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The following coaches will be honored at the Second Annual Coach of the Year/Student Athlete Banquet on May 30, 2012. Each coach below has been named Coach of the Year by the MIAA for their respective sport:

Robert Mahoney, Notre Dame (Tyngsborough) -- Girls Volleyball
Amelia Davis, Algonquin -- Gymnastics
Kevin Burchill, Braintree -- Girls Ice Hockey
Jack Stoddard, Duxbury -- Boys Golf
Alex Naumann, Everett -- Boys Ice Hockey
Michael Foley, Framingham -- Swim
Fred Jewett, Hingham -- Indoor Track
Jim Leonard, King Philip -- Softball
Phil Maia, Lowell -- Cross Country
David Duffy, Needham -- Football
Frank Carey, North Reading -- Baseball
Rick Kates, Notre Dame (Hingham) -- Outdoor Track
David Gianferante, Notre Dame (Hingham) -- Girls Golf
Kim Penney, Reading -- Girls Basketball
David Curley, Rockport -- Boys Soccer
Ed Scollan, Westford -- Boys Basketball
Leslie Frank, Westwood -- Girls Lacrosse

The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletics Association officially announced this morning that they have tapped Medway High School Principal Richard Pearson as its next Associate Executive Director. He will begin July 1 and replace outgoing Deputy Executive Director Bill Gaine, who is set to retire at the end of June.

Here is the MIAA's official release, courtesy of Media Relations director Nathan Bonneau:

Richard L. Pearson, currently principal of Medway High School, has been named Associate Executive Director of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) and the Massachusetts Secondary Schools Administrators’ Association (MSSAA). He will assume his new position in June.

He will succeed William N. Gaine Jr., the long time Deputy Executive Director, who will retire on June 30, 2012.

In making the announcement, Richard F. Neal, Executive Director, said, “Richard has been an active member of our two associations for many years and is well informed on the mission, responsibilities and operations of both organizations. The fact that his peers elected him to serve as MSSAA President this year is testimony to the respect he has among the educational community as a leader.”

With the MIAA, Mr. Pearson has served on many committees, including the Tournament Management Committee and Lacrosse Committee, and is currently serving as Chair of the District C Athletic Committee.

Mr. Pearson was named principal at Medway H.S. in August, 2004. Among his many accomplishments in that position was supervising the opening of a new school. He was assistant principal at Foxborough H.S. from June, 2000 to August, 2004.

A musician by education, he holds a Bachelor in Music Education degree from The Ohio State University. He began his teaching career as Band Director in Walpole and later in Medfield. He holds a Masters in Education degree from Bridgewater State College and is currently in the process of completing course work in the doctoral program at Northeastern University.

Mr. Gaine joined the Associations as Assistant Executive Director in October, 1979 and has had major responsibility in the areas of student/athlete health and safety initiatives over the years. He also had executive responsibility for all phases of management for most Association-sponsored sports with current oversight for ice hockey, football and baseball. He was promoted to his present position in 1994.

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.

The NCAA's National Letter of Intent early signing period kicks off today, and runs through November 16. Below is a list of area student-athletes who are either committed or are expected to sign LOI's over the next week. Any commitment news can be sent to Brendan Hall at bhall@espnboston.com or Scott Barboza at sbarboza@espnboston.com

BOYS BASKETBALL
Zach Auguste, New Hampton (N.H.) – Notre Dame
Anthony Barry, Brooks – Merrimack
Domonique Bull, Tilton (N.H.) – Missouri
Jesse Chuku, Kimball Union (N.H.) – Lehigh
Dimitry Coronel, Tabor Academy – Maine
Evan Cummins, Northfield-Mt. Hermon - Harvard
Kris Dunn, New London (Conn.) – Providence
Tevin Falzon, Winchendon – Sacred Heart
Eric Green, St. Mark’s – Holy Cross
Olivier Hanlan, New Hampton (N.H.) – Boston College
Ryan Hartung, Philips Andover – St. Anselm
Cedric Kuakumensah, St. Andrew’s (R.I.) – Brown
Jake Layman, King Philip – Maryland
Connor Mahoney, Brooks – Le Moyne
Mitch McGary, Brewster Academy (N.H.) – Michigan
Georges Niang, Tilton (N.H.) – Iowa State
Ethan O’Day, Northfield-Mt. Hermon – Vermont
John Papale, Choate Rosemary Hall (Conn.) – Boston University
Timahj Parker-Rivera, St. Joseph’s (Conn.) – Towson
Nik Stauskas, St. Mark’s – Michigan
Terry Tarpey, Fairfield Prep (Conn.) – William & Mary
Kaleb Tarczewski, St. Mark’s – Arizona
Aaron Thomas, Brewster Academy (N.H.) – Florida State
T.J. Warren, Brewster Academy (N.H.) – NC State

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Elizabeth Belanger, Acton-Boxborough – New Hampshire
Nicole Boudreau, Andover – Boston College
Jen Gonsalves, Harwich – UMass-Lowell
Shannon Holt, Wachusett - Bridgeport
Bri Schnare, Wachusett – Manhattan
Lexi Sells, Bishop Feehan – Providence
Brooke Stewart, Masconomet - Boston University
Dana Theobald, West Springfield – Boston University
Blake Underhill, Ashland - Manhatten
Ariel Ward, East Longmeadow – LaSalle

BASEBALL
Bradley Applin, Malden - Rhode Island
Charlie Butler, Nashoba – Maine
Dan Cellucci, Lincoln-Sudbury – Bryant
Thomas Crispi, Roxbury Latin – Columbia
Pat Delano, Braintree - Vanderbilt
Terry Dugdale, Souhegan (N.H.) – Albany
Tim Duggan, Xaverian – Fairfield
Dan Dymecki, Wellesley – Lafayette
Connor Fuller, Auburn – Fordham
Bobby Indeglia, Bishop Hendricken (R.I.) – Holy Cross
John Jennings, Newton South – UMass
Jake Levine, Belmont Hill – Brown
Mike Marshall, Maynard – Bryant
Buck McCarthy, Everett – Stetson
Graham McIntire, Concord (N.H.) – Marist
Sam McKay, Weymouth – Hartford
Bob Melley, BC High – UConn
Steve Moyers, East Longmeadow – Rhode Island
Willy Nastasi, Barnstable – UConn
John Nicklas, St. Sebastian’s – Boston College
Steve O’Neil, East Longmeadow – UConn
Ryan O’Shea, Oliver Ames – Central Michigan
Tom Pannone, Bishop Hendricken (R.I.) – Miami
Connor Perry, Central Catholic – Holy Cross
Curtis Pomeroy, St. John’s (Shrewsbury) – Georgetown
Derek Reed, Lowell - St. Rose
Vinny Scifo, Wilmington – UMass
Ian Searles, Wareham - Southern New Hampshire
Chris Shaw, Lexington – Boston College
Ryan Summers, Westfield – Louisville
Max Tishman, Lawrence Academy – Wake Forest
Matt Tulley, Lowell – Virginia Tech
Rhett Wiseman, BB&N – Vanderbilt
A.J. Zarozny, St. John’s (Shrewsbury) – Bryant

FIELD HOCKEY
Katherine McManus, Thayer -Notre Dame
Kim Sportack, Thayer - Richmond

BOYS' GOLF
Nick Pandalena, St. John's Prep - Boston College

BOYS' ICE HOCKEY
Desmond Bergin, Tri-City/St. Sebastian’s (Natick, Mass.) - Harvard
Nick Bligh, Dexter School (Milton, Mass.) - Dartmouth
Cam Brown, N.H. Jr. Monarchs (Natick, Mass.) – Maine
Cam Darcy, Dexter School (South Boston, Mass.) – Northeastern
Connor Dempsey, Westside/Rivers School (Winthrop, Mass.) – Dartmouth
Tim Driscoll, Phillips Andover/Hingham H.S. (Hingham, Mass.) – Holy Cross
Chris Eiserman, Nainamo (West Newbury, Mass.) – UMass-Lowell
Alex Gacek, Youngstown (Dracut, Mass.) – Miami
Brian Harris, Junior Bruins (Bridgewater, Mass.) – Maine
Marc Hetnik, Vernon (BCHL) / Catholic Memorial (Brookline, Mass.) - Boston University
Cody Learned, Junior Bruins (Amherst, N.H.) – Yale
Joey McNamara, Belmont Hill (Chestnut Hill, Mass.) – Holy Cross
Rob O’Gara, Milton Academy (Massapequa, N.Y.) – Yale
Joe Prescott, South Shore Kings/St. Sebastian’s (Norwell, Mass.) – Brown
Brendan Silk, U.S. NTDP/ Austin Prep (Wakefield, Mass.) – Boston College
Caston Sommer, Bismarck (Shrewsbury, Mass.) – Holy Cross
Devin Tringale, Lawrence Academy (Medford, Mass.) – Harvard
Frankie Vatrano, U.S. NTDP (East Longmeadow, Mass.) – Boston College
Mike Vecchione, Malden Catholic (Saugus, Mass.) – UNH
Jim Vesey, South Shore Kings/Belmont Hill (North Reading, Mass.) – Harvard
Shane Walsh, Dubuque/South Shore Kings (West Roxbory, Mass.) – UMass-Amherst

GIRLS' ICE HOCKEY
Melissa Piacentini, Thayer - Syracuse

BOYS’ LACROSSE
Luke Aaron, Deerfield Academy – Duke
Ian Andrey, Deerfield Academy - Harvard
Kevin Blair, Hingham, Providence
Henry Buonagurio, Duxbury – Drexel
James Burke, Duxbury – Penn State
Andrew Buron, Duxbury - Stony Brook
Chris Coady, BB&N - Duke
Seamus Connelly, Duxbury - Duke
Jack Connolly, St. Sebastian’s – Dartmouth
Sean Connors, Deerfield Academy - Princeton
Danny Czerkawski, Landmark, High Point
Connor Darcey, Wellesley – Penn State
Sam Davis, Governor’s Academy – Penn State
Bob Fahey, Bishop Guertin (N.H.) - UMass Amherst
Blair Freidensohn, St. John’s Prep - Dartmouth
Doug Gouchoe, Concord-Carlisle – Air Force
Keegan Hayes, BC High, UMass-Amherst
Paul Hellar, Duxbury – Fairfield
Kurt Hunziker, Masconomet – UMass-Amherst
Joe Kruy, Phillips Andover – Duke
Jonathan Lee, Hopkinton – Yale
Jay McDermott, Duxbury – Syracuse
Dan MacDougall, Avon Old Farms - University of Delaware
Reilly Naton, Duxbury – Yale
Cabot Noyce, Xaverian – High Point
Matt O’Keefe, Duxbury – Johns Hopkins
Joey Pasquale, Weston – Hartford
Nick Price, Brewster Academy - Vermont
Max Randall, Duxbury - Dartmouth
Will Ryan Avon Old Farms - Johns Hopkins
Ryan Scheib, Xaverian – Bryant
Dan Shaughnessy, Lincoln-Sudbury, Stony Brook
Dickson Smith, Dover-Sherborn/Holderness – Virginia
Greg Stamatov, Foxborough – Villanova
Finn Sullivan, Roxbury Latin – UMass-Amherst
Paul Tocci, Lincoln-Sudbury – Army
J.C. Vivian, Governor’s Academy – Georgetown
Jake Vogl, Aquinas Institute) - Hartford
Sam Washburne, St. Sebastian's, Hobart
Henry West, Darien (Conn.), Cornell
Chase Williams, Rivers School – Vermont
Chris Williams, Duxbury - Quinnipiac

GIRLS' LACROSSE
Madison Acton, Lincoln-Sudbury – Duke
Shelby Aubin, Needham – Georgetown
Olivia Boudreau, North Andover - George Washington
Shelby Boudreau, North Andover - Oregon
Hadley Brooke, Middlesex School – Northwestern
Julia Burns, Middlesex School – Stanford
Emma Dagres, Weston – Vanderbilt
Louisa del Rio, Pingree (Hamilton, Mass.) – Boston University
Natalie Devine, Fontbonne Academy – High Point
Kelsey Duryea, Governor’s Academy – Duke
Anne Farnham, Andover – UMass-Amherst
Kate Farnham, Andover- UMass-Amherst
Ally Fazio, Andover – UConn
Hope Hanley, Noble & Greenough – Dartmouth
Emmy Horton, Duxbury – Fairfield
Christine Johnson, Reading - Albany
Jenna Liljeberg, King Philip – Sacred Heart
Molly McNamara, Wellesley - Navy
Julia Meehan, Weston - High Point
Kathryn Riley, King Philip – Boston College
Rachel Sexton, Lincoln-Sudbury – Notre Dame
Gabriella Starkey, St. Mark’s – Dartmouth

SOFTBALL
Kiara Amos, Malden - Providence
Taylor Archer, Milford - URI
Patty Borges, Coyle-Cassidy - Stony Brook
Meg Carnase, King Philip – Colgate
Brianna Chiusano, Mansfield - Coastal Carolina
Lexi Gifford, Natick - UConn
Olivia Godin, King Philip – UMass-Amherst
Cayleigh McCarthy, King Philip – Stonehill
Meghan Rico, King Philip – George Washington

GIRLS' SOCCER
Lindsey O’Neil, Thayer -Fairfield
Jessica Valenti, North Reading - URI

BOYS' SWIMMING AND DIVING
Ryan Palmer, King Philip - Gardner Webb

GIRLS' SWIMMING AND DIVING
Juliana Melchionda, Thayer - Clemson
Stephanie Nasson, King Philip - Boston University

GIRLS' TENNIS
Ali Sullivan, Needham - Providence College

The MIAA boys' golf team and individual tournaments for Divisions 2 and 3 were held yesterday at Juniper Hill Golf Course and Glen Ellen Country Club, respectively.

Here's a look at the championship leaderboards in each of yesterday's events:

DIVISION 2 TEAM RESULTS
1. Masconomet 298
2. Hudson 302
3. Concord-Carlisle 304
4. Pentucket 305
5. Duxbury 306
6. Sharon 308
7. Hingham 310
8. Sandwich 310
9. Franklin 314
10. Wellesley 318
11. Auburn 320
12. Belchertown 325
13. Granby 339
14. Northbridge 343

DIVISION 2 INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
1. Charlie May, Masconomet, 33-35 -- 68 (Won playoff with birdie)
2. Jason Steele, Pentucket, 33-35 -- 68
3. Jack McDonald, Plymouth North, 35-33 -- 68
4. Tyler Kirby, Hudson, 33-38 -- 71
5. Andrew Webster, Concord-Carlisle, 36-37 -- 73
5. Jake Grenier, David Prouty, 38-35 -- 73
5. Matt Iczkowski, Granby, 37-36 -- 73
8. Peter French, Franklin, 38-36 -- 74
8. Brendon Hunter, Groton-Dunstable, 36-38 -- 74
8. Jeff Russell, Hingham, 37-37 -- 74
8. Zachary Staub, Masconomet, 35-39 -- 74
8. Eric Marchetti, North Attleborough, 35-39 -- 74
13. Ryan Harris, Concord-Carlisle, 39-36 -- 75
13. George May, Masconomet, 37-38 -- 75
13. Connor O'Leary, Sandwich, 39-36 -- 75

DIVISION 3 TEAM RESULTS
1. Westwood 313 (Won by tie breaker going to 5th best score)
2. Medfield 313
3. Weston 316
4. Wayland 319
5. Bishop Stang 324
6. Norton 325
7. Hopkinton 330
8. Hamilton-Wenham 332
9. Lenox 334
10. Sacred Heart 336
11. West Boylston 341
12. Franklin County Tech 344
13. Hopedale 346
14. Douglas 353
15. Bourne 361

DIVISION 3 INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
1. Connor Murphy, Bishop Stang, 37-34 -- 71
2. Pat Frodigh, Westwood, 36-38 -- 74
3. Jake Hardy, Hanover, 39-36 -- 75
4. Jace McCarron, Hopkinton, 41-36 -- 77
5. Zach Schuster, Norton, 41-36 -- 77
6. Matt Cowgill, Weston, 40-38 -- 78
7. Andrew Augustine, Old Rochester, 40-36 -- 79
7. Brett Thomas, Medfield, 37-42 -- 79
7. Jake O'Rourke, Medway, 38-41 -- 79
7. Mike Mulrey, Medfield, 40-39 -- 79
7. Mike Murphy, Wayland, 40-39 -- 79
7. Patrick Davis, Sacred Heart, 42-37 -- 79
7. Thomas Viletto, Lenox, 43-36 -- 79
14. Bryan Huntm, Arlington Catholic, 41-39 -- 80
14. Joe Wagner, Weston, 44-36 -- 80
14. Kevin Gately, Pembroke, 37-43 -- 80
14. Luke Farley, Hamilton- Wenham, 42-38 -- 80

Madison Memorial High School senior Seth Sweet has established himself as the top high school golfer in the state.

Sweet recently won his second straight Class C state individudal title, shooting a 2-under par 70, the lowest in any class. Last summer he was one of two Maine golfers to qualify for the U.S. Junior Amateur. He also finished fourth in the Maine Amateur last year and, when he was 12, he was the youngest qualifier ever for that tournament. He recently answered questions about himself and the game he loves.

Q: How did you get started in golf?

A: "My dad introduced me into the game when I was 2 years old. He brought me out to a little par three course with a plastic set of Little Tikes golf clubs. I didn’t play that often but he brought me to the golf course just enough so I could really get a liking for this game. After a while I knew there was something about this game that was special and I knew it would be able to take me places."

Q: When did you first get hooked on the game?

A: "I first became serious around the age of 10. I played my first tournament when I was 7 but did not realize what it took to really become an elite golfer. I started playing several tournaments when I turned 10, and began to practice a lot harder. I tried to take my game to the next level and set different levels of goals that I needed to achieve."

Q: Who have been your greatest influences in the game?

A: "My dad has definitely been the biggest influence in my game. He taught me everything I needed to know to become who I am today. He made it so I could play in every tournament I wanted to play in, and would do everything for me. My mother has also been there supporting me and always telling me that if I want it I can get it. She is always there to watch me play tournaments, and I couldn’t do it without them. My brother Zack also has been there to push me as he is a good golfer and always taught me how to act, as well as made me the best I could ever be. My swing coach has also been able to bring me to the tip top in my game and has taught me how to play this game like the pros.

Q: What do you consider your greatest accomplishment to date?

A: "I believe my greatest accomplishment has been making the U.S. Junior Amateur in Bremerton, Washington where I played two great days to make a playoff to make the cut for match play. Unfortunately, I missed the playoff, but was the proudest to place 55th best junior in the nation. I may not have met my goal, but was very pleased with how I played."

Q: How often do you play and practice?

A: "I play every day and practice every day. In order to be the best you have to have the club in your hand acting like it is your lifeline."

Q: What do you work on?

A: "Lately I work on the short game because I am able to hit the ball on the green, but where I am going to save strokes is making the putts for birdies. I will also work on hitting the ball in different shapes, I usually hit a draw but I understand that I need to be able to hit the cut to be one of the best as well. I believe that short game is where the pros make it look easy and win the tournaments."

Q: Where will you attend school next year?

A: "I have recently just verbally committed to Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia."

Q: How did this come about?

A: "I had a friend from Rhode Island who is a freshman there and had told the coach about me. He must have put in a good word for me because the next week I got a call from the coach and it eventually led to an official visit offer. I visited the campus and fell in love with it and
fell in love with the golf facilities this school has to offer."

Q: What are your short and long-term goals in the game?

A: "My short term goal for golf is to really become a better player and win my state amateur, and qualify for the U.S. Junior Amateur again. My long term goals are to become a golf professional and play on the PGA tour, I do realize this will be a tough task but I am ready to make a run for it. I also want to be in a scoring spot all four years in college and be a key asset in our successful team.

Q: What are your strengths and weaknesses?

A: "My strengths are definitely being able to drive the ball, chip the ball and putt the ball. I hit the ball about 290 yards down the middle and my short game has grown incredibly and improved greatly. I also am able to keep a great state of mind while playing golf which is to my advantage. I believe my weakness is paying too much attention to other people, I shouldn’t watch my competitors, but I do and get caught up in their game a little too much."

Q: Who is your favorite pro golfer and why?

A: "My favorite player used to be Tiger Woods because I idolized his work ethic, he won his tournaments by out-working his competitors and there was no question that he did every week. I also loved watching how he worked on the golf course he made himself expect the best of the competitors so he would not be surprised when they hit a good shot. My new favorite player is Bubba Watson, I enjoy how he hits the ball so long and is changing the game with his stride in great length. I also like how he has fun while he is playing and is very personable while he is playing. It is truly an awesome thing for him to be able to enjoy the game the way he does."

Q: What other activities or sports do you enjoy?

A: "I enjoy playing basketball with a passion; it is a very fun game for me and keeps me in shape during my long winter up in Maine. I enjoy running, and weight lifting as it keeps me in shape and I enjoy doing that every day."

Q: What are your plans for the summer before college?

A: "I plan on playing in 5-10 golf tournaments and practice my short game and the little details golf demands you to do. I am going to play in the big tournaments in the state and going to qualify for some USGA events. I just want to keep my competitive edge and make my game in fine tune for the fall college season."

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The Little Green cross country machine didn't take long to hit high gear.

Both the boys' and girls' teams for Manchester Central High, fresh off last year's NHIAA championship campaigns, served notice in the season-opening race Oct. 11 that they're still the squads to beat.

Dylan Lafond led the boys and Elizabeth Conway paced the girls as Central swept the Manchester City Championship at Derryfield Park.

“This race was the first step (in the championship season),” Lafond told the New Hampshire Union Leader after posting the lone sub-17-minute time of 16 minutes, 55.6 seconds. “Our goal is to win states, and if we make New Englands, even better.”

Central's boys secured the top three finishes on the 3.1-mile course. Sean Brown and Matt Becker finished second and third, respectively, with times of 17:06.5 and 17:11.2.

Those times helped the Little Green record 26 team points. Manchester Memorial High's Adam Vargas (17:18.1) finished fourth. The Crusaders placed second with 40 points, followed by Manchester West High (70) and Trinity High (74).

Central's girls were equally dominant. Elizabeth Conway had a lot to do with it.

Conway crossed the finish line in 18:54.7. Teammate Laurel Gagnon (20:03.8) finished second – exactly 1:09.1 after Conway. Megan Brockett clinched third with a time of 20:48.5.

Kaitlin George-Blay led the Crusaders. Her time of 21:09 was good for fourth place.

Gang Green scored 20 team points to distance itself from Memorial (56), Trinity (68) and West (102).

“It was scorching on those hills,” Conway told the Union Leader. “Our team is looking pretty strong, though we do have a couple of girls fighting injuries.”

The division championships take place Oct. 29. Central certainly seems posed to, yet again, dominate Division I.

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Paula Doughty is in her 31st year as field hockey coach at Skowhegan Area High School. She’s posted a career record of 414 wins, 80 losses and 17 ties and her teams have captured 12 Class A state championships, including last year’s. Prior to losing in the state final in 2009, the Indians had reeled off eight state titles in a row.

Doughty was named National Field Hockey High School Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2008 and more than 80 of her players have gone on to play in college. One of her players has been a first-team national All-American while two have made second team All-American and 22 have been regional All Americans.

Q: How did you get into coaching?

A: "I was in college from ‘70-74 and I officiated. I graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington and student taught in Skowhegan. In August they called me and said there was a job opening and they also needed a field hockey coach. I played in high school and I officiated so I had quite a lot of experience and I knew the game."

Q: What attracts you to the sport?

A: "It’s evolved into a really fast, fabulous sport. It’s just become better and better. First we lost the offsides, advancing became incidental and the obstruction rule is lenient today. In field hockey it takes years to develop the stickwork to be able to play. I also like it, and this sounds sexist, because it’s a women’s sport in the United States."

Q: When did Skowhegan turn the corner?

A: "Probably in the late ‘80’s. We were really good in the ‘70s, then soccer came in. I was really hurting for athletes. All the athletes went to soccer but then it balanced out."

Q: How has the program stayed so strong?

A: "I work very hard. I have three of our four coaches who have worked with me forever. I would say a shared coaching philosophy and consistency. We do the same thing K through 12 and I work with everybody K to 12."

Q: How big is the youth program?

A: "It’s growing, but it’s growing statewide, it’s not just us. Today we had a tournament for fourth, fifth and sixth graders and there were 12 teams here and every town brought 30 kids. One thing about field hockey in Maine, there’s a lot of opportunities and we can compete. It’s hard for Maine kids to compete in a lot of things but in field hockey we’re doing really well. A lot of kids feel entitled but Maine kids aren’t like that. They work really hard."

Q: How many of your players have played in college?

A: "We’ve had about 80 kids play in college. My first player was Kim Jewell Bodwell in ‘78 and she played at the University of Maine. Our first Division I player was Wendy Obert in 1989 and she played at Northeastern. Right now, we have nine (playing in college) and we have three seniors who are going D-1 next year."

Q: How has the game changed?

A: "It’s changed in every way. It’s faster, it’s more skilled. The amount of penalties are nothing what they used to be. You’ve got to be very, very skilled. It’s fun to watch. Today the game is a turf game. We play on turf as much as we can. It’s no longer a grass game. We practice in the gym a lot. Our field is as close to turf as you can get, but it’s still grass."

Q: How is this year’s team?

A: "It’s a great team. The last 14 years have been great teams. The kids I have now are much more versatile. Even five or 10 years ago, they were one-dimensional ... Most of my kids I can put in any position. Messalonskee is very good. They’re going to be our biggest competition in the state. It’s too bad we’re both in Eastern Maine. But in sports you can’t take anybody for granted."

Q: How long do you want to coach?

A: "I’ll coach as long as I think I can. I’ll retire from teaching in a while but I’ll keep coaching. I’m smart enough to know if I’m not as good as I was."

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The play happens about as often as Haley’s Comet soars through the skies. But it was just what a young Chariho football team needed to provide the spark for what proved to be a 34-8 rout of perennial Division II power Shea.

Senior Brandon Cahoon returned a second-quarter free kick 70 yards for a touchdown – after already having scored on a 42-yard, first-quarter run – in the II-A game which propelled the Chargers into the thick of the race for the division title.

When the Chargers (2-1, 3-1) walked off the field, they were in a tie with Johnston (2-1, 3-1) and just one game behind undefeated co-leaders Central (3-0, 4-0) and Westerly (3-0, 4-0).

“These kids are all new,” said Chariho coach Mike Kelly. “There are nine new guys starting on offense and eight new guys starting on defense. What’s happening is we’re starting to get comfortable playing together and it’s starting to click a little bit.

“But with new guys, as nice as it is, next week it could be gone. That’s what we have to be careful of.”

Spoken like a true coach. But Cahoon, for the most part, echoed his coach’s sentiments.

“Once one of us starts clicking, we all start clicking,” he said. “Before, we needed to learn our assignments. That’s why we were so slow in the beginning. Once we started clicking, we just kept moving.

“We’re on a roll now. We just won’t stop.”

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Press release from Massachusetts Golf Association communications director Becky Blaeser:

Brattleboro, Vt. -- Inclement weather reduced the event to 18 holes, but that did not keep Team Massachusetts from capturing the 2011 New England Junior Championship title at Brattleboro Country Club.

The seven-player team from the Bay State posted a team score of 367 to defeat defending champion Team Connecticut and Team New Hampshire by 13 points. Finishing third with 386 points was Rhode Island, while Maine (391) and Vermont (400) came in fifth and sixth, respectively.

Winning the individual scoring title with a sizzling score of 4-under par 67 was Peter French (Maplegate CC - MA). The 17-year-old from Bellingham carded five birdies and just one bogey and was the only player in the field to shoot under par. Seamus Fennelly (Foster CC -RI) and Jason Steele (Ferncroft CC - MA) finished T2 with scores of 1-over par 72.

After a day of downpours on Monday that forced the cancellation of the first two rounds of play, the entire field took to a soggy Brattleboro Country Club layout on Tuesday to compete in an 18-hole round that would determine the 2011 champion.

In the end, it took a team effort by a talent Bay State team. In addition to French and Steele - the team’s top two scorers - strong performances were also delivered by John Beadle (Foxborough CC - MA) with a score of 3-over par 74 and Connor Murphy (Hyannis GC - MA) who turned in a score of 5-over par 76.

Press release from Massachusetts Golf Association communications director Becky Blaeser:

HAVERHILL, Mass. -- Over a three-day period, Nick McLaughlin (Far Corner GC) played through sun, rain, wind and drizzle but it never seemed to rattle him as he carded a three-round score of 2-over par 218 to capture his second career Massachusetts Junior Amateur Championship on Wednesday.

McLaughlin drained a two-foot par putt on the 18th hole at Renaissance Golf Club to seal his second title (his first came in 2009).

He finished with a final-round score of 2-over par 74 which was just enough to stave off charges by second-place finishers Ben Balter (Willowbend) and Connor Murphy (Hyannis GC), who made a strong come-from-behind bid by carding a day-low score of 2-under par 70.

McLaughlin's latest victory is sweet, especially after he finished T17 one year ago at this event. He returned a year older and wiser and played with veteran poise from start to finish.

"When I won the first one I was younger, and I was playing in an earlier group so I had to wait around for two hours before I knew that I had won," said McLaughlin, who won his first title when he was just 15 years old. "Today I knew what I had to do because I was in the last group. After how much I struggled last year and especially at this tournament it was nice to rebound in a good way."

Following a day-one score of even par 72, he found himself trailing by four strokes. Facing windy conditions on Tuesday, he carded another even par 72 and was the leader by two strokes. The constant movement around the leaderboard was a sign of what was to come during the final round.

With competitors making runs throughout the day on Wednesday, McLaughlin hovered around even par through most of the day. He began his round by making birdie on the 1st and 3rd holes but gave it back with a double bogey on the 175-yard, par 3 4th hole - his first double bogey of the tournament.

From that point on, he seemed to find a way to make birdie for every bogey... that is until the 15th hole when he suffered his second double bogey of the day when he sent his drive into the hazard. That miscue opened the door for Balter who had just made birdie on two of his last four holes to pull even with McLaughlin.

"I was all over the place today," said McLaughlin. "I made those two doubles, so I had some ground to make up which made me nervous because I knew how good it feels to win this. So I just kept grinding ahead which is not easy to do out here."

McLaughlin went on to make birdie on the 16th hole, a bogey on the 17th hole and then a two-putt par on the 18th hole. Balter had a chance to tie on the 18th hole, but he found a fairway bunker with his tee shot and was unable rebound and make birdie. He carded a final round score of 1-over par 73.

"I still had Ben by a stroke on 18 and I knew that a 5 would be good enough to win," said McLaughlin. " Playing with him all day was great because I knew what I had to do and that helped me plan forward."

Also pressuring McLaughlin was Murphy, who caught fire on Tuesday afternoon and was just one stroke back of the leader through eight holes on Wednesday. In fact, Murphy played 6-under par golf over an 18-hole stretch beginning with Tuesday's back nine. On this day, he made birdie on the 2nd, 3rd and 7th holes to make the turn at 3-under par 33.

Although he finished with a day-low score of 2-under par 70, Murphy had to settle for a share of second place overall.

Among golfers his age, who's better than Keene's Chelso Barrett?

Nobody in New Hampshire, that's for sure.

Nearing the start of his junior year at Keene High, Barrett finished runner-up at the 64th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship from July 18-23. The 16-year-old's sensational run in Bremerton, Wash., ended with a 6-and-5 setback in the tournament's 36-hole final at Gold Mountain Golf Club.

Barrett's dream finish on the 7,111-yard, par-72 Olympic Course was denied by Dallas 17-year-old Jordan Spieth, also the 2009 champion.

“It was disappointing coming in second. But at the same time, it was really big because I got (three) exemptions for USGA events in the future,” Barrett said from Fort Wayne, Ind., on the eve of the Junior PGA Championship Aug. 2-5. “I lost the tournament, but it wasn't really a loss.”

Spieth last year eliminated Barrett in the Round of 64. This summer, the Texas teenager became just the second golfer in the championship's history to win multiple titles. He joined Tiger Woods, a three-peat junior amateur champ from 1991-93.

Securing a spot in the final required Barrett bump considerable competition from the bracket. Taking lessons last February from Craig Shankland at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla., paid off.

In just his second Junior Amateur, Barrett started strong. He carded a 36-hole, 1-under-par 143 (69-74) during stroke play. It lifted him to the Round of 64, where the tourney's format turned to match play.

Andrew Bonner of Ripon, Calif., was the first foe Barrett sent packing. The final score was 1-up.

The next win really fueled the teen's momentum.

Barrett defeated defending champion Jim Liu, 2-up. The Smithtown, N.Y., native was attempting to join Woods as the only other repeat king.

“After he beat the defending champion, I was shocked,” said Chelso's father, Hugh, New Hampshire's 1980 state amateur champ. “It's done so much for him. He was basically unknown (in major college golf) before that.”

But the upset was an attention-grabber. Barrett, whose surname is well known at Keene's Bretwood Golf Course, ousted Liu with birdies on the 17th and 18th holes.

The first of those back-to-back birdies applied the pressure. Barrett sank a 6-foot putt after striking a wonderful approach from 165 yards.

The second birdie cemented Barrett's victory. Liu needed a final-hole win to extend the bout. His tee shot proved troublesome, however, forcing him to concede No. 18.

“Basically, my bad shots weren't that bad,” Barrett said of the key to his near-No. 1 finish. “I didn't hit it great in the finals, but up until that point, I hit it solid. I kept the ball in play.”

He beat William Zalatoris of Plano, Texas, 2-and-1, in the Round of 16. Thus, he met his goal to reach the Round of 8.

Then, he exceeded personal expectation. He beat William Starke of Chapin, S.C., 1-up, in the quarterfinals.

He also beat Colombia's Nicholas Echavarria in 19 holes to survive the semifinals.

In the final, Barrett built a 2-up lead through two holes. But a double-bogey on No. 3 combined with Spieth's birdie on No. 6 squared the match.

Spieth took his second lead by winning the 13th hole. He didn't trail again.

Losing to Spieth, competing in his last junior event, wasn't a complete downer for Barrett. Advancing to the final match earned him exemptions to the 111th U.S. Amateur Championship Aug. 22-28 in Erin, Wisc., and next year's U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship July 9-14 in Midway, Utah.

But he's most excited about the third exemption – earned by achieving his goal to make the quarterfinals cut.

He's assured a spot in next year's Junior Amateur, which takes place July 16-21 at the Golf Club of New England.

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Nick Rodriguez (Class of 2013) of Shrewsbury, Mass. and Samantha Marks (Class of 2012) of Maitland, Fla. were the winners of the third-annual Deutsche Bank Partners for Charity Junior Shoot Out, a three-round, 54-hole American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) tournament that was played Tuesday through today at Plymouth Country Club in Plymouth, Mass. Rodriguez shot a final-round, 1-under-par 68 to overcome a six-shot deficit entering Thursday and win the Boys Division by two strokes with a score of 5-over-par 212 (71-73-68). Ben Balter (Class of 2013) of Wayland, Mass. finished at 7-over 214 (68-71-75) and was one of two runners-up.

Complete results for the Deutsche Bank Partners for Charity Junior Shoot Out can be found here. The tournament field consisted of 96 players (72 boys and 24 girls) from 18 states, Ontario, Canada and Mexico. Thirty golfers from Massachusetts and 12 from Connecticut played in the tournament. The Boys Division played the par-69 Plymouth Country Club course at 6,228 yards, while the Girls Division played at 5,855 yards.

The Deutsche Bank Partners for Charity Junior Shoot Out is one of two events that comprise Deutsche Bank Partners for Charity Week, which is organized in conjunction with the PGA TOUR’s Deutsche Bank Championship, a FedExCup Playoff tournament Aug. 30-Sept. 5 at TPC Boston in Norton, Mass.

Chelso Barrett of Keene, NH and Megan Khang of Rockland, MA won the 2011 New England Junior PGA Championship presented by Under Armour and Heritage F.S.E. The two-day competition was held last Wednesday and Thursday at Black Swan Country Club in Georgetown, Mass.

By winning the boys’ and girls’ divisions respectively, Barrett and Khang qualified for the 36th Junior PGA Championship on Aug. 2-5 at Sycamore Hills Golf Club in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Barrett, 16, posted a final-round 69 for a two-day total of 142 and an 8-stroke victory over Chris Gentle of Lowell. Khang, 13, had a final-round 75 for a two-day total of 145 and an 11-stroke victory over Vinh-Hoa Ngo of Newton.

The Junior PGA Championship is open to one boy and one girl champion from each of the 41 PGA Sections, winners of the nine PGA Junior Series events and a few other national junior tournaments conducted throughout the year and special invitees who have yet not reached their 19th birthdays and who have not started college.

The Junior PGA Championship has traditionally been a stepping-stone for many of today’s PGA and LPGA Tour professionals as well as current collegiate stars. Past Junior PGA Championship competitors who have gone on to successful professional careers include: Stewart Cink, In-Bee Park, Jim Furyk, Trevor Immelman, Cristie Kerr, Anthony Kim, Dottie Pepper, Justin Leonard, Michelle McGann, Phil Mickelson, Sean O’Hair, Grace Park, Scott Verplank, David Toms, Michelle Wie and Tiger Woods.

Wednesday’s Division I baseball championship game was all about finishing strong.

Fourth-seeded Rice held a four-run lead after two innings, but faded after that. Mount Anthony Union, the tournament’s seventh seed, scored the game’s final 10 runs – including eight in the last three innings – to post a an 11-5 victory.

Mount Anthony took control by scoring four runs with two outs in the fifth. Nicholas Lloyd’s three-run home run was the big blow in the inning.

Tony Baldic struck out seven in four innings to earn the win. Mount Anthony received three scoreless innings from Tyler Kinzeman.

Rice, which was trying to win its first state championship since 1964, built a 5-1 lead through two innings. Rice’s biggest hits were Nicky Elderton’s two-run home run in the first, and Joe Boardman’s two-run double in the second.

Rice committed six errors in the loss.

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BOURNE, Mass. -– Peter French had some bittersweet moments as he received his first ever Division 2 State Tournament trophy. While the junior fired a 74 to win the individual state title, his team came up just short of sweeping the entire event.

Franklin was out done by defending champion Duxbury, 317-to-324, for the Green Dragons second consecutive Division II state title. But French was able to wrestle away the individual title from returning champion Jonathan Stoddard as Franklin fell short at Pocasset Golf Course.

“I would have liked to win it for the seniors”, said French, who was paired with five seniors coming into the event. “I was hoping to win and I've been looking forward to this and was hoping to come away with a win, and I did”.

Amidst dense fog and cool temperatures on Cape Cod, French was able to secure the title as Matt Montt (75) of Hanover was only one stoke off the lead for second place and defending champion, Stoddard placed third with a 76.

“I wish we won as a team as well as we were hoping to pull out with a victory but I guess it just wasn't in the cards:”, said French.

Duxbury head coach, Jack Stoddard knew that winning back to back championships was the ultimate goal all along.

“We were working all year towards this to get back-to-back”, said Stoddard, who marked his fifth state title in his 20 years at the helm. “The toughest decision for me was which six kids to bring to this event as we had eight kids contribute all season long”.

While Stoddard was the No. 1 out in front for Duxbury, it was Nick Drago who fired a 78 from the sixth anchor slot for Duxbury that sealed the deal for the second consecutive championship.

James Magner (79) and Cam Daley (84) rounding out the top four scorers for the back-to-back champions.

Rounding out the top five for team scores were Wellesley (330) led by No. 1 golfer Ian Ballantyne with a 79, Beverly (331) with Nick Pinciaro also posting a 79, and Hanover with a 337 buoyed by Montt's second place individual finish.

Some notable facts from the event, which lasted over six hours with fast greens and tough winds:

• Reading's Scott Tully (83) was the Middlesex League MVP and pushed Reading to their first league title since 1975, but didn't place in the top five for states' after coming down as an individual
• A player fainted on a hole and had to be removed from the course.
• One player was disqualified for throwing clubs while another perplexed the tournament officials as he tossed his club in the air, hitting his hat off his head, and having the hat move his ball without taking a stroke.

Individual Finishers:
1. Peter French (Franklin), 74, 2. Matt Montt (Hanover) 75, 3. Jonathan Stoddard (Duxbury), 76; 4. (tie) Thomas Viletto (Lenox), Austin Ball (Clinton), Alex Kane (Masconomet), 77. 7. Max Bock (Belchertown), Tim Gillis (Franklin), Adam Capodiluipo (Beverly), Nick Drago (Duxbury), 78. 11. Shawn LeBeau (Belchertown), Nick Pinciaro (Beverly), James Magner (Duxbury), Ian Ballantyne, 79.

Team Scores:
1. Duxbury 317, 2. Franklin 324, 3. Wellesley 330, 4. Beverly 331, 5. Hanover 337; 6.North Andover 339; 7. David Prouty 340; 8. Dennis-Yarmouth, 341; 9. Belchertown 343; 10. Springfield Cathedral 344; 11. Groton-Dunstable 347; 12. Hudson 348; 13.Lenox 352; 14. Lincoln-Sudbury 357