Winnacunnet Athletic News

On Monday afternoon I met with 16 returning baseball players along with Coach Gregoire, Coach Goldstein, and Coach Mariotti to talk baseball. I invited the legend Jay Pinsonnault to write this blog so that I could answer questions as a coach. Coming off its first Division I tournament appearance since 2011, Aaron Abood had high expectations this season for his Winnacunnet High School baseball team. The Warriors return Jake Bullard, the reigning Division I Player of the Year, and two top-line starters in Brady Annis and Joe Allen; a one-two duo that Abood calls the best in the state. These expectations heading into the season makes the unclear landscape for the upcoming season due to the COVID-19 pandemic more disappointing. “I think we turned a huge corner last year, we got that playoff experience and now we are ready to win some playoff games,” Abood said. Bedford eliminated Winnacunnet from last year’s tournament, 10-0 in the opening round. Winnacunnet went 10-11 last se

As I think back to the end of the 2019 school year and the end of spring season, it really goes down as the highlight of my first year as AD. WHS had such a great spring season as and Boys Lacrosse was one of the reasons. On June 6, I made the trek to Stellos Stadium in Nashua where the boys beat Portsmouth in a thrilling semifinal overtime game that will go down as one of the best high school games I've ever seen. Two days later, I started at Plymouth State for a softball final and then made my way to Exeter High School for the lax final. While we came up short in both, it marked the end of a successful year and made us all proud to be Warriors. I met with 10 of the boys lax players and Coach Snow on Friday morning and we talked about last spring, the Portsmouth game, and those Derryfield Cougars who we owe big time! Like the other teams, the boys mostly said they miss the social aspect of school. As a whole, they said the online learning isn't super difficult but takin

On Wednesday afternoon I met with 15 of the girls tennis players along with Coach Wendy Cooper and Coach Paul Whitmore. Head Coach, Paul Whitmore has been coaching for 31 years around the state and started the Boys and Girls Tennis programs at Spaulding High School. And by the way, today happens to be his 70th birthday! "I can still beat players who are 20 and 30 years younger than me," joked Coach when asked how he felt about his big day. Coach Cooper still plays a lot of tennis so I volunteered the two of them to have a challenge match should we play this season... The girls first talked a little about the remote learning experience and said their personal experiences differed by class. Some thought the workload was less while others in AP classes said it is very challenging. Coach Whitmore teaches 7th and 8th grade and he said the the online teaching as been more work for him. Like softball, everyone said testing is very different. Last season, the girls finished 4

June 8, 2019 was a bittersweet day for Winnacunnet athletics - it was a day where I drove to Plymouth State for the Softball state title game at 2:00 and then straight to Exeter High School for the Boys Lax state title game at 5:00. While we came up short in both games, I was extremely proud of our athletes and student body for their support. We also made the state title game in Girls Lax - 3 spring teams in title games is nothing to be ashamed of! Softball lost a 2-0 heart breaker to rival Exeter and we discussed the potential for a rematch and a shortened spring season Monday afternoon. I met with 16 girls and Coach Dennis Bruce via Zoom. While I could see and feel their disappointment, they were more than willing to talk and share with me. Last year's team finished 17-5 and this will mark Coach Bruce's 13th season with Winnacunnet. Year after year, these girls contend as one of the top teams in Division 1 and just posted back to back final four seasons. Should we play,

As we begin another week of remote learning at Winnacunnet High School, I'd like to take a minute to update you all on high school athletic news...or lack there of. As most of you know, tomorrow would've been week 2 of spring sports. Many of our spring teams worked hard over the winter and were geared up for the spring season. Personally, I had it circled on my calendar for a LONG time! Many of us had scrimmages, play days, and jamborees lined up beginning this week. It has been sad going through our scheduler and deleting games. Thursday, Governor Sununu announced that NH schools would remain closed until 5/4. While that was a gut punch to many of us, the NHIAA is holding out hope that we can play condensed spring seasons beginning during the second week of May. It all hinges on our health and if we are back in school. I know that many of our athletes are working out at home on their own and running to stay in shape. We are all here for you during this time should you ha