Tom Angelo can’t mask his ear-to-ear smile when discussing the success of the athletic program at Franklin High.
The Panthers produce winners consistently in a community with a rich tradition of supporting athletics, from the youth level up to varsity. Beyond the impressive numbers, and the wins and losses, Franklin prides itself in victories large and small, on and off the field, with a simple mantra . . .
“It’s all about being a great teammate, and really sticking to it," said Angelo, entering his fifth year as athletic director for the school district. “It’s a community effort.”
In a 2019-20 school year in which athletics were abruptly halted in mid-March because of the COVID-19 pandemic — two days before the 25-0 Franklin girls' basketball team was scheduled to take on Andover in the Division 1 state final — and the spring season was cancelled entirely, Panther Pride flourished in the fall and winter months.
In addition to the dominance of the Ali Brigham-powered girls’ basketball team, Carm Colace’s 23-2 wrestling squad won a sectional title, and the boys' basketball team went 15-5. In the fall, field hockey (14-2-2), golf (14-4), and girls' soccer (14-2-2) fueled a 77-victory regular-season campaign. The boys' cross-country and swimming & diving teams reached the finish line with unbeaten seasons.
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For the second straight year, Franklin had the most prolific Division 1 athletic program in Eastern Massachusetts.
Fielding 26 varsity teams (in addition to cheer and unified sports), Franklin won 76.12 percent of its 245 games, compiling a 179-51-15 overall record to repeat as the Globe’s Dalton Division 1 champion.
Franklin nosed out Bay State Conference entrants Natick (69.01) and Needham (66.89). The award is named after Ernest Dalton, who was the Globe’s high school sports editor from 1938-70.
The Panthers were one of 10 divisional winners for the awards — now in their 48th year — in which schools are ranked based on their regular-season win percentage. Scores are compiled and updated daily during the season through the Globe’s database. Complete results are available on bostonglobe.com/schools.
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“We have phenomenal coaches, it’s a community effort, and we preach leadership to our student-athletes,” said Angelo, who also lauded a supportive administration headlined by Dr. Sara Ahern, superintendent of schools, and principal Josh Hanna, in addition to his administrative assistant, Sue Jacobsen, and athletic trainer Jenn Edmunds. He also tipped a cap to thetown’s DPW department for their meticulous work on the fields, along with a nod to Ryan Jette at the Franklin Recreation Department for getting it all started at the youth level.
The mission, noted baseball coach Zach Brown, is about impacting students on and off the field. “There are [schools] that talk about athletics being an extension of the classroom, others live that motto . . . There’s a reason why there has been a level of sustained success," he said.
No two individuals exemplify that continuity, and carry the banner more than soccer coaches Tom Geyson and Fran Bositis, who are entering their 52nd and 50th years, respectively, with the athletic department. Geyson, a Boston English and Boston State grad from Charlestown, started as the seventh- and eighth-grade boys' basketball coach in 1969. “The kids involved in athletes want to be here,” said Geyson, who retired from teaching English in 2004, but is in his 36th season as the varsity girls’ soccer coach, in addition to coaching boys’ indoor and outdoor track.
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Bositis arrived in 1971 with a physical education degree from the University of Massachusetts, where he played lacrosse. He wanted to coach football but there were no openings on the staff of revered coach Jerry Leone, whose program was in the midst of a 32-game winning streak. But there was a boys' soccer opening. Early on, Bositis leaned on counsel from coach T.J. Williams (who later achieved noteworthy success at Newton North) at Dean College in town.
The rest is history.
“It’s a privilege to coach here, there is tremendous support from the community,” Bositis said. “We have great kids, and great youth programs.”
Angelo credits both coaches for being receptive to changing with the times. “They are passionate and highly motivated,” he said, taking note of their regular attendance at coaching clinics.
Away from the practices and games, Panther Pride extends into the community.
Every athletic program is expected to support a charity, event, or cause dear to them. Erin Quaile, a girls’ basketball captain-elect and her Panther teammates collected lunches and donations via the Elisha Project in Rhode Island and delivered meals near a homeless shelter. A four-year varsity player who starts at the point, she embraces her role as a leader and supporting other Franklin teams. “Last year, we went further than any other Franklin [girls' basketball] team had gone, it was our goal from Game 1 . . . We had great support . . . and we continue to work hard.”
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John Leighton, in his 16th year as head coach, added, “It’s an exciting time to be around here."
The other winners:
▪ Holmes Division 2 — Thanks to a combined 33-9 mark on the basketball court (17-3 girls; 16-6 boys) and a wrestling program that pinned down a 22-3-1 mark, Hingham (70.12 winning percentage) compiled a 91-39-4 mark in the winter to repeat as D2 champion. In the fall, the field hockey team was 12-3-3 and girls' cross-country 7-1.
▪ Dalton Division 3 — With a 160-90-10 aggregate, Marblehead (63.46) edged Somerset Berkley (61.87) and Medway (60.80) in D3, buoyed by a 17-3 finish for the girls' basketball team, a 16-5 campaign on the wrestling mat, and matching 8-0 marks for the boys' and girls' swim programs.
▪ Ames Division 4 — Norwell (71.04) nosed out West Bridgewater (70.65) for the second straight year for the Ames' Award on the strength of an 85-win winter season. On the ice, the Clipper boys (16-3-3) and girls (18-2) ruled, and Kristi Vierra propelled Norwell to an 18-2 campaign on the court.
▪ Nason Division 1 — In the City, Latin Academy (63.33) beat Burke (55.26) with 102 total wins. The boys' basketball team (19-4) advanced to the BPS final and the Division 2 North semifinals and the boys' and girls' swim programs were a combined 15-3.
▪ Nason Division 2 — In Jameson Pelkey’s first foray as AD, St. John’s Prep did not skip a beat with its fourth straight Nason crown, triggered by a 42-5-3 sprint in the fall (and 108-24-8 mark overall). The Eagles repeated as D1 football champion, the golf team was 18-1, and Manny Costa’s wrestlers pinned down a 34-1 slate. Prep won 80 percent of its games.
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▪ Nason Division 3 — Five fewer losses and four more ties. That was difference between a three-peat for Austin Prep (69.50) and runner-up Bishop Feehan (68.47), its new Catholic Central rival starting this fall. Girls' hockey (17-1-2) and boys' basketball (17-5) paced a 72-27-6 winter, and girls' soccer (13-3-3) and golf (13-2) led the way in the fall.
▪ Singelais Division — Ursuline (59.05) captured its third straight title among Catholic girls' schools, once again denying Notre Dame-Hingham (52.97). The girls' soccer squad finished 13-3-2 and on the ice, the Bears were 13-3-4.
▪ Markham Division 1 — Another year, another D1 vocational title for Blackstone Valley Tech (70.26), which has carved out nine winners in a 13-year span. The Beavers were 8-1 on the gridiron, the soccer teams a combined 24-6-1, and the golf team (10-2) consistently on the green. On the hardwood, girls' basketball netted a 17-5 finish. Kudos to AD Michele Denise and her diligent staff.
▪ Markham Division 2 — In Rochester, Old Colony (62.0) is celebrating its second crown in three years after its narrow victory over McCann (60.89). The difference? A 36-13 winter, fueled by the boys' (18-4) and girls' (15-5) basketball teams.
About the awards
DIVISIONAL ALIGNMENTS
Dalton Division 1 is for schools with enrollments of 1,400 and up, Holmes Division 2 is 1,000-1,399, Dalton Division 3 is 700-999, and Ames Division 4 is 699 and under. Nason Division 1 is for Boston Public Schools, Nason Division 2 is for Catholic boys’ schools, and Nason Division 3 is for Catholic coed schools. The Singelais Division is for Catholic girls’ schools. The Markham Divisions are for vocational schools. The enrollment totals reflect students in Grades 9-12; enrollment figures are supplied by MIAA member schools.
The names
LARRY AMES: Ames was assistant sports editor/schools at the Globe from 1979 to 1994.
ERNEST DALTON: Dalton was the Globe’s high school editor from 1938 to 1970. He died in 1971.
BOB HOLMES: Holmes was assistant sports editor/schools at the Globe from 1996-2016.
JERRY NASON: Nason was the former executive sports editor of the Globe. He died in 1986.
NEIL SINGELAIS: Singelais was the Globe’s high school sports editor from 1970 to 1979. He died in 2002.
WALTER MARKHAM: Born and educated in Lowell, Markham was president and treasurer of the American Vocational Association for four years and was responsible for initiating the concept of regional vocational and technical high schools in the state.
Past winners
DALTON
1973
Catholic Memorial
1974
Brockton
1975
Division 1 — Brockton
Division 2 — Lincoln-Sudbury
Division 3 — Westwood
1976
Division 1 — Brockton
Division 2 — Concord-Carlisle
Division 3 — Westwood
1977
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Concord-Carlisle
Division 3 — Holliston
1978
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Andover
Division 3 — Westwood
1979
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Methuen
Division 3 — Westwood
1980
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Methuen
Division 3 — Westwood
1981
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Methuen
Division 3 — Duxbury
1982
Division 1 — Winchester
Division 2 — Acton-Boxboro
Division 3 — Duxbury
1983
Division 1 — Chelmsford
Division 2 — Beverly
Division 3 — Seekonk
1984
Division 1 — Chelmsford
Division 2 — Marblehead
Division 3 — Westwood
1985
Division 1— Chelmsford
Division 2 — Marblehead
Division 3 — Duxbury
1986
Division 1 — Chelmsford
Division 2 — Lincoln-Sudbury
Division 3 — Duxbury
1987
Division 1 — Chelmsford
Division 2 — Lincoln-Sudbury
Division 3 — Holliston
1988
Division 1 — Chelmsford
Division 2 — Lincoln-Sudbury
Division 3 — Duxbury
1989
Division 1 — Chelmsford
Division 2 — Acton-Boxboro
Division 3 — Holliston
1990
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Lincoln-Sudbury
Division 3 — Holliston
1991
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Lincoln-Sudbury
Division 3 — Holliston
Division 4 — Weston
1992
Division 1 — Andover
Division 2 — Beverly
Division 3 — Holliston
Division 4 — Weston
1993
Division 1 — New Bedford
Division 2 — Masconomet
Division 3 — Holliston
Division 4 — Norwell
1994
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Walpole
Division 3 — Holliston
Division 4 — Norwell
1995
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Burlington
Division 3 — Old Rochester
Division 4 — Norwell
1996
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Holliston
Division 3 — Scituate
Division 4 — Weston
1997
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Holliston
Division 3 — Medfield
Division 4 — Weston
1998
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Masconomet
Division 3 — Hanover
Division 4 — Weston
1999
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Masconomet
Division 3 — Norwell
Division 4 — Tyngsboro
2000
Division 1 — Andover
Division 2 — Dighton-Rehoboth
Division 3 — Medfield
Division 4 — Tyngsboro
2001
Division 1 — Lexington
Division 2 — Arlington
Division 3 — Duxbury
Division 4 — Harwich
2002
Division 1 — Peabody
Division 2 — Danvers
Division 3 — Dighton-Rehoboth
Division 4 — Abington
2003
Division 1 — Peabody
Division 3 — Hopkinton
2004
Division 1 — Peabody
Division 3 — Duxbury
2005
Division 1 — Andover
Division 3 — Duxbury
2006
Division 1 — Andover
Division 3 — Duxbury
2007
Division 1 — Lincoln-Sudbury
Division 3 — Old Rochester
2008
Division 1 — Acton-Boxboro
Division 3 — Winchester
2009
Division 1 — Lexington
Division 3 — Duxbury
2010
Division 1 — North Andover
Division 3 — Medfield
2011
Division 1 — Mansfield
Division 3 — Medfield
2012
Division 1 — Franklin
Division 3 — Hopkinton
2013
Division 1 — Masconomet
Division 3 — Medfield
2014
Division 1 — Masconomet
Division 3 — Duxbury
2015
Division 1 — Franklin
Division 3 — Old Rochester
2016
Division 1 — Needham
Division 3 — Marblehead
2017
Division 1 — Andover
Division 3 — Marblehead
2018
Division 1 — Wellesley
Division 3 — Old Rochester
2019
Division 1 — Franklin
Division 3 — Old Rochester
2020
Division 1 — Franklin
Division 3 — Marblehead
AMES AWARD
2003
Division 2 — Lincoln-Sudbury
Division 4 — Medfield
2004
Division 2 — Lincoln-Sudbury
Division 4 — Medfield
2005
Division 2 — North Andover
Division 4 — Cohasset
2006
Division 2 — North Andover
Division 4 — Cohasset
2007
Division 2 — Reading
Division 4 — Norwell
2008
Division 2 — Reading
Division 4 — Westport
2009
Division 2 — North Andover
Division 4 — East Bridgewater
2010
Division 2 — Reading
Division 4 — Norwell
2011
Division 2 — North Andover
Division 4 — Norwell
2012
Division 2 — North Andover
Division 4 — East Bridgewater
2013
Division 2 — Beverly
Division 4 — West Bridgewater
2014
Division 2 — Wellesley
Division 4 — West Bridgewater
2015
Division 2 — Needham
Division 4 — Cohasset
2016
Division 2 — Wellesley
Division 4 — Hanover
2017
Division 2 — Wellesley
Division 4 — Old Rochester
2018
Division 2 — Hopkinton
Division 4 — West Bridgewater
2019
Division 4 — Norwell
2020
Division 4 — Norwell
HOLMES AWARD
2019
Division 2 — Hingham
2020
Division 2 — Hingham
NASON AWARD
1981
Division 1 — Boston English
Division 2 — Matignon
1982
Division 1 — Boston Latin
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 —Bp. Fenwick
1983
Division 1 — No winner
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1984
Division 1 — East Boston
Division 2 — Xaverian
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1985
Division 1 — Dorchester
Division 2 — Xaverian
Division 3 — Abp. Williams
1986
Division 1 — Boston Tech
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1987
Division 1 — Boston Tech
Division 2 — BC High
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1988
Division 1 — Boston Tech
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1989
Division 1 — Latin Academy
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1990
Division 1 — Latin Academy
Division 2 — BC High
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1991
Division 1 — Boston Tech
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1992
Division 1 — South Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1993
Division 1 — West Roxbury
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1994
Division 1 — Latin Academy
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1995
Division 1 — Latin Academy
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1996
Division 1 — South Boston
Division 2 — BC High
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1997
Division 1 — South Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1998
Division 1 — Latin Academy
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
1999
Division 1 — East Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2000
Division 1 — East Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2001
Division 1 — East Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2002
Division 1 — Charlestown
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2003
Division 1 — Madison Park
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2004
Division 1 — O’Bryant
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2005
Division 1 — Charlestown
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2006
Division 1 — O’Bryant
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2007
Division 1 — East Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2008
Division 1 — Latin Academy
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2009
Division 1 — East Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2010
Division 1 — East Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2011
Division 1 — Madison Park
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2012
Division 1 — Brighton
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Cardinal Spellman
2013
Division 1 — Latin Academy
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2014
Division 1 — New Mission
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2015
Division 1 — East Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2016
Division 1 — Fenway
Division 2 — BC High
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2017
Division 1 — East Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2018
Division 1 — Latin Academy
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Austin Prep
2019
Division 1 — New Mission
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Austin Prep
2020
Division 1 — Latin Academy
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Austin Prep
SINGELAIS AWARD
1988
Notre Dame of Tyngsboro
1989
Notre Dame of Hingham
1990
Notre Dame of Hingham
1991
Notre Dame of Tyngsboro
1992
Notre Dame of Hingham
1993
Notre Dame of Tyngsboro
1994
Notre Dame of Hingham
1995
Notre Dame of Hingham
1996
Notre Dame of Hingham
1997
Notre Dame of Hingham
1998
Notre Dame of Hingham
1999
Notre Dame of Hingham
2000
Notre Dame of Hingham
2001
Notre Dame of Hingham
2002
Ursuline
2003
Notre Dame of Hingham
2004
Ursuline
2005
Mt. Alvernia
2006
Notre Dame of Hingham
2007
Notre Dame of Hingham
2008
Notre Dame of Hingham
2009
Notre Dame of Hingham
2010
Notre Dame of Hingham
2011
Notre Dame of Hingham
2012
Notre Dame of Hingham
2013
Notre Dame of Tyngsboro
2014
Notre Dame of Hingham
2015
Notre Dame of Hingham
2016
Notre Dame of Hingham
2017
Notre Dame of Hingham
2018
Ursuline
2019
Ursuline
2020
Ursuline
MARKHAM AWARD
1997
Shawsheen
1998
Greater Lowell
1999
Greater Lowell
2000
Keefe Tech
2001
Keefe Tech
2002
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Norfolk
2003
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Norfolk
2004
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Norfolk
2005
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Blue Hills
2006
Division 1 — Greater Lowell
Division 2 — Blue Hills
2007
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Blackstone Valley
2008
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Blackstone Valley
2009
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Blackstone Valley
2010
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Blue Hills
2011
Shawsheen
2012
Shawsheen
2013
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Norfolk Aggie
2014
Division 1 — Blackstone Valley
Division 2 — McCann Tech
2015
Division 1 — Blackstone Valley
Division 2 — McCann Tech
2016
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Essex Tech
2017
Division 1 — Blackstone Valley
Division 2 — Diman Voke
2018
Division 1 — Blackstone Valley
Division 2 — Old Colony
2019
Division 1 — Blackstone Valley
Division 2 — Essex Tech
2020
Division 1 — Blackstone Valley
Division 2 — Old Colony
Craig Larson can be reached at craig.larson@globe.com.