High schools: Franklin basketball splits doubleheader with Moultonborough

Boys’ BasketballMoultonborough 39, Franklin 37Key players: Moultonborough – Brode Bacon (17 points), Ethan Tilton (11 points); Franklin – Matt Carlsen (23 points), Harrison Kaplan (10 points)Highlights:  The Tornadoes led 26-19 heading into the fourth...

A roundup of local sports briefs, news and announcements

McDonough earns First Team Concord’s Kevin McDonough, a senior on the Vermont State University-Castleton football team, was named to the All-MASCAC First Team Defense list. McDonough, an inside linebacker, was ranked second in NCAA Division III in...

High schools: Concord Christian boys’ hoop prevails, Pittsfield basketball gets swept, Winnisquam wrestling wins pair of duals in first weekend of winter action

BOYS’ BASKETBALLConcord Christian 54, Mascenic 47Key players: Concord Christian – TJ Charbono (22 points) Mascenic – Lucas Leroux (26 points)Highlights: Leroux put the Vikings on his back in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 points in that frame to get...

Basketball: Kaplan siblings earn Franklin two wins on opening night double-header in the new gym

By ALEXANDER RAPP

After a 30-year absence, basketball finally returned to Franklin High School for the Golden Tornadoes’ Division IV opening night double-header against Mount Royal in their renovated gym on Friday night in front of a packed house. Both the girls’ and...

Former Crimson Tide star, George Tarwo, revives Franklin High School’s wrestling program

By ALEXANDER RAPP

The Franklin High School wrestling program is returning this season after an eight-year absence with George Tarwo, a former state-champion wrestler, as a coach who brings experienced leadership to revitalize the program.The last time the Golden...

D-IV hoops previews: Gym renovation sees basketball return to Franklin HS for the first time in 30 years

By ALEXANDER RAPP

FRANKLIN – Franklin High girls’ and boys’ basketball is returning to the Golden Tornadoes’ high school building after 30 years of playing in the middle school gym. Franklin’s athletic director, Dan Sylvester, attributed the success of the project to...

Wrestling previews: Bow stays strong and are poised to defend D-III title

By ALEXANDER RAPP and DAN ATTORRI

The Bow Falcons won the Division III wrestling championship last year and went right back to work on the upcoming season as soon as they could. The team, helmed by coach Bill Chavanelle, said that despite losing many talented seniors, he expects the...

Volleyball: Coe-Brown, Concord Christian players top All-State lists

By DAN ATTORRI

Nine area volleyball players were selected to their respective divisions’ All-State and Honorable Mention lists that were recently released by the New Hampshire Volleyball Coaches Association.Coe-Brown Northwood Academy had two First Team selections...

Golf: Bow’s Gancarz named to D-II First Team, three area golfers also named to All-State lists

By DAN ATTORRI

Two golfers from Bow High School and a pair from Merrimack Valley were named to the Division II All-State and Honorable Mention lists that were recently released. Bow sophomore Jake Gancarz was named to the D-II First Team, while senior teammate Owen...

Field hockey: All-State rosters released, Concord’s Armaganian named D-I Coach of the Year, John Stark’s Bolduc wins D-II’s Defensive POY

By DAN ATTORRI

The New Hampshire Field Hockey Coaches Association recently released its end-of-season awards and All-State lists, with several area players earning selections.Two of the major awards also went to local programs. Concord head coach Nicole Armaganian...

Former Merrimack Valley dynamic basketball duo continues to perform for the NEC Pilgrims

By ALEXANDER RAPP

New England College’s women’s basketball team has a 1-2 guard punch that’s been terrorizing teams across the state and region since they first played together in elementary school.The two, Macy Gordon and Mackenzie McDonald, now juniors in college,...

Monitor names fall 2024 Players of the Season

By ALEXANDER RAPP and DAN ATTORRI

Girls’ soccerLexi Insana, Bow“IN A STATE OF INSANA-TY” read the Monitor’s headline after she scored her second overtime game-winning goal in the Division II semifinal over Kingswood.No. 2 Bow’s run in the playoffs began with a thrilling victory over...

Boys’ soccer: Hopkinton’s Murphy wins D-III Player of the Year, Zipke named Coach of the Year as Hawks lead area All-State selections

By DAN ATTORRI

You don’t win a championship and have a perfect season without having great personnel behind it. That’s what the Division III champion Hopkinton Hawks had this season. Hopkinton junior midfielder Fin Murphy was named the Division III Player of the...

Tilton 14-year-old, Cole Thompson, wins the 300 Superbike Amateur race in Daytona

By ALEXANDER RAPP

Cole Thompson has been glued to a motorcycle’s seat since he first got a Yamaha PW50 at age 3. Now 14, he has ascended from novice to amateur to compete in races across the region and country and aims to jump to expert races soon.Thompson and his...

Girls’ soccer: Bow, Concord Christian lead area All-State selections; Falcon coaches sweep D-II awards

By DAN ATTORRI

After advancing to the championship games in their respective divisions, the Bow Falcons and Concord Christian Academy Kingsmen led area girls’ soccer programs with the most postseason accolades. The New Hampshire Soccer Coaches Association released...

Franklin High School’s coach William R. Heydt Sr. inducted into the NHIAA Hall of Fame

By ALEXANDER RAPP

Franklin High School’s former track and field coach, William “Bill” Heydt, Sr., was inducted into the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Hall of Fame this past Sunday for his long-time coaching, commitment and leadership.Heydt...

The newest varsity sports in New Hampshire: Esports

By ALEXANDER RAPP

In Bow High School’s library, students are glued to gaming after school as they practice and train for esports competitions. They duke it out in Super Smash Bros. — a multiplayer fighting game where Nintendo characters go head-to-head until one has...

John Stark alumnus, Eli Lemire, wins USCAA Cross Country National Championship

By ALEXANDER RAPP

Eli Lemire, a recent graduate from John Stark Regional High School in Weare, won the United States Collegiate Athletic Association’s men’s cross country national championship in Pennsylvania this past Sunday.His win in Pennsylvania was his third of...

Football: All six Capital Area teams fall in Saturday’s playoff games

By DAN ATTORRI

Six Capital Area high school football programs made the playoffs this season, the most representation that the area has had in the post-pandemic era. But despite strong regular seasons, and in some cases historic seasons, none of those six teams...

Boys’ soccer: Hopkinton tops Mascoma, 2-0, in D-III championship to complete undefeated season

By ALEXANDER RAPP

BEDFORD – Two goals in the first half lifted the Hopkinton Hawks to a 2-0 victory in the Division III championship over Mascoma Valley, a perfect performance to complete a perfect season. “That’s a special feeling, you know. And a lot of these guys...