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The Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association released the second Top 20 polls of the regular season earlier this morning.

Here's a look at the statewide rankings, courtesy of MileSplit:

BOYS LARGE SCHOOL DIV. 1
1 Cambridge
2 Newton North
3 Mansfield
4 Peabody
5 Lowell
6 St. John's (Shewsbury)
7 Lexington
8 St. John's Prep
9 Shewsbury
10 Lincoln Sudbury
11 Chelmsford
12 Methuen
13 Amherst
14 Marshfield
15 Wellesley
16 Needham
17 Reading
18 Masconomet
19 Minnechaug
20 Nashoba

BOYS SMALL SCHOOL DIV. 2
1 Pembroke
2 Tewksbury
3 Newburyport
4 Hopedale
5 Hamilton-Wenham
6 Seekonk
7 Bedford
8 Wakefield
9 Marblehead
10 Weston
11 Pentucket
12 Coyle-Cassidy
13 Manchester-Essex
14 Swampscott
15 Burlington
16 Sandwich
17 Mt. Greylock
18 Lenox Memorial
19 Martha's Vineyard
20 Hoosac Valley

GIRLS LARGE SCHOOL DIV. 1
1 Bishop Feehan
2 Lowell
3 Weymouth
4 Needham
5 Newton South
6 Lincoln-Sudbury
7 Notre Dame (Hingham)
8 Peabody
9 Beverly
10 Lexington
11 Wellesley
12 Newton North
13 Shepherd Hill
14 Dracut
15 Wachusett
16 Whitman-Hanson
17 Amherst
18 Nashoba
19 Walpole
20 Hopkinton

GIRLS SMALL SCHOOL DIV. 2
1 Tyngsborough
2 Hamilton-Wenham
3 Marblehead
4 Dover-Sherbon
5 Bedford
6 Weston
7 Ursuline
8 Notre Dame (Worcester)
9 Wakefield
10 Holliston
11 Lenox
12 Mt. Greylock
13 Arlington Catholic
14 Newburyport
15 Sutton
16 West Bridgewater
17 Westwood
18 Lynfield
19 Parker
20 Douglas

The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) yesterday announced the hiring of James Peters and Rich Riley as part-time assistant directors.

Here is the full release, courtesy of communications director Nathan Bonneau:

Franklin, MA – James Peters and Richard Riley will join the MIAA team as part-time Assistant Executive Directors in mid-August. Recent retirements have afforded the MIAA an opportunity to utilize the many years of educational and athletic leadership that both James Peters and Richard Riley offer. These two leaders have worked with the MIAA for years, serving many different roles, to enhance the high school experience for student-athletes across the state.

James Peters retired as Principal from Monson High School in 2011 after a distinguished career as coach, teacher, guidance counselor, assistant principal and principal. Furthermore, Mr. Peters served as MIAA President from 2007-2009, MIAA Board of Directors from 2004-2011, State Basketball Committee Chairman from 2001-2011, and several other leadership positions within the MIAA throughout his career. In 2011 Mr. Peters was awarded the MIAA Distinguished Service Award and most recently, in 2012, he was awarded the Sherman A. Kinney Award. Each of these awards represents one of the highest honors the MIAA offers.

Richard Riley retired as Athletic Director from St. Peter-Marian Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School in 2012 after two years of service. Prior to this role, Mr. Riley worked at Marlborough High School as a coach, teacher, guidance counselor, assistant principal and athletic directorstarting in 1975. Mr. Riley brings his extensive knowledge of both athletic director training and coaches education instruction to the MIAA. During Mr. Riley’s tenure at both St. Peter-Marian Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School and Marlborough High School he has served on several MIAA committees, including Coaches Education Instruction and Educational Athletics, as well as hosted and managed MIAA tournament events.

James Peters, District F, and Richard Riley, District E, have long standing relationships in the western and central parts of the state, which will further improve the MIAA’s representation and service to all sections of Massachusetts. The additions of James Peters and Richard Riley will benefit the MIAA as they work collectively towards providing the best possible high school experience for the thousands of student-athletes, coaches, and school administrators in Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association has tapped former Deputy Executive Director Bill Gaine to replace Dick Neal as Executive Director, effective July 1.

Gaine had previously served as the MIAA's Deputy Executive Director from 1994 to June 2012.

The MIAA released the following statement on Gaine's appointment:

Franklin, MA June 12, 2013 - William N. Gaine, Jr., the former Deputy Executive Director of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) and Massachusetts Secondary School Administrators' Association (MSSAA), has been chosen as the Executive Director of the two organizations. The announcement was made by Ann Knell, President of the MSSAA and Brian McCann, President of the MIAA who chaired the search committee to select a new leader.

Mr. Gaine succeeds Richard F. Neal who has served as Executive Director for 34 years. The appointment is effective July 1.

Mr. Gaine was formerly the Deputy Executive Director, a position he held from 1994 until June, 2012 when he retired. Following his retirement he continued to serve the two Associations in a part-time position.

"We had many excellent candidates express an interest in the Executive Director's position" Ms. Knell and Mr. McCann said. "However, Bill Gaine with his 34 years of experience was uniquely qualified. He will enable the two organizations to transition to a new leader without missing a beat. We are fortunate he decided to come back to full-time employment and accept this position."

Mr. Gaine joined the Associations as Assistant Executive Director in October, 1979 and has had major responsibility in the areas of student eligibility, as well as student/athlete health and safety initiatives over the years. He also had executive responsibility for all phases of management for most Association-sponsored sports.

The Presidents further stated that, "Bill Gaine has been an incredible leader of MIAA and MSSAA for almost their entire histories. There are few people indeed who could have had as much impact on more young people and their education than Bill has had in his more than three decades of leadership and service. He has positively impacted students, schools, and their leaders throughout the State and the Nation. Bill Gaine has earned a national reputation for vision, leadership, and determination to get the most and best out of every situation and person".

Mr. Gaine has been the architect and catalyst for the development and growth of the MIAA's Student Services Program which includes Sportsmanship, Wellness, Leadership, Community Service and Coaches' Education. The MIAA and Mr. Gaine have been recognized statewide and nationally for creating programming focused on student athletes that enrich their interscholastic experience through a curriculum of educational athletics.

Among the initiatives Mr. Gaine established to advance these programs are relationships and partnerships with the Anti-Defamation League, the Massachusetts Medical Society, the Governor's Alliance Against Drugs, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Partnership for a Drug-free America, and the Center of Sport at Northeastern University. Mr. Gaine founded the MIAA's Partners in Prevention, a network of over 65 prevention agencies in Massachusetts to assist schools with prevention and healthy lifestyle resources for students.

As Deputy Executive Director of the Massachusetts Secondary School Administrators' Association (MSSAA), the professional association of approximately 1,200 principals and assistant principals throughout Massachusetts, Bill has contributed to the remarkable growth of that organization since the 1970s.

A resident of Ashland, Mr. Gaine has served on the South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical School committee for two decades. In addition, his community service at the local level has included several committee initiatives at Ashland High School, as well as years of service at coaching and administration for Ashland softball and baseball.

The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) has announced its recipients in each sport for its Coach of the Year awards. Each coach will be recognized at the third annual MIAA Coach of the Year/Student-­Athlete of the Month banquet on Wednesday, May 29.

Below are the winners:

Chris Gould, Amherst - Boys' Outdoor Track
Robert L'Homme, Bishop Feehan - Girls' Cross Country
Thomas Rivet, Chicopee - Boys Soccer
Donald Savi, Dedham - Girls Soccer
Chris Sweet, Duxbury - Boys Lacrosse
Friend Weiler, Duxbury - Girls Ice Hockey
Kirk Fredericks, LincolnSudbury - Baseball
Alyssa Schatzel, Masconomet - Girls Volleyball
Brenda Sullivan, Maynard - Field Hockey
Michael Kirby, Narragansett - Softball
Robert Ryan, New Bedford - Boys Tennis
Wayne Griffin, North Attleborough - Wrestling
Paul Worth, North Shore Tech - Football
Jose Rocha, Peabody - Boys' Cross Country
Shawn Thornton, Pope John XXIII - Girls Basketball
Jeff Nelson, Reading - Boys' Golf
Mark Pierce, St. Bernard's - Boys Basketball

Max McHugh, a standout soccer and girls' basketball player at Central High School, suffered a broken leg recently as the result of a head-on auto accident. Shortly after, the school had a “white-out” night at a home game, where fans were asked to wear white in support of McHugh and her family.

McHugh was a key figure in Central’s Class C state championship last season. She played solid defense on Hall-Dale’s Carylanne Wolfington (now a freshman at Colby College) and hit two free throws with 11.4 seconds left for the final points in Central’s 40-39 victory.

The driver of the other car was Tanya Clement, of Corinth. The Bangor Daily News reported that Clement’s 6-year-old daughter was still hospitalized eight days later from her injuries as a result of the accident.

Bangor television station WABI reported that according to the police report, “McHugh admitted she was changing a song on her I-pod and not paying attention.”

GOODRICH WINS FITZPATRICK TROPHY
Cheverus star Donald Goodrich won the James J. Fitzpatrick Trophy, given annually to the top senior football player in the state. Goodrich, who ranks 58th in a class of 122 students, played two years at Cheverus after transferring from York following his sophomore year.

Goodrich rushed for 8.65 yards per carry, 1,722 yards, and 22 touchdowns this season. On defense, he had seven sacks. Cheverus had won 34 consecutive games before losing to eventual Class A state champion Thornton in the state final.

The other finalists for the award were Sanford’s Alex Shain and Cony’s Chandler Shostak. Shain rushed for over 1,400 yards and scored 28 touchdowns, while Shostak had 58 receptions for 853 yards and 12 touchdowns, while also intercepting 11 passes on defense.

TRACK AND FIELD ONLINE
Track and cross country coach Derek Veilleux has created an outstanding website for Maine high school track and field at http://me.milesplit.com. Veilleux coaches the Scarborough boys in indoor and outdoor track, and Cape Elizabeth in cross country.

Veilleux told the Morning Sentinel he spends about 30 to 40 hours per week putting information on the site. He also frequently updates his Twitter account (@MaineTrackXC).

“I’ve got a regular full-time job, and then I coach in the afternoon,” Veilleux told the Sentinel. “This is done late at night and early in the morning.”

The site has regular updates, as well as lists of the top times and performances across the state in each event. Several athletes also contribute blogs. One of those is written by Waterville’s Bethanie Brown, who was recently named Gatorade Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year for Maine and will be heading to the University of Connecticut in the fall. Brown was the first Maine high school girl to run a mile in undr 5 minutes in a competition.

Brunswick’s Alex Nichols, the defending Class A indoor boys champion in the 400 meters, also blogs for the site. Here’s an excerpt from his latest blog:

“Oh but wait, that sounds like a boring meet doesn’t it? You’re right, it was. That is until our bus, cruising at 50 mph down the highway, was assaulted by a large turkey. ... A turkey had crashed directly into the bus windshield, shattering it, and hitting the bus so hard that the rear-view mirror INSIDE the bus had been shattered. We slowed down and pulled off to the side of the highway to wait for another bus, which took approximately an hour. While we were waiting, an SUV came flying down the highway towards us. I don’t understand how it is even possible not to see a school bus on the highway, but he jerked out of the way at the last second, spun a full 360 degrees, and ended up in the snow bank 200 meters in front of us. For those of you who don’t know how far 200 meters is, you’re on the wrong website. Anyways, we finally got home in one piece and went out to eat. I obviously got a turkey sandwich.”

LOAN MEASURE AT NOKOMIS FAILS
Regional School Unit 19, which includes Nokomis Regional High School, recently asked voters in its eight communities to approve a $2.9 million loan. The communities denied a $3.6 million loan on Election Day. After making approximately $750,000 in cuts, RSU 19 asked for the reduced loan.

Among the cuts originally slated were all sub-varsity sports at the high school in winter and spring sports, and travel to away games for winter and spring varsity teams. The teams and travel were all restored for this school year by private fundraising.

EASTERN A GIRLS' BASKETBALL UP FOR GRABS
Whoever wins the Eastern A tournament will be a huge underdog against Catherine McAuley High School. The Lions are the defending state champions, and have three talented six-footers, as well as one of the state’s best point guards in Allie Clement.

But the team that comes out of the East will have the advantage in number of close games. There are at least six and as many as nine teams that are more or less even, depending on the day. Every team in the league has at least three losses.

Mt. Blue is one of the league’s favorites. Within the span of a week, the Cougars defeated previously unbeaten Mt. Ararat by making all 18 of their foul shots over the final three minutes, then lost in double overtime to a .500 Skowhegan team, then edged Brewer, another .500 team, in overtime. And Skowhegan? Three days after knocking off Mt. Blue to earn a leg up on one of the final playoff spots, the Indians lost 56-51 to Hampden, which was 0-11 entering the game.

Cony is holding on to the final playoff spot at 7-6. The Rams got that high by defeating Edward Little, a team that was 10-2 at that point. Cony also lost to Lawrence, 51-50, on a 23-foot 3-point heave by freshman Dominqiue Lewis with two seconds left. Cony has no one taller in its regular rotation than 5-foot-8 Josie Lee, but the Rams take about to 25 to 30 3-pointers per game, and the tournament is played a few miles from their school at the Augusta Civic Center.

No. 1 seed Edward Little is 10-3, with those three losses by a total of eight points. In contrast, Presque Isle is the top-ranked team in Eastern B. The Wildcats are 13-0, and exactly one of those wins has been by less than 25 points.

In its 28th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports, today announced Jonathan Green of St. John's High School as its 2012-13 Gatorade Massachusetts Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year. Green is the first Gatorade Massachusetts Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year to be chosen from St. John's High School.

The 5-foot-10, 145-pound senior raced to his second straight Division I individual state championship this past season with a time of 15:29.6. A three-time First Team All-State selection, Green earned second place at the Foot Locker Northeast Regional championships, crossing the line in 15:36.8. He went on to finish 22nd at the national Foot Locker Cross Country Championships in 15:45.

Green has maintained a B average in the classroom. A devoted parishioner in his church community, he has volunteered locally as a youth cross country and track and field coach.

“I am extremely impressed by everything I have seen from Jonathan Green,” said Brian Wallace, head coach at Wachusett Regional High. “We have competed against him quite a bit and he always approaches the sport with class in addition to being an exceptional runner.”

Green has verbally committed to an athletic scholarship at Georgetown University beginning this fall.

Green joins Gatorade Massachusetts Boys Cross Country Runners of the Year Wesley Gallagher (2011-12, Pembroke High School), John Murray (2010-11, Shrewsbury High School), Patrick McGowan (2009-10, Mansfield), Mike Moverman (2008-09, Oliver Ames), and Robert Gibson (2007-08, Brookline) as athletes who have won the cross country award since its inception in 2007.

***

Here are the winners from the five other New England states:

CONNECTICUT: HENRY WYNNE, STAPLES

The 6-foot-3 senior raced to the State Open championship this past season with a time of 15:49. Wynne also captured the Class LL state title, also in 15:49, and finished first at the Wickham Park Invitational, the Windham Invitational and the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference Championships.

Wynne has maintained a 3.20 GPA in the classroom. A student ambassador in his school, he has volunteered locally on behalf of community road races.

“You won’t find anyone who works harder or is more dedicated to reaching his goals,” said Staples head coach Laddie Lawrence. “He’s established several school records and he’s knocking on the door of several more.”

Wynne has verbally committed to an athletic scholarship at the University of Virginia beginning this fall.

RHODE ISLAND: TREVOR CAWLEY, CUMBERLAND

The 5-foot-8 senior raced to the All-State Meet individual state championship this past season with a time of 15:39.47, leading the Clippers to fifth place as a team. A First Team All-State selection as named by the Providence Journal and Rhode Island Track Coaches Association, Crawley also won the Class A individual title in 15:52.20. Crawley captured second place at the New England Championships with a time of 16:14.21, placed sixth at the Foot Locker Northeast Regional Championships in 15:47.3 and finished 38th at the national Foot Locker Cross Country Championships. He concluded his senior season unbeaten against Rhode Island competition.

Also a track standout, Crawley has maintained a B average in the classroom. In addition to participating in the National Guard’s youth leadership program, he has volunteered on behalf of Cumberland’s recreation department, where he has also donated his time as a youth track and soccer instructor.

“Trevor is a very dedicated, internally motivated young man,” said Cumberland head coach Thomas Kenwood. “He wants to win and pushes himself each and every day in practice and races. He is goal-oriented, sets high standards for himself and so far has attained the goals.”

Crawley remains undecided upon a collegiate destination.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: JEREMY BRASSARD, COE-BROWN NORTHWOOD ACADEMY

The 6-foot junior raced to the Meet of Champions individual title this past season with a time of 15:46.1. Also the Runner of the Year as named by the Union Leader, Concord Monitor, Foster’s Daily Democrat and New Hampshire Cross Country Coaches Association, Brassard also won the Division II individual championship in 16:08. Brassard captured a state-best 19th place at the New England Championships in 16:52.77 and finished 74th at the Nike Cross Nationals Northeast Regional championships in 17:11.7. He concluded the regular season unbeaten against New Hampshire competition.

Also a track standout, Brassard has maintained a B average in the classroom. In addition to donating his time as part of food drives and community cleanup efforts, he has volunteered locally on behalf of the Boy Scouts of America, the Special Olympics, Court Appointed Special Advocates and The Way Home, an affordable-housing non-profit.

“Jeremy has overcome challenges not only to become one of the best athletes in the Northeast, but more importantly, has learned the value of citizenship and has given back tenfold,” said Coe-Brown coach Tim Cox. “Running-wise, while working a full-time camp counselor job away from home this past summer, Jeremy would do most of his training at 5 a.m. This is what separated him athletically from his peers.”

Brassard will begin his senior year of high school this fall.

MAINE: DANIEL CURTIS, ELLSWORTH

The 5-foot-11 junior raced to the Class B individual state championship this past season with a time of 15:47.52, leading the Eagles to fourth place as a team. Also the Runner of the Year as named by the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, Curts placed 17th at the New England Championships in 16:49.88 and finished 25th at the Foot Locker Northeast Regional championships in 16:20.8. He captured third place at the 2010 and 2011 Class B state meets in his freshman and sophomore seasons.

Also a track standout, Curts has maintained an A-minus average in the classroom. In addition to donating hundreds of hours as a summer camp counselor, he has volunteered at the annual Mount Desert Island Marathon and as part of Welcome to My Home, a homelessness outreach and advocacy initiative.

“With his enthusiasm and work ethic, people just follow him,” said Ellsworth athletic director Jay Brown. “He’s a leader on the team. Along with Dan being a great athlete, he’s a great representative of our school. He’s so appreciative of all his accolades and everything he’s achieved. By the same token, he’s an ambassador for our school. The things he’s done are great for us. He gives our school a great name. He doesn’t have a bad quality about him.”

Curts will begin his senior year of high school this fall.

VERMONT: DANIEL GROSVENOR, MONTPELIER

The 5-foot-8 senior raced to the Division 2 individual state championship this past season with a time of 16:39.3, leading the Solons to fifth place as a team. Grosvenor finished 10th at the New England Cross Country Championships and captured 13th at the Foot Locker Northeast Regional championships. He earned victories at the Essex Invitational, the Woods Trail Run and the Northern Vermont Athletic Conference Mountain Division Championships.

Grosvenor has maintained a 4.0 GPA in the classroom. He has volunteered locally as an elementary school mentor and a wilderness safety instructor. He has also served on his school’s student council.

“Daniel had an extraordinary 2011, his first year running cross country, and he made significant improvement this year as a senior,” said Montpelier coach Tim Noonan. “He was committed, enthusiastic and a hard worker throughout the season.”

Grosvenor remains undecided upon a collegiate destination.

The Gatorade state girls' cross country Runners of the Year award were announced on Thursday.

Here are the winners from across the region:

CONNECTICUT: BRIANNA LENEHAN, SR., NORWICH FREE ACADEMY
The 5-foot-2 senior raced to the State Open championship this past season with a time of 19:09. Lenehan also won the Class LL state title in 18:51 and took first at the Eastern Connecticut Conference Championships. She earned a ninth–place finish at the New England Cross Country Championships.

Lenehan has maintained a 3.91 GPA in the classroom. Also a nationally-ranked Irish step dancer, she has volunteered locally on behalf of both youth running events and toy drives for underprivileged children.

“Brianna was phenomenal this year,” said Norwich Free Academy head coach Kara Kochanski-Vendola. “She was very focused on what she had to do to be successful and she put in so much hard work, not just in season, but all summer.”

Lenehan will attend Columbia University this fall, where she will compete in cross country and track and field.

MAINE: BETHANY BROWN, SR., WATERVILLE
The state’s reigning Gatorade Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year, Brown raced to the Class B individual state championship this past season with a time of 17:56.32, leading the Purple Panthers to sixth place as a team. Also the Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year as named by The Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, Kennebec Journal and the Morning Sentinel, the 5-foot-4 senior captured seventh place at the New England Cross Country Championships in 19:18.60 and finished 11th at the Foot Locker Northeast Regional championships in 18:42.3, clocking the state’s fastest time at both events.

Also an aspiring poet, Brown has maintained a 4.27 weighted GPA in the classroom and ranks No. 1 in her graduating class. She has received her school’s Renaissance Award, given to students who excel in academics, service and character on behalf of the national Renaissance Program. A Student Ambassador for incoming transfer pupils, Brown has also donated her time promoting science studies in local fourth- and fifth-grade classrooms.

“Bethanie distinguishes herself from her competition through her exceptional focus,” said Waterville head coach Rob Stanton. “She sets very high goals and works relentlessly to achieve them.”

Brown has verbally committed to an athletic scholarship at the University of Connecticut beginning this fall.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: ELIZABETH CONWAY, SR., CENTRAL
The 5-foot-7 senior raced to the Division 1 individual championship this past season with a time of 18:45, leading the Little Green to fifth place as a team. Also the two-time Runner of the Year as named by both the New Hampshire Cross Country Coaches Association and Union Leader, Conway recorded a second straight runner-up finish at the Meet of Champions in 18:32.9, placed fourth at the New England Championships in 19:09.01 and finished 13th at the Nike Cross Nationals Northeast Regional championships in 19:06.70.

Also an accomplished violinist and skier, Conway has maintained an A average in the classroom and ranks No. 1 in her graduating class. A member of the World Language, Tri-M Music and National Honor societies, she has performed ballet in a local production of The Nutcracker and served as managing editor of her school newspaper. Also an active member of her church community, she has volunteered on behalf of the Special Olympics.

“She’s phenomenal,” said Larry Martin, head of the New Hampshire Cross Country Coaches Association. “Distance running requires an extraordinary amount of focus, so the most amazing thing about her is that she did it while she’s No. 1 in her class, an All-State violinist, the lead in the Nutcracker at the Palace Theater and the editor of her school newspaper. Everything she does, she’s No. 1.”

Conway remains undecided upon a collegiate destination.

RHODE ISLAND: EMMA McMILLAN, SOPH., BARRINGTON
The 5-foot-8 freshman raced to the All-State Meet individual championship this past season with a time of 18:22.99, leading the Eagles to the state title as a team. A First Team All-State selection as named by the Providence Journal and Rhode Island Track Coaches Association, McMillan also led Barrington to the team championship at the Class A state meet, breaking the tape in 18:35.33. McMillan placed third at the New England Cross Country Championships in 19:07.13 and took seventh at the Nike Cross Nationals Northeast Regional championships in 18:43.6. She finished 11-0 during the regular season.

Also an accomplished swimmer, McMillan has maintained a 4.00 GPA in the classroom. A member of her school’s choral ensemble, she has donated her time on behalf of her church and as a youth swimming instructor.

“Emma’s trajectory as a cross country runner has been unparalleled among her peers in Rhode Island,” said Barrington head coach Annmarie Marino. “This past season, she was our No. 1 runner, leading her team to an undefeated season. Emma runs for the shear fun of the sport. Her composure as a newcomer to the sport was an example for all to see. Whether covered in mud, sweat, or red in the face from an all-out effort, Emma always wore a smile and offered an encouraging word to her teammates and competitors.”

VERMONT: ELLE PURRIER, SR., RICHFORD
The 5-foot-2 senior raced to her third straight Division 3 individual state championship this past season with a time of 18:38. Vermont’s two-time returning Gatorade Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year, Purrier also won the New England Cross Country Championships in 18:42 and the Nike Cross Nationals Northeast Regional championship with a time of 18:09.4 in 2012. She finished 17th nationally at the NXN Final.

Purrier has maintained a 3.92 GPA in the classroom. She has volunteered locally on behalf of food drives for the hungry, youth sports programs and blood-donation drives.

“Elle’s ability to stay focused is exceptional,” said Richford head coach Andrew Hathaway. “She’s achieved a lot in running thus far, but running is a part of the whole that does not dominate her life.”

Purrier remains undecided upon a collegiate destination.

In its 28th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports, today announced Catarina Rocha of Peabody High School as its 2012-13 Gatorade Massachusetts Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year. Rocha is the first Gatorade Massachusetts Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year to be chosen from Peabody High School.

The 5-foot-4 senior captured first place at the Foot Locker Northeast Regional championships this past season with a time of 17:49.5. Rocha qualified for the national Foot Locker Cross Country Championships, where she finished in second place, crossing the line in 17:29. Also the 2011-12 Gatorade Massachusetts Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year, she won her second straight Division I individual championship with a time of 18:06.12, leading the Tanners to a state title as a team.

Rocha has maintained an A-average in the classroom. A member of the National Honor Society and an officer in her school’s student council, she has volunteered locally as a basketball coach for children with special needs.

“Catarina Rocha is an exceptional runner,” said Lisa Owen, head coach at Acton-Boxborough High. “She is the best I have seen in the state in a long time. No one else comes close.”

Rocha has verbally committed to an athletic scholarship at Providence College beginning this fall.

Rocha joins Gatorade Massachusetts Girls Cross Country Runners of the Year Ariel Beauregard-Breton (2010-11, Deerfield Academy), Andrea Keklak (2009-10, Lincoln-Sudbury Regional) and Emily Jones (2008-09 & 2007-08, The Bromfield School), and as athletes who have won the cross country award since its inception in 2007.

Last Friday, principals from the Northeastern Conference member schools voted to allow Saugus High to leave the conference, effective for the 2013-14 schools year, for the Cape Ann League.

Saugus High athletic director first confirmed the news Friday afternoon with a post on the Saugus Athletics Twitter account. The Sachems will become the 13th member of the league, essentially taking the place of North Andover, which left the CAL this year for the Merrimack Valley Conference.

Nelson issued a statement to the Boston-area media this afternoon candidly explaining the rationale:

I am pleased to announce that Saugus High School is the newest member of the Cape Ann League. This past Friday the Northeastern Conference principals voted to allow Saugus High School to leave the conference effective next fall. The Cape Ann League had already approved this move a week prior. Principal Joe Diorio and I both believe that being a member of the Cape Ann League is the best situation for our student-athletes and we are excited to start this endeavor.

Though we highly respect the Northeastern Conference, we feel the Cape Ann League is better suited for Saugus High School. The two major reasons for this historic decision are simple: size and competitiveness. As of today, SHS has 699 students and the average size of the schools in the CAL is 678 students; as opposed to the NEC, where the average size school is over 1200. SHS is a Division 3 school and 10 of the 12 schools in the CAL are Division 3; as opposed to the NEC, where 9 of the 12 schools are either Division 1 or Division 2. Based on this fact, SHS has not experienced a great deal of success during the regular season. In fact, SHS has won only 2 NEC Championships (lacrosse 2008 & softball 2011) over the past six years. Though the CAL is also a highly competitive conference, we believe SHS will experience more in-season success based on the parity of the league and the size of all the schools in the conference.

Over the past year I have been in constant conversations with my coaches regarding this possible move and I have been getting their feedback on the pros and cons for their individual programs. As the Athletic Director, it is my job, and my responsibility to do what is best for all the athletes in my program and not to focus on just one team. With this said, and to the contrary of what many believe, this move to the CAL is not a decision based solely on football, but rather a decision on what is best for our overall athletic program.

I have heard comments that this move is based around football; which although this move will help our football program, it is not the driving force. Again, this decision is based on what we believe is best for all our student-athletes! I understand there are issues for some programs based on their strong tradition, such as hockey, and I completely respect these concerns and the tradition. I have given my word to my coaches that we will continue to play such NEC schools that have strong traditions in specific sports; such as Winthrop, Beverly, and Danvers in hockey.

I also understand the concerns that there is more travel involved in playing in the CAL, which is true; but it is not as bad as one would think. Many of the CAL schools are directly located off of I95 and one would be able to get to these schools in the same time frame as many of the NEC schools. Yes, the distance is further,but the time to get there is equivalent.

Overall, I am very grateful to the NEC, the CAL, the Saugus School Committee, and the MIAA for allowing this opportunity for our student-athletes. I believe this change will have a positive influence on our athletic program, on the town and, most importantly it will be beneficial for the student-athletes at Saugus High School.

Recapping Vermont's three state championship football games:

Division I - Hartford 35, BFA-St. Albans 27: The top-seeded Hurricanes received 149 yards rushing and three touchdowns from Josh Claflin and stretched their winning streak to 26 games. Hartford has won the last three Division I titles, and five of the last six.

Hartford, which has gone 11-0 in each of the last two seasons, led 35-19 after Claflin scored his third TD with 6:08 to play, but the Bobwhites responded with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Nick Jaslowich to Darren Callan. Jaslowich added the two-point conversion to make it 35-27.

BFA-St. Albans (9-2) made things even more interesting when it recovered the onside kick, but the Bobwhites turned the ball over on downs with 2:11 remaining. Callan finished the game with six receptions for 69 yards.

Hartford became the first team to win three consecutive Division I championships.

Division II - Rice 23, Bellows Falls 14: Billy O'Brien rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns to help top-seeded Rice complete an unbeaten season (11-0).

O'Brien's second touchdown came on a 46-yard run that increased Rice's lead to 23-14 with 5:48 to play. The Green Knights won their second championship in three years despite three fumbles and an interception in the first half.

Second-seeded Bellows Falls (9-2) trailed 16-6 before Ian McKeen scored on a 16-yard run midway through the fourth quarter.

Rice beat Bellows Falls 8-0 during the regular season.

Division III - Woodstock 38, BFA-Fairfax 18: Top-seeded Woodstock (11-0) repeated as the Division III champion, but it wasn't as easy as the score would indicate.

The Wasps trailed 12-0 before they ran an offensive play from scrimmage, and were down 18-14 entering the fourth quarter. Fullback Ed Doton scored two TDs in the fourth, the first of which gave Woodstock the lead for good with 11:51 to play. Doton rushed for 117 yards and three touchdown on 17 carries in the victory.

Kris Wehner led BFA-Fairfax (9-2) with 125 yards on 16 carries. The Bullets were making the program's first appearance in a championship game.

SOUTH STARS SHINE
Burr and Burton quarterback Jake Stalcup passed for 308 yards and four touchdowns to lead the South All-Stars to a 39-36 victory over the North All-Stars in the 12th Annual Senior Bowl at Castleton State College.

Stalcup's fourth touchdown pass came with 1:25 left in regulation and gave the South its first lead in the second half. Fair Haven's Dakota Euber caught passes for 178 yards and two TDs, including the go-ahead touchdown for the South in the fourth quarter.

The victory gave the South a 7-5 lead in the series.

Woodstock's Ed Doton (3-yard run), Hartford's Josh Claflin (10-yard run) and Rutland's Kyle Arnold (3-yard catch) also scored for the South, which trailed 36-20 with 12:05 to play.

BFA-St. Albans running back Doug Saffo rushed for 158 yards and two TDs on 26 carries to lead the North offense. Mount Abraham's Cody Alexander also scored twice.

PURRIER REMAINS ON FAST TRACK
Champlain Valley Union's Elle Purrier won her second consecutive New England high school cross country championship earlier this month in Cumberland, Maine.

Purrier, a Richford resident, completed the 3.1-mile race in 18 minutes, 42.44 seconds. CVU's Taylor Spillane ran second in 19:03.11.

Autumn Eastman, who finished eighth (19:22.68), was the only other CVU runner who placed in the top 10. The CVU girls finished third in the team competition. Barrington, R.I., won the team championship.

Mount Anthony's Marc Brandmeyer was the top finisher among Vermont boys. Brandmeyer finished sixth in 16:29.75. South Burlington's Malcolm Plunkett (eighth/16:37.34) and Montpelier's Daniel Grosvenor (10th/16:38.16) also placed in the top 10.

Bishop Hendricken of Warwick, R.I, won the boys team championship. South Burlington, Vermont's top team, ran 10th.

Roger Brown is a staff writer for the New Hampshire Union Leader. He has been covering high school sports throughout New England since 1992.

If they haven’t already, Rhode Island high school football fans should circle Nov. 9 on their calendars.

That’s when La Salle and Hendricken – arguably the top two teams in the state regardless of division – will meet at the Hawks’ field with the Division I championship at stake.

La Salle (6-0) and Hendricken (6-1) established that scenario last weekend when the Rams blasted Cranston East, 41-12, and the Hawks flew by Barrington, 18-6.

If the Rams prevail and also beat East Providence (1-5) on Thanksgiving, they’ll clinch the outright title plus the No. 1 seed in the Division I Tournament. But should the Rams lose to the Townies and the Hawks beat La Salle, each team would finish 7-1, and Hendricken would earn the top seed by virtue of having beaten La Salle.

All-State running back Josh Morris shredded Cranston East’s defense as he scored four touchdowns – for the second consecutive year against the Thunderbolt. Morris’s scores came on runs of 19, 20, 18 and 30 yards.

In addition quarterback Anthony Francis threw a 59-yard touchdown pass to Keon Wilson and scored on a one-yard run.

In its previous game, La Salle only led Barrington 17-14 at halftime but exploded for 24 points in the second half and coasted to a 41-17 victory.

Morris again led the way by running 12 times for 122 yards and two scores.

Ironically, Cranston East was coming off one of the more dramatic victories in school history.

Coach Tom Centore’s team spotted Portsmouth a 25-point lead at halftime and then rallied for a 51-47 victory.

E.J. Isom scored on a three-yard run with three minutes left on the clock to cap the comeback and set up the Bolt’s big game versus La Salle.

DIVISION II PICTURE IN FOCUS
As a result of last weekend’s games, the pairings are set for the Division II Tournament.

Johnston (7-0), Mount Hope (5-2), Woonsocket (5-2) and Westerly (4-3) earned the top four spots in Division II-A.

In Division II-B, undefeated Cumberland (7-0) earned the No. 1 seed followed by No. 2 St. Raphael (5-2), No. 3 West Warwick (4-3) and No. 4 Rogers (4-3).

Because West Warwick, Rogers and Central each finished 4-3, tiebreakers determined the last two seeds and Central became the odd team out.

Johnston finished strong by winning each of its last two games, 38-10 over Westerly and 42-6 over Warwick Vets.

In the victory over Westerly, Evan Hopson caught a pair of touchdown passes, kicked a 27-yard field goal and converted three-of-four extra-point attempts.

Hopson was just as prolific against the Hurricanes since he again caught two touchdown passes and returned a fellow Panther’s fumble for a third score.

ISLANDERS MAKE HISTORY
Don’t waste your time delving through the record books to find the last year when Middletown completed an undefeated regular season in league play (in this case Division III).

At the least, that happened four decades ago - perhaps when the parents of the current Islanders were youngsters. And, if Middletown beats Tolman and Portsmouth in a pair of non-league games, it will record an undefeated regular season – period.

Middletown, which has outscored its opponents by a combined margin of 339-96, handed East Greenwich its first loss of the season, 20-7.

Junior Connor Ross accounted for each of Middletown’s touchdowns on runs of 13, 27 and five yards. Ross clinched the victory when he intercepted a pass with one minute remaining at the Islanders’10-yard line.

Also in Division III, Moses Brown (5-2) clinched a playoff berth by routing Burrillville, 31-13.

Andrew Howard paced the Quakers by rushing for 143 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.

KILTIES REIGN IN DIVISION IV
Mount Pleasant put the wraps on an undefeated Division IV season by blanking Central Falls, 33-0.

Randolph Zish paced the Kilties (7-0) by amassing 275 rushing yards and each of his team’s five touchdowns.

The field for the Division IV Tournament is just about set.

Hope (6-1) will have the second seed while North Providence (4-2) and North Smithfield (4-2) will battle for the fourth and final seed.

HAWKS REMAIN DOMINANT
Few teams have dominated boys’ cross country like Hendricken. The Hawks annexed their fifth consecutive state championship on Nov. 4 by scoring 44 points – 20 fewer than second-place La Salle.

Hendricken’s points were accounted for by Connor Doyle (fourth), Colin Tierney (fifth), Tyler Henseler (seventh), Alex Doherty (135h) and Collin Manning (15th).

The Hawks added the state trophy to the Class A championship they had captured the previous week.

Trevor Crawley became the first Cumberland runner to notch the state individual title in 14 years by covering the 5000-meter course at Ponganset High in 15:39.47. That time was 20 seconds faster than second-place finisher Bryce Kelley of Chariho.

BARRINGTON GIRLS DOUBLE UP
The Barrington girls may have needed a trailer to carry home all the trophies they annexed at the state cross country championships on Nov. 4 at Ponaganset.

As a team, Barrington easily captured its second consecutive state title by scoring a mere 31 points – 40 less than second-place La Salle.

In addition, freshman Emma McMillan won the individual title with a time of 18:22.99 on the 5000-meter course.

According to Interscholastic League records, McMillan is the first freshman female to win the individual championship since 1995. She finished 8.5 seconds ahead of La Salle’s Sheridan Wilbur.

After McMillan, Megan Vener-Crist (fourth), Fiona Paine (eight), Julianna Portelli (ninth) and Abigail Livingston (12th) rounded out Barrington’s first five finishers.

LINCOLN TRIO OFF TO COLLEGE
When Nov. 14 rolls around, three Lincoln High student-athletes will sign National Letters of Intent.

All-State pitcher Lindsay Mayer will sign with Virginia while teammate Emily Bouthillete will remain in state and sign with Bryant University.

All-Stater Nick Zammarell will head south and play baseball with Elon University in North Carolina.

Mike Scandura has been covering high school sports, college basketball, football and hockey plus minor league baseball in Rhode Island since the early 1970s. A native of Oswego, N.Y, he’s a member of the Words Unlimited Hall of Fame which is the statewide organization of sportswriters, sportscasters and sports publicists.

Wendy's unveiled state finalists earlier this week for its annual High School Heisman award, which honors senior student-athletes based on their academic achievements, athletic accomplishments, community-leadership, and involvement in various extracurricular activities.

On Nov. 5, one male and one female winner from each state will be announced. In the first week of December, National finalists will be brought to New York City for Heisman Weekend activities and the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award Banquet on Dec. 7. The two National Winners will be announced nationally on ESPN2.

For the full list of finalists, CLICK HERE. Here are the state finalists from Massachusetts:

Dan Avery, Blackstone Valley Tech
Brooke Fairman, Gateway
Heather Gates, Brimmer & May
Jarad Gough, Roxbury Latin
Paul Green, Taconic
Virginia Goggins, St. Joseph Central (Pittsfield)
Vincent Harpin, Assabet
Christopher Hartnett, Westport
Jason Lamb, Plymouth South
Alyssa Latimer, Taconic
Jack Malafronte, Abington
Tulsi Mali, East Longmeadow
Layla Moran, Westport
Rachel Norton, Braintree
Nicholas Romero, Bishop Feehan
Ryan Stacy, Sutton
Molly Stark, Whitinsville Christian
Ara Talkov, Swampscott
Taylor Vigneault, Tyngsborough
Ryan Wilder, Turners Falls

In the rich history of New England high school football, there isn't a head coach with more career wins than Plymouth (N.H.) Regional's Chuck Lenahan.

“How do I put this? It's a great honor, especially for the school and the program. That's the important thing,” said Lenahan, 69, who clinched career win No. 343 with a 35-21 Division IV decision over John Stark Regional on Oct. 27.

The 14-point win pushed Lenahan's career mark to 343-69-1. He moved past Rod Wotton (342-81-3), who retired in 2010. Wotton enjoyed successful stints at Maine schools South Berwick and Marshwood, and New Hampshire's St. Thomas Aquinas in Dover (111 NHIAA wins).

Lenahan, of course, has never left Plymouth. As if his .831 winning percentage over 41-plus campaigns doesn't cut it, consider these football feats:


-- 29 state championship appearancesar


-- 18 state championships


-- 12 undefeated seasons


-- NHIAA's longest win streaks (57 games from 2005-10; 46 games from 2000-04)

On the strength of those win streaks – the 57-gamer a nation-best early in '10 -- Plymouth went 106-2 (nine titles) from 2000-09.

“Unparalleled success. A level of consistency that is so uncommon it's incredible,” said Bill Ball, the athletics director and 20-year head football coach at Division I Exeter. “To year-in and year-out put out the quality that he does on the football field, yet maintain a high level of sportsmanship, (the record is) an incredible accomplishment by Chuck, his coaches, his players and the Plymouth community.”

The gap between Lenahan and his peers, in terms of career NHIAA wins, is considerable. Brian O'Reilly of Division I Pinkerton Academy is second (249-102). Recently retired Jack Gati, who split time at then-Division I Trinity, Concord and Salem, is third (221-138).

To think, Lenahan didn't crack the win column as a 27-year-old rookie head coach in 1971. After settling for a season-opening 14-14 tie with Hanover, the Bobcats lost their final six games.

“We lost a lot of close games, I'll tell you that. We had injuries all over the place,” Lenahan said. “But I don't believe I had much of a clue what was going on anyway.”

If Lenahan was ever truly clueless, he quickly corrected the coaching flaw. The Bobcats celebrated their first undefeated championship season in '72, the first year the NHIAA adopted a playoff format.

Lenahan's first win was an 18-12 triple-overtime triumph against Newport on Sept. 9, 1972. The OT format, like postseason play, was new to the state's football landscape.

More milestone moments from Lenahan's legendary career:


-- Win No. 100 – Plymouth 22, Littleton 0 (Nov. 3, 1984)


-- Win No. 200 – Plymouth 34, Monadnock 12 (Oct. 10, 1998)


-- Win No. 217, NHIAA record – Plymouth 14, Kennett 0 (Sept. 16, 2000)


-- Win No. 300 – Plymouth 41, Kingswood 7 (Sept. 13, 2008)


Plymouth is again in a familiar position. Lenahan & Co. are the top playoff seed and two wins from a perfect season.

"A big part of our program has been consistency. I'm pretty proud of that," Lenahan said. "Our kids come to play no matter what we have for talent."

XC CHAMPS CROWNED
Northwood's Coe-Brown Academy collected considerable hardware at the NHIAA Cross Country Championship on Oct. 27.

Hannah Parker paced the girls' team to its third consecutive Division II title at Derryfield Park in Manchester. The sophomore finished the 3.1-mile run in 18 minutes, 58 seconds to lead the field. Junior Jeremy Brassard earned an individual title with his time of 16:08.

Parker and Brown became Coe-Brown's first individual winners.

Parker and her teammates were particularly dominant. The underclassman-laden squad was responsible for the first-, third-, fifth-, seventh- and ninth-place finishers. The team tallied a championship-low 25 points.

In Division I, Bedford's boys (57 points) and Londonderry's girls (89) finished No. 1. Concord's B.J. Smith (16:06) and Manchester Central's Elizabeth Conway (18:45) were the individual champs.

Souhegan's boys (44 points) won the Division II title.

In Division III, Hopkinton's boys (65 points) and girls (41) celebrated a No. 1 finish.

Fall Mountain's Levi Frye (16:12) paced the boys. Laconia's Sami Hicks (19:38) was first to finish for the girls.

DEJA VU
Manchester Memorial's Jared Ombati gained more than 300 yards on the ground for the second time this season on Oct. 26. The senior running back totaled 354 yards (three touchdowns) on 31 carries in his team's 29-14 win over Division II Manchester West.

Ombati shredded Division I foe Londonderry on Sept. 21. He ran for 330 yards (five TDs) in a 33-25 win.

“All week, we said the only one that would beat us was 20,” said West head coach Jim Lauzon, referncing Ombati's uniform number. “We had guys (in practice) pretend to be him. One of our coaches dressed and was him. We thought we were really ready to stop him.”

West's defense did stop Ombati – through two carries. He was stuffed for no gain on his first rush. He moved the ball 1 yard on his second touch.

Ombati finished the quarter with four carries for 139 yards, including 55- and 83-yard TD runs that capped one-play drives. His final TD, a 42-yard burst, also finished a one-play possession.

“He's one of the fastest kids in the school,” Memorial head coach Peter Colcord said. “I've been waiting for this for four years. He's really turned it on this year.”

Marc Thaler can be reached at marc.thaler@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter: @marc_thaler.

Cranston East last won a Division I Super Bowl in 1987 – which, of course, was well before the players on the current team were born.

But the Thunderbolt have an opportunity to prove they’re a legitimate contender this season when they play at defending Division I Super Bowl champion Hendricken on October12.

Coach Tom Centore’s team set the stage for this matchup of undefeated teams when it waxed East Providence, 42-20, on Oct. 5. Quarterback Alex Corvese threw four touchdown passes to four different receivers – all in the first half – as the ‘Bolt bolted to a 28-7 lead. Covese’s longest strike was a 46-yarder to Marquem Monroe. Nicholas Ferry caught a 28-yard TD pass just before halftime and, in the third quarter, returned a punt 35 yards for a score that broke the game open.

Hendricken (4-0) and La Salle (4-0) are tied for the division lead, but Cranston East (3-0) is only a half-game back and is 5-0 overall.

The Hawks tuned up for the ‘Bolt by blanking Cranston West, 36-0, as quarterback Pat Gill ran for three scores passed for a fourth. In its previous game, the Hawks whipped Tolman, 28-7, converting three turnovers into three touchdowns in the process. Gill scored on a one-yard run and also connected with Marco DelVecchio on a 52-yard scoring bomb.

La Salle remained tied with Hendricken by whipping winless South Kingstown, 39-14, as quarterback Anthony Francis threw touchdown passes of 21 and 63 yards to Keon Wilson.

PANTHERS ON THE PROWL
Johnston maintained its status as the only undefeated team (4-0) in Division II-A by mauling Coventry, 26-6.

The final score was representative of how explosive the Panthers have been this season. In those four league games, they’ve outscored their opponents by a combined margin of 154-18.

Johnston built a 14-0 lead with five minutes left in the first half, thanks to a six-yard run by Brenden Pappas and a two-yard run by Joe Santilli.

WIZARDS DISAPPEAR – TEMPORARILY
West Warwick was knocked from the ranks of the undefeated in Division II-B when it was routed, 42-14, by Shea on September 28. Dennis Lloyd paced the Raiders with three touchdowns while Tyshon Ashe added a pair.

Cumberland, who blitzed North Kingstown 41-6, moved into sole possession of first place with a 4-0 record. Quarterback Brendan Guerin led the Clippers by passing for 132 yards and three scores.

The Wizards (3-1) rebounded the following week as they pasted Pilgrim, 41-6, with Austin Paygal running for four scores – including one that covered 66 yards.

AROUND THE GRIDIRON
Elsewhere, East Greenwich toppled previously-undefeated Moses Brown, 39-21, in Division III action. Carney Crawford paced the Avengers (4-0) with 230 rushing yards and two touchdowns while quarterback Andrew Minor passed for 117 yards and three scores.

Middletown (3-0) remained a half-game behind the Avengers thanks to a 48-20 victory over Tiverton. The Islanders’ Randy Butler had a career game as he carried the ball 12 times for 149 yards and a touchdown and also returned a kickoff 70 yards for another score.

Overall, Middletown amassed 428 yards of total offense against the Tigers. Middletown gave a premonition of things to come when it belted Ponaganset, 48-7, in its previous game. Butler also was a force in that game since he scored on a 31-yard run and caught a 45-yard touchdown pass from Justin Sellers.

In other games of note:
* Mount Hope (2-2) evened its record in Division II-A by beating Woonsocket, 26-7, with Jesse Raiola rushing for 125 yards and three scores.

* Central Falls captured its first Division IV victory of the season by blanking Scituate, 42-0. Quarterback Brandon Canuto threw four touchdown passes – three to Odair Semedo.

* Classical also won its first league game, in Division III, by holding off Burrillville, 16-14. Amilcar Burganza provided what proved to be the winning score when he returned an interception 50 yards in the fourth quarter.

MILESTONE
Long-time Portsmouth boys’ soccer coach Mike Stinton recently annexed his 200th career victory as the Patriots blanked South Kingstown, 1-0. Stinton was appointed Portsmouth’s head coach in 1989.

Then, the following week, the Patriots (5-3-0) won their fifth consecutive Division I game, 5-1 over Tolman as Brendan Jumoas scored two goals and assisted on two.

RUNNING WILD
The East Greenwich boys’ cross-country team ventured north and captured the team title in the Woods Trail Run Invitational in Thetford, Vt.

The Avengers amassed 107 points – 29 better than second-place South Burlington (Vt.) High. Ben Fazio (6th), Garrett Scanlon (18th), Scott Kulm (23rd), Nat Waddell (26th) and Tom Sommer (34th) accounted for the Avengers’ scoring.

NO “MIDDLE” GROUND
What had been rumored is on the verge of becoming fact.

East Providence, which had accumulated a $7-million budget deficit and has been operating under a state-appointed Budget Commission, will eliminate middle school sports as part of a proposed plan to help get the city out of the red. Football, basketball and baseball, which have long served as successful feeder programs for East Providence High, would be the primary sports on the chopping block if the overall proposal is approved by November 1.

Mike Scandura has been covering high school sports, college basketball, football and hockey plus minor league baseball in Rhode Island since the early 1970s. A native of Oswego, N.Y, he’s a member of the Words Unlimited Hall of Fame which is the statewide organization of sportswriters, sportscasters and sports publicists.

Catarina Rocha’s philosophy about her craft just may come as somewhat of a shock to the people dialed into the Massachusetts high school running community.

The Peabody senior and defending Div. 1 state cross country champion has never yearned for the limelight that comes with being the best distance runner in the state and arguably one of the top five all-time. When all is said and done and Rocha moves on to college after graduation, she would rather Peabody High's teachers, students and her friends look back and recall her as a well-rounded person who just happened to be a runner.

Running doesn’t define who Rocha is. It’s just a part that makes up the whole person.

“I don’t want people to remember me as just a runner,” Rocha said. “I want to be thought of as someone who did a lot for the school and was a good person. I think I can bring those together and be a good person, overall. Running comes second. Being a good person is first. I just try to be myself.”

Rocha believes that wholeheartedly, but it doesn’t make her any less tough when the gun goes off. She is still the enormously competitive runner she was her sophomore year when she gave Lincoln-Sudbury’s Andrea Keklak all she could handle in placing second, dogging the Warrior great the entire way in the Div. 1 state title race on the grassy Gardner Golf Course layout.

That superb performance was just an inkling of things to come for the soccer transplant.

And then, last year, running as the overwhelming favorite, Rocha proved that the pressure of being the harrier everyone wanted a piece of didn’t bother her one iota. Racing over the Franklin Park course in perfect conditions, Rocha crushed a strong field and wound up with the fastest time of the day in 18:12. Longmeadow standout Camille Blackman had a great day in finishing second, but was never able to challenge Rocha, crossing the finish line in 18:42.

Not done yet, Rocha capped her season with a seventh place at the Foot Locker National Cross Country Championships in December after taking third at the Northeast qualifier.

The chances of a Massachusetts runner bumping Rocha down to the No. 2 position this season is pretty much slim to none. Rocha took a solid month off after winning the 2-mile state title and recording a scalding 10:39 personal best at the Nike Nationals in June. She started back in earnest in August with the team Northeast Conference title first on the list of autumn goals. “I needed it,” she said of her time off in the summer. “I think everyone does.”

What’s more, Rocha looks physically stronger. Courtesy of a summer’s worth of core exercises that included pushups, crunches and sit-ups, Rocha’s shoulders, biceps and legs have a define, sculpted look. That added strength will be especially advantageous in the final half mile when she is driving for the finish line.

“I definitely feel a lot stronger and that can only help,” said Rocha.

The new season does offer challenges for Rocha. Unlike the Franklin Park course, she has limited to no racing experience on the Wrentham Developmental Center and Northfield Mountain courses, sites of the EMass and state championships, respectively.

Rocha, though, is confident the mix of fitness and experience will see her through. “Hopefully the (Northfield Mountain) hill won’t be a big deal,” shrugged Rocha. “We’ve all been training on hills and training well. Things are good. I’m running a little faster and doing a little more mileage but not that much more.”

If for some reason (i.e. sickness, injury) Rocha doesn’t capture a second state title she’ll simply move on. There are too many races to be run, Rocha believes, to dwell on the occasional off day. “If it happens, it happens,” she said of winning at Northfield. “If it doesn’t, you just move on to the next race and try to run well there There’s going to be a lot of competition. There are a lot of great runners out there.

“I take the dual meets one at a time and want to help the team win the NEC [Northeast Conference[. Hopefully, we can qualify for all-states. If I win there, great. If I don’t, I’ll move on to Foot Locker and try to run well there. It’s a big deal [repeating], but if I lose it’s not like anything bad is going to happen.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a dual meet or state meet, it’s all the same. I just go out and try to win. Sophomore year I wasn’t experienced. A little more experience now helps a lot. I’m not fully experienced yet, though. I have to wait until college for that.”