Previous to this month, solely six colleges in Massachusetts had ever reached 700 complete wins with their soccer packages.
That quantity has now expanded to 9 in brief order.
Initially, Everett, Brockton, Leominster, Waltham, Natick and Salem encompassed the record.
Now, add Haverhill, Fitchburg and Northbridge.
Haverhill (3-4) grew to become the primary this month to shatter the historic barrier. Led by gamers like Henry Farrell and Michael Bayko, the Hillies made a visit north of the border Oct. 10, and toppled Harmony (NH) throughout a wild 42-35 victory.
Rob Pike took over as this system’s coach in 2023, carrying on a proud household custom. His father, Bob, coached the Hillies from 1986-1999, accounting for a lot of of these wins. His grandfather, Invoice, was the crew’s play-by-play announcer for the Haverhill-based station WHAV, and the college’s pressbox was commemorated in his title as “Pike’s Peak.”
Now, Rob is establishing his personal legacy.
“I grew up in Haverhill, and I really like teaching within the metropolis and at the highschool,” Pike mentioned. “However Haverhill’s historical past is absolutely immense. It’s one thing that lots of people don’t perceive. For a very long time there within the Thirties, 40s, 50s, they have been the winningest program, I feel within the nation. By the teenagers and 20s, they received so many video games. 700 is lots. It’s a giant quantity, and it simply reveals you the unimaginable historical past that Haverhill Excessive soccer has.”
This previous Friday, Fitchburg (1-6) grew to become the most recent faculty to interrupt by means of, knocking off Monument Mountain with a 22-6 victory. Late within the first half, the Pink and Grey have been locked in an 8-6 nail-biter with their Berkshire-based opponent. They pulled away with 14 unanswered factors to seal the deal. It was one of the best efficiency of the season for the group, as sophomore Jamani LaGuerre completed with a pair of touchdowns.
“Actually a historic second for our program and speaks to the load, expectations, and gravitas {that a} program with a historic lineage carries,” Fitchburg athletic director Todd Robbins mentioned in an e-mail to the Herald. “I at all times inform folks there’s a discernible distinction in serving in any capability as a part of a division and program’s legacy with over 100 years of historical past. All of us, from the student-athletes to the coaches to myself are extremely lucky to be the present caretakers of this legacy, not simply in soccer however division, faculty, and community-wide.”
On Oct. 18, Northbridge additionally reached 700 wins with a 32-6 romp of Blackstone Valley.
Ken LaChapelle has been teaching the Rams (6-1) for 50 years, with 407 of these victories coming underneath his tutelage. LaChapelle has led the Rams to 10 state championships. This 12 months, his group has been led by a robust group of senior captains, a listing that features his grandson, quarterback Joel LaChapelle.
“We take plenty of delight in soccer at Northbridge,” mentioned the coach. “We have now for quite a lot of years. To get to 700 wins is particular. There are usually not that many groups which have completed it. We be sure that our gamers and our scholar athletes are conscious of those accomplishments.”
2025 will function LaChapelle’s remaining 12 months with Northbridge. With one other achievement underneath his belt, he couldn’t assist however take into consideration considered one of his remaining teaching alternatives this upcoming Thanksgiving. The Rams will face Uxbridge, a faculty led by one other considered one of Ken’s grandsons in senior operating again, Camden LaChapelle.
“I’ve coached my children, three of my boys,” mentioned LaChapelle. “I’ve coached six of my grandkids. That in and of itself is a pleasant facet to all of those 50 years.”
