Happy hump day everyone, as today on our schedule unveil we take a look at the Indoor Track teams and Gymnastics. Since indoor track takes place at the same venue (Reggie Lewis Center) and against the same opponents I am combining the boys and girls schedule into one. Here’s a look at what these teams face this season.

Indoor Track:

12/15 vs. Natick 4:30 pm

12/22 vs. Walpole 4:30 pm

1/5 vs. Dedham 4:30 pm

1/19 vs. Milton 4 pm

1/26 vs. Norwood 4:30 pm

2/1 @ BSC Interdivisional Meet 5:30 pm

2/8 @ BSC Conference Meet 6 pm

Gymnastics:

1/3 vs. Weymouth (Exxcel) 8 pm

1/6 @ Walpole TBA

1/10 vs. Framingham (Exxcel) 8 pm

1/13 vs. Natick (Exxcel) 8 pm

1/17 @ Newton North 5 pm

1/20 vs. Norwood (Exxcel) 8 pm

1/24 @ Needham 4:30 pm

1/27 vs. Brookline (Exxcel) 8 pm

1/31 @ Braintree 7 pm

In part of 2 of our schedule unveil for the winter season we take a look at both the Boys and Girls Hockey schedules, both of which are looking for return trips to the state tournament. Here’s a look at what both teams face this upcoming season.

Girls:

12/10 vs. Milton (Babson) 8:40 pm

12/17 vs. Weymouth (Babson) 6:45 pm

12/21 @ Walpole (Rodman) 8 pm

12/29 vs. Plymouth (Babson) 3:4o pm

1/4 @ Norwood (Badjko) 4 pm

1/9 @ Needham (St Sebastians) 4:30 pm

1/11 vs. Brookline (Babson) 8:20 pm

1/14 @ Dedham (Nobles) 12:45 pm

1/16 @ Plymouth (Gallo) 7 pm

1/18 @ Braintree (Zapustas) 5 pm

1/21 @ Natick (Chase) 7:20 pm

1/25 @ Newton North (Fessenden) 7 pm

1/28 vs. Walpole (Babson) 6:45 pm

2/1 vs. Norwood (Babson) 6 pm

2/4 @ Milton (Ulin) 6 pm

2/8 vs. Framingham (Babson) 6 pm

2/11 vs. Dedham (Babson) 6:45 pm

2/15 vs. Needham (Babson) 6 pm

2/18 vs. Natick (Babson) 1:45 pm

2/22 vs. Beverly/Danvers (Babson) 6:40 pm

Boys:

12/10 @ Quincy (Quincy Youth Arena) 6:40 pm

12/17 @ Weymouth (Connell) 5 pm

12/21 vs. Walpole (Babson) 5:45 pm

12/28 @ Needham (Babson) 8:45 pm

1/4 vs. Norwood (Babson) 7:45 pm

1/7 @ Milton (Ulin) 6 pm

1/9 vs. Oliver Ames (Babson) 4 pm

1/11 @ Brookline (Walter Brown) 6 pm

1/14 vs. Dedham (Babson) 8:45 pm

1/18 vs. Braintree (Babson) 6 pm

1/21 vs. Natick (Babson) 6:45 pm

1/25 vs. Newton North (Babson) 7:45 pm

1/28 @ Walpole (Rodman) 4:30 pm

2/1 @ Norwood (Bajko) 4 pm

2/4 vs. Milton (Babson) 8:45 pm

2/8 @Framingham (Loring) 7 pm

2/11 @ Dedham (Nobles) 5:45 pm

2/15 vs. Needham (Babson) 7:45 pm

2/18 @ Natick (Chase) 7:20 pm

2/22 @ Waltham (Veterans) 7 pm

As we look ahead to the 2016/17 winter season, we begin by looking at both the Boys and Girls basketball schedules, as both teams begin their seasons officially today. While the Girls are coming off a Herget title and sectional semifinal berth last season, the boys are looking to taste tournament play after missing out last season. Here’s a look at each teams schedule!

Boys:

12/14 @ Xaverian 6:30 pm

12/16 @ Weymouth 6:30 pm

12/20 vs. Walpole 5:15 pm

12/22 @ Weston 6:30 pm

12/28 @ Rockland Tournament 3 pm

12/29 @ Rockland Tournament TBA

1/3 vs. Norwood 6:30 pm

1/6 @ Milton 6:30 pm

1/8 @ Needham (TD Garden) 12:30 pm

1/10 @ Brookline 6:30 pm

1/13 vs. Dedham 6:30 pm

1/17 vs. Braintree 6:30 pm

1/20 vs. Natick 5:15 pm

1/24 vs. Newton North 6:30 pm

1/27 @ Walpole 5:15 pm

1/31 @ Norwood 6:30 pm

2/3 vs. Milton 6:30 pm

2/7 @ Framingham 6:30 pm

2/10 @ Dedham 6:30 pm

2/14 vs. Needham 6:30 pm

2/16 @ Natick 5:30 pm

2/19 @ Riley Tournament (Westwood HS) TBA

2/20 @ Riley Tournament (Westwood HS) TBA

Girls:

12/16 vs. Weymouth 6:30 pm

12/20 vs. Walpole 6:45 pm

12/28 vs. Stoughton (Rockland HS) 1 pm

12/29 @ Rockland Tournament TBA

1/3 @ Norwood 6:30 pm

1/6 vs. Milton 6:30 pm

1/8 vs. Lincoln Sudbury (TD Garden) 11 am

1/10 vs. Brookline 6:30 pm

1/13 @ Dedham 6:30 pm

1/17 @ Braintree 5 pm

1/20 vs. Natick 7 pm

1/24 @ Newton North 6:30 pm

1/27 @ Walpole 6:45 pm

1/31 vs. Norwood 6:30 pm

2/3 @ Milton 6:30 pm

2/7 vs. Framingham 6:30 pm

2/10 vs. Dedham 6:30 pm

2/14 vs. Needham 5:15 pm

2/16 @ Natick 7 pm

2/19 vs. Archbishop Williams (Westwood HS) 1 pm

2/20 @ Riley Classic (Westwood HS) TBA

Fall season has officially come to an end and now it is time to take a look ahead to the winter season which begins officially on Monday. Beginning tomorrow we will roll out the 2016-17 schedules for the winter teams all week long, and then next week we will preview all the teams entering a new campaign!

Yesterday I posed the question of when the last time was that Wellesley football beat Needham on Thanksgiving by double digit points (Prior to Thursday)? The answer is.. 2014 as the Raiders knocked off the visiting Rockets 22-6 at Hunnewell Field, coincidentally the last time prior to yesterday that Wellesley had beaten Needham.

Hope everyone out there had a great Thanksgiving, wherever and with whomever you celebrated with! Certainly for us Raider fans out there the turkey tasted a bit sweeter after Wellesley’s 34-14 win over the rival Rockets yesterday morning. Now that turkey day has come and gone it is now time for another edition of Raider Friday Trivia. Today’s question is… prior to yesterday, when was the last time that Wellesley beat Needham by double digit points? The answer will be posted tomorrow!

Well today was the day as for the 129th time Wellesley and Needham took to the field this time at Needham’s Memorial Field. A lot was on the line as Wellesley was looking for their first 10 win season in over a decade, and to snap Needham’s 2 game winning streak and also 4 game winning streak at home in the rivalry. Meanwhile the Rockets were looking to clinch a winning record on the season and also tie up the all time series with a victory. How would it all turn out, well this one was all Wellesley as behind a 200 yard and 3 touchdown performance from senior running back Grant Chryssicas the Raiders ran out to a 27-7 halftime lead and never looked back taking this one 34-14 to finish the season at 10-1 and improve to 61-59-9 all time in the rivalry. Needham meanwhile finishes the season 5-6. Congratulations to both teams on their respective seasons and also best of luck to the seniors on their future endeavors!

So even though the big game isn’t till about 12 hours from now, there still was an timeless tradition that took place today as the Wellesley and Needham senior women squared off in the annual Powderpuff game. Wellesley had had a tough time over the last few years in this game and was looking to right the ship on their home field. Unfortunately it was not meant to be as Needham took a 21-0 lead at halftime on their way to a 35-6 victory over Wellesley. Now moving ahead to tomorrow’s game, I went on both Facebook and Twitter this afternoon to take a poll of who people though would win the annual clash at Needham’s Memorial Field. Much like the rivalry the votes were split right down the middle as out of the 7 votes cast, 4 went for Wellesley and 3 went for Needham. We will see how it all plays out when the two teams square off at 10 am tomorrow!

It is just about 24 hours till the opening kickoff of the 129th installment of Wellesley vs. Needham and it is now time to take a look back at the 2016 campaign for your Wellesley Raiders. The Raiders enjoyed one of their most successful seasons in recent memory and their best season under head coach Jesse Davis, as they captured the Bay State Herget Divison crown for the first time since 1999. As they enter Thanksgiving the Raiders not only have a chance to extend their all time lead against the Rockets but also to snap a two year losing streak to the rival Rockets. Here’s a look at how Wellesley got here.

Record: 9-1 (1st place Herget Divison)
PPG (Points Per Game): 26.8
PAPG (Points Allowed Per Game) 9.9
Results:
Wellesley 33 New Mission 6
Wellesley 35 Framingham 0
Wellesley 21 Natick 0
Wellesley 36 Dedham 7
Wellesley 10 Walpole 7
Wellesley 27 Norwood 0
Wellesley 36 Milton 28
Wellesley 43 Hingham 22 D1A South Quarterfinals
Bridgewater Raynham 9 Wellesley 0 D1A South Semifinals
Wellesley 27 Brockton 20

As we move under 48 hours till opening kick off of the 129th installment of the Wellesley-Needham game, we take a look at the host Rocket’s 2016 campaign. The Rocket’s enter Thanksgiving looking to not only achieve a winning record this season with a victory but also with a win would tie the overall series. Here’s a look at how the Rockets got here.

Record: 5-5 (Second Carey Division)
PPG (Points Per Game) 18.7
PAPG (Points Allowed Per Game): 18.6
Results:
Milton 28 Needham 24
Walpole 21 Needham 7
Needham 31 Braintree 20
Newton North 7 Needham 6
Needham 21 Weymouth 7
Needham 34 Framingham 7
Needham 24 Brookline 15
Catholic Memorial 25 Needham 6 D1 South Quarterfinals
Needham 28 Franklin 21
Mansfield 35 Needham 6