So according to further reports the idea of the Thanksgiving game at Fenway is tentative at best at the moment, and may happen may not. Regardless even the thought of the two teams duking it out at america’s most beloved ballpark is something to get excited and daydream about in terms of the possibilities. Again more to come on this story.

So I’ve seen multiple posts today from people saying that the latest installment of the Wellesley Needham rivalry will be held at Fenway Park thanksgiving day. Obviously this is just rumor at this point and hasn’t been confirmed but would be great to see as a lifelong fan of this rivalry and obviously a big Boston sports fan. Again just rumor at this point, but surely more to come on this.

So far one person commented on my last article with memories of the Wellesley-Needham Thanksgiving rivalry and I wanted to share that comment as it definitely was a nice personal memory. This comes from Abigail Kelly and if you want your memories included on the blog please comment either on here or via Facebook or Twitter.

“I lived in Wellesley from my birth in 1956 until 1974 when I graduated from Wellesley High School. My mother lived in Wellesley growing up as well and every year we celebrated Thanksgiving at my grandmother’s house in Wellesley. That meant that the day was scheduled around the Thanksgiving Day Game. I loved that game, everything about it: the fact that the two towns were next door meant every game was well attended because you didn’t have to go far, and alumna attended because they were home for the holiday, and it was full of tradition and flare! When I was in high school it was the best of the football season but I think i remember a school wide pep rally for the game and it was part of the school schedule. It was a blast!”

So a couple of weeks ago I posted about why I feel the Wellesley-Needham football rivalry is so special, and that got me thinking with all the terrific memories over the 127 year history of this Thanksgiving Day tradition what memories stand out to you, the reader. So either via comment or Facebook or Twitter share your favorite memories from this age old tradition.

As first reported by The Swellesley Report long time Wellesley High running coach Lou Pearlman has left the program after 18 years on the job. For more on the story and a note from a Ryan Marshall who coached with Pearlman in recent years, check out this link to the Swellesley Report Article. http://theswellesleyreport.com/2015/08/wellesleyhighcrosscountry-wellesleyhightrack-tribute-to-longtime-wellesley-high-running-coach-lou-pearlman/. Even though I only met coach Pearlman once I did hear a lot about him from friends on the track team, and everything I heard about him was good, so with that being said I would like to wish Coach Pearlman the best in his future endeavours.

Over the past few days you all have been sending me some of your favorite Wellesley related sports memories and I present a list of those memories for your reading enjoyment. If anyone has any memories to add please let me know and I will add to the list.

Wellesley beating Natick in football in 1985 to stop Natick’s 38 game winning streak, longest in the nation at the time

1997 Girls soccer winning state championship after being seeded dead last in the tournament

Wellesley vs. Concord in 1953 in football, killed Concord’s winning streak, Wellesley went undefeated that year

Fathers day 1999, Wellesley Orioles coached by Don Kelley won Wellesley Girls Softball senior league championship, only time he had both daughters Caitlin and Kara on the same team

1997 boys varsiy tennis winning south sectional title as 12 seed, beat top seeded Sharon in finals

1983 Hunnewell School first grade gym class Messy Backyard victory

1980 Boys Soccer state championship at BU’s Nickerson field as one of the lowest seeds in the tournament

So for this latest blog post I decided to do something a little different and make the first Wellesley Sports Blitz Video Blog as I sit down with former Raider Kyle Souza from the class of 2008 (football, track and field). Enjoy as Kyle takes a trip down memory lane and feel free to comment with some of your own favorite Wellesley Sports Memories.

We are just weeks away from kicking off preseason for the 2015 fall sports teams at Wellesley High School, and one of the teams gearing up for a new campaign is the Raider football team. Recently I had a chance to catch up with head coach Jesse Davis to get his thoughts on the upcoming season. The Raiders are coming off a 6-5 2014 campaign, a season in which they won 6 of their final 7 games after a tough 0-4 start. Davis however is quick to point out that this is a new season, “We don’t really carry over anything from last season. Our offseason focus is on getting ourselves ready to play football for this new season. Once the bus rolls out for our preseason camp we try and keep the focus on this team and what they need to do to get better everyday.”

Despite losing some key talent from last year, the Raiders do bring back a solid core with more than half their starters returning on offense (7) and defense (6), and Davis points out that with those numbers expectations are high not just for the starters but for the entire team, “We have high expectations for all our players, especially those who have experience on both sides of the ball. We are also looking for our sophomore class to play like upperclassmen and compete for positions in all three phases of the game.”

This year’s team will be captained by Jake Mohan and Griffin Morgan who both saw valuable playing time last season. Davis had high praise for his captains work thus far, and their leadership in the offseason, “Jake Mohan and Griffin Morgan have been doing a great job leading the team during the offseason. They have been working on their roles as vocal leaders of the team and we have been impressed with the work they have been doing.” In Mohan’s case not only was he a starter on defense a year ago but also saw valuable time at quarterback with injuries to starter Davis Wall. Davis had high praise for Mohan’s work in the offseason but was quick to point out that nothing is set in stone in terms of starters for this season, “Jake has had as a good an offseason as any player I have seen since my time here in Wellesley. He is physically and mentally ready to go. That being said we don’t name starters before the preseason. Everyone has to show up ready to compete and make our program better.”

The Raiders open their season at home Friday, September 11th vs an unfamiliar foe in Peabody. The Tanners are coming off a 6-1 regular season a year ago and a trip to the Division 1 North Semifinals before losing to Everett.  Davis had high praise for his team’s week one opponent but was quick to point out that despite the unfamiliarity his team will treat preparations for this game just like any other game. “Peabody is an excellent football team who is coming off a great season. We prepare for Peabody like we would for any opponent. We will exchange scrimmage film and scout each other, but the focus for us will be much more on what we need to do to make ourselves better each day.”

Once again the Raiders will play a very tough schedule, not only going up against the always tough Bay State Conference, but also in the always challenging Division 2 South bracket, should they make the playoffs this season. Davis pointed out that there are no easy games on their schedule and his team will have to be ready if they want to be successful, “We open up agains two tough D1 football teams (Peabody and Framingham) and then we play teams in the Bay State Conference and then in one of the toughest Divisions in the state in D2 South. Every game is going to take our very best to have success.”

Lastly Davis offered up his opinions on the current playoff format, now entering its third year of existence. The Raiders made the playoffs in the first year, and then came up just short last season falling into the consolation bracket. “I am indifferent on the new system. I did not like breaking up the BSC because I felt that we had something special in our Conference. But I also see the benefit to the new format. It certainly has made our path more competitive.”

Friend of Wellesley Sports Blitz Bob Brown over at The Swellesley Report recently posted about some other sports related goings on in town, including Wellesley resident Sam Kennedy being named president of the Red Sox, 24 hours of barefoot soccer which takes place August 15th-16th at the Hunnewell Fields complex, and also about Patriots Rob Ninkovich’s work with Old School Pizza in the wake of owner Joe Perdoni Jr’s tragic death. For all these stories and more please visit Bob’s site at http://www.theswellesleyreport.com

Sticking with the theme of my last few posts, I now want to turn my attention to all the various Wellesley related sports memories over the years and give my top 5 Wellesley sports memories from my lifetime. I also want to hear from you as always, so comment with what some of your favorite Wellesley sports memories  are, either that you played in or watched as a fan. I will be making a separate post in the coming days with the memories from you the readers.

1. Girls basketball 2008 state championship

2. Girls hockey back to back trips to the TD Garden

3. Wellesley South Little Leaguers win 2012 Williamsport state title

4. Winning the 2003 Miles Page baseball championship as a member of the Athletics

5. The 2009 thanksgiving game won by Wellesley 28-27