Search results matching tag 'Goffstown High School'

Recycled Percussion is Vegas bound

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:03:00 GMT

Recycled Percussion packed the Goffstown High School gym during a free concert Monday, Sept. 21, a homecoming performance after finishing in third place on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.”

“When we were on the stage in Los Angeles, all we were saying the whole time is, ‘Who cares. Let’s just make New Hampshire as proud as possible!’” said Justin Spencer, founder of the band, during a speech midway through the show.

Despite a third-place finish, the group was headed out to New York, Delaware and ultimately Las Vegas on Tuesday, Sept. 22, to become one of the acts in the Planet Hollywood Resort’s “America’s Got Talent Live” show, beginning Oct. 7. The group will also be the headlining band on the FOX Reality Awards show on Oct. 17. Other band members include Ryan Vezina, Jim Magoon and Todd Griffin.

“It feels great (to be back),” said Magoon, a 1992 graduate of Goffstown High School. “It should be a good show.”

Spencer, too, is a graduate of Goffstown High School. According to a posting on Recycled Percussion’s Facebook page, the 1,100 tickets for the concert were gone within 15 minutes.

“We are sorry for those who didn’t get tickets – the band will make it up,” the band wrote in one of their postings.

Goffstown selectmen Chairman Scott Gross read a proclamation before Recycled Percussion took the stage, declaring Sept. 21 as Recycled Percussion Day in the town of Goffstown.

“America’s Got Talent” top 40 finalist Mia Boostrom was also seen making her way into the gymnasium before the show.

Often times during the show, the sounds of Recycled Percussion were drowned out as the crowd in the gym went wild, screaming in excitement as the band played.

Two of the numbers the band played were pieces they did on “America’s Got Talent” – “Wipeout” and “Ballroom Blitz.” And when Magoon played the national anthem on stage, the other three band members made themselves scarce as he wailed on his guitar, sending the audience into a frenzy.

During the show, Spencer also said the band was setting up a scholarship fund for “kids who want to rock and roll.”

Goffstown High School girls soccer team can’t hold lead in OT loss to South

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:05:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Goffstown girls soccer head coach Eric Romein vowed not to appear upset following a team loss, but after a recent setback to visiting Nashua South, that promise was in trouble.

Despite building a 2-0 lead midway through the second half, Goffstown allowed the Panthers to even the score in regulation en route to a 3-2 win in the second overtime period on Friday, Sept. 25.

“We didn’t give up, but we certainly didn’t want to challenge them and go hard after the ball late in the game,” said Romein. “They flat out wanted it more than us.”

Romein has been the team’s head coach for eight years, and after taking two seasons off, he said he has tried to remain positive despite the team’s slow start.

The Grizzlies dropped to 2-6-0, while South spiked its record to 5-3-0. Emily Ellis continued her strong season when she took a loose ball, carried it into the box and scored to give Goffstown a 1-0 edge with 19:11 remaining in the first half.

Ellis tallied her seventh tally and has provided the vast majority of the team’s 11 goals. The junior scored five times during the preseason as well.

It didn’t take long following the halftime break for Goffstown to add to its lead. Michelle Beaulieu found the vacated bottom left-hand corner of the net on a breakaway little more than two minutes after intermission. Romein praised Beaulieu, a senior forward, and Andye Foley, a senior midfielder, as leaders for GHS on and off the field the last three years.

Nashua South cut the lead in half with 25 minutes remaining in regulation, though the Grizzlies still appeared in control. But with 4:01 left, a high-arcing Panther shot from 35 yards out found the upper corner of the net, past the reach of goalie Kayla Dennison, to knot the score at 2-2.

In overtime, neither squad broke through in the first 10 minutes, but with 3:44 remaining the game ended following a shot from just outside the box that went largely unchallenged.

“Maybe not having been in this kind of situation before hurt us,” said Romein. “Hopefully they were able to learn from it, and in learning it won’t happen again.”

Goffstown High School staff, students raise money for cancer patient

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:15:00 GMT

By Danny Deconinck

The Goffstown community came together recently in support of 17-year-old Shayne Pouget. Pouget was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Disease in September 2008 and has struggled with his condition ever since.

Luna Salon in Goffstown sponsored an event to help the Pouget family, and held the “Three Shears for Shayne” fundraiser on June 6, Goffstown’s Old Home Day.

In the weeks leading up to the event, the Goffstown High School staff and student body built hype and collected donations. Two staff members, Monica Galamaga and Melanie Beauchemin, challenged the high school students to donate spare change or bills to help the cause.

“Mrs. Beauchemin and I jumped on board and said if we could each raise $1,000, we would shave our heads,” said Galamaga. “Much to our surThree prise, money came in and we both raised over $1,000 within a two-week period.”

As enthusiastic and devoted as Galamaga and Beauchemin were, they were not the only ones dedicated to the cause. GHS teachers Ryan Fitzpatrick, Samuel Perron, Timothy Westphal, Josh Lewis and Peter Galamaga all raised money for Shayne’s cause and had heads shaved as well.

“I wanted to support Shayne,” said Perron when asked what prompted his willingness to experience the buzz cut. “He’s almost my neighbor, and he’s from California, so they don’t have any family here to help out. I talked to him a lot last year and he’s a great kid. I wanted him to know people are thinking of him.”

“Shayne is a great kid and a fighter, and it’s important that he knows there are people outside his immediate family that care about him and who want to show their support any way they can,” said Lewis, “Everyone from friends, family, teachers (and their families) and students shaved their heads for Shayne … that’s the kind of support we offer to our own here at GHS.”

Jack Carbonneau, who coaches Pouget in soccer at the high school, provided one of the most awe-inspiring moments of the day when he waltzed into Luna Salon around 10:30 a.m. Carbonneau, as the story has been told, had not shaved his beard or cut his hair since his own high school prom, well over 20 years ago. Therefore when he strode up and down Main Street telling people he would be chopping his locks off if he received donations, the money came in rapidly. Carbonneau’s original goal was to raise $500, but he exceeded his own expectations and came up with $1,000 over the course of the day.

Bri Nelson was the only female student from Goffstown High School to shave her head, and she was joined by several of her male classmates.

Nelson donated her hair to “Locks of Love” to help disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical illnesses.

Mike Jutras, one of Shayne’s first friends from New Hampshire, personally raised $250 for the cause, and he too shaved off his characteristically long hair.

“I’d really like to thank everyone in my immediate family and all my friends and their family for helping out with the Shaving for Shayne event,” Pouget wrote in his online journal the day after the event. “I wish I could’ve been down there to thank everyone personally, but I feel everyone did a great job.”

Today, Shayne’s condition is showing signs of improvement.

On Tuesday, June 23, he was released from the hospital and returned home to be with his family. Though he still faces a long road to recovery, the Pougets are optimistic that he’s headed in the right direction.

Goffstown High School boys battle No. 2 seed before falling, 7-5

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:14:00 GMT

BY GREGOR WALZ

It took just three years for the Goffstown boys lacrosse program to secure the program’s first-ever playoff bid, and the Grizzlies showed they weren’t satisfied with merely reaching the postseason.

No. 7 Goffstown recorded three quick goals to open the fourth quarter of its Division II first-round match up with No. 2 St. Thomas Aquinas, but the Grizzlies fell short, 7-5, on June 3.

“We had the ball on their side of the field for most the fourth quarter, and we hit the post a couple of times,” said Goffstown head coach Dave Moloney. “It was a game we could have won – not to take anything away from St. Thomas Aquinas because it was a well-fought game.”

Goffstown trailed at the half, 4-2, and the Saints increased their lead to 7-2 by the end of the third quarter. Still, the Grizzlies showed a determination and resiliency that earned them the program’s first postseason trip.

“I told them to come out and play aggressive,” said Moloney. “Play your game and do what you can do. Don’t worry about the score. Lacrosse is a game of momentum.”

Brendan Shearin’s goal less than five minutes into the fourth quarter began a threeminute span during which Goffstown scored three times.

Chris Ugno followed suit with a pair of goals to account for the final score.

“It’s tough for the seniors. They want to go as far as they can,” said Moloney. “When you lay your heart on the field in the last game, it’s emotional. They knew that they had come very close in that game, and there were a few opportunities that were missed. But they played hard, and they did the best that they could.”

Several members of the Goffstown squad received postseason honors. Shearin and Drew Simoneau were selected first-team all-state.

Bryan Bourque, Connor Nolan and Matt Bartlett were selected to the second team. Moloney expects the Grizzlies to be more prepared next season.

“We need to play more offseason ball, get into camps and things like that,” he said. “Hopefully we can get back into the playoffs, and we’ll see how far we can go. We’re going to try to add to the success we had this year.”

Sloppy play ousts ’08 champions from tourney

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:11:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

After winning the Class L baseball title in 2008, the Goffstown Grizzlies were unable to hold a 5-1 lead and were eliminated by eventual state champion Keene in the quarterfinal round on June 6, 7-5.

Poor defense haunted Goffstown, which out-hit Keene 10-4 on the afternoon. The Grizzlies made four errors in the contest.

Sophomore catcher Ryan Beal led the offense during the two postseason games, driving in six runs in two games, including a three-run double in the quarterfinals.

Tri-captains Alex Hickey, Dan Deconinck and Josh Lafond are among the five soonto- graduate seniors from this year’s squad.

Hickey was the team’s shortstop for three years, Lafond made key contributions in the outfield during his two years, and Deconinck must be replaced on the mound after he went 6-0 this season.

Despite the loss, head coach Matt Benson likes his team’s chances of working its way into another title game, but only if it can avoid the problem that popped up during this year’s playoff exit.

“Our junior class is very talented, but we need to realize that we know we can hit. If we want to get back to the championship game, it won’t come down to that,” said Benson. “I want people to be talking about us, but I want it to be because of our pitching and defense.”

Goffstown went 14-6 to earn the tourney’s No. 6 seed, snapping a four-game losing streak with a 10-0 preliminary-round victory against Winnacunnet on June 4.

GHS beats Brady, improves postseason chances

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:50:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

The Goffstown High School boys lacrosse team isn’t thinking about the moves it will perform at the big dance just yet. It’s looking for an invitation first.

On Tuesday, May 19, the Grizzlies continued their push toward the Division II postseason with a 12-7 win over playoff-hungry Bishop Brady, improving to 6-5 on the year and grabbing – temporarily – the seventh seed.

Christopher Cotugno and Jonathan Domin notched first-half goals as the Grizzlies raced to a 6-1 halftime lead, and Goffstown hung on after Bishop Brady cut the lead to one near the end of the third quarter.

Ahead 7-6 with less than a minute remaining in the third, the Grizzlies appeared to be heading to a nip-and-tuck final quarter. But Goffstown scored twice within 10 seconds to extend the lead. Bryan Bourque found the net with 19 seconds remaining, and Brendon Shearin followed suit with 10 seconds left for a 9-6 edge entering the final quarter.

Head coach Dave Moloney was glad to come out with an important victory but frustrated by his team’s uneven second-half effort.

“We stopped playing,” said Moloney. “We called a timeout and tried to get settled down. We went through a little lull where we weren’t being physical, and we had a lot of guys who were trying to do it all on their own.”

Goffstown is in good position to grab one of eight playoff spots, especially considering Bishop Brady is the team behind the Grizzlies as the eighth seed.

The Grizzlies have two games remaining against Division II opponents, one with 8-3 Timberlane and the other against 3-6 Bedford, as well as an out-of-division match with Memorial.

“We want to win both of those division games. That’s what we’re focusing on now,” said Moloney. “We’re not thinking about the playoffs quite yet. We want to make sure we can get there first.”

High-scoring Goffstown ready for title defense

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:18:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

The Goffstown High School baseball team is one of the hardest hitting small-ball teams around.

Though the Grizzlies have scored 124 runs in 2009, the defending state champions know what it takes to win once it becomes a single-elimination season.

“They understand their job at the plate, whether it’s moving a runner over or sacrifice bunting,” said head coach Matt Benson. “They know that once we get to the tournament, we’ll see a lot of good pitching. That’s why we practice bunting every day.”

En route to a 14-2 mark, the Grizzlies have averaged more than eight runs per contest while allowing more than six runs only four times this year.

Dan Deconinck has anchored Goffstown’s pitching rotation with a 5-0 record on the hill and an earned run average below 1.00, while Riley Palmer, Ryan Beal and Mike Bisceglia have been offensive catalysts.

One of the signature victories of the season came on May 4 against Trinity. The Grizzlies battled back several times before coming away with an 11-10 win – the Pioneers’ only loss to date.

Beal led the charge with two home runs and eight RBI, including a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning that turned out to be the game-winner.

“It was just one regular-season game, but it showed a lot of character on our part,” said Benson. “We just kept battling back, getting a few runs here and there. They aren’t going to be cheated. They’ll get their cuts.”

In addition to its potent offense, Goffstown has also featured a smooth, sound defense, led by shortstop Alex Hickey and second baseman Pat Naughton.

The duo has turned close to 12 double plays this year, and the mentor said his defense has played particularly well behind its ace.

“Dan gets ahead of batters, throws strikes and hits his spots,” said Benson. “He keeps the ball low, and we play good defense behind him. They have confidence playing behind him that he’ll give us a good start each time, so they seem to always have their best efforts as well.”

Goffstown beat West, 8- 5, on Monday, May 18, and was next scheduled to take the field in a home tilt with Londonderry on Wednesday, May 20.

As he prepares his team for the Class L tournament and an attempt at back-to-back titles, Benson said he knows he must identify a second go-to starting pitcher following Deconinck. Bisceglia, Colby Couture and Rob Hunt are candidates for the spot.

“We’ve done a lot of pitching by committee,” said Benson. “It’s time to see who will step up and be that guy.”

Goffstown High School athletes among best young Alpine skiers in New England

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:38:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Julie Clark and Thomas Joy weren’t ready to stop skiing after Goffstown High School competed at the Division I Alpine state meet, so they didn’t.
Julie Clark and Thomas Joy weren’t ready to stop skiing after Goffstown High School competed at the Division I Alpine state meet, so they didn’t.

Clark and Thomas each qualified for the Meet of Champions, then finished well enough at the MOC to participate in the Eastern High School Championships as well.

At the Division-I competition on Feb. 9, Clark notched a second- place finish in the slalom and fourth-place result in the giant slalom to help the Grizzlies girls team to a fifth-place finish on the day. Joy was second in both the slalom and giant slalom the following day as Goffstown’s boys team also ended the day in fifth. At the Meet of Champions on March 3, Clark was sixth-best in the slalom, and Joy came in seventh in the giant slalom.

“Both of them have competed on skis for quite a few years,” said Goffstown’s head coach, Betsy Moody. “They were young when they started, and they come from skiing families. They work at it and do a lot of practicing. They want to do well.”

Moody loses Clark since the senior graduates later this spring. “She was invaluable all around, very helpful for all the other kids. She would have teammates come to her house before the races. She was an organizer,” said Moody. “Julie doesn’t put a lot of pressure on herself. She’s really good that way. Even when she doesn’t finish, she’s such a good sport about it.”

Joy still has two high school seasons remaining, and Moody said she looks forward to continue her work with the sophomore. “I am really hoping that the next two years he’ll come out and do really well. I am sure he will. He’s quiet a lot of the times, but when we come to practice, he wants to be there.”

The pair wrapped up the ski season with solid finishes at the Eastern High School Championships for Team New Hampshire, which won the event March 14 and 15.

Clark battled a toe injury and only competed in the slalom, where she placed eighth. Joy skied both events, coming in 20th in the slalom and 21st in the giant slalom.

Young GHS team and rookie coach seek steady play, then success

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:27:00 GMT

By Matt Schooley

The young members of the Goffstown High School boys tennis team aren’t the only ones in the midst of a learning process.

First-year coach Gary Walsh said during a scrimmage against Pembroke Academy on March 31 that he is excited with the potential layout of his team, despite its inexperience.

“I’m pretty optimistic about what’s going to happen here. We’ve got a lot of kids who are playing first-year tennis,” said Walsh. “They’ve been playing at the Allard Center or maybe at the Y, but it’s their first year of actual matches.”

Last year the Grizzlies ended the season with a 7-7 record, just missing the postseason.

Entering this year’s campaign, Walsh said it is important for his athletes to gain the right mindset.

“The key is getting them to believe in themselves. It’s a confidence thing,” said Walsh. “We have three players who are returning from last year’s team, so we’re going to be young …, but I think by the end of the year we’ll be able to play with most teams.”

Though the playing ladder has not been set, veteran Connor Western is the favorite to lock down the top singles spot for the Grizzlies.

Also returning is Martin Bouroncle, who has a chance for the second spot, with Rob Chase, Jeremy Boucher and Martin Broly likely among those in Walsh’s top six.

With such a young team, the coach said it is helpful to take part in scrimmages to become acquainted with the difference between practice and competition.

“People get a feel for what we talked about in our pregame: keeping the ball in play and not making mistakes,” said Walsh. “This goes to show you that if you make unforced errors at this level or any level, you’re probably going to end up losing your match.”

The regular season begins Wednesday, April 15, with a home match against defending state champ Salem, before the Grizzlies battle a pair of Manchester schools, Memorial and Central, on April 17 and 20.

“I come from a tennis background, but this is my first year of actually coaching. These scrimmages are a big help for everybody, the kids and myself,” he said. “The biggest thing is as the year goes on, I’m hoping our best tennis will be played at the end of the season – in the playoffs.”

Goffstown-Pembroke Academy Tennis scrimmage

Goffstown High’s House-Myers leaves legacy of unselfish play

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:59:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Sure, he wanted the record. More importantly, he wanted to win. In the case of Liam House-Myers and the Goffstown ice hockey team, the two went hand in hand.

For the Grizzlies to become a title contender, House- Myers had to learn to pass less and shoot more. And that’s exactly what he did, racking up standout statistics the last two seasons while leading his squad to back-to-back playoff appearances.

In the process, he eclipsed the Goffstown scoring record with 117 points.

“There was a certain weight he felt when he was getting close to the record … It would have been the easiest thing for him to become selfish, but not once did he ever stop playing defensively, not once did he prioritize himself over the team,” said Goffstown’s coach, Peter Bedford. “And in breaking the record he scored his last point the same way he scored his first.”

“I always felt I was more of a playmaker than anything else, and I haven’t really strayed from moving the puck around,” said House- Myers. “But I felt like the guys around me really stepped up the last couple years and put the puck in the net.”

There he is: Liam House- Myers, the consummate teammate.

He was a star on the ice, yet he never acted the part. Just ask Bow coach Tim Walsh.

“Liam is a complete player. He’s one of the few guys we actually game-planned against and shadowed …,” said Walsh. “Yet he still managed to go out there and make everyone around him better.”

That quality, said Bedford, is sure to be missed next season on the GHS ice.

“Obviously, anytime you lose a player like this, with his ability, it’s tough. Point production aside, it’s the character of the individual and how the players rallied around him that really leaves a void,” he said of the graduating captain, who helped secure home ice for Goffstown in the first round of the last two Division- II tournaments.

“It’s not necessarely what you say (as a leader) all the time, because sometimes guys can get tired of that. When Liam said something, it carried weight, and then he went out there and backed it up,” Bedford added. “Even in leaving, I see him serving as a motivation to the guys behind him to show they can step in and carry the torch.”

If nothing else, House-Myers was a shining example of what Goffstown hockey represents, said the coach.

The senior even played through a serious viral infection earlier this season. It weakened him so much he had multiple blood tests to rule out mononucleosis.

“It was tough, but I feel like I’ve always found strength on the ice,” he said. “I feel like out there, on the ice, is where I feel most comfortable, so it didn’t shake me too bad. It just felt kind of natural.”

That makes sense. House Myers began playing when he was 5 and living in Alaska. Since moving to the Granite State six years ago, he’s embraced every challenge to make himself a better player.

It may strike some as odd that House-Myers is foregoing the chance to continue playing at a smaller college, but it doesn’t surprise those who know him well that he’s headed to the University of New Hampshire next year.

There, he’ll first focus on his education, then try to make a rare leap from club hockey to one of the top programs in the country.

“It’s definitely always been a dream of mine to play D-I, but my mom and dad always told me academics have to be the priority, and UNH has a great business program,” said House-Myers. “But yeah, I want a shot at the university team, so I’m going to push myself as hard as I can to try and get there.”

If anyone could make that leap, it’s House-Myers, said Walsh, a former recruited walkon who played for UNH from 1996 to 2000.

“There’s a lot of things that have to happen between now and then. I mean, UNH is bringing in top-of-the-line talent from all over North America, so Liam’s going to need to get a lot stronger and a lot faster if he wants to make that happen,” said Walsh. “It’s a long shot, but a kid like Liam, with a good head on his shoulders ... I can definitely see him putting himself in position to do that if given the opportunity.

“Bottom line, he’s a good kid, he’s a good hockey player and he’s a really good student,” Walsh continued. “He’s one of those kids that a lot of other players look up to.”