The fall high school sports season is rapidly approaching with preseason starting in just four weeks. One of the annual summer tune-ups featuring many of the top athletes from Massachusetts is the Bay State Games, which concluded its 28th edition on Sunday.
The captains of the Walpole High field hockey squad played a key role in Southeast winning the gold medal with a 4-0-1 record in the competition that was held at Waltham High.
Midfielders Amanda Waldron and Liz Malone along with defenseman Kelly Burke each saw the experience as an opportunity to learn new techniques and drills being used at the college level as they were coached by former Boston College standout, Sarah York.
“It was really helpful, she was able to relate how we were playing and to give us drills that are being used at the collegiate level,” said Burke.
“She made it really fun for us,” said Malone, who was playing for the second year. “She used a lot of new drills and new college techniques. We had so much fun in practice and we ended up winning which was great.”
Waldron scored a goal in the Southeast’s 2-1 win over Metro/Northeast in the gold medal game with Burke and Malone each recording assists.
The Southeast squad was primarily made up of players from the Herget Division of the Bay State Conference, including Jill Walsh of Norwood, and a pair from Wellesley as well as a collection from Tri-Valley League schools.
“It’s playing with all the top players,” said Malone, who recently committed to play at Columbia next year. “It’s a very intense game because everyone can play and everyone had skill whereas when we’re playing (in high school) we are usually the superior team.”
After participating in a string of summer camps that ran from Amherst to Cape Cod, when the preseason starts up on Aug. 27 the Porkers figure to be ready to hit the ground running in preparation of defending yet another South sectional crown.
“I think we’re all pretty ready for the season, (the Bay State Games) helps the three captains because this is the competition we’re going to face in the season and be able to get everyone ready to meet that level of competition,” said Waldron.
“We can’t wait, this past weekend we were at Harvard camp and we can’t wait, we are psyched for the season,” said Malone. “We’re definitely ready to make a big run this year.”
The camp at Harvard was a team camp, but this year only included two teams elected to participate, maybe coincidentally two teams that consistently find themselves among the final few competing in the state, the Porkers and Weston.
Also joining the three captains for the upcoming season was Malone’s sister, Caroline, who is heading into her junior season.
“I love playing with her, it brings so much fun to the game being able to play with her and being able to congratulate her for scoring, she scored two goals in one game,” said Malone. “I love playing with her, especially when she is on the forward line and I’m on the midfield line and just feeding up to her because she’s got lightning speed. I can’t wait for the season so I can be on the field with her again, last year was awesome.”
The Southeast boys hockey squad also earned a gold medal with Billy Sweeney of Walpole and Tommy Jenkins of Xaverian being on the squad. Jenkins had two goals and an assist in the gold medal game, a 6-4 win over Northeast at the New England Sports Center in Marlboro.
The Southeast boys lacrosse squad had a heavy Norwood flavor to the roster with eight of the 21 players on the roster being in the Mustangs program. Brian Rossman scored a pair of goals in Southeast’s 10-8 win over Central to secure the bronze medal. Earning medals were Michael Murray, Brendan O’Malley, Brian Girard, Joe Girard, Andrew Alty, Chris Ryan and Joe Ciavattone.
A pair of Walpole athletes took home bronze medals as 10-year-old Timothy McDonald was third in the Boys 10-12 200 meter breaststroke in 4:00.52 while Kenneth Muti, who wrapped up his freshman year at Fairfield University, was third in the Mens 19-34 100 meter breaststroke in 1:21.62.
Three Southeast volleyball squads that had local connections each won silver medals. John Maloney of Walpole was on the Mens Masters squad, Norwood’s Ryan Jaime played in the Men’s Open while Kristin Sawyer of Walpole and just completed her freshman year at Colby-Sawyer played on the Womens team.
Dedham youngsters had a strong showing on the wrestling mat as 11-year-old Eric Reyes won the Juniors Grade 5-6 84-88 pounds, at 165 Steve Heaslip was the runner-up in the Juniors Grade 7-8 bracket. Nick Glover of Walpole took second at Juniors Grade 5-6 75 pounds.
In Womens Masters Track, Melissa O’Connor of Dedham set a pair of meet records, throwing the shot put 18-feet, 4 3/4 inches and the discus 46-8. She was also second in the 100 meters.
Meredith O’Connor also fared well taking a third in the triple jump and fourth in the 100 hurdles while her brother, Evan, had three top 10 showings at the Junior class topping out with a fourth in the javelin.
Brendan Dacey, 13, of Dedham and Andy Mackenzie, 18, of Walpole each earned bronze medals in the judo competition. Dacey’s coming at the Scholastic 104-112 pounds and with the Worcester Polytech’s Mackenzie getting his at Senior 164-181.
Tom Ryan of Walpole earned a win in his only start, pitching four scoreless innings, as the Southeast baseball team finished fourth. Mike DeCosta earned a save to secure the other win as the team went 2-3.
(Keith Pearson is Staff Writer for the Daily News Transcript. He can be reached at (781) 433-8371 or kpearson@cnc.com.)
