September 29, 2020 story and photos by Joshua Ross
Anchor Sports will be running Hingham High School Fall Sports Previews for each team. No one is happier than we are to finally have sports back on the fields, courts, tracks, and water. Although there are tight restrictions with regards to spectators, we are committed to bring you as much coverage as we can throughout this season. The stories will feature interviews with coaches, team captains, and a few athletes to watch out for this fall. We start off our previews with Girls Cross-Country.
Todd Deely - Head Coach
Anchor Sports: Can you give us a little recap of last season?
Coach Deely: Last fall was overall a successful season. We went undefeated in the Patriot League and won the Patriot League Championship for the third year in a row. We also won the League Meet (2x defending champs) and the JV League Meet (3 in a row). We are especially proud of this as it shows how deep we are. We had a disappointing performance at the State D3 meet. We were the top ranked team and were favored to win the state title but injuries to our #2 and #3 runners derailed our season and we finished 7th.
AS: How are you and the team adapting to the new modifications for Cross-Country?
CD: We are working really hard to be safe and to have a season. We are taking this really seriously, and I am really proud of the girls and the coaches for operating in a strange new world. Our roster is now 73 and it could have been a logistical nightmare but the girls have been amazing.
AS: What are your expectations for the year?
CD: This is a strange year. My first expectation is that we have a complete season, that we stay safe and that our family continues to grow and has a really positive fall. More than any other year the main goal is for all 73 athletes to have a positive social experience. On the other hand we are a competitive varsity sport, we have won three straight Patriot League Championships and are one of the top teams in the State and we expect to live up to those expectations. We don't expect to win every year but we should always be in the hunt for both a Patriot League and D3 Championship. This year we do not know what November will look like as far as big meets so it is hard to project that far ahead. We are going to have our hands full with a loaded Marshfield team that is new to the Patriot League.
AS: Who should we be looking out for this season?
CD: Pria Parker is one of the top girls in HHS History. She currently holds the school record on our home course, was the MVP of the Patriot League last year and is the defending Patriot League Champion. Sophomore Nora Lundin (Patriot League All-Star and HHS freshman school record holder), Senior Maeve Lowther (Patriot League All-Star) both return from last year's varsity. Helen Bradshaw returns from an injury plagued junior year and has been running great. Junior Delaney Coppola and Senior Julia Burm have also been running well.
One of the things I am looking forward to is seeing which of the young girls step up and make varsity. We have 29 freshmen on the roster this year and seven other new members of the program so the development of all of these new girls will be a fun thing to watch as the season moves along.
AS: Any records or accomplishments for either the team or individuals that might be broken or reached this season?
CD: We hope to compete for our fourth Patriot League Championship (both JV and Varsity). Pria Parker is 15 seconds away from breaking the HHS 5k School Record.
Pria Parker - Captain
Grade: 12
Years Running Cross Country: 3
Favorite Subject: Math/Physics/Chemistry (anything science or math related!)
AS: What does it mean to be selected as a captain?
Pria Parker: It is such an honor to be able to be a captain of the cross country team. When I first joined, everyone was (and still is) so supportive. As a captain, I strive to help cultivate a welcoming environment for all of my teammates in which we can work hard, have fun, and lift each other up.
AS: What are your hopes and expectations for the team this season?
PP: Since we have fewer races this year than normal, I hope that we, as a team, make the best of every race we compete in. I'd also love to continue our Patriot League winning streak and be league champions again!
AS: What's your favorite part about being on the Cross Country team?
PP: The community. Like I said before, everyone is super welcoming and supportive, and I love being able to run with my friends and hang out with them after practice. My favorite days this summer were the days when I would go on long runs with my teammates and just have fun. Even when we are physically exhausted, there is never any lack of enthusiasm and exuberance on the team, and it always brightens my day.
AS: Do you have plans to run in college?
PP: I am hoping to run in college! I've talked to a few coaches, but I haven't decided on a school yet.
Callie Daly- Captain
Grade: 12
Years Running Cross Country: 4
Favorite Subject: Chemistry/ any science
AS: What does it mean to be selected as a captain?
Callie Daly: To be selected as a captain of such a large team with so many qualified girls is such a privilege. It truly is the most supportive and welcoming environments I’ve been apart of and being able to have such a part in that has been so great to experience.
AS: What are your hopes and expectations for the team this season?
CD: This season, I hope that we are able to cherish each race and continue to encourage one another to improve. Also, winning the league would be a huge accomplishment for us.
AS: What's your favorite part about being on the Cross Country team?
CD: My favorite part about being on the team is watching other girls find a place where they can truly be themselves and come out of their shells. New friendships with teammates and race time improvements undoubtedly give the girls a huge confidence boost. Also, this year in particular, we have close to 30 freshmen and it is has been so fun getting to know all of them.
AS: Do you have plans to run in college?
CD: I do not plan to run at the varsity level but would consider joining club/intramural XC.
Bonnie Passios - Captain
Grade: 12
Years Running Cross Country: 4
Favorite Subject: Math/ science classes such as Statistics and Biology
AS: What does it mean to be selected as a captain?
Bonnie Passios: Being selected as a captain for my junior and senior year has given me so much joy. I appreciate that my teammates trust me to lead them, and I love seeing each and every one of them grow to their highest potential.
AS: What are your hopes and expectations for the team this season?
BP: Despite having to run in cohorts of 10, I believe we can still be connected as one team and generate enthusiasm. I also want our team to win both the Varsity and Junior Varsity races at the Patriot League meet. Winning both of these races, as we have the past three years, highlights how strong our team is. Our JV girls run times similar to the varsity girls of many teams surrounding us.
AS: What's your favorite part about being on the Cross Country team?
BP: I love the people and the spirit. We hype each other up when we run fast and we comfort each other after a bad race. Cheering on the last 7 girls is just as fun and inspiring as cheering on the top 7. On our team of 72, we bring together different personalities and interests but we all share a love of camaraderie and new friendships.
AS: Do you have plans to run in college?
BP: Although I do not plan to run competitively in college, I know it will still be part of my routine each morning. I may run intramurally.
Grace LePenske - Captain
Grade: 12
Years Running Cross Country: 4
Favorite Subject: I love biology, chemistry, and world history. Also I love to do art but never have room in my schedule, so I do it on my own.
AS: What does it mean to be selected as a captain?
Grace LePenske: It really means a lot to be selected by the team, one made up of over 70 girls! I am truly honored and am touched that even though I am not the fastest runner, they elected me based on who I am. And I think that that goes to show what this team is all about. It doesn’t matter if you come in first or last, at the end of the day regardless of a win or loss, we are a team and are completely ourselves. Throughout my years on the team, all of the previous captains truly changed my life and overall high school experience. And by being elected I hope I can do the same for even just one girl on the team.
AS: What are your hopes and expectations for the team this season?
GL: Obviously this year is going to be a little different and it’s hard to set a goal for our season like we normally do. But for this year I just hope that we help each other during these difficult and different times, lean on each other and grow as a team. Obviously I hope to have some wins in there and be patriot league champions, but for me, a good team atmosphere and mentality is most important.
AS: What's your favorite part about being on the Cross Country team?
GL: Probably the craziness and enthusiasm of the girls. No matter the day or situation, you can always count on someone to lift you up. Running is already such a challenging sport mentally, and with everything going on in the world today it can make things even harder. But our entire team really works together to raise each other up, and it’s amazing to see and be apart of! I am never more myself then with the girls on the team, and it’s awesome to see the girls, especially the freshmen, come out of their shells to be just as weird and goofy as I am!
AS: Do you have plans to run in college?
GL: Not officially but I do plan on running on my own.
Maeve Lowther - Senior
Grade: 12
Years Running Cross Country: 2
Favorite Subject: Science
AS: What are your hopes and expectations for this season?
Maeve Lowther: I hope to PR and win another patriot league title.
AS: What's your best memory about being on the Cross Country team?
ML: My best memory with the team is last years Patriot
League meet. We had amazing team spirit and placed well.
AS: Do you have plans to run in college?
ML: I would love to run in college however I have not made any final decisions yet.
Nora Lundin - Sophomore
Grade: 10
Years Running Cross Country: 2
AS: How would you describe your Freshman season last year?
Nora Lundin: My season last year was very fun. The team was so welcoming and nice. Everyone was so fun to talk to and run with.
AS: What are your expectations and goals for this season?
NL: Some of my goals for this season are to be as welcoming as I can to the new members of the cross country team as I can and to race my hardest regardless of my time.
AS: What's your favorite part about being on the Cross Country team?
NL: The best part of being on the cross country team is having such a big group of friends. Everyone on the team is so nice and fun to be around.