High School Sports

Prosper Walnut Grove captures first boys soccer state title in extra

GEORGETOWN — Quinn Shelton slapped his head a few times and walked toward the Walnut Grove bench while getting shoulder taps from his teammates. Moments before, the junior’s back-to-back close-range reflex saves extended Walnut Grove’s unbeaten season into overtime on Friday evening. There, a freshman, Wheeler Clayton, became the hero – and earned match MVP […]

Published

1 month ago

April 12, 2025

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Prosper Walnut Grove captures first boys soccer state title in extra

GEORGETOWN — Quinn Shelton slapped his head a few times and walked toward the Walnut Grove bench while getting shoulder taps from his teammates.

Moments before, the junior’s back-to-back close-range reflex saves extended Walnut Grove’s unbeaten season into overtime on Friday evening.

There, a freshman, Wheeler Clayton, became the hero – and earned match MVP honors – for a senior-laden Walnut Grove squad when his long-range shot struck the top-right corner of the net.

“Very choppy game, all over the place, at no point did I think any team was going to win it,” Shelton said. “I was mentally ready for pens.”

The Wildcats composed themselves after relinquishing the lead twice throughout the game to complete their unbeaten season and earn the program’s first boy’s soccer state championship in their second year of existence. They edged past Southwest (25-2-0) in a battle of two first-time state finalists, 3-2, on Friday evening at Georgetown’s Birkelbach Field.

“This means everything,” Shelton said. “It’s a banner on the wall, it’s pride for the rest of the year. We’re just happy to squeeze it out.”

Wildcats win! See photos from Prosper Walnut Grove’s state title victory over San Antonio Southwest

After coasting through the rest of the postseason allowing just three total goals in five matches, Shelton called Southwest the Wildcats’ toughest opponent.

Shelton finished with seven stops, including three in the final two minutes of regulation and another diving stop at the start of overtime.

“Very technical, strong, fast team,” Shelton said.

The Wildcats captured the lead 78 seconds into the game. Mason Kutch slotted a penalty shot into the bottom right corner, sending the keeper the wrong way, and blew kisses to the crowd as his teammates celebrated with him at the corner flag.

In the 25th minute, the Dragons regained the tie when Alfredo Plascencia’s powerful cross across the six-yard box deflected off a Walnut Grove defender for an own goal.

Two whistles prevented a potential Wildcats lead at halftime. Ben Joyner thought he’d given Walnut Grove a 2-1 edge after a failed clearance from a free kick was pumped back into the box and fell to his feet. He ran to the sideline to celebrate, but just before he reached the boundary, the linesman signaled offside and ruled out the goal. Soon after, a whistle seconds before the halftime horn prevented another Wildcats chance from developing.

Walnut Grove regrouped after the break to snatch back the lead in the 49th minute. It was the Wildcats’ turn to benefit from an own goal. Senior Christian Nardelli cut in from the left wing, like Plascencia did earlier, and rang in a low cross redirected into the net by a defender.

The Southwest answer arrived a little under 15 minutes later. Barajas, who’d scuffed a scoring chance in the first half, curled his free kick toward the bottom left corner, and the ball slipped through Shelton’s fingertips to balance the scoresheet once more.

From there, Shelton stayed perfect. He stopped a powerful low effort from Ezra Scott, then robbed Cesar Angel in-close twice in the dying seconds of regulation. He parried away another shot destined for the top right corner early in overtime.

Clayton found the winner in the 98th minute, less than two minutes before a penalty shootout. The freshman said he began the year on JV, being moved up with around six games to play in the regular season, and he’s still enrolled in the JV period, meaning he doesn’t practice with the rest of the varsity squad during the school day.

Clayton’s teammates see him “at games, that’s it,” Shelton explained. But he’s performed as an impact sub. His state championship winning goal was his third of the postseason.

“I saw two people, and I knew I was going to beat them on speed,” Clayton said about what he saw on his goal. “I cut back, froze them and just had to pound it in. I need to show coaches that I deserve to be up there, and I’m going to be ready for the next three years.”

Find more high school sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

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Three Penn State wrestling connections are picked to win at the World Team Trials this weekend

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5 hours ago

May 16, 2025

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Three Penn State wrestling connections are picked to win at the World Team Trials this weekend

Penn State wrestling is already set to be represented by Luke Lilledahl and Mitchell Mesenbrink at Final X. The June event will feature 20 men’s and women’s freestyle matches to determine the 2025 U.S. Senior team, which will compete at the World Championship later this year. Before that, the U.S. World Team Trials will be held this Friday and Saturday in Louisville. That’s where PSU and Nittany Lion Wrestling Club connections can punch their ticket to join Lilledahl and Mesenbrink, and Kyle Snyder in New Jersey. And, one national writer thinks that more than a few will.

Writing for FLO Wrestling, Jon Kozak predicts three Penn State connections will take first this weekend. He projects that senior Levi Haines will win the 79 kilogram (174.1 pounds) bracket while redshirt sophomore Josh Barr claims the 92 kilogram (202.8 pounds) division. He picked the Nittany Lion to do so before Jacob Cardenas dropped from the bracket. Now, Barr might be an even bigger favorite. And, beyond current members of Cael Sanderson’s team, Kozak also has NLWC member and two-time Olympic bronze medalist Kyle Dake taking the 86 kilogram (189.5 pounds) title.

Learn more about the Penn State wrestling connections competing at the U.S. World Team Trials by watching the latest BWI wrestling show below!

“The 79 kg bracket at the WTT is essentially a smaller version of the 79 kg bracket from the US Open,” Kozak writes. “In Vegas, DJ Hamiti finished as the runner-up with a tech fall over Kennedy Monday while losing to Evan Wick in the finals 9-1. Simon Ruiz finished in third place at the US Open, also only losing to Evan Wick (9-5) but defeating Carson Kharchla (twice, 3-2 and 7-7) and Muhamed McBryde (6-4). From these results, Hamiti should be considered a slight favorite, but Ruiz and Kharchla are interesting challengers capable of making a run to the finals.

“Levi Haines is the only wrestler in this bracket who didn’t wrestle at the US Open. While Haines lost to Hamiti at the NCAA Tournament, Haines is capable of winning this bracket in Louisville. Haines hasn’t competed much in freestyle, but he notably finished 4th at the 2024 World Team Trials at 79 kg. There, Haines lost to Jordan Burroughs and David Carr but defeated US Open winner Evan Wick (by pin) and Keegan O’Toole (6-0). Haines’ wrestling translates well to freestyle, and he has incredible potential to win in Louisville and at Final X.”

The action begins 10 a.m. ET on Friday with preliminary round action. The first session closes by 2:30 p.m. ET following the quarterfinal round. The semifinals and consolation bracket action run 4-7:30 p.m. ET on Friday. And, the finals are at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday. FLO is streaming the event. Here’s the list of Penn State connections:

Penn State signee Marcus Blaze and program alum Beau Bartlett – 65 kilograms (143.3 pounds)

Nittany Lion signee PJ Duke – 70 kilograms (154.3 pounds)

Penn State senior Levi Haines – 79 kilograms (174.1 pounds)

Nittany Lion alum Carter Starocci and NLWC member Kyle Dake- 86 kilograms (189.5 pounds)

Penn State redshirt sophomore Josh Barr – 92 kilograms (202.8 pounds)

High School Sports

Northstars Shoot to No. 7 in USA Lacrosse Public High School Girls' National Top 25

Cicero-North Syracuse (N.Y.) made a huge jump in this week’s USA Lacrosse Public High School Girls’ National Top 25, inheriting the No. 7 spot previously held by Victor (N.Y.), whom the Northstars defeated 14-10. They also dealt Fayetteville-Manlius (N.Y.) a five-goal loss for their 10th straight win. No. 1 Manchester Valley (Md.) continues to bulldoze […]

Published

6 hours ago

May 16, 2025

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Northstars Shoot to No. 7 in USA Lacrosse Public High School Girls' National Top 25

No. 1 Manchester Valley (Md.) continues to bulldoze opponents. The Mavericks are into the Class 2A semifinals after outscoring their first three playoff foes, 58-7.

No. 2 Nyack (N.Y.) also remained unbeaten. The Red Hawks nearly doubled up a good Wilton (Conn.) team 15-8 last week.

No. 3 Chatham (N.J.) and No. 6 Summit (N.J.) each captured their respective county tournament titles in the Garden State.

No. 12 Cambridge (Ga.) plays for the Division I championship and No. 13 Milton (Ga.) plays for the Division 2 championship Saturday as they look to finish their season with long winning streaks.

No. 17 Coronado (Calif.) tries to wrap up an unbeaten season with a CIF San Diego Section title after winning its semifinal 18-5. The Islanders face Cathedral Catholic (Calif.), a team that they beat twice before, by one goal on April 10 and by four goals on April 29.

Pennsylvania teams are just getting into their district playoffs. No. 8 Cape Henlopen (Del.) opens its state tournament this week. New York teams wrap up their regular seasons this week while New Jersey teams have almost two weeks left in their regular seasons.

The USA Lacrosse Public High School Girls’ National Top 25 and Regional Top 10 lists can also be found here in our rankings hub. Scroll below for this week’s rankings, with each team’s previous ranking denoted in parenthesis.

Compiled by USA Lacrosse writers with input from coaches around the country, these rankings will be updated weekly on Thursdays.

National Top 25

1. Manchester Valley (Md.), 17-0 (1)
2. Nyack (N.Y.), 16-0 (2)
3. Chatham (N.J.), 14-1 (3)
4. Darien (Conn.), 13-2 (4)
5. Bayport-Blue Point (N.Y.), 14-1 (5)
6. Summit (N.J.), 11-4 (6)
7. Cicero-North Syracuse (N.Y.), 14-1 (22)
8. Cape Henlopen (Del.), 14-0-1 (8)
9. Broadneck (Md.), 12-3 (9)
10. Severna Park (Md.), 17-2 (10)
11. Moorestown (N.J.), 15-1 (11)
12. Cambridge (Ga.), 18-2 (12)
13. Milton (Ga.), 19-2 (13)
14. Springfield-Delco (Pa.), 17-1 (14)
15. West Islip (N.Y.), 13-2 (15)
16. Smithtown West (N.Y.), 12-2 (16)
17. Coronado (Calif.), 18-0 (17)
18. Garden City (N.Y.), 14-2 (18)
19. Sayville (N.Y.), 12-3 (19)
20. Downingtown West (Pa.), 15-3 (20)
21. Victor (N.Y.), 10-2 (7)
22. Westhampton (N.Y.), 12-3 (21)
23. Radnor (Pa.), 14-3 (23)
24. Haddonfield (N.J.), 14-2 (24)
25. Glenelg High (Md.), 16-3 (25)

Also considered (alphabetical order): Anderson (Texas), Cold Spring Harbor (N.Y.), Conestoga (Pa.), Garnet Valley (Pa.), Huntington (N.Y.), Lake Mary (Fla.), Manhasset (N.Y.), Manheim Township (Pa.), Marriott’s Ridge (Md.), Mira Costa (Calif.), New Canaan (Conn.), New Trier (Ill.), Olentangy Liberty (Ohio), Plant (Fla.), Pleasant Valley (Pa.), Queen Anne’s County (Md.), Radnor (Pa.), Rocky Point (N.Y.), San Ramon Valley (Calif.), South River (Md.), South Side (N.Y.), Upper Arlington (Ohio), Walpole (Mass.), West Chester Henderson (Pa.), Westfield (N.J.), Wilton (Conn.), Wyomissing Area (Pa.), Yorktown (Va.)

High School Sports

Massachusetts high school sports highlights for May 15

Marblehead’s Tessa Francis registered her 500th career strikeout in Thursday’s win over Latin Academy.Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Thursday was a day for big, round numbers. A 500, a 343, a couple of 300s, a 250, a 200, plus more. Despite the rain, a nearly full slate of baseball, softball, lacrosse, and tennis were […]

Published

6 hours ago

May 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Massachusetts high school sports highlights for May 15

Marblehead’s Tessa Francis registered her 500th career strikeout in Thursday's win over Latin Academy. — Marblehead’s Tessa Francis registered her 500th career strikeout in Thursday’s win over Latin Academy.Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe

Thursday was a day for big, round numbers. A 500, a 343, a couple of 300s, a 250, a 200, plus more. Despite the rain, a nearly full slate of baseball, softball, lacrosse, and tennis were played and conference and league crowns are being claimed with just over a week left in the regular season.

1. Milestones and moments

We’ll get to the biggest number, but we must start with Braintree senior Bella Duffy, who not only netted the tying and winning goals to beat Weymouth, 10-9, but finished a five-goal, one-assist day with 343 points (272 goals, 71 assists), matching the program record set by former Sacred Heart standout Grace Reinold in 2018. Interestingly, Reinold has coached Duffy, who now has 81 goals and 17 assists this season, on her Laxachusetts club team.

The biggest number of the day belonged to Marblehead junior Tessa Francis, who struck out 15 in a 13-2 win over Latin Academy, finishing the day with exactly 500 career strikeouts.

Notching their 300th career points were North Andover senior Isa Robinson (7 goals in a 15-7 win over Billerica) and Medfield senior Kendall Herrick (3 goals in a 10-7 win over Reading). Robinson’s Scarlet Knights teammate Taylor Farrell made her 100th career save as the team claimed a Merrimack Valley Conference championship.

Sandwich boys’ lacrosse coach Mike McNeil notched his 250th career victory by beating Bridgewater-Raynham, 11-5, and Scituate senior Owen Hofford recorded his 200th career point in a 16-3 win over Pembroke.

2. Walk-off win

A wild pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth allowed the Burlington baseball team (9-7) to escape with a narrow 5-4 Middlesex League win over Wilmington.

3. Three stars

Edy Latour, Dighton-Rehoboth — The sophomore struck out seven and walked two while firing a no-hitter to beat Plymouth South, 8-0, helping her own cause with a hit and an RBI.

Ellie Barbarick, Georgetown — The sophomore blasted two home runs and knocked in four runs, leading the Royals to a 12-0 win over Amesbury, which clinched their first Cape Ann League Baker Division title in 15 years.

Lacey Roche, West Bridgewater — A menace on the basepaths, the seventh-grader collected four hits and five stolen bases, adding an RBI and a run scored in a 4-2 win over Fairhaven.

4. Going, going, gone

Dighton-Rehoboth’s Haleigh Kelley continued to crush the ball, matching Barbarick by delivering a pair of home runs in an 8-0 win over Plymouth South, giving her five round-trippers this month and six on the season.

North Attleborough freshman Alessandra Cautilli cranked an inside-the-park home run and Randolph eighth-grader Gianna Singleton sent one out. Kenley Thomas of Upper Cape and Kyle Doney of St. Mary’s also left the park Thursday.

5. Daily lacrosse leaderboard

Goals

Elle Murphy, Cardinal Spellman, 9

Julia Kipperman, Nauset, 8

Mac Cole, Pentucket, 7

Tim Donovan, Cohasset, 7

Isa Robinson, North Andover, 7

Conor Walsh, Whittier Tech, 7

Sophia Fruci, Walpole, 6

Ava MacLean, Walpole, 6

Willy Robinson, Scituate, 6

Charlie Siciliano, Bedford, 6

Gavan Biggins, Rockland, 5

Bella Duffy, Braintree, 5

Cylas Hickey, East Bridgewater, 5

Aaron McDonald, Weymouth, 5

Cole Rodgers, Sandwich, 5

Kam Tremblay, Billerica,

Points

Walsh, Whittier Tech, 12

Donovan, Cohasset, 10

Brayden Mattera, Walpole, 10

Robinson, Scituate, 10

Murphy, Cardinal Spellman, 9

Robinson, North Andover, 9

Kipperman, Nauset, 8

MacLean, Walpole, 8

Rodgers, Sandwich, 8

Charlie Carroll, Marshfield, 7

Cole, Pentucket, 7

Kyla Darmon, Sandwich, 7

Braden Martin, Billerica, 7

Shane Mulcahy, Cohasset, 7

7. Daily strikeout leaderboard

Tessa Francis, Marblehead, 15

Amaya Flood, Greater Lowell, 13

Brian Mancinelli, St. John Paul II, 11

Tristan Maher, Middleborough, 10

Carter Sahagian, Marblehead, 10

Liana Danubio, Abington, 9

Matthew Disarcina, Burlington, 9

8. College corner

The spring college awards season has arrived and former MIAA standouts are littering the lists.

In the NEWMAC, BC High graduate and Wheaton senior infielder Timmy Wagner was named baseball Player of the Year after hitting .398 with a .495 OBP, 1.121 OPS, league-leading 73 RBIs, and league-leading 30 walks.

Congrats to @WheatonLyons Timmy Wagner, who was voted the NEWMAC Baseball Player of the Year!

Hit .407 in NEWMAC play
2nd in league with 68 hits
Led league with 73 RBI#GoNEWMAC // #WhyD3 pic.twitter.com/T5oJJ7GRYL

— NEWMAC (@NEWMACsports) May 14, 2025

Beverly graduate Brayden Clark, a graduate student at Salve Regina, was crowned NEWMAC Pitcher of the Year after posting nine wins with 104 strikeouts and a 1.94 ERA in 74⅓ innings.

The NEWMAC Defensive Player of the Year was Ashland alum Brandon Grover, now a graduate student outfielder for Salve Regina, where he made 54 putouts without an error.

Making the NEWMAC First Team for baseball was AMSA graduate Andrew Cash (WPI) and the second team featured Brant Savage (St. John’s Shrewsbury/Charlton/Babson), Dom Mariani (Xaverian/Walpole/Clark), Casey Wensley (Bridgewater-Raynham/Wheaton), Evan O’Rourke (Arlington/Salve Regina), Jason Finkelstein (Walpole/Babson), and Shea Donovan (Milton/Salve Regina).

Local products were equally dominant in the NESCAC baseball awards, with Wellesley High graduate Kyle McCausland of Middlebury capturing Player of the Year honors for the second time in three years after a senior season in which he led the league in RBIs (47) and home runs (12), finishing with a .711 slugging percentage and 1.177 OPS.

HUGE Congrats to Nokona Alum Kyle McCausland @KMcCausland15 of @midd_baseball on being named PLAYER OF THE YEAR and 1st Team All Conference in the @NESCAC ! 2-time Player of the Year for the NESCAC and has rewritten the record books! Unbelievable career! So proud #nokona pic.twitter.com/YhLtNU4ZFT

— Nokona Baseball (@nokona_baseball) May 15, 2025

The NESCAC Co-Pitchers of the Year were Colby senior Ryan Grecco (Andover) and Williams sophomore Owen McHugh (Milton). Grecco went 5-3 with a 2.72 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 53 strikeouts in 53 innings to become the first Colby pitcher to win the award. Similarly, McHugh is the first Williams pitcher to claim the award after he posted a 2.27 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 39⅔ innings with a 3-1 record.

Making the NESCAC First Team for baseball were senior James O’Connor (Noble & Greenough/West Newton/Williams), senior Ben Leonard (Medfield/Tufts), and sophomore EJ Nevills (Westwood/Amherst). Earning spots on the Second Team were Chester Boynton (Middlesex/Concord/Hamilton), Liam Foley (Xaverian/Wrentham/Bowdoin), James Henshon (Roxbury Latin/Wellesley/Tufts), Ernie Little (Austin Prep/Melrose/Wesleyan), Will Bordes (Milton Academy/Groton/Bowdoin), Jacob Lapp (Phillips Andover/Tufts), and Jacob Sherf (Marblehead/Middlebury). Henshon is a former Globe Foundation/Phelps Scholar-Athlete recipient.

Making the NESCAC softball First Team was Bates’s Isabel Bettencourt, a Peabody graduate, and the Second Team featured her Bates teammate Ella Maher, a Newton North alumna.

Owen Sanders, a Catholic Memorial graduate and senior catcher at Hobart, was named to the All-Liberty League baseball third team. After transferring from Gettysburg, Sanders hit .263 with 16 RBIs in 26 games.

Brendan Kurie can be reached at brendan.kurie@globe.com. Follow him on X @BrendanKurie.

High School Sports

PHOTOS

HIGH-SCHOOL Taj Falconer Special to the Pocono Record Highlights of Day 2 the PIAA and District XI AA and AAA Championship at Whitehall High School on May 15, 2025. Taj Falconer, Special To The Pocono Record Highlights of Day 2 the PIAA and District XI AA and AAA Championship at Whitehall High School on May […]

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May 16, 2025

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HIGH-SCHOOL

Taj Falconer

Special to the Pocono Record

Highlights of Day 2 the PIAA and District XI AA and AAA Championship at Whitehall High School on May 15, 2025.

High School Sports

Region Semifinal

Sinton wins thriller over Geronimo Navarro; London dominates Goliad; Falfurrias falls to Hallettsville. Author: kiiitv.com Published: 10:58 PM CDT May 15, 2025 Updated: 10:58 PM CDT May 15, 2025 0

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May 16, 2025

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