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Boston Globe
31-05-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Randolph's Jayda Adora Bleus had nearly given up on her goal. Then she ran the race of her life at the Division 6 meet.
Related : Bleus exploded out of the blocks and surged ahead at the first turn, holding off a hard-charging pack down the stretch to break the meet record by three-tenths of a second. Adora Bleus's performance were the lone points for the Blue Devils, as Lunenburg (33 points) led the the girls' standings and Mt. Greylock (22) was in second after Day 1. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'I'm just shocked,' Adora Bleus said. 'I heard the announcer say that everybody was chasing me, and that just pushed me to run just a little faster even when I felt like I was going to die . . . seeing the time, it just felt so great.' Related : Advertisement The Cohasset boys' team entered chasing the program's first state title, and senior star Nathan Askjaer knew he'd have to push himself to the limit to make it a possibility. Askjaer opened the afternoon with a dominant win in the pentathlon, surging to 3,073 points and setting meet records in both the long jump (22 feet, 09.75 inches) and shot put (48-01.25). Then, just minutes after wrapping up the grueling event, he headed to the pole vault station, where he finished second after clearing 12 feet. Related : Advertisement Askjaer's multi-faceted efforts led the Skippers (42 points) to an early lead in the boys' standings, with Ayer Shirley (31 points) in second place. 'In terms of going for records in the pentathlon, the Meet of Champions [next week] is the big one,' said Askjaer, who will compete at the Naval Academy. 'But today was all about scoring points and doing anything I could for the team. And we know we're right [in the mix] to win it all.' Related : A number of meet records fell. In the field events, Mahar senior Mitchell Krasco broke the boys' shot put mark with a winning throw of 46-5.25, and Hamilton-Wenham senior Georgia Wilson improved upon her own meet record in the girls' triple jump (37-00). The boys' and girls' 800s also featured new marks, with Ayer Shirley senior Cole New in the boys' event (1:55.38) and Milbury's Mila Nikiforow claiming the girls' race (2:18.18). In addition, Frontier senior Ben Cachiguango set a new mark during his boys' 400-meter hurdles triumph (55.73). The meet resumes Sunday afternoon at Tufts. Matty Wasserman can be reached at
Boston Globe
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
With Caroline Nozzolillo in command, No. 3 Westwood girls' lacrosse controls No. 2 Cohasset
Nozzolillo had it — not just on this play, but all game — and she burst past two defenders, hesitated for a half-second, and finished high in traffic. The goal, her fifth of the game, proved to be the dagger in a 14-11 triumph for the Related : No. 2 Cohasset (10-2) didn't make it easy, coming back from several sizable deficits, but Nozzolillo, a Brown-bound senior, helped put the finishing touches on a signature victory for Westwood (14-1). Advertisement 'It's great having her believe in me,' Nozzolillo said of Spatola. 'That gives me all the confidence in the world to know that I can go and finish the shot.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Big goal from Caroline Nozzolillo to make it 14-11 Westwood with 2:45 remaining — Trevor Hass (@TrevorHass) Hofstra-bound senior Cece Thurmond added four goals for Westwood, which hasn't dropped a game in-state. UMass-bound junior Kate Greer and Bucknell-bound junior Avery Regan paced the No. 2 Skippers (10-2) with three goals apiece. Reese Hansen, Libby Schiffman, and Emily Regan also contributed for Cohasset. Related : Westwood built a 5-3 edge through one quarter, led 8-7 at halftime, and surged ahead, 12-8, through three. The Wolverines were up 13-8 with 7:20 left, but the Skippers never relented. After 3Q: Westwood 12, Cohasset 8 Strong defensive quarter from the Wolverines, plus a goal from Kate Sullivan here. Caroline Nozzolillo dictating the action from behind the net. Libby Schiffman active for the Skippers — Trevor Hass (@TrevorHass) 'I feel like we were always chasing today, instead of playing proactively,' Cohasset coach Kara Connerty said. 'We talk about that a lot. We made adjustments, but the adjustments didn't come quickly enough.' Advertisement Charlotte DeMaio, Nozzolillo, and Jenny Mackin hustled on draws to help Westwood find a rhythm. Pinpoint alley-oops from Nozzolillo to Thurmond proved lethal, as well. Goalie Kathryn Donnellan provided a steady presence, Kate Sullivan stood her ground defensively, and Nozzolillo was always in command. Hofstra-bound senior Cece Thurmond finishes the 'alley-oop' from Brown-bound Caroline Nozzolillo, then Nozzolillo adds another. 2-0 Westwood early — Trevor Hass (@TrevorHass) Spatola endearingly said that though Nozzolillo is 'a knucklehead' at times, she loves her and wants her on her side. 'There are days where maybe it's not her best day, and I may tell her that's not yours to take, pull it out, whatever,' Spatola said. 'But most days are her days, and I trust her with it. Her teammates trust her as well.' Trevor Hass can be reached at
Boston Globe
25-03-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
From a Clipper to a Skipper, Kara Connerty has new view of Cohasset/Norwell girls' lacrosse rivalry
'It's a rivalry that will always be there,' Norwell senior captain Holly Panttila said. 'It's just so much fun to play in that game. It brings out a lot of people and is a big community event.' Now, as Cohasset tries to repeat in Division 4 and Norwell looks to dethrone the Skippers, each will have a new coach: Kara Connerty for Cohasset, ranked No. 9 in the Globe's preseason Top 20, and Laura Callahan for No. 12 Norwell. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Yes, that's the same Kara Connerty who coached Norwell from 2010-24. After resigning at Norwell in August, with no plans to retire, Connerty jumped on the opportunity when the Cohasset job opened in January. Advertisement Connerty, a Norwell graduate and resident, still speaks regularly with many Norwell players and is even more proud of the program's off-the-field triumphs. 'To have that opportunity to coach there was definitely a lifelong dream,' Connerty said. Connerty started her career in Cohasset, as the junior varsity soccer coach and gymnastics coach, so this feels like a full-circle journey in a sense. She said the support so far has been 'overwhelming.' She said she hopes to continue the tradition of success, noting that she's already seen great enthusiasm from the players and community. 'We know how well she coached the Norwell team,' Cohasset senior captain Reese Hansen said. 'I think her coming over here is just going to help us.' Cohasset and Norwell clashed in the Division 4 semifinals last June. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Hansen, Libby Schiffmann , Kylie Newman , Kate Greer , Avery Regan , Aine Norton , Addy Andrews , and goalie Janet O'Carroll anchor a deep and talented Skippers team that has a strong chance to repeat. This will be four coaches in four years for the seniors, who learned from Kully Reardon in 2022, Billy Bitter in 2023, and Joe Fitzgerald in 2024. Hansen, who has played for Connerty at the club level with Mass Elite for several years, said the Skippers are grateful for each leader and excited about Connerty's arrival. Advertisement 'Coming into your senior season not knowing who your coach is was definitely stressful,' Hansen said. 'When I found out the news that Kara was coming in, I was thrilled.' Ten miles away, the Clippers will start fresh under Callahan, who taught 11 Norwell players in middle school Spanish back in the day. They don't have any set plays in Spanish yet, but Callahan didn't rule it out. Panttila said Callahan always ensured they turned in their assignments on time and brought out the best in them as students, and she expects that mentality to translate to lacrosse. The Hingham native, Thayer Academy graduate, and two-time national champion at Northwestern previously coached with former collegiate teammate Meredith Frank McGinnis at Notre Dame (Hingham). She values the lessons she learned from McGinnis, and is immensely grateful for that experience as she begins her new post. 'In August, one day they posted it, and I just kept getting all these texts from all my co-workers, being like, 'You've gotta go for it!' ' Callahan said. 'I applied, and I'm excited to be there.' The Clippers will lean on Panttila, Charlise Cox , Natasha Mikus , goalie Charlotte Pithie , and more as they try to build on last year's semifinal run and capture their first state title since 2018. Callahan and Connerty know many of the same people and know each other peripherally. Connerty works with McGinnis at Mass Elite, but Callahan and Connerty haven't crossed paths as much as one might think. Advertisement They both wish the other best in their new endeavor. Callahan noticed on Day 1 how Norwell players arrived and immediately started warming up without needing a nudge — a subtle sign of a strong culture. 'I learned so much from her not only on the field, but also off the field, too,' Panttila said of Connerty. 'She definitely created a great community for us.' If recent history is any indication, the matchup between the two on May 19 will be yet another instant classic. While the added intensity is noticeable when the teams meet, there's no animosity between the two programs. Some play on the same club teams and are close friends outside of the sport. There's a mutual respect, as both regularly topple much larger schools despite their small size. At the same time, there are certainly bragging rights involved, and it means extra when they see the adjacent town across from them on the field. 'It's a healthy, competitive rivalry,' Callahan said. 'It's always great to look forward to games like that and get psyched up.' Kara Connerty has taken note of the great enthusiasm from the players and community in Cohasset. On her time at Norwell, her alma mater, "To have that opportunity to coach there was definitely a lifelong dream." Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff Quick sticks ▪ In other coaching news, Isabella Tersoni is in charge at Lincoln-Sudbury after former coach Kaillie Kelly took a job at her alma mater, Hamilton College. Tersoni, who graduated from Framingham High in 2017 and Merrimack College in 2021, captained the Warriors as a senior before moving home and interning with the Framingham athletic department. She's in her third year as an assistant athletic director at Natick High, and was previously a coach with the Redhawks and Laxachusetts. Tersoni is thrilled for the opportunity to lead the Warriors, a program she's admired from afar for years. Advertisement 'My gut was telling me I needed to rise to the occasion and take the leap,' Tersoni said. 'I'm a competitor. I want to win, and I want to provide a positive experience for our athletes. From the moment I finished my interview, I really knew it was going to be a good fit.' ▪ Sandwich is another team to keep an eye on in a Division 4 that's arguably stronger than ever. This is the first time in Kelsy Beaton's 20 years in which her entire squad is returning. The Blue Knights finished last year 20-2 and advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to eventual runner-up Ipswich. Senior midfielder/attacker Avery Cobban (46 goals last year), junior midfielder Kyla Darmon (57 goals), freshman midfielder/attack Quinn Anderson (65 goals), and freshman goalie Ashlynn Krueger anchor a balanced squad. 'We also have a lot of depth, with 22 members returning this season on the squad,' Beaton said. 'I fully expect great things from this group.' Games to watch Friday, No. 18 Weymouth at No. 11 Duxbury, 4 p.m . — The visiting Wildcats and Dragons both lost talent but return plenty of key pieces and should be in the hunt once again in their respective divisions. Friday, No. 19 Andover at Belmont, 7 p.m. — Andover (7-seed in D1 last year) will travel to Belmont (13-seed in D1 last year) in a battle between two formidable teams. Saturday, Needham at Wayland, 10 a.m . — Both are close to cracking the Top 20, and a win plus some help could do the trick. Saturday, No. 5 Walpole at East Longmeadow, 4 p.m. — The talented Timberwolves get an early-season test in a rematch of last year's Division 2 semifinal. Advertisement Monday, No. 3 Central Catholic at No. 8 Lincoln-Sudbury, 4:30 p.m. — Each side is fully capable of winning it all in Division 1, and this late-March battle will help with power rankings for the winner long term. Trevor Hass can be reached at
Boston Globe
13-03-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Here's why Bruins winger Vinni Lettieri calls an emergency stint with his high school football team ‘a great experience'
Nelson coached the Minnetonka High football team, and he needed a kicker. 'Yeah, that was pretty funny,' said Lettieri, whose father, Tino, was a world-class soccer goalkeeper. He encouraged Vinni to give it a try. Well, maybe encouraged is not strong enough. 'My dad was like, 'You pick up the phone, you call him back, and you're playing,' ' Lettieri said with a chuckle, following Thursday's morning skate prior to the Bruins' game against the Senators at Canadian Tire Centre. He was reluctant at first but now wouldn't trade that season with the Skippers for anything. Advertisement 'It's the best thing that I've ever done just from the standpoint that sometimes you don't want to do something, but then when you look back on it, it's just such a great experience,' he said. 'And the Minnetonka football team and the coaching staff were so good to me, and it was just a good little stint to have with them.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Minnetonka nearly rode Lettieri's foot to the 2011 states. In the sectionals, the Skippers led, 3-0, until late in the fourth quarter thanks to Lettieri's 32-yard field goal right before the half. 'It looked like 60 [yards] ... I was so nervous. And I was freezing,' said Lettieri. 'They threw me out there. I actually counted the yards [from center] wrong before I lined up. But I made the kick, and I sprinted off the field like, 'What is going on right now?' I was like, 'If I'm bringing this team to states on that field goal, that would be absolute comedy.' ' Alas, Eden Prairie scored at the buzzer to take a 6-3 win, before moving on to states and then capturing the Class 5A title. 'But it was so fun,' said Lettieri. 'It was such a good experience. The guys on the team were so great. I'm happy I did it.' With futbol and football in the rearview, Lettieri focused on hockey, a journey that took him from Minnetonka to the USHL, to the University of Minnesota, to the professional ranks. Since 2016, he has split his time between the AHL and NHL. Advertisement All along that journey, Lettieri was guided by Tino — who immigrated from Italy to Montreal and represented Canada in the 1976 and 1984 Olympics, as well as 1986 World Cup — and his grandfather, NHL legend Lou Nanne. 'My grandpa is the backbone of our family and he's been in hockey since Day 1 and he still is in hockey doing the broadcasting for Wild games,' said Lettieri of Nanne, who played both defense and right wing during an 11-year run with the North Stars before moving on a front office career and then broadcasting. 'He's given me so much advice and wisdom along the years. And he doesn't miss one of my games, not one of my shifts. If he has to, he re-watches games that he misses if he's flying during that time. But he's phenomenal.' Lettieri also credited Tino for his guidance. 'Between those two and the rest of my family, I'm very lucky and I'm very fortunate for what they bring and the support that they have for me,' he said. In his second stint with the Bruins this season, Lettieri is playing right wing on the second line with fellow Minnesotans Casey Mittlestadt (who, coincidentally, played at Eden Prairie High) in the middle and Cole Koepke (Two Harbors/Hermantown High) on the left side. Lettieri's energy is unmistakable. He is always a man in motion. 'Vinni's a good player. He's a guy that we can use in different situations. Right now, he's playing on our second power-play unit. He's playing with Mittsi. He can score. He has the ability to put the puck in the back of the net because he's got a really good shot,' said Bruins coach Joe Sacco. 'And then attention to detail away from the puck is just something that we continue to talk about with all our guys and with Vinni, too. When he's dialed in and his details are good away from the puck, he's an effective player for us.' Advertisement Jim McBride can be reached at
CBS News
08-02-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Minnetonka senior on track to continue family hocky legacy and clinch state title
MINNETONKA, Minn. — Lately, Layla Hemp lives in the limelight. "I've never been this motivated," said the Minnetonka goaltender and University of Minnesota commit. "After we've come up short many times in state semis and stuff, I feel like I'm the most motivated I've ever been to keep getting better and win that state championship." Hemp is the top goalie on one of the top teams in Minnesota. She's dominant, stacking up save, after win, after shutout. Her coach thinks it's simple. "Layla Hemp is without a doubt in my mind the best goalie in the country," said Tracy Cassono, who has led the Skippers to the #1 ranking in the state and a top seed in section 2AA. "She is just phenomenal. It's been such a treat for me and highlight of my coaching career. I've had a lot of great goaltenders and great players come through programs. She's absolutely just been one of my favorite players to coach." Hemp was the starting goalie in the USA U18 team that won a world championship last winter. "I don't think I'll ever forget that moment," remembered Hemp. "It was just amazing. We finally did it after the year before getting bronze. I feel like we finally felt completed. It was just an amazing feeling." If you recognize the name, it's for good reason. Her older sister Josie skates for Vermont and sister Peyton is a former Miss Hockey and current captain for the Gophers. Layla is the youngest of five. "It's really fun. I feel like I'm the only one home now. So it's really fun to have my parents full attention all the time," laughed Hemp. "But it gets lonely. Josie's out in Vermont. Peyton's at the U. So no one's really home. But when Peyton comes home it's fun. But I really enjoy being the youngest." Hemp's sisters won state with Andover High School before the family moved southwest. A state title is the last thing left for the current Skipper, future Gopher, and only goalie in the family. "I'm feeling really confident with our team and my abilities. I just feel like we can do this," said Hemp. "Honestly just giving it our all and whatever happens happens and the rest will take care of itself."
