A look at the biggest sports stories involving SouthCoast athletes, teams and coaches in 2023
There were plenty of memorable moments among SouthCoast sports from the youth level to the pros in 2023.
From a national title and a pair of state championships to a trip to the Cal Ripken World Series and an MLB debut, there were a lot of exciting sports events making headlines locally.
Here’s a look at the 10 biggest stories involving SouthCoast athletes, coaches and teams from the past year:
10. Fairhaven’s Dana Almeida golfs in all 50 states
It took nearly 40 years, but Fairhaven coaching legend Dana Almeida completed the rare feat of playing a round of golf in all 50 states on June 22 when he golfed at Anchorage Golf Course in Alaska, his final stop on a journey that began around 1985.
Almeida said the most memorable hole he played was at Torrey Pines.
“There’s a par 3 on Torrey Pines where you actually have to hit over a piece of the ocean," he said. "When you look down, the cliff has got to be a couple of hundred feet down to the water and you have to walk around to get to the green.”
More: Legendary Fairhaven football coach made the rounds, playing golf in all 50 states
9. Chris Gardner steps in after Wareham football coach resigns
After Brandon Perry stepped down following the seventh game of the season, longtime track coach Chris Gardner stepped in to take the helm and helped direct the Vikings to wins in three out of their final four games. Wareham finished the year with its best record (7-4) since 2017 when the Vikings went 9-2.
“I wanted them to have the season they envisioned and to finish out something worth remembering,” Perry said of the reason he took over as interim head coach after filling a similar role for field hockey earlier in the fall. “The kids have done awesome.
“A lot of the guys on the football team, I've had for students and or I’ve had with track. It was an easy thing to do. It was a no-brainer.”
'Why not?': Chris Gardner now coaching second sport this fall at Wareham
8. 50th career championship for Mark Thornhill
With a win over Apponequet, the GNB Voc-Tech indoor boys track team captured the South Coast Conference Blue Division title in January for the Bears’ first conference championship since 2014. It also marked the 50th career championship (SCC, MSTCA and State Vocational) for Mark Thornhill in his 36-year career coaching indoor track, outdoor track and cross country at GNB Voc-Tech.
“I attribute it to every kid I've been able to have in my program and all the great assistant coaches I’ve had over 36 years,” said Thornhill. “I’ve been fortunate to coach thousands of kids. I believe in structure and the kids I've had have always worked hard. That’s how you accomplish team goals and get W's.”
MILESTONE MOMENT: 50th career championship extra sweet for GNB Voc-Tech coach Mark Thornhill
7. Freetown-Lakeville 8U All-Stars play in Cal Ripken World Series
It was quite the year for the Freetown-Lakeville 8U All-Star baseball team, which reached the Cal Ripken World Series this summer for the first time in their division.
“It doesn’t come around too often,” said Free-Lake manager Eddy Rasar. “I’d say 99% of kids in youth baseball don’t make it to any type of World Series. You have to be lucky, stay healthy and work hard.”
The Free-Lake All-Stars have won five championships and entered the World Series in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, with an overall record of 25-1.
Free-Lake finished in third place at the World Series.
MEET THE FREE-LAKE 8U ALL-STARS: Freetown-Lakeville is headed to Cal Ripken World Series
6. Bishop Stang coach battles stage four cancer
Coaching lacrosse and field hockey at Bishop Stang helped get Alison Caito-Galligan through some of the toughest times of her life as she battled stage four melanoma that spread to her brain.
“I actually helped out for field hockey as a volunteer coach (in fall 2021),” she said. “My family will say that coaching field hockey saved my life. It just gave me hope. It’s hard to live with cancer day in and day out and I’ve coached my whole life.”
As a tribute to its coach, the Bishop Stang girls lacrosse team helped raise over $4,000 for the American Cancer Society during their Stick it to Cancer game in the spring.
“It was a special night to me especially,” said Caito-Galligan, who was diagnosed with cancer in January 2021. “I have stage four cancer so I was really excited about doing this game tonight. It's special in a lot of ways. The kids really took it on."
'Saved my life': Bishop Stang players fight for their coach as she battles stage four cancer
5. NFL players visit Wareham
Wareham’s past and current connections to the NFL — Stephen Cooper and Joshua Onujiogu — came back to their alma mater during “A Night to Remember,” presented by Wareham High School and Simply You Productions.
Cooper shared his journey from Wareham to the NFL and shared words of wisdom with Wareham's youth while Onujiogu talked about what it took to make it from a small town to the pros.
Cooper directed Wareham football to its best regular season record (10-0) in school in 1995 and helped the Vikings capture the Super Bowl title as a junior. A 1997 Wareham High graduate, Cooper was a two-time All-American and two-time Atlantic-10 Defensive Player of the Year at the University of Maine, finishing his college career with 374 tackles, 57 tackles for loss, seven interceptions and 25 sacks. Cooper was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He spent all nine seasons of his NFL career in San Diego and finished with 503 tackles, 9.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles and eight interceptions.
More: Two Wareham graduates made it to the NFL. Now they are coming home to inspire others.
Onujiogu, a 2016 Wareham High graduate, was signed last year as an undrafted free agent by the Seattle Seahawks. Onujiogu made his NFL debut as outside linebacker for the Seahawks on Nov. 5, 2022 and recorded three tackles against the Arizona Cardinals. Onujiogu, who is currently on the injured reserve for Seattle, played college football for Framingham State (228 tackles, 36 sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries) after a successful career at Wareham as a two-way player. In addition to scoring 13 touchdowns on offense, he averaged 10 tackles per game at outside linebacker this senior year, earning South Coast Conference All-Star honors and a spot on the Standard-Times Defensive Super Team.
4. Jacob Cookinham wins National championship
The University of Kansas-bound Jacob Cookinham capped off his remarkable high school career at Bishop Stang by winning the Adidas Outdoor National Championships in the shot put in Greensboro, North Carolina. On his sixth throw, he recorded a distance of 66-feet-11.5 inches to emerge victorious and wrap up a clean sweep of titles during his senior year that included the Catholic Central League, Divisionals, All-States, New Englands and Nationals.
“His determination and his drive,” said Bishop Stang throwing coach Jim Fortin of what made Cookinham special. “His lust for getting better at the sport. He was good his freshman year. Much better than the normal freshman coming in. I knew he had potential, but I did not expect this at all."
FINISHING STRONG: Ranked No. 1 in the U.S., Bishop Stang shot put thrower strives for National title
3. Jared Shuster makes for his MLB debut for the Atlanta Braves
New Bedford native Jared Shuster made his MLB debut for the Atlanta Braves on April 2 against the Washington Nationals 4-1 at Nationals Park in Washington.
Shuster gave up three hits and three walks against the first six batters he faced. Two free passes came with the bases loaded as the Nationals jumped out front 4-0. Shuster settled in and lasted 4 ⅔ innings, allowing three more hits and two more walks. In total, he gave up four runs (all earned) off six hits with five walks and one strikeout.
More: New Bedford's Jared Shuster shakes off rocky start in MLB debut with the Atlanta Braves
“He’s a rare talent,” said New Bedford High baseball coach John Seed, who coached Shuster for one season before he transferred to Tabor Academy. “I’ve had some good players, but you could just tell with him. He was the real deal as a freshman. The one year he played with us, we made it to the South Sectional final."
Shuster was selected in the 2020 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves with the 25th pick. He spent the next couple of years working his way up through the Minors. He was named to the Atlanta Braves' Opening Day roster on March 26.
2. Wareham boys basketball captures the Div. 4 state championship
From the first practice of the season, the Wareham boys basketball team set out to win a state championship and the top-seeded Vikings accomplished that feat with a 66-40 victory over No. 3 Springfield International in the Div. 4 state final at the Tsongas Center in Lowell.
It was Wareham’s second state title in school history and the first since 2010 when the Vikings beat New Leadership.
“I’m speechless honestly,” said Elijah Carrion, Wareham’s lone senior on this year's team. “This was the goal and we did it. It’s great. We’re one of only two basketball teams at Wareham that can say we won a state championship.”
STATE CHAMPS: Wareham boys basketball beats Springfield International for program's second state title
On the road to the state title, Wareham dominated its competition, winning all five Div. 4 playoff games by an average of just under 30 points per game.
“We put those expectations on ourselves and the community had high expectations for us,” Wareham head coach Steve Faniel said. “To be able to fulfill those expectations and beyond, it feels relief. It feels great. I’m proud of these kids. They did a great job.”
In the title game, Ajay Lopes had a team-high 20 points while Antoine Crosson added 14 points and 15 rebounds.
Wareham finished the season with an overall record of 22-3 and graduated just one senior — Elijah Carrion.
1. Fairhaven football wins the Div. 6 Super Bowl
It was a year to remember for the Fairhaven High football team. As the Blue Devils won their first seven games, junior running back Justin Marques broke a 31-year-old record by Nate Pickup to become the school’s all-time touchdown leader.
After a loss to Apponequet in its regular season finale, Fairhaven reeled off four straight wins to reach the Super Bowl for the first time in 23 years.
'Greatest moment of my entire life': Fairhaven beats Salem to capture Div. 6 Super Bowl
On the biggest stage, the Marques delivered once again scoring four touchdowns and setting an MIAA Super Bowl record with 46 carries for 228 yards to power the No. 8 Blue Devils to a thrilling 26-22 upset win over third-seeded Salem in the Div. 6 Super Bowl for the program’s first-ever true state championship.
“This is amazing,” said Fairhaven quarterback Jayce Duarte, one of six seniors on the team. “This is the greatest moment of my entire life. I’ve never been more happy. We fought so hard tonight. There’s something about being a Fairhaven Blue Devil that’s better than anything else.”
It was the fourth Super Bowl win in Fairhaven’s history and the first since 2000. The Blue Devils finished the year with an overall record of 12-1. On the way to the Super Bowl victory, the Blue Devils knocked off three higher-seeded teams, beating No. 1 Norwell, No. 4 Hudson and No. 3 Salem.
OTHER MOMENTS TO REMEMBER
For the second straight year, Bishop Stang girls tennis reaches the Div. 2 Final Four
Bishop Stang golf wins Div. 2 South title
Bishop Stang baseball reaches the Div. 3 Final Four
Dartmouth’s Hunter Matteson surpasses 1,000 career points
Dartmouth field hockey wraps up a perfect 17-0 regular season before losing to Somerset Berkley in the Div. 2 Elite Eight
New Bedford High boys track is represented at Nationals for first time in nearly a decade
New Bedford High girls basketball beats Brockton for its first playoff win in 12 years
Old Colony football captures its third straight Mayflower Athletic Conference title and head coach Brandon Mendez is honored with statewide and regional awards
Old Rochester boys basketball head coach Steve Carvalho captures his 200th career win
Old Rochester boys basketball reaches the Div. 3 Final Four
There are new athletic directors at Bishop Stang, Fairhaven and Old Rochester
Wareham softball makes history with first playoff win just 24 hours after coach has surgery
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: 2023 Year in review of biggest sports stories for the SouthCoast
