Male Athlete of the Month:
Nate Rosas

by Aylla Rodovalho

The Male Athlete of this month is Nate Rosas. He has demonstrated an incredible work ethic and has made a great impact on the wrestling team as a senior captain this year.

Q: Do you have a pre-match ritual?

A: “Before every match I like to listen to music and walk back and forth behind the bench. This allows me to clear my head of everything going on in my environment and helps me to lock in for my match."

Q: How do you think you’ve done so far this season?

A: “I think the season has gone well so far. We are about half way into the year and I believe that me and all the guys on the team are starting to really enjoy seeing the hard work that we have been putting in as a result in our matches. “

Q: How long have you been wrestling?

A: “I have been wrestling for 12 years ever since I was in first grade. It’s been a long time coming and it’s crazy to think that I am finally a senior captain on my high school team that I have been looking up to for years.”

Q: Do you have a hype song , if so why did you choose it?

A: “My pre match song is "Till I Collapse" by Eminem. It also happens to be my walk up song before home matches. I have listened to this song since I was little and every time that I hear it, it makes me feel like I want to run through a wall.”

Q: What is your favorite part of wrestling?

A: “My favorite part of wrestling has been the time that I have been able to share with my dad. He coached me from 1st to 8th grade and after a job position opened up for the high school team he has been coaching us since last year. He is the best coach that I have wrestled for and I am blessed to have the opportunity to spend as much time with him as I do. I am thankful that the sport of wrestling has brought us so close.”

Q: As a captain what are the responsibilities like?

A: “As a captain there are many responsibilities that I have to do. Whether it’s running warmups or making sure everyone knows what time buses are picking the team up, there is a lot that we do. Although it can be a lot, I am fortunate enough to share my captain role with my best friend, Jack Farrell. That kid is a great leader and we help each other and the coaches in so many different ways. He serves as a great role model to the younger wrestlers.”

Q: Do you plan on wrestling in college?

A: “After 12 years of wrestling I will not be wrestling in college. Although it is something that I love to do, I won't be continuing wrestling at a collegiate level.”

All photos courtesy of Nate Rosas

Female Athlete of the Month:

Jen Birolini

by Rowan Donlon

Looking for a fun way to interact with the school? Head to one of our girls hockey games! There you will see a great team full of skillful girls, and south shore hockey star Jen Birolini.

Jen is our female athlete of the month, and for good reason. Since she was in eighth grade, she has been frequently mentioned in The Boston Globe, for her outstanding talent and records. She grew up in a hockey centered family, where all of her siblings were involved with the sport influencing her love along with watching it all the time
She said, “I grew up watching it all the time which made me love the sport.”

So far, the girls only have one loss, and Jen is hoping to make it to TD Garden for the state championship. Jen was named sophomore captain last year, and renamed captain for her now, junior, season. She loves her team, claiming her favorite part of the sport is being able to see her friends, and enjoying the “playoff atmosphere."

Photos from The Boston Globe.

Photo courtesy Tammy Derochea

Girls' Varsity Basketball

by Aylla Rodovalho & Amelia Stock

The girls basketball team has a record of 6-1. The team captains are Allie Dwyer ,Elli Tam and Caroline Balasco (Junior). Their season began by winning against Whitman hanson which is a first for the past 3 years. They played some other teams and only lost against Fontbonne. Kat Taylor said “Our most challenging team we will play is Quincy. They have good height and talent . We are going to overcome this is by being very prepared by knowing their players and having a good understanding of how the play”

Photo Courtesy @pemberlakegymnastics on instagram

Gymnastics

by Aylla Rodovalho & Amelia Stock

The gymnastics team is a combination of Pembroke and Silver Lake. The team is called Pemberlake. This year the team is the smallest in the league with only 9 girls. “We're pretty strong in our events and everyone on the team is amazing so we don't fall too far behind," sys Sophomore Carrie Dynan. The team has competed in one meet so far this season and won with a score of 131.6. Only one of the Captains for the team is a Pembroke student, Junior Alex Raleigh. For this season the team's goal is to stay consistent throughout our routines and skills and to try and have as much fun as we can.

photo credit @AndyillesPhotog

Boys' Basketball

by Aylla Rodovalho & Amelia Stock

Boys basketball team has a record of 4-2. Their team captains are Tom Halloran, Jacob Derochea and Matt Delcore. Their team goal is to win their league title. The Situate is going to be their most difficult game. Captain Tom Halloran states, “We’re gonna work hard to overcome this challenge”

Boys' Hockey

by Aylla Rodovalho & Amelia Stock

The Pembroke boys hockey team's record is 3-2-2. With their team captains being Brandon Perry (Senior) who has 5 goals this season already, Kyle Ready (Junior), and Ryan Bradley (Senior). Perry also said “ We have the potential to be great as long as we continue to play as a team and keep performing against tough opponents we will be able to be successful.” The team's goal for this season is to play at the garden for the state final game.
“The team has come together very quickly giving us an edge over the other teams early in the season. Lots of stand out performances from different players each night and shows that we can make a possible run with the depth we have. Excited for what the year brings,” said captain Kyle Ready.

photo on Twitter

Wrestling

by Aylla Rodovalho & Amelia Stock

The wrestling team has been working hard this year. With two great and devoted senior captains Jack Farrell and Nate Rosas (who just so happens to be this issue’s athlete of the month). Their team goal for this season is to send a bunch of kids to the States this upcoming February, while also trying to focus on expanding the program. “The team is really close this year even though we have a lot of kids we have never met until this year. I think it goes hand and hand with how hard we work together in the wrestling room and it just brings the team closer together,” states Farrell.

Photo by Jack Farrell

photo courtesy Ryan Kanya

Swim Team

by Aylla Rodovalho & Amelia Stock

The swim team has competed in two meets so far this season and unfortunately lost both. "Although this year we have lost our first two meets, I have high hopes that we will do really well in the upcoming meets,'' said captain Matt Willshire. The captains of the team are seniors Rowan Donlon, Willshire, Matt Sears, Catie Flaherty and Junior Sidney Sullivan. The team's overall goal for the season is to “lift eachother up,” expressed sophomore Ryan Kanya. Ryan also says the team is really looking to improve their skills and their bond.

Photo courtesy Alexa Lewis

Girls' Hockey

by Aylla Rodovalho & Amelia Stock

The hockey teams record for this season is 8-1 and 4-0 in the Patriot League. The one loss was a game against Notre Dame Academy. The team just recently won the Gormley Tournament in Buzzards Bay where their Assistant Coach Andrew Gustan received his 100th win with the program. The captains are Seniors Maria Cantio, Alexa Lewis, Ava Dunphy and Junior Jen Birolini. The team's goal for the season is “we hope to progress as a team and work hard to hopefully earn a spot in the state championship,” says sophomore Lauren Perry.

Photo Courtesy Rachel Kelleher

Cheerleading

by Aylla Rodovalho & Amelia Stock

The winter cheer team is not competing this year due to the lack of girls on the team but are still cheering for the boys basketball team. The captains are Seniors Hailey Burke, Rachel Kelleher, and Caroline Clarke. “This season our team's goal is a cultural reset, we want to improve this team for the following years without us seniors. We want to help build,gain and improve skills for the seasons to come. This season we also just want to build the bonds with the team and become closer as teammates," said Captain Kelleher. Sophomore Kelsi Hatch says she hopes that the team is able to become a great team for the next coming years.

Photo by Marty Ward

Photo courtesy Pembroke Track Team

Indoor Track

by Aylla Rodovalho & Amelia Stock

Pembroke High's indoor track team has a record of 1-0. Girls track has been very successful and are hoping to win all of their league meets this year. The team has successful jumpers, sprinters, throwers, and distance runners. According to junior Ally Johnson, "Our coach has prepared us well for this season."

Boys team captains are seniors Parker Glass, Patrick Norman and Will Johnson. The team is looking to go undefeated this year and hopefully become league champions.
Gabe Lamar said, “The team goal has remained the same over the last few years, which is winning state championships on the boys side.”

Parker Glass expressed,“We have lots of hard working runners who love the sport and were all excited to continue competing. We’re looking forward to the rest of the season.”

There appears to be lots of great competition all over the state; however things are looking good for Pembroke and they’re hoping to receive the recognition they deserve.

*Follow PHS Athletics on Twitter @PHS_Titans for any updates.