Sports
Defying the odds: Hadley’s Owen Earle back competing less than two years removed from horrific accident
By GARRETT COTE
Lying flat on his back in the middle of a field at Four Rex Farm in Hadley, Owen Earle stared straight into an endless stretch of overcast sky, raindrops gently splashing him.Although he didn’t feel much pain, he knew there was no getting up.“I had...
Breaking down the financial implications for UMass athletics after move to the Mid-American Conference
CONNOR PIGNATELLO
When UMass joins the Mid-American Conference for the 2025-26 academic year, athletic director Ryan Bamford expects the school will bring in more revenue than it did when competing in the Atlantic 10.“This will allow us to grow our revenues to the...
Guest columnist Karen List: A legend made in Iowa
By KAREN LIST
The thousands of women who played high school basketball in Iowa over the years look at the adulation surrounding University of Iowa star Caitlin Clark and think: “That’s about right.”Clark, as you probably know, is the NCAA Division 1 all-time...
UMass basketball: Minutewomen’s two leading scorers Alexsia Rose, Kristin Williams headed to transfer portal
By GARRETT COTE
AMHERST — As of Monday afternoon, two UMass women’s basketball guards have entered the transfer portal, looking to take their talents elsewhere.Senior Alexsia Rose and junior Kristin Williams have hit the portal following a disappointing 5-27...
UMass basketball: Josh Cohen, Robert Davis Jr. first Minutemen to enter transfer portal
By GARRETT COTE
AMHERST — One of the first dominoes to fall is a massive one for the UMass men’s basketball team.Minutemen forward Josh Cohen has entered the transfer portal, ESPN’s Jeff Borzello reported late Monday morning. The 6-foot-10 senior has one year of...
Men’s basketball coach Frank Martin supporting UMass’ decision to join MAC: “They believed in me, and they haven’t lied to me since I’ve been here”
By GARRETT COTE
AMHERST — From a basketball perspective, Mid-American Conference commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said it was a no-brainer to add UMass to his conference.The men’s basketball program was perhaps the most appealing of the school’s athletic teams given its...
A moving MAC moment: UMass formally introduced as 13th member of the Mid-American Conference
By GARRETT COTE
AMHERST — After more than a week since the news first broke, University of Massachusetts athletic department officials held a press conference on March 7 to celebrate their joining the Mid-American Conference.UMass Chancellor Javier Reyes, director of...
UMass confirms sports programs moving to the Mid-American Conference as it becomes 13th member
By GARRETT COTE
AMHERST — As of Feb. 29, it was officially official.The UMass athletics department press release at 3:30 p.m. that day confirmed its move to the Mid-American Conference (MAC) as a full member, as the baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and...
Amherst girls capture runner-up finish at MIAA Nordic Ski Championships (PHOTOS)
By GARRETT COTE
WOODFORD, Vt. — The Amherst girls Nordic ski team didn’t just feel like underdogs all season long — they were underdogs.Often overlooked given the geographical location, the Hurricanes were ready to display their talents on the biggest stage, at the...
Amherst College women’s basketball coach Gromacki fastest in NCAA history to reach 600 wins
By GARRETT COTE
Dynasty isn’t a term that gets thrown around loosely – that word holds a ton of weight in the sports world. It takes a lot of success over an extended period of time to call something a dynasty.But that’s exactly what South Deerfield native G.P....
“Nice call, ref”: High school referee ranks shrink amid abuse by fans, low pay
By GARRETT COTE
A couple weeks ago, I sat inside Smith Academy’s Sherry Webb Gymnasium in Hatfield to cover a girls basketball game between the Falcons and Duggan Academy of Springfield. As the game progressed, the displeasure from supporters only grew louder — and...
UMass basketball: Matt Cross leads balanced Minutemen past Saint Louis for first A-10 road wi
Matt Cross led four players in double figures, scoring 19 points to propel the UMass men’s basketball team to an 84-73 Atlantic 10 Conference victory over Saint Louis on Saturday night at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Mo.The Minutemen won on the road...
H.S. Football Preview: Offensive firepower has Amherst optimistic about 2023 season
By GARRETT COTE
During the second-to-last regular season football game a year ago, Amherst matched up with Holyoke on a Friday night in Amherst. Both teams lit up the scoreboard. The Hurricanes had no answer for Purple Knights quarterback Gavier “NeNe” Fernandez, as...
UMass legend Julius Erving makes Western Mass. appearance at Basketball Hall of Fame
By GARRETT COTE
SPRINGFIELD — The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame hadn’t been as packed all summer. Hundreds of basketball aficionados across several generations poured onto center court and filled the bleachers to listen intently to a legend of the...
New Frontier AD Dave Sanschagrin looking to keep winning ways going
By THOMAS JOHNSTON
SOUTH DEERFIELD — The Frontier Regional athletic department will have a new leader this fall. Dave Sanschagrin — who previously served as the athletic director at Southwick High School — was hired to replace Carl Cyr as the Redhawks’ athletic...
Longtime Amherst College basketball coach Dave Hixon belonged in every room at Basketball Hall of Fame induction
By KYLE GRABOWSKI
SPRINGFIELD — John Calipari wrapped an arm around Dave Hixon as he introduced the longtime Amherst College men’s basketball coach to Michigan State coach Tom Izzo.Their time in Amherst overlapped when Calipari was at UMass. Hixon coached at Amherst...
‘More than I could have imagined’: Longtime Amherst College basketball coach Dave Hixon inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame
By KYLE GRABOWSKI
SPRINGFIELD — Basketball gave Dave Hixon everything he could ask for. When the longtime Amherst College men’s coach retired in 2020, his former players and friends made him an hour and a half long video thanking him for his impact on their lives.“I...
Top on-court moments from David Hixon’s Hall of Fame career coaching Amherst basketball
By KYLE GRABOWSKI
Dave Hixon always wore a suit to Amherst College’s men’s basketball games but never coached in it. He walked out of the locker room to cheers in LeFrak Gymnasium and banter on the road, shook his counterpart’s hand and chatted during shootaround. Once...
Amherst’s Davis Smith signs pro soccer deal with German squad Chemnitzer FC
By KYLE GRABOWSKI
Davis Smith considered the paradox of a water bottle. The same brand costs 50 cents in bulk at a grocery store, a little over a dollar at a gas station, a few dollars on a plane and even more inside a stadium or concert venue. It’s the same bottle but...
Boys Volleyball Player of the Year Jesse Kurkulonis built Frontier program
By KYLE GRABOWSKI
The Frontier Regional boys volleyball program wouldn’t exist without Jesse Kurkulonis.Inspired by the success of his friends on the Redhawks girls team, which has won 11 state championships including last fall, he began inquiring with newly minted...
