Gloucester Daily Times Winter Athlete of the Year
Josiah Whitley
Rockport Senior
Basketball Guard/Forward
A staple in the Vikings’ lineup since his sophomore year, Josiah Whitley saved his best season for last to lead his team to a dream state tournament run this past winter.
A 6-foot-1 sharpshooting southpaw, Whitley drilled a North Shore and Cape Ann area-best 76 triples in his farewell campaign, helping Rockport reach the Division 5 Elite Eight round in the process. It was the lengthiest tourney run by any Cape Ann area team (boys or girls) this past winter. He shined in the playoffs, too, most notably guiding his team to an upset win over No. 3 seed Granby in the Sweet 16 by dropping 22 points, including 10 in a row in the third quarter.
For the year, Whitley finished with per game averages of 21.5 points (tied for fifth best in North Shore & Cape Ann) and seven rebounds. He went for a season-high 30 points in a win over Essex Tech and surpassed 25 points in a single game five times.
Whitley — who will head to Division 3 Gordon College in the fall to continue his hoops career — was named the Cape Ann League Baker Division Player of the Year, becoming the first Rockport boys player to earn the honor since Kevin Olson back in 2005. He finished his illustrious high school career with 1,129 points, becoming the 10th student-athlete in school history to surpass the 1,000-point mark.
In the classroom, Whitley maintains a 3.7 GPA and plans to major in sports management in college. He says his dad, and coach, Phil Whitley, has “inspired me to do great things and taught me how to get there.”
THE ALL-STARS
JOSEPH ALLEN
Gloucester Junior
Wrestling
Versatile athlete followed up fantastic sophomore season by going 43-6 (best record on team) and surpassing 100 career wins at 170 lbs. … Team captain was named a First Team NEC all-star … Crowned CAL/NEC Tournament champion for the third year in a row … Finished third in his weight class at Division 3 North Sectionals and sixth at D3 states … Also shines on the football field … Carries a GPA of 83 and says his coach, Matt Swanson, is always pushing him to be his best.
CHARLIE AMERO
Gloucester Senior
Basketball Forward
NEC Lynch Division all-star selection did a little bit of everything for Fishermen … Averaged 12 points and over five rebounds per game … Hit 18 threes, swiped 19 steals and dished out 43 assists this season … Boasted phenomenal footwork and ability to shoot over the top of defenders … Stretched the floor with his shooting but could also get inside and finish strong … Helped Gloucester to 12-win season and near upset of No. 6 seed Taconic in Division 3 Round of 32.
JOHN CHAREAS
Manchester Essex Junior
Basketball Guard/Forward
Junior captain took a major leap this past season, averaging a team-best 17.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game … Six-foot-3, 195-pound swingman was named Team MVP and a First-Team CAL all-star … Dropped 30 points in a win over Ipswich and scored 25 or more twice … Had 30 steals and knocked down a team-best 47 threes … Could score in variety of ways … Led Hornets to another CAL championship … Maintains a 4.0 GPA and plans to play college hoops … Says LeBron James is his biggest athletic influence and has inspired him to do great things at Manchester.
NOAH COHEN
Manchester Essex Sophomore
Indoor Track (55 dash, 4×200 relay)
Three-sport standout who also shines in football and lacrosse was named Unsung Hero for his team this season … First-year track athlete became team’s top speedster in the 55 meter dash, recording season-best time of 6.98 seconds … 5-foot-8 athlete registered a 23 second split in the 4×200 relay to put him fourth on the all-time program list … Carries a 5.3 GPA and says former New England Patriots star Julian Edelman is his biggest athletic influence.
CADE COOPER
Gloucester Senior
Hockey Forward
Six-foot-2, 170-pounder scored a team-high 13 goals and dished out a team-high 15 assists this past winter … Named Team MVP and a Northeastern Conference all-star … Scored twice and added an assist in a big win over Newburyport early in the year … His 28 points in his final season were a top 13 mark in the North Shore and Cape Ann area … Holds an 85 GPA in the classroom and is still weighing his college options … Thanks his father for constant support and says he’s the reason he loves hockey so much.
AIDEN DECOSTE
Gloucester Sophomore
Wrestling
Talented underclassman kept his winning ways going this winter, joining the 100-career victory club late in the year … Finished season with a 42-6 record and won the Division 3 North Sectionals at 126 lbs., getting two pins and a tech-fall in the finals … Won the Sharon Lombardi Invitational in Bristol, RI … Was runner-up at CAL/NEC Championships and earned NEC all-star status … Claimed third place at D3 states … Says the Toppan twins (GHS graduates Jayden and Michael) have been huge supporters and motivators for him in the sport … Holds a 105-17 career record heading into junior season.
NICK DELEON
Gloucester Senior
Basketball guard
Transfer from Ipswich provided immediate boost in starting lineup for Fishermen, helping them punch Division 3 tournament berth and earn first-round win … Averaged a team-high 16.1 points per game and knocked down team-best 62 triples, a top 5 mark in the North Shore & Cape Ann area … Dropped season-high 35 points against Peabody and went over 25 points four times … Had ability to swing momentum of a game with his shooting … Named an NEC Lynch Division all-star.
LUKE HOLMES
Rockport Senior
Hockey Goalie
Vikings’ captain faced a total of 444 shots this season while splitting time in net with teammate Cooper Miller, holding an impressive 0.86 save percentage on those shots … Made a season-high 55 saves against CAL powerhouse Essex Tech … Had five games with 40 or more saves and 11 games with 30-plus saves … Team MVP and CAL First-Team all-star … Manchester Essex student-athlete owns a 4.8 GPA and is choosing between Northeastern, Bates, Fairfield and Providence College.
CHRISTOPHER LAINE
Gloucester Senior
Wrestling
Six-foot-1, 250-pound heavyweight provided a massive boost for his squad in return to Gloucester … Posted a 30-3 overall record and was crowned Division 3 Sectional champion, winning his championship bout in triple overtime … Also won the Sons of Italy Tournament … Captured third place at CAL/NEC Tournament … Maintains an 88 GPA and will study civil engineering at Mississippi State University … Says his first wrestling coach, Pat Ancil, has made a profound impact on his success in the sport.
GRAHAM LEWIS
Manchester Essex Sophomore
Basketball Guard
16-year-old enjoyed a breakout campaign, averaging 11.4 points, 4.1 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game … Also swiped 59 steals (1.3 per game) and hit 35 triples … Dropped career-high of 28 points against Rockport with six assists and zero turnovers … Had a career-high 10 assists in another game … Also had five steals in one game … Named Team Offensive Player of the Year … Second-team CAL all-star selection … Aspires to play college basketball … Carries a 4.6 GPA and says local professional players Eric Demers and Tom Gugliotta, two very close family friends, have mentored him tremendously thus far in his career.
RYAN MEANEY
Rockport Senior
Hockey Center
Two-year captain rounded out fantastic career with 23 points in 19 games (10 goals, 13 assists), the best total for a Vikings player in eight years … Finishes career with 21 goals and 37 assists for 58 points in 54 games … CAL First-Team all-star selection … Given Rockport Phillip Ventimiglia Award (Team MVP) … Invitee to MA vs. CT Border Challenge team, first player in Rockport program history to earn the honor … Dished out an assist and had game-winning goal against Nashoba Tech … Plans to play hockey at Bridgton Academy in Maine for a postgraduate year then pursue an education and play high level club hockey.
JOSEPH PORCELLO
Gloucester Sophomore
Swimming (freestyles)
Second-year star and repeat Gloucester Times all-star shined in the freestyle events … Placed second overall in both the 50 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay at the NEC Championship meet … Also swam a leg on the boys fourth place finishing 200 freestyle relay team … NEC All-Conference selection set new personal records in both the 50 and 100 freestyles … Ranked seventh in his graduating class … Says that he’s been inspired by his team’s swimmers from Beverly who joined the co-op program this past winter: “They made the team much stronger, not just by offering their own skills, but also by becoming a core part of our team community,” he said.
DYLAN ROCHFORD
Gloucester Junior
Indoor Track (300, 55 dash)
Talented upperclassmen ran a personal best 36.9 in the 300 meter race this season at the NEC Championship meet, finishing fourth overall … Also notched a time of 6.83 seconds in the 55 meter dash … Helped contribute to numerous relay teams … Received the Coach’s Award for his team … NEC all-star selection … Ranked 20th in his graduating class with a 95.3 GPA … Plans to study finance in college … Says his two brothers, Colby and Bryce, have been his biggest athletic influences.
HENRY SIEDZIK
Beverly Sophomore
Swimming (200 & 500 freestyles/100 butterfly)
Beverly High student-athlete represented the Gloucester Fishermen swim team this year and made an immediate impact … Secured at least one first place finish at every duel meet this season … Was second in the 200 freestyle and third in the 500 freestyle at NEC Championships … Qualified for Sectionals in the 200 freestyle and set a personal best (1:55.48) to finish fifth overall … Named to NEC All-Conference team and was Gloucester’s MVP … Carries a 4.36 GPA and plans to attend college for engineering while continuing swim career … Says his coaches, Laura Dale and Mercedes Lane, as well as his club coach, Garrett Hoce, have helped him tremendously.
MATT SMITH
Gloucester
Indoor Track (55 dash, shot put)
Fishermen captain recorded personal-bests of 46-feet in the shot put, 7.11 seconds in the 55 dash, and 19-2 in the long jump … Team MVP and NEC all-star selection … Had 52 points in dual meets, second best on team … Came within 100 points of the GHS school record for the pentathlon … Went undefeated in the shot put against NEC competition outside of Peabody (against star Alex Jackson) … Finished third at NEC meet in shot put … Also plays football and baseball … Ranked 30th in graduating class and plans to attend Bucknell University to major in physics and astronomy.
ALEX STE. MARIE
Manchester Essex Sophomore
Basketball Forward/Center
Six-foot-5, 205-pound big man nearly averaged a double-double this season at 10.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game … Has soft touch around the rim and held a field goal percentage of 53 percent … Also a strong rim protector defensively … Named to CAL all-star second team … Had 17 points and shot 71 percent from the floor in a marquee win over eventual Division 4 state champion Georgetown … Owns a 5.09 GPA and plans to play college hoops while studying business … Says Michael Jordan’s work ethic and determination inspires him to be the best player he can.
HENRY STEVENS
Manchester Essex Senior
Indoor Track (Mile, 2-mile)
Hornets’ captain was the team’s highest point earner this season … Had multiple double first place finishes in meets in both the mile and 2-mile … Named Athlete of the Year for Manchester Essex boys track & field … Finished fifth overall in the 2-mile at Cape Ann League Championship meet … Held a season-best of 10:35.38 in the 2-mile … Boasts a 4.0 GPA and will attend American University while being a part of the school’s Lincoln Scholars program … Says pro track & field athlete Yared Nuguse has helped teach him how to race more aggressively and become a fierce competitor.
MAX THOMAS
Gloucester Sophomore
Wrestling
Second-year star had some marquee performances in the 220-pound class, including runner-up finishes at the CAL/NEC Championships and Division 3 Sectionals … Winner of the Mount. Hope (RI) Tournament went on to finish second at D3 states as well and was eighth at All-States … NEC all-star selection also won the Sons of Italy Tournament … Finished season with a 39-8 record … Won his first three bouts at Nationals before falling in quarterfinals … Also a standout in football.
COLBY WARREN
Gloucester Senior
Hockey Center
Fishermen captain finished final season with nine goals and 11 assists … Played a key role in helping Gloucester qualify for Division 2 state tournament … Named a Northeastern Conference all-star and received the Fishermen Award … Had a three-point game against NEC rival Winthrop … Maintains a 91.1 GPA and plans to attend either UMass Amherst or UNH … Credits his father for “pushing him throughout his hockey career and helping him get to where he is now.”
CHASE WHEAT
Rockport Senior
Basketball Guard
Vikings’ captain was second on the team in scoring, averaging 13 points per contest … Dished out 3.2 assists and swiped 2.4 steals per game … Named a Cape Ann League all-star … Knocked down 24 triples this year … Erupted for season-high 26 points in a single game … Helped guide Rockport to Division 5 Elite Eight appearance … Maintains a 3.92 GPA in the classroom and will attend UConn next year … Says L.A. Lakers superstar Luka Doncic has been his biggest athletic influence.
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HONORABLE MENTION:
Gloucester: Jayden Chadwick, Soph. (wrestling); Zach Hashley, Jr. (wrestling) Anthony Murawski, Soph. (wrestling); Seamus Linehan, Soph. (track); Amos Telep, Soph. (swimming); Alex Laine, Sr. (basketball); Carlos Velazquez, Soph. (basketball); Andrew Cribbs, Sr. (basketball); Chris Dailey, Sr. (hockey); Trey Marrone, Soph. (hockey).
Manchester Essex: Jake Zschau, Jr. (basketball); Milo Zeltzer, Sr. (basketball); Sam Heanue, Sr. (track); Gus Hall, Fr. (track); Charlie Thurlow, Jr. (track); Luke Donohoe, Sr. (track)
Rockport: Pat Reardon, Sr. (basketball); Ansh Kataria, Jr. (basketball); Cooper Miller, Sr. (hockey).