Canton Citizen names Winter All Stars
By Canton Citizen
CHS girls’ hockey captain and Canton Citizen MVP Meaghan McKenna was one of the top goal scorers in all of eastern Mass. this season. (Mike Barucci photo)
Editor’s note: The following appears in the 2013 winter sports supplement that was included in this week’s issue of the Citizen.
Boys’ MVP
Quinn Merrigan (Wrestling)
Merrigan continued his meteoric rise with a truly dominant junior season, capturing the 138-pound title at both the sectional and state meets after reaching the finals of both tournaments a year ago. A gifted wrestler with an unorthodox style, Merrigan also had several big victories throughout the season and took home the title at both the Hockomock championship meet and the Peckham Invitational Tournament, hosted annually by CHS.
Girls’ MVP
Meaghan McKenna (Hockey)
An outstanding athlete and a truly gifted scorer, McKenna led the Bulldogs in nearly every offensive category, tallying a league-leading 36 goals and finishing with 98 for her career. A team captain and an excellent role model to the younger players, she averaged over two points per game and was recognized as both a league all star and a Patriot Ledger All-Scholastic.
Boys’ Hockey
Brian Brooks
Only a junior, Brooks was the best offensive player on the best hockey team in the league, averaging a point per game for the 16-4-2 Bulldogs. He led the Hock in total points with 44 and finished second in both goals (20) and assists (24). “Brian is one of the most dynamic players in Division 2 hockey,” said head coach Brian Shuman. “He touches the puck and everyone on the ice and in the stands notices him. He’s had an outstanding year.”
Pat Ward
A senior left winger and team captain, Ward wrapped up a stellar four-year career with his finest season of all, churning out 17 goals and 15 assists to finish among the league leaders in both categories. Coach Shuman described him as a “big, strong, physical forward with an excellent shot.” “Pat might be our MVP in the second half of the season,” Shuman said. “He had a huge second half, with his biggest goals coming against the best teams.”
Rich Nee
Nee, a senior, had yet another outstanding season for the Bulldogs, finishing near the top of the Hockomock leaderboard with a 1.34 goals against average and a .923 save percentage. Coach Shuman described him as the “backbone of the team” and marveled at his ability to play his best in the biggest games. “He was spectacular in the state tournament, with a 1.00 goals against average,” said Shuman.
Tony Francescon
Although often overshadowed by his offensive-minded teammates, Francescon was the Bulldogs’ top defenseman and is already one of the best in the league as a junior. “He logs the most ice time for us and is skilled at shutting down the best players on the other team,” remarked Coach Shuman. Francescon also found time to contribute on offense, finishing with three goals and 11 assists — good for fourth overall on the team.
Girls’ Hockey
Meghan Lennon
An exceptional talent who prefers to let her play do the talking, Lennon led the team in assists for the second straight season and finished her career with 119 points (49 goals and 70 assists). A team captain and a two-time league all star, she was the only player who did not miss a single game or practice this season. She also earned Patriot Ledger All-Scholastic honors and was selected to represent Canton in the MSHCA Girls High School All Star Game presented by Shriners — a prestigious honor reserved for the top players in the state.
Bethany Kelly
A senior captain, Kelly was one of the team’s top defensemen and a respected team leader both on and off the ice. An All-SEMGHL selection, she finished the season with 10 points, including nine assists. She was also selected as a recipient of the 2013 Boston Bruins Sportsmanship Award, a prestigious honor that recognizes exemplary conduct, teamwork, and respect.
Jill Eckler
A junior, Eckler anchored the Bulldogs’ stingy defense alongside Bethany Kelly and made life easier for the team’s two goaltenders. Described by Coach Aldrich as a “fearless competitor,” she was well-respected by her teammates and opponents and earned a spot on the SEMGHL all-star team. She also chipped in offensively with one goal and four assists.
Emily Lanci
One of several talented freshmen on the CHS girls’ ice hockey team, Lanci immediately made her presence felt on the offensive end, finishing second on the team with 17 goals and third in total points with 29. “For most of our players, hockey is their second sport,” noted Coach Aldrich. “But Emily is a pure hockey player. She lives and dies by this sport.”
Boys’ Basketball
Sam Larson
A junior captain, Larson was the Bulldogs’ go-to player this season, leading the team in multiple categories, including points, steals and rebounds. A gifted offensive player, Larson averaged 17 points per game and knocked down 22 three pointers, earning All-Hockomock first team honors. Head coach Ryan Gordy said it sometimes took two or three defenders to contain his offense. “No doubt he was the guy,” said Gordy, adding that next year, he wants to see Larson “be the guy every single game.”
Andrew Mansfield
A senior captain, Mansfield was the team’s starting center and one of its hardest workers, improving steadily throughout the season on both ends of the floor. An outstanding interior defender, he averaged a league-best five to six blocks per game to go along with eight rebounds and seven points. He was also an excellent team leader. “When Andrew talked, his teammates listened,” Coach Gordy said. “They admired and respected his work.”
Tristin Mullen
A junior captain, Mullen came on strong late in the season, culminating in his 19-point outburst against heavily favored Abington in the Division 3 playoffs. For the season, he averaged nine points per game, connected on 23 three pointers, shot 44 percent from the field and 65 percent from the free-throw line. “He was our second-leading scorer, one of the best perimeter players and top perimeter defenders,” said Coach Gordy.
Girls’ Basketball
Gabby Kenefick
Only a sophomore, Kenefick was the Bulldogs’ starting point guard and arguably their best all-around player, finishing as the team’s leading scorer while also playing excellent defense. A versatile player and a very hard worker, Kenefick was recognized for her efforts with an All-Hockomock League honorable mention.
Wrestling
Chris Sullivan
Already one of the best wrestlers in CHS history, Sullivan managed to strengthen his legacy with another outstanding season, racking up win after win in the 132-pound class en route to a south sectional title and a second-place finish at the Division 3 state championships. He also won the Peckham tournament and the league meet, finished fifth at All-States, and became the first CHS wrestler to win more than one match at the New England championships.
Rob Dicalogero
Only a sophomore, Dicalogero transitioned from a promising wrestler to a legitimate stud, earning All-Hock honors after a strong regular season and an even better postseason. Wrestling above his weight in the 145-pound class, Dicalogero took home second place at both the league meet and the south sectional tournament. He also placed third at the Peckham tournament and finished eighth overall at the state meet, just narrowly missing the cutoff for All-States.
Swimming
Shannon McLaughlin
A two-time league all star and still just a sophomore, McLaughlin was the Bulldogs’ leading point scorer and helped lead the squad to its first-ever Davenport title. She finished second in the 100-yard butterfly and third in the 200-yard freestyle at the Hock championships, and she competed in both events at the Division 2 state meet, finishing 10th and 17th, respectively. She also swam at states as part of two relay teams (200 IM and 200 free) and qualified in two other events (500 free and 200 IM).
Tiffany Ha
Only a freshman, Ha was one of the team’s top swimmers this season, placing third in the Hock and qualifying for states in the 100-yard backstroke while also competing as part of the 200 IM relay team at states. An All-Hockomock selection, Ha also qualified for sectionals in the 200 IM and the 400 freestyle relay.
Amanda Walsh
A sectional and state qualifier in each of her first two seasons, Walsh smashed her own 200 IM record by several seconds at the Hockomock championships to qualify for states. She also competed at states in the 100-yard breaststroke and as a member of the 200 IM relay alongside Ha and McLaughlin.
Indoor Track
Mellyn Costello
A senior, Costello won the 55-meter hurdles at the league championship meet while finishing second in the long jump. She also placed second in the 55-meter hurdles at the Division 3 state meet. “Mellyn has an amazing work ethic and a rare ability to perform her best at the biggest meets,” said head coach Dan Ashman. “She is also the athlete that most kids on the team view as their leader.”
Lauren Berman
An All-American soccer player and an accomplished runner, Berman wrapped up her senior season with several impressive performances, including a first-place finish in the 1,000-meter race at the league championships. Berman, who Ashman called the most competitive kid he has ever coached, also ran the fastest mile (5:10.14) and fourth fastest two-mile in the league; placed third in the mile at the D3 state meet; and was a big part of the 4×800 relay team that placed sixth overall at the state meet.
Obi Nwankwo
Despite battling a nagging injury, Nwankwo, a senior, went unbeaten during the regular season in the 55, 300, and 600-meter races. He went on to place second in the 300 at the league meet, third in the 600 at the Division 3 state meet, and ran the lead leg on the 4×400 relay team that placed secondat the D3 meet. “Obi is an incredibly versatile runner,” Coach Ashman said. “There are very few athletes who you could count on to win both the dash and 600 week in and week out.”
Gymnastics
Stephanie Milne
Only a freshman, Milne burst onto the scene as the Bulldogs’ top all-around performer, earning All-Hockomock and Patriot Ledger All-Scholastic honors. She regularly placed in all four events throughout the season and finished second at the league championship meet in the vault with a score of 9.4. She also qualified for the state meet as an all-around and finished fourth overall.
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Posted by Canton Citizen
on Apr 4 2013. Filed under High School, Sports.
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