A Disappointing Start for The Green Team

A Disappointing Start for The Green Team

  
By Jacob Tobey, staff sports writer

After losing to the Miami Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals last June, the Celtics knew they had some off-season decisions to make; First and foremost the status of their future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett. Would he retire or come back for his 18th. NBA season? Garnett soon made the decision to play again signing a three-year $34 million deal. After Garnett’s signing, reports trickled out that free agent Ray Allen signed with the rival Heat. Without Allen, the Celtics needed to fill the void of a sharp shooter so they signed veteran guard Jason Terry and traded for Courtney Lee. Also the Celtics drafted Jared Sullinger with the 21st. overall pick in the 2012 draft. The reamped Celtics looked to make another championship run at banner No.18. 

Celtics Forward-Guard Courtney Lee

With NBA All Star Weekend beginning Friday, February 15, the Celtics have had a disappointing first half to their season.  As of January 23, the Celtics record was an unsatisfying 20-21, well below the initial pre-season prediction of many. After losing four straight games from December 27 to January 2, the Celtics finally got on a roll winning six straight games. After winning six straight games, the Celtics began a four-game losing skid. 

After losing to the Detroit Pistons (16-25) last Sunday, Coach Doc Rivers spoke his mind about his struggling team, "I gotta either find the right combination or the right guys, or we're going to get some guys out of here,” suggesting and implying trading off some players.

Boys' Soccer Kicks off Season with Wins

By Kevin Agostinelli, staff reporter

 The Sturgis Boys varsity soccer team kicked off the season with a pair of impressive wins versus Upper Cape last Friday and local rival Pope John Paul II on September 10.

Led by a strong veteran corps of seniors this year, the Storm had high expectations for the season and got off to the right start in their 6-2 win at Upper Cape Tech. Senior Aidan Fitzsimons opened the scoring off a masterful through ball by Jonny Gomes, and Chris Dedecko answered soon after by driving home a curling pass from Chris Dennison. Sturgis continued to dictate the play. After Dedecko and Fitzsimons each tallied two more, Jacob Tobey made it a five-goal lead after finishing from close range. At the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half, Upper Cape made things interesting by scoring two unlucky goals, but sophomore Mackenzie Green quashed the opponent’s hopes by scoring from another great through ball by Jonny Gomes.

On Monday, Sturgis faced a tougher test against Pope John Paul II. Unlike the first game, PJP was much more threatening on the attack, but the Storm’s stellar defense led by senior Ben Duncan and goalkeeper Kyle Garvey kept the Lions at bay for most of the game. Halfway through the first half, Aidan Fitzsimons collect the rebound from Chris Dedecko’s shot and smashed it into the net. Not to be outdone by his senior companion, Chris Dedecko scored off a neat through ball from sophomore Miguel Cruz to put Sturgis up by two in the second half. Finally, Jacob Tobey once again finished after a long run to score his second goal in as many games.

The Storm will continue their season with two night games, one on September 12 against Cape Cod Academy and the other on Friday, September 14, against Sturgis West.

Sturgis Girls’ Tennis Team Finishes #1 in Division, Clinches States

By Kevin Agostinelli, staff reporter 

When being asked how Sturgis East tennis is doing, all one needs to do these days is point to the top of the divisional standings.
For the third season in a row, the Sturgis East Girls’ tennis team has clinched entry into the state tournament, but for the first time this year, the squad has finished first in the Cape & Islands League.
Led by the one-two punch of Olivia Sequin and Meghan Agostinelli, as well as the third singles newcomer Meredith Sullivan, the Storm boast an 8-2 record, and shattering previous win-loss records with two games still left to play. According to Coach Brian Hastings, skill is not the only winning ingredient for the team: “Since this year we don't have many new players, I'd say the chemistry has improved by the simple fact of having one year together already.”

Some of the more memorable matches this season have been the two grudge matches against Cape Cod Academy, where Meredith Sullivan went to three sets while Meghan Agostinelli finished off a dramatic come-from-behind victory in straight sets this past week. Not to be undone, Olivia Sequin’s victory against Sacred Heart’s first singles player was certainly one to watch.
“When Olivia & Meghan came to Sturgis Tennis as freshmen, the whole team improved,” Coach Hastings explains, “ Our successes can directly be attributed to their abilities and positive attitudes.”
The team naturally had high hopes going into this year, after reaching the 2011 state tournament only to crash out in the first round in a heartbreaking 3-2 loss against Dover Sherborn. When discussing his group’s overall chances in the tourney this season, Coach Hastings simply states, “As to how far we could go in state play, we'll take it one step at a time.”

Underdogs Triumph in the Sturgis Dodgeball Tournament

by Kevin Agostinelli, staff reporter


The annual Sturgis Dodge ball Tournament just experienced a major “déjà vu.” Yes, a freshman team once again beat the odds to win the coveted dodge ball champion bragging rights for 365 days.

Sturgis East freshman Grant Dauwaulder was the founder of Team Ryan Braun - named after the Milwaukee Brewers All-Star baseball player - who donned red shirts for the highly-anticipated event. Team Ryan Braun was handed a lucky first round bye, lining them up in the quarterfinals against the Red Hot Balls of Fury, arguably the dodgeball tournament favorites. The Red Hot Balls of Fury had already lived up to their name in the first round, dominating their opponent with their impressive veteran roster.

In the quarterfinals, the Red Hot Balls of Fury first bent but did not break, gradually knocking out Team Ryan Braun’s squad until Grant Dauwaulder was the lone survivor, up against five Red Hot Balls of Fury players. However, hundreds of members of the Sturgis community watched in amazement as Dauwaulder coolly fought and evaded his opponents, knocking them out until he was one-on-one with the last Red hot Balls of Fury member. After the game stretched into overtime, Grant knocked out his final opponent, sending his teammates and the school into a frenzy of excitement. The underdogs had won, but the title was not yet theirs.

Fortunately for Team Ryan Braun, the team of teachers did not present much of a problem in the semifinals, and the young squad once again celebrated as they advanced to the championship game. Their opponent would be none other than “Dirty Mike and the Boys,” with the title being a reference to Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg’s hit movie The Other Guys.

The match was completely even, as both teams continued to knock out one another until Sturgis West’s Haleigh Linehan of Team Ryan Braun was faced with a 1-on-1 duel with the last member on Team “Dirty Mike and the Boys.” Luckily for Team Ryan Braun, Haleigh finished off the game just as Grant Dauwalder had done, knocking out her opponent and putting an end to a fantastic dodge ball tournament.

Congratulations to all those who participated in the dodgeball tournament and in the festivities that followed, and special accolades go out to the young but victorious Team Ryan Braun!

Come to Boys Basketball Final Game!

By Kevin Agostinelli, staff reporter

After a long and exciting Sturgis Boys’ Basketball season, the Storm’s last home game is this Friday, February 10, at 4 p.m. against New Testament. Please come to support your favorite team!

Boys & Girls Soccer Knocked out of State Tournament in Similar Fashion

by Kevin Agostinelli, staff reporter

This Saturday, the Sturgis Storm suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to East Bridgewater and Avon and crashed out of the state tournament.

With just 57 seconds into the match, East Bridgewater scored on a breakaway after taking possession in the midfield. Despite a valiant offensive and defensive effort by the Storm for the rest of the game, the early goal proved to be the game-winning goal in the match. Sturgis came agonizingly close to scoring late in the second half when senior Will Kinsey faced a wide-open goal, but the referee suddenly blew the whistle due to a foul in the box against the Storm. The loss officially ended the boys’ soccer season, but the squad is already optimistic about next season.

Unfortunately, the Sturgis girls’ team was also eliminated from states after their 1-0 loss to Avon on Saturday. After an injury to the Storm’s senior goalkeeper Brianne Garner, freshman Emilie Steven became the goalkeeper in the second half. Although Emilie made several key saves, Avon took a crucial 1-0 lead soon after halftime and held on to win the match. Just like the boys’ team, the girls fought and barely scored an equalizing goal, but they also came up empty.

Watch out for Stormwatch articles coming soon that will recap the entire boys and girls soccer season!