The Wayland softball team ventured into the playoffs for the first time since 2009 and even earned a victory before bowing out against perennial power Walpole.
“This was their first experience playing postseason softball at the high school level, and they embraced every moment of it,” said coach Sarah Woodside. “Hopefully this is something we continue building on moving forward.”
The 37th-seeded Warriors (11-10) opened with a 7-6 win over host Ashland. After relinquishing an early 4-0 lead, the Warriors needed to score twice in the final inning to record the win.
Aubrey Calabro had a huge game offensively, finishing with a triple, three runs scored, an RBI, and two walks. Kiera Hines and Kaitlyn DiJulia each collected two hits, while Sophia Gorke and Olivia Kirmelewicz each drove in two runs. Eliza Goldman, Kelsey Kaufmann, and Olivia Kirmelewicz also added hits as Wayland finished with 10 total hits.
Against fifth-seeded Walpole, which advanced to the quarterfinals, an experienced team and strong starting pitcher resulted in a 4-1 loss.
Sophia Beckett battled in the circle, allowing just two earned runs over six innings while keeping her team within reach most of the afternoon. Wayland’s lone run came in the sixth inning after Eliza Goldman reached base and Kelsey Kaufmann delivered an RBI single. Olivia Kirmelewicz and Sophia Gorke also added hits for Wayland.
“As coaches, we talked a lot about playing fearless softball and trusting the work we put in all season,” Woodside added. “The girls really bought into that mindset during the playoffs.”
Wayland first singles player Yumi Niimi, a senior captain, prepares to return a shot against Hingham. Wayland first singles player Jeffrey Zhang returns a shot against North Reading, a 5-0 victory on June 2.
Greg Camacho, Wayland second singles, serves during the team’s 5-0 round of 16 victory over North Reading.
Wayland junior Zachary O’Donnell puts the ball over the net for a point, instead of setting it to a teammate.
Dylan Englehardt serves during Wayland’s round of 16 win over Greater Lowell Tech.
Brennan Smith, left, and Dylan Englehardt prepare for a block of a Greater Lowell Tech hitter.
Wayland’s Max Walsh, left, and Varun Bhukhanwala block a Greater Lowell Tech spike attempt during the teams’ battle in the Division 4 playoffs in June 2.
Wayland senior captain Finn Bell digs the ball in the Warriors’ 3-0 victory over Greater Lowell Tech.
Wayland’s Max Walsh goes high as he tries to dink the ball over a Greater Lowell Tech block.
Wayland pitcher Sophia Beckett gets off the mound quickly to field as grounder during the Warriors’ 7-6 victory over Ashland.
Wayland’s three outfielders, Vivian Brevard (left), Ryan Frutman (#36) and Aubrey Calabro perform their between innings ritual during a Division 2 playoff game at Ashland.
Eliza Goldman leads off second base during Wayland’s 7-6 victory over Ashland in the Division 2 playoffs.
Wayland centerfielder Aubrey. Calabro records an out during a tournament victory over Ashland.
Girls’ tennis
A look at Wayland’s 2026 tournament results alone might suggest disappointment. The Warriors won once and lost once, only advancing to the round of 16 following a 3-2 loss in the Division 2 state tournament championship match a year ago.
Graduations, academics and injuries challenged Wayland’s experience and depth, and the easy wins turned into tougher days.
In the round of 32, the 13th-seeded Warriors took care of Dartmouth, 5-0, with senior captain Yumi Niimi, Rhea Sethim, and Yvie Moran winning in singles, while the tandems of Patara Tezduyar/Khushi Nagalla and Ava Knourenko/Floriane Shadday won in doubles. Wayland didn’t drop a set on its home courts.
A trip to the South Shore against Hingham wasn’t as successful. Only Tezduyar-Nagalla took their match in a 4-1 loss.
“I am very, very thankful that we finished in a way that represented ourselves very well,” coach Jason Tassinari said. “This was not the most talented team, but it was one that battled and competed from the beginning to end of the season. As enjoyable as last year was with all of the success, there was as much satisfaction this season.”
Niimi made the Dual County League all-conference team.
Outdoor track
Sazie Wrentmore followed up her indoor track success over the winter with an impressive showing throughout the outdoor track season. The campaign culminated with a second-place in the 400-meter hurdles in a school record 1:01.22 at the Meet of Champions event. She also took 3rd place in the long jump with a 19′ ½” (the top 3 broke the Meet of Champions record).
Prior to that she was the Division 4 state champion in the 400-meter hurdles, while placing in the long jump (second), and the 4×100 relay with Kate Malgari, Annabelle Haher and Heather Maddocks (fourth). The only other girl track athlete to place was Shubha Iyer, who took seventh in the javelin.
Over on the boys’ side, Ryan McCormack was state champion in pentathlon and pole vault. He also took fourth in the long jump. Other boys scoring points for Wayland, which finished in seventh place, were Attic DeGrenier (eighth in 400m, sixth in pole vault), Adajah Saint-Fort (seventh in 200 meters), and the 4×400 relay team of Aadam Akbar, Ilan Potashinsky, Brajae Walton, and Saint-Fort.
On June 9, McCormack participated in the MSTCA (Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association) State decathlon meet at Frontier High School in South Deerfield and took home the decathlon title with 6,382 points.
The Wayland girls’ outdoor track placed 12th out of 35 teams.
Girls’ lacrosse
The Warriors may have delivered the tournament’s signature moment when they edged Newburyport 10-9 in overtime on June 4. The fifth-seeded squad bowed out of the tournament in its next match, 18-2, to top-seeded Cohasset in the Division 3 semifinals.
Wayland opened the postseason with a 21-2 drubbing of Essex North Shore and an 18-5 triumph over falmouth.
Boys’ volleyball
Wayland continued to show the rest of the Division 2 tournament entries why it’s the top seed in the tournament with four 3-0 victories over Pioneer Charter School, Greater Lowell Tech, Longmeadow and Milford. The run puts the Warriors (22-2) — with losses only to Division 1 #2 seed Brookline and Division 2 #2 seed Westfield — back in the state finals against Westfield. Wayland lost in the finals last year, 3-1 against Agawam.
Boys’ tennis
Boys tennis matched the perfect tournament week by girls lacrosse and boys volleyball with wins over North Reading (5-0) on Tuesday and Falmouth (4-1) on Thursday, both at the Wayland tennis courts.
Youth
Sign ups for Wayland Youth Soccer player evaluations and fall 2026 travel teams are on www.waylandsoccer.org.
Wayland Little League’s spring season is winding down while summer baseball registration is open through the league’s website, and Little League announced that the Eliza J. Norton Foundation’s “Build with Heart” dugout project at Cochituate Park is complete, with WLL serving as a Champion Sponsor. The new dugouts will be in use immediately as summer ball gets underway.
