Medway & Millis October 2021

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Sports
Medway’s Converse: A Classy, Team-first Player
Ex-QB Accepts Move to Receiver
By KEN HAMWEY
Staff Sports Writer
Sean Converse could easily be
the poster child for what a teamfirst
football player looks like.
The 17-year-old was Medway
High’s starting quarterback last
spring as a junior but now he’s
competing as a wide receiver.
That kind of change no doubt
would cause some players to
moan and groan, but the 6-foot-
1, 175-pounder not only was
open to the move, but was also
supportive of his replacement.
Converse’s immediate reaction
when he learned what head
coach Anthony Mazzola had in
mind was: “I’ll do whatever it
takes to help our team.’’
A confident competitor,
Converse guided Medway to
an early 3-0 record during the
Fall-2 grid season last spring but
the Mustangs lost their final two
outings, finishing 3-2 and ending
up in third place in the Tri
Valley League’s Small Division
standings. Converse’s effort in
Medway’s third win was dynamic
— he threw two touchdown
passes and rushed for two
other scores against Dedham.
“That contest was a big test,’’ he
recalled. “It was our first road encounter
and it was my best game
and top thrill.’’
So, why the switch?
“After the season ended, coach
Mazzola told me in June that he
and his staff felt the team needed
help at wide receiver,’’ Converse
said. “They liked my physical
Playing quarterback last season, Sean Converse led Medway
to a 3-2 record.
style and my ability to catch the
ball. They wanted me to team up
with Connor Kewley, a two-time
league all-star, to provide more
offensive firepower. And, coach
Mazzola felt that junior Luke Frauton
would be a capable successor
at QB.’’
Converse, now a senior captain,
displayed superb leadership
by telling Mazzola in a second
meeting that he’d like to compete
with Frauton for the QB job during
7-on-7 summer play.
“I felt that the competition
would help Luke to grow as a
player and help him develop as a
leader,’’ Converse offered. “Competing
against him could also help
his confidence. We both did well
in the 7-on-7 drills. Luke, however,
worked so hard, settled into
the role and earned the job.’’
“Sean’s willingness to switch
should help us by having two
weapons at wide receiver,’’ Mazzola
said. “He and Connor will
open up our running game for
Matt Childs. Bellingham won the
league title last spring with two
exceptional wideouts.’’
Mazzola also likes the attributes
that make Converse a
natural on the outside. “Sean
has great hands, he’s athletic
and has a high football IQ,’’ he
emphasized. “He’s also mentally
and physically tough, has speed
and quickness and he runs good
routes. He does the job at 100
mph and his leadership skills are
amazing. I go to him for things
that need fixing.’’
Converse is quick to laud both
Frauton and Kewley. “Luke is
an athlete, also playing hockey
and baseball,’’ Converse noted.
“He can throw deep accurately,
he can run, and is physical. And,
he’s working on improving as a
field general. Connor can jump,
has good hands and knows how
to run crisp routes. I’m excited to
team up with him.’’
A native of Medway, Converse’s
debut at receiver came
against Medfield in the Mustangs’
opener. He was targeted twice
and caught one pass for 22 yards.
The first-down reception set up a
touchdown two plays later when
Childs scored on a 35-yard run.
The Mustangs rolled to a 27-12
triumph.
“My goals for our team are to
win the small division title, qualify
for the playoffs and go as deep as
possible,’’ Converse said. “My
individual objectives aren’t to
compile statistics but I’d still like
to become a TVL all-star. That
would mean helping my team by
blocking or by excelling on defense
at cornerback. It’ll take lots
of hard work to be an all-star but
it’s Medway High’s success that’s
more important than my stats.’’
A good student, Converse is
leaning towards attending the
University of New Hampshire.
“I’m not sure what I’ll major in
and my chances of continuing
with football are slim,’’ he said.
Voted a captain when pre-season
practice concluded, Converse
was enthusiastic and honored.
He intends to lead in a variety
of ways. “I’ll lead by example, by
being supportive and being vocal
when needed,’’ he said. Mazzola
labels Converse as “positive’’ in
his leadership approach.
Converse’s athletic philosophy
is another area where he’s positive.
“I want to win, reach my potential
and enjoy competing,’’ he
said. “If we suffer a loss, it’s like
a fire in me. I want to return to
the field quickly and get things
turned around.’’
A power forward in basketball,
Converse is acutely aware
that sports teach valuable life lessons.
He’s learned some powerful
athletic tenets from both sports.
“I’ve learned to be competitive
and how to overcome adversity,’’
Converse stressed. “Athletics have
also taught me to be a leader and
a good teammate.’’
Sean Converse will be gaining yardage as a wide receiver this year.
4
One’s role models often reveal
why an individual is capable,
confident or successful. Converse
has five and they reveal volumes
about his character, work ethic
and perseverance. His role models
are his paternal grandmother
(Alana), his parents (Jeff and
Diane), his brother (Jeff), and former
Mustang quarterback Drew
Plunkett.
“My grandmother is 76 and
she has stage 4 cancer,’’ Converse
offered. “She’s opened my eyes
about how to handle adversity.
My parents are supportive and
encouraging, and my brother was
a great athlete at Medway and
he’s achieved high academic honors
at Merrimack College. Drew
taught me so much about playing
QB when I was his backup as a
freshman and sophomore. He’s
been very helpful and I still talk
to him.’’
Hoping that his senior season
will be more normal than
last spring’s campaign that involved
coping with a plethora of
COVID-19 restrictions, Converse
is prepared for whatever rules will
be imposed. He’s also ready to be
a two-way competitor. “Dealing
with COVID-19 was tough but
we adapted well,’’ he said. “To
play both ways requires being in
great shape, being physical and
being prepared.’’
The fifth in his family to play
football for Medway, he follows
his father, his brother and
two uncles (Jared and Steve). “I
dreamed about being Medway’s
quarterback as a kid, but now as
a wide receiver, I’m okay with
that,’’ Converse said. “I want to
be the best receiver I can be and
make an impact. I’d like to leave
a legacy as a great wideout who
was a team-first player.
Sean Converse is all about
“we,’’ not “me.’’
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