Former Millis Soccer Star Brings Home National Title

Walpole native and Millis High alum Olivia Zitoli (far right) won the Division III national title with the William Smith women's soccer program. 

(Larry Radloff/D3Photography.com) 

On August 30, the William Smith women’s soccer team lost its season opener 2-1 against the College of New Jersey. The Herons would not lose another game this season.

William Smith went on to win the Division III national title with a 2-0 victory over Trinity in San Antonio in December. It was the first national title for the program since 1988 and at the heart of the Herons success was former Millis High standout Olivia Zitoli.

“I just fell down because it was so much to handle,” said Zitoli about the reaction to the final whistle in the championship game. “I’m home on break and it’s just now starting to sink in.”

She continued, “Sometimes it seems like the longest road ever…after four months, your body has taken a beating and it was just emotional and exhausting. It’s just a whirlwind of emotions and you don’t fully grasp what you’ve done in the moment.”

Zitoli, who won basketball and soccer state titles in 2009 at Millis, was not just a squad member, but also a senior captain and a rock in the heart of a defense that recorded a program record 21 shutouts in 25 games this season. For her extraordinary efforts, Zitoli was named a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) DIII All-American, Liberty League Player of the Year and the National DIII Player of the Year.

“They were awards that I never thought that I would achieve,” said Zitoli. “When I came out of Millis, I was a really solid athlete but I wasn’t the most technical or talented soccer player. I just thought that I would contribute to my team and I never really thought that I would become an All-American.”

She added, the shake of her head audible over the phone, “Even when I got it…I just couldn’t believe it.”

William Smith head coach Aliceann Wilber, who has been in charge for 34 years and amassed over 480 wins, was also surprised by her star defender’s award haul, but she had no doubt that it was deserved.

“Those are difficult achievements for her to reach and I don’t think any of us carried the individual stuff through the season,” said Wilbur from January’s NSCAA convention in Philadelphia. “People started paying attention to the defensive effort and how consistently we were doing it and Olivia was certainly the fulcrum.”

“Her influence on the team had a tremendous impact on how far we went and how we did it,” she added.

Zitoli modestly, and with sincerity, passed along much of the credit to her teammates for the accolades that have come her way this season.

“I keep telling people that I wish I could share it,” she remarked. “My position in the back line and all the shutouts and the different stats that we got was really a reflection on the back line and on the team as a whole. I know that I was a senior and the most experienced, but I couldn’t have done it without everyone else.”

This was the third trip to the Final Four for the Herons in Zitoli’s four-year career and both coach and player admitted that, coming into the season, the national title was no more than a token goal for the team. But, once the Final Four had been reached, the Herons set their sights squarely on bringing home the prize and to do it for all those that had not been able to win it during their careers.

“A lot of our team this year was juniors who had been there in their freshman year with a huge senior class and we fell short,” Zitoli explained. “They had to watch their captains and leaders and it was devastating. We wanted to kind of win it for all the people who had fallen short in the previous years.”

Even in the midst of winning a national title, Zitoli always looked back at her time in Millis for inspiration. “When I went to the Final Four this year, I had the sense of ‘I’ve been here before’ and it wasn’t because I had been there with William Smith, but because I have been in big games with Millis where we were even more of an underdog.”

__________________________________

       

Former Millis High star Olivia Zitoli was named the DIII Player of the Year.    
Larry Radloff/D3Photography.com

      

      Seeds for success were sown in Millis

“There are very few Olivia Zitoli’s out there and that’s why there are very few national champions,” said Chuck Grant, Director of Student Affairs at Millis High. “We were very lucky to have her here at Millis.”

The feeling is mutual.

“There still hasn’t been anything in my life that has meant as much to me as those two titles in Millis,” Zitoli asserted. “My experiences in Millis were unlike anything that I’ve ever had and those titles and those teams and those coaches and that community…I still reflect on that a lot because I just credit those coaches and those teammates for so much of my success.”

The experiences that Zitoli shared with Millis almost did not happen. A resident of Walpole, Zitoli went to school in her hometown through sixth grade. Because of her age, she repeated sixth grade and made the decision to go to Millis Middle School where her father had been  principal for more than a decade. It was a decision that she never regretted and several years later would be a momentous decision for Millis High girls’ athletics when the Class of 2010 began winning titles.

After the volleyball team took home a state title, the basketball team, with Zitoli a prominent member, brought home a title in 2009. That fall, the girls’ soccer team added a second championship to her high school resume. Grant marveled at that amount of great athletes that were part of that class and credits Zitoli for being one of the leaders that drove the Mohawks to success.

“It was her influence during those summer fitness camps that they run,” Grant noted. “She wasn’t a very vocal leader, just a good captain. She did the extra that puts her into the upper echelon -- it’s no fluke.”

Zitoli’s college coach saw similar qualities during her four years with the Herons. “She’s mature beyond her years for one thing and her ability to influence her peers for better behavior, better performance, better perspective  -- you can’t put a value on that,” said Wilbur. “She set the tone for the work rate and she’s just such a great leader.”

Wilbur added, “How she managed the team off the field, the guidance that she gave and the role-modeling that she did, we’re going to miss all of that.”

Ever modest about her achievements, Zitoli was quick to praise the coaches and players that influenced her during high school, but as Wilbur noted about her first meeting with Zitoli four years ago, “We can all recognize something special when we’re in front of it and she’s just a very special person.”

Zitoli stressed, “I learned so much from the coaches at Millis about team chemistry, work ethic, and leadership and I think a lot of that, when I went to college, I was really lucky. I realized even more so after the fact how special my high school experience was when I talked to my college friends.”

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 Olivia Zitoli and her William Smith teammates celebrate the DIII national title.

(Larry Radloff/D3Photography.com)

      Developing a national championship leader

On the night before the Final Four began in San Antonio, the NSCAA hosted a banquet to honor each of the teams that would be competing. One person from each team was chosen to represent his or her school and give a speech. It should be no surprise at this point that Zitoli represented William Smith.

After several standard fare speeches -- filled with references to the achievements of teammates or the qualities of particular coaches -- Zitoli walked to the podium and addressed the crowd. Watching the speech on YouTube, Grant commented that her words made him even more proud than the title that would be won two days later.

“It’s always about her teammates,” said Grant. “She’s a big picture person and has a great head on her shoulders. She realized early on that if ‘we’ win then accolades would come to the leader.”

“Mine stood out because it was a little bit longer and it focused on the over-arching theme of athletics and leadership and being a Division III student-athlete,” explained Zitoli. “I talked about coaches and how they helped us with our moral growth and how the lessons that we learned in athletics will help us beyond soccer.”

Leadership is a word that comes up in every conversation about Zitoli. When asked what makes her such a great captain and team leader, Grant replied, “She treated sophomores like she did seniors. She made everyone feel comfortable and part of the team and accept their roles on the squad to work together as a whole.”

Wilbur was asked the same questions and responded, “She doesn’t have an ego, so the team is happy to follow her thoughts and her suggestions because they always trust that it’s for ‘the we, not the me.’ She can be very compelling.”

Zitoli has worked for years on her leadership skills and does not hesitate to say that she embraces that role on the team and works hard so that her teammates will embrace her and the message that she tries to get across.

“For me, the most important thing overall was my teammates and having a strong relationship with them,” Zitoli said. “I think I gained a lot of respect from my teammates because I was consistent and because I cared a lot about what my teammates were going through on and off the field.”

“In Millis and at William Smith we were blessed to have great people. We were very talented, but we had some of the best people too.”

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D3 National Player of the Year Olivia Zitoli.
(Larry Radloff/D3Photography.com)

       Putting Millis on the map

During her winter break, Zitoli returned to the high school where it all began and visited her former basketball team. She proudly pointed out that the current crop of Mohawks were still doing the same pre-game ritual that was started by the 2009 champions.

For Zitoli, even a national title pales in comparison to her time walking the halls at Millis.

“I walk into that school and my heart aches,” she admitted. “It’s home; it’s so comfortable. I feel like every lesson that I ever learned happened there.”

“It’s something that I think about all the time -- honestly all the time -- about how fortunate I was and just how lucky I was to go to Millis and to have those athletes when I went.”

Grant marveled, “For a small school to be a steppingstone to that level of achievement and then she set the standards for the school. In fact, it’s something that we share with the whole [Tri-Valley League].”

Zitoli concluded, “It was great to be a part of getting Millis back on the map because they had some rough years. We made a statement that it can be done and that we don’t always have to be an underdog because we’re small.”

Story was originally published in Millis/Medway Community Guide by Hometown Weekly Publications.

Millis took home the 2009 state title in soccer. 

(Photo courtesy of Olivia Zitoli)

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.

Kevin Lynch Finding Gridiron Success in Poland

Kevin Lynch leading the Warsaw Eagles. Photo Courtesy of Kevin Lynch.

Medfield High graduate Kevin Lynch put together a stellar rookie season for the Warsaw Eagles in the Polish League Football Americansky on the heels of a record-breaking three years at Southern Connecticut State University. The former Warriors quarterback led the Eagles to the PFLA championship game and threw for nearly 30 touchdowns in his first season in Europe.

Lynch, who became the starting quarterback at Medfield High in his sophomore season, was not a top college quarterback prospect when he left the Warriors after a 9-2 season in 2005, despite being named Tri-Valley League MVP for his performances under center and as the team’s starting middle linebacker. Instead of heading right to the collegiate level, Lynch took a year of prep school at New Hampton. He credits that year for “paving the way” to the success he found at Southern Connecticut.

“The year of prep school really enabled me to learn the game more but also allowed me to focus on my studies. All in all it was a great experience for me,” said Lynch by email from Poland. As great as his prep school experience was, Lynch was forced to make another jump when he arrived in college, “The schemes of the plays are much more complex and it is really like a full time job when you play in college. I learned a lot in prep school but really learned a lot about the game once I got on campus my freshman year of college.”

Lynch set numerous records in his time at Southern Connecticut State.
Photos courtesy of SCSU Athletics.

His former coach at Medfield High, Mike Slason raved about Lynch’s technique, intelligence, and attitude, although there was a wry chuckle when describing his athleticism, “I was skeptical at first. He doesn’t have great speed, but we ran the option with him and he was so mechanically sound. Our fullback was tackled so many times because of his fakes. He ran everything to a T.”

In three seasons at Southern Connecticut, Lynch became a star. His 42 touchdown passes rank fifth in the program’s history, and he is third overall in career pass completions, attempts, and yardage. This past season he led the Owls to a 7-3 record and was given an invitation to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Senior Bowl in South Carolina. Lynch was named MVP of the Division II versus NAIA Senior Bowl.

It was in South Carolina that the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Lynch was first introduced to the general manager of the Warsaw Eagles, Jacek Sledzinski. Prior to that meeting, Lynch says that he had given no thoughts to playing past college.

Although Europe has grown as a destination for aspiring basketball players that just miss out on the NBA and is considered the pinnacle for those pursuing a career in soccer, it is rare for a football player to seek out an opportunity overseas. In the PFLA, four American players are allowed on the roster, but only two can be on the field at one time. The hope is that by limiting the amount of Americans there will be an increase in interest from local Polish players.

With a contract offer on the table from the Eagles, Lynch spent hours with his family and friends to decide if this was the right move. “To be honest there was some hesitation about playing in Europe, it took me a couple of days of talking to my family and people I respect to realize that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.”

The guarantee of a starting spot at quarterback helped to convince Lynch that moving to Warsaw would be the right option for his career. It also helped to know that his family could follow his success on the field through the Warsaw Eagles Facebook page and website (www.warsaweagles.com), which offered live streaming of all of the team’s games.

It is rare for a local high school quarterback to make it to the professional level, but Slason is not surprised that Lynch has succeeded, “No one has the passion for football that he does. There was never a day that he didn’t want to play. He is a true student of the game.”

Lynch led Eagles to the championship game in the Polish League.

The Eagles, led by Lynch’s 26 regular season touchdown passes, finished 8-2 and qualified for the postseason. The Eagles beat the Wroclaw Devils 37-20 in the semifinals, but at Warsaw’s National Stadium on July 15th, Lynch and the Eagles fell to the Gydnia Seahawks 52-37.

Despite the loss in the championship game, Lynch is enjoying his time in Poland and the opportunities to explore Europe. One of the surprisingly fun aspects of playing in Warsaw has been the enthusiasm of the fans, “They are truly passionate about the game of football and I cannot say enough about the support that we get from them. They are like our 12th man out on the field.”

It is a road less traveled that has brought Lynch to his current success. He may not be thinking about next year quite yet and has no illusions about where his career path may end, but he knows that it was only through determination and hard work on and off the field that he has achieved this rare chance:

“I would say to anyone that is interested in playing football at any level is to just give it your best shot, don’t settle for anything. If your goal is to play in college, than you must work for it because there are a lot of other athletes that have the same goal. You must be willing to put in the extra time in the gym and the field when nobody else is around because that will truly make the difference in your ability.”

Mohawks on the Brink

Millis-Hopedale players celebrating a touchdown in their playoff game against Mashpee.

The scoreboard read Mashpee 30 and Millis-Hopedale 12, but anyone who knew the back story, who had seen how hard this team worked to get to this point or who had watched the program dwindle to near-extinction could be forgiven for not caring about the final score.

The players hung around the field long after the final whistle as though clinging to the season; willing it to continue just a little longer. Eventually, with tears streaming down many of their faces, the team made its way to the locker room, to the buses, and to the adoring fans who knew that it does not get much better than this.

Senior captain Jimmy Perkins encapsulated the feelings of the team after the game: “Looking back, you can’t be mad at what we accomplished. I wasn’t mad about losing, just that the road had come to an end.”

It is only in looking back on the road that brought Millis football to the brink of the Super Bowl that one can understand why the community valued the shared experience far more than winning or losing.

The threat of extinction makes everything relative.

*******

In the summer of 2009, Head Coach Dale Olmsted held a mandatory meeting for anyone interested in becoming a member of the Mohawks. Only 18 players showed up.

“It was very disappointing for kids and coaches,” said Olmsted. “Lifting and coaching clinics start in February and every year it decreased. Kids were reluctant to come out because of the way the team was getting beaten.”

A demographic shift had hit the town of Millis over the preceding decades and a lack of growth in the community was finally affecting the high school population. With only 199 boys in the school, there was a small pool to choose from. Smaller numbers meant success on the field was less likely, which led to even fewer students wanting to play.

It was a vicious cycle that school administrators feared might trickle down from athletics to the overall school population. According to Principal Bob Mullaney, “There are no conclusive statistics, but it’s a concern that with no football program, we would certainly have kids moving out of the district.”

Following the meeting in August, it was clear something drastic needed to be done to save football at Millis High. Dennis Breen, then principal of Hopedale High, approached Mullaney at a principal’s conference and suggested the idea of pooling resources. Hopedale, without a football program of its own, could supply players and Millis could supply the infrastructure to get the team on the field.

Breen, who is currently the Superintendent of Schools in Hopedale, was a former Millis captain and saw an opportunity to save his alma mater while giving his students “a great opportunity.” He added, “Hopedale was never going to be big enough to support a football team and I felt this would be a good marriage.”

The idea intrigued Millis Athletic Director Chuck Grant; but with only a few weeks until the first game there were a number of details that needed to be worked out before approaching parents in either town. Fortunately, in 2009 the Tri-Valley League had split into two divisions, meaning that the combined Millis-Hopedale team would not have to compete with D1 programs like Holliston and Hopkinton for a playoff berth.

With the playoff situation already settled prior to the proposed merger, the MIAA worked quickly to assist the schools so the season could begin without a hiccup. Olmsted put it succinctly: “It was better than thinking about it. There was no time, we had to just react to the situation.”

Despite the logistics of creating a practice schedule, finding rides for the players from Hopedale, buying uniforms, and a thousand other details that still needed to be worked out, the two schools were in agreement that this was the right path.

Now they just had to convince the players and their families.

Tri-Valley League MVP Jimmy Perkins races in for a touchdown on Thanksgiving Day

against Medway. Perkins rushed for over 1,600 yards on the season

*******

It had been five years since Millis had last beaten Norton. Two wins to begin the year, over Latin Academy and Carver, had given the team confidence but everyone knew that in order to win the TVL and to reach the playoffs, they had to go through the Lancers.

On a muddy Adams Field the Mohawks would announce to the rest of the league that there was a new contender for the crown.

Jimmy Perkins, Millis’ 5-foot-7 running back, set the tone for the game with a 43-yard halfback option pass for a touchdown on the first series, and the team never looked back. Perkins would rush for 195 yards and three scores and the Mohawks secured the victory that pushed them to the top of the TVL standings.

“Norton was the defining game when we knew we had the chance to be special,” said senior captain and linebacker Mike Meuse. “I had been to the Super Bowl three times in Pop Warner, and I wanted to win again.”

*******

The immediate reaction from the players and their families when the plan for a merger was presented in late August of 2009 was not outright hostility, but it was certainly cautious. The combination of Principal Breen’s knowledge of Millis High and the no-nonsense honesty of Coach Olmsted had to serve as a balm to ease some of their fears.

“We hated it. Some town we never even heard of is going to be playing with us,” said Meuse.

According to Perkins, “At first we were all hesitant just bringing in another town to play with us. We all wanted to make sure no one from Hopedale took one of our spots.”

In meetings with parents from both towns Grant, Breen, and Olmsted emphasized the similarities between Hopedale and Millis. These are two small, working-class towns that missed the technology boom and the development that came along with it. These are blue-collar towns that share the toughness and love for community that is the backbone of small, formerly industrial, New England towns.

Once the players got on the field all the concerns melted away. Suddenly, they were Mohawks and it did not matter which town they came from because once they put on the Millis-Hopedale jersey they were a team. Mullaney noted, “The kids right from the start got along great. They all love football and that is their common bond,”

The Millis and Hopedale communities had little time to acclimate to the radical changes before the 2009 season began, but once the season was underway there was no question that the right move had been made.

“Proud is an understatement,” said Grant. “The carpools, donating gas money to get to practices, all with no guarantee of anything more than getting in shape.  Coach Olmsted deserves credit for inspiring the kids to come back to the program without the guarantee of winning.”

The merger was given credibility with the players because the coaches ensured that everyone was treated the same. Being late to a practice held the same punishment whether battling traffic from Hopedale or getting stuck in the hallways at Millis. Players were given the same opportunities and worked just as hard regardless of what color jersey they wore in other sports. Instead of focusing on the separate schools, the coaches forced the players to concentrate on the shared goals of attendance, grades, and winning football games.

Coach Dale Olmsted's honesty and focus on putting the best team on the field

helped ease tensions between players.

*******

“Westwood was the best game,” said Mike Muese, the league’s Defensive MVP. “They have this giant sledgehammer they put on midfield. We haven’t won there in years and it was pouring rain. That was great.”

Winning against the TVL’s expected champion was a giant step but it was the game against Westwood that would give the Mohawks legitimacy with a much wider audience. As Grant put it, “The win over Westwood showed we belonged.”

The Mohawks jumped on top early with quarterback Bay Tangney finding Derek Latosek for a score. Then sophomore defensive lineman Jon Baker recovered a fumble deep in Wolverines’ territory. Perkins, the league’s Offensive MVP, powered his way into the end zone from two yards out giving Millis-Hopedale a 12-0 lead.

A 38-minute lightning delay following the score stalled the Mohawks momentum and seemed an omen of a Westwood comeback as the Wolverines got on the board several plays later. The Mohawks defense fought through the conditions and Joey Meuse had a key interception to preserve a reputation-building win for the squad.

*******

Following a 3-8 season in 2010, the second year of the merger, Coach Olmsted and his staff implemented a strict off-season workout program at Joel St. Cyr’s Sports Performance Academy in Franklin. The program put the players through weeks of grueling, early Saturday morning lifting sessions. The team was pushed to its limits as the coaches knew that only through hard work in the gym could the team change its fortunes on the field.

“These are blue-collar towns with tough kids who are willing to put in the work,” said Olmsted. “We had been under .500 for almost a decade and the hard work put in the foundation for a great season.”

The work in the gym brought the team even closer. Players from both towns proved to each other the lengths they would go to in order win. “The Hopedale kids showed they were willing to bleed for us,” said Meuse. “It’s nice knowing someone has your back and is willing to put in the work.”

Perkins agreed, “The off-season workouts were the main difference (between 2010 and 2011). We did it as a team and it was really important that we had done it together.”

For Grant the work itself was an achievement, whether it translated to wins on the field or not, “These kids learned to never stop working hard. Winning football games won’t make you successful but working hard will.”

The hard work in the gym was important, but there were also signs of improvement on the field. The team made a late season run that, because of numerous injuries to upperclassmen, had given the younger players much needed experience. There was confidence flowing throughout the program for the first time in years and, before the 2011 season began, Coach Olmsted walked into Chuck Grant’s office to predict that this season, “We’re going to make some noise.”

*******

“Alumni kept coming up to us before the game to tell us how important this game was,” said Perkins. According to Meuse, “Alumni kept coming up to thank us for getting us back on the map.”

The Thanksgiving Day game is a rich tradition in Massachusetts and for most schools, Millis included, it is the biggest rivalry. It is a game that gets circled on the schedule before all others. The cliché is that Millis-Hopedale can go 1-10 as long as that one victory is the Medway game. Unfortunately it had been eight years since the last Mohawks win in the 82-year rivalry.

It was another rainy day, another muddy field, and another performance to force people to take notice of the newly-crowned TVL small division champions. The 2011 Mohawks had taken on a ‘team of destiny’ look and on Thanksgiving morning at Welch Field they once again stepped up and wrote a new chapter in their incredible comeback story.

After a Perkins touchdown and an Ian Strom touchdown reception made it 12-0, Medway cut the lead with a dramatic 90-yard kick-off return. In most seasons this would be the point where Millis faltered and the Mustangs pushed on to take the win, as they had done 46 other times in the series.

This was not ‘most’ seasons.

Millis-Hopedale took their very next drive 54 yards on six plays for the touchdown that put the game away. Tangney dove for the score from one-yard out, which allowed the home crowd to exhale and celebrate the win over their archrivals.

Now the Mohawks could turn their focus to the Division 4 playoffs against unbeaten Mashpee.

*******

There was a time when Millis football making it to the playoffs was not only unsurprising- it was expected. Historically Millis was a powerhouse in the Tri-Valley League and it is a history that Coach Olmsted and the program hope to recapture.

Under legendary coach Ernie Richards the Mohawks won numerous league titles, a state title in 1980, and had an undefeated season in 1994. The program’s last trip to the Super Bowl was 1999. Twelve years does not seem that long ago, but considering the circumstances, it might as well have been the 19^th century.

The players were always reminded of their part in the Millis High legacy. The coaching staff was filled with former Millis players including Brian Rizzutti, Class of ’90, Jack O’Rourke, Class of ’69, and James Heffernan, Class of ’00. There was no attempt to forget the past. History was used as an added spur to push the players to greater success.

If the players needed more incentive they only needed to walk the halls on the Monday after a big win. With banners adorning the walls, students cheering them on, and the instant cache that football confers, more than any other high school sport, the players became superstars within the small communities of Millis and Hopedale.

Both principals saw this impact the first week of the school year. Bob Mullaney commented, “When you begin the year with a successful football team it adds to the spirit. It’s another reason for kids to want to come to school.”

Dennis Breen, who watched football transform the spirit of his students when it was introduced in 2009, said, “Sometimes starting back at school can be tough, but success on the field can create a camaraderie, a spirit in the building unlike any of the other sports. This season has been so much fun.”

The Friday Night Lights phenomena is not limited to the Southern U.S., but is played out in different ways throughout the country. With little to do on a Friday night in Millis, the whole community packs into Welch Field and cheer on their team, visits the concession stand, purchases their new maroon and blue sweatshirts, and provides inspiration for even more success.

Chuck Grant points out that the benefits extend beyond the confines of athletics, “It gives the players instant credibility at the school. It creates instant leaders in the classrooms. If you see the captains behaving a certain way then the other players will follow suit.”

******

As the fans piled out of Taunton High School there was no discussion about 2009, there was no talk about whether the Hopedale players were needed, and there was no mention of the still-unbeaten Mashpee Falcons. This was a maroon-and-blue army full of proud smiles, even in defeat.

Mashpee advanced to Gillette Stadium with a 30-12 win, but on the Mohawks sideline there were no regrets about the loss. There was no disappointment at not taking the final step to the Super Bowl, only recognition of their achievement at having come so far.

Coach Olmsted emphasized, “We are not trying to have great seasons. The goal is to make a great program.”

The Millis-Hopedale Mohawks brought two communities together, created a team, and saved a historic football program that was in danger of disappearing. Along the way, they proved that hard work and perseverance could accomplish great things.

From the work of Chuck Grant in those few weeks before the 2009 season, to the parents who made sure the players made it to each practice on-time, to the coaching staff pushing each player to reach his fullest potential, to the players giving up their Saturday mornings for a punishing workout program, the Mohawks are a study in power of determination.

The story of the 2011 Millis-Hopedale Mohawks ended without the ultimate prize, but the players are not disappointed. They understand that sometimes it is the path that you take that matters far more than the trophies that get handed to you at the end.

Jimmy Perkins, the Boston Globe and Boston Herald All-Scholastic and Tri-Valley League MVP: “I wasn’t mad that we lost, just that road had come to an end. I think about it everyday. It was the best experience of my life. I couldn’t ask for anything more from my senior year.”

Fellow captain Mike Meuse, the Tri-Valley League Defensive MVP and TVL All-Star: “I cried after the (Mashpee) game not because we didn’t go to the Super Bowl but because we wouldn’t have anymore practices- that the season was over. I cried because I wouldn’t be with my brothers anymore.”

Ed. note- Special thanks to Dennis Breen, Chuck Grant, Bob Mullaney, Dale Olmsted, Jimmy Perkins, and Mike Meuse for agreeing to be interviewed for the story. Also, thanks to Michelle Jones and Tony Risica Photography for the images used in the article.

Mohawks on the Brink (Layout)

Here's the layout to my article on the Millis-Hopedale Mohawks and their path from near extinction to the brink of a Super Bowl appearance. I'm going to post another blog later with text that's a little bit easier to read.

Attleboro seniors discuss interesting four years

The 2011-12 basketball season has come to a close for the Attleboro High Lady Bombardiers and with it the four-year varsity careers of senior captains Emily Mayer and Savannah Boyle. The pair walked straight into the varsity squad as freshman on a team that went on to win the Old Colony League title despite only totaling eight regular season wins and even won a playoff game before nearly pulling off a remarkable upset at the #1-seed, Bridegwater-Raynham.

It must have seemed as though the program was about to take off, but instead, a tumultuous four years later, the girls would struggle to win as many games in the rest of their careers as they did in their first season alone. Following their last home game as Attleboro High basketball players, Emily and Savannah graciously answered questions about their four years at Attleboro High, the coaching changes, and their memories from four years as Lady Bombardiers:

How difficult was it as a freshman to walk right on to the varsity team?

S.B.- It was scary at first, but the girls were so easy to get along with, and the team really welcomed me in. The only thing that was difficult was getting used to the fast pace.

E.M.- My goal had always been to make varsity as a freshman, and I became especially motivated during the summer before 8^th grade, when Savannah and I were asked to play in a few varsity summer league games. We played pretty good, and at that point, I think we realized that making the team after another year of middle school could be a reality. Going into tryouts, I was definitely nervous, but felt confident that I could hang with the older girls.

What has been the biggest improvement in your game in your four years?

S.B. - My leadership and outside shooting.

E.M. - Season after season, I’ve focused on making quicker decisions: shooting, passing, and moving at a faster pace. While I am by no means the fastest one on the court, I think my decision-making is one of my greatest assets, and I feel confident knowing and anticipating what move I intend to make with the ball.

Your first season was probably the deepest team in recent years and even won a road playoff game at Franklin; did you feel like you would make the playoffs and be successful every year?

S.B. - That was quite a special team. Of course I hoped for the same success each year, but we lost a lot of talent.

E.M. - It felt great to be on a successful team as a freshman, and of course I hoped that the tradition of winning would continue throughout my high school career.  However, knowing that the entire team was graduating except for Savannah and me gave us the realistic view that the remaining seasons would definitely become a lot tougher and more challenging…

Since that crop of seniors left the team has struggled, what do you think has been the reason for that?

E.M. - The leadership and experience of those eight seniors were invaluable to our team during my freshman year. They had been playing together since middle school, and each player brought a different strength to the team, whether it was Jenna’s unbelievable quickness or Allie’s height. When they left, there was definitely a lack of experience, and it took time for most of the girls to become accustomed to playing at the varsity level.

What are your thoughts about playing under Coach Riley?

E.M. - I had a great experience playing for Coach Riley for three years. I think he was a dedicated coach, putting all of his time and effort into our program. Each year, he wanted and coached to win, and as a result he would play the girls who were going to be most effective at working towards that goal. I respected his patience with having such an inexperienced team, and I appreciated his commitment as he tried to get the best basketball out of each player.

S.B. - I respect Coach Riley and appreciate everything he has done for me. He always pushed me to strive for the best, and helped me to improve my game.

Were you excited when you heard that Missy Traversi would be taking over the program?

S.B. - Honestly I was nervous at first, but from the minute she introduced herself I could tell she had a serious love for the game and wouldn’t quit until she taught us everything she could, and made us the best we could be.

E.M. - I had heard and known of Coach growing up; playing against her AAU teams and listening to her speak when I was in middle school. I was confident that she would bring an abundance of positive change to our program, and looked forward to working with and learning from her in the upcoming season.

Was it difficult going into your senior year knowing that such a drastic change was being made to the program?

E.M. - At first, I was definitely unsure of what my senior season would be like.  It was more the fear of the unknown, and honestly I’m not one for change, but after a few practices I knew everything was going to work out for the best and I became pretty excited to have a new atmosphere around our team.

S.B. - I tend to let things (roll) off my back. My focus was on my game, and what I could do to improve. I just wanted to play the best for my team because that’s all I could control.

What has been the biggest difference between this season under Coach Traversi and the years under Coach Riley?

S.B. - Coach Traversi is more of a strengthening and conditioning coach, but other than that they both love coaching the game of basketball, and would do anything to make us a better player.

Is there a benefit to having a female coach and does it impact on how you relate to them as a coach?

S.B. - Yes, because it’s great to have a female role model to look up to. Also they can understand us more as female athletes.

E.M. - I think that female coaches tend to pay closer attention to team bonds and issues, and work to make sure the girls are positively communicating and interacting. Being able to admire a female role model is also beneficial, as we try to grow into leaders and influential women ourselves.

What were your thoughts when you heard that Bri Hochwarter had been injured during the summer? Do you think that this season would've been a little different if you had Bri on the court?

S.B. - Bri’s a nice girl, good player and a great teammate. You feel for the girl having to miss a whole season. Not once did she let her injury bring her down, instead she worked hard to get better and has always been there to support the team. We could have used her shooting, especially in those close games. Also if we had her I think it would have relieved pressure off our point guards.

E.M. - It was a huge shock finding out that Bri was injured during one of our summer league games. It’s terrible when anyone gets hurt, and of course I felt awful that one of my teammates was going through such a painful experience. Bri was a huge contributor to our team’s offense and scoring column, so we definitely lost a key shooter. As a result, the team had to find other ways to score, and I think a variety of players were able to step up during the season.

When you began you walked onto a team that had a lot of seniors, what have you learned in your four years to be the leaders and captains this season?

E.M. - Our freshman year, the seniors were like big sisters to Savannah and I. They watched out for us, both on and off the court, and were excellent role models. Going into my senior year, I knew I wanted to emulate how those eight seniors behaved and acted.  With a young team, I’ve recognized that support and encouragement are of the utmost importance.  I’ve worked to lead by example, and hope that my hard work has inspired my teammates to give their all each and every game.

S.B. - I learned to lead by example, always work hard and to never take any play off. Also that the little extra hustle plays make a big difference.

Where do you see the program heading in the future, is it on the right track?

S.B. - If they can get the youth interested in basketball earlier, there is no doubt in my mind that the program will get better.

E.M. - I think that as the years go on, new groups of talent will move up to the high school, and hopefully propel our team to success.  I have a little sister in 6^th grade, and I’m looking forward to watching her play at the high school in just a few years.

What are your favorite memories from playing at Attleboro?

S.B. - I have so many memories, but my favorite were becoming League Champions my freshman year. Also I won’t forget tying the second best single game performance for AHS with 31 points.

E.M. - Looking back, I know I’ll remember the little things from the past four years: lining up for the national anthem, huddling at center court my freshman year, Coach Riley’s blue bag of candy, hanging my poster on the gym wall, running down the court for warm-ups, the anticipation of hearing my name called in the starting line-up, and even Sunday morning practices. Every year, the team changes and people come and go, but through all of that I’ve always had Savannah, and we experienced the ups and downs of this program together. It’s an unbelievable coincidence that our last game this Wednesday will be played at Durfee High School, which is actually where our high school careers began four years ago.  I’m sure it’ll be a “full-circle” moment that I won’t forget.