As we officially enter Thanksgiving week it’s time to take a look at the upcoming showdown between Wellesley and Needham. It’s the rivalry where all the records go out the window and you never know whats going to happen. Here’s a little peak inside the rivalry as we count the hours to game time.

131^stmeeting

Wellesley leads 62-59-9

Last Year: Wellesley won 23-20

Current Streak: Wellesley (2)

Last 10: Needham 6-4

2008: Needham 26 Wellesley 7

2009: Wellesley 28 Needham 27

2010: Needham 20 Wellesley 17 (OT)

2011: Needham 42 Wellesley 18

2012: Needham 39 Wellesley 21

2013: Wellesley 22 Needham 6

2014: Needham 27 Wellesley 13

2015: Needham 12 Wellesley 7 (Fenway Park)

2016: Wellesley 34 Needham 14

2017: Wellesley 23 Needham 20

It’s Thanksgiving week everybody! As we get ready to chow down on turkey it’s time to start off the week right with another edition of Monday Poll. Last week’s poll saw the majority of you saying that the Patriots were playing below expectations heading into their bye week. This week’s question hits a little closer to home, who is going to win the Wellesley-Needham Thanksgiving showdown? Comment with your answers!

We’ve come to the final weekly schedule of the 2018 fall season as we still have two more contests to be played this Thanksgiving week with the annual Powderpuff game on Wednesday and the 131st installment of the oldest public high school football rivalry in the country on Thursday. In terms of the schedule only the days with games will be posted below. That being said a quick programming note that starting tomorrow-Wednesday I will be previewing Thursday’s tilt and then all week I will be posting the fall sports season reviews so keep a look out. Now here’s the schedule!

Wednesday 11-21

Powderpuff vs. Needham 1:30 pm

Thursday 11-22

Football @ Needham 10 am

The fall postseason for Wellesley teams officially ended today as both girls swimming and cross country headed to their respective all state meets looking to claim the title. How would it all turn out, lets find out!

Results for 11-18-19

Girls Swimming: Finished 2nd at Division 2 State Meet

Congratulations to the team on an outstanding season, and best of luck to the seniors moving forward!

Boys Cross Country: Finished 2nd at All State Meet

Congratulations to the boys on a tremendous season and best of luck to the seniors!

Girls Cross Country: Finished 5th at All State Meet

Congratulations to the girls on another excellent campaign and best of luck to the seniors in their future endeavors!

 

Today was the day every high school athlete dreams about, state championship game day. For boys soccer they had a chance to realize that dream as they took on Ludlow for the D1 State title in Lynn. We’ll see if they succeeded at the ultimate prize momentarily but first here’s the answer to yesterday’s trivia question. Tim Mason’s first year as boys soccer head coach was 2012. Now onto the recap!

Result for 11-17-18

Boys Soccer: Ludlow 1 Wellesley 0 D1 State Finals

The boys finish 15-4-2. Congratulations on an amazing season and tournament run and to the seniors best of luck in your future endeavors!

So yesterday’s snow storm did manage to wreak a bit of havoc on the state final schedule, due to an unplayable field surface at Worcester State. Wellesley and Ludlow will now square off at Manning Field in Lynn tomorrow at 4 pm. That’s right the same Manning Field where Wellesley just won their state semifinal Wednesday.

Another thing to take your mind off this snowy and cold Friday morning. It’s time for another edition of Raider Friday Trivia. Today’s question is…what year did Tim Mason become coach of Wellesley High boys soccer? Answer tomorrow!

We are just about 24 hours away from the state title showdown between Wellesley and Ludlow and despite all the snow the anticipation is red hot as we enter the final hours till game time. Here is a look at how both teams got here as we get ready for the 11 am kick tomorrow at Worcester State.

Wellesley:

15-3-2

5 Seed D1 South

Beat Weymouth 2-1 (OT) in South first round

Beat Needham 1-0 (PK) in South quarterfinals

Beat Silver Lake 3-0 in South semifinals

Beat BC High 2-1 in South finals

Beat Lincoln Sudbury 3-0 in State semifinals

 

Ludlow:

19-0-3

1 Seed D1 West

Beat Central 4-0 in West quarterfinals

Beat Chicopee 3-0 in West semifinals

Beat Longmeadow 1-0 in West finals

Beat Wachusett 2-1 in State semifinals

The college selection process can often be both the most rewarding and most stressful part of a high school student’s senior year. For four Raider student athletes that process came to an end today as they signed their national letter’s of intent to play at the Division 1 level. Henry Weycker (Virginia Tech, Baseball), Brooke Baker (California, Girls Lacrosse), Maddy Balter (Northwestern, Girls Lacrosse) and Maggie Donahue (Georgetown, Cross Country) all signed on the dotted line today at a ceremony at Wellesley High School. Wellesley Sports Blitz would like to congratulate all 4 on this tremendous accomplishment and wish them all the best in the rest of their senior year and beyond!

Following their state semifinal victory against Lincoln-Sudbury last night the boys soccer team prepares for the ultimate game, the D1 State Finals Saturday against Ludlow. The game time has been announced as 11 am Saturday and will take place at Worcester State. The weekly schedule has been updated. Tomorrow I will be posting a brief preview of Saturday’s tilt.