|
Week of September 27, 2021
This week’s spotlight was sent in by Karen Massaro: August 25th the MHS Boys Soccer Team worked together with Clean Ocean Access and picked up 80lbs of trash in 45 minutes on Second Beach in Middletown RI
|
|
Week of October 4, 2021
This week’s spotlight was sent in by Paul Tetreault: Both the NKHS Boys & Girls Cross Country teams joined forces for a toiletry drive for the Ronald McDonald House in Providence. Combined they collected over 300 items which were delivered to the RMH across from the Hasbro Children’s Hospital.
|
|
Week of October 11, 2021
This week’s spotlight was sent in by Kenneth Skelly: The varsity squad was 4th place at the Great American Cross Country Festival in Cary, North Carolina. The team solidifies them as one of the top teams in Rhode Island and New England. The team was led by senior Henry Dennen 15th overall.
|
|
Week of October 18, 2021
This week’s spotlight was sent in by Catherine Holroyd: The Smithfield lady sentinel field hockey team coordinated a bake sale to help raise funds for the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Foundation. They raised close to $300! These girls may not win a lot but they do have the biggest hearts and care about their community. We appreciate all who donated baked items and those who purchased items or made a monetary donation. They are also great sports and love working together as a team and seeing the positive in every game played.
|
|
Week of October 25, 2021
This week’s spotlight was sent in by Debbie Varone: This team should be nominated because they haven’t given up. I watch the team play and they show the best sportsmanship, from helping someone when they fall, always asking if someone is okay, and always say a good job, good luck, and good game. They have won only a few games but they never let it bring them down. they always try their best to the very last minute. They are also very supportive of each other.
|
|
Week of November 1, 2021
This week’s spotlight was sent in by Lucy Burke: The Cumberland Clippers have a tradition where they award their best player a game ball. After winning a hard-fought 2-1 game with an outstanding performance by the opposing goalkeeper, the Cumberland team called over the opposing goalkeeper and awarded her the game ball. As a grandparent in the stands, I could not have been more proud of those girls, not because they won, but because the coaches and the girls knew she was the best player on the field that day.
|
|
Week of November 8, 2021
This week’s spotlight was sent in by Jill Niedelman: The Prout Girls Volleyball team has been engaged in supporting Breast Cancer Awareness throughout the month of October. They have participated in the Gloria Gemma 5k, collected donations for the Gloria Gemma Foundation and, most recently, hosted a “Pink Out” for fans.
|
|
Week of November 15, 2021
This week’s spotlight was sent in by Lisa Flanders: The Pilgrim High School Girls Soccer Team dedicated their Senior Night to Rowan Shaw, a Warwick toddler battling pediatric cancer. They raised $1500 at the game to help his family pay medical bills. The team is currently 12-1-1 in Division 1
|
|
Week of November 22, 2021
This week’s spotlight was sent in by Amy Hoag: Good Sportsmanship/Inclusion: Diagnosed with Autism about 12 years ago, Addison Brooks moved to Newport with his family right before the school year and is enrolled as a freshman at Rogers High School. Vikings cross country coach Charlie Woodward and the other runners on the team have embraced their new teammate this season, and Addison’s dad says that “the way his team includes him, he’s socially developed more in the last three months than he did all of last year.”
|
|
Week of November 29, 2021
This week’s spotlight was sent in by Jacob Hatch: This team has 10 seniors who are passionate and skilled. These girls have been exceptional both off and on the court this year. The team moved from division 3 to division 2 this year and through their hard work have been winning! These girls would be ecstatic at the idea of being featured as the team of the week! I would be happy to answer any questions!
The Division III runner-up last year, Rogers moved up to Division II this season and posted a 17-1 record. The Vikings avenged its only regular-season loss to West Warwick when the teams met again in the RIIL Division II Championship, rallying back from a 2-1 deficit and winning the next two sets to clinch the title.
|
|
Week of December 6, 2021
This week’s spotlight was sent in by Lisa Borges: Coming off a 2-year losing streak, the Smithfield Sentinels football is enjoying their current season going 4-2 and advancing to the Division IV quarterfinals where they fell to Exeter/-West Greenwich/Prout Co-op. They are a community of young men that support each other and work hard. This has been an especially tough year as their Coach lost his wife to breast cancer during the season (September). The team has rallied for him each and every game.
|
Week of December 13, 2021
|
| This week’s spotlight was sent in by Lisa Calabro: Johnston Lady Panthers went Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness during their game on Thursday, 10/14. The team raised $125 to donate to the RI Chapter of Pink Heals. |
Week of December 20, 2021
|
| This week's spotlight was sent in by Jason Godek: This is really for both the Mount Pleasant Boys AND Girls varsity cross country teams. I coach both teams and view them as one unit. They are a tight-knit bunch that work hard at practice each and everyday and are excellent students as well. The Mount Pleasant High School boys and girls cross country teams wrapped up their fall seasons a month ago, but that hasn't stopped them from getting together to do good in their community. Before the recent thanksgiving recess, our student athletes took time out of their busy school schedules to help prepare Thanksgiving Food baskets for Mount Pleasant families that are facing food insecurity during the holidays. The team helped unload turkeys, pies, and other food products from delivery trucks and then helped pack over 100 thanksgiving baskets for families in the Mount Pleasant High School community. The team greeted families and escorted them through the building to pick up their baskets and helped carry the baskets to their cars. When the opportunity to help out with this annual Mount Pleasant High School tradition presented itself, the team volunteered immediately to help. This group works hard in school, they work hard at practice, and they care deeply about their community. |
Week of December 27, 2021
|
| This week's spotlight was sent in by Members of the EWG-Prout Football Community: The EWG-Prout boys played with heart to get to the RI Division 4 championship . . . This team was a 6th seed that (made it) to the championship game, which I don’t believe has ever happened in RI sports at least hasn’t happened in our town. This is the first time we have made the championship in over a decade!!! . . . Great group of young men. This team was not expected to make the playoffs . . . This team grew together to become an unstoppable force. The coaching staff was second to none and molded this team into a family! They lost to Ponaganset [in the Super Bowl] but never lost their focus or drive once during the game!! . . . . So proud of their never-give-up attitude! |
| |
| Week of January 3, 2021
|
| This week’s spotlight was sent in by Timothy Brown: The girls soccer team did a team food drive and donated over 110 items to the local food bank. Specific foods were donated along with gift cards in order to help local families enjoy Thanksgiving dinners. |
Week of January 10, 2021
 |
| This week's spotlight was sent in by Jennifer Braica: The WWEWG Varsity Hockey team deserves to be the Team of the Week as they came together as a team to make sure some local teens had a Christmas this year. Instead of having an annual Christmas exchange and Yankee Swap like the team usually does each year the team decided to do something different. Through one of the team moms the boys heard of a local group home that housed boys ages 14-16 that were not going to get Christmas gifts this year. So the team obtained a list of what each of the 6 boys that live in the home requested for Christmas as well as a list of items the home needed as well and then got to work filling their Christmas wishes!! It was a great experience for the team to give back to local boys their age and really understand the meaning of Christmas and bringing a smile to others this time of year! |
Week of January 24, 2021
|
|
This week’s spotlight was sent in by Alexis Dafonseca: Our team has had to overcome some early-season struggles and my girls have now won 3 meets, which puts them tied for first in division 2. They started off this season without a coach until I was hired. We’ve been navigating together as I’m a first-time coach. In their first meet, they scored an all-around of 134. 125 as they ended with a 132.25 last season.
|
Week of January 31, 2021
 |
| This week’s spotlight was sent in by Roderick McGarry: The Cumberland High School Boys Swim Team began an initiative that started at the beginning of the season to show their Clipper Pride and concern for the less fortunate in the community through their “swim to end hunger initiative”. Realizing that the rising cost of food has created a hardship for many families in the Northern RI area, the boys swim team collected an impressive variety of nonperishable canned goods. The team has specifically selected the Northern RI Food Pantry to be the recipient of the canned goods; that organization is based in Cumberland and provides relief for those in the Blackstone Valley region of RI. |
|
Week of February 7, 2021
|
This week’s spotlight was sent in by Gary Martinelli: I wanted to bring to light about a wonderful moment of sportsmanship that took place last Wednesday night at Ponaganset High School. It was a girls basketball game between the host, Ponaganset Chieftains, and visiting Classical Purple.
To give some backdrop I’d point out that prior to the beginning of the season one of our (Ponaganset) senior players, Angelica Smith tore her ACL and was told she would miss the entire season. I had been thinking of how I could make her senior night a special one. Because of Covid 19 I decided to move senior night to the middle of the season. It was decided that we would celebrate our seniors against Classical High School. The idea was to get Angelica in the game even though she wasn’t medically cleared. I came up with an idea and pitched it to our Athletic Director, Jake Keeling. He was all for it. I then approached Angelica and her parents. While I was doing that, Jake Keeling had contacted the AD at Classical, Robert Palazzo. They all agreed. I then contacted the Classical coach, Anthony Voccio. He said he would gladly do whatever we decided to help make our player have a memorable senior night.
The idea was to get Angelica on the floor for her senior night and have it be an actual part of the game that would count in the book. We would start the game by Classical conceding the jump ball to us. Angelica would be waiting under the basket. We would win the jump ball and pass it to her under the basket. There would be no defenders around her and she would lay the ball in for her first 2 points of the year. We then would allow Classical to inbound the ball and would not contest them working the ball up the floor and getting a layup. I then called a time-out and took Angelica out of the game. She was never in danger and all players and fans on both teams were cheering on this great act of sportsmanship and a real feel-good moment. I’d also like to thank both officials who were fantastic during the entire game. They were all for Angelica having her moment and helping to make it meaningful. I’d like to thank all involved from Classical and Ponaganset’s athletic directors, the coaches and players on both teams, the officials, and fans. The game was secondary to this gracious act of sportsmanship and compassion. |
|
Week of February 14, 2021
|
| This week’s spotlight was sent in by Gary Martinelli: (See joint nomination of the Ponaganset and Classical girls basketball teams above.) |
|
Week of February 21, 2021
 |
This week’s spotlight was sent in by Karen Massaro & Courtney Brower: The Middletown Football Team spent Sunday after the blizzard shoveling out around 22 driveways, many of which were elderly. They met with their coaches about 10 am and worked until dark. Great community service and Islander Pride. |
Week of February 28, 2021
 |
| This week’s spotlight was sent in by Ellen Toner: They helped kids with disabilities on the ice during a recent unified skate. These kids would never experience being on the ice without this Day. If you ask any kid on the team, they will tell you this is the BEST day of the year! |
|
Week of March 7, 2022
 |
| This week’s spotlight was sent in by C. Quentin Jones: The Oakers started the season by dedicating a new mat in the memory of Rob Smith, a former All-State and All-New England Wrestler from Coventry, who died unexpectedly after suffering injuries in a workplace accident. They would go undefeated during the regular season, on their way to the State Championship, the 20th in school history, and the first since 1998. Six of this year’s wrestlers had fathers that wrestled and graduated from Coventry during the span of their 17 consecutive state championships. In addition, head coach Charlie Gaffney was an All-State and All-New England Wrestler at Coventry. Please give consideration to this year’s wrestling team. |
Week of March 14, 2022
|
| This week’s spotlight was sent in by George Finn: One of the highlights of their season is that the two teams made history as it was the first time that the same school won both the boy’s and the girl’s state titles in the same year since girl’s swimming was added as a separate sport in Rhode Island in 1992. |
|
Week of March 21, 2022
|
| This week's spotlight was sent in by Roshona Perry and Taylor Gargano: The Wizards cheerleaders completed an undefeated season winning the Rhode Island state crown as well as the New England coed championship. The wizards made history, being the only Rhode Island team to ever bring home 2, back to back New England titles. The wizards would like to dedicate their championships to classmate and friend Mathew Dennison and his family. |
|
Week of March 28, 2022
 |
| This week’s spotlight was sent in by Lisa Calabro: The Johnston/North Providence Co-op Girls Basketball Team faced its share of obstacles this season as the players and coaches had to adjust to blending their two teams and playing together as a co-op for the first time, while also dealing with three season-ending injuries on the team. Even though they didn't win many games, the girls never stopped working hard and became great teammates and friends. The JNP team also organized a Teacher Appreciation game at their final home game of the season, where they honored their favorite teachers with flowers and notes they had written about the positive impact the teachers have had on their lives. The players also took up a collection and made a donation in their teachers' names to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. |
|
Week of April 4, 2022
 |
|
This week’s spotlight was sent in by Jennifer McCormack: Burrillville/Ponaganset/BayView co-op won the girls ice hockey state championship over La Salle for the first time in program history.
|
Week of April 11, 2022
|
|
This week’s spotlight was sent in by Melissa Rodrigues: The Toll Gate baseball team took some time out of their Saturday to help with field clean up at some of the local little league fields. They did an amazing job clearing out the batting cages and cleaning up. They displayed amazing teamwork
|
|
Week of April 25, 2022
|
|
This week’s spotlight was sent in by Frank Laliberte: The Tolman baseball team continued its tradition, spanning 14 years, of reading to Pawtucket elementary students at 6 different schools across the city.
|
|
Week of May 2, 2022
|
This week’s spotlight was sent in by Kristen Coutoulakis: Students raised money for RI Pink Heals which raises money to assist men, women, and children battling ALL cancers. We wore specially made t-shirts for our game and signed a large size wall poster showing our support. Townie Pride Never Sleeps!
|
|
Week of May 16, 2022
|
This week's spotlight was sent in by Greg O'Connor: Our girls Outdoor Track team did a great job leading Lincoln High School's successful collection drive for the RIIL's Peanut Butter Express. Their team single-handedly collected almost 500 jars of peanut butter for the RI Community Food Bank.
|
|
Week of May 23, 2022
 |
|
This week’s spotlight was sent in by Christy Belisle: Mount Hope and Barrington baseball teams should be honored together raising over $5000 for the Jimmy fund in a Strike-Out Cancer game at Guiteras Field. Mt. Hope Coach Mike Mazzarella planned the benefit game as a tribute to his father, Angelo Mazzarella, an avid baseball fan who passed away in October after a battle with cancer. Barrington coach Vin Scandura and his team were glad to join forces with their cross-town rival to support the cause. Mt. Hope wore pink jerseys with white trim, and Barrington wore gray jerseys with pink trim.
|
Week of June 6, 2022
 |
| This week’s spotlight was sent in by Christy Belisle: Mount Hope and Barrington baseball teams should be honored together raising over $5000 for the Jimmy fund in a Strike-Out Cancer game at Guiteras Field. Mt. Hope Coach Mike Mazzarella planned the benefit game as a tribute to his father, Angelo Mazzarella, an avid baseball fan who passed away in October after a battle with cancer. Barrington coach Vin Scandura and his team were glad to join forces with their cross-town rival to support the cause. Mt. Hope wore pink jerseys with white trim, and Barrington wore gray jerseys with pink trim. |
Week of June 13, 2022
 |
| This week’s spotlight was sent in by Marty Crowley: Both programs participated in an earth day clean up assisting the Cumberland Parks and Recreation Commission They cleaned Tucker Field Complex and the trails/ parking areas at the Cumberland Monastery. Both teams did it on game day nonetheless, they cleaned for a few hours, jumped on busses and then competed at Chariho and Cranston West. They gave back and made their community a better place to live in. |
