BY MATT SCHOOLEYWhen the next fall sports season arrives, expect a change in the landscape of New Hampshire athletics. Beginning with the 2010- 11 fall schedule, all sports will use the divisional format, including the possibility of petitioning up or down. The change, according to athletics directors, provides more choice for schools. Some ...

BY MATT SCHOOLEYFor the Goffstown boys soccer team, the pitch was far from perfect in the opening round of the Class L tournament. In addition to dealing with top-seeded Concord, the No. 16 Grizzlies battled a muddy and wet surface during action on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Despite a lopsided 5-1 score, Goffstown gave the home team a bit of a scare, ...

BY MATT SCHOOLEYThe girls of Goffstown High School volleyball have started a tradition their coach plans to continue year after year – success in the postseason. The Grizzlies won a playoff match for the first time in school history in 2008, and they did it again in ’09, upsetting seventh-seeded Alvirne, 3-2, on Wednesday, Oct. 28. ...

BY MATT SCHOOLEY Entering the Manchester Invitational cross country race with little chance of winning the team competition, Pembroke Academy runners took the race personally. Even though the boys and girls teams finished near the bottom of the pack in the large school division on Saturday, Sept. 26, five Spartans set personal records, ...

BY MATT SCHOOLEYAt some point, most coaches have said their strategy is to take it one game at a time. Matt Leonard is simplifying things even more. The Goffstown High School girls volleyball coach has stressed to his team the importance of breaking each game into smaller portions, and it has resulted in a 4-0 start. Leonard took the idea from ...

BY MATT SCHOOLEYReturning its leading rusher, the Goffstown High School football team has plans to run back to where its season ended last year – the Division III playoffs. The Grizzlies’ run-heavy offense once again relies on star back Jake Staffiere, who returns for his senior season. Staffiere should receive blocking support from ...

BY GREGOR WALZIt 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. ...

BY MATT SCHOOLEYAfter 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 ...

BY MATT SCHOOLEYThe 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 ...

BY MATT SCHOOLEYThe 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 ...