Ashland November 2016

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Page 20 Local Town Pages www.ashlandtownnews.com November 2016 Sports Davis Selected as Ashland’s New Boys Hoop Coach By Ken Hamwey, Staff Sports Writer Isaiah Davis is Ashland High’s new boys’ basketball coach, replacing Mark Champagne who left the program after six seasons to take the coaching reins at King Philip Regional in Wrentham. The 30-year-old Davis was Wellesley High’s assistant varsity coach with the boys’ program for four years, and during the last two seasons the native of Providence served as assistant varsity boys’ coach and middle school head coach at Noble & Greenough in Dedham. He was a two-time all-star when he played at Providence Country Day (PCD) and he competed for two years in a reserve role at Babson College where he graduated in 2008. Although Davis has no headcoaching experience at the high school level, he’s no stranger to the sport or programs in the Metrowest area. He has coached and worked in youth programs in Wellesley and is program director of GT Elite, a club team that he started. He also has coached at the highest club level and he’s conducted many camps and clinics throughout the local area. Chosen from a pool of 20- plus applicants, Davis is eager to get started. He and his wife Maria live in Framingham, and his commute to Ashland is about five minutes. “I’m excited to get this opportunity, and I’m looking forward to continuing the success that coach Champagne had during his six seasons,’’ Davis said. “My coaching philosophy is to compete hard, help our players reach their potential, win and enjoy the experience.’’ Davis, who had a 3.90 grade point average at PCD, enrolled at Babson on an academic scholarship and studied in Europe and Africa for three of his semesters. He has a degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing. While he was coaching at Wellesley High and Noble & Greenough, he worked in the financial services field but now is employed by EIS Group, a firm that sells insurance software to major corporations. Davis, who was a dynamic point guard at PCD, averaged 16 points and 8 assists, but his calling card was defense, a commodity he plans to employ intensely at Ashland. FIREWOOD 508-380-8717 Full Cord, and Cord-and-a-Half loads, delivered to Metrowest towns. Gary Schofield “My style will focus on defense first, and our offense will be uptempo,’’ Davis noted. “Teaching and stressing fundamentals will be a priority. If we’re small, we’ll rely on players who’ll read and react, pass and set picks. I want our kids to buy into what I’m teaching, but I also want to groom them into young men and create lasting memories. I want players to allow basketball to help them deal with issues in real-life situations. Working as a team, setting goals and overcoming adversity are just a few lessons that can be learned.’’ Appointed in August, Davis said, “We’ve got some up-andcoming talent on our junior varsity squad, and I know we’ve got good leadership at the senior level.’’ Davis also is acutely aware that the Tri Valley League (TVL) is ultra competitive. “I know Medfield is traditionally strong, and it looks like Holliston is emerging,’’ he said. “The TVL looks like a conference where teams one through six will all be in the mix for the league title.’’ Davis credits Wellesley High coach Glen Magpiong for helping him develop into a candidate to lead a varsity squad. “Glen groomed me and taught me a lot about coaching,’’ Davis emphasized. “He also showed me how to build a program. I also admire two other coaches — Paul Connolly at Newton North and Stephen Brennan at Babson. Paul stresses all the right things and his teams are always in the playoffs, and coach Brennan showed me how to maintain poise and stressed the importance of academics in a players’ life.’’ Davis said he plans on being very visible in the community. “I want to learn more about Ashland’s youth program and I want to be at a variety of the school’s events, like football games,’’ he emphasized. “My players will get to know my style and philosophy but I want to be involved in the town so that the basketball program will be built from the grassroots up. There will be rules and there will be accountability and that goes for me, too.’’ When Athletic Director Mike Grimes informed Davis he was the choice of the search committee, there was a very poignant comment made by Grimes to Davis. It was a comment that said volumes about the confidence Ashland was placing in its new coach. “Mike told me that there was a person who took a chance on him when the school was seeking a new A.D.,’’ Davis said. “He told me that he and the committee were willing to take a chance on me. I know the competition I faced was stiff, but Ashland showed confidence in me.’’ Grimes is eager to work with Davis. “He brings energy and knowledge to the table, and I’m excited for our entire basketball program, from the varsity down to the youth level,’’ Grimes emphasized. “I look forward to working with Isaiah as he establishes his program.’’ Davis helped Wellesley High get to the playoffs in all four years he worked as an assistant coach. Qualifying for the tourney obviously is high on his list of priorities, but Isaiah Davis also is interested in developing solid citizens and creating positive memories.
November 2016 Local Town Pages www.ashlandtownnews.com Page 21 Sports Maggie Duich, Ashland Golf By Christopher Tremblay, Staff Sports Writer When you’re exposed to a sport enough, you tend to gravitate toward that sport. Such was the case for Ashland’s Maggie Duich, whose father loved to play golf, and following her first time swinging the clubs, she was hooked. “My father took me out on the course when I was old enough to take part in the sport and soon after he bought me my own clubs,” Duich said. “I liked the game almost immediately as it was different and not a popular sport, especially for girls. The best part about it was it was something that I could do with my dad.” The Ashland golfer soon found herself taking lessons with Bill McInerney, and although she was inconsistent with her scoring (high 40s/ low 50s), she was enjoying the sport in the eighth grade. By her sophomore year in high school, she began cutting strokes off her overall score and found herself shooting in the 43-44 range. This year, her senior campaign, she now finds herself in the low 40s. Although she fell in love with the sport for what it was, she also thought that she could possible parlay it into some cash for college. “I figured that if I worked hard enough I might be able to play in college and possibly get some type of scholarship,” she said. “However I have since changed my mind as I am looking to pursue a science major in college and even if I wanted to play I’d have no times with my studies.” While her parents would support any decision that she decided to tackle, her mother was very relieved that she decided not to pursue golf. “My mother was always saying that academics come first, so it was a relief to her when I decided not to play golf in college,” Duich said. Playing a sport that not many of her friends took part in sometimes has its downfalls, but Duich was ok with that. “My friends were very supportive of me, but since none of them play the sport we can never hang out on the course,” she said. “They are just not into playing nine holes of golf over 2 hours.” Coach Rick LeBlanc, who has guided the Ashland golf team for three years now, has seen the senior two-time captain grow over the past few years into the top golfer she is today. “She is definitely the team’s number one golfer with a team best 43 average. She’s not only a leader on the course, but in school, too,” the Clocker Coach said. “She’s got a great all around game with a fantastic tee shot. Her mental game over the past two years has improved immensely.” Upon entering high school Duich made the decision to try out for the team despite being a girl. And although somewhat weaker than her male counterparts she was not going to let it get in her way. “I felt that I shouldn’t have to let my love for the sport be denied just because I was a girl,” she said. “I really wanted to make the team and was able to get through it because I embraced the fact that I was not going to be able to hit the ball as far as the boys. I may not be able to hit it 300 yards, but I would keep it straight, play my game to the best of my ability and put up a decent score.” After securing a spot on the team, Duich found things a bit intimidating being the only girl on the squad, especially when she was teeing off and the entire team was watching her. However, the team didn’t think of her as a girl and welcomed her with open arms. During the past few years, Duich has been looking to improve upon her skills to be the best teammate possible on the golf course and help her team win. “I love hitting, I love crushing the ball. It’s probably the best part of my game and it came relatively easy, but I knew that I needed to build upon my other skills if I was to be successful,” the Ashland golfer said. “During my sophomore and junior years, I would practice in Dedham two or three hours every day after school before going home and doing my homework.” According to Coach LeBlanc, Duich’s risk of trying out for the team has certainly opened the doors. “Our numbers were low prior to Maggie joining the team,” the Coach said. “But it opened up the door for other girls to become interested in the sport and try out for the team.” LeBlanc sees his senior captain as a great leader for the younger golfers and one that doesn’t let herself down; she’ll just shake it off and regroup. Duich agrees with her coach’s assessment. “Patience can definitely get the best of me sometimes,” Duich said. “Golf is a social sport and you just need to embrace that and continue on your way.” With her decision not to play golf on the collegiate level, her senior year at Ashland will conclude her golf career so she’s looking to go out on a high note. “This is my last year playing golf competitively, but I will not be giving up on golf, I will continue to play,” she said. “Before I leave Ashland, I would like to shoot under 40; I’ve been close before, but I always seem to have a bad hole near the end.” Whether she is able to get under that elusive 40 score on the golf course for her own sake, the SPRING REGISTRATION NOW OPEN (Photo/Maddie Graves Photography) Ashland golfer has given other girls in the area the option to play golf competitively for the high school team if they choose to do so and that is probably a bigger feat in itself. Boys & Girls - K thru 8th Grade To register and for more information, visit us online: www.ashlandyouthlacrosse.org
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Ashland November 2016

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