Salem Observer : Salem, salem high school boys sports

Salem boys lacross team shows flashes against Memorial, but team remains winless

Salem Editor — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 01:33:00 GMT

For roughly three minutes of game play, Salem boys lacrosse coach Chris Keleher was happy with the effort his team gave. The rest of the contest was a different story.

The Blue Devils lost a 6-2 halftime lead and fell in overtime to Memorial on Saturday, April 25, despite clawing back with two goals in the final minutes to force the extra frame. Mitchel Powers ended the contest with 2:27 remaining in overtime, sending Salem home with a 10-9 defeat.

Salem’s fourth quarter was quiet until Jake Matthews worked from the sideline to the middle of the field, scoring while falling down to pull his team within a goal at 9-8 with 3:09 left.

He nearly tied the score with little more than a minute remaining, but his shot ricocheted the post. Brett Miller capitalized on a pass from Steve Kalucki with 44 seconds remaining, firing a shot into the back of the net, but the Blue Devils couldn’t score in the extra session, dropping to 0-5.

“We played down a level,” said Keleher. “As I told the kids, we let them play with us, and they did. They outplayed us, and we played lackadaisically. Until they want to make a commitment to play four quarters of lacrosse, we’ll be dealing with those issues.”

Miller’s four-goal effort wasn’t enough for Salem, which played its closest game of the season after losing by at least six goals in four prior games.

Keleher said he is most frustrated by his team’s approach to games, not the results on the scoreboard.

“We had kids who forgot game uniforms and things like that,” said Keleher. “That points to where the head is. If your head’s not in the game, then we’re going to be in trouble.”

Keleher said his squad can bounce back and take a lesson from its setback at Memorial.

“The last two and a half minutes of the game, that’s the kind of effort we need the whole game,” he said. “You have to play like that the whole game, not the final two minutes when you know you’re in trouble.”

Young Salem High School wrestling team sends six to state meet

Salem Editor — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:07:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

The faces of Salem High School’s wrestlers at the 2010 Division I state tournament will be familiar ones.

Salem graduates one senior after placing seventh at the twoday competition that concluded on Saturday, Feb. 21, with the Blue Devils scoring 77.5 points. No one stopped state champion Timberlane, which won its 10th straight state title and 15th in 16 years.

Zachary Hicks and Steve Comtois notched third-place finishes in the 112- and 171-pound weight classes for SHS, and the Blue Devils had six individuals qualify for the Meet of Champions on Saturday, Feb. 28, at Londonderry High School.

“Coming into the season, we had such a young team that I was kind of taking it week by week hoping that we’d pull it together,” said Salem head coach Todd Oljey. “It was really just getting them to believe that the stuff we were doing day in and day out was worth it – like the 2-mile runs and the long sessions.”

In addition to Hicks and Comtois, Ryan Bolduc took sixth at 103 pounds, Devin Dearden was fifth at 119, Cam Yergeau was sixth in D-I at 130 pounds, and Brett Pittera went 3-3 to earn a sixth-place finish and a spot in the MOC.

Oljey was particularly impressed with Pittera’s effort, as he earned his sixth-place finish while wrestling five matches on the second day of the tournament. Comtois fell in the semifinals by a 6-5 margin and is the only member of the Blue Devils to graduate this year.

“We’re happy in the way we’re progressing, but we know we have a lot of work to do. I look forward to them getting more experience and mat time in the offseason,” said Oljey. “We’re a young team school-wise, but they’ve been wrestling for quite a few years. They’re not young wrestling-wise.”

Oljey said there are multiple venues in the Salem area where his wrestlers train in the off-season, and training is critical to the Blue Devils’ chances next season.

“Everything up to the postseason is just practice. It’s learning along the way and peaking for the postseason,” said Oljey. “They have to come in with some sort of wrestling knowledge to get them the conditioning they need and the mat wrestling they need.”

Salem swimming could face choppy waters following solid state meet

Salem Editor — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:29:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Both Salem High School swim teams earned top-10 finishes during the Division I state championship meet, and 11 individual swimmers earned spots in the Meet of Champions in the school’s last year featuring Windham competitors.

The boys finished in sixth place with 90 points, and the girls came in eighth with a score of 81 points during the competition at the University of New Hampshire on Saturday, Feb. 14.

Sophomore Caitlyn Shea and senior Mark Bacigalupo posted impressive weekends, earning two top-five finishes each during Saturday’s team event and matching those performances the following day at the Meet of Champions (MOC).

During the team competition, which the Bishop Guertin boys and Dover girls won, Shea placed second in the 200-yard freestyle and fourth in the 200- yard individual medley (IM).

At the Meet of Champions on Sunday, Feb. 15, the sophomore came in third in the freestyle and fifth in the IM.

Bacigalupo was second in the 100-yard backstroke and third in the 100-yard butterfly on Saturday, then came home fourth in the backstroke and second in the fly at the MOC.

Shea finished ahead of teammate Jackie Mayo at the Meet of Champions; Mayo came in seventh during the Sunday race.

Also on Sunday, Mayo and Shea teamed up with Zoe Nikitas and Danielle Dickie in the 400-yard freestyle relay event, with the group finishing ninth and setting a new school record with a time of 3 minutes, 57.95 seconds.

Others competing at the MOC were Angela Bleeker, Chris Foote, Matthew Gaudet, Dylan Endyke, Sean O’Brien and Sean Merkle.

Though Mayo and Shea remain Blue Devils for two more years, the foundation of the boys team is not as certain. Head coach Missy Rowell said just two swimmers return to the boys squad next year.

“Somehow we’ve got to recruit. That’s how I got this group of boys,” said Rowell. “Mark (Bacigalupo) was there, and he just recruited all of his friends to come out. We kind of had to teach them how to swim.”

With Windham opening a new high school next year, Rowell faces an additional challenge.

“It’s going to be interesting to see what happens. With Windham (students) leaving, the dynamics of the team change,” said Rowell. “I think it impacts it quite a bit – the medley relay, for example; all four boys were from Windham.”

The 200-yard medley relay team that Rowell mentioned included Bacigalupo, Foote, Gaudet and Endyke, a group that earned a sixth-place finish during the Meet of Champions.

For complete results, visit www.directathletics.com.

Salem boys take third at state meet; all Salem, Pelham teams score

Salem Editor — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:01:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Mike Marshall led Salem High School to a third-place finish at the Class L state meet, while Pelham took part in the Class I-M-S competition as well.

On Sunday, Feb. 8, at Hanover’s Dartmouth College, the Blue Devils boys team scored 46 points, just two behind secondplace Londonderry. No team approached Nashua South, which won the title with 57 points.

Marshall won two individual races, grabbed a second-place finish and teamed with Ross Davies, Max Jacques and Jerickson Fedrick to win the 4x200 relay, having a hand in 38 of the team’s points.

“After the two-hour ride up, Mike went all over the place for the rest of the afternoon,” said head coach Todd Seastedt. “He was a busy boy.”

In addition to the relay, Marshall won the long jump and 55- meter hurdles and took second in the high jump.

“You have to be happy with the performance,” said Seastedt. “I spent the whole bus ride trying to find a few more points. Maybe you could look at another few points from (Marshall), but it’s nearly impossible to expect three gold medals from a kid. All of the kids performed well, and we couldn’t have gotten much stronger performances.”

The Salem girls finished 10th out of 13 teams, scoring 18 points on the afternoon.

Robyn Ciriello, Melissa Higgins and Stephanie Cabral all earned top-six finishes for Salem. Ciriello contributed 10 points in the shotput with a winning toss 35 feet, 7.5 inches, Higgins added six points, finishing third in the 300-meter dash at 41.39 seconds, and Cabral took fifth – and two points – in the 1,000-meter dash with a time of 3:10.38.

Pelham
The Pelham boys finished in the middle of the pack during the Class I-M-S event, ending the competition in 11th among 21 teams with 10 points.

Todd Paquin led the boys with a third-place long jump finish and a fourth-place effort in the 55-meter dash. He was also eighth in the 55-meter hurdles, during which he took a hard spill.

“He got a little ahead of himself, over-rotated, and that caused him to stumble. He had no choice but to get right back up and immediately run in the 55-meter dash finals,” said Jen Jaquith, one of Pelham’s coaches. “You would never know that Todd had fallen less than five minutes earlier when he ran his 55-meter dash.”

Cameron Robidoux battled an ankle injury he suffered the prior weekend at UNH, taking eighth in the 55- and 300-meter dash. Kelsi Lynde was sixth in the 55-meter hurdles and also ran on the sixth-place 4x400 relay team with Emily Long, Melody Long and Emily Spognardi, who placed sixth in the 1,500-meter race.

Salem High School alumni reaches bowl game for University of Buffalo

Salem Editor — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:43:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Most of the time when the University at Buffalo football team is on SportsCenter, Chris Scharon is part of the highlight. You just have to look closely and avoid following the ball.

The Salem resident recently concluded his college career on a national stage, as part of a program playing in the only bowl game in the school’s history.

As the fullback on a team with a successful running game – star back James Starks broke multiple rushing records for the Bulls – Scharon has a simple yet crucial job: block.

“It’s a hard-nosed, tough position,” said Buffalo running backs coach Lee Chambers. “Every time we had a big game rushing, I’d let Chris know that it was because of him too. He doesn’t care about the glory though.”

During his junior year at Salem High School, Scharon was scouted by some of the top Division I-AA teams in New England. Then Buffalo came calling.

Jack Gati, Salem’s head coach, sent film of Scharon the school, and Buffalo invited the then-linebacker to a camp at the university.

A week after its conclusion, Scharon received an offer for a full scholarship. He accepted it on National Signing Day his senior year.

“It was a thrill because even when I was a little kid I knew what I wanted to do,” said Scharon, who recently completed school as a fifth-year senior. “I wanted to play at the highest level. For me to get recruited by some of the great schools around here and have a (Division) I-A scholarship level, it meant a great deal.”

Gati said it wasn’t necessarily the physical aspect of the game that made Scharon an appealing recruit.

“He was one of the players who comes around once in a great while. He had everything,” said Gati. “Chris had the passion to play the game the right way, digested football all the time, and just showed up and played. He was dominating at his position.”

When Scharon began playing for the Bulls, they were an also-ran in the middling Mid- American Conference (MAC). Buffalo had been a I-AA team until 1999, and won only eight games through the 2004 season. Following a coaching change in December 2005, the team began to improve.

Under Turner Gill, third-year head coach and a national champion at the University of Nebraska, Buffalo appeared in the International Bowl against the University of Connecticut on Jan. 3 in Toronto.

The Bulls lost, 38-20, yet the game’s positive impact was felt beyond the field’s boundaries. The University at Buffalo had been selected to play in the Tangerine Bowl 50 years ago, but the team refused to play because its two black players were not allowed to compete.

“Being able to really be on the first team at the university to play in a bowl game makes it more special,” said Scharon. “Then to know there was a team that stood up for something more important than a football game – it makes me proud to know our university has a piece of history along with it too.”

Scharon broke his hand the last game of the regular season. He saw limited action in the MAC title game – when Buffalo throttled 12th-ranked and undefeated Ball State, 42-24 – and in the International Bowl, but he said it didn’t take away from his experience.

“From the time the MAC Championship ended and the (International) Bowl, you have people patting you on the back telling you how great you are,” said Scharon. “It’s a big accomplishment.”

Chambers and Scharon developed a close relationship, and the running backs coach said he was thrilled when Scharon caught his first-ever touchdown pass in 2007, a home game against Akron.

Gati said he watched one game with pride when Starks broke free for a score, and the announcers specifically highlighted the touchdown-producing block thrown by Scharon.

“Looking down the field, seeing them breaking a big play that you threw a block for, it’s a great feeling,” said Scharon. “I’m not the fastest guy. I’m not the strongest guy. I’ve known that to achieve what I wanted to, it’s going to come from hard work. To become better each year was the thing for me. In my eyes, to be successful you have get down and dirty, and work your butt off.”

Salem boys basketball seeks third-straight crown with mix of new, returning talent

Salem Editor — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 01:49:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

If you need proof EJ Perry isn’t satisfied with two straight Class L basketball titles, just ask the athletes on his five-time defending state champion volleyball team.

Entering the 2009 high school hoops season, it should come as no surprise that Perry is licking his chops at the prospects of an eighth crown in five years. Who could blame him?

Yes, the Blue Devils graduated a handful of standouts from a unit that completed a 22-0 campaign last year – 32 straight overall. But fourth-year starter and first-team all-stater Josh Jones is back and arguably the leading candidate for Class L Player of the Year. Jones has already garnered more than 900 points and is a virtual lock to eclipse 1,000 sometime in January.

Co-captaining the team with Jones is junior Alex LaRosa, who takes over at point guard after backing up standout floor general Josh Frederico last season. A quartet of 6-foot-4 forwards vie to start under the basket. Senior Mark Adamson has the experience, but he and Sean Bergeron must hold off varsity newcomers Joe Gallant and Jason Kinney.

Others returning for another sweet taste of the Class L trophy include Mark Frounjian, Mike Kimball and Sam Shields, while Marcus Baldwin, Meme Okeke, Tyler Hutchinson, Kyle Henrick, Dan Tiner, Analdo Vasquez and Matt Cannone are determined to quench their collective palate as well.

Baldwin has the inside edge to start at shooting guard.

“We are definitely one of the favorites,” said Perry, who added Trinity, which the Blue Devils defeated the last two seasons in title tilts, stands in their way, along with Manchester Central, Nashua South and Winnacunnet, among others.

“The biggest obstacle we face is having only seven home games and 11 league road games, plus three more (out of class) road games.”

Salem boys soccer team's playoff appearance keyed by senior leadership

Salem Editor — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:17:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

It was a season of development and, likely, a positive sign of things to come.

The Salem boys soccer team jumped to a 5-2-0 record before finishing 6-9-1, good enough for the No. 12 seed in the highly competitive Class L playoffs. Though they were bumped in the first round, the Blue Devils gave fifth-seeded Bishop Guertin all it could handle in a 2-0 firstround loss.

“The team truly grew, both physically and mentally, this season,” said head coach Anthony Karibian. “Where last year we played with some apprehension, this year, we opened very well ... It was due, in large part, to work in the offseason and a renewed focus with our nine seniors.”

Those seniors played together since they were 6, 7 and 8 years old, added the coach, who noted only three began the season as starters, yet seven were receiving regular minutes by the end of the year.

“They all played with the Windham travel team, and in the Windham middle school,” said Karibian. “It was really good to see the camaraderie that we had both on and off the field. It was that unity that kept us going through stretches of losses, and I am looking forward to that team unity being relayed to the younger players.”

Defender Josh Richard and midfielder Aaron Mackey led the group, Richard as a vocal leader and Mackey through his exemplary work ethic, skill and fitness level.

Classmates Charlie Sprinkling, Justin Hollinger, Brian Broom-Peltz, Mark Baroni, Ethan Carr, and brothers Craig and Corey Fitzgerald also contributed on the pitch this season. Minus the tight-knit senior unit, Karibian said 2009 promises a different look, though he doesn’t believe there will be a dropoff.

“We will certainly be in the market for new leaders. All the seniors played a role in the development of the team. With the captains’ armbands up for grabs, as well as at least five starting positions, it will be very competitive next year,” he said. “(But) much of our soccer talent was in our underclassmen. I look forward to their development as they will have another year to grow and improve.”

Karibian said he’s hopeful juniors Brett Miller and Tyler Rutledge continue their ascent as standout strikers and sophomore midfielders Max Gordon and Peter Ventola step up as well.

Junior goalkeeper Taylor Morin, he added, made giant strides this season and should only get better in 2009. Morin won sole possession of the starting job in the second half of this season.

Also expected to return next season are juniors Michael Abi- Aad, Marcus Baldwin, Cody Eller, Brandon Cole and sophomores Nicholas LaRochelle and Brian Peltz.

Salem boys volleyball, win streak intact, takes another title

Salem Editor — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:12:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

If you’ve been to enough physics classes, you’ve probably faced the age-old question: what happens when an immovable object meets an unstoppable force.

It’s a trick question. Salem is both the immovable object – perched firmly atop the Division I boys volleyball standings for five years running – and the unstoppable force.

Just ask its latest title game victim, Timberlane, which was haunted in straight sets – 25-19, 25-18 and 25-13 – during their Halloween loss to the Blue Devils on Friday, Oct. 31.

And it gets scarier for Timberlane and the rest of the Granite State volleyball landscape. SHS returns six of eight starters.

“It was like the first time for most of these guys, and they want more,” said Salem coach EJ Perry. “That’s why they were so excited, because we had so many guys contribute. Last year, some of the (D-I runner-up) Keene players said it was all Dan Kinney. You can’t say that about this team ... You can’t single out one player.”

That makes some wonder when, if ever, Salem will fall.

“I think it was actually pretty close tonight, and we pushed them well, but we are talking about Salem here,” said Timberlane coach John Duba. “You have to have talent to be able to play with this team.”

Talent alone won’t bring down the Blue Devils, conceded Duba.

In fact, not one team since New Hampshire instituted varsity boys volleyball five years ago has been able to produce the proper formula.

Salem has won every contest in which it has competed and, with its latest triumph, now maintains a 93-match winning streak, 24 more than the previous national record.

“We’re here. We’re still standing,” said Perry. “We’re like that boxer … ‘OK, you’ve given us your best shot, now here we come.’”

That was never more evident than in the first game against Timberlane With his team down, 14-11, Perry called a timeout for one reason.

“It was for Jason (Kinney). At that point I don’t think he had a kill, and I pulled him aside and said, ‘I don’t want to hear any excuses about being an underclassmen, you need to turn from a junior into a senior, and you need to do it right now,’” said Perry.

Kinney finished the match with 14 kills and six blocks, and the result never again seemed in doubt. Meme Okeke added 15 kills and junior Dan Tiner and sophomore Joe Gallant contributed 11 and 10 kills, respectively.

“You know, you’ve got four guys with double-digit kills, it’s awfully hard to get scored against,” said Perry, who now had seven state titles in five years – five volleyball and the last two Class L basketball championships. But he said he only steers the ship.

“The players do all the paddling,” he said. “The guys in the past have said it’s a standard they don’t want to break.

“That’s one of the things that was most exciting about this team … is there’s no connection to the first championship. These guys were on their own, and that’s why I’ve said all along they’re the best team I’ve had,” added Perry. “I tried to leave it on the back burner, but I did let them know that they carried that weight, and if they did screw up, that’s the story.”

There was no problem this year and maybe not for the foreseeable future, which is why senior captain Tim Sullivan admitted, after four years of winning and celebrating, he’s not sure what to do with himself next year.

“I’m probably going to try to stay in high school and come back,” he said. “There’s nothing I’d rather do than play for this team.”

Being an integral cog on a squad that knows nothing but dominance is, after all, contagious. The reasons for the continued success are simple, added Sullivan.

“We train so hard. We go double sessions all summer. We go hard three hours a day, six days a week, and we play as one unit,” he said.

And Perry gave every player on the team an opportunity to contribute throughout the season. That elite list includes Sullivan’s co-captain, Sean Stewart, and his senior classmates Jesse Forrest and Michael Sapochetti; juniors Justin O’Brien, Chris Barnes, Jared Scali, Kevin Delfosse, CJ DeMarco, Matthew Les, Kyle Ruffen and Patrick Sheehy; and sophomore Corey Forrest.

Salem High School boys volleyball team keeps dominating foes

Salem Editor — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:12:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

The Blue Devils added four more victories to increase their national record winning streak to 90.

By improving their season record to 16-0, the locals secured the top spot in this year’s Division I boys volleyball playoffs.

As if there were any doubt. On Oct. 7, Salem traveled to Mascenic Regional High School and defeated the hosts, 3-0.

Two days later, SHS welcomed Souhegan to town for Senior Night and again won three straight. The opponent was different – but the result the same – on Saturday, Oct. 11, when the Blue Devils defeated Timberlane during homecoming. Then the Blue Devils celebrated Columbus Day with, you guessed it, a 3-0 victory at Londonderry.

Coach EJ Perry said the Timberlane triumph was especially satisfying because the Owls entered play tied for second in the state with a 9-3 record. The first game, he added, was the most dramatic.

Timberlane took a 25-24 lead on a kill by Owls’ senior standout Alex Mill, but Player of the Year candidate Jason Kinney responded with a block and two kills for Salem, which won the second game, 25-14, and the third, 25-19.

Kinney finished the contest with 14 kills and eight blocks, Chris Barnes continued his fine play at setter with 32 assists, four blocks, two kills and 12 service points, and middle hitter Jared Scali offered seven kills and four blocks.

Against Souhegan, Salem recognized its five seniors, including captians Sean Stewart and Tim Sullivan, as well as Meme Okeke, Jesse Forrest and and Michael Sapochetti.

All five were in the first rotation for game one, and they earned a 25-20 win behind Stewart’s eight digs and seven service points. Sullivan earned a standing ovation when he dove into the stands for one of his four digs. Sapochetti added five digs and four kills, Forrest contributed four kills, and Meme Okeke recorded five kills and two blocks.

Kinney and Andrew Tiner combined for 11 kills and five blocks to lead the Blue Devils to a 25-9 victory in game two. And all the seniors were back on the floor when Sullivan served the final point of the 25- 14 game-three win.

Against Mascenic, sophomores Corey Forrest and Joe Gallant stood out with eight and seven kills, respectively. Salem opens the postseason against the No. 8 seed, Oyster River or Souhegan, on Thursday, Oct. 23.

Salem football team sets scoring record

Salem Editor — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:59:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

When last the Blue Devils played under the lights at Grant Field, they were forced to say goodbye to 26 seniors after Manchester West came to town and handed them a 17-14 loss in the regular-season finale that kept Salem from the playoffs.

On Friday, Sept. 19, the Salem football team returned to the scene of the crime for the first time in 10 months to face another Queen City foe.

Though Memorial put an early scare into the locals, going ahead 6-0 on the first drive of the game, it quickly became apparent it was SHS doing the bludgeoning on this night.

So when Salem’s Chris Hale recovered a high punt snap in the end zone with 0:00 remaining on the game clock, the touchdown meant nothing in terms of result, but everything in regards to history.

The Blue Devils hung 65 points on the visitors, setting a team scoring record that stood since a 64-0 victory against Somersworth in 1971.

The boys also set new marks with eight touchdowns and five two-point conversions.

More important than records, however, was the play of the team’s offense in the 65-20 victory, said head coach Jack Gati.

“We needed something like this,” he said. “We needed our backs to hold onto the ball and protect the ball and run, and the linemen needed to block, so things were really put together tonight, as far as I’m concerned.”

In the backfield, the four-headed monster of sophomore speedster Max Jacques, junior Darren Brown and seniors Kyle Kenney and Chris Najem ate up the Memorial front seven all night.

The quartet combined for 338 of Salem’s more than 500 yards from scrimmage. Jacques tallied 90 yards and found the end zone once on 11 carries, and a 48-yard touchdown run was called back on a holding penalty. He also compiled in excess of 100 yards on kickoff returns.

It was the forceful running of the 200-pound Najem that gives Gati hope for the team’s chances this season.

Najem carried the ball nine times, earning 143 yards on the ground. He found pay dirt three times, not including a two-point conversion.

“He’s the one I needed to step up tonight, and he did,” said Gati. “He had a long week of practice and didn’t have the best game last week, so we needed a little more consistency out of him, and we got it tonight.”

First-year starting quarterback Matt Cannone, meanwhile, hit the passes he needed to. He connected twice for long scores with his favorite target, Cory Lavallee, once on a 52-yard bomb that caught the senior wide open along the left sideline in the second quarter and again on a similar 40-yard play exactly four minutes later, three seconds before the half.

“He does a nice job, doesn’t he? Boy, he’s really matured in the last couple weeks,” said Gati of his sophomore signal caller. “I was really pleased with the way he threw the ball. He’s very composed ... I’d say that’s his best quality right now. For a sophomore, that’s impressive.”

Still, while the Blue Devils gained much-needed momentum heading into their contest with rival and three-time defending state champ Pinkerton, Gat said his defense must play better if Salem’s to contend.

“Really, we were only 22 points ahead (against Memorial), and the way they were throwing the ball, I was concerned going into the third quarter,” said Gati of his squad’s 36-14 halftime lead. “Offensively, we did what we wanted to, I have no complaints. Defensively, we have a couple things to work on still.”

With 74 straight victories on the books, Salem High School boys volleyball team turns the page again

Salem Editor — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:54:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Entering the season with a national record 74-match winning streak and four consecutive state titles, most would find it difficult to raise the expectations any higher entering the 2008 season.

Not EJ Perry.

The Salem High School coach, who has also led the Blue Devils basketball team to two straight crowns, said this year’s squad is hands down his best unit to date.

“We have a huge X on our backs as everybody is trying to beat the four-time defending champions, but in Salem we relish that role and use it for motivation,” said Perry. “This is the most talented Salem team in the 10-year history of volleyball (six club seasons and four varsity). It should be exciting to see this team mature.”

The Blue Devils send out a lethal crop of hitters, led by 6-foot- 4 junior Jason Kinney. Kinney has the opportunity to become a more accomplished player than his older brother Dan, the 2007 Division I Player of the Year (POY), said Perry.

That’s high praise considering the elder Kinney was recognized in Sports Illustrated after making the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American team by averaging 22 kills and eight blocks per match.

Similarly, Dan Tiner, the cousin of 2004 and 2005 POY Andrew Tiner, also started last year and averaged better than eight kills a match. Perry said Tiner came in this season with improved passing skills.

Both players, he said, are top contenders for 2008 POY honors. That’s largely because each has played volleyball since sixth grade; most athletes aren’t introduced to the sport until high school.

Hitting in the middle this season are Chukwuekmeka Okeke and Jared Scali. Both players were reserves last season, but picked up the team’s winning mentality and are ready to start after improving in the off-season.

Junior Chris Barnes starts at setter, and Joe Gallant battled and beat out fellow sophomore Corey Forrest for the other starting outside hitter spot. Perry said Gallant’s 6-foot-3 frame gave him a slight advantage, though the 6- foot-1 Forrest is likely to see plenty of action as a top reserve. Senior Sean Stewart, a starter on the last two championship teams, anchors the defense and captains the team along with junior CJ DeMarco, who Perry said may be the best passer in the state. DeMarco moves from starting defensive specialist to libero.

Playing major roles off the bench are senior Michael Sapochetti and junior Justin O’Brien, who enters his first varsity season. Others contributing for SHS this season include outside hitter Jesse Forrest and juniors Kevin Delfosse, Matthew Les, Kyle Ruffen and Patrick Sheehy.

After losing Dan Kinney, who graduated with a 121-3 record between volleyball and basketball, Perry said the ball will be spread around more, and the team has adopted the motto, “We before me.”

“This year’s team will only start one senior … but is probably my most experienced team,” said Perry, who added that as fun as it is to dominate each season, he hopes volleyball continues to grow within the Granite State.

“The sport should be getting more popular with the U.S. winning the gold in Beijing,” said Perry. “The games, both beach volleyball and indoor volleyball, at the Olympics were incredible. I know I watched it and my players watched it, and hopefully there were others out there who appreciated it as much as we did and the sport can start coming of age in New Hampshire.”

Salem baseball falls to Goffstown in Class L finale

Salem Editor — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:50:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Matt Benson didn’t want to imagine it any other way.

Dan Keleher had something different in mind.

On Saturday, June 14, at MerchantsAuto.com Stadium in Manchester, it was Benson who got his wish.

The fifth-year Goffstown baseball coach watched his nine seniors carry their teammates on their shoulders and across the threshold for the first Class L championship in program history.

Keleher, who three years ago led Salem to a state title, was forced to say goodbye to 13 of his leaders following a heartbreaking 4-3 loss.

“I told them they’re kids, and it’s going to take them a little while to not be mad or sad at this, but I will never think negatively about these kids,” said Keleher. “They’ve done so much for the town of Salem baseball.”

Still, Keleher admitted if his squad were to lose, he couldn’t think of a better rival to shake hands with following the game.

“We’re pretty close, Matt and I. We talk a lot in the offseason, and watch a lot of Babe Ruth games together in the summer,” he said. “I know all those guys. They’re a good, solid ball club and they’re evenly matched with our guys. They’ve had some battles since they were in Little League.“

In fact, Keleher said if the two high school squads played 10 times, the outcome would undoubtedly be 5-5.

The most recent contest, he added, may have been the most competitive title game he’s witnessed.

“It’s probably up there in the tops,” he said. “I mean, we had runners in scoring position in the seventh with less than two outs. We had a chance to do it and we didn’t.”

Indeed, Salem produced many opportunities throughout the contest.

After falling into a 2-0 hole in the third inning, and then losing another run in the fourth, the Blue Devils battled back. In the bottom of the fourth, Joe O’Dell and Kyle Johnson led off with back-to-back singles, and Larry Weymouth walked to load the bases.

After two quick outs, Brad White came into the game and notched a pinch-hit single to bring home O’Dell and pinch runner Mark Bergeron.

Weymouth and Matt Hardy kept Goffstown at bay from the pitching mound, and in the sixth inning Salem once again juiced the bases – this time with one out. Junior Josh Jones took a free pass to bring Greg Bates home and tie the contest.

But in the seventh inning, Goffstown plated the go-ahead run and put the pressure back on Salem. O’Dell and Johnson again reached with no outs – this time on walks – and then advanced on a passed ball.

After two outs, Hardy was hit by a pitch load the bases for the third time in the game, but the Blue Devils never produced the tying run.

Though the loss stung, Keleher said the bitter ending takes nothing away the team’s many accomplishments this season.

“Losing in the first round (the last two years), it’s devastating, but the end is so quick you don’t have a lot of time to reflect,” he said. “We have so many memories of the last three playoff games with these guys. It’s easy to look back and say we had a tremendous season.”

Despite graduating the majority of his team Keleher said he wouldn’t be surprised to see Salem is right back at the top of Class L next season.

“We had a pretty competitive JV team, you know, 19-4, but I don’t use teams like rebuilding or reloading. We just come out here every year and try to put a winning team on the field.

“We’ll be OK. We’re going to be right in the mix again.”

In addition to O’Dell, Bates, Hardy, Johnson, Weymouth and White, the Blue Devils graduate Hal Landers, Joe Moritz, Peter Allain, Greg Gardner, Ryan Phillips, Eric Perrault, and Matthew Peters.

Salem High School baseball team reach state semifinal with 2-1 victory

Salem Editor — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:45:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Dan Keleher hates the system, and he’s not about to sugarcoat or deny his disdain, not even this year, as his Salem baseball team continues to win despite the conflicts the NHIAA’s playoff format creates for top seeds like the No. 1 Blue Devils.

With rules limiting a pitcher’s innings and consecutive starts, coaches like Keleher are forced to make a decision in a 16-team playoff format: throw your ace in the first round against the opposition’s top pitcher, or risk your season with your No. 2 against that stopper and try to save your No. 1 for the quarterfinals. The last two years Salem, despite a high seed, has fallen in the opening round.

“It certainly doesn’t give the top teams an advantage, you know, (No. 2) Keene got bumped by the No. 15 seed this year. I just don’t agree with it,” said Keleher. “Some people make suggestions we should go with a double elimination, and I understand that’s going to be a tough thing. But in my mind the solution is simple, and we used to do it. The top 12 make it, and the top four get byes. I mean, the regular season’s got to mean something.”

Despite earning no negligible advantage following a 16-4 regular season – outside of hosting a first-round contest – the Blue Devils advanced to the Class L semifinals with a 2-1 walkoff victory against Nashua South in a virtual home game for the underdogs at Nashua’s Holman Stadium on Saturday, June 7.

“It’s been a couple years since we’ve been here, but when you have a pitcher like (Nashua South’s) Dan Feehan on the mound, you expect a (close) game like this, and that’s what we got,” said Keleher. “Our guy did the same for us.”

Indeed, Larry Weymouth outpitched the South ace – who held Salem to five hits – with a three-hit gem of his own. He allowed one run while striking out nine batters.

But it was the late-inning heroics of Peter Allain that pushed Salem to the semis. After Josh Jones led off with a full-count walk, Joe Moritz came in to pinch hit and laid down a textbook sacrifice bunt. South’s first baseman overthrew the ball, and Jones advanced to third.

Hal Landers took a free pass to load the bases with no outs, then Allain stepped in and drove Jones home on a hard chopper that skipped past a diving third baseman.

“This team, I think they were freshmen the last time we were in the championship, so as far as being a team that’s used to being here, well, these guys aren’t,” said Keleher. “But they showed tonight, just like they showed (in a 4-0 win) against Dover in the first round, they have the poise to win these close ball games.”

Salem boys tennis reaches state championship match with lopsided victory

Salem Editor — Wed, 28 May 2008 19:50:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

The Blue Devils may have put a thorough thrashing on his squad, but Central coach Mark Telge couldn’t be happier for those on the opposite side of the tennis court.

Following an 8-1 Salem victory in the state semifinals on Saturday, May 24, Telge spoke openly about Salem’s chances to win a championship and his bond to the program.

“Their former coach, Bob Rhoades (who died just prior to the 2006 tennis season), he was probably my best friend in the state tennis circle, and I hope he’s watching up there,” said Telge.

“If they’re going to win a title, let it be at my expense. I know he’d appreciate it. “Salem deserves everything they get,” he continued. “To be honest with you, I don’t think anybody can stop these guys. It’s a year of destiny for them.”

Indeed, the Blue Devils have yet to lose in 2008, and for the first time in program history, they’ve reached the Class L finale.

For Salem’s current coach, Michael Jolicouer, it’s truly a special honor to take the program to the next level.

“The first year we talked a lot about (Rhoades), and it was a pretty emotional season because (his death) happened so suddenly,” said Jolicouer, who taught with Rhoades at SHS. “At this point it’s kind of an unspoken thing, but we’ve certainly dedicated the success of the program and the season to him and his contributions.”

Even though the pieces were in place for the current run, and all signs pointed toward unprecedented success this year, Jolicouer said he’s remained cautiously optimistic throughout the season.

“Our (arrival) is really due to us being able to have those five returning starters on the team,” he said. “As juniors they were 12-2, so we had the talent but lacked the experience.”

Returning this season for the Blue Devils were No. 1 Michael Cohen, No. 2 Jeff Bunker, No. 3 Bobby Pike, No. 4 Joel Vastl and No. 5 Tim Briggs.

Though five of six starters were all but set in stone entering this season, Jolicouer said it was an unexpected source that put his team over the top.

“We had four or five guys that were very comfortable playing (No.) 5 or 6 (singles), but Chris Correia stepped in and has been absolutely phenomenal,” he said. “To be honest, I didn’t expect him to be this good, but he put a lot of hard work in in the offseason and has really solidified our lineup playing as our No. 6.”

Salem was scheduled to compete against upstart Londonderry, the No. 6 seed, which knocked off third-seeded Exeter and secondseeded West to reach the title contest, on Wednesday, May 28.

And Jolicouer knows the Lancers would love nothing more than to complete their fairy-tale story with a win over the state’s lone undefeated power.

“I still get nervous every time we take the court, and believe me, I’ll be just as nervous going into that last one,” he said. “But I’ve been very encouraged by our play, especially in the semifinals. We had some close matches, but overall the guys are really stepping up.”

Against Central, Cohen won, 8-6; Bunker and Pike each took 9-8 tiebreakers, 7-4 and 7-3, respectively; Vastl earned an 8-2 victory; Briggs edged his opponent, 8-6; and Correia triumphed in his match, 8-3.

In doubles, Bunker and Vastl fell to Central’s top doubles unit, 9-7; Briggs and Jordan Faulconer won, 8-3; and Correia and Brian Peltz earned the final victory of the day, 8-4.

Salem’s foes know it, but boys tennis team must continue to show it

Salem Editor — Wed, 14 May 2008 19:30:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Michael Jolicoeur didn’t blink.

When asked if revenge was on his Salem boys tennis team’s mind when it locked up with Central this season, the answer was a resounding “yes.”

In 2007, Salem entered the same contest with one loss and fell to the Little Green.

“Last year, they came into our house and beat us, and I felt like we were better tennis players, but they really outworked us and outhustled us,” said Jolicoeur. “We were kind of cruising along, and I definitely felt that put our guys in kind of a bad mind frame going into the playoffs.”

This season, the Blue Devils entered the Monday, May 12 contest undefeated and in control of the No. 1 seed. They left in the same position. Salem earned its 12th win, 6-3, while Central fell to 9-4.

“We knew coming in this was going to be a tough match. Central was a three-loss team, but all three of their losses were to really good opponents,” said Jolicoeur. “I felt like this would be a big, big win for our guys, especially this late in the season. I think pulling this one out, the guys are really going to be flying high.”

Though No. 1 singles player Michael Cohen was edged, 8-6, and No. 5 Tim Briggs fell, 8- 2, Jeff Bunker, Bobby Pike and Chris Correia, the Blue Devils’ No. 2, 3 and 6, respectively, each earned 8-2 triumphs.

But the decisive victory may have come in the No. 4 singles match.

There, Joel Vastl trailed 7-3 to Central’s Rob Lucas. The Salem senior notched six unanswered games and won the match, 9-7.

“That’s a huge win,” said Jolicoeur. “If (Vastl) loses that match we go in needing two out of three doubles, and now all we need is one, so that takes a lot of pressure off our doubles team.”

After Cohen and Pike fell in their doubles contest, 8-4, Bunker and Vastl won, 8-3. Jordan Faulconer and Tim Briggs squeaked by in the No. 3 doubles contest, 9-7.

“(Salem) is the best team in the state. They’re tremendous,” said Central coach Mark Telge. “They’re clearly the favorite to win it all this year.”

That would be a first for Salem, which has never made it past the semifinals.

“We have guys top to bottom that can win at their positions, and I feel confident every match going in because I think we’re deeper than any other team in the state,” said Jolicoeur. “We knew, coming into this year, returning five of our six, that the playoffs were a realistic goal, and then we definitely wanted to have our (postseason) matches at home, and at this point, we certainly like our chances.”

Salem, which beat 8-4 Pinkerton on Tuesday, May 13, 7-2, is scheduled to close the season at 7-4 Bishop Guertin, which is still fighting for its playoff life.