After a strong season of Walpole Track with the boys team taking home another Division 3 State Championship for the second year in a row and another Herget title they were celebrated along with the girls team on Tuesday, June 3 for a banquet at Walpole High School. Various awards were given to members of the team who went above and beyond during their season.
Each coach had the opportunity to choose one athlete for their Coach’s Award. Boys head coach Corey Coogan gave his Coach’s Award to sophomore Jeremiah Jean and girls head coach Zach Ganshirt gave award to sophomore Allison Flynn who is a three season distance athlete, meaning Flynn participates in Cross Country, Indoor Track and Outdoor Track. Hurdles Coach Samatha Raffferty gave her award to senior hurdles track captain and another three season track athlete, Owen Abril, who placed second in the pentathlon, accumulating 2974 points along with taking home fourth in the 110m hurdles and being a part of the second place 4×100 team at divisonials. Distance coach Christopher Tringali gave his Coaches Award to boys three season distance member, Roger Mann. Throws coach Roy gave his award to senior Avneesh Shenoy and throws coach Barry Greener gave his to junior Nick DeMelo.
Coaches also had a chance to reward athletes who often go unnoticed to some but are very crucial to the team and who deserve to be recognized, Unsung Hero. For the boys team, senior distance captain Cole Bowden who was a part of the fifth place boys 4x800m at divisionals. The girls Unsung Hero Award went to junior Briget Tierney who was a part of the third place 4x800m divisionals squad.
Another series of awards given are outstanding awards. This consists of the Outstanding Freshman Award given to Benjamin Thomas on the boys side and Maeve Connors on the girls side. Connors was recognized as a reliable athlete by Coach Ganshirt who will be competing at states Saturday, June 7 after her strong performance in the 4x800m. Connors is also in the top 10 for freshmen for the 400m. Outstanding Newcomer was also given out to two members of the team who stepped on the spring track for the first time and had a standout season. The boys winner was junior Arnold Obour-Mensah who competed at divisionals scoring sixth in the boys 100m dash and was part of the divisionals 4x100m that took home second. For girls, although this member was not in her first year of track, it was her first year running distance during the outdoor season. Junior Maddie Cunningham, a part of the divisonials 4x800m third place team, took home Outstanding Newcomer.
The Outstanding Track award was given to senior sprints captain, Division 3 state champion in the 100m dash, second place in the 200m dash and second place in the 4x100m and D1 University of Rhode Island commit Austin Feener. For the girls team freshman distance runner Sydney Dias was selected, who is first in school history for freshman in the two mile and fifth for all grades. Dias is third in school history for freshman in the mile and her two mile earned her fifth at the Division 3 state championship. Outstanding Field award was given to senior throws captain Matthew St. Cyr who will continue throwing Division 1 at Northeastern University for track and junior Victoria Terziyska who throws triple digits.
Most improved award went to junior thrower James Patey who placed eighth at Divisionals for boys discus and senior jumps captain Evelyn Ogbebor. Ogbebor is a three season track athlete along with competing in three events every single meet, 200m, long jump and 4x100m. Along with also competing in the 100m a couple times.
Lastly the MVP award was given to junior Sawyer Regan and senior hurdles captain Danielle Danna. Regan placed eighth in the high jump at divisonials; however,he shined in the Pentathlon becoming the Division 3 Champion accumulating 2985 points along with a sixth place in the 400 meter hurdles. With the 400 meter hurdles being the first event Danna has to start the meet on a good foot. Danna ran the 400 meter hurdles starting every duel meet along with the 100 meter hurdles every meet.
The boys and girls team poured their hearts into their 2025 outdoor season, making all of these recipients very deserving. Good luck to coaches and athletes at their state meet, the Meet of Champions!
