Bow News : basketball

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.”

Underclassmen pepper Bow roster, but coach expects improvement

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:29:00 GMT

BY MARK PETERSON

This year’s Bow boys basketball team may look more like other schools’ junior varsity squads, with several freshmen and sophomores slated to receive significant playing time – and possibly start.

Despite the youthful vibe of a group featuring only two seniors, head coach Chris Gaudreau said his team will remain competitive.

“We’re probably going to have some growing pains early on. We’re probably going to have some inexperience, but we have a really good group. They have a lot of energy, and there’s a lot of talent there. They’re just young,” said Gaudreau.

The Falcons enter the 2008- 09 season hoping to improve on last season’s 10-8 record. They were eliminated in the first round of the Class I tournament, yet Gaudreau believes significant improvement is possible in his fifth season as Bow’s head coach, despite some stiff competition within Class I.

Sophomore guard Connor Hill, who spent his freshman season as sixth man on the varsity team, is likely to move into the starting lineup. Sophomore Ryan Hill should see an increased number of minutes this season, splitting time at forward and guard.

“There’s a lot of young kids we’re going to have playing large roles for us this year,” said Gaudreau. Last season, Bow was on both ends of close battles, including a thrilling, buzzer-beating, 39-38 win against Merrimack Valley last February and a tightly contested 67-61 loss against Monadnock Regional that same month.

“I really think that we’re going to remain competitive and stay in some close games,” said Gaudreau. “When you’re in those close games, the difference between a five-win team and a 12-win team is whether you are able to close those close games or not.

“You go in with the attitude that if we can just keep it close until the fourth quarter, that’s all I can ask for. But once you get into that position, every competitive person in the world wants to win,” he added. “I hate moral victories, but they do exist. They can be good learning tools, but if you have too many, they get tiring pretty quick.”

Junior forward Tom Poitras and senior guard Michael Finnegan share team captaincy. Poitras led the team with 16 points in a tournament loss to Hollis-Brookline last March. He averaged more than 10 points per game in 2007-08.

Because Bow’s nucleus is so young, many of its players can develop the chemistry needed to move the Falcons back to the top tier of Class I, where they spent much of this decade.

“Next year, we’re talking about only losing two players, so you would hope that we’re setting the stage for something pretty good,” said the coach, who identified road dates in January against Pelham and Kearsarge as two of the toughest games on the schedule.

The Falcons opened the year on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at home against the Lebanon Raiders.

Early loss serves as strong motivation for young Bow team

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:39:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

The third time isn’t likely to be the charm, but for Corey Boilard, that’s not cause for alarm. Boilard, entering his third season as head coach of the Bow girls basketball team, isn’t expecting a Class I title in 2009. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t hope to compete for one.

The Lady Falcons are, indeed, young – 20 of 25 players in the program are underclassmen. But they’re talented, and on Friday, Dec. 5, they proved they’re resilient, too.

After suffering an embarrassing 48-12 setback to defending champ Hanover in the season opener on Dec. 2, Bow traveled to face another up-and-coming squad, Pembroke Academy, and knocked off the hosts in a highly competitive 47-44 contest.

“We’re going to be referencing that Hanover game a lot, and we’re already showing we learned from it. Even though they’re using that experience to improve themselves, they’re always looking forward,” said Boilard. “I think we certainly have a lot of potential, especially with all the hard work I’m seeing and the way we’ve been supporting each other. You know, we have a lot of positive energy in the gym every day, which is great."

The Lady Falcons lost some key contributors from a 2007- 08 unit that finished 11-7 and reached the postseason, but those returning hope to improve on last year’s first-round Class I playoff exit.

Senior guard Meghan Faretra, junior center Kelly Chergey and sophomore guard Maggie Crisman lead the team, but Alison Meagher, Caitlin Heindl, Katie Barry, Leanna Shea, Lexie Welch, Sarah Moore, Brianna Bean and Divya Vig are all expected to play significant roles.

Sophomore Kendra Toellner, who missed last season after knee surgery, and freshman Jillian Chergey are new to the 13-player varsity roster. “We have a lot of versatility, a lot of names I can throw out there, which is good,” said Boilard.

“Each player has weaknesses, but they all have great strengths, too, and when we put them together, we make a pretty good team. I think by season’s end we’ll be much better than we are now.”

Bow basketball's slow start erased by late-season surge

Bow Editor — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 01:14:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

What was once an average, up-and-down season turned into the most enjoyable coaching experience of Chris Gaudreau’s young career.

And don’t forget the Bow boys basketball mentor is but two years removed from an 18-0 regular-season record and title-game run.

This year, after watching his squad play inconsistently, including a 3-5 record out of the gate, Gaudreau saw something special happen.

The Falcons won four of their last five contests, including a 67-64 upset on Feb. 11 of John Stark, which was 11-1 at the time and playing for the top seed in the Class I tournament. They also came within three-points of knocking off 15-3 Pelham on the road and finished the season with a 10-8 record.

And the strong play continued into Bow’s first-round playoff contest at sixth-seeded Hollis- Brookline. There, the Falcons soared to an early 15-point advantage. But – pardon the cliche – what goes up, must come down. By halftime, the locals clung to a one-point lead and played the second half facing a four- or five-point deficit.

The hosts won, 56-47. Tom Poitras led Bow in scoring with 16 points, while Brian Chergey contributed 14.

“I told the kids this in the locker room – that this group was the most fun I’ve had,” said Gaudreau. “In my mind, it was a very successful year, and I’m extremely happy with the growth of the kids and the growth of the team.”

Now, Gaudreau bids farewell to six seniors and welcomes back six others.

Among those departing are Chergey, widely considered one of the top players in Class I, and point guard Jimmy Fellows.

“Brian has gotten a lot of press, and rightfully so, and the other seniors (center Connor Heindl and forwards Marc Simpson, Devin Rush and Nicolas Sarette) brought an awful lot in terms of effort level, but Jimmy Fellows, who started every single game for us the last two years, brought as much to the court as anyone,” said Gaudreau of his 5-foot-11 floor general. “He may have only scored four, five, six points a game, but that’s only because that’s not what I asked of him. He took care of the ball, distributed it well, and played great defense. He deserves a lot of credit for what he’s done for us the last two years.”

It’s extremely difficult for the fourth-year coach to say goodbye to these graduating seniors; they all came into the program together.

“All six had a great impact on what I’m trying to do here,” said Gaudreau. “They helped set the standard and have continued to bring respectability and also integrity to the program, and I think the younger kids have learned from it and can now step up and carry it on.”

Gaudreau said he will build around Poitras, who has two years remaining with the program and has already developed into an elusive scorer, netting nearly 200 points his sophomore season.

Junior guard Michael Finnegan and freshman Connor Hill are also expected to play major roles next season.

Bow beats up bottom-feeders, struggles against contenders

Bow Editor — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 21:14:00 GMT

By Ryan O’connor

BOW – The Bow Falcons left the Merrimack Valley Pride still searching for that elusive first win in Class I after a 53-38 home victory on Jan. 30.

Bow’s full-court press caused chaos in the Pride backcourt, resulting in numerous turnovers.

“We felt speeding the game up would give us an advantage, and I think that was an important part of tonight’s victory,” said Bow’s coach, Chris Gaudreau.

In addition to a stinging, stingy defense, the Falcons pushed the ball up the floor on offense. Gaudreau yelled, “Push it!” after many defensive rebounds.

Still, the winless visitors remained competitive throughout the first half. Tied at 9-9, Merrimack Valley eyed a breakaway layup, but Bow senior center Connor Heindl raced down the court, blocking the attempt. On the ensuing play, senior guard Brian Chergey hit a three-pointer to give Bow a 12-9 edge, and the Falcons never looked back.

Gaudreau said his team’s first-half defense – especially the play of junior guard Mike Finnegan – was exceptional.

“Mike may have not showed up much on the score sheet, but his pressure on the ball helped keep the momentum on our side,” said Gaudreau.

Kevin Cressy led MV with 13 points. The sophomore forward kept the Pride in the contest into the third quarter.

“He played well tonight for us, like he always does, and gives us that inside presence you need,” said Merrimack Valley’s coach, Rich Otis.

But MV’s mentor said Bow’s aggressive defense proved unmanageable for his group.

“We have a lot of younger players, and sometimes the youth and inexperience shows through,” he said.

Bow also received strong performances from center Tom Poitras, who scored 13 points; Nick Sarette, who added 11 markers, and Chergey, who finished with nine points.

After a home contest against 11-1 John Stark was postponed due to weather on Friday, Feb. 1, 10-3 Pelham knocked the Falcons back to .500 with a 62-59 victory on Tuesday, Feb. 5.

The loss followed a three-game winning streak for Bow, 6-6.

“I like where we’re at,” said Gaudreau, “Hopefully we continue to get better and be ready for the tournament.”

Bow basketball puts learning in kids’ court

Bow Editor — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:48:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

They may not be able to dunk yet, but Bow first- and second-graders are learning how to play basketball, as well as lessons that will stay with them when they step off the floor.

The Bow Youth Basketball program teaches aspiring athletes the basics of the sport, teamwork and good sportsmanship.

“I think it’s important that kids start at a young age. Now you see youth sports with kids starting at 3 and 4,” said Lisa Sileau, one of the coaches in the program. “Not only is it important for them physically, but socially. When they’re in school everything is structured. This is structured, but fun. It isn’t the competition, but socializing as well.”

At the youngest level of Bow Youth Basketball, there are no games. Teams practice for one hour twice a week working on basic skills.

“It’s a lot of helping each other and being positive. It takes practice and it’s like some other things in school, too,” said Dee Treybig, who has been coaching her husband, Phillip’s, team while he’s away on business. “It’s like, how do you get better in math or writing? You have to practice. It’s OK to not get it right now. It’ll come over time.”

With the age of the children and only an hour to practice, Sileau said the practices are fast moving.

“You have to make everything you’re doing quick. You don’t want to drag it out and lose their attention,” said Sileau. “We try to make it as fun as possible so they want to go further and keep them continuing to come.”

Due to snow, some of the teams have lost practice times since the program began about two weeks ago, but, Sileau said, there has already been a noticeable difference in her young athletes.

“Surprisingly, we noticed a difference on our second practice,” she said. “The kids are extremely enthusiastic about it. The second night they were already doing what we did the first day. It was amazing what they learned in just that one practice. They soak in so much and learn so much.”

Learning the new skills is not only beneficial for the children, but also for the coaches.

“I really enjoy seeing the kids when they figure out a new skill, when they just get it,” said Treybig.

“They’re so eager and honest at this age that they don’t try to ‘act cool’ or anything. They’re open and honest about their expressions. Watching them and being part of their new experience is great.”

Bow offers a variety of programs for youth and adults, including: a American Red Cross babysitting course beginning Feb. 4.

“Kinder Karate” class for children 4 to 6, which runs Mondays from 10:55 to 11:35 a.m. The town skating rink has opened, but users should call to check that the ice is solid before visiting.

For information on any of the department’s programs or to register, call 228-2222.

Bow’s cache of talent comes to the surface

Bow Editor — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:22:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

They are starting to find their identity.

Early this season, Bow girls basketball coach Corey Boilard expressed a need for patience while his players adjusted to each other and, in some cases, high school competition.

Nearly two-thirds of the way through the season, his Lady Falcons are 8-3, and having played with house money thus far, are ready to push all in as they head toward the Class I postseason.

In other words, the young Bow squad is winning, despite Boilard’s tempered expectations. “Matching our inexperience with our age differential, I knew it was definitely going to take a half a season for them to start getting comfortable playing together,” he said. “But the work ethic and talent is there for these girls, and the potential to do something special is definitely there.”

Boilard pointed to a topheavy Class I as an indication that his team, along with several others, has the opportunity to finish as high as fourth in the standings, which gives it a firstround home playoff game and puts it in position to pull off an upset or two.

Still, he is hesitant to commit to that set of expectations, choosing instead to enjoy watching his players come together and maintaining a pleasant air of surprise.

“From the first day of practice, one of the goals was to work to achieve and maximize their potential, and that’s what they’ve done,” said Boilard. “For us, it’s more a matter of believing we can win and believing in each other that we can go out and do it together.”

The coach said he was impressed with his players’ maturity and composure when they bounced back from a tough loss at Kearsarge to defeat Oyster River in overtime.

Returning home after exactly one month on the road, the Lady Falcons withstood an Oyster River comeback attempt and won in overtime on Jan. 11, 51-48.

The game was tied at halftime before the locals, behind pressing defense from Maggie Crisman, Kaley Marston and Kaitlyn Hinck, pulled ahead for a six-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.

But Oyster River adjusted and hit three late three-pointers to pull ahead.

Bow, not to be denied, fed the ball to Hinck, who hit a flashy reverse layup to knot the contest with less than 30 seconds on the game clock.

The visitors went 5-for-5 from the foul line to move ahead in OT, but Hinck nailed a three-pointer to tie the game, and Kelly Chergey, who hadn’t scored all night – an usual occurrence, said her coach – drained an 8-foot jump shot to give Bow the lead for good.

Hinck assured the victory by stealing a last-second Oyster River pass.

She finished the contest with 22 points – 15 from beyond the arc – to go along with seven rebounds, four steals and three assists.

The versatile Maggie Crisman added 10 points, five rebounds and three steals, while Caitlin Heindl and Alison Meagher stepped up with solid defense in the win.

“After losing two in a row earlier in the year, we talked about not letting it happen again, and to win it in that fashion at home, in front of our fans, it was a great confidence booster for the girls,” said Boilard.

Against Kearsarge, the Lady Falcons led with two minutes remaining in the contest, but after watching the lead and the win slip away, Boilard said he recognized a common theme.

Bow allowed its foe to shoot 28 free throws, including 9-for-11 in the fourth quarter, while the locals shot just three and made only two in the contest.

In its other two losses, at Coe-Brown and against John Stark in early December, Boilard’s team gave up 19 points from the stripe in each setback, a sure sign his players needed to exhibit better discipline late in games.

“It’s something that gets better as the season goes along, so I haven’t been terribly concerned about it, especially since they have already gotten better since the Christmas break,” he said. “I look at Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski) from Duke, and he preaches you have to get to the line and make more free throws than the other team if you want to win. That’s certainly been true with us.”

Meagan Faretra scored 11 points in the Kearsarge loss, Chergey had eight and Kaitlyn Hinck scored seven.

Many athletes reached pinnacle in 2007

Bow Editor — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 20:28:00 GMT

BY JERRY LIPTAK

It began with some strong individual efforts in the winter – a trickle of championships earned by Bow, Hopkinton and Concord athletes on the slopes and the mats.

It continued in the spring and summer, with various teams hoisting title plaques for their lacrosse, baseball and softball prowess.

It concluded with the Hopkinton boys soccer team winning a second straight Class M crown.

In between, 2007 included some poor behavior from socalled fans in the stands at a Little League game and the arrest of a rising basketball star at a local college.

But those two disappointing examples and some near misses on local fields couldn’t overshadow a successful year in Bow-area athletics.

Winter

Wrestling
Bow High finished fifth at the Division II championships. It was a bit of a disappointment for the team, said coach Jim Kaufman, but not for D.J. Meagher. The 145-pound senior pinned his opponent in the finals in under two minutes, earning him a trip to the Meet of Champions. Connor McDonough, Ben Morrow, Josh Nawn and Spencer Wolverton joined Meagher at the M of C.

Concord, after defeating nemesis Timberlane for the first time in regular-season history, fell to the Owls in the Division I championship, 239.5 to 237.5 points.

“This one’s gonna sting for a while, a long while,” said senior heavyweight Dan Herrick, who lost a tight match in the closing seconds that swung the outcome. Still, Tyler Saltsman, Alex Buessing, Derek Bisson, Rob Garcia, Harry Paul, Marshall Gleason, Brandon Paige, Pat Boyle, Bob Daniel, John Meadows and Levi Byers all joined Herrick at the Meet of Champions.

Once there, Bow’s Meagher and Concord’s Saltsman and Buessing won the M of C in their respective weight classes. Meagher and Saltsman then dominated at the New England wrestling championships, with Saltsman winning his first regional crown and Meagher his second in a row.

Skiing
The Concord boys won the Division I Alpine title, and both the boys and girls teams won the Nordic title.

Bow’s Ian Hanson not only won the Division III state slalom title, he finished second in the giant slalom, then took 10th at the Meet of Champions and earned an invitation to the Eastern High School Championships.

The Nordic teams were also impressive for the Falcons. The boys won the Division III state title, and the girls finished second. The group also turned the usual pecking order on its head in the process.

“Our seniors, and especially our captains, are also coaches, setting examples for teammates,” said head coach Chris Naimie. “They even wax the skis for everyone else.”

Sarah Gilroy of Hopkinton won the girls Division IV slalom crown.

Hockey
Bow, for the fourth straight year and fifth in six years under head coach Tim Walsh, reached the state semifinals and was stopped.

“You have to look at the positive side that we’re here and other teams aren’t …” said Walsh. “But it is frustrating because I’m sick of … going in there and saying, ‘You know, it was a great season, but, unfortunately, we didn’t come out on top.”

Bishop Brady outplayed the state champion Bishop Guertin Cardinals in the state finals, but despite a goal from Bow native Brooks Herrington, Brady fell to Guertin, 2-1.

Gymnastics
Concord entered the girls gymnastics state championship as the top seed, but left in fourth place. Bow’s Stephanie Cormier competed as an individual and placed eighth, while Hopkinton’s Julia Lynch finished 19th.

Basketball
The Bow Memorial girls and boys teams turned in impressive seasons. The girls went undefeated. The boys won the Bow Athletic Club tournament, defeating Hudson, the lone team to hand the locals a loss in 2007.

No area high school team – Bow, Hopkinton or Concord – reached the state semifinals, though the Hawks were within range of top-seeded Conant. A slow-down tactic left the Hawks trailing after three periods, 12-3.

At the college level, cousins Mike Chergey, at Plymouth State University, and Paul Chergey, at Southern New Hampshire University, overcame hand injuries to contribute important minutes as freshmen. As the 2007- ’08 season approached, Paul Chergey was indicted on drug charges and suspended from the SNHU team.

Indoor track and field
Brendan Hyland and Kyle Audet finished second and third, respectively, in the 1,500-meter run at the Class L indoor track and field championships.

Bow’s 4 X 200-meter relay team of Emily Hannon, Jill Hannon, Julia Waddell and Timiny Mosher earned all the team’s points with their third-place effort.

Swimming
Hopkinton sent a team of young athletes to the state swimming and diving championships in February. It was the first time the school sent a relay team to Durham.

“Hopkinton is a small, small school, but I don’t think (swimming) is going to go away,” said coach Joanne Jackson.

Spring

Baseball
Hopkinton, the top-ranked team in Class M, lost to Conant in the semifinals, 4-3, leaving the bases loaded and ending an otherwise stellar year.

“It’s a painful loss. Conant was a team we beat readily twice in the regular season,” said Hopkinton manager Dave Chase. “We had such a strong season. I honestly don’t know if the better team won, but I think they had a better day than us.”

Track and field
Hopkinton’s girls team won the Class M-S championship with 124 points, 51 more than its closest pursuers. The Hopkinton boys took ninth.

Christine Head won the pole vault at the Meet of Champions with a 10-foot effort, then improved to 10-06 at the New England Regionals the following weekend.

“I usually get nervous when I have to perform in general, so I purposely did things that forced me to be in front of lots of people,” said Head. “… I want to do well in college, so I’ve got to start working on those things before I get there.”

The Bow boys finished 10th at the Class I meet, while Concord’s Brendan Hyland again won the Class L 1,600-meter run.

Softball
Concord, as the No. 6 seed, reached the Class L semifinals, losing to second-seeded Londonderry, 2-1.

Lacrosse
Bow put both its teams in the Division II state final. The boys, seeded third, fell to top-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas, 7-5.

But the girls, on then-junior Kiley Corson’s shot with less than 20 seconds remaining in the match, added to the school’s trophy case, beating Hanover, 17-16, for the Division II state title.

“I shot at the same spot earlier and scored, so I figured I’d aim at the same spot and try again,” said Corson.

It was the second time in three years Bow beat Hanover for the crown.

Hopkinton, the No. 1-ranked boys team in Division III, was stunned in the semis by No. 4 seed Merrimack Valley in overtime.

Tennis
Concord did it again, winning its second straight title, ninth in 10 years and 23rd overall following a 5-2 win over West. Despite losing four of their top six players, the Crimson Tide went undefeated and missed very little en route to the crown – except for their head coach, Dave Page, who dodged the post-game cooler of water.

The Bow boys were knocked from the postseason in the semifinals, a 7-2 loss to Portsmouth that was much closer than the final score indicated.

“The other two coaches for Portsmouth, they were very nervous about what was happening,” said Bow head coach Drew Groves. “This was a lot closer than they had anticipated. Our kids were playing some great, inspired tennis.”

Summer
American Legion baseball Though the Concord senior team missed the American Legion postseason, the junior team earned the playoffs with a 7-6 win over Salem. The group was eliminated by top-seeded Derry, 3-2.

Little League/

Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken baseball and softball
The Kearsarge Mountain South 10U Babe Ruth softball allstar team finished in the top four at the New England regional tournament. “(Spending time together off the field) is what they really enjoy,” said manager Richie Vaillancourt. “But coming in one game away from playing at nationals isn’t something they’re going to forget either.”

The 14U Bedford Hornets softball team, with players from Bow, Hooksett and Windham, won the state American Softball Association tournament and New Englands and advanced to the Eastern national tournament and PONY national tournament.

Bow lost to Concord National and was eliminated from the District 1 Little League baseball tournament, while the Bow girls dropped a pair of Little League games in the 11- and 12-year-old majors softball tournament.

Concord National continued after the win over Bow, handling Manchester East and Goffstown before finally dropping a 10-9 decision to Salem American.

“I’m just really very proud of this group of boys,” said Concord National manager Dave Angus. “… Every coach has to make that farewell speech, and it’s one of the hardest things you have to do.” It was apparently very difficult for some National “fans,” who berated and threw food at the umpiring crew following the team’s elimination.

“I was afraid for my safety,” said umpire William Dreckmann. “I wanted to call the police.”

The Kearsarge Mountain North U10 Cal Ripken baseball team went 5-1 to win the district title, then came up two wins shy of a state crown.

“Just making the state tournament was an achievement, and we played very competitively,” said manager Dave French. “So I don’t think anyone was disappointed.”

Granite State Senior Games After winning the 5,000-meter race walk, Bow’s Jack Finan said he plans to participate at nationals in 2009.

“I’m shooting to make it to San Francisco,” he said. “I want to see if I can get that far after making it to nationals this year.”

Stan Irzyk of Concord won the pistol shoot in the men’s 75- to 79-year-old age group.

*** Croak won the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dash in the men’s 70- to 74-year-old division.

Donelda Horne of Hopkinton, in her second competitive swimming competition, won gold in the 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard breaststroke.

In her first GSSG appearance, 95-year-old Marg Bruner of Concord won the 85-and-older 10-pin bowling gold medal.

Punt, Pass & Kick
Bow’s Jack Yvars won the boys 10- and 11-year-old division at the NFL Pepsi Punt, Pass & Kick, hosted by Neighborhood News at MerchantsAuto.com Stadium.

Hopkinton’s Sam Winslow was second in that division, while Bow’s Mac Kimball was runner-up in the boys 8- and 9-year-old division.

Triathlon
Rob Ricard of Bow completed his first full Ironman triathlon and earned a trip to Hawaii for the Ironman World Triathlon championship in the bargain.

“I had no concept of distance, training or what it would take to qualify for something like that,” said Ricard, who swam 2.4 miles, biked 112 miles and ran 26.2 miles during a very busy day.

Fall

Football
Bow reached the Division V playoffs and trailed just 7-0 at halftime, but couldn’t keep pace with eventual state champion Pelham, falling 42-7.

“You can’t win when you’re inconsistent, and that hurt us today,” said Bow football head coach Paul Cohen. “But it’s been a great season.”

Soccer
The girls of Hopkinton and Bow both fell in the postseason quarterfinals.

The boys of Hopkinton and Bow both reached the state finals. Bow dropped a 1-0 decision to Hanover in the Class I final. But Hopkinton defended the Class M crown with a 3-0 win over Winnisquam.

“Every game has been a tournament atmosphere and everyone’s been gunning for us, so to come in and be able to pull off the back-to-back (titles) is really something,” said Scott Zipke, Hopkinton boys soccer head coach.

At the college level, New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord, despite playing with as few as 10 healthy players, went 11-3-2 and won the Yankee Small College Conference women’s regular- season championship.

Golf
Concord took second, falling three shots short of a third straight Class L state title.

“We knew the competition was much better this year … (Our team) actually had a better score than last season,” said Concord golf head coach Chick Smith. The Bow Falcons finished seventh in Class I.

Kurt Eddins and Matt Levins finished third and sixth, respectively, in the two-day individual tournament as Concord’s representatives.

Bow’s Matt Lennon finished two shots out of the top 10 in Class I. Hopkinton’s Colin Barnea tied for sixth at the Class M-S individual tourney.

College coaching New Hampshire Technical Institute’s Paul Hogan earned induction into the Plymouth State Hall of Fame.

Crew
Like swimming, crew is gaining popularity in the state, with Concord’s student-athletes discovering the team-oriented sport.

“When it comes to crew, you need really a perfect harmony between all four or eight people,” said Grayson Richey, a former crewman and present coach with the team.

Cross country
Hopkinton’s girls won the Class M-S crown, then narrowly missed a trip to New Englands following a solid team effort at the Meet of Champions against much larger schools.

Field hockey
Derryfield School, featuring players from Hopkinton, Hooksett, Bedford and Windham, finished the season undefeated and won the Class M-S state title on Oct. 28. The crown is Derryfield’s first in the sport in more than 20 years.

“It’s tough for us because we’re a Class S school, so … we’re always playing teams that are twice our size,” said coach Lenny McCaigue. “To win it is just a dream come true for us.”

Hopkinton reached the state semifinals before falling to top-seeded Newfound Regional.

Bow coach is optimistic about return to form

Bow Editor — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:21:00 GMT

BY CHRIS QUARTARONE

After the elimination of his team in the first round of last year’s Class I playoffs, Bow boys basketball coach Chris Gaudreau thinks a deeper team this year means a deeper postseason run.

Gaudreau, beginning his fourth year as head coach, said this group has smarts and a good mix of younger and older players.

“We have some sophomores and freshman that will play a significant role on the team this year,” he said.

Gaudreau pointed to freshman guard Connor Hill, who played quite a bit in the team’s first game of the season against John Stark.

“He showed a lot of poise for a freshman,” Gaudreau said.

Captains for this year’s team are senior guards Brian Chergey and James Fellows, and senior forward Marc Simpson.

“We had a good preseason. The work ethic has been good,” said Gaudreau. “Now we just have to keep it up.”

He described senior forward Devin Rush as a player who isn’t afraid to play physically against bigger opponents if other Bow players get in foul trouble.

“With our success the first couple of years I was here, we’re out to show that we’re not just a flash in the pan,” he said.

The progression of Fellows and Chergey has helped both players, Gaudreau said.

“Those two playing together has really allowed Chergey to move off the ball and become a scorer for us,” he said.

Despite the graduation of 6-foot-8 center D.J. Poitras, the team still has four players listed at 6-foot-3 or taller.

The Bow team has a stretch of four home games sandwiching the Christmas break, and Gaudreau said it allows his team to meld.

“Being at home for a little while helps, but if you can’t win on the road that will be more of a problem later in the season,” he said.

Gaudreau said he looks to senior forward Nick Sarette to clamp down on the opposing team’s best scorer.

“Nick is a very smart player defensively, and that’s what a coach needs,” he said.

Gaudreau added his team has average speed, but conditioning and changing defensive schemes – based on the type of opponent – should negate that problem.

Bow lost its first two games this season, but Gaudreau said he was pleased with his team’s spirit and determination.

“The thing about this league is that you can’t take any nights off,” said Gaudreau, “We kept ourselves in the playoff hunt last year, and I think this team has a chance to move that forward.”

Despite double-digit loss, Bow girls eye strong season

Bow Editor — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:31:00 GMT

BY JERRY LIPTAK

The squads entered the Class I girls basketball game on Friday, Dec. 7, unbeaten. The hosts from Coe-Brown Northwood Academy left the court undefeated. The visitors from Bow High left the court undeterred.

Despite a 59-41 setback, the Falcons’ head coach, Corey Boilard, saw no reason to worry. “We’re inexperienced, but playing this type of team and this type of game this early in the season is only going to help us down the road,” he said.

Coe-Brown took early advantage of the locals’ inexperience, opening an 8-0 lead two minutes into the contest courtesy of its full-court press.

Boilard called a timeout, and Bow, keyed by what the mentor called the team’s core strength, regrouped.

Defense helped the Falcons pull within two after one quarter and take their only lead of the game late in the second, 16- 15. During the run, Bow held Coe-Brown without a field goal for more than eight minutes. “Defense, defense, defense,” said Boilard. “That’s where we’re strong right now. The offense will come around when we figure out what our strengths are.”

One of those strengths is sure to be Kaitlyn Hinck, a senior guard who paced the team with nine points, including a smooth fourth-quarter drive to the left and gentle carom off the backboard for two points.

That bucket pulled Bow within five during its final push. And Boilard has Molly Crisman and Jackie Laboe, seniors; Meghan Faretra, Caitlin Heindl and Alison Meagher, juniors; Kelly Chergey, a sophomore; and Maggie Crisman, an ambidextrous freshman, in the regular rotation of versatile, athletic players at his disposal.

“These are two good teams, and (winning games like this is) about making plays. Those three 3-pointers (Coe-Brown made) in the third quarter opened up the middle, forced us to take some risks and gave them some second chances in the fourth quarter,” said Boilard.

“Match that with some mistakes we made in our halfcourt (offense), and you get this outcome.”

Rounding out the roster for Bow, 3-2 after consecutive setbacks - the Falcons also lost to John Stark, 54-38 on Tuesday, Dec. 11 - are freshman Kathy Marston, sophomore Kathryn Barry, juniors Brianna Bean and Leanna Shea, and seniors Jill Gamelin and Heather Bennett.

The team faces four consecutive regular-season road tests beginning Thursday, Dec. 13, against Milford. Then the Falcons travel to Pembroke to face their Neighborhood rival Tuesday, Dec. 18.

Following that match with the Spartans, Boilard hopes to again see Coe-Brown in that school’s Christmas tournament, preferably in the finals.

Game notes
Faretra scored eight points, and Chergey added seven for the Falcons. Molly Crisman added six markers, and Maggie Crisman and Laboe both hit for four points. Heindl hit a hoop, and Meagher nailed one of two free throws.

Busted again – SNHU basketball star faces charges after fight

Bow Editor — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 23:38:00 GMT

BY RYAN O'CONNOR

In the midst of facing felony and misdemeanor charges for allegedly possessing and selling marijuana to an undercover officer with the Attorney General’s drug task force, Paul Chergey again finds himself in trouble with the law.

The former Bow High School basketball star and current Southern New Hampshire University hoopster was suspended indefinitely after Penmen head coach Stan Spirou was informed of the allegations.

On Saturday, Sept. 22, Chergey was arrested by the Hooksett Police Department following an on-campus fight and was charged with reckless operation of a vehicle and being a minor in possession of alcohol, both misdemeanors.

Hooksett Police Capt. Paul Cecilio said witnesses claim Chergey was racing a vehicle around the parking lot.

Cecilio added that the 19-year-old has three outstanding bench warrants out of Concord District Court. Chergey’s lawyer, Kevin Buccholz, was unavailable for comment.

The two misdemeanor counts carry up to a year a piece, in addition to the drug charges that bring one to three years in prison for each special felony count and 12 months in the House of Corrections for a Class A misdemeanor.

Chergey may also lose his license for up to a year if convicted of reckless driving.

Dr. Scott Kalicki, vice president of student affairs at the university, said incident reports indicate Hooksett police were called at the request of Chergey’s combatant during the altercation.

Kalicki said the school is investigating the incident.

“Any time there is a physical altercation, we quickly do fact-finding, assuming both parties are responsible for the altercation and take it from there unless there is evidence that an individual was purely acting in self defense and couldn’t extricate themselves from the situation,” he said. “Certainly both students will be under review for this incident.”

Both men involved were examined and offered medical attention.

Both declined, said Kalicki.

Southern New Hampshire University athletics director Skip Polak, who is in his 32nd year with the institution, said if the allegations regarding the possession and sale of drugs are accurate, the charges are the most serious ever brought against a Southern New Hampshire University student athlete.

Still, Polak said he has yet to see, first hand, the actual indictments, though he acknowledged he and Jim Winn, the school’s director of safety, met with Chergey in person on Friday, Sept. 21.

“It’s really a school issue first and foremost. We have a disciplinary protocol that we, as an institution, follow,” said Polak. “Right now, it’s in a fact-finding stage, so to speculate in anyway would be premature at this point.”

Still, Kalicki said Chergey may receive further disciplinary action, the extent of which has yet to be determined.

“We’re really talking about two separate things,” he said. “One is a student handbook violation based on violent act on campus that we consider a major violation in which a student can be removed from residence halls or the academic
institution for an extended period of time.

“The other, equally, is something we will try to get more information on and monitor,” Kalicki said. “When we believe we have enough information, we’ll put him through the proper judicial process on campus.”

According to the Kalicki, the SNHU handbook indicates a student may not disrupt relationships within the university and surrounding community, which the felony charges fall under.

“There is a whole set of ranges, which becomes a challenge for us because we’re not holders of the information,” he said.

“We simply have Paul’s brief version of what took place, so, until we find out more, we have no other immediate action other than what the basketball coach has decided.”

Chergey busted for pot – SNHU cager from Bow indicted on felony, misdemeanor charges

Bow Editor — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

BY RYAN O'CONNOR

Paul Chergey, who two years ago led the Bow Falcons boys basketball team to the Class I title game, has been indicted on multiple charges involving the possession and sale of marijuana.

On Aug. 16, Chergey was indicted by the grand jury on two special felony counts of sale of a controlled drug, one felony count of possession of a controlled drug with intent to distribute, and one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled drug.

He paid $10,000 personal recognizance bail. He also waived his arraignment.

According to Merrimack County Attorney Dan St. Hilaire, if Chergey is convicted, the three special felony counts each bring one to three years in state prison, and the Class A misdemeanor warrants 12 months in a house of corrections.

Special felony penalties, said St. Hilaire, differ depending on the type of drug and quantity sold.

The charges stem from two separate incidents.

On May 31, Chergey, while in the area of 18 Longview Drive in Bow, allegedly sold less than an ounce of marijuana to an undercover police officer and a cooperating individual.

Then, on June 28, in the area of Page Road, Chergey allegedly was in possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, which he intended to distribute, though there was, according to the indictments, no sale.

While St. Hilaire said he could not comment on specifics of the case, he spoke of the intent of the New Hampshire Attorney General’s drug task force.

“The drug task force works throughout the state and has several undercover officers from different police departments in the area assigned to the unit,” he said. “Either on their own, or with informants, they make contacts with suspected drug dealers and make arrangements to purchase drugs. Once one or in some cases two or three of those sales occurs, there is typically an arrest.”

The Bow Police Department is an active member of the drug task force.

Chergey is currently enrolled at Southern New Hampshire University, where he made an immediate impact as a freshman on the basketball team. Head coach Stan Spirou, when originally reached for comment, said it was the first time he heard of the charges.

Later, after conducting an internal investigation, Spirou said Chergey has been suspended.

“Nothing has been proven. I really don’t know much about it other than knowing he has been arrested. It’s an unfortunate situation,” Spirou said. “The only thing I do know is when an individual is arrested, no matter what their side of the story is or what they say happened, we have a policy that has to be played out.”

For now, Chergey’s scholarship is intact, and he continues his enrollment as a student.

Spirou said he has spoken with the player, who he said is “devastated” and “remorseful.”

Repeated attempts to reach Chergey for comment were unsuccessful.

“It’s not a positive thing for a program, but I’ve been doing this long enough that I know, right now, we need more information,” said Spirou. “I’ve been in this situation before, where things have worked themselves out through the judicial system.”

Spirou said he will speak with Chergey’s lawyer, Kevin Buchholz, in the near future.

A trial date has not been set.

Bowing out – Disappointing loss knocks No. 3 Falcons from tourney

Bow Editor — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 19:59:00 GMT

BY SAPNA PATHAK

Outside the girls locker room at Southern New Hampshire University, Corey Boilard stood wondering what he could possibly tell his players after a devastating, 54-41 loss in the Class I girls basketball quarterfinals.

After Boilard took the head coaching position for the Bow High girls basketball team this year, he led the team to 13-4 record and two postseason games, the last culminating on Sunday, Feb. 21.

“As a player or coach, not every season have I won the last game, so I know the emotions they’re feeling,” said Boilard. “But I wasn’t prepared to go in there. It was probably the toughest part of the job trying to find the right words to tell them.”

The third-seeded Falcons faced No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas but couldn’t get their offense going as the Saints took a quick 13-7 lead after one quarter.

In front of a crowd of more than 500 fans, Bow fell behind, 24-18, at halftime.

Since the team hadn’t led at halftime in more than a month, Boilard simply huddled his players around him during intermission and reminded them, “We’re a second-half team.”

However, the Falcons grew tired inside the unfamiliar gymnasium. Playing on a larger court challenged Boilard’s defense in executing their well-known zone press.

“I hate to say it, but the bigger court played a role in our defense,” said Boilard. “It took a toll on our zone press and the girls were kind of out of gas in the end because they were running around all over the place.

We’re a slow-starting team, so we were confident going into the second half.”

Entering the final frame down nine points, the Falcons couldn’t stop St. Thomas guard Marie Girard, who scored a game-high 25 points. Bow was outscored, 19-15, in the fourth quarter, leaving seniors Katie Seraikas and Sherry Darrell in tears as the final buzzer sounded.

Seraikas led the Falcons with 16 points, nine rebounds, three blocks and two steals. Junior Kaitlyn Hinck scored 12 points, while Darrell added five points, two rebounds and three assists.

Brittany Gripp finished with five points, five rebounds and two steals while teammate Meghan Faretra netted three points and grabbed two boards.

Before putting a comforting arm around Seraikas, Boilard sat in silence on the bench with his head in his hands.

“The fourth quarter’s been our quarter all year,” said Boilard. “Even as it was happening, we didn’t think we were out. These girls were fighting for loose balls with 11 seconds left, and we’re 10 points down. I hope we don’t let this game define our season.”

Fourth-quarter order – Final period proves boys’ undoing

Bow Editor — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 21:08:00 GMT

BY MATT STOUT

The Bow boys basketball team knew it was coming. Up five points at the half on John Stark on Friday, Feb. 2, the Falcons emerged from the visitors’ locker room expecting a barrage of baskets from one of the top teams in Class I.

They weren’t disappointed.

But even as the Generals left their lackluster first half behind them with 19 third-quarter points en route to a 57-42 win, they couldn’t do the same to the Falcons.

Chris Gaudreau’s club matched Stark’s intensity, engineered a seven-point run of its own midway through the quarter to keep the locals within striking range to open the fourth.

At that point, the Falcons had earned a moral victory. It was the only ‘W’ they took home that night.

The collapse many of Stark’s fans may have expected from Bow in the third frame showed up a period later when foul trouble and a relentless JS defense took over. The Falcons had as many starters foul out – D.J. Poitras and Jimmy Fellows – as points in the fourth before Brian Chergey scored with 12.3 seconds to play.

Stark continually rushed Bow into poor shots throughout the final quarter. As a result, Chergey finished with 20 points after scoring 18 in the first three periods, and Poitras added nine before earning his fifth foul.

Though a win would have been an upset, the loss was frustrating. The Falcons, winners of five of six coming in, are much better than the team which opened the season with a 62-55 home loss to Stark.

But in a season that will ultimately be defined more by the steps it takes than the wins it totals, Bow is still searching for its full potential. Friday was a lesson in what it will take to get there.

“Compared to where we were a month ago, it wasn’t even close,” said Gaudreau, whose team ran into another league frontrunner in Pelham on Tuesday, Feb. 6, in a 49-43 loss. The game was a rematch of last year’s Class I title game.

“To come in here, in a hostile environment on the road, and to be in the position to win the game in the fourth quarter, that’s progress,” he continued. “It’s not what we want and we’re not accepting that. We’re not into moral victories. But it still shows progress.”

With fives games left, how far Bow comes will determine where they’ll go in the playoffs. Currently out of the home-playoff picture, the Falcons continue their season when they host first-place Plymouth on Friday, Feb. 9, and thereafter have a chance of revenge against Merrimack Valley, the only other team to beat them since early January. Monadnock visits on Feb. 16. Bow finishes on the road against winless Bishop Brady and Coe-Brown.

“I think what makes them so tough is that inside-outside combination that they have with Brian and D.J. You’re talking about two guys who can score consistently,” said John Stark coach Mike Smith, whose team has thrived due to its depth. “We don’t have the luxury of having just one guy, but you could see at the other end of the floor there tonight, if you have one or two guys that you rely on too much, it doesn’t always work out.”

Fourth-quarter order – Once again, girls control late play

Bow Editor — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 21:06:00 GMT

BY SAPNA PATHAK

For three quarters, his team makes just enough shots, grabs just enough rebounds and finds just enough open lanes to maintain slim leads. But it’s the final eight minutes when head coach Corey Boilard’s players stop doing just enough of anything and start doing more than enough.

Forget the fact it was Senior Night on Friday, Feb. 2, the girls of Bow basketball didn’t waiver from their usual attack, leading to a 51-38 win over John Stark.

“We’re more a second-half team,” said Boilard. “It’s the same type of thing – a back-and-forth effort the first three quarters and then we take control in the fourth. Our pressure defense causes turnovers and we play some great team ball.”

In his first year at the helm, Boilard has led Bow to a 14-3 record, as of Wednesday, Feb. 7.

Against the Generals, senior co-captain Katie Seraikas scored nine points, grabbed five rebounds, blocked three shots and snagged four steals. Junior guard Kaitlyn Hinck and senior Sherry Darrell led the Falcons with 14 points apiece.

Trailing the Generals in the first quarter, 12-2, Bow began narrowing the deficit. John Stark took a 25-22 lead into intermission, but the Falcons outscored the Generals, 15-8, in the third period. Bow capitalized on two turnovers in as many possessions to open the second half.

Stark was stymied in the final frame, as the locals allowed one field goal.

In their first meeting, a 47-33 win, the Falcons outscored the Generals, 20-4, in the fourth quarter.

Holding rival Bishop Brady to 16 points in the second half led to a 42-26 win on Jan. 30.

Losses to undefeated defending champion Kearsarge and runner up Oyster River are the only defeats the Falcons have suffered since a 60-43 stuffing by Merrimack Valley in the season opener.

“If we’re gonna lose, it might as well be to the champion and the second-place team from last year,” said Boilard. “We had a great second half vs. Kearsarge. The (girls) just didn’t really come with it against Oyster River.”

The Falcons wrap up their regular season at Plymouth Regional on Friday, Feb. 9.