{{Short description|High school athletic league in Massachusetts}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox sports league | name = Hockomock League | logo = Hockomock_League_Logo.jpg | logo_size = 200 | founded = 1932 | conference = Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association | division = MIAA Division I | teams = 12 | region = New England | website = https://hockomocksports.com/ }}
The '''Hockomock League''' is an interscholastic high school athletic league located in Southeastern Massachusetts, founded in 1932.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Diamond |first=Nick |date=10 July 2019 |title=A new logo for the Hock |url=https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/journal-sun/2019/07/10/a-new-logo-for-hock/4725698007/ |access-date=13 November 2022 |website=www.wickedlocal.com}}</ref> The league took its name from a historic, freshwater swamp which served as a fortress for the Wampanoag native tribe during the King Philip’s War. The Wampanoags revered the area, naming it, “Hockomock,” an Algonquin word meaning, “Place where spirits dwell.” Today, the Hockomock Swamp is a protected environmental area and many local businesses, agencies and organizations use the Hockomock moniker to refer to their association with this region.
The league consists of 12 schools located in contiguous communities. All Hockomock League schools are public secondary schools and are members of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA). The director of the league rotates, with the athletic director of a different member school serving in the role each year.
For much of its existence, the League was made-up of nine schools but has twice undergone expansion<ref>{{Cite web |last=Farinella |first=Mark |date=13 May 2008 |title=FARINELLA: Hockomock expansion still in exploratory stage |url=https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/farinella-hockomock-expansion-still-in-exploratory-stage/article_6dcebcdf-8a6a-5255-b6a1-2201e395e9e5.html |access-date=11 November 2022 |website=www.thesunchronicle.com Sun Chronicle Newspaper}}</ref> adding a tenth school, Attleboro, in 2010,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barboza |first=Scott |date=7 July 2011 |title=Latest on Hockomock expansion, OCL's future |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/boston/high-school/post/_/id/8374/latest-on-hockomock-expansion-ocls-future |access-date=11 November 2022 |website=www.espn.com}}</ref> and then Taunton and Milford joined the League at the beginning of the 2012-2013 academic year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Libon |first=Dan |date=7 July 2011 |title=The Hockomock League is Expanding |url=https://patch.com/massachusetts/foxborough/the-hockomock-league-is-expanding |access-date=10 November 2022 |website=www. patch.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Farinella |first=Mark |date=11 Jun 2011 |title=Hockomock League adds Taunton, Milford |url=https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/hockomock-league-adds-taunton-milford/article_e7375f3a-acc9-5e5d-8853-b5766ad1eb65.html |access-date=10 November 2022 |website=www.the sunchronicle.com Sun Chronicle Newspaper}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Donahue |first=Connor |date=14 June 2011 |title=Hockomock Expansion |url=https://franklinpanthers.us/sports/2011/06/14/hockomock-expansion/ |access-date=11 November 2022 |website=Franklin High School website}}</ref> Enrollment disparities and the desire to balance the competitiveness of its sports programs, especially football, were major reasons to expand. With the addition of more teams, in 2010 the league implemented a divisional system.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Mike |date=19 August 2010 |title=Hockomock League to debut divisional format this fall |url=https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/2010/08/19/hock-divisions/ |access-date=10 November 2022 |website=www.thecantoncitizen.com}}</ref> Schools with larger enrollments were placed in the Kelley-Rex Division, while smaller schools are in the Davenport Division. Realignment of the divisions occurs every two years at a meeting of the school principals and athletic directors where each school reports their respective Department of Elementary and Secondary Education enrollment numbers for grades nine through eleven. Each division has six teams. Under the division format, both the Kelley-Rex and Davenport winners are considered Hockomock League champions.
In July 2019 the Hockomock League published a new logo embodying what it calls “the key components of the League’s long historical tradition and modern core values,” according to a press release.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 July 2019 |title=Hockomock League showcases new logo |url=https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/local_sports/hockomock-league-showcases-new-logo/article_2cb3f8dd-08ac-51e7-8544-249eff053b08.html |access-date=13 November 2022 |website=www.thesunchronicle.com The Sun Chronicle Newspaper Online Edition}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 July 2019 |title=Hockomock Logo Press Release 6-20-19 Final |url=http://www.mhs-athletics.com/HockomockLogoPressRelease6-20-19Final.pdf |access-date=13 November 2022 |website=www.mhs-athletics.com}}</ref>
The division names give tribute to three long-time Hockomock League administrators: Bill Rex, Foxborough High School; Louis Kelley, North Attleboro High School; and Dudley Davenport, Sharon High School.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Muscato |first=Ross |date=7 Dec 2011 |title=Bring Back The Hockomock League - Not Today, But Yesterday |url=https://patch.com/massachusetts/easton-ma/bring-back-the-hockomock-league |access-date= |website=www.patch.com}}</ref>
Since its inception, the league has earned a reputation for its competitiveness in all sports and its member schools have produced numerous sectional and state champions. It is regarded as one of the premier high school sports leagues in Massachusetts and the New England region.
== Member schools == {{OSM Location map|float=right|width=400|height=400|coord={{coord|42.0734924|-71.2969832}}|zoom=10 <!--(1=whole world, 18=a street)-->|nolabels=1|mark-coord={{coord|42.094297|-71.408746}}|mark=Gold pog.svg|label=Franklin|label-pos=bottom|label-color=black|caption=Locations of Hockomock League members, 2021-2022 10px Kelley-Rex (large school) division member 10px Davenport (small school) division member, and 10px the Hockomock Swamp|title=Hockomock League|mark-coord1={{coord|42.148716|-71.535169}}|mark1=Gold pog.svg|label1=Milford|label-color1=black|label-pos1=right|mark-coord2={{coord|41.900838|-71.070980}}|mark2=Gold pog.svg|label2=Taunton|label-color2=black|label-pos2=left|label-color5=black|label5=Mansfield|mark5=Gold pog.svg|mark-coord5={{coord|42.029321|-71.204110}}|label-pos4=right|label-color4=black|mark4=Gold pog.svg|label4=King Philip|mark-coord4={{coord|42.072725|-71.331425}}|label-pos3=top|label-color3=black|label3=Attleboro|mark3=Gold pog.svg|mark-coord3={{coord|41.938199|-71.301480}}|label-pos5=right|label-color8=black|label8=Oliver Ames|label-color7=black|mark8=Black pog.svg|mark-coord8={{coord|42.055609|-71.110356}}|label-pos7=bottom|label6=Canton|label7=Stoughton|mark7=Black pog.svg|mark-coord7={{coord|42.128737|-71.108401}}|label-pos6=right|label-color6=black|mark6=Black pog.svg|mark-coord6={{coord|42.162373|-71.146067}}|label-pos8=left|mark-coord9={{coord|41.995439|-71.076453}}|mark9=Green pog.svg|label9=Hockomock Swamp|label-pos9=left|label-color9=black|mark10=Black pog.svg|mark-coord10={{coord|41.982603|-71.309893}}|label10=North Attleborough|label-color10=black|label-pos10=left|mark-coord11={{coord|42.054762|-71.250561}}|mark11=Black pog.svg|label11=Foxborough|label-color11=black|label-pos11=left|mark-coord12={{coord|42.1132660|-71.1777934}}|mark12=Black pog.svg|label12=Sharon|label-color12=black|label-pos12=bottom}} {| class="wikitable sortable" !High School !Location !Colors !Mascot !Enrollment !Division |- |Attleboro |Attleboro, MA |Blue & Silver {{Color box|blue|border=silver}}{{Color box|silver|border=silver}} |Blue Bombardiers |1,384 |Kelley-Rex |- |Canton |Canton, MA |Green & White {{Color box|green|border=silver}}{{Color box|white|border=silver}} |Bulldogs |682 |Davenport |- |Foxborough |Foxborough, MA |Navy Blue, Gold & White {{Color box|navy|border=silver}}{{Color box|gold|border=silver}}{{Color box|white|border=silver}} |Warriors |867 |Davenport |- |Franklin |Franklin, MA |Navy Blue, Sky Blue & White {{Color box|navy|border=silver}}{{Color box|skyblue|border=silver}}{{Color box|white|border=silver}} |Panthers |1,223 |Kelley-Rex |- |King Philip |Wrentham, MA |Green & Gold {{Color box|green|border=silver}}{{Color box|gold|border=silver}} |Warriors |836 |Kelley-Rex |- |Mansfield |Mansfield, MA |Green, Black & White {{Color box|forestgreen|border=silver}}{{Color box|black|border=silver}}{{Color box|white|border=silver}} |Hornets |814 |Kelley-Rex |- |Milford |Milford, MA |Red & White {{Color box|red|border=silver}}{{Color box|white|border=silver}} |Scarlet Hawks |982 |Kelley-Rex |- |North Attleborough |North Attleborough, MA |Red & White {{Color box|red|border=silver}}{{Color box|white|border=silver}} |Rocketeers |857 |Davenport |- |Sharon |Sharon, MA |Maroon & Gold {{Color box|maroon|border=silver}}{{Color box|gold|border=silver}} |Eagles |823 |Davenport |- |Oliver Ames |Easton, MA |Orange & Black {{Color box|orange|border=silver}}{{Color box|black|border=silver}} |Tigers |822 |Davenport |- |Stoughton |Stoughton, MA |Black & Orange {{Color box|black|border=silver}}{{Color box|orange|border=silver}} |Black Knights |820 |Davenport |- |Taunton |Taunton, MA |Black & Orange {{Color box|black|border=silver}}{{Color box|orange|border=silver}} |Tigers |2,960 |Kelley-Rex |} Note: Enrollment figures (2021-2022) are for grades nine through eleven and are used for determining a school's divisional alignment.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 November 2021 |title=Massachusetts Public School Profiles 2021-22 Enrollment by Grade Report (District) |url=https://profiles.doe.mass.edu/statereport/enrollmentbygrade.aspx |access-date=12 November 2022 |website=Massachusetts Dept of Education}}</ref>
== Hall of Fame Coaches == The following Hockomock League coaches have distinguished themselves in their coaching profession and have been inducted into one or more of the following Coaches Hall of Fame for their sport(s). Organizations include Massachusetts Basketball Coaches Assn. (MBCA), Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Assn. (MHSFCA), Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Assn. (MassBCA), Eastern Massachusetts Soccer Coaches Assn (EMSCA)., Massachusetts State Track Coaches Assn. (MSTCA)
===Attleborough HS=== *Howard Tozier, Attleboro, basketball. Inducted in 1969.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Massachusetts Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame Inductees |url=https://www.mbcaorg.com/hof-inductees |access-date=27 November 2022 |website=www.mbcaorg.com}}</ref> *James Cassidy, Attleboro, football. Inducted in 1978.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=12 November 2022 |title=Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame |url=http://www.mhsfca.net/hall-of-fame-members.html |access-date=13 November 2022 |website=www.mhsfca.net}}</ref> *Steve Newman, Attleboro, track. Inducted in 1998.<ref name=":0" />
===Canton HS===
*Bill Donovan, Canton, football. Inducted in 1965.<ref name=":1" /> *Danny Erickson, Canton, soccer. Inducted in 2013. *Robert C. Gibson, Canton, baseball. Inducted in 1978.<ref name=":2" /> *George King, Canton, track. Inducted in 2000.<ref name=":0" /> *Charlie Stevenson, Canton, football. Inducted in 2014.<ref name=":1" /> *Paul F. Therrien, Canton, football. Inducted in 1993.<ref name=":1" />
===Foxborough HS=== *William Rex, Foxboro, football. Inducted in 2001.<ref name=":1" /> *Tom Sullivan, Foxboro, football. Inducted in 1994.<ref name=":1" /> *Greg McManus, Foxboro, soccer. Inducted in 2003. *Jack Martinelli, Foxboro, football. Inducted in 2011.<ref name=":1" /> *Kevin Murphy, Foxboro, track. Inducted in 2006.<ref name=":0" />
===Franklin HS=== *Ronald Bonollo, Franklin, baseball. Inducted in 1986.<ref name=":2" /> *Fran Bositis, Franklin, soccer, Inducted in 2003.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Eastern Massachusetts Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame Inductees |url=https://www.emsca.org/halloffame |access-date=27 Nov 2022 |website=www.emsca.org}}</ref> *Don Delloroco, Franklin, football. Inducted in 2009.<ref name=":1" /> *Gerard Leone, Franklin, football. Inducted in 1991.<ref name=":1" /> *Nello Luccini, Franklin, baseball. Inducted in 1999.<ref name=":2" /> *Pete Pasquarosa, Franklin, baseball. Inducted in 2013.<ref name=":2" /> *Paul Trovoto, Franklin, track. Inducted in 2009.<ref name=":0" /> *Lou Verocchi, Franklin, Lacrosse. Inducted in 2024.<ref name=":0" />
===King Philip Regional HS===
*Gary Lombard, King Philip, baseball. Inducted in 1997.<ref name=":2" />
===Mansfield HS===
*Julie Collins, Mansfield, track, Inducted in 2013.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=12 November 2022 |title=Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association - Coaches Hall of Fame |url=https://mstca.org/hall-of-fame/coaches |access-date=12 November 2022 |website=mstca.org}}</ref> *Mike Redding, Mansfield, football. Inducted in 2019.<ref name=":1" />
===Milford HS===
*Charles Espanet, Milford, baseball. Inducted in 1972.<ref name=":2" /> *Charlie Stand, Milford, baseball. Inducted in 2006.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2006 |title=Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Assn Hall of Fame Inductees *|url=http://massbca.com/hall-of-fame/members-inducties/ |access-date=13 November 2022 |website=www.massbca.com}}</ref>
===North Attleborough HS=== *Ray Beaupre, North Attleboro, football. Inducted in 2000.<ref name=":1" /> *Dwight Estey, North Attleboro, track. Inducted in 2009.<ref name=":0" />
===Oliver Ames HS=== *Elaine Clement-Holbrook, Oliver Ames, basketball. Inducted in 2008.<ref name=":4" /> *Leo Duggan, Oliver Ames, baseball. Inducted in 2012.<ref name=":2" /> *James Mitchell, Oliver Ames, football. Inducted in 2001.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2005 |title=Easton Public Schools, Oliver Ames High School Athletics Hall of Fame, James J Mitchell Inducted 2005 |url=https://www.easton.k12.ma.us/our_schools/oliver_ames_high_school/students/james_j_mitchell.php |access-date=17 November 2022 |website=www.easton.k12.ma.us/our_schools Easton Public Schools}}</ref> *Valentine P. Muscato, Oliver Ames, football, basketball and track. Inducted in 1979,<ref name=":1" /> 1976<ref name=":4" /> and 1992,<ref name=":0" /> respectively. *William Nixon, Oliver Ames, basketball. Inducted in 2001.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=1991 |title=Stonehill College Skyhawks Hall of Fame Biography |url=https://www.stonehillskyhawks.com/information/Hall_of_Fame/bios/nixon_bill_53?view=bio |access-date=16 November 2022 |website=www.stonehillskyhawks.com Stonehill College Athletics}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2004 |title=Easton Public School Athletics Hall of Fame William F Nixon Inducted 2004 |url=https://www.easton.k12.ma.us/our_schools/oliver_ames_high_school/students/william_f_nixon.php |access-date=16 November 2022 |website=www.easton.k12.ma.us Easton Public Schools}}</ref>
===Sharon HS===
*Dudley Davenport, Sharon, basketball. Inducted in 1989<ref name=":4" /> *Alan Howie, Sharon, soccer. Inducted in 2010.<ref name=":5" /> *Joel Peckman, Sharon, baseball. Inducted in 2012<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012 |title=Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Assn. - Joel Peckham Inductee 2012 |url=http://massbca.com/hall-of-fame/members-inducties/joel-peckham/ |access-date=13 November 2022 |website=Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Association www.massbca.com}}</ref>
===Stoughton HS===
*Robert Ashley, Stoughton, baseball. Inducted in 2001<ref name=":2" /> *Greg Burke, Stoughton, football. Inducted in 2019<ref name=":1" /> *Albert Toomey, Stoughton, football. Inducted in 1976<ref name=":1" />
==Notable Hockomock Athletes== The following athletes went on to have a significant collegiate or professional career:
*'''Jim Craig''' - Oliver Ames (Hockey). Goalie on the 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team. Won a gold medal. Played hockey for Boston University and professionally in the NHL for the Atlanta Flames, Boston Bruins and the Minnesota North Stars. *'''Anthony Sherman''' - North Attleboro (Football). Was the team captain in football, track and baseball. Played football for the University of Connecticut. Ten-year professional football career in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals and the Kansas City Chiefs. *'''Peter Laviolette''' - Franklin (Hockey). Played hockey and baseball for Franklin. Played 12 NHL games for the New York Rangers. He has been a head coach in every NHL season since the 2001-02 NHL season. He has coached the New York Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators, and is currently coaching the Washington Capitols.
*'''Tom Nalen''' - Foxboro (Football). Played football at Boston College. Drafted by the Denver Broncos in 1994 Has 2 Super Bowl rings and went to the pro bowl 5 times. 2 times 1st team all pro in 2000 and 2003.
*'''Sarah Behn''' - Foxboro (girls basketball). She was the head women's basketball coach at Framingham State, Franklin Pierce, and Brown University. She returned to coach girls' basketball at Foxboro briefly, from 2004-2011.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gobis |first=Peter |date=23 March 2020 |title=Foxboro's Behn steps down as Brown women's basketball coach |url=https://www.thesunchronicle.com/foxboro_reporter/sports/local_sports/foxboros-behn-steps-down-as-brown-womens-basketball-coach/article_07cc4473-b044-56c6-aa30-71c60b467ec5.html |access-date=12 November 2022 |website=The Sun Chronicle Newspaper Online Edition}}</ref> *'''Lofa Tatupu''' - King Philip (football). All state football player, played college football at Maine and then transferred to USC. Three time Pro Bowl linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks. *Kevin Pyne - Milford (Football - Boston College) *Kerry Taylor - Mansfield (Football - UMass, NFL) *TJ Guy - Mansfield (Football - University of Michigan, NFL). Played football at the University of Michigan, winning three consecutive Big Ten Championships along with a National Championship. Guy continued his football career with the Baltimore Ravens. *'''Frederick Richard''' - Stoughton (Gymnastics). Secured a team bronze medal at Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
==External links==
===Teams and sports=== *[http://www.northwrestling.com/ North Attleboro Wrestling] *[http://hs.sharon.k12.ma.us/pages/Sharon_High_School/FACULTY_AND_STAFF/Athletics Sharon Athletics] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060103071659/http://www.fhstrack.org/ Franklin track and field and cross-country] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20051222225220/http://www.mansfieldboosters.com/Mansfield%20Runs.htm Mansfield track and field and cross-country] *[http://www.northrunning.com/ North Attleboro track and field and cross-country] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060712214503/http://sharonrunning.com/ Sharon track and field and cross-country] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060430103518/http://homepage.mac.com/hockomock_league/StoughtonHSFootball/index.html Stoughton High School Football History] *[https://archive.today/20130127044737/http://kingphiliptrack.com/ King Philip Track & Field and Cross-Country]
===Schools=== *[http://ahs.attleboroschools.com Attleboro High School] *[https://www.cantonma.org/chs/index Canton High School] *[https://fhs.foxborough.k12.ma.us Foxborough High School] *[https://www.franklinps.net/fhs Franklin High School] *[https://www.kingphilip.org/HighSchool King Philip High School] *[http://mhs.mansfieldschools.com Mansfield High School] *[https://www.milfordpublicschools.com/Domain/8 Milford High School] *[https://www.naschools.net/highschool North Attleboro High School] *[http://www.easton.k12.ma.us/our_schools/oliver_ames_high_school/index.php/ Oliver Ames High School] *[https://www.sharon.k12.ma.us/Domain/59 Sharon High School] *[https://shs.stoughtonschools.org Stoughton High School] *[https://www.tauntonschools.org/ths.html Taunton High School] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20091026213727/http://geocities.com/jleahy142002/ Hockomock League Website maintained by John Leahy] *[http://www.hockomocksports.com Hockomock Sports]
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association}}
Category:Hockomock League Category:Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association leagues