WOODSTOCK — Steve Landon had no intention of coaching this basketball season. After a mutual parting of ways with Hartford High athletic director Jeff Moreno earlier this year that ended Landon’s 24-year relationship with Hurricane athletics, Landon was going to take this winter easy and continue his work with the Vermont Basketball Coaches Association.
But when Woodstock High girls basketball coach Jason Johnson decided to take a season off from coaching due to a family matter, Landon stepped in.
In the month leading up to the decision, Johnson and Landon were in contact, mostly so Johnson could just talk through the situation with his friend. Woodstock athletic director Quaron Pinckney convinced Johnson to take a year off from coaching to be with his family instead of completely stepping down.
“It allows me, first and foremost, to help a friend of mine in Jason who’s going through a difficult time. If somebody needs help, that’s what we do,” Landon said over the phone on Thursday. “And then secondly, I am excited to get back on to the girls side of the game. I met with some of the players on the team for the first time at the winter meeting on Tuesday. I haven’t met with the entire team yet, some of them were not there, but I like their enthusiasm and I like the support that the program is currently getting from everyone. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Landon coached boys basketball at Hartford the previous seven seasons. Before that he coached the Canes’ girls squad for six years, which included a 2012 state title.
He doesn’t plan on making this season about anything else other than growing the Woodstock program and competing. He’s already had a five-hour session with Johnson to better understand the Wasps strategy.
Woodstock is coming off an 8-13 season and returns lead-scorer Jane Lackley. The Wasps tip off on Dec. 16 against visiting West Rutland.
“(Jason) had initially reached out to Steve on his own when he was weighing this season, if he should coach or should he take a step back,” Pinckney said. “I want him to be as involved as he’s able to. He doesn’t want confusion. He wants it clear that Steve is the head coach for the year.
“They met to go over Xs and Os, and the strategy for the program. Try to keep things the same in certain aspects. Jason can continue to help even by giving his thoughts from the stands.”
Magic in Hanover: For the first time since 2008, Hanover boys and girls soccer each brought state championships back to the Upper Valley last weekend.
Both victories came in penalty-kick shootouts and produced memorable performances from goalkeepers. In the boys slate, Joey Perras made three stops in the tiebreaker and 23 saves in the match. Bella Bardales made 12 saves for the girls, plus the game-winning stop in penalty kicks.
The green No. 0 jersey that Perras wore Saturday night wasn’t his jersey but backup Andrew Enelow’s. The shirt was then passed on to Bardales at some point.
“I do not know how it got passed to Bella, but I’m gonna guess Bella said, ‘Hey, Joey, let me wear the jersey, ” Hanover boys coach Rob Grabill said. “I don’t know if any laundering took place. But it was very appropriate given the mojo that both of these goalies brought, not just in penalty kick, but throughout the course of the game.”
Grabill was able to make it to Manchester for the second half of the girls game on Sunday after church duties. When he talked with the Valley News on Wednesday, he had fully started to digest Perras’ performance.
“I think this is in general agreement, that not only was that a singular performance by one athlete (Perras) that had a direct bearing on the contest, but it’s the best performance I’ve ever seen by any goalie involved in any game that I’ve been apart of,” he said.
Along with two soccer titles, the Marauders’ field hockey team won the Division II championship on Nov. 3. It is the first time in school history the three programs won championships in the same season.
Signed and delivered: Last week began national signing day season, with many student athletes in the Upper Valley officially committing to play their respective sport at the next level.
Kimball Union held a ceremony on Wednesday to honor three athletes who signed letters of intent. Carissa Tambroni committed to James Madison to play field hockey. The Wildcats finished the season 7-10. Ethan Howell will be attending Air Force — one of five United States service academies — to play lacrosse for the Falcons. Classmate Tomas Mazura chose Providence College to continue his hockey career.
Hanover’s Maddie McCorkle, who scored 63 goals in girls lacrosse last season, will be attending Duke. Windsor girls basketball star Olivia Rockwood penned her national letter of intent on Friday to play women’s basketball at Maine next year.
Twin State field hockey: The Twin State field hockey game unveiled the rosters for next summer’s senior all-star game. The 2020 contest will take place on June 26th in Vermont at a site to be determined.
Mascoma’s Amelia Wilson made the cut along with Hanover’s Macy Curtis and Ella Edmonds. On the Vermont side, Windsor’s Angelina Bigwood and Hayley Fortin will play along with Hartford’s Greer McCarty and Kennedy Mullen. Woodstock’s Mackenzie Yates made the roster and Maggie Parker will serve as an alternate.
Pete Nakos can be reached at pnakos@vnews.com or (603) 727-3306.