Joe Mantegna Jr., who graduated from Northampton High in 1987, is entering his 17th season at Blair Academy in Blairstown, New Jersey. He is chasing his 300th career win, sitting at 287-119, and has turned the boys basketball program into one of the country’s top prep programs.
Feature stories
Under Brian McGan, success of Hampshire Regional softball team parallels earlier dominance by girls basketball
Last month Hampshire softball coach Brian McGan and athletic director Trytko watched the 2015 squad raise the program’s first state title trophy, while simultaneously dropping a pin in the western Massachusetts atlas.
Northampton High senior track athlete Troy Cronin excels on prosthetic blades
Northampton High senior sprinter Troy Cronin, who is a double amputee, ran the 100-meter dash in 14.8 seconds for a personal record in a home meet against Longmeadow on Monday. And while he didn’t win, he also didn’t come in last in a race against able-bodied runners.
Former Amherst cop Mike Kent completes 25th straight Boston Marathon
The addition to Michael Kent’s coat closet also represents his 25th straight Boston Marathon. On Monday, at age 51, he finished in 4 hours, 25 minutes, 05 seconds to add another medal to the bag on the floor the closet.
Hadley native Nate Bombardier is Notre Dame’s leprechaun mascot
On Tuesday night, Nate Bombardier wanted to cut down his third championship net of the NCAA basketball season. It’s an experience few college seniors get, but unfortunately the Notre Dame women’s basketball team lost to UConn, 63-53, in the national championship.
Bombardier is neither a coach, nor a member of the training staff. He is the leprechaun mascot for the Fighting Irish.
Once surgically bound to a wheelchair, transfer Johnny Williams shines in the pool for NHS
For the junior, the concept of being a sectional title holder — and potential state Division 2 champ as the No. 1 seed in the 100 fly — seemed like a fantasy 10 years ago. Even walking normally was questionable for Johnny Williams.