In the Wake of Tragedy

Saturday afternoon, I weaved through the mass of humanity and marathon jackets that smothered Copley Square in preparation for the Boston Marathon. I was just looking to walk down Boylston and meet up with friends to start drinking and I couldn’t help thinking how ridiculous everyone looked with their $100 jackets from last year’s events, like they were showing off or holding it over all the rest us (ok, just me) for whom the pushing of physical boundaries is laying in one place in front of a TV for as long as possible. (Talk about imposing your own insecurities on other people.)

Amidst the tourists, the runners, the cameramen, the police, the construction crews, the reporters, the traffic and the passerby, I stopped to look at the finish line and get my first glimpse of Copley Square partially adorned for the finish.  I stood among the confusion and commotion and said thank god that I won’t have to be here on Monday to see what it’s like during the event…

The report came across the radio and all I heard was one word: explosions. The impact of that word has been unshakeable. Following the report, it was impossible to focus on anything else.

The attacks of September 11 changed our nation and did immeasurable damage to countless people across the country. At the time, the impact on me was more about witnessing history than any real connection with the events as they took place. It still felt like it was somewhere else, happening to other people. The explosions on April 15 were not near the magnitude in terms of lives lost or destruction caused but impacted me in ways that I am still having trouble coming to grips with. It took me a while to recognize what had me so completely shook.

I was scared. Terrorism had become personal.

I tried to work through it yesterday afternoon. But, I kept scrolling through Facebook and Twitter to hear word from people, some I know well, some I haven’t spoken to since high school, some exist simply as names on my feed, wanting to hear from everyone and make sure they were ok, whether they were ever in danger or not. I’m forever grateful knowing that Katie, Jane, Brian, Caryl, Julie, Scott, Bruce, and so many others that I didn’t even know were in Boston, came through it.

Still, everything felt changed. Like so many people around the world, I now knew what it was like to have terrorism strike in my backyard. I knew what it was like to have friends targeted, to have someone strike at home.

Late last night, I received a text from a friend that no longer lives in the area and she described feeling helpless. She said that she should have been there. She wrote, “These are my people.”

Yes they are. They are all of our people.

Will it ever be the same? If the Marathon, less a sporting event than a combination of tourist attraction and charity fundraiser, can be a target, will any of our other games go back to normal?

Can we continue to play in the sunshine, but be scared of the shadows?

Tuesday afternoon, my twitter feed was filled with game updates. We went back to work. Of course we did. Kids across Massachusetts picked up gloves and lacrosse sticks. They hit the fields, the tracks, and the gyms and we were there covering it. Sure, part of it is finding normality in midst of tragedy, but mostly this is just what we do.

We play. We work. We carry on.

It is a Boston trait, it is an American trait, and it is a human trait. There is evil in this world, but we will not let it consume us. As one runner that I interviewed, who finished the race just minutes before the explosion, explained about taking part in next year’s race, “It makes me want to do it more. It’s like they say - they can’t win. Getting into Boston next year will be impossible because everyone is going to want to run.”

I am not going to run next year’s marathon, but for the first time in my life, I want to be there. As I realized on Monday, these are my people... and I couldn’t be more proud and more determined to stand with them.

Sarah Hope: Medway Basketball’s First Division 1 Recruit

Sarah Hope stands on the track overlooking the Medway High basketball court. She is relating the story of how she scored her 1,000th career point earlier this season against Dover-Sherborn.  As she talks about her milestone basket, the story is coupled with a half-chuckle, half-cringe that perfectly encapsulates the attitude of a point guard capable of scoring at will, but unselfish enough to look for the pass first.

It is a mixture of confidence, self-belief, and modest humility. It is a blend needed to be both the best player on the team and the type of leader that teammates want to follow.

“See that line,” Hope says. She is pointing to a volleyball boundary that is at least 10 feet behind the three-point line (and at an angle that makes it an even longer shot). “That’s where I took the shot from.” She gives a quick shake of her head and wry smile before adding, “I don’t know why I took that shot.”

Mustangs head coach Joe Iannone passes by as he prepares for a midseason practice. He laughs and adds his perspective on the moment, “I saw her pull up and said, ‘No! No! No…Great shot!’ It was a great shot.” The shot taken in front of a packed gym, filled with Medway Youth Basketball players that were there to celebrate the accomplishments of their hero.

In four years at Medway High, Hope has developed the ability, the work ethic, and the understanding of the game of basketball that allows her to make memorable moments happen. In fact, her abilities and commitment to the sport have taken her farther than any other Mustangs player in the program’s history.

In November, Hope became the school’s first basketball player (male or female) to sign a National Letter of Intent to a Division 1 school.

Photos courtesy of Mike Hope

“In the first game versus Millis, she was 4-5 from the three-point line and she was in the locker room after the game apologizing for shooting so much,” he remembers. “I looked at her like she was crazy and asked what she was apologizing for.”

Iannone continued, “When she signed her letter of intent, the message that I gave was if you have your heart into something, if you have a dream, and if you put your heart into it, then you can achieve it. That’s basically Sarah’s story.”

It is a story that has always been about basketball. Since a very early age, Hope has had the dream of playing in college and has worked year-round to ensure that she achieved her dream. There is no off-season for Hope. When she is not at Medway High, she plays for the Bay State Jaguars, an elite AAU team that boasts several D1 recruits.

It was her play with the Jaguars that first drew the attention of BU associate head coach Mike Leflar and began the process that led to November’s ceremony. According to Leflar, “We saw a lot of her play for the Jaguars. By the time that the varsity season had come around we had already built a comfort level. AAU was good for exposure.”

The recruiting process can be hectic, pressure-packed, and nerve-wracking for young athletes unaccustomed to dealing with the attention of college coaches. Hope admitted to struggling at the beginning with the interviews, but very early in the process it became clear that there was a front-runner had emerged.

“As soon as I went there and met everybody, I knew it was the place for me because they made it feel like home,” said Hope. “And it’s not that far away, so it was close to home. They’re very nice people and I knew it was the school for me.”

Leflar also felt the connection between Hope and BU very early on. He mentioned, “We visited with her and her dad [Mike]. Right away there was a real connection for us and I think for her as well.”

Iannone took over the program the same year that Hope began her Medway career. The program made significant progress from a 6-14 record in the first season to 15-5 in year two. He credits his point guard for pushing the team to the next level, but cautions that the type of commitment that Hope has for basketball is not for every high school player.

“Sarah is the type of player that plays seven days a week, she works hard on her own, she practices on her own,” he explains. “I wouldn’t recommend that for every player. You really have to love it.”

Iannone believes the hard work throughout the year has created a complete player, but Hope still feels there are aspects of her game that need work, such as her quickness and the long process of becoming a better defender. (“When I was a freshman, I sucked at defense,” she laughs.) As accolades continue to come in (Hope has been nominated for the McDonald’s All-American game) it seems a case of being her own worst critic.

But what exactly is it that makes Hope such a dynamic player?

It seems everyone has a different answer.

“I think some people can score and some people can see the floor, not many people can do both,” said Iannone. “I think when she’s scoring and seeing the floor she is making everyone on the team better.”

He added, “There are a lot of players that score 1,000 points, but there are not many that can make the passes that she does.”

Leflar focused more on her personality and demeanor on the floor. “Personality is more important than just talent,” he argues. “One thing that stood out for me was her competitiveness on the court. Also, she was a very good teammate and always supportive.”

Leadership is the key ingredient for Hope, who calls herself a “vocal captain.” She described her role on the team: “I’m more of a leader now than I was. I had a different role as a freshman and now I am one of the main leaders as a captain. I’m kind of like a role model now. It’s nice to set a good example.”

Hope relishes the relationship that she has built with her Medway teammates and, while a lot of attention has been paid to her future, there is still a lot that she is determined to accomplish before she closes the book on her Medway career


“We made team goals at the very start and it was winning the TVL [that goal fell short after Medfield clinched its fifth straight Tri-Valley League title] and winning a state title,” says Hope with a suddenly serious demeanor. “It’s not a ridiculous goal. We all know that we are a good team and it’s not unrealistic. That’s the only thing that’s left to accomplish.”

She continued, “We definitely should’ve won the three games we lost, but we’re doing well. The seniors need to realize that the writing is on the wall and that we’re running out of time.”

With Hope on the court, the Mustangs believe that they can make a deep postseason run.
Iannone believes that Hope’s influence will continue beyond this season and will, hopefully, lead to future generations of Division 1 caliber players at Medway High:

“It’s cool when you have someone that you coach that is inspiring. It’s a great example for the younger players. Hopefully, there are 30 kids out there that want to be the next Sarah Hope and I’ll be coaching for a long time. I think she’s done all she can at the high school level and now it’s time for her to take the next step.”

As the next step approaches, Sarah Hope reflects on her high school career, “I’m definitely going to miss it. I’ve had a good run here.”

With a smile and a quick glance back at that memorable spot, she turns and heads back down the stairs to join her teammates on the court.

Blue-collar attitude leading Millis star to the big time

(Josh Perry/Hometown Weekly Publications)

There is something appropriate about the appearance of the weight room at Millis High. There is an old-school feel to the space, like it has not been changed in decades.

It is Spartan and bare - practical and utilitarian. It is not filled with gleaming weights, elliptical machines, or brand-new treadmills- just the basics. Although it is less than 100 feet from a spacious and open lobby, it feels like it is in the depths of the school and closed off from the outside world. This room is about hard work, sweat, and determination.

The weight room is a manifestation of the qualities that the town of Millis and the Millis High football team pride themselves on.

On a grey, freezing February afternoon, as the Westwood High freshman basketball team jokes around and prepares to take the court, the sound of someone lifting weights rattles through the locker room. In this small, closed off space, a lone player is going through his off-season workout program.

Jon Baker, the Mohawks 6-foot-3, 300-pound offensive and defensive lineman, stands alone in the weight room getting ready for his daily lifting session. While the team also uses the far more aesthetically pleasing St. Cyr Sports Performance Academy in Franklin, the school’s weight room seems to better fit Baker’s description of Millis athletes.

“We’re not big, we’re not rich, but we’re tough and we get after it,” he remarked.

Baker is the rare local high school football player whose size is as intimidating off the field as on it. Reaching for a quick handshake, your hand is engulfed and it is easy to see why Division 1 college scouts have made the trip down Route 109 to see the Mohawks play. From Boston College to Harvard, Michigan to Ohio State, there is increasing interest in the blue-collar work ethic of the Millis High junior.

Interestingly, Baker’s football career almost ended before it began. “I played one year of Pop Warner football in second grade. I didn’t like it. I didn’t like the coach, the game or anything about it,” he remembered with a sly grin.

(Josh Perry/Hometown Weekly
Publications)

It was Baker’s older brother Dave that brought him back to the field in seventh grade. At the time, the Millis program needed players and Jon would join his brother on the field and practice against the varsity. Dave, who just finished his senior season as a lineman at Williams College and is planning on attending medical school, inspired Jon on and off the field.

“He taught me mostly everything I know,” explained Baker.

He added, “He taught me stance, steps, position... everything. Besides that, he taught me how to lift, which is probably the most important thing.”

Baker is also following his brother’s example in the classroom as an honors student carrying a 4.0 grade point average. This will impact his potential college choice. Baker is looking for a school that combines great academic standards with a strong football pedigree.

When asked about the rigors of the recruiting process, Baker shrugged. He seems at ease with the attention and managing the distractions of deciding his future. He chuckled, “It gets a little intense sometimes, but I guess it’s a good problem to have.”

He hopes to make a decision before his senior season begins, although it is hard to pinpoint where that choice may take him. Baker expresses no bias towards region or particular alliance as a fan of any program. In fact, rather than being overwhelmed by the possibilities presented to him, Baker has come to a mature understanding that he holds the power and it is better to have many options than none.

“It’s a good challenge,” Baker remarked about the attention his recruitment has drawn on the field. “You have to step up and you have to be on your ‘A’ game all the time. It’s nice extra motivation sometimes, but I try not to think about it and just play football – be an ordinary high school kid.”

The success of the Millis-Hopedale program has certainly helped promote the talent of its players. If not for the two schools combining three years ago, there may not be a football team at Millis High. While the Mohawks success as a co-op program has drawn some detractors claiming that it is an unfair advantage, Baker sees the partnership as necessary to compete.

“I wouldn’t say it’s an advantage,” he argues. “I think it brings us closer to the level of other teams just having the guys, you know, even to practice with. But, it’s definitely a great thing.”

He points to another characteristic of the team as the real reason behind back-to-back playoff appearances: “A lot of guys working hard and it paid off.”

Baker invokes the gritty, hard-working ethos of Millis (and Hopedale) as an underlying factor to the team’s success. The industrial, blue-collar attitudes of the community are embodied on the football field by Baker and the Mohawks. While discussing the recruiting process, the connection between the town and Baker is obvious. While some top prospects would look for a bigger or more illustrious program to showcase their skills, he dismisses the idea and says that it was never an option.

“I could never leave here. I just couldn’t see myself anywhere else. Hopefully, if we get a little attention and the coaches stopping by notice other kids… that’s great,” said Baker.

Local athletes in a variety of sports are finding more opportunities to make the jump to the Division 1 level. Part of the reason for the increased attention on smaller school programs may be the proliferation of media outlets covering high school sports and a greater depth to the reporting. There are also local coaching connections to the area, such as Penn State head coach Bill O’Brien, that have dragged scouts from major college programs into small towns, like Millis, across New England.

Coach Olmsted has helped lead Millis-Hopedale to
consecutive playoff appearances by instilling the
mentality that hard work pays off.
(Tony Risica Photography)

As Baker mentions, “There are great players everywhere. It doesn’t really matter where you’re playing.”

Even with the increased competition to find recruits, it is still rare to see a Millis High athlete drawing the marquee college programs that have come to see Baker play. Seeing one of their own playing on Saturdays can only be a boon for the Mohawks, who are trying to increase participation from younger players.

Baker recognizes his role in bringing younger players into the program and being an ambassador for the Mohawks in the community. It is a status he relishes.

“We’ve got some young talent coming up, which I’m excited to see and, especially on the line, looking forward to working with,” he noted. “I’m really looking forward to my senior season, hopefully we can win the Super Bowl.”

When the Mohawks take the field next season, all eyes will be on their D1 prospect. Teams will see the giant maroon and blue number 77 in the center of the line and focus all their energy on trying to stop him.

Jon Baker is going to be ready for them.

Amid the din of everyday locker room activity, the distinctive clank of weights echoes. Alone in the weight room the hard work continues.

After all, according to Baker, that is what Millis is all about.