Bond well beyond the field
Team meal scene for true heroism
Freshman Connor Murphy does not play goalie, but he made Hopkinton’s biggest save of this season.
At what was supposed to be another routine team dinner on May 8, Murphy sat next to good friend and sophomore teammate Pat Barnes. They were digging into chicken parmesan when Barnes quickly stood up and gave a signal that paralyzed the room.
AT LACROSSE ROADS Greg Dudek
Barnes took his two hands and clutched his throat, unable to breathe. Murphy didn’t hesitate, performing the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge a piece of the food from Barnes’ throat and save his choking teammate’s life.
“I knew he was in pain. I was scared,” Murphy said. “It was one of the scariest moments of my life. I always have his back. He always has mine. So I knew what to do and knew I needed to do it.”
With panic setting in for Barnes, it relieved him to see Murphy — who just learned the Heimlich maneuver in the school’s wellness class a week prior — take control of a frantic situation.
“I almost thought it was the end. It was crazy,” Barnes said. “I couldn’t think anything, but then right as I knew Connor stood up, I knew I was going to be fine.”
With Barnes still not feeling 100 percent, he went to Milford Regional Medical Center. (Murphy stuck by his side, riding in the ambulance with him.) Barnes was later transferred to Boston Children’s Hospital where doctors removed another piece of food still partially blocking his lower esophagus.
Barnes missed only one game and returned with an even greater sense of trust in his teammates, especially Murphy.
“Knowing that he had my back like that and he could react so quick, it’s one of those things where I owe him everything now,” Barnes said.
The incident showcased the culture forged at Hopkinton where being there for a teammate is of the upmost importance.
“Really, that’s what it is all about for us,” said Hopkinton coach Dan Norton. “Wins and losses come, but knowing you’re building relationships is the big part for us.”
“We’re a team on and off the field,” Murphy said. “We’ll do anything for each other. If someone needs help, we’ll step up. That’s just what teams do.”
Jake the Great
Jake Antonucci didn’t know anything about lacrosse until his family moved from Chelmsford to Westwood. Once in the lacrosse hotbed, Antonucci picked up a stick. He’s continuously worked to refine his skills as an attackman, with the result a sensational career and stellar senior season for the Wolverines.
“I had never really seen lacrosse before,” Antonucci recalled. “I think end of second grade I went and watched a game — one of my friends was playing — and I played the next year and fell in love with it.”
Westwood coach Todd Zahurak saw Antonucci’s potential as an eighth grader, and it came to fruition with the Providence-bound Antonucci developing into the most potent scorer in Wolverines’ history. He has 287 career points, coming on 201 goals and 86 assists.
“He’s really set the new standard for our program,” Zahurak said. “The kids looking up to him, whether they’re in our youth program or they’re on the team, have a new level of what great means.”
With Antonucci starring with 62 goals and 16 assists this season, Westwood (12-4) earned some key wins. The Wolverines beat Dover-Sherborn for the first time ever on April 27, 16-13, with Antonucci scoring half those goals.
“That was probably the most memorable moment of my career,” Antonucci said, “being able to beat a team that I never thought we’d be able to beat.” Two weeks later against Walpole’s
vaunted defense, Antonucci scored six goals and collected two assists in a 14-9 win. And if Westwood wins its final two games, it will claim at least a share of the Tri-Valley League title.