A short break for the long New Year's Weekend

The CHS Athletic program is going to take advantage of a light schedule over the upcoming long, holiday weekend, and take a pause in contests, practices and other team activities.  We will be postponing all athletic activities from Friday, December 31st through Sunday, January 2nd.

We currently have only one interscholastic contest on the schedule during that time- a JV Boys Hockey game which will be rescheduled.

The only other change to the contest schedule is a Girls Varsity Hockey game with Franklin scheduled for Monday, January 3rdh.  That game has been postponed to Tuesday, January 4th at 6:30 in order to give the team a practice upon returning after this long weekend break. 

This long weekend break is designed to help us keep our programs operating fully upon our return to school next week. Many programs and teams throughout the region have shutdown completely in recent days.  We are taking these steps in order to help avoid that here at CHS.  

Have questions?- Don't hesitate to email at ericksond@cantonma.org

Happy New Year!

As we hit the December "break"

As our winter sports student athletes and families already know, the winter "break" still involves quite a bit of CHS Athletics action.  

During this time, we are asking all of our winter student athletes, families and coaches, to be extra vigilant when it comes to Covid-19 precautions.  Many sports programs all around the state and nation have  been forced to alter schedules and even shutdown for a certain time period. For instance, the City of Boston recently put a pause on all high school athletics through January 10th.  WE DON'T WANT TO GET THERE!

In an effort to keep us all safe, healthy and to keep our programs going, we want to remind our Bulldogs to do the following during the break-

1. Keep up with a daily self-check of symptoms and if you have any PLEASE STAY HOME from your practice of contest. 

2. Do a GREAT job with mask wearing while at your practice, contest and in all other places you are socializing. 

3. Get Vaccinated and boosted. 

Also- please know that "test and stay" options over winter break are not as available as when school is in session. 

Let's be great at these precautions and keep our seasons rolling!

Happy Holidays to everyone in Bulldog Country!

Hockomock League Announces Fall All-Stars

The Hockomock League recently announced its All-Star teams for the Fall 2021 season. Many Bulldogs were recognized for their fine seasons. 

Field Hockey- Carly Fitzgerald, Erin Lane, Sarah Cunningham, Ellie Bohane, Honorable Mention- Payton McDonough

Volleyball- Anna Verille, Honorable Mention- Taylor Reynolds

Golf- Mekhala Costello, Will Gefteas, Michael Leonetti, Connor Hunter, Honorable Mention- Nate MacDonald 

Girls Cross Country- Kiara Cerutti, Honorable Mention- Hannah Fidas

Boys Cross Country-Kyle Downing, Honorable Mention- Sam Vail 

Girls Soccer- Emily McCabe, Ava Gilmore, Honorable Mention- Allie McCabe

Football- Bashor Mahn, Honorable Mention- Colin Albert

Boys Soccer- Erik Valdovinos, Dylan Baird, Jake McCabe, Honorable Mention- Zach Dowling

Calling All College-Athletics-bound Bulldogs!

The CHS Athletic office is looking to compile a list of all of the members of the class of 2022 who have committed or are looking to commit to play intercollegiate athletics next year. 

We are asking all Bulldog's who fit this description to reach out to the CHS Athletic Department to coordinate a ceremony- signing or otherwise- to honor the accomplishment. We are looking to make the months of January and February big months for such official announcements!

Please stop by the athletic office or email us the info at ericksond@cantonma.org prior to the December Break. 

Go dogs!

Winter Contests set to begin!

This weekend will see the 2021-22 Bulldog Winter Athletic season officially begin interscholastic competition with the CHS Gymnastics team leading the way with a meet at Attleboro High School Friday night.  By next weekend, all of our winter teams will be in action.  

Here is some important info for all winter Bulldog families and fans:

1. Live Streaming- The CHS Athletic Department will provide live streams of home games whenever possible. Please understand that this is not always practical or possible but we will do our best! Some events may have a more professional level stream, complete with commentary, etc. while others may just provide video and many will have no stream at all.  Be sure to check this CHS Athletics Blog for updates on streaming links.  Many of our contests will be streamed on our CHS Athletics YouTube channel. Thanks to the CHS Booster club for their support in our live-streaming efforts!

2. Ticket Sales- While many of our winter sports events carry no admission fee, some do.  You can expect to have to purchase a ticket to the following home contests- Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball, Boys and Girls Varsity Hockey and Varsity Wrestling.  It is also likely to expect a charge for these contests when on the road.  Indoor Track also may charge a fee at the League's neutral venues. 

The easiest and fastest way to purchase tickets to our home contests is digitally. Here is the link to our CHS Athletics Digital Ticket Sales. Buying tickets ahead of time is the easiest option!

3. Masks- Just another reminder that masks must be worn at all contests by all in attendance regardless of the venue. 

Upcoming HOME Bulldog Varsity schedule-

Saturday, December 11th-
Girls Ice Hockey vs. Natick at Ponky at 6:00pm 

Tuesday, December 14th-

Boys Varsity Basketball vs Franklin at CHS at 6:30pm 

Wednesday, December 15th-

Boys Ice Hockey vs Franklin at Ponky at 4:30pm 

Swimming vs. King Philip at BHRHS at 3:30pm 

Thursday, December 16th-

Girls Ice Hockey vs. Whitman Hanson at Ponky at 6:30pm

Friday, December 17th-

Boys Varsity Basketball vs. Oliver Ames at CHS at 6:30pm 

Saturday, December 18th- 

Boys Varsity Ice Hockey vs. Barnstable at Ponky at 4:00pm 

Masking and CHS Athletics

This Canton High School Athletics blog entry is intended to clarify the expectations around mask wearing this winter season for our winter athletes, families and fans. 

In compliance with MIAA protocols and in an effort to keep our student athletes, families and spectators healthy and safe, masks must be worn at all times* by student athletes, coaches, spectators and all others in attendance at all indoor events at all venues. 

MIAA Statement of November 23, 2021- As of this date in November, we are providing direction regarding masking guidelines for the winter season. This information is consistent with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and set forth by the Commissioner of Education. In order to maximize full participation of winter sports we will begin the winter season with the same guidelines that we utilized this fall: Student-athletes, coaches, and officials that are indoors shall be masked. These are minimum required State safety standards that remain consistent with the practices that take place during the school day. While masking guidelines may vary at off campus facilities and venues please treat practices and competitions as school events and adhere to the above guideline. Further, be respectful to the policies and expectations set forth in school districts and local communities and continue the practice of communicating with member schools that may or may not have reached the 80% vaccination threshold. DESE has set a January 15, 2022 date to assess masking guidelines. Through our work with State officials, and monitoring vaccination rates and COVID rates, we will take into consideration MIAA committee votes and push for a transition to un-masking during athletic completion within the winter season. 

We in the Canton High School Athletic Department fully appreciate the challenges associated with competing in athletics while masked. Further, we understand that our kids really thrive off of the social aspect of communicating with their teammates and coaches while able to see their full faces. We get it. We miss that too!  However, we are fully committed to following all MIAA and CPS Face Covering policies and to keeping our community safe and healthy.  We need your help!

We need everyone on board in order to make this work well.  We understand that the issue of masking has been a divisive one over the past 18 months and has really challenged our student athletes. However, these are the safety protocols put in place and our coaches and athletic staff cannot be alone in making sure we have 100% compliance. Your partnership is essential.

We ask that all CHS winter sports families discuss the importance of proper mask wearing while participating in CHS Athletics.  Your help is critical in getting all of us on the same page (whether we like it or not).  Some food for thought-

• Please show your coach the respect of not having to put them in the position of repeatedly telling you to put on or fix your mask. 

• Remember that every time your coach needs to correct your mask-wearing, they are not able to focus on their role of coaching. 

• Proper mask-wearing means the mask is covering the nose and mouth. 

• Have a bunch of back-up masks in your athletic bag. We have masks available if you need them.

• Excellence in sport is almost always a result of dealing well with adversity.  The team/player who deals with the "uncontrollables" the best are most often those who excel. This is a classic "uncontrollable!"  Bulldogs- let's not let this get in the way of our goals!

Thank you Bulldogs! 

*At certain times in gymnastics and while in the pool for swimming, masks may be removed.