Bow News : Bow High School

Defending champ Bow finds its way following April setback

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:22:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Losses are never fun, but Chris Gaudreau can’t deny early-season setbacks have benefitted his Bow boys lacrosse team the last two years.

Despite losing 10 seniors from the 2008 Division II championship squad, Gaudreau, who coaches the Falcons with his brother Steve, said this year’s unit has shown significant improvement following an 8-6 defeat at Timberlane in its fourth contest.

Since that stumble, Bow has won five straight games and improved its record to 8-1.

On Friday, May 15, the Falcons traveled to Dover, where the Green Wave moved the matchup from afternoon to evening.

“I think they were looking for a playoff atmosphere under the lights,” said Gaudreau.

It certainly provided a litmus test for both squads.

After allowing Dover to score first, the Falcons took a 5-2 lead into the second quarter, held a 7-5 advantage at half time, traded two goals apiece with the Green Wave in the third, and pulled away in the final period for a 12-8 victory.

“That was a real dogfight of a game, but I feel we’ve been playing better and getting better every time out since that early hiccup (against Timberlane),” said Gaudreau. “The challenge is going to be keeping that going and making sure we’re peaking at the right time.”

That’s a reasonable expectation, he said, thanks to the leadership and postseason experience of senior goalie David Bucchino, classmate Sean Dippold, an attacker, and junior backfielder Griffin Sandler, Bow’s three captains.

“All three know what it takes and know what we expect,” said the coach. “They know how to win.”

While Dippold has accumulated 15 goals and 19 assists through nine contests, Alex Davies and Christian Calkins have really sparked Bow’s attack.

Davies, who split time all over the field last season, leads the current squad with 35 goals and 19 assists, while Calkins, who was not with the Falcons in 2008, has contributed 20 tallies.

Junior speedster Greg Bueddeman, on the other hand, has stepped out of the offensive limelight to become a playmaker as the team’s center midfielder.

“For someone who didn’t have a whole lot of experience taking faceoffs in the past, his success in that area is one of the main reasons we’ve had so many quality transition opportunities,” said Gaudreau. “He’s one of the best finishers we’ve ever had here, and he had more than 20 goals last year. We’ve been really impressed with his willingness to change for the sake of the team.”

Junior Chris Roberts, who also started for the locals last season, solidifies the midfield. Defensively, Sandler and sophomore Greg Stevens have saved a backfield almost completely depleted by graduation.

Stevens has utilized superb hands and stickwork to shut down the opposition’s top offensive threats, said his coach.

Though the pieces seem to be falling into place, Gaudreau said the current lot of players still has a lot to prove if a repeat is expected.

“We’re definitely on a similar track (to last year) in that we had that early game where we just didn’t bring it, which seemed to wake us up and give us that drive,” he said. “But … this league is stacked. Every team that makes the playoffs is going to have an extreme fight on its hands. If you don’t put out your best effort, you’re probably going to lose in this league.”

Those contributing for the Falcons for the first time this season include senior Nat Bresler; juniors Curtis Perry, Kyle Tracy, Chad Wilkinson, Jacob Hughes, Collin Evans and Michael Dal Pos; sophomore Dylan Erickson and freshman Brad Clark.

Bow Town Meeting heads for round two

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:04:00 GMT

By MATT SCHOOLEY

Bucking the Town Meeting trend from recent years, Bow voters decided to add money to the operating budget rather than directing selectmen to make significant cuts.

On Wednesday, May 13, residents filled the Bow High School auditorium to vote on the warrant, but the meeting was tabled after four hours of debate that covered only three of the 24 items scheduled for discussion.

The first task voters tackled was the operating budget, which came in at a proposed total of $8,097,886.

Early on in the discussion, an amendment was proposed that would increase the budget by $11,000 to make up for the funds eliminated from Baker Free Library’s collection development fund.

“The library is very important with this economy,” said Baker Free Library Director Lori Fisher. “We have seen more patrons in need of our resources. Please allow us to continue to serve you.”

Voters responded to Fisher’s plea, passing the amendment.

Soon after, another amendment was proposed regarding the operating budget, as Jim Hoffman gave a presentation requesting his fellow voters trim the figure to an even $8 million.

“We’ve seen this request before,” said one voter. “If you want to request a cut, tell us exactly where you wish the 27cut to be.” Board of Selectmen Chairman Leon Kenison echoed this sentiment.

“It’s only fair that anyone who proposes a cut notify us where it should come from so you know the consequences,” said Kenison. By a 310-80 ballot vote, the amendment was rejected and the budget passed with an increase of $11,000 over the Budget Committee’s recommended total.

The next item up for discussion was not as well received, as voters rejected the proposed pay-as-you-throw program, designed to increase recycling and potentially save the town money.

Dee Treybig and members of the recycling committee introduced the program, which would have gone into effect beginning in October.

“This is simple,” said resident Marie Daniels. “It’s the right thing to do. The $5 or $10 savings is secondary.”

Residents were skeptical of the convenience of the program, and it was rejected 225-135.

The final issue addressed before the meeting was put on hold was a cost of living increase that was given to town employees, a 2.25 percent increase for a total sum of about $73,000.

On Wednesday, May 27, the meeting will continue at 7 p.m. at Bow High School.

Bow enters playoffs with win against top seed, losses to lesser foes

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:07:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Call it a roller coaster season. Call it a year of hills and valleys. Call it what you will, but after 18 Division II ice hockey games, Bow finds itself exactly where it is every March … in the playoffs.

Though the Falcons slipped in their regular-season finale at home, 4-2, to three-win Winnacunnet, head coach Tim Walsh quickly noted the setback was no more an indicator of the team’s postseason chances than a 2-1 victory on Jan. 24 against top-seeded Timberlane, the Owls’ lone loss.

“We’ve kind of played to the level of our competition, whether they’re good or they’re not very good, and maybe that’s a good thing for us heading into the playoffs,” said Walsh. “All eight teams can beat all eight teams. It’s crazy this year. It’s wide open.”

After a 4-3-0 start to the season, Bow dropped five consecutive contests and was in danger of missing the playoffs.

But the Falcons proved resilient, putting together a 4-0-1 run to lock up a tournament spot before dropping their final contest by allowing three power-play goals and a late-game empty-netter.

“Right there, today’s game was a microcosm of our whole season. It’s no sense of urgency, it’s not catching passes, it’s not finishing around the net, it’s not picking guys up in the (defensive) zone. That’s why we’re 8-9-1,” said Walsh. “You’d like to think this kind of game would serve as motivation. And I hope it does, but I never like to go into the playoffs not playing our best hockey, and I really don’t think we’ve played our best hockey this year.”

Bow players and coaches know all to well the postseason disappointments of the last five years, which have ended in the D-II semifinals.

Last year’s heartbreak came when the fifth-seeded locals led top-ranked Spaulding by two goals with five minutes remaining in their semifinal matchup.

Two power-play goals and an overtime 2-on-1 breakaway later, the Falcons were sent home, in Walsh’s mind, prematurely.

This year, Bow enters the tournament as the No. 7 seed.

“It’s a different situation for us this year,” said Walsh. “But we’re in, and who knows, maybe we’re going to take a different route this year and it’s going to get us to where we really want to be in the end.”

The Falcons open the playoffs on Saturday, March 7, at Lebanon, a team they lost to, 4-3, on Feb. 4. The puck drops at 4 p.m.

Game notes
Backup netminder Chad Wilkinson stopped 21 shots in the losing effort to Winnacunnet, but he and the Bow defense allowed several second- and third-chance opportunities.

Junior Greg Bueddeman scored both Bow goals. Senior captain Matt Champagne and sophomore John Fanaras assisted on the first with 7:47 remaining in the first period. The second came unassisted, 1:25 into the second period.

Bow girls’ uneven effort – ‘a microcosm of the season’ – produces a win

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:32:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

In case you missed the Bow High School girls basketball season to this point, the Falcons provided a CliffsNotes version against Kingswood.

Much like this season, Bow started slowly, hit the accelerator in the middle of the game and slowed at the end. Facing Kingswood, the Falcons still came away with a 60-51 win on Monday, Jan. 19.

Bow has a pair of 1-2 stretches this season sandwiching a five-game winning streak, and head coach Corey Boilard said the inconsistency in the Kingswood game was an indicator of how things have gone so far this year.

“I guess it was kind of a microcosm of the season so far,” said Boilard. “There were times we were playing strong and went on a run, but then we were inconsistent and couldn’t get a basket or a (defensive) stop.”

The Falcons trailed at the half, 31-27, but pushed their lead to as many 15 in the fourth quarter. However, Bow allowed Kingswood to cut the lead to 55-48 late in the contest before holding on for the win to improve to 7-4.

Maggie Crisman led the team in scoring with 15 during the game, and junior center Kelly Chergey added 14 points, although neither were on the floor in the final minutes after fouling out.

Boilard said the team needed to make mental adjustments in the locker room at halftime. “It’s something we have been struggling with all season,” said Boilard. “The focus and intensity needed to change, and that’s what we talked about at halftime.”

With only five seniors on the team, Boilard said the inconsistency may be a result of youth, although he has been happy with the group’s energy level each game.

Crisman has impressed Boilard so far this season, as she has embraced an aggressive posture on offense.

“She sees the floor so well and has asserted herself as more of a scorer,” said Boilard, who has been pleased with the way the sophomore has filled the box score each night in various categories. “She doesn’t just do a little of everything, she does a lot of everything.”

While Boilard eagerly awaits the time when his young players mature, he refuses to look past the possibilities of the current campaign.

“We can be really good this year, but it’s also exciting to know we can be good for a few years,” he said. “Hopefully we can find some consistency by February because that’s when it matters.”

Bow girls soccer team falls in OT to eventual state runner-up

Bow Editor — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 02:17:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

With the season’s first snowfall as the backdrop, the No. 8 Bow Lady Falcons missed several key opportunities, including a shot off the crossbar late in the second half, and Hollis-Brookline, the ninth-seeded visitors and eventual state runner-up, scored three minutes into sudden death to secure a Class I opening-round victory on Oct. 29.

Still, Bow girls soccer coach Jay Vogt said the season was one of growth, especially for the younger players.

“Some of them started off somewhat tentative, but as the year progressed they became comfortable in their roles and the speed of play and did a great job contributing to the success of our team,” said Vogt.

Though the Lady Falcons lose eight seniors – captains Colby Jacobson, Lauren Allison and Caitlin Pratt, as well as Caitlin Heindl, Mariah Leven, Leanna Shea, Emily Shirlock, and Kate Torres – Vogt said he fully expects his strong crop of juniors to step up and lead the team.

“I expect everyone to take their game to the next level. We were all disappointed in ending our playoff run so early this year, so hopefully that motivates everyone to work hard and come back as better players,” he said. “My expectations are that we will be as competitive next year as we were this year. A lot will depend on what the returning players do from now until the start of tryouts next August, what JV players are ready to step up to varsity and contribute, and if any incoming freshmen can step in and play on the varsity level.”

Expected back next season are juniors Hope Hartley, Hannah Whitley, Lauryn Wheeler, Olivia Foy and Emily Hannon; sophomores Taylor Grip and Kassadi Phelps; and freshmen Rachel Kramer, Kyle Duval, Missy Gloekler and Molly Perkins.

Bow football wins at homecoming

Bow Editor — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 01:11:00 GMT

BY BONA HAYES

Beset with injuries the past three games, a healthier Bow High football squad showed an enthusiastic crowd of fans, alumni and ex-players a balanced offense and strong defense in defeating Division- V foe Epping-Newmarket, 27- 6, at homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 18.

“Because it was homecoming weekend, there were a lot of former players in the stands,” said Paul Cohen, head coach of the Falcons. “Anytime you can win a game like this one, our first divisional win, it means a great deal. This was a true team victory, with many kids contributing to the win on offense, defense and special teams.”

Epping-Newmarket took an early 6-0 lead, but Bow quarterback Austin Hill led the offense to three touchdowns in the second quarter, two on his own runs into the end zone.

Carter Johnson sparked the second-quarter attack with a 50- yard kickoff return. The linemen, led by senior Andy Wieland and juniors CJ Poole, Jake Bailey and Dom Cesarini, helped the team convert a 4th-and-inches, pushing to the 5-yard line.

Senior Scott Brunelle then scored the touchdown. Johnson’s interception at midfield led to the first of HIll’s TD runs, then the defense, keyed by seniors Ian Wedemeyer, Mike Finnegan and Johnson, shut down Epping-Newmarket, stopping a 1st-and-goal from inside the 10- yard line.

“Brunelle was a true juggernaut to the offense. He and Greg Polish had several good running plays,” said Cohen. “We saw some great pass blocking, and the defensive stand the kids made before the half sent a very strong message to our opponents. We were confident, with a mindset that we could turn things around, and we did. The psychological advantage of being ahead at halftime was enormous.”

Wedemeyer ran for the final touchdown of the day for Bow, and senior quarterback Andrew Vinnenberg handled the second-half offense.

“We’ve had to battle back from injuries in the last few weeks, and having most of the squad healthy made a big difference,” said Cohen, whose team moved to 1-4 in D-V and 2-4 overall. “The kids knew it, too, and played with confidence. It was great to have the balance on offense, defense and special teams. It was an important team victory.”

Bow boys soccer team loses again to Pembroke

Bow Editor — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:59:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

This time last year, the Bow boys soccer team had locked up a top-four seed in the Class I tournament, par for the course for George Pinkham’s squad.

Peter Bisson, on the other hand, was completing his first season at the Pembroke Academy helm. His team had shown signs of progress, but were out of playoff contention nonetheless.

This year, things are a little different. Though the Falcons are in the playoffs again, it’s they who are playing the unfamiliar role of underdog while Bisson’s boys continue to crash the Class I party.

In fact, Bow was the first on what’s become a long list of foes to suffer a surprise setback at the hands of the upstart Spartans.

On Aug. 29, PA traveled to Bow to open the season and defeated the defending state runners- up, 2-1.

This time around, the Falcons had a better idea what to expect, yet the result was no different.

Behind three goals from striker Ryan Clark and another from Caleb Bonanno, the Spartans won again on Monday, Oct. 21, 4-0, and improved to 9-3-2, good enough for fourth place.

Bow, now 7-7-1 on the season, was 6-2-1 in nine prior contests and hadn’t given up more than two goals in a game since Sept. 6. Yet Bisson said he had a feeling his players were due for a big performance. Scoring the first goal against Bow’s staunch defense, he said, gave them all the confidence they needed.

“The energy was there. I don’t know if it’s because it was our last home game or what, but if we can maintain that energy and finish teams off, we’ve got a real shot,” said Bisson. “I’ve got a lot of talent and the right players are in the right spots. I’m willing to put it all in their hands.”

Despite the 2-0 record against the Falcons during the regular season, Bisson said that doesn’t mean he’d like to see them again in the playoffs.

“They’re dangerous,” he said. They defend well and they can get forward very quickly. They’re right in there with a lot of good teams that can easily beat you on any given day.”

Pinkham said he’s happy just to be in the playoffs. In fact, he said he hasn’t looked at the standings since mid-September.

“We’ve struggled all year offensively. We know that and we now we need to hold teams down with our defense,” said Pinkham. “I give this Pembroke team credit, the chances they had they finished. They look very strong.”

Bow High School's solid golf season points to lower rounds, higher finish in ’09

Bow Editor — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:45:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

For the Bow golf team, 2008 was a good year. Coach Mike Seraikas said 2009 has the potential to be a great year.

“The kids worked hard, they all improved, and now we’re just looking forward to next season where we’re going to be a year older and a year more experienced,” said Seraikas, who expects to return all but one current player.

Corey Johnson is the lone senior on the Falcons. In his final varsity golf match, at the Class I championship on Thursday, Oct. 2, Johnson turned in an 18-hole 86.

Though that performance didn’t figure into the top five Bow scores, Seraikas credited his captain with keeping teammates loose throughout the season, including when the pressure was greatest.

Ryan Varney and Sam Cole led the unit at this year’s state tournament, which took place at White Mountains Country Club.

Each carded a 79 during day-one competition to make the cut for individual play. Varney finished with a 36- hole total of 160, while Cole tallied a 166.

Others contributing during team play included Jake Hughes, Bruce LaCasse, Ryan Hill, Peter Cummings and Robbie Gunnison, who notched scores of 82, 83, 84, 95 and 95, respectively.

“Some of kids played their best golf of the year at the state tournament, and I’m looking for that same improvement next season,” said Seraikas, who noted scores are down and parity reigns in Class I.

This year’s champion, Lebanon, which turned in a 376 in the finale, graduates seven players. That undoubtedly makes second-place Bedford, which has no seniors and finished eight strokes back, the odds-on favorite.

Seraikas said there’s no reason his young squad can’t compete with the likes of Bedford, Lebanon, Hanover, Hollis-Brookline and St. Thomas next season.

“I feel we can be very competitive and give Bedford a run for their money if the kids continue to work on their games,” he said. “I mean, Bedford got a 384 with all sophomores and juniors … That’s a hard score to beat, but we’re going to try.”

Bow golf team's fast start bodes well for 2008 and beyond

Bow Editor — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:20:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

They’re young. They’re raw. They might just be good enough to surprise some teams in Class I.

Come Oct. 2, when the top golf teams from around New Hampshire meet at White Mountain Country Club to compete for the state championship, Bow coach Mike Seraikas said he fully expects his squad to be in the mix, despite having just one senior.

“This is a good team with a good bunch of kids,” said Seraikas. “I’m really optimistic about this year, but what I’m really looking forward to is next year when they’re all juniors and seniors and we’re that much more experienced.”

The top six golfers, said Seraikas, are pretty well set. Ryan Varney, Jake Hughes, Ryan Hill and Peter Cummings should consistently score in the top five.

Senior captain Corey Johnson and junior Sam Cole are the two most likely candidates to fill out the top five on any given outing, added the coach. Any one of the top six, said their coach, has the talent to compete in the individual tournament. The last couple slots in the lineup are still up in the air.

“What we’ve got is a lot of kids, ninth- and 10th-graders, competing at the bottom of the order,” said Seraikas. “I’m looking for one or two of them to break away from the pack and fill in our No. 7 and No. 8 spots.”

That list includes Bruce LaCasse, Gerald Kuenning, Connor Whalley and Ryan Meaney.

Seraikas said he takes winning seriously but likes to have fun, too, an attitude that clearly rubs off on his golfers. The formula seems to be working.

Through two outings, Bow is 6-0. After demolishing Portsmouth, Laconia and Con-Val, 202 to 215, 229 and 236, respectively, on Sept. 2, the Falcons edged Kearsarge, 208 to 209, and trumped Pelham and Pembroke, which carded 214 and 250, respectively, on Thursday, Sept. 4.

With just two dozen players, Bow football team needs athletes to multi-task

Bow Editor — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:54:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Paul Cohen knows he needs Herculean efforts from the 24 players on his Bow High School football team if the Falcons hope to earn another Division V playoff appearance.

“If I had a big squad, a lot of kids would play one way. We don’t have that, so we have to prepare for each week faced with the reality that we do have a small squad,” said Cohen. “The kids are told that from the first day of camp. You have to be prepared to step into a role that you may not be familiar with.”

One thing the Falcons do have this year is a large amount of veterans who will anchor the team.

Cohen said of the 18 Falcons who are juniors or seniors, he’ll lean heavily on a group of four. Mike Finnegan, Ian Wedemeyer, JP Hodgkins and Andy Wieland captain Cohen’s team.

“I expect big things from those guys, being returning veterans and seniors,” said Cohen. “They showed great leadership, and they’re role models for the younger players. I would expect for their last year at Bow to (be) a great year.”

Junior Tom Poitras should be an offensive force for the Falcons, in more than one way. The tight end is not only a blocking and pass catching threat, but he’ll contribute on special teams as well. As the Falcons kicker, Poitras narrowly missed a 50-yard field goal last season, and Cohen said it had the distance and went slightly wide.

Poitras and fellow tight end Carter Johnson also anchor the Falcons’ defense, and Cohen said he likes having two returning starters in the defensive mix. Cohen expects junior Atticus Swett to pace the Bow offensive attack from the backfield; the running back will see the majority of the carries this year.

Behind center, a position battle is brewing. Senior Andrew Vinnenberg and junior Austin Hill both hope to be named starting quarterback, a competition that Cohen said should benefit the team.

“I think it’s very healthy. We haven’t had very large teams, but where we can have competition for a spot, that’s going to bring out the best in each player,” said Cohen. “It makes for a better player overall. It forces them to take their game to a new level. Without that it’s much more difficult to improve as an athlete.”

While Cohen wouldn’t commit to a win total by year’s end, he said his team is prepared to face the upcoming season, which begins with a tune-up against Division VI foe Fall Mountain on Saturday, Sept. 6. Kickoff is 1:30 p.m.

“We need to be at the top of our game and prepare well every single week. From a physical standpoint I think we’re definitely ready,” said Cohen. “Now we need to work on execution and fine-tune things.”

Bow, with a largely new roster, seeks continued success in Class I boys soccer

Bow Editor — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:48:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

It wasn’t an altogether unfamiliar feeling.

As the Bow boys soccer players sat under their own net, heads hung after a 2-1 season-opening loss on Friday, Aug. 29, to Pembroke Academy, their coach, George Pinkham, stood over them and explained how some of his best squads from the past had overcome early adversity.

Only a few years earlier, he noted, when the Falcons moved up to Class I, they lost their first game of the season to Pelham, a team they dominated annually in Class M.

Yet Bow fell only once thereafter and finished second in the standings.

Prior to starting the soccer program at Bow 11 years ago, Pinkham spent 11 years at Concord. His best season there, he said, came after the Crimson Tide were blown out in their first three contests. They didn’t suffer another setback in the regular season.

So when one of his current players pointed out Bow still has 15 games to play, Pinkham was quick to correct the young man.

“No. We’ve got 15 plus,” he said.

The Falcons, after all, have never missed the postseason, and Pinkham said the expectations are no different this year, despite losing 13 players to graduation – including several all-staters and one all-New Englander – from a team that finished 2007 as runner- up in Class I.

Despite returning just one starter from last season, the team name on the front of the jerseys paints a bull’s-eye on the backs.

“We’ve been in the top four every year since we’ve been in I … Just about every game, going in last year, I expected to win by three or four goals,” said Pinkham. “This year, this team, like tonight, it’s going to be one-goal games, and we’re going to have to fight for everything we get. Nobody is going to look past us.”

Sean Dippold, who started at outside defender the second half of 2007, moves to center midfield this season.

The rest of the players, most of whom played JV last year or only saw action when the team was up several goals, are learning on the fly.

Ian Verderame and Mike Neves captain this year’s squad. Junior Nick Nolin, who scored Bow’s first goal of 2008, and Ian Cascadden, who assisted on the tally, are expected to see plenty of playing time.

Junior goalie Carter Bennett, who turned away several quality PA offerings before allowing two late scores, didn’t play in net until two years ago.

He’s expected to mature into the role as the season progresses, said Pinkham.

Others contributing are Josh Faber, Jake Jensen, Will Stuart, Tyler Blais, James Miller, Ian Kervick- Jimenez, Chris Roberts, Kyle Zaczyk, Ian Kipperman, Greg Wnuk, Tyler Couture, Ted Wyly, Josh Faber, Bryan Barker, Jacob Bull, Eddie Berke, Ethan Johnson, Alex Davies, Josh Serard and Alex Rizzi.

Bow's REACH program piques students’ interests

Bow Editor — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:01:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Thanks to the Bow School District’s REACH Program, students have found themselves in an operating room, performing chemistry experiments and even meeting Gov. John Lynch. Not bad places to be before graduating middle school.

The REACH mentoring programs gives students the chance to expand their interest in areas thanks to the volunteers in a variety of fields.

Small groups of students meet with the mentors usually once a week for about 45 minutes, either before or during school. The students are often recommended to the program by teachers or parents, but Bow Memorial School students often approach coordinator Christy Romano as well.

“I want to provide that opportunity for students who want to go above and beyond. It’s the neatest thing because I have mentors from the community, I have parents, teachers, school board members, high school students,” said Romano. “It’s a great relationship that’s formed. It’s cool to sit down and share that common interest.”

The program is entering its seventh year, and Romano said it helps students continue their learning even when it isn’t going to be seen on a report card.

“There’s no homework, there’s no grades; everyone gets to talk,” Romano said. “In a class, not everyone is going to have that opportunity, so it’s something that has been working.”

Romano organizes a variety of mentors, with topics on math, science, leadership and others.

“Students have the opportunity to learn more about what they’re passionate about and to gain perspective from someone who has a little more to share in that interest,” she said.

Students who took part in the inaugural year of the REACH program are now students in college and, Romano said, many of them are studying the subject they took an interest in during the mentoring sessions. She also said it will be interesting to see where the students currently in the program end up once they head into the professional world.

“Maybe we have some early engineers or doctors in the program,” said Romano.

Students have now returned to school following their summer breaks, and Romano has already been working to get mentors for children in the program.

“It’s nice to have the summer to reflect on the year and what I would do differently, and then you get rejuvenated,” said Romano. “You start talking to people, and I have already talked to about a half dozen people for mentoring, and four have said yes.”

With the first bell ringing each year comes a new challenge for the students, and for Romano.

“I know I’ll have kids who will be so excited to be a part of the groups. It’s something new and exciting each year, and every year it’s different,” said Romano. “No year has ever been the same.”

Memorial School principal has been in Bow since 1989

Bow Editor — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:20:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

When he was younger, Kirk Spofford’s uncle taught him a lesson that stuck with him for a long time.

“My uncle was a high school math teacher, and he always seemed to be having fun,” said the Bow Memorial School principal. “He had a lot of energy and enthusiasm. He enjoyed his work, and I thought maybe there was something to it.”

After seeing how much his uncle enjoyed working in the school system, Spofford decided what he wanted to do with his future.

Spofford attended St. Michael’s College, where he studied English literature before earning a master’s in education from Antioch University. Before landing in Bow in 1989, Spofford taught at Bishop Brady High School in Concord for 15 years.

According to Spofford, having a lengthy experience of classroom teaching has given him perspective of how hard his staff works.

“Teachers have no break in the day. Other than lunch, their days are jam filled without much control,” said Spofford. “The bottom line is that being a teacher is harder than being an administrator.”

When the final bell of the school year rings, the classrooms and hallways empty, but Spofford and other administrators remain for a somewhat lonely summer.

“It gets a little tedious during the summer. It’s a quiet and noninvigorating place to be for most of the summer,” said Spofford. “Everyone looks forward to the place being filled with people again. Not that I object to quiet time, but it’s great to have energy back in the building.”

Spofford said one of the most difficult aspects of being an administrator is finding the balance between learning and making sure children enjoy being at school.

“That’s a hard thing to do. That is what we all try to do at the school, not just me. What happens here happens in 34 classrooms,” said Spofford. “We think it’s important that we know what the core reason for being here is, and that’s learning.”

When he isn’t on school grounds, Spofford said he enjoys collecting American and Asian antiques, a hobby he picked up about 15 years ago after growing up watching his mother collect as well.

Spofford said that no matter how many years he serves as the school’s principal, he never loses the eagerness he has for the first day of classes.

“It’s exciting,” said Spofford. “I can honestly say I feel as excited as the faculty and kids do.”

Across the field, Bow High rakes in lacrosse awards

Bow Editor — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:02:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Throughout the 2008 season, the Bow boys lacrosse team took one fellow Division II foe after another to school.

Even Chris Kelleher, coach of D-I Salem, admitted the Falcons smacked his squad with a lengthy measuring stick during an 8-1 interdivisional loss.

“Some of the kids were saying, ‘They’re D-II, so no problem ... ” said Kelleher, following the April 26 setback. “Skill-wise and athletically, I don’t think they’re that different than us. Mentally, though, there’s a big gap there.”

The Falcons even taught their own coaches not to underestimate them.

“Every year we expect to be in the mix because we have such a great youth program, but when you lose 14 seniors from the previous season … you just don’t know how kids are going to respond moving into larger roles,” said co-head coach Chris Gaudreau. “We had a bunch of kids step up to a level that would have been unrealistic for us to expect prior to the season.”

After watching the Falcons sweep through the playoffs and easily pass their final test with an 11-5 title game victory, it’s evident other D-II coaches learned their lesson as well.

When the final results were graded, 10 Bow players and both head coaches were voted to the New Hampshire all-state lacrosse team.

Sibling revelry

Chris and Steve Gaudreau shared the throne when Bow won its first boys lacrosse title in 2004.

Steve left for a year, in 2007, and the Falcons fell one win short of their second title. This season, Chris said his brother provided the extra boost needed to once again hoist the title.

Now, they share another accolade: New Hampshire coach(es) of the year.

“Steve and I have coached together a lot, in basketball and lacrosse, but this was really a storybook year for us,” said Chris. “I mean, you have years when you’ve got great kids, and you have years when you have a lot of talent, but to have it all in one, and to share that with my brother, well, this was one of those unforgettable seasons you might get once in a lifetime.”

The defense never rested Nick Sarette and Andrew Hunter were voted team captains prior to the season. Neither disappointed, said Gaudreau.

“Nick’s the kind of guy I’d put on the other team’s best player and ask him to shut them down,” said the coach of the first-team all-stater. “That’s a lot of pressure, to be a stable force while everyone else got their feet under them.

“Andrew is a coach’s dream. He’s a kid that has a good amount of ability, but he probably gets more out of himself than he should, and I mean that as an extreme compliment,” Gaudreau continued. “He’s a true gentleman in a sport that gets real physical. He keeps his head about him, and he’s probably the hardest-working kid I’ve every had.”

While the captains took much of the attention in the backfield, Gaudreau said it was Zy Noury who held the defense together.

The senior, who wanted to be an attackman his freshman year, played stellar “D” all season.

“It was a tricky position for him because a lot of times we’d stick Andrew and Nick on the other team’s best players and kind of left Zy on an island,” said Gaudreau. “He was just rock solid for us.”

Net gains

Goalie has never been a position of need on the Bow High School lacrosse field. As Gaudreau put it, “We’ve had great goalies that have handed the torch over, one after another.”

Yet it was junior netminder David Bucchino who may have impressed his coach more than any of his predecessors.

In a sport predicated on scoring, Bucchino maintained a 65- percent save percentage throughout the season, holding opposing teams to 4.3 goals per game. To put that into perspective, the Boston Cannons’ Kip Turner, Major League Lacrosse’s statistical leader in goals against average, has allowed 12.79 shots past him a game. He maintains a .517 save percentage.

And Bucchino’s presence, said Gaudreau, grew with the weight of the games.

“He was going along, playing steadily good, and at the end of the season, on the biggest stage, he really rose up,” said the coach. “I mean, he was seeing the ball really well. He really frustrated the other team’s scorers.”

Bucchino made 10 saves in an 8-4 quarterfinal victory over Bishop Brady, 18 saves in a barnburner against Winnacunnet, and denied 12 Oyster River shots in the finale.

Now that’s just offensive

Leading a balanced offense throughout the season was Steven Gallerani, the leading vote-getter among attackmen.

The senior led Bow in scoring with 41 goals and 20 assists. He was also Bow’s lone representative in the New Hampshire-Vermont all-star game, where he found the back of the net three times.

“For him to step up and be our leading scorer … We thought he would have a real solid year, but we couldn’t have expected him to be as dominant as he was,” said Gaudreau. “He was kind of a quarterback back there.”

Sean Dippold, who notched 25 goals and tallied 31 helpers, was also recognized for his contributions with an all-state honorable mention.

The junior, who played all over the field as a sophomore, was able to use his strength and size to dominate in front of the net this season.

Gaudreau said Dippold may have been the most fundamentally sound player on the field.

Mid-level exceptions

The Bow midfield, said Gaudreau, was the difference in the state title game.

Alex Stevens, with his superior offensive talent, and sophomore Greg Bueddeman, with his stellar speed, each received a firstteam nod.

Stevens, an all-state attackman his junior year, was asked to change positions this season to strengthen Bow’s midfield.

“I don’t know how many kids would embrace that change and do what’s best for the team. I’m very impressed with the maturity in which he handled that for us,” said Gaudreau. “He really presented a great matchup problem for other team’s midfielders. It’s harder to match up there, because a lot of times guys kind of get lost in transition, and that’s where Alex really excelled for us.”

While Stevens was a known commodity, Bueddeman played JV his freshman season.

“We thought Greg could do some damage in the midfield, but to score 18 goals and be one of the main scorers on the first line would really have been a lot to expect of a sophomore,” said Gaudreau. “Usually sophomores show up (mentally) one day, and the next day they’re a little bit off their game. But he was really a game changer with his legs and speed. When he turns it on, he finds another level.”

Longstick middie Griffin Sandler, who Gaudreau said plays with the most intensity he’s seen, and Chris Roberts, who took charge of Bow’s first-line faceoffs, each received honorable-mention nods.

“Chris, we expected to be on varsity, but we didn’t expect him to play nearly as much as he did,” said the coach. “He got opportunities because of injuries and some other things, and he played himself into a position where we couldn’t take him out.

“If team energy was low, there’s a good chance Griffin would go out there and do something to change it,” added Gaudreau of the soon-to-be junior, who captains next year’s team with Dippold and Bucchino.

National intelligence

Steven Lagos didn’t make the all-state lacrosse team, but he earned an honor on a larger field.

The senior, who notched 10 goals and eight assists playing first-team midfield, was one of three Granite Staters named to the U.S. Lacrosse Academic All- American team, which combines excellence in the classroom with a high level of play on the field.

Bow High School senior shares taste of home with friends

Bow Editor — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:09:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Many Bow residents watched the news footage of the damage Hurricane Katrina inflicted on New Orleans in late summer 2005.

Adam Cantor lived it.

The recently graduated Bow High School senior and his family were living in New Orleans when the hurricane struck, and when their home was severely damaged, they moved to New Hampshire to start over.

The Cantor family received a call the morning of the storm, warning of its severity and urging them to leave their uptown New Orleans home. So the family packed three days of clothing and began heading toward Houston, where they had friends. The city had reached capacity and the road was closed. The Cantors drove to northern Louisiana, only about 50 miles from home.

After the storm, Cantor’s family returned to see their home destroyed, but for Adam it wasn’t a reality until he returned home a few weeks later.

“People can tell you things and you can see them on the news, but it didn’t hit home until then,” said Cantor. “That sinking feeling hit, and that was it. My folks went back very soon after, and I went back a little later. They told me we couldn’t live there anymore, but I hadn’t believed them. That was a sad day.”

The months following the storm were frustrating for Cantor as he attended three high schools in one year, before finding a home in Bow.

Coming into Bow High School a few months into his sophomore year seemed like a daunting task for Cantor.

“It seemed really hard at first to be accepted by people, but really it didn’t take much for people to notice me there,” he said. “The start was hard, because they knew each other and I was an outsider they didn’t really need. People were really quick to become friends.”

One of the difficult tasks Cantor was faced with was balancing the new friends he met in Bow with the friends he was forced to leave in New Orleans.

“History and remembering everything was huge for me. I had a lot of trouble and spent time trying not to forget things,” Cantor said. “I would try to remember all the names, places and people. Slowly, as I made new friends, I realized they weren’t going away. They were important to who I was.”

Cantor brought a bit of New Orleans to Bow as he taught a “Taste of New Orleans” cooking class to go along with the theme of his senior project.

Teaching the classes was a way for Cantor to return to his roots.

“New Orleans food is always my comfort food. Some have chocolate, I have jambalaya,” he said.

Cantor said graduation day was even more special for him, considering the changes he was forced to make.

“I do still feel like my friends in New Orleans were all ripped from me. It was another perspective moment because I came down and saw my friends’ graduation (in New Orleans),” he said. “Then to graduate with the new friends I had, I saw how they were separate but all equally important.”

This fall, Cantor will attend Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., and afterward he hopes to continue traveling.

From the moment Cantor and his family received a call that a category-5 storm was heading toward his home, he’s had to learn to deal with whatever was thrown at him.

“I’ve learned how important it is to evolve your circumstances and be prepared for new things,” he said. “Things happen that are beyond your control and you have to be willing to roll with the punches sometimes.”