Matt Luce hired as New Castle boys basketball coach after 18 years at Wapahani
AI-assisted summaryMatt Luce, Wapahani’s all-time winningest boys basketball coach, is leaving after 18 seasons to lead the New Castle Trojans.Luce amassed a 335-99 record at Wapahani, leading the Raiders to multiple county, sectional and regional titles, and a 2A state runner-up finish in 2023-24.NEW CASTLE — After an incredibly successful 18-year run, the Matt Luce […]
AI-assisted summaryMatt Luce, Wapahani’s all-time winningest boys basketball coach, is leaving after 18 seasons to lead the New Castle Trojans.Luce amassed a 335-99 record at Wapahani, leading the Raiders to multiple county, sectional and regional titles, and a 2A state runner-up finish in 2023-24.NEW CASTLE — After an incredibly successful 18-year run, the Matt Luce era of Wapahani boys basketball has come to an end.Luce was named the next head coach at New Castle following a special session of the New Castle Community Schools board on Friday, May 2. He went 335-99 during his time at Wapahani, making him the program’s all-time winningest coach.”How exciting to be the new coach of the New Castle Trojans?” Luce said. “With that comes a lot of tradition, a lot of expectations, a lot of fun. I think my wife and I will be excited for it, and we’re ready to roll again, so just excited to be standing here and thrilled to be the next coach at New Castle.”The news was first reported May 1 on social media by Sam Frick of Around the Northeast Corner.
Luce, a 1992 graduate of Wapahani, led the Raiders to six Delaware County titles, seven sectional crowns, three regional championships and one semi-state title during his tenure. Wapahani finished as IHSAA Class 2A state runners-up in the 2023-24 season. Prior to Luce’s arrival, Wapahani had endured 10 straight losing seasons.
For Luce, the decision to leave Wapahani and the Selma community where he grew up was not an easy one.”Bittersweet,” Luce said of his decision. “What a wonderful 18 years at Wapahani, coaching basketball, teaching, raising my family, making so many friends. It’s the teachers, it’s the assistant coaches, it’s the players and their families. Extremely bittersweet.”New Castle athletic director Cory Bennett highlighted the characteristics that made Luce stand out as a candidate for the Trojans head coaching job.”Obviously, he has a great record at Wapahani,” Bennet said. “But I think also just the fact that he’s been running the ECI leagues, so obviously he has a lot of knowledge with feeder systems and putting time into feeder systems. And I think the last part was just personality. I mean, we felt like when he came in, he was easy to talk to. Thought he would fit in well with not only all of us, but also the community.”Luce began his coaching career as an assistant at Fountain Central from 1999-2001. He then was an assistant at Crawfordsville in 2001-02 before beginning his head coaching career at Southwestern (Hanover) in 2002-03. He returned to Crawfordsville as the head coach for 2003-04 before spending three years as the head coach at Benton Central from 2004-07. Luce returned to Wapahani in 2007. His overall career coaching record is 385-159.Luce is from a family of coaches, including his father Mike, brothers Joe and Kris, and nephew Tommy. Joe Luce was recently named the next head coach at Wawasee after three seasons at Tippecanoe Valley.Contact Cade Hampton via email at cbhampton@muncie.gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @CadeHamp10.
June 3 high school highlights Updated: 10:51 PM EDT Jun 3, 2025 In sports here tonight, the final week of the high school spring sports regular season and *** big matchup in Class *** softball this evening in Gorham. Wyndham trying to beat Gorham for the 2nd time in *** week. The Rams with 21 […]
In sports here tonight, the final week of the high school spring sports regular season and *** big matchup in Class *** softball this evening in Gorham. Wyndham trying to beat Gorham for the 2nd time in *** week. The Rams with 21 in the fourth, but pitcher Kennedy Kimball catches the line drive to end the threat. The Eagles pull away in the 6th. Yanni Kostopoulos crushes the 2 run homer to center field, and Wyndham adds 3 more runs to win 6 to 0. Over on the baseball, Diamond Gorham hosted Bonnie Eagle. The Scots’ patience at the plate build them an early lead. Lucas Clem walks with the bases loaded, and Canan Wood scores to make it 4 to 0. Then Garrett Secord walks to force in Brodie Donahue. Bonny Eagle built *** 5-run lead and held on for the 7 to 4 win. The great new Gloucester baseball team hosted Lake Region. The Lakers had *** big first inning. Titus Benton beats out the infield single, and Noah Peterson scores to make it 4-0. Later in the inning, Brock Gibbons crushes *** 3-run homer to right field. He homered twice, and Lake Regent scored 10 runs in the first inning on their way to the 15 to 0 win. The same schools meeting on the softball diamond, the Lakers scored 6 runs in the second inning. Mia Latard scores on the passed ball to make it 4-0 Lake Region. Then Hailey Hamlin hits the bloop single to center field that knocks in 2 more runs. Ava Cole had the shutout in the 8 to 0 Lake Region win. The
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June 3 high school highlights
Updated: 10:51 PM EDT Jun 3, 2025
The Lake Region baseball and softball teams won while the Windham softball and Bonny Eagle baseball teams won on the road.
The Lake Region baseball and softball teams won while the Windham softball and Bonny Eagle baseball teams won on the road.
There were seven tennis teams (six boys, one girls) in playoff action on Tuesday with a ticket to the Round of 8 on the line. Find out who advanced closer to a chance at a state title, and whose season came to an end. Boys Tennis Div. 4, Round of 16: No. 4 Fairhaven 5, […]
There were seven tennis teams (six boys, one girls) in playoff action on Tuesday with a ticket to the Round of 8 on the line.
Find out who advanced closer to a chance at a state title, and whose season came to an end.
Boys Tennis
Div. 4, Round of 16: No. 4 Fairhaven 5, No. 13 Sandwich 0: The Blue Knights (15-7) came up short in their second playoff game. They defeated No. 20 Monument Mountain, 3-2, in the Round of 32.
Div. 4, Round of 16: No. 3 Monomoy 5, No. 14 Bourne 0: The Sharks (17-3) defeated the Canalmen (9-11) for the third time this season in a Cape playoff matchup.
Roman Pavluchenko defeated Joziah DeSouza in first singles (6-1, 6-1), Ryan Casey beat Jonathan Santucci in second singles (6-0, 6-0), and Zack Shields won third singles (6-1, 7-6 (8-6)) over Jake Roux.
Nick Hadden and Blake Noonan beat Nate Reynolds and Landon Hope in first doubles (6-2, 6-2), while Tom Hereford and Ethan Seufert defeated Doug Lunede and James Kirby.
Monomoy will play Cape opponent No. 6 Sturgis West for the first time this season in the Round of 8 at a date and time TBD.
Bourne defeated No. 19 Wareham 4-1 in the Round of 32 for its first playoff win almost a decade.
Div. 4, Round of 16: No. 5 Cohasset 5, No. 12 Falmouth Academy 0: The Mariners (6-6) were swept on the road to end their season. They swept No. 21 Ipswich in the Round of 32.
Div. 3, Round of 16: No. 8 Holliston 4, No. 9 Falmouth 1: The Clippers (14-4) ended their season on the road in the second round. They swept No. 24 Cardinal Spellman in the Round of 32.
Div. 4, Round of 16: No. 6 Sturgis West 3, No. 11 Lenox Memorial 2: The Navigators (10-2) handed Lenox Memorial their first loss of the season to advance to the Round of 8.
Ray Zhang beat Alex Kolean in first singles (6-0, 6-0), Francisco Garcia Raya defeated Ayden Shove in second singles (6-0, 6-0), and Robert Muhov closed the deal with a third singles (3-6, 7-6, 6-4) win over Edmund Pritchard.
Girls Tennis
Div. 3, Round of 16: No. 3 Martha’s Vineyard Reg. 3, No. 14 Boston Latin Academy 2: The Vineyarders (17-1) won a hard fought match to advance to the Round of 8, where they face No. 6 Newburyport at a time and date TBD.
Courtney Jacobs is the Sports Editor for the Cape Cod Times. You can contact him at cjacobs@capecodonline.com and follow him on X: @CJ_Journalist.
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With Americana music and a whole lot of tie-dye, WMOT’s Roots on the River might be the best start to the festival season in Nashville. The annual event returned to the Two Rivers Mansion on May 31 for eight hours of performances, including Aaron Lee Tasjan, Sam Bush and a surprise guest whose head-banging blues […]
With Americana music and a whole lot of tie-dye, WMOT’s Roots on the River might be the best start to the festival season in Nashville.
The annual event returned to the Two Rivers Mansion on May 31 for eight hours of performances, including Aaron Lee Tasjan, Sam Bush and a surprise guest whose head-banging blues left jaws dropped nearly on the floor.
The event offers festival-goers the opportunity to connect with their community through food and music, while at the same time supporting WMOT, a nonprofit public radio station.
“Every year I get to meet new people … this is a good time,” said Denise Tucker, a volunteer who travels from South Dakota for Roots on the River each year.
Aaron Lee Tasjan jams with his bandmate at Roots on the River, May 31, 2025.
Read on for performance highlights from the one-day show.
Noeline Hofmann cooks with ‘Purple Gas’
The festival kicked off with up-and-coming country artist Noeline Hofmann and her band of Nashville natives. The 21-year-old rocked the stage with an hour-long set including songs from her new record, “Purple Gas.” Hofmann’s soulful music fit right in with the day’s other performances.
From Alberta, Canada, Hofmann attributes her love of country music to her family and hometown, which she calls “the Nashville of the North.”
“I’d say [my music is] lyric-driven and often country-rooted,” Hofmann said in an interview with Sidelines.
Hofmann ended her time on stage with an unreleased single about being a “honky tonk girl.” The lyrics nod to performing around the country and sleepless nights that accompany traveling as a band.
Roots on the River only kicks off Hofmann’s bustling summer.
This week, she returns to Nashville to perform at CMA Fest alongside one of her inspirations, Wynonna Judd. Later this season, Hofmann will share the stage with country-rock star Zach Bryan in Dublin, Ireland. – Liv Rapier
Aaron Lee Tasjan riffs with guitarist Laur Joamets
A three-time alum of Roots on the River, Aaron Lee Tasjan rocked the stage with electrifying back-and-forth guitar riffs and songs that rolled into rock.
The singer-songwriter and his band amplified the summer vibe with thrifted designer fits and retro-rock instruments.
Aaron Lee Tasjan smiles as he sings for festival goers at Roots on the River, May 31, 2025. (Samuel McInt)
Tasjan also brought out a guest musician, guitarist Luar Joamets, who the audience met with abundant applause.An Estonian musician, Joamets returns to Nashville after spending time on tour with Sturgill Simpson.
Tasjan and Joamets closed out the set by swapping guitar riffs. Fans reveled with the ruffled notes while swaying to the catchy tunes of “The Trouble Drinkin’” and “The Dangerous Kind.
On stage, Tasjan encouraged the audience to “show some support for a great radio station that plays authentic, real American music from the heart.” – DeAsia McClain
Liz Longley brings ‘New Life’
Liz Longley met the Nashville crowd with charming vocals akin to the singing of perched birds.
Blending country and folk, Longley utilized familiar sounds from her past albums and new music from her latest release, “New Life,” inspired in part by the birth of her daughter.
Longley calls the album a “sister” to her previous release, “Funeral from My Past.” As her songs navigate the feelings of death and rebirth, Longley compelled the audience to stop and take note of each melody’s underlying meaning.
Still, perhaps nothing sums up her music better than Longley herself, as she introduces her closing song: “Here’s the happiest blue song you’ll ever hear.” – Wren Bailey
Bronwyn Keyth-Hynes’ bluegrass surprise
Bluegrass artist Brownyn Keyth-Hynes performed songs from her new album “I Built a World” during the Saturday afternoon set.
After touring the states for the past few months, Keyth-Hynes accepted an invitation from WMOT to play at the Roots Festival following an interview with one of the station’s members. On stage, Keyth-Hynes and her band showcased the work put into the album.
“I always love playing festivals where there’s different genres of music,” Keyth-Hynes said in an interview with Sidelines.
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram brings the music directly to the crowd at Roots on the River, May 31, 2025.
Keyth-Hynes channeled a childlike spirit as she played the fiddle to a large crowd. The band played the “I Built A World” title track, as well as “Angel Island” and “Trip Around the Sun.” Bluegrass lovers watched in admiration as she shared the humble life stories behind her sweet string tunes. – DeAsia McCain
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram ‘reels in’ a standing ovation
Months before the festival, organizers kept one performance a surprise. Turns out, it was Grammy Award-winning blues artist Christone “Kingfish” Ingram.
Taking a break from the day’s folksy-bluegrass feel, Ingram stood alone with his self-proclaimed “delta blues” style.
Ingram attributed his love for music to his community in a backstage interview with Sidelines.
“I grew up around my Mom, her side of the family, my uncles sang and played,” Ingram said. “I grew up in Clarksdale, Mississippi. It’s a blues state.”
A three-person band held down the stage as Ingram made his way onto the lawn during his fourth song, “Not Gonna Lie.” The festival grounds were filled with an Unstoppable groove while Ingram and his band freestyled off each other. He earned a standing ovation after a three-minute guitar riff where Ingram jumped into the middle of the crowd.
By the end of his set, the crowd had crept up to the barricade, encaptured by the artist. – Liv Rapier
Sam Bush speaks up
Fan takes a video of the headliner Sam Bush at Roots on the River, May 31, 2025.
Sam Bush closed the night by returning the festival to a familiar bluegrass sound.
Before beginning his set, more people lined the barricade to soak in the last of the night.
Bush and his band flooded the festival with harmonies, string instruments and an unexpected cover of “My Shot” from the hit musical “Hamilton.”
Besides passionate fiddle playing and anecdotes met with lyrical storytelling, Bush wanted to highlight the importance of events like WMOT’s “Roots.”
“Public radio and the airways of education TV [are] being threatened right now,” Bush said. “We can’t overstate the importance of supporting a radio station like WMOT to bring you quality music and programming of all kinds and all varieties, just like America.” – Wren Bailey
For more news, visit www.mtsusidelines.com, and follow us on Facebook at MTSU Sidelines and on X and Instagram at @mtsusidelines. Also, sign up for our weekly newsletter here.
KINGSFORD, Mich. (WJMN/WBUP) – Athletes from high schools around the U.P. gathered in Kingsford on Saturday for the 2025 U.P. Track and Field Finals. Check out the winners from some of the weekend’s field events in the attached video. You can find a full list of event standings here. COPYRIGHT 2025 BY MY UP NOW […]
AROOSTOOK COUNTY, Maine (WAGM) – The Katahdin Cougars have officially locked up the #1 seed in Class D baseball. The team faced the Hodgdon Hawks and won 11-1. Josh Marting led the team batting 1-2 with three RBI and a double. Kaden DeLand was 1-1 with two RBI and Addison Young went 1-3, also with […]
AROOSTOOK COUNTY, Maine (WAGM) – The Katahdin Cougars have officially locked up the #1 seed in Class D baseball.
The team faced the Hodgdon Hawks and won 11-1.
Josh Marting led the team batting 1-2 with three RBI and a double.
Kaden DeLand was 1-1 with two RBI and Addison Young went 1-3, also with two RBI.
The Cougars are now 13-0 with one game left in the season.
As Caribou dominated girl’s and boy’s basketball, Katahdin is dominating baseball and softball.
The Lady Cougars won 11-1 behind an eight streikout pitching performance from Jayden Stevens.
Stevens also hit a two-run home run and a double.
Some other top hitters from that game: Polly Cullen hit two singles, Emily McNAlly hit two singles and a double, Dakota Stevens hit a single and a double, Piper Cullen, Avery Cullen, and Mickenzie Landry each hit a single.
The Presque Isle Wildcat’s girls’ tennis team faced the Waterville Panthers in the quarterfinals.
The Panthers won 3-2.
Alice Korzekwa and Sabine Wells-Puckett won their matches to earn two points for Presque Isle.
We are in the final week of regular season spring sports action.
Many teams playing doubleheaders to ensure all of their scheduled games are played.
Mount Desert Island traveled to Presque Isle for a doubleheader at 3:30 and 5:30pm.
The game was delayed as the grounds crew was repairing the field, the Wildcats had a comeback win in game one, 4-3.
Game two started nearly two hours after its scheduled time.
The Trojans scored the first run of the game on a sac fly, then James Downey drove in their second run of the game, 2-0 in the top of the second inning.
Still the second, Colin Sullivan was intentionally walked to load the bases which brought Alex Roos to the plate, he turned on this one, a deep ball off of the left field pole, his first grand slam of his high school career, that will open this game up.
The bats eventually started rolling for the Wildcats, Oliver Woollard will drive in their first run of the game, 6-1 MDI still leads in the bottom of the third.
The third inning was the best for Presque Isle, Ryan Blackstone was the next with a big hit, Brandon Porter and Woollard would score, MDI wins game two 10-4.
A little bit of early rain in Mars Hill didn’t delay the softball game.
Fort Fairfield on the attack first, they would take a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
The Lady Panthers get one run back in the bottom of the first, but the Lady Tigers trying to maintain their lead, Brianna Osterblom with the slide and score.
As the sun came out, so did Central Aroostook’s offense, Mackenzie Davis will tack on two runs for the home team, the Lady Panthers starting to take a bigger lead, Harleigh Allen and Aiden Kinney score.
As the game went on Central Aroostook pulled away, Lily Clair would triple here bringing in all runners, she also homered.
Fort Fairfield would score one more but the Panthers win 14-4.
Soak it all in… This could be the final time we see some highlights from Mars Hill this baseball season.
The Tigers starting strong coming off of their second loss of the season… Lucas Cormier leads off and doubles in the top of the first.
Cayden Ala batting second for Fort with Cormier still occupying second base, Ala gets his bat on the ball, it’s going to drop into the outfield, Cormier will round the bases and score while Ala replaces Cormier at second base.
Levi Cole was walked and Ala moved up to third base… Graedon King hits a groundball to Trace Kinney, Ala takes off as soon as the ball leaves his hand and scores, 2-0 Tigers with runners on the corners again.
Cole secured another run when he took home plate on a pass ball.. quickly 3-0 with no outs.
But that’s when the Panthers defense helped out, first with a double play, then a pop up to the infield would end this inning.
Fort Fairfield beats the Panthers in Mars Hill 17-5.
The Tigers last game of the season is against the only undefeated team in Class D North.
Katahdin will be in Fort Fairfield Wednesday at 4:30.
Presque Isle leading MDI 4-0 in game one of this softball doubleheader, Kolbie Langley will add onto that lead, Astra Laughton will cross the plate on a two out double from Langley here in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Mount Desert Island had their bats going as well, however Presque Isle’s gloves were on fire, Astra Laughton catches a bullet flying back to her.
The team would continue their strong defense holding the Trojans to no runs through five innings.
Top of the 6th inning, the Trojans running out of time to get five runs back and tie this game, a double here with no outs will set them up nicely.
They wouldn’t finish this game without scoring one, Astra Laughton goes nearly 6 innings without giving up a run.
The Lady Wildcats split the doubleheader.
In game one Presque Isle beat MDI 5-3 while in game two, MDI won 3-1.
The Northern Maine Moose closed out their home games this season with a win.
The Moose won 7-3.
Isaiah Ervin’s senior night ended with 3 goals and three assists, Colton Simoes scored two and 1 assist including a 92% face off win percentage.
Carter Carmichael and Eli Brown each netted one.
Head coach Adam Simoes said, “This was a great win but a tough night for me. This is the core group that started Northern Maine Moose. All players are special but when you look to where and who this program started. To share this victory is truly special.”