Why he plays: Wood has family friend and her daughter in mind on field

By Trevor Hass, Sports Editor/Reporter

sports@duxburyclipper.com

Twitter: @TrevorHass

Even in elementary school, it was easy to tell Jack Wood was a player. As his lacrosse teammates were still learning the sport, he was honing his craft and distancing himself.

But as it turns out, Wood wasn’t just a player on the field. He was a player with the ladies in fourth grade as well.

This isn’t a story about the sophomore Wood’s commitment to play lacrosse at Brown. It’s not about his goal-scoring prowess for Duxbury, or even about his growth in lacrosse.

This is a look at another side to Wood – a story you may not know. One about an elementary school girlfriend turned middle school best friend, and helping that friend through a tragic loss in high school.

It’s easy to notice Wood’s fire and competitiveness on the field, but his compassion and loyalty off it aren’t as immediately visible to a fan. When Wood’s best friend, Jamie Souza’s mother, Karen, was diagnosed with cancer, Wood was always around to listen. When Jamie visited her at the hospital for the first time, Wood was by her side. When Karen, 48, died Jan. 7 of this year, Wood was there to console her.

On his helmet, he has “R.I.P. Karen: Karen Marie Souza, 1.7.17.” written on his strap in black Sharpie. It serves as a reminder, that as far as his lacrosse journey takes him it’s all secondary to what transpires off it.

“I think about Karen before and after every game, knowing that I have a why on the field, why I’m playing,” Wood said. Every goal I score is for her.”

Her first Valentine

When Jamie and Jack met in fourth grade in Barnstable, they were immediately drawn to each other. Jack asked Jamie to be his girlfriend, showing remarkable confidence and clout for someone his age.

Jamie, who was smitten from the start, said yes, and they “dated” the entire year. On Valentine’s Day, they gave each other presents and Jack wrote Jamie her first Valentine.

“We’ve been best friends ever since,” Jamie said.

Their initial relationship – as cute as it was at the time – was more important in what it meant long term. As Jack and Jamie grew closer, so did their mothers. Their families became inseparable, and they spent as much time together as possible.

Jack spent his summers working at Karen’s restaurant, Moonakis Café, in East Falmouth. He bussed tables, but mainly it was a way for Jack and Jamie to spend time together.

Karen always made them breakfast as a reward for their hard work. Jack can still taste and smell her specialty – cinnamon French toast.

Jack and Jamie were competitive in everything academically – even spelling bees. Their moms always showed up to cheer them on and show their support. Sometimes they spent more time applauding the other kid than their own. They had that kind of bond.

Whenever the Souzas went skiing at Waterville Valley, Karen made sure Jamie invited Jack. She didn’t want to go on the trip without him.

“He held a very special place in my mom’s heart,” Jamie said. “She loved him.”

“I would always have him”

When Karen was diagnosed with terminal cancer, Jamie immediately turned to a voice she knew would provide her comfort.

As Karen battled her condition and Jamie fought with her, Jack was right by her side. Jamie stayed with the Woods family when Karen had her first surgery, and they went to the hospital together to see how she was doing.

“He was very supportive, always checking in on me and always texting my mom, telling her that he would always be looking out for me, no matter what happened,” Jamie said. “I would always have him.”

Whenever Jamie felt down, she turned to Jack – knowing he was always there to talk. Even if he had a long day or a bad game, he’d make time for her. He knew losing a mother was infinitely worse than losing a game, so he did his part to make sure she was OK.

Though Jack moved from Barnstable to Duxbury in middle school, his friendship with Jamie didn’t flee with him. They see each other less often these days, but whenever they hang out it’s just like old times.

Jamie turned 16 last Sunday, and she spent the day with Jack – eating lobster rolls at The Raw Bar in New Seabury. They laughed, reminisced, and celebrated together.

Just like old times. Like they were in fourth grade and it was Valentine’s Day.

'He's my hero': Son plays tennis with father in mind, as elder Gardner battles cancer

By Trevor Hass, Sports Editor/Reporter

sports@duxburyclipper.com

Twitter: @TrevorHass

In this precious moment, a father and son are just that.

No one’s frantically driving to the hospital, lying in bed for hours on end or sobbing incessantly. The pain and suffering that the Gardner family has experienced has momentarily disappeared, like a rainbow after a torrential downpour or a feast after a fast.

The feeding tube protruding from the father’s stomach isn’t causing problems, and that’s enough for him and his son to rejoice. Dave Gardner and Dave Gardner – they’re not senior and junior, but they might as well be – are just happy, and for now that’s all that matters.

As the elder Gardner battles esophageal cancer and the younger Gardner wraps up his senior tennis season with the Dragons, sometimes they pause to remind themselves to cherish these moments. On this Thursday in early June, all is right in the world, and they feed off each other’s energy as they share what they mean to one another.

Even in their darkest moments, the Gardners are optimists. They know their situation is bleak, but they prefer to focus on the silver linings – reveling in the small victories and soaking in the precious moments. That’s the kind of people they are, and it’s the only way they know how to live.

As long as they have each other, they can battle the sickness together.

“He means the world to me,” the father said.

“He’s my hero,” the son squeaked out. “He’s the greatest person I’ve ever met.”

Family man

To this day, Dave Gardner is forever indebted to his in-laws. If his wife Liz’s parents hadn’t retired and moved from Minneapolis to their summer home on the Cape full time, he and his soul mate likely never would have crossed paths.

Dave, who grew up in St. Louis, moved to the Boston area and signed up for a tennis class in Cambridge. One day, Liz – who almost never worked on Saturdays – thought about going into work. She decided to play tennis instead, and it’s a good thing she did.

“I looked over and I said, ‘She’s pretty nice looking,’” Dave said. “I went over and said, ‘Would you like to play some tennis?’ We played, and then we went out to dinner. Next thing you know, we had three kids.”

Dave and his younger siblings, twins Annie and Peter, are Liz and elder Dave’s life. That life, albeit a complex one right now, has always revolved around sports.

When younger Dave – who is a captain and steady doubles player for Duxbury – was a kid, he tried just about everything. He dipped his toes in hockey, football and baseball, but he was always drawn to tennis. 

As Dave continued to improve his skills, he ultimately earned a varsity spot, and his overjoyed father marveled at his growth every step of the way. Dave never forced his son to play tennis, but he was thrilled when that was the path he chose by himself.

That meant a lifetime of hitting together and a never-ending source of satisfaction as Dave continued to succeed.

“He just breathes through the success, enjoyment and hard work of his kids,” Duxbury boys tennis coach John Bunar said. “His greatest accomplishment is his family, and his family does him proud.”

His escape

If you approach the tennis courts at Duxbury High during any given home match, there’s often a car parked in a precarious spot right next to the fence.

If you peer inside the car, you’ll see Dave, beaming with pride as his son dazzles 50 yards away. Dave, who was diagnosed in December, gets chemo about once a week. When he comes home from the hospital, he’s exhausted and typically trudges right to bed. Sometimes he stays there for three, four days, but he plans in advance so he can get out of bed and mosey down to those courts with Liz whenever possible.

“It’s a big deal,” the father said. “Absolutely. I get away for two hours while I’m watching him play tennis. I don’t have to think about this dumb thing.”

Sometimes Dave will peak over toward the curb to smile at his father or give a thumbs up. Even when he doesn’t, just knowing he’s there can make all the difference. Or even if his father can’t make it that day, having his support can sometimes get Dave through a difficult match.

“It’s tough,” the son said. “It’s heartbreaking, but there’s two really positive things that have come from it. One, he’s fighting really hard, and that’s inspiring. If he’s doing this, which is life or death, I should do well in the small things like tennis and grades. I have no excuse. The other positive is that he’s going to come out the other end of this stronger than ever before. I’m sure of it.”

“I’ve got to get through this, and I will”

Watching your oldest graduate and shipping them off to college can be a daunting experience as is, but Liz and Dave have to deal with that while also driving to and from the hospital at least once a week.

Just this past Friday, Liz had to whisk Dave to the emergency room at Brigham and Women’s. He had an infection, so he needed his feeding tube removed immediately.

Even at his weakest, though, Dave is always there for his kids. Seeing them reach new milestones helps him keep going. When his energy is gone, his desire to help them never wavers. As the tennis team continues to move forward, so too does Dave.

He may not be their loudest supporter, but he’s one of their most passionate. In tennis, sometimes keeping the point going for one more shot can be the difference between a win or a loss, and the Gardners extend that metaphor to life.

Dave and Dave are in the fight together, and their bond is stronger than ever.

“It’s a battle,” the father said. “I know, because I’m going through it, it’s a long battle. I’ve got to get through this, and I will.”

Patriots dazzle in Duxbury, make dreams come true through all-star basketball game

By Trevor Hass, Sports Editor/Reporter

sports@duxburyclipper.com

Twitter: @TrevorHass

Jacoby Brissett soared through the air, the top of his head reaching rim-level and his tongue wagging like a golden retriever’s as he swooped in for the landing.

When he threw down a thunderous dunk, fans inside the packed gym at Duxbury High rose to their feet and cheered. Their shouting quickly turned to laughter, as they realized Brissett – the supremely athletic Patriots’ third-string quarterback – had legitimately twisted the backboard off-kilter.

Suddenly, a ladder emerged, and several of the game’s tallest and bravest players collaborated to wiggle the backboard back into place. Brissett looked on in disbelief, hands on his head, almost as though he didn’t know his own strength.

The backboard brouhaha was one entertaining speck in an action-packed night filled with joy, unprecedented opportunity and actualized dreams. The New England Patriots All-Stars faced the Duxbury All-Stars in a basketball game Monday night and won 72-69. It was a night the fans present will always cherish, as Brissett, LeGarrette Blount, James White, Duron Harmon, Trey Flowers and Shaq Mason represented the Patriots, while dozens of locals suited up for Duxbury.

It was the first game of its kind in Duxbury, though the Patriots have done similar events in the area before. The proceeds will benefit the Duxbury High Boosters Club, and the Boosters hope to parlay this into an annual event. The turnout was tremendous, and the gym and hallways overflowed with fans.

“I feel like the whole town was here,” said Duxbury High sophomore Quinn Murphy, who had a chance to play on the Patriots’ team. “It was definitely something I won’t forget.”

The night began with some apprehension from the crowd, as 7 p.m. grew nearer but the Patriots were nowhere to be found. Around 6:50, they started trickling in, and before long Brissett, Flowers and Mason were getting loose and warming up with some jump shots.

White, Harmon and Blount followed, and suddenly there were six players on the floor. The game was labeled as an all-star game, and it definitely had an all-star game feel. There wasn’t much defense, but that was fine with everyone.

It wasn’t about playing a competitive basketball game. It was about uniting players and their fans, and basketball happened to be the medium. With that said, there were still some snippets of intensity and occasionally heated battles on the court.

Duxbury girls soccer head coach Joe Ferguson can tell his grandkids that he banked in a 3 moments after a professional athlete missed one. Director of Athletics Thom Holdgate can say he made multiple layups against a squad of Super Bowl champions. Duxbury junior basketball player Molly Norton picked ferocious pass rusher Trey Flowers’ pocket. Once Brissett kicked the ball, boys soccer coach Brian Johnson followed suit and attempted to dangle Brissett.

No ankles were broken, but no hearts were either. The Patriots occasionally toyed with young kids on the Duxbury side, but it was all in good fun and was tastefully executed.

“It was a little intimidating at first because they’re super big, but they’re really funny and nice so they made it easy to jump right in,” Norton said. “LeGarrette Blount kept chirping me for getting an air-ball. It happens.”

Brissett, who hoisted a steady stream of Steph Curry-range 3s, finished with a game-high 34 points. Duxbury got a balanced scoring effort, trimming the deficit to single-digits late after trailing 44-25 at halftime.

Considering they were up against professional athletes, the Duxbury All-Stars certainly held their own.

While a major portion of the night was dedicated to basketball, that was far from all that transpired throughout the evening. There was an autograph session at halftime, during which unprepared yet adventurous fans turned to unique methods to get their favorite players’ signatures.

One young fan asked Blount to sign his forehead. The gregarious Blount obliged, then cracked up as the first fan’s friend immediately joined the movement. Another fan had Flowers and Brissett sign his phone, and some had the players ink their arms.

In between the third and fourth quarters, fans got to catch passes from Patriots. The younger receivers jogged out a few feet, while some bolder football junkies ran deep routes and showed off their skills.

One woman reeled in a toss from Blount and immediately spiked the autographed ball in Rob Gronkowski fashion, but she had to tiptoe after it once it squirted away.

It was a night to remember for everyone present, and the Boosters club hopes it’s just the first of many. They want to bring this back to Duxbury next year and for many years to come.

If Monday’s turnout and positive reception were any indication, it’s undoubtedly worth the effort.

How to stop Gwendolyn from accounting from winning your office March Madness pool

By Trevor Hass

Gwendolyn from accounting has never watched a college basketball game in her life. She prefers doing crosswords, cuddling with her cat and knitting by the fire.

She doesn’t know who Jimmer Fredette is. She doesn’t know about Kemba Walker, Christian Laettner or George Mason. She had never heard of March Madness until her crush from sales, Marvin, asked her to join a pool.

“Yeah, sure, I’ll go swimming, Marvin!” Gwendolyn replied, but before she knew what had happened she was on Yahoo, filling out a bracket while sipping on some oolong tea.

Gwendolyn doesn’t know about RPI, BPI or SOS. She knows about FLW (four-letter words), ICK (incredible cat-food kiosks) and CRY (cheap, reliable yarn). She also knows about operation OMG (obsessed with Marvin Greeley), and that’s the only reason she didn’t back out.

As Gwendolyn fills out her bracket, she’s naturally drawn to the cats. Kentucky, Arizona, Villanova, 1, 2, 3. Bam. She’s also been known to marvel at the two Cardinals – named Chinanu and Montrezl because her ex-boyfriend was a Pitino fan (she doesn’t get it) – from her back porch on a serene summer suburban night. So there’s her four.

Now wait just a minute. That’s a damn good Final Four. Come to think of it, that’s legitimately what the Final Four’s going to be. Two 1 seeds, two 2s, four talented teams who have been there before. How the heck did she do that?

Gwendolyn doesn’t know when the games are. She doesn’t watch any of them. She has no idea she’s won the pool until Marvin texts her. (They recently exchanged numbers. Big development).

“I can’t believe it,” the text reads, at 12:03 a.m. on Tuesday, April 4.

Gwendolyn’s mind starts racing. “He can’t believe what?” she ponders…why it took him so long to see what was right in front of him? That he hadn’t asked her out sooner? That she was so perfect? Ahhhhhh.

Then the second text comes in, at 12:09. (She was playing it cool by not responding right away, plus her cat needed to be fed).

“So I guess drinks are on you next time, huh?”

What drinks? Next time? Was there a first time? What are these mixed signals?

“Haha, I guess so! Pretty crazy!” she responds at 12:17, still unsure what the heck he’s talking about.   

“Wait, do you not know what happened? You won the pool!”

“I WON A POOL?!” (all caps).

“No, the pool. The March Madness pool.”

“Oh. Cool.”

“Are you not excited? You get $1,000! More cat food for Mittens!”

“Oh yeah, that’s true. So how bout those drinks?” She hesitated on this one, but figured YOLO and went for it.

Marvin said yes, but when they went out they had nothing to talk about. He wouldn’t shut up about that crazy 15 over 2 upset, and she wouldn’t shut up about her cat. They both realized they were better off as friends, and Gwendolyn was actually pretty stoked once she realized she was $1,000 richer. She even splurged on the Sunday New York Times and stayed up to the wee hours of the morning making sure the crossword puzzle was complete.

Once she finished, she cried herself to sleep, and her tear marks smudged the crossword. She still wasn’t happy, but she was a winner, goddamnit. A March Madness genius. And she was the talk of her entire office, but she just smiled and nodded. The tears had disappeared, but the anguish still remained. Gwendolyn wasn’t happy. Money doesn’t always lead to happiness. Only March Madness does that, for true basketball fans.

Gwendolyn will win your office pool. Her name may be Patty, Sue or Mary, but trust me…she’ll win. She’ll claim she knows nothing about college basketball, and she’ll be telling the truth. As much as you don’t want her to win, she will.

Unless…

You follow these five rules. Follow them closely, don’t veer away from them and throw out everything you think you know about anything. This is a war zone, and there’s a 9,223,372,036,854,777,807 out of 9,223,372,036,854,777,808 chance you won’t pick the perfect bracket.

Don’t beat yourself up. You had no way of knowing Troy would beat Duke. It’s not your fault. It’s just the way it is. Perfection is impossible in life in general, but especially during March Madness. But if you follow these tips, hopefully you can beat Gwendolyn (you still won’t).

1)   Don’t pick a 16 seed to beat a 1. Don’t do it. Listen to me. You don’t want to do it. But Gonzaga’s overrated! Daum on South Dakota State can tear them up! Go Jackrabbits, bro! Yeah, I mean if that happens you’ll be a genius and a God. It’s not gonna happen, though. It never has, and it won’t this year. If it does then maybe we can reconsider next year, but for now you just have to resist the temptation.

2)   Have at least one No. 1 seed in your Final Four, but don’t have all four there. Don’t be the guy who has all four No. 1 seeds. No one likes that guy (sorry, Dad, I love you. You’re the exception. Go Zags!) Pick a 2 seed. Maybe even a 3, or a 7 or a 9! Go a little crazy. Kentucky, Duke, Louisville and Arizona are actually really, really good 2s, so this year picking one of them shouldn’t be too difficult. On the flip side, don’t pick all non-1s, either. I’m Mr. Upset. I love upsets more than just about anyone, but this is a bad idea. I can just about guarantee at least one 1 seed will make it, and if that doesn’t happen then all of our brackets will be torn to shreds anyway so this is all for naught.

3)   Pick a 12 to beat a 5…or maybe two…or three! Only once since 1997 have all four 5 seeds knocked off the 12s in a clean sweep. For whatever reason, it really doesn’t happen. UNC Wilmington, Princeton, Nevada and Middle Tennessee State are all really, really solid teams. They have good guard play, which is imperative in the Tourney, and some of them have already been in the Tournament. You don’t have to pick all four. No one’s asking you to do that. But pick one and see what happens. If you’re right, you’ll be awfully glad you did.

4)   Have at least one double-digit seed in the Sweet 16. This comes back to the whole no upsets thing. Anyone can click the buttons to pick all the favorites (except my dad, who loves basketball but allegedly asked my mom if he could auto-select all the favorites and then go back and change a couple manually. Sorry, Dad, the material’s just too rich to pass up). Middle Tennessee State, Iona, Florida Gulf Coast and Wichita State are all definitely teams that could get it done. Take a risk. Live on the edge.

5)   Piece of advice No. 5 is very important. In fact, it’s the most important of all, and if you’ve somehow read this far (bless your soul) I highly encourage you to not stop now. Piece of advice No. 5 will change the way you see the world. It will shape your entire month, and you’ll be extremely glad you changed your ways before it was too late.

Piece of advice No. 5: Don’t follow pieces of advice Nos. 1 through 4. Doing so will cause you great suffering and may result in physical pain and emotional distress.

I follow college basketball religiously. I watch much more than I should and circle March on my calendar once mid-April hits. Where does it get me? Nowhere.

Last year, I finished 36^th out of 100 in my pool, which was a miracle and by far my best result ever. This year, I’m hoping for the perfect bracket but am realistically expecting to slink back into mediocrity.

I’m not very good at this, even though I desperately want to be. So do the opposite of what I said to do, burn your computer and turn on your TV.

The Madness is here. Gwendolyn’s about to be rich, and you’re about to die trying.

   

MAKING HISTORY: Duxbury girls capture first swim and dive title in school history

By Trevor Hass, Sports Editor/Reporter

sports@duxburyclipper.com

Twitter: @TrevorHass

Heading into the final race of the state championship – the race that would either cement the Dragons’ legacy or crush their dreams – Duxbury head coach Elizabeth Walsh gathered her swimmers together and told them exactly what was at stake.

She didn’t hold back. She gave her best pep talk, knowing that it would inspire them rather than frighten them.

“This is awesome,” Walsh told her 400 relay team. “You guys started this together, and now you end it together. It’s within your grasp. It’s yours to take. You can win the first state championship in Duxbury history.”

The team of Mary Buckley, Anna Jamieson, Julia Ali and Grace Ali did just that, smashing the competition en route to a 400 win and a state title. Duxbury finished with 250 points, just ahead of Weston at 242. The two teams were tied heading into the final event, but the Dragons took home the Division 2 title in thrilling fashion at Boston University on Saturday night.

“We’re all really good under pressure,” the senior Buckley said. “We were really confident going in that this (400) team right here is unstoppable.”

Once it was over, and the dream was complete, they danced on the pool deck and hugged one another tightly. Then they pranced over to the MIAA banner and grinned as they hoisted their new state champion trophy in the air.

But the celebration wasn’t done quite yet. There was one more integral step. The Dragons all jumped into the water and frolicked as a team, including Walsh with her shoes on.

“These girls are absolutely unbelievable,” said Walsh, still drenched as she spoke minutes later. “They deserve it. They really do. It’s still sinking in.”

The night began the same way it ended, with the fearsome foursome of Buckley, Ali, Jamieson and Ali dominating a medley relay. This time it was the 200, and the Dragons set a state record, winning the event and taking an early lead.

Buckley took second in the 200 individual medley and Jamieson captured second in the 50 free, but Marblehead led through three events. Grace Ali helped put the Dragons back in front by shattering the competition in the 100 fly and the 100 free.

Julia Ali (3^rd), Mary Tonaszuck (15^th) and Maya Zukowski (17^th) impressed in the 500 free, then Julia came in second and Jamieson sixth in the 100 back.

The Dragons still led, but they needed a championship performance from one of their top swimmers to stay in front. Just like she has her entire career, Buckley delivered, breaking the state record in the 100 breast.

“Usually, when you’re racing Mary Buckley it’s a race for second,” Walsh said. “She’s unstoppable.”

“It’s pretty indescribable,” Buckley added. “I knew I could get that record, but to actually be able to do it was great.”

But the night wasn’t over quite yet. Freshman Grace Zimmer helped the Dragons pick up some key diving points, but Weston hung around and was tied with Duxbury heading into the final event.

Moments before the 400 relay took place, the swimmers tried to stay loose any way they could during the extra long break. Everyone started singing Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the U.S.A.,” and the Dragons danced along like they were at a party instead of about to clinch a state title.

When their turn finally came, they knew exactly what was at stake and they delivered. Buckley gave them a significant early lead, Jamieson kept it and Julia Ali distanced the Dragons from the pack even further.

“We knew that we had it, so to control those emotions until Grace was done swimming was so hard,” Jamieson said.

But they had waited years, so they could wait a few seconds longer. When Grace reached the finish, the medley team jumped for joy and their teammates zipped around the deck in ecstasy and sobbed tears of joy as they celebrated.

Their hard work paid off in the sweetest way possible. For the first time in school history – girls or boys – the state swim and dive title belongs to Duxbury. And there’s a very good chance it could remain there next year, as Buckley, the Alis and several other strong swimmers return.

“It was our goal in the beginning of the season to be state champs,” Grace Ali said. “Now it happened, and it’s pretty amazing.”

They said late Saturday night it hadn’t really hit them quite yet, but they expected it would soon. With everything on the line, they delivered.

“It’s the best feeling ever,” Walsh said. “These girls have written Duxbury history.”