By Staff Report

Like every year, the names and faces differ, as do the countless athletic accomplishments. But as we look back on the 12 months of athletics in the Neighborhood, it’s comforting to know one very significant aspect of the local sports scene doesn’t vary.

That constant, of course, is the high level of commitment area athletes brought to their respective fields of competition in 2005.

A laundry list of storylines surfaced when skimming the sports pages of The Bedford Bulletin, The Goffstown News and The Hooksett Banner.

Many teams, whether in grade school, high school or college, achieved fantastic feats. Individuals, young and young-atheart, also excelled.

West’s Matt Robinson (left), Ryan Callahan (center) and Ryan Provencher celebrated the Blue Knights’ Class L tennis title after the locals dethroned Concord – winner of the last seven crowns – in June. (File Photo)

Some locals experienced the sweet thrill of celebrating a championship, while others weren’t quite as fortunate. For the handful of storylines that ended with celebratory high fives, many more likely concluded with consoling hugs.

In fact, there were probably several occasions, both sweet and sour, that weren’t captured by the camera, or retold by a reporter.

But for the achievements Neighborhood News was able to share with readers, it was obvious that athletes, coaches and parents conducted themselves with class.

And that lesson is more valuable than any ribbon, medal, trophy or plaque.

Still, another round of applause is in order for Manchester Central’s Little Green hoops machine, which claimed its 16th Class L championship in school history.

Meanwhile, the girls basketball team at Trinity of Manchester received contributions from many local athletes, earning the Pioneers’ program its first-ever Class L title.

Then there’s the Manchester West boys tennis team. The Blue Knights beat mighty Concord High for the state crown, snapping a seven-year, 127-match winning streak in the process.

Bedford’s all-star squad, which won Little League baseball’s state championship, advanced to the semifinals of the regional tournament in Bristol, Conn.

Kudos to Candia’s Addison Lufbery. The 12-year-old threw an awe-inspiring no-hitter for Lamprey River’s Little League all-star baseball team against Goffstown this summer. But instead of boast about his achievement, he tipped his cap to the competition, the ultimate sign of respect.

Despite heart surgery and multiple knee surgeries in the past few years, Pembroke’s Bill Edmonds was still smoking the competition at the Granite State Senior Games.

Truly, the passionate people who contributed to this calendar year should be applauded, yet again.

Yes, 2006 is about to begin. But let’s sneak one last peak at some of the stories that proved ’05 was quite a ride.

Winter
A pair of Class L basketball champions represented the Neighborhood well last winter. Both the Manchester Central boys hoops team and the Trinity girls squad won titles in early 2005.

The third-seeded Little Green claimed its 16th crown in the history of the program, defeating No. 4 Dover in a nail biter at the University of New Hampshire’s Lundholm Gym.

Tyler Roche of Hooksett hit the go-ahead bucket and eventual game-winning hoop to help his team take the title.

The state championship gave head coach David “Doc” Wheeler his second since taking over the program in 2001. The win also tied Central with Portsmouth for the most championships won by a Class L school.

“The thing I do feel is relief for not having to go into the locker room with 14 kids that I love and have to pick them up and console them,” said Wheeler, whose boys went 20-2 in Class L. “It’s a heck of a lot better to go in and hug them, enjoy it, and honor our seniors who can go out the right way.”

Three other local schools advanced to the boys Class L basketball tournament. Manchester Memorial, Trinity and Manchester West made postseason appearances as the 10th, 12th and 16th seeds, respectively.

The Pioneers were the only team in the trio to knock out their first-round foe. THS upset fifth-seeded Pinkerton Academy of Derry before bowing out in the quarterfinals to eventual state finalist Dover.

The Blue Knights, after a slow start to the regular season, finished strong and earned the final postseason slot, which resulted in a first-round setback to top-seeded Merrimack.

Meanwhile, Memorial traveled to Londonderry, but lost to the host Lancers.

In Class I, John Stark of Weare followed up its ’04 state finalist appearance with a return trip to the University of New Hampshire. The Generals earned the No. 7 seed and beat Coe-Brown Northwood Academy in the opening round before losing in the quarterfinals to eventual champ, Hollis/Brookline.

Pembroke Academy also earned a postseason invitation. As the No. 15 seed, the Spartans lost to Hollis/Brookline in the first round.

In Class S action, the 10thseeded Derryfield School of Manchester dropped a firstround tourney decision to Woodsville.

While Central celebrated crown No. 16, the Trinity girls won state title No. 1, also beating Dover in the finals.

The second-seeded Pioneers outlasted the eighth-seeded Green Wave inside the Southern New Hampshire University Fieldhouse.

Much like Central’s boys, Trinity’s girls had to stave off a late Dover rally. And just like the Little Green, converting key free throws cemented the Pioneers’ win.

“I had an extremely tough team,” said Trinity head coach Kerrie Moynihan, whose girls went 21-1 in Class L. “They didn’t take their talent for granted.”

After a 5-7 start to their Class L hoops campaign, the ladies of West won four of their final six games to enter the playoffs at 9-9. But facing sixth-seeded Bishop Guertin of Nashua, the No. 11 Blue Knights couldn’t pull off the upset.

In Class I girls hoops, John Stark found itself in the Final Four once again. However, dreams of advancing to the championship round were dashed. Against No. 2 Oyster River of Durham, third-seeded Stark saw a 10-point halftime lead slip away at SNHU en route to a difficult defeat.

Facing No. 4 Kearsarge in the first round, No. 13 PA was eliminated from postseason contention.

Derryfield’s girls basketball team advanced to its seventh Final Four in eight seasons and its first Class S title game since 2000.

In the state semifinals, senior co-captain Kendra Decelle was white-hot, scoring a career-high 27 points to lead the top-ranked Cougars to the win against No. 4 Pittsfield at Plymouth State University.

However, facing No. 2 Sunapee in the finals, Derryfield was defeated. Both squads finished the 2004-05 season 20-2, but the Lakers took the title, giving DS its only two losses of the season in the process.

Fellow Derryfield athlete, junior Katherine Myers of Weare, claimed a crown this winter. Competing against girls from Central, Memorial and West, Myers won her second consecutive Queen City crosscountry ski championship.

On the middle school basketball courts, the girls of Candia’s Moore School earned the No. 1 seed after an 11-1 regular season and advanced to the Tri-County S1 title round.

McKelvie’s boys team, despite being a relatively small squad by head coach Gregg Dorman’s admission, proved to be a pesky bunch that racked up the wins during the winter.

Meanwhile, McKelvie’s girls squad, which hovered around the .500 mark in early ’05, played with an unbreakable spirit that first-year head coach Jon Herod said was more valuable than an undefeated season.

Much like McKelvie’s boys team, the boys of Cawley Middle School in Hooksett remained competitive during their respective campaign, despite taking the court against taller competition.

And following a one-win season in ’04, Cawley’s girls recorded three wins entering its second-to-last home game of ’05.

In Division I hockey, Memorial and Trinity locked up the seventh and eighth playoff seeds, respectively.

The Crusaders knocked out St. Thomas Aquinas in the first round, but lost to eventual state finalist Salem in the quarterfinals. And the Pioneers were upset in the opening round by Berlin.

Under first-year head coach Peter Bedford, Goffstown High earned the eighth-and-final postseason seed in D-II. The Grizzlies gave top seed and eventual champ Dover a fight, but lost to the Green Wave in the first round.

Spring
The West boys tennis team is credited with the biggest feat in ’05 – dethroning Concord High, the giants of Class L tennis.

The second-seeded Blue Knights bested the top-ranked Tide in early June for the state title, 5-4. The historic win ended Concord’s run of seven straight championships while snapping a tremendous 127-match winning streak dating back to 1998.

“The frame of mind we came into this with was, ‘They have everything to lose,’” said West’s No. 1 in singles, senior co-captain Matt Robinson. “’They’re the (school) that’s trying to go an eighth consecutive season with a championship – an undefeated season at that.’”

“This year was the most fun I’ve ever had just playing the game I love,” said West’s No. 6 in singles, senior co-captain Ryan Callahan. “It’s just amazing to be on the team that brought a championship to West.”

Goffstown High School juniors Nicole Gibeault (No. 3) and Kylie Connolly were at the center of the Grizzlies’ celebration, following their team’s Class L state semifinal win in October. GHS earned its first title-game berth since it won the Class I crown in 2001. (File Photo)

Central also made the boys tennis tourney, losing to West in a close contest as the No. 7 seed; and Goffstown earned the eighth-and-final invite, but was beaten by the powerful Tide.

On the Class M-S courts, the boys of No. 1 Derryfield dominated for a third straight season, beating No. 2 Gilford for a third straight crown.

On the girls Class L tennis circuit, West was a state semifinalist as the No. 6 squad, upending No. 3 Goffstown in the opening round prior to its setback against No. 2 Salem.

Much like Derryfield’s boys, the DS girls advanced to the MS finals against No. 3 Profile, but just missed claiming the crown.

In Division I boys lacrosse, six Bedford residents – coaches Chris Cameron and Dave MacKay, players Greg Kana, Pat and Ed Daley, and Matt Edes – helped Bishop Guertin upset powerhouse Pinkerton in the finals for its first-ever crown.

In the Queen City, three schools played in the postseason, but suffered the same fate. West, Central and Memorial participated in their second varsity season as the 10th, 11th and 14th seeds, respectively. Still, the teams’ first round contests resulted in elimination.

Division III lax saw No. 7 John Stark win its opener against No. 10 Somersworth. The Generals advanced to the quarterfinals where they lost to No. 2 Kearsarge.

No. 9 Trinity bested No. 8 Milford in the first round. But the Pioneers hit a road bump in the quarterfinals, losing to topseeded Laconia.

Following a winless 2004 Division I girls lacrosse season, No. 9 Central won its first-ever playoff game, beating No. 8 Londonderry. The Little Green lost to top-ranked and defending champion Pinkerton in the quarterfinals.

No. 11 West lost in the first round to Exeter; and No. 12 Memorial closed its campaign in Salem, beaten by the Blue Devils in the opening round.

In the inaugural season of girls D-III action, No. 2 Derryfield lost to No. 1 Con-Val in a thriller. The Cougars advanced to the finals after a first-round bye, a quarterfinals win against No. 7 Hollis/Brookline, and a triumph over No. 3 Merrimack Valley.

John Stark made the tourney as the No. 7 squad, but lost to No. 2 Oyster River in the first round.

In the boys Class L Track and Field Championships, Central and Memorial earned top-10 team finishes, placing third and 10th, respectively.

Bishop Guertin, Goffstown and West finished 12th, 15th and 18th, respectively.

In the girls Class L meet, BG, Central, West and Memorial finished first, third, fifth and 10th, respectively. Trinity placed 14th and Goffstown placed 20th.

In the boys Class I meet, Pembroke Academy and John Stark placed 13th and 20th, respectively. In the Class I girls competition, PA placed 17th. On the baseball and softball diamonds, several local schools were in the mix.

In Class L baseball, No. 2 Memorial beat No. 15 West in the first round before dropping a quarterfinals contest to No. 7 Salem.

Salem knocked of No. 10 Goffstown in the opening round, while No. 11 Central was defeated by sixth-seeded Spaulding High of Rochester.

In Class S baseball, Derryfield defeated No. 13 Lin-Wood prior to a quarterfinals loss to No. 5 Woodsville.

In Class L softball, No. 6 Memorial lost to No. 3 Concord in the quarterfinals; No. 10 Trinity lost to No. 7 Dover in the first round; and No. 16 Central lost to No. 1 Salem in its tourney opener.

In Class I action, No. 2 Pembroke Academy had a memorable run to the Final Four.

The Spartans won their firstround matchup against No. 15 Merrimack Valley and beat No. 7 Plymouth Regional in the quarterfinals before dropping their semifinals decision to No. 3 Milford.

John Stark, seeded No. 16, was unable to pull the firstround upset of top-ranked Kennett. Seeded fifth in the Class S tourney, Derryfield beat No. 12 Pittsfield before a setback in the quarterfinals to No. 4 Lin-Wood ended its season.

On the diamond at the middle school level, several local schools had successful seasons, too, competing in various Tri- County divisions.

Following a slow start, MVMS baseball finished strong, ending the regular season in second place.

Cawley softball surpassed its ‘04 win total of four with ease, and proved to be a tough out in the postseason.

McKelvie’s softball squad had an immense season on the diamond as well, capitalizing on the abilities of several athletes who played multiple positions on the field.

Weare softball went 8-2 in the regular season for the second straight year, earning a second consecutive No. 2 seed in the Class S1 Tri-County playoffs.

Along with the solid seasons from many local sports teams, the Neighborhood also had a few local athletes who did great things this spring.

Hooksett’s Dave Levesque was one of 20 athletes in the country who earned a spot on the American Amputee Hockey Association’s national team.

Pembroke Academy pitcher Adam David tossed a no-hitter against John Stark in late April. The PA junior faced 26 batters in seven frames – just five hitters over the minimum.

Bedford’s Nicholas Hinsley helped raise $1,500 by running the 109th Boston Marathon for the “Kids at Heart” program at the Boston Children’s Hospital.

And Goffstown High teacher Alison Rogers won a national powerlifting meet in Maine at the end of April. Competing in the 114-pound division, the 5- foot-1 Rogers lifted a combined total of 756 pounds in three events.

Summer
On the Little League baseball diamond, several local 11- and 12-year-old all-star teams delivered in big ways.

Bedford rolled through New Hampshire’s District I tournament and won the best-of-three 2005 state championship series against D-II champion Rye.

As a result, Bedford’s boys earned an invitation to the New England Regional Tournament in Bristol, Conn. The squad advanced to the semifinals – two wins shy of a berth in the Little League World Series – before its exciting season came to a close.

“We had a chance to grow together as a team and as people, and share an experience that will last a lifetime,” Bedford head coach Cary Buxton said of the experience.

In other Little League action, Lamprey River advanced deep into the D-I tourney. After losing to Derry National in its second game, LR defeated Merrimack Valley, Goffstown, Windham and Pelham before losing to Bow.

Against Goffstown, LR’s Addison Lufbery of Candia fired a no-hitter, recording 12 strikeouts in a dominant 5-0 win.

Suncook opened the tournament with a win against Windham, but lost its next two contests to Bedford and Bow.

Goffstown’s all-stars also exited early from the D-I tourney. But the boys rebounded nicely, claiming the Fraser Tournament championship crown.

Following a loss against Atkinson in its Fraser opener, Goffstown beat Salem South, Manchester Central and Atkinson to reach the finals. Facing Salem Youth in the title round, Goffstown grabbed two wins.

At the 13-year-old Babe Ruth level, Goffstown’s all-stars qualified for the regional tournament, which took place at Allard Park.

Prior to the regional tournament Goffstown won the District III tourney with wins over A.J. Laramie, Kearsarge and Lamprey River before winning the state title with a pair of wins against Keene.

In the American Legion Baseball state tournament at Gill Stadium, Jutras Post eliminated archrival – and 2004 state champion – Sweeney Post.

Jutras, with players from Goffstown and Bedford, finished 17-3 in the regular season, and entered the tournament as the top team from District B. Although the ’03 champs advanced to the loser’s bracket finals, their season ended with a loss to Plymouth.

Sweeney, with players from Bedford, Hooksett and Auburn, entered the tourney as the top seed from District A, but couldn’t recreate the magic of the previous campaign.

There was also plenty of local softball talent on display during the summer months.

Trinity forward Dane Polombo (right) kept Memorial’s Matt Marquis against the glass during the second period of a Queen City matchup won by the Crusaders in February. (File Photo)

Hooksett’s Little League softball team enjoyed a nice run through its state tournament.

After defeating Salem South in the opener, the team marched through the winner’s bracket until it fell to Windham, and later lost to Salem in the losers’ bracket.

In the 13- and 14-year-old division of Little League softball, Lamprey River scored 33 runs in two wins against Salem South to win the state crown.

At the 18th annual Granite State Senior Games, New Boston’s Lee Hess won gold medals in the 55- to 59-year-old age bracket of the 50-, 100-, and 200-meter dashes.

Meanwhile, Pembroke’s Bill Edmonds won gold in the 80- to 84-year-old division of men’s tennis singles.

Tyler Roche of Hooksett, a Manchester Central senior and 6-foot-7 standout on the Little Green hoops team, verbally committed to attend Boston College in the fall of 2006 on a full scholarship.

James Gignac, a former standout at Bishop Brady of Concord, competed in the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl at Dartmouth College. Gignac, a Pembroke resident, currently a freshman at Saint Anselm College, plays for the Hawks’ football team.

Autumn
The West girls soccer team found itself atop the Class L mountain in ’05. Jack Amero, in his last season as head coach after a 30-year run, led the Blue Knights to a second straight title and 15th in school history with a win against Pinkerton Academy.

West beat No. 16 Trinity in the first round, followed by wins against No. 8 Salem and No. 12 Memorial.

No. 12 Memorial upset No. 5 Londonderry in its opener and No. 4 Timberlane before bowing out to the Blue Knights in the Final Four.

Goffstown, seeded 15th, lost to No. 2 Pinkerton in the first round; No. 3 BG beat No. 14 Dover; and No. 6 Central was upset by No. 11 Merrimack.

In Class I girls soccer, No. 2 Pembroke Academy beat No. 15 Kennett in the first round, but lost its quarterfinals contest to No. 7 Hanover in overtime.

No. 12 John Stark saw its season end with a first-round loss to fifth-seeded Oyster River.

Meanwhile, Derryfield’s girls soccer team was the best in Class S. The Cougars finished No. 1 with wins against No. 9 Woodsville, top-seeded Groveton, fifth-seeded Colebrook and second-seeded Wilton- Lyndeborough.

In Class L girls volleyball, No. 16 Goffstown lost to top-seed and eventual champion Concord in the first round.

No. 13 Memorial lost to fourth-seeded Exeter in its opener, while No. 12 West lost to No. 5 Pinkerton. No. 7 BG beat No. 10 Merrimack in its opener, but lost to No. 2 Salem in the quarterfinals.

In Class L boys soccer, No. 8 Bishop Guertin beat No. 9 Salem in its first-round matchup before losing to eventual state champion Concord in the quarterfinals.

No. 15 Memorial lost to second- seeded Londonderry in the first round, while No. 7 Central was upset by No. 10 Pinkerton Academy in its tourney opener.

In Class S action, No. 8 Derryfield faced No. 9 Mount Zion in the opening round, with the Lions prevailing. The Lions advanced to the quarterfinals, but lost to top-seeded Pittsfield.

Goffstown’s field hockey team came extremely close to claiming the Class L crown, losing to Salem in the finals.

Seeded No. 5, the Grizzlies advanced to their first title game since winning the Class I championship in 2001.

“Initially, it stings,” Goffstown head coach Jess Brown said of the loss. “But we’ve had such an amazing season that 20 years from now, 30 years from now, they’re going to remember the bond we’ve had. Right now, all they know is the loss, but we were a part of something special. And it was bigger than just this one game.”

GHS earned its title shot with wins against No. 12 Central, defending champion and No. 4 Concord, and No. 9 Timberlane.

West’s season came to a close after the No. 8 Blue Knights lost to Timberlane in the opening round.

In Class I field hockey, No. 6 Bishop Brady, with several Bedford athletes, bounced No. 11 Kearsarge in the first round, but dropped its quarterfinals matchup with third-seeded Souhegan.

At the Class M-S level, Derryfield, seeded third, advanced to its first final in 18 years, but dropped the title match against Berlin. DS defeated No. 2 Mascoma in the semifinals. The team also delivered a quarterfinals win against No. 6 Newfound Regional, after its firstround bye.

Lastly, Division I football provided perhaps the most exciting playoff race of the season, as five teams battled for four postseason slots.

West and Central grabbed the third and fourth seeds, respectively. For West, the invitation was its first since 1993. Meanwhile, Central earned the chance to win its fourth straight title.

However, the Blue Knights lost to No. 2 Salem in their opener, and the Little Green fell to eventual champion Pinkerton Academy.

Bishop Guertin’s football team ended the Division II regular season winning its 22nd straight contest. The Cardinals, the ’04 state champs, earned the top seed in ’05 and won their two postseason games against Winnacunnet and Exeter for a second straight crown.

In Division III, Goffstown advanced to the playoffs for the first time in the program’s four-year existence. The Grizzlies compiled a 7-2 regularseason record, giving them the No. 3 seed. Traveling to perennial power Souhegan, however, GHS had its sensational season come to a close.

In Division V, Bishop Brady of Concord, with a head coach and several athletes from Bedford, completed an undefeated campaign, winning the state title against No. 2 Franklin.

Certainly, this look back at another year of sports in the Neighborhood didn’t touch upon every athletic accomplishment. As always, there were many more tremendous tales than space to print.

If your favorite story didn’t appear on these pages, pull out the scrapbook and take some time to relive the moment with family and friends.

Here’s to a sensational 2006, and the potential for 12 more months of super sports stories.