BY RYAN O’CONNORDivision III football has a different look in 2008. While perennial beast Souhegan of Amherst remains the favorite, and always-solid Milford and Portsmouth are still around as well, Plymouth, winner of seven of the last 10 D-III titles, moves down a division. “From year to year, the teams change so much it’s ...

BY RYAN O’CONNOR They saved their best for last. After several successful years at the junior level, Ken Mckiernan and the Granite State Falcons decided they were ready for a greater challenge. The team moved up to the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA), and after taking some lumps early, garnered ...

BY RYAN O’CONNOR Garde Burgess had an early idea how Concord Post 21’s American Legion baseball season was going to play out. During one of the team’s first practices, he pulled his nine pitchers aside and asked each one how many high school innings they’d pitched. Aside from ace Mitch Philibert, the answer was ...

BY RYAN O’CONNOR Last year, Auburn’s Joey Dudek rode his arm and leg to Gillette Stadium – and very nearly the Super Bowl. Dudek, who won the 10- and 11-year-old division of the local Pepsi Punt, Pass and Kick competition last August, also triumphed at the sectional competition in Bristol, R.I., and then the regional ...

BY RYAN O’CONNORSitting at a youth hockey conference, watching what was likely to be another boring prerecorded training video, Kermit Brunelle sighed. On the screen, Don Lucia, coach of the national champion University of Minnesota ice hockey team, was giving a speech. “A lot of people think I have the best job in hockey, and I tell ...

BY RYAN O’CONNORBow’s Margaret Burns and Pembroke’s Joanne Welch have been running mates for eight years. They’re currently preparing for a half marathon in Quebec in August. The 29th annual Goffstown Gallop provided them an opportunity to participate in a competitive run – without the headaches of a typical road ...

BY RYAN O’CONNORSponsored by Indian Head AthleticsTaking cover from the scorching sun over the University of New Hampshire’s outdoor track, Allison Brehm sipped some water and looked toward her coach. “State champion,” she said with a smile, repeating the words to help the reality sink in. “I like the sound of ...

The Pembroke Academy track and field teams competed in Pelham on May 6 and Coe-Brown Academy in Northwood on May 10, finishing in the middle of the pack at each meet. The boys were second behind Milford at the meet hosted by Pelham High, while the girls finished third among four teams. Ryan Gilligan’s first-place discus throw of ...

BY RYAN O’CONNORIt’s uncomfortable, but it’s a conversation both parties know must take place. As practice begins, Bill Walton, the John Stark wrestling coach, pulls Morgan Belanger aside. “You know if anything inappropriate happens, you have to tell me,” he says. Belanger nods. She’s had this talk before. ...

BY JENN McDOWELLPembroke will not suffer any staff cuts or eliminate any sports programs after voters at the School District Meeting decided in a 95-71 vote to pass the School Board’s proposed operating budget. “The meeting went exactly the way it should have gone,” said School Board Chairman Clint Hanson, adding there is no ...