Tournament, 4-1. Erik Dean earned the victory in net. Reed Watson had a strong game defensively. Chris Stoddard had 3 assists and Ed Collins had two assists.  The team also battled one of the best teams in the state, Marshfield to a close 3-1 loss (final Marshfield goal was an empty netter) on Saturday with Solari scoring the lone goal.  The Panthers return to Patriot League play on Wednesday at Quincy.

3)      The boys basketball team took 2 of 3 on their trip to Florida losing a close one to a team from Cincinnati (Sycamore) before beating Mount Dora (67-39) and East Bay (69-61). Senior captains Stevie Kelly (42 points, 19 assists and 12 rebounds) and Ben Rice (49 points, 6 assists and 20 rebounds) led the Panthers in the three games.  Junior Cole Levangie also had a strong trip (42 points, 11 assists and 15 rebounds).  The Panthers play three games this week beginning with a trip to North Quincy on Monday.

4)      Whitman Hanson Boys Track lost a close indoor track meet with Plymouth High School Friday, 51 to 49. Winning for the Panthers were Graham Stewart in the 55M High Hurdles, Christopher Blackman in the 600M run, Cullen Poth in the Shot Put, and Theo Kamperides in the 2 mile. The Whitman Hanson 4 x 200 relay team won. That team had Jacob Donovan, Graham Stewart, Ryan Smith and Jake Caterer. The Panther boys are 1-1 and face a tough Marshfield team next Wednesday.

5)      Whitman-Hanson Girls Track and Field (1-1) lost to Plymouth North Friday evening 58-42.  Standout performances included Sophomore Myah Kamperides' wins in the 600 (1:51) and the 2 Mile (12:02) and Senior Captain Samantha Perkins win in the 55 Hurdles (9.84.)  Senior Ryley Hurley chipped in scoring in the 300 Meter run, Long Jump and as anchor of the winning 4 x 400 team, as did Sophomore April Keyes who scored in the 55 Hurdles, 300 and High Jump.

6)      Our small but mighty gymnastics team represented WH well at the league meet this week despite more than half the team battling or recovering from illness.  The girls improved their beam score by more than one full point.  They will host Marshfield and Hingham Tuesday at MGC in Pembroke.

7)      The Whitman Hanson /Silver Lake girls hockey team beat Archbishop Williams on New Years day, 7-3 at the Sportspllex in Canton for their 2nd win in a row. Alyssa Murphy led the way with 2 goals and an assist, also scoring goals were Bridget Cardarelli, Cassandra Martin (her first high school goal), Ellie Grady, Emily McDonald and Shea Kelleher. Kat Gilbert and Rylee Moran played net.   The team then beat Newton North last night 1-0 in Watertown for their 3rd win in a row. Alyssa Murphy scored the lone goal of the game while Kat Gilbert played stellar in goal for the shutout. The next game is Wednesday 1/8 at 6:00 vs. Hingham at Rockland Arena.

8)      Our swim team spent much of the break working hard to prep for the rest of the season.  WHAM swimming returns to action tomorrow (Monday) at home against Rockland.

9)      Whitman-Hanson Panther Wrestling hosted its annual Tournament Saturday. The Panthers feared well finishing in 12th out of 16 teams with 79 points. Winning the tournament with 191.5 points was Brockton.  The tournament is always a great example of how this group of student-athletes, coaches and parents come together to work hard to put on a first class tournament.

Place winners for the Panthers included Joe Boss 3rd at 106 pounds, Damari Goldsmith Greene also finished 3rd at 138 pounds. Steve Brooks was the lone finalist for WH finishing 2nd at 160 pounds while Tyler Cullinan finished in 5th at 170 pounds.  

Next up for the Panthers is Marshfield HS at Marshfield on Tuesday 1/7/20. 

The Panthers are 0-1 in the Patriot League and 0-1 overall.