I’m just a small town boy (and no, I am not a Journey fan).  For the better part of 17 years, I have been blessed to call this town my home. I have grown and learned more in this town then I ever dreamed imaginable.  I have made some lifelong friends here.  I have met some amazing mentors who have shaped my life.  I have brought in friends and family from out of town, and watched them become enchanted with this town.  Now, at the age of 23, I’ll be moving from this town and will no longer be writing for Wrentham Patch.   Every so often, an opportunity comes along that makes chasing down that …

For generations, sports have brought youths together. Played in streets, yards, and field’s world wide, sports are a unifying force. High school sports have such a long standing tradition in this country. Think of the pageantry of a homecoming game, or the glory of league and state championship games. These games bring the community and, more importantly, the student athletes together.  In my conversations with King Philip star Charlotte Firth, she admitted that people she wouldn’t normally hang out with in her day-to-day life were some of her closest friends because of sports. Regardless of …

For every published piece, there are twice as many stories that are thrown out. For every symphony for which we praise Beethoven, there is another that he nixed.  For every Steven Spielberg blockbuster, there are twice as many screenplays that never made it. The same goes for a certain columnist at Wrentham Patch. So rather than subject you, the best and brightest readers, to a mediocre column, lets take this opportunity to link sports, entertainment and a truly triumphant story. I'm talking about the story of Mickey Ward, and more so, The Fighter.   "The Pride of Lowell" is best known for …

As a writer, I want to take an opportunity to thank you, the reader, for following me every week.  Not a week goes by where I don't feel blessed for the opportunities I have and for the people who follow my column. Having written for Patch for two months now, we have explored teams, games, traditions, foods and individuals. Though you have gotten to know me for my work (which I love doing), it is only a brief glimpse as to who I am.  So I want to take this opportunity to introduce the man behind the words.  Been there, done that. I grew up in this town, having moved here when I was five.  I …

"I never wanted to play sports in high school." Yet three and a half years into high school, Charlotte Firth is on pace to graduate high school earning 10 varsity letters -  lettering in two sports her freshman and sophomore years, and lettering in three her junior and senior years. As a freshman, Charlotte was part of the varsity volleyball and basketball teams.  Not bad for someone who had no intention of playing sports? "I got asked to do track.  I got asked to try out in every sport I did, " said Firth.  "My math teacher asked me one day after class if I would consider doing track because…

It is December in New England.  Who wouldn't want to go to Florida? The members of the King Philip Chiefs Pop Warner B and C teams are heading to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in sunny Orlando this weekend to play for the Pop Warner national championship. Players across the country are going to Florida to live out their dreams.  Some of which have been there before, others — like King Philip — are going for the first time in hopes of a championship. Traditionally, the Chiefs are not a national power, and yet they have two teams playing for the title of best Pop Warner team in the …

Something felt different when arriving at King Philip High School Thanksgiving morning.  As always, I am there early, allowing time to talk with coaches, students and school officials.  More often than not in Massachusetts high school football, the student body slowly rolls in shortly after kick off, leaving the stands somewhat vacant until midway though the first quarter. Even the much anticipated King Philip vs. Mansfield game didn't reach capacity until the end of the first quarter. Not the case Thursday.  At 9:20, 45 minutes before kickoff, fans of all ages were patrolling the grounds.  …

It's official: the holiday season is here, and with every holiday comes its trademarks. Christmas has Santa and reindeer, and Hanukkah has the eight nights of celebration and the Menorah.  Thanksgiving has turkey and football.  Millions of Americans lounge on the couch after consuming heaping piles of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and cranberry sauce and then throw on the game.  Football is as big a part of Thanksgiving as the pies and maybe as big as the turkey.  Communities in Massachusetts are blessed with the holiday tradition of the Thanksgiving Day high school football game.   Maybe…

One weekend and numerous vicious hits at every level of football sparked a media outcry about concussions, head injuries and player safety. The weekend of October 15-17 featured West Bridgewater 12-year-old Nathan Hogrell knocked out and air lifted, Rutgers junior defensive tackle Eric LeGrand paralyzed from the neck down, two vicious hits by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison, a chilling collision between Desean Jackson of the Philadelphia Eagles and Dunta Robins of the Houston Texans and a helmet-to-helmet cheap shot by New England's own Brandon Meriweather. The following …

In all but one game, the King Philip Warrior football team has been dominant.  Outside of a 28-0 loss to Mansfield, the Warriors have imposed their will on opponents.  Sharon is the only Hockomock League foe who has scored against an undersized, but high-energy, Warrior defense. Mathematically it is still possible for King Philip to play its way into the MIAA state playoffs, though it needs help.  So does North Attleboro, their opponent this weekend. Both teams enter Saturday's game with one loss, both losing to Mansfield. Both of these teams have put up daunting statistics and have dominated…

Some ideas are great in theory, but flaws arise when they are put in practice. In theory, adding Attleboro to the Hockomock League and splitting the football league into two five team divisions was a great idea.  Two divisions allow for two representatives from the perennially strong Hockomock League in the MIAA playoffs. Every year, a deserving team from the Hockomock is left out of the state playoffs.  Regardless of who reaches the playoffs, a case can be made that at least one other team that should be in the tournament. The Kelly/Rex Division (featuring Mansfield, North Attleboro, King …