Salem Observer : students

Master plan may mean one less elementary school

Salem Editor — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:08:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

Digging in for a tough fight, parents are mobilizing to save the Walter F. Haigh School as the School Board considers a master plan that could close the elementary school.

No final decision has been made. Estimates predict the district would save more than $1.5 million by closing Haigh. The facilities plan would spend $4 to $7 million renovating the community’s other five elementary schools over several years.

But it’s an unwelcome approach, say parents of Haigh students.

Many parents intentionally bought homes nearby so their children might attend the school, said Jennifer Wilson, Haigh PTA vice president. Though Haigh is more than 50 years old, it has a positive reputation.

“It’s a nice community school. Most of the families all know each other,” Wilson said. “Studies show kids do better in smaller schools than big schools. Salem had these neighborhood schools and it was a draw to buy a home here.”

Despite her support of Haigh, Wilson doesn’t hesitate to list problems at the building, which was built in 1954. Art and music classes are without permanent space and taught from carts of supplies wheeled from room to room. Administration space is cramped, the school lacks a multipurpose room and children are corralled in class during recess on rainy days.

All of that needs to change, Wilson said, but updating the district’s aging elementary schools doesn’t have to mean ending Haigh’s long history in town.

Last Tuesday at the first of two public forums on the school master plan, Haigh parents were vocal about their concerns.

Living a stone’s throw from Haigh, Elaine Ratay said her daughter Allie, 7, “absolutely loves” the school.

In second grade this year, it’s Allie’s first year at Haigh. It didn’t take long for the school to endear itself, Ratay said. “We’ve had a great experience. I love it that it’s a neighborhood school,” she said.

“My first instinct was, ‘I hope it (doesn’t close) until we’re through.’”

Ratay understands expensive renovations are needed and that may push officials to look at closing the school. But if that means larger classes elsewhere, she doesn’t see the advantage.

The 222 children enrolled at Haigh would be split between five elementary schools, but construction of additional classroom space at those schools should offset crowding, according to the plan.

School Board Member Peter Morgan isn’t sure costs don’t outweigh the benefits. It would at the least mean 60 or 70 new names for each principal to learn, he said, and could strain janitorial and support staff.

While Haigh is on the cusp, more concrete financial information will be needed before the board can take a position one way or the other, according to Morgan.

The decision will likely be made in the coming weeks as the board weighs whether to move ahead with elements of the master plan in time for the March ballot.

“Haigh parents have made it clear (closing the school) is not acceptable. It’s worth the money to them to keep it open,” Morgan said.

In the months ahead, the community as a whole will need to decide what it’s worth. “Is it worth a million and a half, plus operational savings to keep Haigh open?” Morgan asked.

Salmonella strikes dozens on science trip

Salem Editor — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:38:00 GMT

BY DERRICK PERKINS

Fifty-four seventh-grade students, including five who went to area hospitals, have fallen ill from salmonella since returning from an environmental camp.

State health officials began investigating the illness after students began showing up sick at area hospitals on Sunday, April 19, suffering nausea-like symptoms.

Health officials have since been investigating the Stone Environmental School in Madison, where many of the seventh-grade students stricken with salmonella spent much of the previous week, for the cause of the illness.

Although salmonella has been located, health officials have not yet located a source or determined how the students came in contact with the bacteria.

Superintendent Michael Delahanty said district officials realized there was a problem on the morning of Monday, April 20 after 51 students and one teacher reported absent for school, all from Salem’s Woodbury Middle School.

The students – 97 in all, according to school officials – had spent four days last week at the overnight environental camp.

Delahanty said a few of the children began to feel ill sometime between the evening of April 16 and the morning of April 17. A total of 11 students went home early from the environmental school, and by the time the rest of the group arrived back in Salem Friday afternoon, several more children reported feeling ill as well.

On April 20, Delahanty said the Woodbury School nurse began calling the parents of the children who made the trip and found that many were suffering from nausea and digestive problems.

At least five had been taken to the hospital since returning from the trip, he said.

State officials have been tracking the total number of students who have gone to the hospital and said all are recovering.

Two other teachers also on the trip have not reported any illness, according to Delahanty.

Though this year marks the last time seventh-graders from Woodbury School will participate in the environmental school due to budgetary, education and liability reasons, Delahanty said the district has had a long-standing relationship with the camp.

“We’ve never experienced this type of a problem,” he said. “It’s just unfortunate and nerve wracking.”

Students participate in nature hikes, take classes to identify different plant species and learn about the night sky during the three- to four-day excursion.

Almost every one of the 393 seventh-grade students will participate in the program at some point in the school year. Delahanty said.

A group of students returned the previous week from the outdoor educational program without a problem, according to Delahanty.

SHS students hear about attorney general’s job

Salem Editor — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:07:00 GMT

By Darrell Halen

Gathered in the auditorium of Salem High School for the kickoff of this year’s Sophomore Career Exploration Day, 10th-graders learned about the work of one of New Hampshire’s top officials – Attorney General Kelly Ayotte.

While taking questions from students, Ayotte said that some of the most rewarding jobs can be found in the public sector. Every day, she’s excited to go to her job.

“The work is interesting and rewarding,” Ayotte said. “To do something bigger than yourself is rewarding.”

She also depicted a realistic picture of the work of a prosecutor. Trial work can take a long time, instead of the fast pace students see on “CSI” and other TV shows, she said.

Ayotte came to the school on Wednesday, Jan. 9. This was the 13th year that the school has held a career day for its sophomores.

According to Linda Michalczyk, the school’s community liaison, the event helps students understand the education and skills they need for careers they’re interested in, so they can make good choices about what courses to take during the next two years.

Ayotte encouraged students to “job shadow” someone who works in the career they are thinking of pursuing.

“Ask to spend a day with them so you know what the job is really like,” she said.

And find out what kind of education and training you need to reach your goals, Ayotte added.

She also encouraged the students to not slack off in school, and to make wise choices. Avoid making wrong choices that will adversely affect your life, she said.

“Don’t close those doors,” Ayotte said. “What you do today does matter.”

Haley Brown, 16, said after Ayotte’s talk that it was inspiring to hear from someone who holds a powerful position.

Next, the students boarded school buses and traveled to Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill, Mass.

There, they each attended a pair of workshops. Each covered a particular field where local people talked to the students about their work in that area.

The workshops covered a wide range of fields, including construction, engineering, food service, criminal justice and the performing arts.

Students also attended a college fair, where about 30 schools were represented, and a panel featuring representatives of two- and four-year colleges, the military, and an employer: United Parcel Service.

Challenge met – New group, same story: Salem wins another title

Salem Editor — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:44:00 GMT

BY JENNIFER McDOWELL

Salem, twice beaten in the regular season, is once again the Division I girls volleyball champion.

With unrelenting effort and intensity, the second-seeded Blue Devils blew through Spaulding’s top-seeded Red Raiders in the finals at Pinkerton Academy on Saturday, Nov. 3, earning 25-11, 25-7 and 25-11 set wins to take the match.

The Blue Devils were a different team from last year’s unbeaten, unchallenged state champs, said head coach Dan Young.

He said the main goal for this year’s team was to get the players to gel and work together, adding that the team reached a turning point a few weeks back after a loss to Concord on Oct. 10. After that 3-1 setback, Salem took every set in its final seven matches of 2007.

“We had to work a lot harder this year,” said senior setter Lauren Delaney, who aced four times during the match and scored 10 points. “Everyone was saying our outside hitters were no good. We showed them in the first game. We had a lot of chemistry on the court and picked each other up.”

Senior middle hitter Nicole Duarte, who spiked 10 kills in 18 attempts and dominated particularly in the third set, agreed.

“Tonight, we all clicked. We’ve just been playing every point like it’s our last,” she said.

Young said he didn’t do much coaching between sets, but offered words of encouragement to his mixed bag of senior, junior and sophomore starters.

“The talent was out there,” he said. “Our seniors did a great job of leadership.”

Senior Danielle Stoodley, the team’s libero, made 16 digs, preventing several scoring opportunities for Spaulding.

“We played our hardest. When you play your hardest, you deserve what you get,” she said.

Senior outside hitter Valerie Boutin contributed, digging on 12 occasions and scoring nine times on serves.

Junior outside hitter Rebecca Weiss followed suit, serving for 10 points and compiling five kills in 14 attempts.

Amanda Saab, the 5-foot-11 junior middle hitter, troubled the Red Raiders, collecting 11 blocks, succeeding on six of her 14 kill attempts and scoring 11 service points.

No contest – Salem dominates Timberlane for another title

Salem Editor — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:42:00 GMT

BY RYAN O'CONNOR

What looked like a dream matchup of Class L unbeatens turned into a nightmare for Timberlane, with Salem playing the role of dreaded monster.

Though the two teams battled to a 2-2 tie on Oct. 6, the Blue Devils were more prepared to avenge this season’s only blemish, defeating the Owls 4-0 on Sunday, Oct. 28, in the state championship
at Bedford High School.

The victory gave Salem its fifth title in six years – its third in a row – and reasserted the notion that the Blue Devils remain Class L’s lone superpower.

“Every year is different, and every group is different, and I know these girls won championships before. But right now the only one that matters is the one they won today,” said head coach Carol Merchant.

Unlike the first match, which was played on thick grass at Timberlane’s home field in Plaistow, the season’s final game was played on a dry day on artificial turf. Senior Ashley Mulkey said the conditions played to the speedy Blue Devils’ strengths.

“I think the surface of the field had a lot to do with it. I think a lot of our players are turf players and we’ve been playing on it all summer (and fall), and I think that was a huge advantage,” she said.

Salem overran the ball at least 90 percent of the time in the teams’ first contest, said Merchant, so the field was a factor in the outcome. However, having the entire team healthy and playing together may have been the single biggest factor in the win.

“We all love each other, and I think that showed on the field,” she said. “These girls really played unselfishly, and it was a stifling game on defense.”

Salem allowed three shots in the contest.

Junior Kyleigh Keating put Salem on the board, redirecting a Katie Bettencourt centering pass.

The midfielders kept the locals in constant control of the ball. Merchant specifically noted the standout play of senior Tatum Dyer.

“She was absolutely dominant … You don’t have to be an expert in field hockey to know that she stood out,” said the winning coach. “She owned and controlled the midfield, which is what she’s been doing all season.”

Carolyn Malloy’s two second-half tallies not only sealed the victory, they etched her name into the history book as the Blue Devils’ record holder for most goals in a season.

“I don’t care who you are or what level you’re playing, that’s a lot of goals,” said Merchant.

But if Class L foes think they will capitalize next year on the loss of Malloy and nine other seniors, they may want to think again.

“We’re going to do some rebuilding next year, but I tried to rebuild this year. The younger players got a lot of playing time,” said Merchant, who noted a lineup primarily of backups played the starters of Class L’s No. 4 seed, Pinkerton Academy, to a preseason tie.

“We had a lot of depth on this team with the younger kids and now they have to step up because their time is in our future.”

Salem reloaded – Win streak reaches 74 as boys take another title

Salem Editor — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:35:00 GMT

BY SAPNA PATHAK

It began less than one minute after the first ball was served. It was loud, and it didn’t stop until well after the final play.

“Let’s go Salem!”

The continuous chant was heard by all in attendance at this year’s Division I boys volleyball championship, where the Blue Devils made history by winning a fourth straight state title.

The match, on Friday, Oct. 26, at Pinkerton Academy, pitted top-ranked Salem against No. 2 Keene; Salem came away with a 3-0 win, capping off D-I dominance that has yet to be checked.

“It’s hard to wrap up (the four years) from the beginning because we’re such a family, and there are
so many things I’ll take away from each state championship season,” said senior Josh Klecan, who received chants of “MVP,” from the Salem faithful after the match. “These seniors have been here all four years since we’ve been a sport, so we’ve been around all four years to win. Because I was a captain, this year feels the best because I had some more responsibility to the younger guys.”

The Blue Devils took a quick 2-0 lead after a 25-20 win in both game one and two. The Blackbirds did all they could to stop Salem’s balanced attack, led by seniors Dan Kinney, Tim Briggs, Mark Graziani and Klecan.

In game three, with Salem ahead 22-17, the Blackbirds took a timeout.

“When it comes to coaching, I have a type-A personality. That’s the only thing we’re talking about in the huddle, doesn’t matter the situation. We will be drawing plays and talking game plans,” said Salem head coach EJ Perry. “Other parts of my life, I’m laid back, but not coaching. So, yeah, we were definitely talking about volleyball during that last timeout.”

The Blue Devils moved to a 24-19 edge before 6-foot-2 senior Billy Webster earned the game-winning point, capping off another undefeated season, Salem’s fourth.

Senior Ryan Woelfel anchored the defense, while Kinney, Klecan and Dan Tiner controlled the offense. Eric Wilson, Andrew Dickie and Billy Kindon are also seniors who will graduate this year, leaving junior Tiner as the squad’s lone senior next season.

Right now, 2008 isn’t on anyone’s mind.

“This is the best championship,” said Perry of winning four titles. “Last year we won, and people said we lost a lot of talent and the run would end. We proved that we’re not about rebuilding, but reloading. They said this team was done, and winning tonight showed we’re not.”

Rounding out the championship roster were Chris DeMarco, Sean Stewart and Jared Scali.

Deep Devils – In playoff victories, Salem’s starters, bench shine

Salem Editor — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 20:18:00 GMT

BY SAPNA PATHAK

When the boys of Salem volleyball took the courts for their first match of this year’s Division I playoffs, head coach EJ Perry had a plan: show off his present stars and then display those he expects to emerge in the future.

Perry’s plan worked, as the Blue Devils sailed through the first round with a 3-0 showing over Coe-Brown on Thursday, Oct. 18. Salem outscored the opposition, 75-30, in three games, taking game one, 25-6, winning game two, 25-11, and putting up a 25-13 victory in game three.

Senior Dan Kinney bolstered his case for New Hampshire Player of the Year, making 14 kills and six blocks while playing one-and-a-half games. Senior setter Tim Briggs helped the Blue Devils to an early lead, beginning game one with three perfect sets en route to a 17-assist, three-block night.

“When Tim Briggs is on, we are very difficult to contend with,” said Perry. “As much as we rely on Dan Kinney to play well, and we do count on it every night, it is Briggs who is like a coach on the floor, who determines how we will play.”

Mark Graziani and Josh Klecan controlled the back row, with Klecan recording 12 digs and 11 service-points and Graziani notching nine digs and nine service-points. Ryan Woelfel finished with eight kills, while Billy Webster, Andrew Dickie and Billy Kingdon each added five kills. Senior Eric Wilson rounded out the scoring with five digs and six service-points.

Game three saw Salem’s underclassmen take over, giving fans a peek at the program’s future.

Sophmore hitters Jared Scali, Jason Kinney and Dan Tiner anchored the front row. Jason Kinney led the youth with nine kills and five blocks while Scali had a season-high seven kills. Tiner added four kills and two blocks; juniors Sean Stewart and CJ DeMarco provided accurate passing for the Blue Devils; and Chris Barnes recorded 12 assists in relief of Briggs.

“I was very impressed with the younger unit,” said Perry. “They really didn’t lose a step and held Coe-Brown to 13 points. I continued to tell people that Salem volleyball has reached a point ofnever rebuilding, but rather continually reloading. These players proved my point.”

After bypassing the Bears, Salem downed the Sabers, of Souhegan, in the D-I semifinals on Tuesday, Oct. 23. The Blue Devils cruised to another 3-0 playoff win, and will compete for their fourthstraight D-I title. Salem and Keene face off at Pinkerton Academy, at 6 p.m., on Friday, Oct. 26, marking the third consecutive season the two squads have met for the championship.

Dan Kinney led the Blue Devils with 21 kills, five blocks and three digs; Woelfel notched 11 blocks, three shy of the school record; Tiner had five blocks and five kills; Webster had seven kills and four blocks in his first appearance at outside hitter; and Briggs had a solid night with 34 assists, five blocks, four digs and 14 service-points.

The Graziani-Klecan duo put up a combined 23 digs, controlling the back row; Stewart had four digs; DeMarco added three digs.

No let down – Salem field hockey beats Londonderry, eyes potential Timberlane rematch

Salem Editor — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 20:05:00 GMT

BY RYAN O'CONNOR

Up six goals in the final minutes of a quarterfinal match-up with Londonderry High School, Salem’s offense looked as if it was in the closing seconds of sudden-death overtime.

And coach Carol Merchant couldn’t imagine her team taking a different approach.

“They’re fierce competitors and, you know, they’re never satisfied,” said Merchant, following the 6-0 victory on Saturday, Oct. 19. “Even though the score might be a lot to a little, we’re still working on things.

“They just want to leave the field feeling good about the way they played,” she continued. “If they let down, they’d have to walk away knowing they let down.”

It is that very attitude that may have led the Blue Devils to four of the last five Class L titles.

But more importantly, said Merchant, her undefeated squad is playing as good as it has all season.

“We tightened up all the things we wanted to tighten up this past week and the attack is obviously generating a lot of opportunities,” she said of playoff preparations and the subsequent result. “And the defense was stifling today.”

Though Merchant said the shutout didn’t reflect the level of competition on the opposite side of the field, she admitted the Blue Devils will be difficult to stop if they continue playing to their potential.

Junior striker Kyleigh Keating opened the scoring and senior forward Katie Bettencourt followed to give Salem an early 2-0 lead.

Captain Carolyn Malloy, a senior striker, then planted a long shot on a Keating assist as the Blue Devils headed into halftime with a three-goal advantage.

It was more of the same in the second half.

Malloy punched in a Bettencourt assist at the Londonderry keeper’s feet and then earned a hat trick by maneuvering through three defenders and sneaking the ball into the back of the net.

“They had their best defender on her man-to-man the whole game, but she just has a great mentality for goal scoring,” said Merchant of Malloy.

Senior Michaela Galvin capped the scoring by notching a goal off another Keating assist.

Salem was scheduled to play rival Pinkerton Academy of Derry on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at Bedford High School, host of the Class L tournament.

Should Salem advance, a potential rematch with Timberlane looms.

The two powerhouses played to a 2-2 draw on Oct. 6, the only blemish on each team’s record.

Record setter – SHS senior makes point of assisting others

Salem Editor — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 15:29:00 GMT

BY RYAN O'CONNOR

Lauren Delaney began varsity play as a sophomore setter, backing up a senior on a successful Blue Devils volleyball squad.

The prognosis didn’t include much court time. But when the elder setter came down with mononucleosis, Delaney stepped in and prescribed unprecedented success for her team and herself.

Now a senior captain, Delaney, an all-state setter last season, has one championship and more than 1,000 assists.

Delaney and her coach, Dan Young, don’t know the record for assists at Salem High School, though both speculate she now holds the prestigious honor.

Though Delaney collected her 1,000th assist in the Blue Devils’ only loss in two seasons, she said her team and personal goals remain untouched by the 3-1 blemish against Londonderry on Sept. 26.

Delaney needed 11 assists entering the contest and achieved the task by setting her teammates up for success on 13 occasions in the first game, Salem’s lone victory.

“In my mind, I had two separate goals for the season: one was another state championship and the other was to reach 1,000 assists. I did that,” she said. “Now I just want to set a new goal and try to reach that, too.
I don’t want to stop at 1,000.”

A title defense, she added, remains the ultimate prize.

While Delaney has made assisting others look easy, her career high, 42, came as a sophomore against rival Pinkerton.

This season, she averages roughly 30 a contest and 10 a game.

It is that very fact, said her coach, that makes the accomplishment so special.

“The thing is, we don’t play five games against anybody. We tend to only play three, so sometimes that number isn’t fair,” said Young of the opportunity for other players, including a Methuen, Mass., athlete who recently set a school record with 51 assists in a match, to achieve higher assist totals. “A player on a mediocre team is going to get more chances to set because they are going to play more games. Lauren is one of the reasons we don’t have to.”

In 2006, the Blue Devils’ beat all but three opponents in straight sets, and the aberrations were 3-1 victories.
This season, Salem has played one game over the minimum in its 11 wins through Tuesday, Oct. 9.

“There are two kinds of successful teams. There are very talented teams and teams with a very good setter, and I think Lauren makes us both,” said Young. “About 70 percent of coaches, unless they have a solid returning setter, are worried going into season.

“You can have a good hitter and you can have good passers, but having the kind of consistency at setter we’ve had the last few years is one less thing I as a coach have to worry about,” added the coach. “And not having that fear is a wonderful thing.”

Delaney, on the other hand, gives credit to Young and the captains who proceeded her, especially Lindsay Burrill and Beth White, who graduated following her sophomore season.

Young said Delaney, in addition to making those around her better, even humbles him at times.

“I really don’t coach Lauren anymore. She, in a lot of ways, assists me,” he said. “If she has questions, she asks, and when she has suggestions, she suggests. When I’m on her about something, she now has the right to say, ‘Relax, I’ve been here a thousand times.’”

In contention – SHS finishes fifth, sends four to individual tourney

Salem Editor — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 15:24:00 GMT

BY SAPNA PATHAK

While finishing in fifth place at the Class L team tournament, the Blue Devils qualified four golfers to compete in the individual tournament, the most any Salem golf team has advanced.

“We’ve never put more than two golfers in the individual match,” said Salem head coach Ben Adams. “There was absolutely tougher competition this year, and the fact that (Bishop Guertin) won, I wouldn’t call it a surprise, but it’s not a case of the predictable happening.”

Salem entered the team tournament on Thursday, Oct. 4, at Canterbury Woods, as the third seed with a 26-7 regular-season record. The match included the top 20 teams in Class L, with the top 10 teams allowed eight golfers each and the top five scores used as the final team score.

Teams 11 through 20 brought two golfers to compete for the chance to advance to the individual tournament. The top 24 golfers, including ties, moved on to the individual championship on Saturday, Oct. 6.

“The attitude in 2006 was a lot more intense than this year,” said Adams of his team’s approach. “We would’ve liked to do better, but they went into it wanting to have a good day. It was a beautiful day out there, and they really just wanted to enjoy it, especially the seniors.”

The Blue Devils finished with a final score of 398, 10 strokes behind champion Bishop Guertin of Nashua.

Seniors James Folk and Jon Longacre led the way, shooting a 77 and an 80, respectively. Tyler Vigue and Corey Keenan each shot an 80; Jeff Cohen shot an 81; Ed Harbian shot an 83; Garrett Moore shot an 84; and senior Steve Sullivan added a 95.

“When you send four of eight players to the individual tournament, you’re a contender,” said Adams. “Clearly the fact that half our guys placed among the top players in the state says something that our final score didn’t.”

Not in the cards – Salem shows no quit but can’t win while up a man

Salem Editor — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:46:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

With one more player on the field than its opponent, the Salem boys’ soccer team looked like it would be able to grab its second win in what has been a difficult season so far.

It didn’t work out that way, as the Blue Devils couldn’t take advantage of a Goffstown red card, losing at home on Friday, Sept. 28, 2-1.

Goffstown’s Tyler Ellis took down Craig Fitzgerald seven minutes into the contest. After the play, the referee ejected Ellis for using an expletive in talking about the call. Still, the Grizzlies took a 2-0 lead following a pair of second-half scores.

Mark Baroni cut the Salem deficit in half when he corralled a loose ball in front of the net and powered it home.

But the Blue Devils were unable to take advantage of several scoring opportunities while the seconds ticked down, dropping them to 1-9 on the year.

“When we went into halftime, I told my guys that (Goffstown) was going to come into the second half fired up. To their credit, they didn’t get tired,” said Salem head coach Tony Karibian.

Salem’s flaw is obvious. The Blue Devils have no seniors on the 2007 roster.

“We’re young and we’re inexperienced when it comes to going up against veteran teams,” said Karibian, who said the oldest player on his team just turned 17. “It’s a positive thing in a sense that we’re looking to get better
moving forward over the next few years. But it’s also frustrating at the same time.”

Despite the loss, Karibian saw some positives from his team.

“The main thing was that we competed in tackles and 50/50 balls. We’ve lost games before because of those two things,” he said. “Usually we would have just laid down in a game like today. I think they saw that we could play with them, even if they are bigger and stronger.”

After cutting the deficit to one, Salem put the ball in the net again, but an offside call negated the goal. And in the final minutes of the game, the Blue Devils were unable to connect on a corner kick, missed an opportunity at an open shot and couldn’t capitalize on a foul just outside the box.

But the best opportunity came with a little more than two minutes left as the ball trickled along the goal line with the Goffstown keeper on the ground.

However, no Salem player could get a foot on the ball, and the Grizzlies cleared it to ensure the win.

Home cookin’ – Salem reaches .500 by doubling up Pinkerton

Salem Editor — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 21:11:00 GMT

BY RYAN O'CONNOR

The Blue Devils girls soccer team rolled out the welcome mat for rival Pinkerton Academy during Salem homecoming festivities. Then the girls turned around and slammed the door right in the Astros’ faces.

Though Pinkerton entered the contest on Saturday, Sept. 22, with a 4-3 record, the two squads left the field tied in the Class L standings following a 4-2 victory by the hosts.

“It was certainly a big win for us,” said head coach Kendrick Whittle. “I think going into the second half at 4-4 is significant.”

Freshman Cassie Chase scored first, unassisted, followed by a goal from sophomore Sarah Raye on an assist from freshman Gina Reghini. A tally by senior Liz Merriken, aided by sophomore Olivia Connors, and another Raye score, assisted by junior Caitlin Peters, accounted for Salem’s total. Peters, said Whittle, has also been the backbone of his young defense.

Three of Salem’s four defeats have come at the hands of the top three teams in the Class L standings. The Blue Devils lost 1-0 in overtime to defending champion Exeter, 3-0 to undefeated Manchester Central and 3-0 to one-loss Londonderry.

And while several of Salem’s most prolific scorers are underclassmen, inconsistency – often a by-product of youth – has hampered the Blue Devils’ ability to challenge Class L’s elite thus far, said Whittle.

“Some days we’re exceeding, and some days we’re not meeting, our expectations,” said Whittle. “Today was certainly a day where, as a team, our intensity was an A. We were into the game for all 80 minutes, and it showed in the result. There are other days when we come out flat, and we struggle to put it together.”

An example, said the coach, was Salem’s 2-1 home loss to Dover on Tuesday, Sept. 18, when the Blue Devils missed several opportunities to tie and possibly win the game.

Still, having sophomore Sarah Snyder tending net, said Whittle, gives the young Devils a legitimate chance to contend for a title as early as this year and beyond.

“Her play this year has brought us to another level,” said Whittle. “You’ll see us in the playoffs.”

Another slip – Salem drops homecoming battle to defending champs

Salem Editor — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 20:36:00 GMT

BY RYAN O'CONNOR

Following consecutive Division I title-game losses to Pinkerton Academy, Salem’s geographic rival and annual road block, you can’t blame coach Jack Gati and his players if they had revenge on their minds.

But in the marquee event of the Blue Devils’ homecoming festivities, five costly turnovers – spread throughout the contest – led to another Blue Devil loss on Saturday, Sept. 22.

Astros, 25 – Blue Devils, 20.

Stopping PA’s opening drive with a quick three-and-out, Salem drove down field into scoring position before senior running back Kevin Sledge fumbled at the Pinkerton 10-yard line.

Though Pinkerton didn’t score, its defense held Salem on the following possession. Following a botched Salem punt that was accidentally downed on the host’s 9-yard line, the Astros quickly scored. A two-point conversion put them ahead, 8-0.

But Salem showed resiliency throughout the contest.

Sledge capped a 55-yard drive with a 4-yard score, though the Blue Devils missed the two-point conversion.

“This is the best we’ve played, outside of the big turnovers,” said Gati. “We played hard, and that’s all I can ask for. We just need to stop making these mistakes.”

Indeed, another fumble led to a second Pinkerton score and 15-6 edge at halftime.

After the break, Salem tried to control the pace of play and was successful – to a degree. James Stewart’s 2-yard score completed a nine-plus minute drive.

Pinkerton’s response, however, took 45 seconds; a 64-yard score on the second play of the drive extended the ’Stros’ lead again.

Salem, in turn, came right back when Sledge returned a kickoff 97 yards to paydirt.

“I knew I just needed to make a big play to make up for my early mistake,” said Sledge.

In one minute, 30 seconds, the PA lead shrunk from 15-6 to 22-20.

A fourth quarter Pinkerton field goal and two late interceptions sealed another Salem loss.

Gati couldn’t explain his program’s poor performance against the Astros, seven consecutive losses including playoff contests.

A week after a 34-14 home loss to Londonderry, Salem dropped to 1-2 in Division I following the Pinkerton loss, knocking the Blue Devils off their perch of preseason favorite.

“We’ve got to win some games first. We’ve got two losses staring us in the face with some good teams down the road,” said Gati. “We’ve got to take care of what’s ahead of us. We’ll worry about the playoffs later.”

Up to the challenge – Salem, pushed by Londonderry, pushes back for win

Salem Editor — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 21:50:00 GMT

BY SAPNA PATHAK

It wasn’t pretty, but the boys of Salem High volleyball certainly took satisfaction in the final result.

Traveling to face Londonderry in a highly anticipated Division I match-up, the Blue Devils kept their undefeated streak intact, earning their 60th consecutive win despite facing more than 300 doubters in the stands.

“They thought we’d go into the Lancer-Dome and wouldn’t be able to take it,” said Blue Devils head coach E.J. Perry of Salem’s 3-1 win on Wednesday, Sept. 12. “They had a huge student body cheering them on, the biggest I’ve ever seen in any regular-season match since boys volleyball was sanctioned by the NHIAA (New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletics Association), and we just had to look it straight in the eye and decide whether we wanted to be undefeated or not when we walked out of there.”

The Blue Devils took the first game, 25-22, before the Lancers took game two by the same score. Senior Dan Kinney, a 6-foot-4 outside hitter, came up with 22 kills, eight blocks and 14 service points. Starter Josh Klecan completed 100 percent of his 28 passes and added seven kills.

Ryan Woelfel controlled the backcourt with 11 kills, while defensive specialist Mark Graziani returned to the starting lineup and contributed five digs; junior Sean Stewart finished the night with four digs.

The Blue Devils took the third game, 25-13, before quieting the crowd with a 25-21 victory in the final game.

Jumping to a 23-16 lead in the fourth game, Londonderry fought back with a 5-1 run, tightening the score to 24-21. Kinney’s final kill came unexpectedly, ending the game and preserving the Blue Devils’ untarnished record.

“He came out of nowhere with it,” said Perry of the game-winning play. “It was so back-and-forth the whole night, especially that third game. We had the lead, they made it close and then Dan … He was the story, the star, the ‘it’ of the night.”

Setter Tim Briggs put up a career-high 39 assists and had six kills; sophomore sensation Dan Tiner had eight kills playing outside hitter, and Billy Webster played his best game of the year, according to Perry, with seven kills and seven blocks.

• • •

On Thursday, Sept. 13, the Blue Devils took down Mascenic Regional, 3-0. Salem took the three games, 25-12, 25-7, and 25-15, for its 61st consecutive win.

Tiner led the crew with 15 kills, four blocks and two digs, while defensive specialist/setter Chris Barnes added 14 assists, and sophomore outside hitter Jared Scali finished with seven kills and nine service points.

Salem hosts Keene on Thursday, Sept. 20, in a rematch of last season’s Division I championship.

“We’re the only undefeated team in the NHIAA (boys volleyball standings), and everyone’s making contributions,” said Perry. “These teams are challenging us and making us work hard, but we’re all up for it.
And these guys, every single one of them, are ready to step up when they have to.”

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