New year, new challenge: Top Greater Taunton high school sports performers for Jan 1-6
TAUNTON— Greater Taunton area high school athletes hit the ground running to start the new year.
After a busy week of tournaments for basketball, hockey and wrestling last week, all sports returned to action this week.
Here's a look at the Greater Taunton area's top performing high school athletes from the first week of 2024.
Saturday
Boys Basketball
Ryan Donovan led the way for Bristol-Plymouth (1-4, 0-2 MAC) with 15 points while Greg Aisku had 14 and Aiden Steele and Donte Morris each had eight as the Craftsmen beat Snowden International 55-36 at home in non-league action.
Boys Hockey
Jonathan McGrath led the way for Taunton (5-2, 3-1 Hockomock) with a pair of goals while Conner Goranson and Jamie Vallarelli both found the back of the net, Owen Hathaway had a pair of assists and Cayden Clancy, Drew Nadeau, Breighdyn Simmons, Jake Pereira, Riley Mellin and Tre Nadeau all recorded assists as the Tigers beat King Philip 4-3 on the road in Hockomock action. Cam Tomaszycki made 33 saves in net as Taunton scored its first ever Hockomock win over the Warriors and first win against KP in 30 years.
Sean Nasiff and Nate Adduci both found the back for Bridgewater-Raynham (1-7) while Ronan O'Malley and Anthony Mussari recorded assists as the Trojans fell 8-2 at home to Whitman-Hanson.
Thomas Leger led the way for Southeastern/Bristol-Plymouth (3-3, 3-0 MAC) with a pair of goals while Cole Tammaro and Mason Graslie both found the back of the net and Cam Wilbur and Kacey Brown each had a pair of assists as the Hawks beat Upper Cape Tech 4-3 on the road in MAC action. Cam Teague made 23 saves in net for the co-op to earn his first varsity win.
Aidan Boothe, Liam Blenkush, Adam Bastis and Evan Silvia all found the back of the net for Dighton-Rehoboth/Seekonk (5-3, 2-1 SCC) while Brady Fitzpatrick had a pair of assists and Brett Axon and Connor VanVaerenewyck recorded assists as the Falcon Warriors fell 6-4 to Somerset Berkley on the road in SCC action.
Girls Hockey
The MOAT Warriors (3-2-1, 2-2-0 Hockomock) beat Ursuline Academy 4-2 at home in non-league action.
Wrestling
Landen Rodrigues (126), John Mandeville (144), Gabe Leskoski (150), Kingston DaCosta (175) and Ethan Harris (190) won all three of their respective matches as Taunton (7-2, 2-0 Hockomock) beat Billerica 51-30 and Lincoln (R.I.) 56-24 but fell 49-27 to Haverhill in a non-league quad match at Haverhill High School.
Luis Garcia (113) won his weight class while Ryan Moitoso (138) came in second and Malakai Risotti (175) and Brady Benfeito (285) finished fourth as Bristol Aggie/Dighton-Rehoboth finished sixth overall with 145.5 points at the Bruce Rich Invitational at Chelmsford High School.
2024 NFL draft first-round order: Top 18 selections secured after Week 18
Friday
Boys Basketball
Dray Thielker led the way for Taunton (4-3, 1-3 Hockomock) with 17 points while Troy Santos had 15 and Cyrus Morissette had 14 as the Tigers fell 75-58 to Franklin at home in Hockomock action.
Noah Perry-Lewis led the way for Bridgewater-Raynham (4-4, 1-0 SEC) with 20 points while Jack Hannigan had 17, Deshawn Faulk had 13, Bobby Louis had 12 and Cason Faulk had 10 as the Trojans beat New Bedford 72-69 at home in SEC action.
Jordan Dietz led the way for Dighton-Rehoboth (3-4, 1-3 SCC) with 16 points while Aidan Marando had 12 and Dylan Andreozzi had 10 as the Falcons fell 92-67 to Bourne on the road in SCC action.
Girls Basketball
Taryn Campbell led the way for Taunton (7-0, 4-0 Hockomock) with 20 points while Jillian Doherty had 15 as the Tigers defeated Franklin 46-39 on the road in Hockomock action.
Reese Bartlett led the way for Bridgewater-Raynham (5-1, 1-0 SEC) with 19 points, seven assists and five rebounds while Camden Strandberg had 16 points, five rebounds and five assists, Brenna Woodbury had 14 points, eight assists and two steals and Ally Piecewicz had 11 points and five rebounds as the Trojans beat New Bedford 68-62 on the road in SEC action.
Megan Keane led the way for Dighton-Rehoboth (0-9, 0-4 SCC) with nine points while Maddie Blenkush and Gia Papa each had six as the Falcons fell 68-31 to Bourne at home in SCC action.
Weekend storm: Sign up for emergency alerts to know when a parking ban is declared in Taunton. Here's how.
Thursday
Boys Basketball
Greg Aisku led the way for Bristol-Plymouth (0-4, 0-2 MAC) with 15 points while Owen Hale had eight and Ryan Donovan had six as the Craftsmen fell 75-53 to Old Colony on the road in MAC action.
Girls Basketball
Emma Ericson led the way for Bristol-Plymouth (2-3, 2-0 MAC) with 12 points while Mari Albon had six and Gianna Viola, Gabby Chor and Alyssa Costa each had five as the Craftsmen beat Old Colony 37-21 at home in MAC action.
Wrestling
Brooke Weafer (113), Matt Keefe (126), Danny Keefe (132), Andrew Daley (138), Jacob Bettencourt (144), Nathan Hicks (157), Jack Ramondetta (165), Elijah Alves (175) and Aaron Raymond (215) all won their respective matches as Bristol-Plymouth defeated South Shore Tech 53-27 on the road in an MAC dual meet.
Weekend storm: National Weather Services forecasts 'plowable snow' for Mass., uncertain over inch counts
Wednesday
Boys Basketball
Dray Theilker led the way for Taunton (4-2, 1-2 Hockomock League) with 22 points while Troy Santos had 20 points as the Tigers defeated New Bedford 88-55 on the road in non-league action.
Girls Basketball
Taryn Campbell led the way for Taunton (6-0, 3-0 Hockomock) with 18 points while Jillian Doherty had 17, Cali Melo had 13 and Alexi Haywood had 11 as the Tigers defeated New Bedford 71-60 at home in non-league action.
Maddie Blenkush led the way for Dighton-Rehoboth (0-8, 0-3 SCC) with eight points while Lucy Latour had seven as the Falcons fell 51-31 to Old Rochester on the road in SCC action.
Boys Hockey
Taunton (4-2, 2-1 Hockomock) fell 6-2 to Oliver Ames at home in Hockomock action.
Thomas Leger led the way for Southeastern/Bristol-Plymouth (2-3, 2-0 Mayflower Athletic Conference) with a goal and two assists while Nick Sturdevant, Nick Falcione and Cam Wilbur had a goal and assist and Kacey Brown recorded a pair of assists as the Hawks beat Tri-County 6-2 on the road in MAC action.
Adam Bastis and Brady Fitzpatrick each had a goal and an assist for Dighton-Rehoboth/Seekonk (5-2, 2-0 SCC) while Aidan Boothe and Brett Axon both found the back of the net as the Falcon Warriors beat Apponequet 4-2 at home in SCC action.
Girls Hockey
The MOAT Warriors (2-2-1, 2-2-0 Hockomock) fell 5-1 to Canton at home in Hockomock action.
Boys Swimming
Harrison Layden led the way for Taunton (0-3, 0-3 Hockomock) finishing third in both the 200 yard freestyle and 100 yard butterfly as the Tigers fell 51-16 to Attleboro at home in Hockomock action. Danny Murudumbay finished third in the 50 yard freestyle while Maddox Chaves finished third in the 100 yard freestyle. In relays, both the 200 yard freestyle team of Matthew Mullings, Layden, Chaves and Murudumbay and the 400 yard freestyle team of Chaves, Eduardo Gardinal, Layden, and Murudumbay finished third.
Girls Swimming
Abigail Fernandes led the way for Taunton (1-2, 1-2 Hockomock) winning the 200 yard individual medley and finishing second in the 500 yard freestyle as the Tigers fell 49-43 at home to Attleboro in Hockomock action. Emma Bradley finished second in both the 100 yard backstroke and 200 yard freestyle, Eliana Gay finished second in the 50 yard freestyle and third in the 100 yard butterfly and Megan Viveiros finished second in the 100 yard freestyle. Mila Dafov finished third in the 50 yard freestyle, Lizzie Tobolski finished third in the 200 yard freestyle and Lilia Ballantine finished third in the 100 yard breaststroke. In relays, the 400 yard freestyle team of Viveiros, Tobolski, Bradley and Fernandes won while the 200 yard medley team of Bradley, Ballantine, Gay and Fernandes finished second and the 200 yard freestyle team of Ballantine, Victoria Tavares, Morgan McAloon and Tobolski finished third.
Wrestling
Antonio Brandao (106), Cody Truelson (113), Mike Leskoski (120), Landen Rodrigues (126), Brian Haen (132), John Mandeville (144), Gabe Leskoski (150), Anthony Vieira (157), William Buffington (165), Richard Maisonet (175), Ethan Harris (190), Elijah Prophete (215) and Antonio Maldonado (285) all won their respective matches as Taunton (5-1, 2-0 Hockomock) defeated Norton 69-6 on the road in a non-league dual meet.
Olivia Polansky (106), Kennedie Davis (113), Lucas Santos (120), Josh Hogg (132), Jack Alves (138), Brent von Magnus (144), Brenton Allain (150), Cody Baker (157) and Fletcher Rinke (190) all won their respective matches as Bridgewater-Raynham (9-0, 1-0 Southeast Conference) beat Brockton 46-24 at home in an SEC dual meet.
NFL coach hot seat rankings: Where do Bill Belichick and others fall in final week?
Tuesday
Boys Basketball
Noah Perry-Lewis led the way for Bridgewater-Raynham (3-4) with 20 points while Deshawn Faulk had 17 and Cam Santos had 10 as the Trojans fell 67-61 to Mansfield at home in non-league action.
Jordan Dietz led the way for Dighton-Rehoboth (3-3, 1-2 South Coast Conference) with 17 points while Dylan Andreozzi had 12 as the Falcons fell 64-48 to Old Rochester at home in SCC action.
Girls Basketball
Camden Strandberg led the way for Bridgewater-Raynham (4-1) with 17 points and three rebounds while Reese Bartlett had a double double of 14 points and 11 rebounds, as well as three assists, as the Trojans fell 61-48 to St. Mary's of Lynn on the road in non-league action.
On the rise: Taunton playing Colbey Santos' signature brand of basketball
Monday
Girls Hockey
West Bridgewater/East Bridgewater/Bridgewater-Raynham/Bristol-Plymouth (3-4) fell 1-0 to Nauset/Monomoy at home.
Taunton Daily Gazette sports reporter Cameron Merritt can be reached at cmerritt@tauntongazette.com. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @CamMerritt_News. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to the Taunton Daily Gazette today.
This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Top Greater Taunton high school sports performers (Jan. 1-6)
