Hockomock League
ConferenceMassachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association
Founded1932
DivisionMIAA Division I
No. of teams12
RegionNew England
Official websitehttps://hockomocksports.com/

The Hockomock League is an interscholastic high school athletic league located in Southeastern Massachusetts, founded in 1932.[1] The league took its name from a historic, freshwater swamp which served as a fortress for the Wampanoag native tribe during the King Philip’s War. The Wampanoags revered the area, naming it, “Hockomock,” an Algonquin word meaning, “Place where spirits dwell.” Today, the Hockomock Swamp is a protected environmental area and many local businesses, agencies and organizations use the Hockomock moniker to refer to their association with this region.

The league consists of 12 schools located in contiguous communities. All Hockomock League schools are public secondary schools and are members of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA). The director of the league rotates, with the athletic director of a different member school serving in the role each year.

For much of its existence, the League was made-up of nine schools but has twice undergone expansion[2] adding a tenth school, Attleboro, in 2010,[3] and then Taunton and Milford joined the League at the beginning of the 2012-2013 academic year.[4] [5][6] Enrollment disparities and the desire to balance the competitiveness of its sports programs, especially football, were major reasons to expand. With the addition of more teams, in 2010 the league implemented a divisional system.[7] Schools with larger enrollments were placed in the Kelley-Rex Division, while smaller schools are in the Davenport Division. Realignment of the divisions occurs every two years at a meeting of the school principals and athletic directors where each school reports their respective Department of Elementary and Secondary Education enrollment numbers for grades nine through eleven. Each division has six teams. Under the division format, both the Kelley-Rex and Davenport winners are considered Hockomock League champions.

In July 2019 the Hockomock League published a new logo embodying what it calls “the key components of the League’s long historical tradition and modern core values,” according to a press release.[8][9]

The division names give tribute to three long-time Hockomock League administrators: Bill Rex, Foxborough High School; Louis Kelley, North Attleboro High School; and Dudley Davenport, Sharon High School.[10]

Since its inception, the league has earned a reputation for its competitiveness in all sports and its member schools have produced numerous sectional and state champions. It is regarded as one of the premier high school sports leagues in Massachusetts and the New England region.

Member schools

Hockomock League
🌍
Locations of Hockomock League members, 2021-2022 Kelley-Rex (large school) division member Davenport (small school) division member, and the Hockomock Swamp
High School Location Colors Mascot Enrollment Division
Attleboro Attleboro, MA Blue & Silver    Blue Bombardiers 1,384 Kelley-Rex
Canton Canton, MA Green & White    Bulldogs 682 Davenport
Foxborough Foxborough, MA Navy Blue, Gold & White     Warriors 867 Davenport
Franklin Franklin, MA Navy Blue, Sky Blue & White     Panthers 1,223 Kelley-Rex
King Philip Wrentham, MA Green & Gold    Warriors 836 Kelley-Rex
Mansfield Mansfield, MA Green, Black & White     Hornets 814 Davenport
Milford Milford, MA Red & White    Scarlet Hawks 982 Kelley-Rex
North Attleborough North Attleborough, MA Red & White    Rocketeers 857 Kelley-Rex
Sharon Sharon, MA Maroon & Gold    Eagles 823 Davenport
Oliver Ames North Easton, MA Orange & Black    Tigers 822 Davenport
Stoughton Stoughton, MA Black & Orange    Black Knights 820 Davenport
Taunton Taunton, MA Black & Orange    Tigers 1,578 Kelley-Rex

Note: Enrollment figures (2021-2022) are for grades nine through eleven and are used for determining a school's divisional alignment.[11]

Hall of Fame Coaches

The following Hockomock League coaches have distinguished themselves in their coaching profession and have been inducted into one or more of the following Coaches Hall of Fame for their sport(s). Organizations include Massachusetts Basketball Coaches Assn. (MBCA), Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Assn. (MHSFCA), Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Assn. (MassBCA), Eastern Massachusetts Soccer Coaches Assn (EMSCA)., Massachusetts State Track Coaches Assn. (MSTCA)

Attleborough HS

  • Howard Tozier, Attleboro, basketball. Inducted in 1969.[12]
  • James Cassidy, Attleboro, football. Inducted in 1978.[13]
  • Steve Newman, Attleboro, track. Inducted in 1998.[14]

Canton HS

  • Bill Donovan, Canton, football. Inducted in 1965.[13]
  • Danny Erickson, Canton, soccer. Inducted in 2013.
  • Robert C. Gibson, Canton, baseball. Inducted in 1978.[15]
  • George King, Canton, track. Inducted in 2000.[14]
  • Charlie Stevenson, Canton, football. Inducted in 2014.[13]
  • Paul F. Therrien, Canton, football. Inducted in 1993.[13]

Foxborough HS

  • William Rex, Foxboro, football. Inducted in 2001.[13]
  • Tom Sullivan, Foxboro, football. Inducted in 1994.[13]
  • Greg McManus, Foxboro, soccer. Inducted in 2003.
  • Jack Martinelli, Foxboro, football. Inducted in 2011.[13]
  • Kevin Murphy, Foxboro, track. Inducted in 2006.[14]

Franklin HS

  • Ronald Bonollo, Franklin, baseball. Inducted in 1986.[15]
  • Fran Bositis, Franklin, soccer, Inducted in 2003.[16]
  • Don Delloroco, Franklin, football. Inducted in 2009.[13]
  • Gerard Leone, Franklin, football. Inducted in 1991.[13]
  • Nello Luccini, Franklin, baseball. Inducted in 1999.[15]
  • Pete Pasquarosa, Franklin, baseball. Inducted in 2013.[15]
  • Paul Trovoto, Franklin, track. Inducted in 2009.[14]

King Philip Regional HS

  • Gary Lombard, King Philip, baseball. Inducted in 1997.[15]

Mansfield HS

  • Julie Collins, Mansfield, track, Inducted in 2013.[14]
  • Mike Redding, Mansfield, football. Inducted in 2019.[13]

Milford HS

  • Charles Espanet, Milford, baseball. Inducted in 1972.[15]
  • Charlie Stand, Milford, baseball. Inducted in 2006.[15]

North Attleborough HS

  • Ray Beaupre, North Attleboro, football. Inducted in 2000.[13]
  • Dwight Estey, North Attleboro, track. Inducted in 2009.[14]

Oliver Ames HS

  • Elaine Clement-Holbrook, Oliver Ames, basketball. Inducted in 2008.[12]
  • Leo Duggan, Oliver Ames, baseball. Inducted in 2012.[15]
  • James Mitchell, Oliver Ames, football. Inducted in 2001.[13][17]
  • Valentine P. Muscato, Oliver Ames, football, basketball and track. Inducted in 1979,[13] 1976[12] and 1992,[14] respectively.
  • William Nixon, Oliver Ames, basketball. Inducted in 2001.[18][19]

Sharon HS

  • Dudley Davenport, Sharon, basketball. Inducted in 1989[12]
  • Alan Howie, Sharon, soccer. Inducted in 2010. [16]
  • Joel Peckman, Sharon, baseball. Inducted in 2012[20]

Stoughton HS

  • Robert Ashley, Stoughton, baseball. Inducted in 2001[15]
  • Greg Burke, Stoughton, football. Inducted in 2019[13]
  • Albert Toomey, Stoughton, football. Inducted in 1976[13]


Notable Hockomock Athletes

The following athletes went on to have a significant collegiate or professional career:

  • Anthony Sherman - North Attleboro (Football). Was the team captain in football, track and baseball. Played football for the University of Connecticut. Ten-year professional football career in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs.
  • Lofa Tatupu - King Philip (football). All state football player, played college football at Maine and then transferred to USC. Three time Pro Bowl linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks.
  • Kevin Pyne - Milford (Football - Boston College)
  • Corey Eason - Mansfield (Football - Boston College / UMass)
  • Kerry Taylor - Mansfield (Football - UMass, NFL)

Teams and sports

Schools

References

  1. ↑ Diamond, Nick (10 July 2019). "A new logo for the Hock". www.wickedlocal.com. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  2. ↑ Farinella, Mark (13 May 2008). "FARINELLA: Hockomock expansion still in exploratory stage". www.thesunchronicle.com Sun Chronicle Newspaper. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  3. ↑ Barboza, Scott (7 July 2011). "Latest on Hockomock expansion, OCL's future". www.espn.com. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  4. ↑ Libon, Dan (7 July 2011). "The Hockomock League is Expanding". www. patch.com. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  5. ↑ Farinella, Mark (11 Jun 2011). "Hockomock League adds Taunton, Milford". www.the sunchronicle.com Sun Chronicle Newspaper. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  6. ↑ Donahue, Connor (14 June 2011). "Hockomock Expansion". Franklin High School website. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  7. ↑ Berger, Mike (19 August 2010). "Hockomock League to debut divisional format this fall". www.thecantoncitizen.com. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  8. ↑ "Hockomock League showcases new logo". www.thesunchronicle.com The Sun Chronicle Newspaper Online Edition. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  9. ↑ "Hockomock Logo Press Release 6-20-19 Final" (PDF). www.mhs-athletics.com. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  10. ↑ Muscato, Ross (7 Dec 2011). "Bring Back The Hockomock League - Not Today, But Yesterday". www.patch.com.
  11. ↑ "Massachusetts Public School Profiles 2021-22 Enrollment by Grade Report (District)". Massachusetts Dept of Education. 18 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Massachusetts Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame Inductees". www.mbcaorg.com. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame". www.mhsfca.net. 12 November 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association - Coaches Hall of Fame". mstca.org. 12 November 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Assn Hall of Fame Inductees *". www.massbca.com. 2006. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  16. 1 2 "Eastern Massachusetts Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame Inductees". www.emsca.org. Retrieved 27 Nov 2022.
  17. ↑ "Easton Public Schools, Oliver Ames High School Athletics Hall of Fame, James J Mitchell Inducted 2005". www.easton.k12.ma.us/our_schools Easton Public Schools. 2005. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  18. ↑ "Stonehill College Skyhawks Hall of Fame Biography". www.stonehillskyhawks.com Stonehill College Athletics. 1991. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  19. ↑ "Easton Public School Athletics Hall of Fame William F Nixon Inducted 2004". www.easton.k12.ma.us Easton Public Schools. 2004. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  20. ↑ "Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Assn. - Joel Peckham Inductee 2012". Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Association www.massbca.com. 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  21. ↑ Gobis, Peter (23 March 2020). "Foxboro's Behn steps down as Brown women's basketball coach". The Sun Chronicle Newspaper Online Edition. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
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