On this final day of 2015 I just wanted to take the time to wish everyone a safe and happy 2016 and heres hoping for more exciting Wellesley sports memories in this new year. I have throughly enjoyed these past few months of blogging and can’t wait for what lies ahead in my first full calendar year of blogging 2016!

So here we are, the final memorable Wellesley sports moment of 2015, the cream of the crop, the best of the best, whatever you want to call it. This moment was a relatively easy pick as it truly may have been a once in a lifetime opportunity, that being said let’s find out what made it to the top!

Number 1 is Wellesley-Needham football at Fenway Park. The thanksgiving game is always a special occasion, and always a game that especially broadcasting it the past few years is one I always look forward to. This year was twice as special if not more as I got to announce the game from what I consider to be the best sports venue in all the country. Being the big Red Sox fan that I am Fenway has always been a very special place to me and to be able to see and announce my alma mater at such a historic venue despite the loss is an experience that I will never ever forget and maybe someday it will happen again but in case not all the players, coaches, fans and announcers who got to see it play out will have something to talk about forever.

So again as we edge closer to the end of 2015, we also edge closer to the end of this countdown with just two more memories to go. This memory could easily be number 1 despite the result however another moment trumps it by just a little bit. Anyway here’s number 2 on the list.

Number 2 is the girls hockey state title game at TD Garden against Falmouth. Despite a tough overtime loss, it was one of the best state title games in any sport I have ever seen and certainly lived up to the hype surrounding it. What made this a special memory for me is it marked the second year in a row I got to announce the state title game at TD Garden and anytime you get to cover a game from such an important venue in Boston sports it’s something regardless of results that you’ll remember for the rest of your life and also for those players despite the disappointing result the memories of playing at that level at that venue i’m sure will stay with them forever.

Well today was another important day in Raider Hoop Nation as both boys and girls basketball took to the court once again in the Rockland tournament, the boys in the consolation game while the girls battled the hosts for the tournament title. Could the boys get back to 500 and could the girls stay undefeated, let’s find out!

Results for 12-29-15

Boys Basketball: Wellesley 59 Waltham 44

Girls Basketball: Wellesley 49 Rockland 39

Well on this last Monday of 2015, it was a busy one for the Raiders as both basketball teams opened up the Rockland Tournament while swimming took to the pool at Wayland High School this morning. Let’s see how they all faired!

Results for 12-28-15

Boys Swimming: Wellesley 96 Tyngsborough 84, Wellesley 98 Waltham 71, Wellesley 60 Austin Prep 32, Wayland 99 Wellesley 78

Boys Basketball: Dartmouth 50 Wellesley 48

Girls Basketball: Wellesley 56 Notre Dame 24

So on this final Monday of 2015 we take a look at my 3rd most favorite memory from Wellesley Sports in 2015. My 3-1 memories could easily be in any different order but after careful deliberation this is what I decided on.

My third memory is the girls hockey state semifinal game against Medfield at Gallo Arena in Bourne from last March as the Raiders defeated the Warriors in overtime on a Kiely Noonan goal that sent myself and the rest of Raider nation in attendance into euphoria. State tournament games are always exciting but this one had its share of everything, as a Raider team that seemed like a team destined to get back to the state finals was pushed to the limit against a very talented Medfield team in a game that had all fans on the edge of their seats until Noonan’s game winner which I can honestly say is one of the most exciting hockey goals I’ve ever seen.

Well this final week of 2015 may be a week off from school but it’s not a week off from athletics action especially as both Raider basketball teams are in holiday tournaments this week among other events. Let’s check out the week ahead.

Monday 12-28

Boys Swimming @ Wayland 11 am

Girls Basketball vs. Notre Dame Academy Hingham (Rockland HS) 1 pm

Boys Basketball vs. Dartmouth (Rockland HS) 3 pm

Wrestling @ Lowell Tournament 9 am

Tuesday 12-29

Girls Basketball vs. Rockland (Rockland HS) 5 pm

Boys Basketball vs. Waltham (Rockland HS) 3 pm

Wrestling @ Lowell Tournament 9 am

Wednesday 12-30

No Games

Thursday 12-31

No Games

Friday 1-1-16

No Games

Saturday 1-2

Indoor Track @ Freshman/Sophomore Meet (Reggie Lewis Center) 9 am

Sunday 1-3

No Games

 

So on this final Sunday of 2015 we continue the countdown of my favorite Wellesley sports memories from the past year with moment number 4. By the way quick programming note, there are games this week so be on the lookout for the weekly schedule later today. Anyway, back to the countdown.

Moment number 4 would have to be the Wellesley-Milton Bay State Herget championship game back in October. Despite the 14-7 loss for the Raiders, that game lived up to the hype and then some with the stands full to capacity on both sides really giving off a tournament like atmosphere and the game certainly was like a tournament games. Again it’s disappointing that the Raiders couldn’t pull it out but the memories of playing and/or watching a game like that for both players and fans alike won’t soon fade.

So as we are about to enter the final week of 2015 I figured what better time to countdown my top 5 favorite games/memories for the year 2015. So over the next 5 days I will be counting down 5-1 and feel free to add in your favorite Wellesley sports memories from 2015. That being said, let’s start the countdown!

Number 5 for me would be the Wellesley High football team knocking off Walpole for the first time since 1999. The Raiders used an outstanding defensive effort to knock off the Rebels 7-6 at Hunnewell field enroute to a 6-0 start to the season but more importantly ended the decade plus long losing streak against Walpole in football. Every year Walpole is one of the games circled on the calendar and up until this year always came with the question will this be the year they finally beat Walpole. To be able to experience the euphoria and just pure excitement that came with finally knocking off the Rebels is one of those games that I will remember for a long time to come.

So here it is the answer to another Raider Friday Trivia question. The team that played the first game in the new high school gym was… the girls basketball team who christened the new gym floor on February 29th, 2012 with a 65-38 victory over Madison Park in the first round of the MIAA division 1 south sectional tournament!