Shawsheen Tech is the defending Division 5 state champion.
But there isn’t any complacency or satisfaction within the Rams’ preseason exercises. Based mostly on the way in which the staff is working towards, these concerned with the Billerica program are salivating for the season to start out.
“This explicit group could be very pleased with their work ethic,” stated Shawsheen coach Al Costabile, who’s getting into his twenty eighth season main the Rams. “Our new crop is following the instance that was set by the older children. They take nice delight in representing this system.”
For the primary time in Costabile’s run at Shawsheen, the staff has 5 captains. The group of Jake Banda, Eric Banda, Dyllon Pratt, James Tildsley and Nathan Malandain had been chosen as captains by their teammates, and they’re main a staff that received all 13 video games final season. Shawsheen additionally a 22-game house successful streak.
“They’ve completed loads, and so they wish to hold that going,” stated Costabile. “They’re working so exhausting – they don’t wish to be those that finish it. As a coach, that’s actual satisfying to see.”
A number of of essentially the most aggressive groups in highschool soccer compete in Div. 5 and Div. 6. Whereas Shawsheen appears to increase its dominance in D5, the sphere seems way more open in D6.
An rising candidate to win D6 is Stoneham. After dropping within the second spherical of final yr’s playoffs, Stoneham seems poised to make it even additional this upcoming season.
“Nearly our whole offensive line is again, so we’re robust up entrance,” stated Stoneham coach Bob Almeida. “That’s the power of our staff, and we’ve two robust tight ends in Tony Dean and Cooper Brisson. We misplaced loads, however we’re excited for our guys to face up and fill these holes.”
Stoneham graduated a proficient assortment of talent gamers, specifically Sean Kilty, who rushed for 1,923 yards and 28 touchdowns on 205 carries final season. However a multi-faceted dashing assault, led by Peter Bochelli and Pedro DeSilvera, will assist the Spartans frustrate opposing defenses. Plus, quarterback Sean Powers is returning. The senior captain performed all 11 video games final season, and he’s a twin risk as a runner and thrower.
“The league needs to be robust this yr,” stated Almeida. “Anybody within the Middlesex might beat anybody, so it’s going to be very thrilling. Now we have children who waited their flip to excel on the varsity degree, and now that is their alternative.”
One other D6 contender is Bishop Fenwick. The tiny parochial faculty synonymous with on-field excellence selected to not choose as much as Division 5, that means that Dave Woods’ Crusaders are instantly going to be a consider D6.
“We’ve had an important couple of weeks of observe, and we begin with the bye week, so we get an additional likelihood to deal with how we run our system,” stated Woods, who’s getting into his twenty seventh season on the helm. “It’s a veteran group sprinkled with some newcomers. We’re very excited.”
Woods isn’t targeted on a state title, as an alternative narrowing his deal with the convention – a proficient Catholic Central League.
“We’ve acquired some robust groups like St. Mary’s and Bishop Feehan,” stated Woods. “Arlington Catholic will likely be robust. Archbishop Williams will get higher yearly. We’ll must be at our greatest each week.”
Center linebackers/working backs Dylan Patarelli and Tyler Connolly are Fenwick’s coronary heart and soul on either side of the ball, and the Crusaders can even be buoyed by Luis Levenshti, who’s coming back from a torn ACL.
“Luis goes to open some eyes for some faculty coaches,” stated Woods. “He actually performs with an edge.”
Past Stoneham and Fenwick, there are a set of squads that would seize management of D6. That features Hudson, Wakefield, Norwell, Melrose, Burlington, Watertown and Winthrop.
Like final yr, when Lynnfield shocked opponents with an impressive season, an sudden breakout staff will emerge – and there are many causes to imagine it is going to be Wilmington.
One other risk is Fairhaven, which misplaced to Hudson within the state championship final season, then graduated distinctive working again Justin Marques. He’s changed by the extremely spectacular Aaron Legue, who ought to proceed powering Fairhaven to victory.
However a program that can not be ignored is Previous Rochester. Tucked away in Mattapoisett, Bryce Guilbeault has constructed a program that may be a perennial state title contender.
“The usual by no means lowers, it all the time rises,” stated Guilbeault. “Taking part in bodily soccer with distinctive particular groups, that’s all the time our objective. We wish to hold getting higher and provides ourselves the possibility to play one other sport.”
Previous Rochester completed with a ultimate 4 exhibiting in final season’s D5 playoffs. Regardless of graduating a proficient crew of seven two-way starters, Guilbeault is assured that this yr’s squad will compete.
“We’re hungry and felt like we left some meat on the bone final yr,” stated Guilbeault. “We’ve acquired a protracted strategy to go, however we’re having good practices and we’re going to maintain working.”
Previous Rochester performs within the South Coast Convention, which is filled with wonderful packages like Somerset Berkley, Apponequet and Fairhaven. The Bulldogs will depend on a pair of seniors – tight finish/linebacker Brody Hyle and broad receiver/defensive again Henry Peppin – to set the tone for this system.
“We wish to maintain all of the small issues,” stated Guilbeault. “Meaning the large issues are taken care of, and meaning you’ll have a profitable season.”
Gamers to look at
Eric Banda (Shawsheen), Jake Banda (Shawsheen), Gabriel Beaule (Foxboro), Peter Bochelli (Stoneham), Sebastian Brown (Hanover), Cooper Brisson (Stoneham), Damian Chaves (Hudson), Tyler Connolly (Bishop Fenwick), Tony Dean (Stoneham), Brian De Araujo (Better Lowell), Pedro DeSilvera (Stoneham), Brandon Errico (Hanover), Ryan Foley (Foxboro), Brody Hyle (Previous Rochester), Aaron Legue (Fairhaven), Luis Levenshti (Bishop Fenwick), Nathan Malandain (Shawsheen), Trevor Palmer (Foxboro), Dylan Patarelli (Bishop Fenwick), Harry Peppin (Previous Rochester), Dyllon Pratt (Shawsheen), Sean Powers (Stoneham), James Tildsley (Shawsheen), Jayden Yoo (Hanover)
