Friday, June 29, 2012
The NHS football coach was honored at the first Sports Leadership Breakfast at Fenway Park's EMC Club on June 26.
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Friday, June 29, 2012
On Tuesday, June 26, the Boston chapter of Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) honored two of Greater Boston’s most outstanding interscholastic coaches at the first Sports Leadership Breakfast at Fenway Park’s EMC Club. Needham High School football coach Dave Duffy and JD O’Bryant High School girls varsity basketball and volleyball coach Gertrude Fisher received the Double Goal Coach Awards for their achievements as exceptional mentors and coaches. Duffy has been coaching Needham High School football for 14 years and has received many honors including the 2012 Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletics Association’s Coach-of-the-Year award. In those 14 years, Duffy has gone 101-53, including four post-season appearances and one Division I Super…
Monday, April 9, 2012
NHS varsity football head coach will be honored at a banquet on Wednesday, May 30 at the MIAA offices in Franklin.
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Monday, April 9, 2012
By Micah Hauben, NHS Director of Athletics Needham High School Head Varsity Football Coach David Duffy has been named the 2012 Massachusetts Football Coach of the Year. The award was announced on April 2 by the MIAA Educational Athletics Department and Coaches Education Program. Duffy's selection was based upon excellence of character, impact upon students and community and coaching quality. All of these characteristics, and more, were on display this fall, as Duffy and his staff helped lead the Rockets, through injury and adversity, to one of the strongest seasons in program history. After winning the Bay State Conference Carey Division Title and defeating New Bedford in the Division I semi-finals, the team advanced on to its first …
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Needham High School
609 Webster St, Needham Heights, MA
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Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Selectmen recognized the Rockets for their stellar season at a meeting on Jan. 24.
The Board of Selectmen recognized the 2011 Needham High School varsity football team on Tuesday, Jan. 24, commending them on an excellent season that ended with the school's first ever Super Bowl game. Though the team fell to BC High in the match, 21-7, they had a great run and brought home numerous accolades, including their second Bay State Conference championship in three years and the prestigious MIAA Division 1 Football Sportsmanship Award. NHS football coach Dave Duffy also received the Boston Globe's Coach of the Year Award. Selectman Jim Healy, a former Rockets football player, congratulated the team on their season on Tuesday evening and said the Super Bowl game was just one highlight of the year. "The most important thing you'll …
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Needham Town Hall
1471 Highland Ave, Needham, MA
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2004019
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Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Recapping the past year of Needham High School athletics.
With 2011 slowly coming to a close, and 2012 days away, it’s time to look back on the past year of Needham High School athletics. Here’s 10 moments that’ll forever be remembered from the past 12 months. 1. Needham Rockets Football Fall to BC High At Gillette Stadium: This was indeed one of the crowning moments of the past year, as the Rockets varsity football team accomplished their goal of playing on the grassy, green turf at Gillette Stadium. However, the outcome wasn’t as planned, as Needham fell to Boston College High School, 21-7. Yet, a valiant effort was displayed, as the Rockets, who held the Eagles running and passing game in tact, despite allowing a 91-yard touchdown dash by Deonate Ramey-Do in the second quarter. 2. Will …
Sunday, December 4, 2011
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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Needham High School
609 Webster St, Needham Heights, MA
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Wednesday, November 30, 2011
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 High School
609 Webster St, Needham Heights, MA
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Tuesday, November 29, 2011
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. …
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
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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Needham High School
609 Webster St, Needham Heights, MA
/articles/thanksgiving-football-preview-needham-wellesley
154232
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42.302644
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50 Rice St, Wellesley, MA
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Thursday, November 17, 2011
A look at some of the latest news and notes from the Needham Rockets.
It’s been a rather quiet week on the sports front in Needham, as a majority of the fall squads have concluded their season, while a few winter teams have begun preparations for their upcoming slates. Here’s some of the latest news pertaining toward the boys varsity soccer and football teams. Boys Soccer Looks to the Future It’s been a few days since the Needham High School boys varsity soccer season came to an end at Medway High School, but after their final game against Greater New Bedford concluded, both head coach Don Brock and senior goalkeeper Jake Bronstein reflected on the loss, as well as looked ahead to next season. “It [was] tough to end the season [losing in overtime] because we knew we had more in it, more games to be won, …
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Here's some of the latest Needham Rocket news compiled by correspondent Matt Noonan.
Before the Needham High School girls varsity volleyball season began, head coach Peter Arsenault entered the year with a plan—improve, work hard and get better. The Rockets definitely enhanced their play from last season, as they doubled their win total and challenged a majority of their Bay State Conference foes with numerous rallies in various sets, which didn’t always translate into wins. While the season has officially ended, the squad and their head coach seem quite hopeful that their success from this season will carry over to next year, and possibly result in a MIAA Tournament berth, too. “Next year is very hopeful. We have high expectations, ” Arsenault said. “Our main goal is to get [a .500 winning percentage] and make the …
