Bay State Conference Looking to Add Three Schools, Third Athletic Division

Needham is among 12 schools currently part of the Bay State Conference, split into two divisions—Carey and Herget.

The Bay State Conference is exploring the possibility of expansion for the 2014-15 school year. Currently, The Bay State Conference consists of the following 12 schools (SY 2012 population included): Braintree (1,529), Brookline (1,770), Dedham (774), Framingham (2,040), Milton (987), Natick (1,301), Needham (1,522), Newton North (1,871), Norwood (1,063), Walpole (1,120), Wellesley (1,353) and Weymouth (1,988). The 12 schools are divided into two divisions (Carey Division and Herget Division), based on enrollment, for championship play and for seasonal play at the junior varsity and freshman levels. The mission of the Bay State Conference shall be to promote the best interests of secondary education; to nurture cooperation, professional …

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Photo Gallery: Wrestling Finishes 3-0 in BSC Quad

The Needham High School team beat Newton North, Milton and Walpole at the Jan. 28 match.

Despite a handful of starters out of the line-up, Needham High School wrestling finished 3-0 in the Bay State Conference quad at Newton North this past weekend, on Jan. 28. The Rockets held off the Newton North Tigers, 46-30, while beating Milton, 55-30, and Walpole, 55-21. The Rockets move to 14-5-1, and 8-2 in the Bay State League, going into their final match against rival Wellesley on Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. at Wellesley.

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Photo Gallery: Boys Wrestling Defeats Braintree

The Rockets defeated the Wamps on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 43-32.

The Needham High School boys varsity wrestling team picked up their fifth win of the season, as the Rockets rallied during the final few matches to earn an impressive 43-32 victory.  Needham will return to the mat on Saturday, Dec. 24 when they travel to Billrica for a tri-meet, while Braintree will head to Marshfield on Tuesday, Dec. 27. 

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Patch Chats With Adam Cole

A former Rocket, the Needham High School boys varsity swimming and diving head coach discusses his team's upcoming season.

The Needham High School boys varsity swimming and diving team is ready to jump in the pool and defend their Bay State Conference crown this season. But how exactly will they do it? Well, according to head coach Adam Cole, the Rockets' trick to having a successful season is working hard and improving but also having fun, too. “To me, it’s about attendance and effort, so if they’re here and working in practice, it’s going to be great. If the freshman follow the seniors' lead, they’re going to come along, and if everyone’s having a good time, having fun, we’re going to have a good season,” Cole said. Needham Patch sat down with Cole recently to talk about the upcoming season and why the Rockets have become such a successful unit.        …

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Wrestling Coach Ready for First Year

Former Rockets wrestler Paul Ahern is eager to begin his first season as head coach for the Needham High School boys varsity team.

It’s highly doubtful that you’ll ever see a high school wrestling match make the front page of any Boston newspaper or the local news, but don’t tell that to Needham High School’s varsity boys wrestling head coach Paul Ahern, who’s fully committed to the sport. “I was in fourth grade [when I started], so pretty much from then I’ve never really given up my love for wrestling,” Ahern said. The coach added, “A couple years out in California, I would even be going to high school matches. I couldn’t break away from it.”   Wrestling is life to Ahern, who returns to his alma mater to take over the ranks, and he is excited to teach the sport that his older brother encouraged him to join. Ahern also credits his former high school coach, who helped …

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BC High Ends Needham's Football Season

Eagles senior running back Deonate Ramey-Doe scored three TDs against the Rockets defense, as BC High defeated Needham, 21-7, on Saturday, Dec. 3.

Not every story has a happy ending. Needham High School’s varsity football team ended their season on Saturday with a crushing 21-7 loss against Boston College High School as they played in their first-ever Division I Eastern Massachusetts Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium. The loss marks the fourth time in MIAA playoff history that the Rockets have lost a postseason affair; however, it was a valiant effort. “We said we wanted to do this four years ago, three years ago, so we did it, we got here, and we gave them a good game,” said Needham senior running back Mike Vespa. “That’s all you can ask for.” “I thought we played with them, I thought we played tough with them,” said Needham head coach Dave Duffy. “They’re a great football team, they …

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Patch Chats With Megan Puopolo

The new Needham High School girls basketball head coach sheds light on her basketball career and goals for the upcoming season.

The Needham High School girls varsity basketball team has officially begun their preparations for a new year, and first-year head coach Megan Puopolo is hopeful that the Rockets will build off last season’s success by clinching a spot in the MIAA tournament.     “I want to get 10 wins, I want to make the tournament,” Puopolo said. “I think that we have the leadership and experience, so I’d definitely say that’s a goal and then it’s to make sure the girls are improving [every day].”    Puopolo inherits a team that is young, talented and athletic, and which should be competitive against other Bay State Conference foes like Braintree, Wellesley and Weymouth. But for now, she’s just focused on making sure the team’s ready for their first …

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Needham Advances to Division I Super Bowl

The Rockets made history on Tuesday as they defeated the Whalers, 42-14.

Take a deep breath Needham High School varsity football fans, because the Rockets have officially won a playoff game and are headed to Gillette Stadium on Saturday to face Boston College High School in the MIAA Division I Super Bowl. “It feels great,” Needham head coach Dave Duffy said after his team’s victory against New Bedford on Tuesday. “We’ve never won a playoff game, [and] it’s always hung over our heads a little bit, but especially moving up to Division I. I knew we were going to be good this year. I’m glad the kids worked hard and got to accomplish something no other team has ever accomplished.” The Rockets should be proud, especially since they beat-up a quality New Bedford squad on Tuesday evening under the lights at Weymouth …

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Needham To Battle New Bedford Tonight

The Needham Rockets have never won a MIAA playoff game and are hopeful that tonight's game against New Bedford will be their first.

Prior to the start of the regular season, various Needham High School varsity football players predicted that the Rockets would win the Bay State Conference Carey division and clinch a Division I playoff berth.  On Thanksgiving morning, the Rockets' preseason prediction came true, as Needham walloped Wellesley High School and secured a spot in today's Division I semi-final contest against New Bedford High School, set for 7:30 p.m. at Weymouth High School.  “They’re big, they’re fast, and they play a very tough schedule. I know they’re banged up a little bit, [because] they had some injuries to some of their good players, [which] is very similar to us,” said Needham head coach Dave Duffy, when asked to describe the Whalers football team.   …

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Thanksgiving Football Preview: Needham-Wellesley

The neighbors and rivals will meet for their 124th Thanksgiving Day game on Thursday, Nov. 24, with a win sending Needham to the post-season.

It isn’t exactly Harvard-Yale or Williams-Amherst, but it is indeed one of the oldest high school football rivalries in the country, and every year it lives up to the hype. On Thanksgiving morning, Needham High School’s varsity football team will travel to Wellesley High School for their final regular season contest of the season. With a win, they’ll clinch their first playoff berth since 2009. “We’re working hard in practice. Everyone’s picking up the intensity level that much more. We’re just trying to prepare and work hard, so we can try and win this game,” said Mark Riley, a senior co-captain for Needham. Needham will enter Thursday’s contest with a one-game winning streak, while Wellesley has dropped their last two matchups against …

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