The fall 2022 high school sports season didn’t produce any local team state champions, but there was still plenty to celebrate. Mascenic field hockey, ConVal boys’ soccer and the undefeated Mascenic girls’ volleyball team all made the final four in their respective tournaments, and Conant and Mascenic sent cross-country teams to the Meet of Champions. 

There was one individual champion, Mascenic golfer Josiah Hakala, and there were plenty of All-State caliber players in the various sports. There was plenty of talent to choose from, but we have narrowed it down to the top local athlete in each sport, with apologies to those other deserving student-athletes who could have made this list.

Boys’ soccer

Wyatt Beaulieu, senior, ConVal

Beaulieu had 11 shutouts for the Final Four-bound ConVal boys – and made the play of the year with his diving stop on a quarterfinal overtime penalty kick. 

Girls’ soccer

Bri Fish, senior, WLC

Bri Fish played everything from goalie to forward for WLC this fall, and was a difference-maker in the Warriors’ three wins with her aggressive play and knack for clutch goals.

Girls’ cross-country

Kylie Aho, senior, Conant

Aho was Conant’s top senior runner this fall as the Orioles took third place in DIII, and she finished off her cross-country career with a 31st-place finish at the Meet of Champions. 

Boys’ cross-country

Drew Traffie, senior, Mascenic

Traffie was a formidable runner in Division III this season on the fifth-place, Meet of Champions-bound Mascenic team.

Girls’ volleyball

Lyla Buxton, senior, Mascenic

Buxton was a killing machine for the undefeated Vikings as they went on their semifinals run and was named Division III Player of the Year by the coaches’ association.

Field hockey

Lexis Vautour, senior, Mascenic

Vautour’s fire and spunk helped lift the senior-heavy Vikings to their first Final Four berth in decades, and even in defeat, she stepped up for some clutch scoring. 

Football

Everett Benham, senior, ConVal

Both Benham and senior co-captain Caleb Cloutier gave everything they had to their ConVal team this fall, putting their bodies on the line to help give Cougar fans something to cheer for.

 Golf

Josiah Hakala, sophomore, Mascenic

The only state champion in the Ledger-Transcript’s coverage area this fall, Hakala won his second straight individual golf state championship — with more likely on the horizon.

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