Many contended for the crown of best all-around program in Massachusetts, but only one prevailed
Tim Whelan Jr.|wickedlocal.com
The Fourth of July is already behind us, although the Cape traffic is not. The Bay State-shaped trophies have long since been handed out.
And yet, there is one prize remaining, one for which every MIAA-participating high school in the Commonwealth was eligible. Precious few, however, contended.
We are talking, of course, about the King and Queen of Spring.Let the clamoring for the crownbegin.
Earlier in the spring, we introduced our first-ever King of the Spring rankings on the South Shore and in the Middlesex League; a list that measures the combined strength of local high schools' athletics programs.
While that addressed the MIAA Power Rankings, which also debuted this year, we took a different tack once the dust and FieldTurf pellets had settled. With tournament play as our chief indicator, seedings and power rankings were out the window for these rankings. This here, a comprehensive Massachusetts rankings, is based solely on postseason or big-meet performance.
So, based off their work in June, which schoolsare in the running for our King of Spring?
How the teams were scored
In order to narrow the field across the state, we limited each sport to the final eight teams in each bracket.Sports included in the points calculation are baseball, softball, boys and girls lacrosse, boys and girls tennis and boys volleyball. For those sports, the bracket winner receives 14points (2 for a quarterfinal win; 4 for a semifinal win; 8 for a final win), the runner-up receives 6 points (2 for a quarterfinal win; 4 for a semifinal win), the semifinalists receive 2 points (for a quarterfinal win)and those who reached the Round of 8 receive 1 point.
For track and field, we awarded 8 points to the divisional champions, 7 to runner-up, 6 to third place and so on. In total, 96 track and field teams are accounted for (8 in each of the 6 divisions, for both boys and girls).
Rugby and girls golf were not included in these rankings, with limited participation across the state in both. Also, no division was given more weight than another, as schools do not control their division and there is not uniformity across sports (at least 5 schools in our rankings participated in 3 different postseason divisions).
So, without further ado, let us count down the highest-achievingMIAA athletic programs from the spring of 2022 for our inaugural Kings and Queens of Spring. Did your school reach this rarefied air?
More: 2021-22 sports year in review: Find your high school's highlights here
T30. GREENFIELD (15 points)
- Division 5 softball champion (14)
- Division 6 boys track 8th place (1)
T30. MASCONOMET (15 points)
- Division 2 girls tennis champion (14)
- Division 2 girls lacrosse quarterfinalist (1)
More: Despite loss to Masconomet in Div. 2 state final, Westborough girls tennis keeps positive
T30. NORTH ANDOVER (15 points)
- Division 2 boys track champion (8)
- Division 2 girls track 2nd place (7)
T30. NOTRE DAME – HINGHAM (15 points)
- Division 2 girls lacrosse champion (14)
- Division 2 girls tennis quarterfinalist (1)
More: HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS LACROSSE: Notre Dame Academy's defensive master class delivers state title
T30. WALPOLE (15 points)
- Division 3 girls track 4th place (5)
- Division 3 boys track 4th place (5)
- Division 1 girls lacrosse semifinalist (2)
- Division 2 softball quarterfinalist (1)
- Division 2 boys lacrosse quarterfinalist (1)
- Division 2 boys tennis quarterfinalist (1)
T21. BILLERICA (16 points)
- Division 2 boys lacrosse finalist (6)
- Division 3 girls track 3rd place (6)
- Division 2 softball semifinalist (2)
- Division 3 boys track 8th place (1)
- Division 2 girls lacrosse quarterfinalist (1)
More: Billerica boys lacrosse falls in 2OT to Longmeadow in state championship
More: Aidan Gibbons scores with one second left, Billerica boys lax defeats Duxbury for first time
T21. CENTRAL CATHOLIC (16 points)
- Division 2 boys track 2nd place (7)
- Division 2 girls track 3rd place (6)
- Division 1 softball quarterfinalist (1)
- Division 1 baseball quarterfinalist (1)
- Division 1 girls lacrosse quarterfinalist (1)
T21. CONCORD-CARLISLE (16points)
- Division 2 boys tennis champion (14)
- Division 1 girls lacrosse quarterfinalist (1)
- Division 2 boys track 8th place (1)
More: Concord-Carlisle tops Westborough to earn another Div. 2 state boys tennis title
More: Concord-Carlisle girls lacrosse seeks 'ultimate game' against undefeated Westwood
T21. GREATER NEW BEDFORD (16points)
- Division 3 softball champion (14)
- Division 2 boys volleyball semifinalist (2)
More: 'Mission accomplished': GNB Voc-Tech softball tops Middleboro to win state championship
T21. HAMILTON-WENHAM (16points)
- Division 4 girls tennis champion (14)
- Division 4 boys tennis semifinalist (2)
T21. NEEDHAM (16points)
- Division 1 boys volleyball champion (14)
- Division 1 boys lacrosse quarterfinalist (1)
- Division 1 boys tennis quarterfinalist (1)
More: Perfecting perfection: Needham boys volleyball caps another undefeated season in D1 final
More: Needham boys volleyball: Rocket road trip (Part I) - 'It's helped me grow'
More: Needham boys volleyball: Rocket road trip (Part II) - Nolan Leary 'the motor, the energy guy'
More: Needham boys volleyball: Rocket road trip (Part III) - the Westfield match
T21. NORTH READING (16 points)
- Division 5 boys trackchampion (8)
- Division 5 girls track 2nd place (7)
- Division 3 girls tennis quarterfinalist (1)
T21. WAHCONAH (16points)
- Division 4 boys lacrosse champion (14)
- Division 4 softball state semifinalist (2)
More: 'No quit in the team': Sandwich High boys lacrosse team's stellar run ends in state final
T21. WESTWOOD (16points)
- Division 1 girls lacrosse champion (14)
- Division 2 girls tennis quarterfinalist (1)
- Division 2 boys lacrosse quarterfinalist (1)
More: Wellesley girls lacrosse team can't pull off miracle upset over Westwood in D1 state final
T18. MILTON (17points)
- Division 2 baseball champion (14)
- Division 3 girls track 6th place (3)
More: HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL: Mission accomplished for Milton; Wildcats finally wear Div. 2 crown
T18. NORWELL (17points)
- Division 3 boys lacrosse champion (14)
- Division 5 girls track 7th place (2)
- Division 3 girls lacrosse quarterfinalist (1)
More: Norwell High boys lacrosse team claims first state title with 'unbelievable' performance
T18. LITTLETON (17 points)
- Division 6 boys track champion (8)
- Division 6 girls track 2nd place (7)
- Division 4 softball semifinalist (2)
More: Kasey Ricard fans 16 for Littleton in Division 4 softball state semifinal loss to Case, 2-1
T16. WAYLAND (18points)
- Division 3 boys tennis champion (14)
- Division 2 girls lacrosse semifinalist (2)
- Division 3 girls tennis quarterfinalist (1)
- Division 2 boys volleyball quarterfinalist (1)
More: Wayland High boys tennis team defeats Bedford in Division 3 state championship game
T16. WELLESLEY (18 points)
- Division 2 girls track champion (8)
- Division 1 girls lacrosse finalist (6)
- Division 2 boys track T-6th (3)
- Division 1 boys tennis quarterfinalist (1)
More: Wellesley girls lacrosse team can't pull off miracle upset over Westwood in D1 state final
T14. AMESBURY (19points)
- Division 4 softball champion (14)
- Division 6 boys track 5th place (4)
- Division 4 baseball quarterfinalist (1)
T14. NEWTON NORTH (19 points)
- Division 1 girls track champion (8)
- Division 1 boys track champion (8)
- Division 1 boys tennis semifinalist (2)
- Division 1 softball quarterfinalist (1)
More: Newton North track and field teams win state meets, compete at Meet of Champions
13. MOUNT GREYLOCK (20 points)
- Division 5 baseball champion (14)
- Division 6 boys track 4th place (5)
- Division 4 girls lacrosse quarterfinalist (1)
More: No-hitter for naught: Will Parker blinds Mt. Greylock, but Hopedale falls in D5 baseball state final
12. LONGMEADOW (21 points)
- Division 2 boys lacrosse champion (14)
- Division 4 boys track 4th place (5)
- Division 1 girls lacrosse quarterfinalist (1)
- Division 2 girls tennis quarterfinalist (1)
More: Billerica boys lacrosse falls in 2OT to Longmeadow in state championship
11. ACTON-BOXBOROUGH (22 points)
- Division 1 boys tennis champion (14)
- Division 1 boys track 3rd place (6)
- Division 1 girls tennis quarterfinalist (1)
- Division 1 boys lacrosse quarterfinalist (1)
More: Acton-Boxborough boys tennis wins state title, snaps Brookline's 82-match streak
More: Back with 'the guys': Acton-Boxborough lacrosse player CJ O'Brien returns after injuries
T9. MANCHESTER ESSEX (23points)
- Division 4 baseball champion (14)
- Division 4 girls lacrosse finalist (6)
- Division 4 girls tennis semifinalist (2)
- Division 4 boys tennis quarterfinalist (1)
T9. ST. JOHN’S PREP(23points)
- Division 1 boys lacrosse champion (14)
- Division 1 boys track 2nd place (7)
- Division 1 boys tennis quarterfinalist (1)
- Division 1 boys volleyball quarterfinalist (1)
More: Injuries couldn't stop a gritty BC High lacrosse team from returning to the state final
8. LEXINGTON (25points)
- Division 1 girls tennis champion (14)
- Division 1 boys track 4th place(5)
- Division 1 girls track 6th place (3)
- Division 1 boys tennis semifinalist (2)
- Division 1 boys volleyball quarterfinalist (1)
More: Lexington girls tennis wins Division 1 state title over fellow unbeaten Lincoln-Sudbury
More: Winchester boys' volleyball is heading to the Final Four after sweeping Lexington
7. DOVER-SHERBORN (27points)
- Division 4 girls lacrossechampion (14)
- Division 5 boys track 2nd place (7)
- Division 4 boys lacrossesemifinalist (2)
- Division 3 boys tennis semifinalist (2)
- Division 3 girls tennis semifinalist (2)
More: Back to back: Dover-Sherborn girls lacrosse tops Manchester-Essex to win second straight state title
More: Sandwich boys lacrosse heads to the state championship with a comeback win
T3. AUSTIN PREP (28points)
- Division 3 baseball champion (14)
- Division 3 girls tennis finalist (6)
- Division 5 boys track 3rd place (6)
- Division 3 softball quarterfinalist (1)
- Division 3 boys lacrossequarterfinalist (1)
More: Before Austin Prep begins new chapter in its athletic history, they complete perfection
T3. MEDFIELD (28points)
- Division 3 girls lacrossechampion (14)
- Division 3 boys lacrossefinalist (6)
- Division 4 girls track 3rd place (6)
- Division 3 baseball quarterfinalist (1)
- Division 3 boys tennis quarterfinalist (1)
More: It's been quite an exciting spring season around Cohasset High
T3. TAUNTON (28points)
- Division 1 softballchampion (14)
- Division 1 baseball champion (14)
More: MacDougall, Evan Cali help Taunton baseball claim second D1 title in three seasons
More: Back to back state champions: Taunton softball claims D1 title in thriller with Peabody
T3. WESTFIELD (28points)
- Division 2 softball champion (14)
- Division 2 boys volleyball champion (14)
2. WESTON (31points)
- Division 4 boys tennis champion (14)
- Division 5 girls track champion (8)
- Division 5 boys track 5th place (4)
- Division 3 girls tennis semifinalist (2)
- Division 3 girls lacrossesemifinalist (2)
- Division 4 boys lacrossequarterfinalist (1)
And drum roll, please ...
The 2022 King and Queen of Spring is...
1. NEWBURYPORT (32points)
- Division 3 girls tennis champion (14)
- Division 4 boys track champion (8)
- Division 3 baseball finalist (6)
- Division 4 girls track 6th place (3)
- Division 3 girls lacrossequarterfinalist (1)
There you have it. With five teams finishing among the final eight in their respective divisions, and two taking home state titles,the jewel of the North Shore, Newburyport, wins the First Annual Massachusetts Kings and Queens of Spring crown. Congratulations to the Clippers!
The best of the rest:
T35(13 points)
MANSFIELD (Division 3 girls track champion; Division 3 boys track 6th place;Division 2 baseball semifinalist)
WESTBOROUGH (Division 2 girls tennis finalist; Division 2 boys tennis finalist; Division 3 boys track 7th place)
WESTFORD ACADEMY (Division 1 girls track 2nd place; Division 1 boys volleyball finalist)
T38(12 points)
BEDFORD (Division 2 girls lacrosse finalist; Division 3 boys tennis finalist)
HINGHAM (Division 2 boys track 3rd place; Division 2 girls track 6th place; Division 1 boys lacrosse semifinalist; Division 2 boys tennis quarterfinalist)
IPSWICH (Division 6 boys track 2nd place; Division 6 girls track 5th place; Division 4 girls lacrosse quarterfinalist)
LOWELL (Division 1 girls track 3rd place; Division 1 boys track 6th place; Division 1 boys volleyball semifinalist; Division 1 softball quarterfinalist)
LUNENBURG (Division 6 girlstrack 3rd place; Division 6 boys track 3rd place)
TEWKSBURY (Division 2 softball finalist; Division 4 boys track 5th place; Division 4 girls track 7th place)
WAKEFIELD (Division 3 boys track champion; Division 3 girls track 5th place)
T45(11 points)
COHASSET (Division 3 girls lacrosse finalist; Division 4 boys lacrosse semifinalist; Division 4 boys tennis semifinalist; Division 4 girls tennis quarterfinalist)
NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH (Division 3 boys track 3rd place; Division 2 softball semifinalist; Division 2 baseball semifinalist; Division 2 boys lacrosse quarterfinalist)
T47(10 points)
BURLINGTON (Division 4 girls track 2nd place; Division 4 boys track 6th place)
DUXBURY (Division 3 boys track 5th place; Division 2 girls lacrosse semifinalist; Division 2 boys lacrosse semifinalist; Division 2 boys tennis semifinalist)
LINCOLN-SUDBURY (Division 1 girls tennis finalist; Division 1 girls lacrosse semifinalist; Division 1 boys lacrosse semifinalist)
PEABODY (Division 1 softball finalist; Division 2 girls track 5th place)
PEMBROKE (Division 4 boys track 3rd place; Division 4 girls track 5th place)
T52(9 points)
PENTUCKET (Division 5 girls track 4th place; Division 5 boys track 6th place; Division 3 girls lacrosse quarterfinalist)
FRANKLIN (Division 1 baseball finalist; Division 1 girls lacrosse quarterfinalist; Division 1 boys lacrosse quarterfinalist; Division 1 girls track 8th place)
HOLLISTON (Division 4 girls track champion; Division 2 girls lacrosse quarterfinalist)
OLD ROCHESTER (Division 5 boys track 4th place; Division 5 girls track 5th place)
WHITINSVILLE CHRISTIAN (Division 6 girls track champion; Division 3 girls tennis quarterfinalist)
T57(8 points)
LYNNFIELD (Division 4 boys tennis finalist; Division 4 girls tennis quarterfinalist; Division 4 boys lacrosse quarterfinalist)
OLIVER AMES (Division 3 boys track 2nd place; Division 3 girls track 8th place)
SANDWICH (Division 4 boys lacrosse finalist; Division 4 girls lacrosse semifinalist)
WAREHAM (Division 4 girls tennis finalist; Division 6 boys track 2nd place)
WINCHESTER (Division 2 boys track 6th place; Division 1 girls tennis semifinalist; Division 1 boys volleyball semifinalist; Division 1 boys tennis quarterfinalist)
T62(7 points)
ANDOVER (Division 1 girls track 4th place; Division 1 boys track 8th place; Division 1 girls tennis quarterfinalist)
BC HIGH (Division 1 boys lacrosse finalist; Division 1 baseball quarterfinalist)
JOSEPH CASE (Division 4 softball finalist; Division 4 baseball quarterfinalist)
HOPEDALE (Division 5 baseball finalist; Division 5 softball quarterfinalist)
KING PHILIP (Division 2 baseball finalist; Division 1 softball quarterfinalist)
MELROSE (Division 3 girls track 2nd place)
NASHOBA (Division 4 boys track 2nd place)
T69(6 points)
ALGONQUIN (Division 2 girls track 4th place)
CATHOLIC MEMORIAL (Division 2 boys track 5th place; Division 1 baseball semifinalist)
MIDDLEBOROUGH (Division 3 softball finalist)
NATICK (Division 2 boys track 4th place; Division 1 boys volleyball quarterfinalist)
NORTH QUINCY (Division 2 boys volleyball finalist)
NORTON (Division 5 girls track 3rd place)
SEEKONK (Division 4 baseball finalist)
WACHUSETT (Division 1 girls track 5th place; Division 1 softball semifinalist)
WEST BOYLSTON (Division 5 softball finalist)
WILMINGTON (Division 4 girls track 4th place; Division 3 boys tennis quarterfinalist)
T79(5 points)
AYER-SHIRLEY (Division 6 girls track 4th place)
MARTHA’S VINEYARD (Division 3 boys tennis semifinalist; Division 5 boys track 7th place; Division 3 girls tennis quarterfinalist)
T81(4 points)
ABINGTON (Division 4baseball semifinalist; Division 4 softball quarterfinalist; Division 6 girls track 8th place)
DIGHTON-REHOBOTH (Division 3 softball semifinalist; Division 3 baseball semifinalist)
FOXBOROUGH (Division 3 baseball semifinalist; Division 3 boys lacrosse quarterfinalist; Division 3 girls lacrosse quarterfinalist)
Tim Whelan is the regional sports director for Wicked Local, the MetroWest Daily News and the Milford Daily News. Follow him on Twitter @thattimwhelan.