Sports Captains Get Leadership Lessons

Nineteen student-athletes and four coaches from 14 different teams at Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School recently attended the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Captains and Coaches Workshop held at Stonehill College in Easton.

Subjects discussed at the conference - which included  student-athletes from schools from around the state - included The Role of the High School Captain, The Aspiring College Student-Athlete and Captains and Leadership Communication.

"This was a wonderful event for our student-athletes to attend," said Athletic Director Craig Genualdo in an announcement about the conference. "Many of the discussions that took place today are important for our young people to participate in and discuss. These lessons will not only help on the field and court, but also in the classroom, college, and in life."

The 23 delegates from the Regional was one of the largest number of students and coaches attending the conference from any of the participating schools.

Peter Smith, MIAA's assistant director said that the conference is popular and sold out almost immediately.

Former Eastern Connecticut Basketball Coach Dan Switchenko's introductory message included a breakdown of the various ingredients for success.

Junior Frankie Bucco, a captain-elect for the Hamilton-Wenham boys soccer team is also a MIAA student ambassador and member of the basketball and tennis teams, was a catalyst for the event, according to Genualdo.

"Coach Switchenko really put in perspective what the captains at our school need to do in order to be great captains; He challenged all of us to not settle and come out of our comfort zone," Bucco said. "He stressed the fact that it's a privelage and an awesome responsibility; He also gave us some advice to how to avoid some of the common pitfalls that happen."

Attendees included:

Scott Hughes (Tennis and Golf)

Michael Morin (Golf and Track)

Charlie Harris (Golf)

Russell Gregorian (Soccer)

Eric Baumeister (Swimming)

Justin Guo (Swimming)

Nick Loeper (Soccer and Basketball)

Brian Nicoll (Basketball and Baseball)

Peter Duvall (Football and Baseball)

Frankie Bucco (Soccer, Basketball and Tennis)

Christian Ecker (Football and Lacrosse)

Carolyn Cook (Soccer and Basketball)

Catherine Ecker (Basketball and Lacrosse)

Caroline Gribbell (Soccer and Tennis)

Haley Willis (Basketball)

Megan Wetler (Swimming)

Sue Rose (Basketball and Soccer)

Liz Rose (Soccer)

Sam Charette (Soccer and Basketball)

Coach Billy Corley (Golf)

Coach Matt Guaron (Boys Soccer)

Coach Reggie Maidment (Baseball)

Athletic Director Craig Genualdo