Abington High School’s Ryan Doherty is not simply a senior athlete. Doherty is a three-sport athlete, playing golf, hockey and baseball. In addition, Doherty was a junior captain for golf and baseball. And this winter, Doherty captained  the Green Wave Hockey Team.

Although the Hockey Team did not have a winning season, “the team played hockey to the best of  their own ability,” Doherty said. He led the team through what he called a “challenging and difficult’ season with a 4-16 record.  

Doherty wishes there was a better emotional ending to his senior year. “It was sad it had to end the way it did.” He said he regrets the way things turned out.

As for his individual contributions, Doherty led the team scoring 15 goals and having 12 assists. He was also named an All-Star Athlete and in the Patriot Ledger’s All-Scholastics.

The Hockey Team started off the season with veteran coach Brian Smith, who had coached for 9 seasons. Doherty had had Smith as his coach for all four years of high school. A new interim staff lineup, with a new head coach Brian Woodford and assistant coach Brian Magararu, replace Coach Smith. Doherty described the transition as being “hard on the team mentally.”

Doherty believed “the physical game was the easiest part.” He said that the team would “find motivation” to be up as early as 3:30 a.m., to make it to their limited ice time in Bridgewater at 5:30, “knowing practice was crucial.” The team showed tenacity despite their record, and Doherty believed the team “put all their effort into becoming better.” He continued: “Not every team will be up at 3:30 in the morning to travel out of their way so early in the morning for a physical practice,” he said.

The new head coach Woodford’s first coaching career win was a blow out against East Bridgewater 8-3. Doherty said that his hardest game of the season was against Middleborough where the team was up 2-0, when momentum suddenly shifted as the Green Wave thought they had secured the victory and let their foot off the gas. Middleborough clinched a 3-2 victory against the Wave.

Doherty said, “The team felt eager to get back on the ice and do the work needed” to make up for their loss in order to try to make playoffs. Despite their best efforts, the Green Wave Hockey Team fell short of making playoffs, while Rockland and Middleborough advanced.

Although Doherty’s high school hockey career has ended, he said, “I am excited to see the underclassman step up next season.” He believes the hockey team “will have a promising future next year with good leadership.” The senior said that “some players to watch out for are current sophomore John Polito and juniors Joe McCarthy and Colin MacDonald.”

Now that spring is here, Doherty is committing his time and effort into baseball, going to batting cages during free time. He is hoping to have a great season at second base, alongside Brady Christoforo and Aaron Siegal. Last year the baseball team went 9-12 under head coach Steve Perakslis. Doherty believes this year’s team will make it to the tournament. 

Come support the Green Wave Baseball Team when they play their first game of the season. Follow the Green Wave Boosters here and the Abington Athetic Director’s Twitter page here.