Hopkinton High School has long had one of the top high school boys golf programs in the state. Now this spring, for the first time, the Hillers are fielding a girls golf team. Coach Bill Phaneuf wasn’t sure what kind of turnout to expect, and the 19-player roster he...
Chris Villani
Hillers baseball looks for another deep tourney run
The Hopkinton High School baseball team has a new coach this spring but the same goals in mind. Matt Anderson took the helm of the program from Steve Simoes and inherited a deep and talented roster and a program that is no stranger to playing well into June. “Our...
Experienced senior group leads HHS girls lax
The Hopkinton High School girls lacrosse team missed out on the postseason a year ago, but coach Katelyn Wedemeyer is hopeful that a group of seniors who have played together for most of their lives can help the Hillers pull off some significant victories this spring....
Hillers boys lacrosse defined by ‘grit’
Hopkinton High School boys lacrosse coach Dan Norton has a single word that has come to define his 2023 squad: grit. “That has been our key word this year,” Norton said. “We have already had a bunch of times where we were down in games and battled back. We have shown...
New race in town to honor memory of Dick Hoyt
When Dick Hoyt passed away in March 2021, it seemed fitting to honor his legacy with a road race. Hoyt competed in more than 1,000 endurance events and 32 Boston Marathons while pushing his son, Rick, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth. When it came time...
Nelson steps down after 18 years leading HHS wrestling
When Tim Nelson became the Hopkinton High School wrestling coach, he was just 20 years old and only two years removed from his own high school career on the mat. Knee injuries left him unable to continue wrestling, but he wanted to stay involved in the sport. Nearly...
Hopkinton looks to bring back youth tackle football
Hopkinton’s youth football tackle program was put on hold after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now the organization’s new leader, Bryan Brown, is hoping to bring it back in the fall. “We lost the tackle program in town and we have not been able to get it back,”...
Hillers softball seeks spot in tourney
Hopkinton High School has a young and talented softball team this spring, and coach Shannon Allberry-Yerardi is hoping the Hillers can find a spot in the state tournament again after going to the playoffs a season ago. “We have a really good core of sophomores coming...
HHS girls track begins defense of league title
The Hopkinton High School girls track and field team has 94 athletes this spring and a few goals in mind, including capturing another Tri-Valley League title. “We always like to win the league title, which generally means you have to be undefeated in the regular...
Local runners complete World Marathon Challenge
Hopkinton resident Mark Valutkevich and his former longtime neighbor, Jim Coffey, are not exactly sure what inspired them to run six of the world’s premier marathons. But both can agree that the credit, or the blame, for the idea should go to Valutkevich. “I am going...
Doyle takes on Boston Marathon in memory of childhood friend
Hopkinton resident Jeff Doyle is taking part in the 2023 Boston Marathon in memory of a childhood friend and in support of a cause that is helping numerous families with children who are seeking medical care in Boston. Doyle is running for Live4Evan, which was founded...
Howard makes Boston Marathon debut to support youth lacrosse
Mark Howard is achieving his goal a bit later than anticipated, but he’s about to check running the Boston Marathon off his bucket list. “I always had a goal of running Boston before I turned 40, and the plan was to run the Vermont City Marathon and then run Boston,”...
Hopkinton’s Carey to be featured in figure skating showcase
Ice dancing has taken T.J. Carey around the world, and he has competed at the highest levels of national and international skating, but the Hopkinton resident will be close to home as he takes part in the Ice Chips theatrical skating show on April 7 and 8 in Norwood....
HHS boys hockey falls short in championship game
A stellar effort from senior goalie Jack Lang and an early lead were not enough for the Hopkinton High School boys hockey team, as the Hillers came up short in the state title game, falling 4-1 to Canton at TD Garden on Sunday. Canton (22-4), the No. 3 seed in the...
Reynolds starts coaching career in Red Sox organization
Alex Reynolds recently wrapped up his playing career at Babson College, but the Hopkinton High School graduate knew he wanted to make baseball his career. After spending the offseason interning in Florida with Cressey Sports Performance, a company that provides...
Karner blazes her own coaching path
Jessie Karner has established herself as a multisport coach in Hopkinton, and much of her success has been in sports that are traditionally male-dominated. Karner is coaching football and wrestling at the middle school level and recently began coaching softball as...
Hillers skiers eye state meet
As the ski season winds to a close, several Hopkinton skiers are expected to land a spot in the state meet. The boys and girls teams showed constant improvement throughout the year as they have sharpened their racing skills. “We have newer kids on the team and they...
Strong performances fuel Hillers boys swimming
Despite having a roster with only 10 athletes, the Hopkinton High School boys swimming team put together some memorable moments this winter, with four swimmers earning spots at the sectional and state meets. “Having such a small team does make it hard to fill the...
HHS girls swimming shows improvement
The Hopkinton High School girls swimming and diving team has been able to improve throughout the winter despite facing a number of challenges. The Hillers have a relatively small roster, with only 13 swimmers. And their lone diver, Eve Weatherhead, had to scramble to...
Captains lead deep HHS wrestling team
In most seasons, Hopkinton High School wrestling coach Tim Nelson has about 25 athletes to work with in filling out his lineup. This year, around 50 individuals tried out for the team, and of that group, more than 40 stuck with the program. The larger roster produced...