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"When Franklin won its Final Four match against Newton South on Wednesday, first-year head coach Chris Ridolfi smiled when his next opponent was mentioned. As he remarked, if you want to be the best, then you need to beat the best, and three-time defending champion Newton North certainly qualifies.
On Saturday night at Billerica High, Franklin, playing in its first-ever state title match, took down one of the state’s premier programs in a 3-2 (25-15, 25-27, 19-25, 25-23, 15-11) thriller. Franklin (23-2) took the crown from the Tigers and for the first time in program history are the Div. 1 champions.
Ridolfi said, “It was a heck of a first year. You come into a good team and that’s what you get.”
“That took so much out of us,” senior hitter Makayla Kuykendall said about battling back over the final two sets. “You could tell how badly we wanted it at the end. Personally, I did not want to lose that game at all. It was the last game of the season no matter what, so you may as well go out giving everything you have. And everyone did.”
By Josh Perry || HockomockSports.com Managing Editor (subscription required)
The senior gave every last ounce of energy and effort on Saturday night in the Division 1 championship game against powerhouse Newton North. But she had just enough left for one more swing.
That swing hammered to the floor in the back corner, the clinching point to finish off Franklin’s comeback and secure a 15-12 win in the fifth set to clinch a 3-2 (25-15, 25-27, 19-25, 25-23, 15-12) victory over the Tigers. It was the final point of the season, and fittingly, it came off the hand that has steadied the Panthers over the past four years.
“I’m feeling great, but I’m dead [tired],” an exhausted Kuykendall relayed after the marathon match inside a quite warm Billerica gymnasium. “That took so much out of us. You could tell how badly we wanted it at the end. Personally, I did not want to lose that game at all. It was the last game of the season no matter what, so you may as well go out giving everything you have. And everyone did.”
Kuykendall has been a starter since she first put on a Franklin uniform, growing from a promising underclassman into the program’s heartbeat. When the Panthers trailed 2-1 in the match, it was the senior who kept demanding the ball, kept taking the tough swings, and kept pulling her teammates back into the fight with words of wisdom and encouragement after each and every point."
By Ryan Lanigan || HockomockSports.com Editor (subscription required)
"With five minutes left in the fourth quarter of Saturday morning’s Div. 1 state championship game at Burlington High, Franklin lined up its only corner of the second half (and only its second of the day). The Panthers had put up a stiff resistance on the other end of the field but had very few scoring opportunities.
Down by a goal to top seed Walpole, this was Franklin’s chance to try and get on the board and keep its dream of a first state title alive.
The ball came out to freshman Cade Taccini, who has scored big goals throughout this playoff run. Her blast from the top of the circle skipped through bodies in the crease but was inches wide of the post and inches from junior Tori Cahill’s tip attempt.
Walpole ran out the remaining time to finish off a 1-0 victory and clinch a third straight state title. Franklin can confidently look to the future with a young core of players who made history by reaching the program’s first final."
By Josh Perry || HockomockSports.com Managing Editor
Via Twitter, Franklin TV, and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Fall sports competition for Franklin High School on Monday, November 12, 2025
Field Hockey = Division 1 Final Four = #3 Wellesley, 0 vs. #2 Franklin, 2 – Final
Volleyball = Division 1 Final Four = #16 Newton South, 0 vs. #5 Franklin, 3 – Final
The game recap written by Josh Perry || HockomockSports.com Managing Editor
"Newton South, the No. 16 seed, put together a magical run to the Final Four, including a win over the tournament’s top seed Chelmsford in the Sweet Sixteen. They went into Wednesday night’s state semifinal at Westwood High looking to complete a magical run to the program’s first final.
Instead, the clock struck midnight on this season’s Cinderella.
Franklin continued to roll, earning a dominant, 3-0 (25-16, 25-13, 25-16) victory. It was Franklin’s 17th straight victory, with 14 of those wins being sweeps including all four postseason matches. The Panthers fulfilled their preseason goal of reaching the program’s first state title game and will face perennial power Newton North in the final.
“We’re so excited,” said Franklin senior hitter Makayla Kuykendall. “Our goal wasn’t just to win the league but it was to win it all. [Coach Ridolfi] asked us what we wanted to get from this season and we said, a state championship. We’re so lucky and grateful to have this privilege to play.”
Ryan Lanigan || HockomockSports.com Editor, will have a more complete update and photo gallery later today (Monday):
"For the first time in program history, the Franklin boys basketball team are state champions.
The top-seeded Panthers held off a late push from #3 Newton North, including a potential game-tying three at the buzzer, to secure the title with a 55-52 win.
Senior Caden Sullivan scored 11 of his game-high 31 points in the fourth quarter, including some clutch free throws in the final minute to help Franklin get the win."
"There was a lot of weight on Caden Sullivan’s shoulders down the stretch of Sunday’s thrilling Division 1 boys’ basketball state final at Tsongas Center.
The weight of a grieving community, of a team full of new starters, and a program desperately trying to get over the hump for its first state title.
Franklin’s senior captain took it all in stride, stepping up with 14 of the Panthers’ final 16 points to out-duel Newton North star senior Teagan Swint in a 55-52 victory that went down to the final buzzer."
Via Twitter, Franklin TV, and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Winter sports competition for Franklin High School on Friday, January 31, 2025
Boys Basketball = King Philip, 42 @ Franklin, 56 – Final
– King Philip came out and put Franklin on upset alert with a strong first quarter but the Panthers responded with a big second quarter and led the rest of the way. Jack Assini (13 points) scored nine points in the first and Tommy Kilroy (11 points) had five to help the Warriors stake a 17-8 lead after eight minutes but Franklin’s offense roared to life with a 23-point second quarter to earn a 31-26 halftime lead. Zach Allen, who ended with a career-high 15 points, gave the Panthers a big boost with eight points, including a pair of triples, while Wyatt Herndon (nine points) added two trifectas to get Franklin in front. Caden Sullivan (13 points), Jake Olmstead, and Justice Samuels (11 points) each had five points in the third to keep the hosts ahead, 46-40, going into the fourth and Franklin’s defense took over from there, limiting the Warriors to two points in the fourth. KP senior Brandon Nicastro was the third Warrior in double figures with 10 points.
Girls Basketball = Franklin, 42 @ King Philip, 54 – Final
Josh Perry || HockomockSports.com Managing Editor provides the game recap ->
"Throughout the first half of Friday night’s Kelley-Rex title showdown in the Wooden Gym, King Philip felt like it was on the verge of being able to pull away and put some distance between itself and Franklin, but the Panther kept finding ways to answer back.
In the third quarter, that changed. The Warriors went on a 16-0 run and outscored Franklin 18-3 overall to turn a three-point game into a comfortable 20-point cushion.
Although the Panthers responded with 16 points in the fourth, KP never looked that troubled over the final eight minutes and celebrated a 54-42 victory. It was KP’s first win over the Panthers since December 2013, a stretch of 22 games, and it moved the teams into a first-place tie with four league games remaining."
Continue reading the article online (subscription required)
"Some losses can stick with you for years, even forever.
Tri-County’s football squad put things in the rearview, and the Cougars are now champions.
Junior quarterback Declan Walker finished 3-for-9 passing with 98 yards to go with 159 yards rushing and three total touchdowns, while sophomore Nick O’Brien (120 yards rushing) sprinted for the game-winning score with 31 seconds remaining as Tri-County captured its first-ever Small School Vocational title with a thrilling 36-30 victory over rival Blue Hills on the road.
“The kids came to play,” said Tri-County coach Andy Gomes. “It was one of those things throughout the year. Our kids just kept getting better and better. They had a mission in their minds. They wanted to come here and they wanted to take care of business. We did, and that’s a good football team we competed against… but to get the first one in the history of the school? It’s something that I’m glad for. These kids will have that memory, and be able to say that for the rest of their lives.”
Continue reading the game recap (subscription maybe required) ->