After Successful Fall, OA Prepares for Winter Sports Season

Led by the football team’s run to the Division 3 Eastern Massachusetts Super Bowl, Oliver Ames enjoyed one of the most successful fall sports seasons in recent memory.

In addition to football’s success, girls’ soccer advanced to the Division 1 semifinals; the cross-country squads earned another Davenport Division title and the boys earned a first place finish in the Div. 3 Eastern Mass. championships; boys’ soccer clinched a share of the Small Hock crown with Canton; and golf, field hockey and volleyball each earned a berth in the state tournament.

Now that autumn is behind us, it is time for the winter sports teams to enter the spotlight.

Last year, the basketball and hockey teams advanced to the Division 2 South sectional semifinals; winter track earned its first Davenport crown; the wrestling program took another step forward in its fifth season; and the swim team surprised many with its success.

In 2011-12, OA will look to improve on last year’s success in what is expected to be a highly anticipated winter sports season. Here’s a brief look on what to expect from each team.

Girls’ basketball

After capturing her second state title in five years in 2010, head coach Elaine Clement-Holbrook led a young squad that had only two seniors (Jocelyn Paul and Nicole Bostic) to a Davenport championship, a Hockomock Cup and a spot in the sectional semis en route to a 19-4 record.

This year, Clement-Holbrook returns four starters (including Asia Mitchell and Candace Steadman) and several role players (Kristin Ellis, Caitlyn Abela and Emily Romans) as the Lady Tigers enter the season as the Davenport favorites.

The girls’ start their 2011-12 campaign against Sharon on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at the Nixon Gymnasium.

Boys’ Basketball

In his second year at the helm, coach Don Byron had his team peak at the right time as the Tigers shared the Davenport championship with Stoughton and earned a No. 5 seed in the Division 2 South Sectionals.

While OA lost several key contributors from last year’s squad, including Jimmy Fitzgerald and tri-captains Eric MacKinnon, Mason Pires and MJ DeDonato, the Tigers return all-Hockomock league point guard Nick Bruha for his senior season.

The Tigers, who are expected to be one of the top teams in the Small Hock along with Stoughton, host Attleboro on Friday, Dec. 16, in their season opener.

Hockey

In his first year, head coach Dan Scott and his squad exceeded expectations by advancing to the Division 2 South semifinals. Entering year two, Scott will look to lead his team to the next level.

Gone from last year’s squad are tri-captains Andrew Taylor (Last year’s Hockomock League MVP), Mac Shalin (all-league goalie) and top defenseman Corey Weathers. On the other hand, the Tigers return Drew Koeppel, Ryan McGrath, Dylan Burns, Andrew Mancini and Kyle Johnson all of whom contributed to OA’s Cinderella run.

OA opens the season with an inter-division matchup with North Attleboro at ASIAF Rink in Brockton on Wednesday, Dec. 14.

Winter Track

Throughout his tenure, head coach Mike Darling has led his teams to state supremacy. This year should be no different.

Seniors Laura Daley, Emily Grotz and Shannon Hickey are expected to lead the girls to another successful season and classmates Sean Gorham, Matt Howard, Andrew Kerester look to lead the boys in 2011-12.

Once again, OA enters the season as the heavy favorites in the Small Hock. The quest for a second consecutive division title begins Saturday against Stoughton at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston.

Swimming and Diving

Last year, head coach Lauren Gray and company created a buzz in the swim program with its fifth place finish in the Hock championships last February.

That buzz has generated into another record turnout with 56 members on this year’s roster, including sophomore Jacquey Grover and captains Matthew Bates, Chris Lockwood, Harris Brenner, Alaina Chmilenski and Candace Sheehan.

The swim teams begin its season on Wednesday, Dec. 16 against Franklin.

Wrestling

In its fifth year, head coach Adam Pomella led his wrestling team to its best campaign in the program's brief history.

With seniors Matt Harding and Nick Hutchinson returning and freshman Matt Wiseman looking to make an immediate impact, the Tigers will look to build off last year's success against the rest of the Hockomock League.

The wrestling team begins its campaign with the OA opener at the Nixon Gymnasium Saturday morning at 9 a.m.

Keep following Patch for extensive OA sports coverage this winter.