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If you have any questions about anything going on at Holy Name, call our main office at:
1-508-753-6371 |
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Welcome to the newest issue of our electronic newsletter, the Nap News. We hope you find this electronic update of what is happening at our school helpful and enjoyable.
~ God Bless You and Yours! |
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Fallon Community Health Plan President, CEO, and former NFL Player Visits Holy Name Football Team
Pat Hughes visited the Holy Name Central Catholic Junior.Senior High School football team on Wednesday, October 12th. Pat visited with an excited Napoleon football team to wish them a great season on the field, and to share some of his wisdom on football and life.
Pat related the story of how, as a young boy, he pointed at a football game on television and told his father five simple words: "I want to
do that." And so it began-his first goal.
Pat reminded the team that they have collective goals, with each member doing his part toward the end result. "Each of you has a job and you do your job, just like the team at Fallon Community Health Plan," Pat said. "And just like in business, collectively you reach your goal." He noted that while winning a football game is a short-term goal, it's also important to focus on long-term goals. "I have a goal on my wall. When I reach that one, I replace it with another."
Pat also told the team that the skills they learn on the field will help them as they continue on with college and into the business community: teamwork, collaboration, accountability and resilience. "There's no such thing as a free ride - in football or in business," Pat said.
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October 15, 2011 Worcester Telegram
Decision to Stay Pays off for Naps' Nick Capuano
Steve Kendall Division 2 Football
Four years later, the decision appears to have been a smart one. Capuano is an outstanding student, leader and player for the Naps. He has learned leadership skills, become stronger physically and mentally and developed a work ethic that will benefit him in all aspects of life. He credits all of that to the coaching staff and his teammates at Holy Name.
Capuano has certainly done that and more. As a nose guard, he helped the Naps to a Division 1 Super Bowl win two years ago and a Super Bowl appearance last year. This year, which is the Naps' first in the newly aligned Division 2, he leads the team in tackles from his defensive tackle position and plays all the positions on the offensive line as well as fullback. He epitomizes the essence of Holy Name football: undersized, tough, driven, unselfish and completely committed to team.
"We are all about team as family here, from the coaches to every player on the team," Capuano said. "The coaches and the upperclassmen taught that to me a long time ago, and I am trying to teach that to the underclassmen now. We are committed to pushing one another to our limits so the team can improve. Everyone has a role."
Capuano pointed to a number of things that have been put into place by coach Mike Pucko and his assistants, including the staff's commitment to helping the players learn about conditioning, the effort to help with academics and the college search, the family atmosphere and the team dinners, and the commitment to excellence.
One of Capuano's favorite traditions is the Sunday film sessions. Every Sunday, the team gathers to watch the film of that week's game, reviewing the positive aspects as well as the areas of challenge for the Naps. Often, he said, the coaches are tough, and the expectations and demands for Holy Name players are high.
The sessions are not mandatory, yet nearly every player attends every week. Why? Because at the end of each session, the players get to eat a meal prepared by Pucko. Most times it's pasta, but often it includes baked goods and occasionally a make-your-own ice cream sundae.
"We started it to help build camaraderie, but it didn't hurt that it got kids to show up for film," Pucko said. "It's not easy to sit there and receive criticism, even if it's constructive, so we thought this would be a way to make the time more enjoyable. We all enjoy it, and it really has helped foster the idea of family within our team."
That family-type atmosphere and unselfish attitude is especially important considering the team dresses only 27 players for varsity games and players are asked to understand multiple positions, play most of the game and compete in one of the most physical brands of football in the state. Year in and year out, the Naps are always one of the toughest teams to play because of their physicality, work ethic and determined attitude.
At first glance, the 5-foot-7 Capuano is undersized for the line, but his lack of height is actually a benefit. He says his opponents are unable to get under him, which allows him to often beat the much bigger lineman with a bull rush or quick move. Capuano credits Holy Name with teaching him these attributes, and he hopes they will help him succeed in college next year, where he hopes to play for a Division 3 school in the New England Football Conference.
"Holy Name has taught me so much that it is going to help me with my future," he said. "Staying here was the best decision I have made."
When Nick Capuano was in eighth grade at Holy Name Junior-Senior High School, his parents asked him to take the entrance exam to St. John's and consider transferring to that school or Worcester Tech. Capuano did as his parents asked, but even as he sat for the exam, he knew he was not leaving Holy Name.
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Thursday, September 29, 2011
Worcester Telegram
Soccer: Holy Name girls' team working hard on, off the field
The eighth-ranked Holy Name High girls' soccer team is really starting to jell. The Naps scored their second 6-0 win over Burncoat High this season and improved to 6-1.
But Holy Name should also be proud of its accomplishments off the field.
On Sunday, every player on the team and coach Bill Manzello participated in the 13th annual UMass Medicine Cancer Walk, raising more than $3,000 for cancer research and care. They completed the 5-mile route around Lake Quinsigamond, although one member of the group walked a little farther.
"I got there late, and they had already taken off," said Manzello, who ended up doing an extra mile trying to catch up with his players. "After about three-quarters of a mile, I turned around and walked all the way around the lake the opposite way to catch them."
Junior Ann-Marie Zinkus was the fundraising leader, but said she received plenty of help from captains Corrie DeRosier, Hannah Owen and Rene Bousquet.
The Naps set a goal of $2,000, but with a collective effort and a healthy bit of emailing and social networking, they far exceeded their target.
The Holy Name team is no stranger to fundraising. Last year, it held a car wash that raised more than $900 for breast cancer research.
"Doing things to support a cause helps us come closer as friends and teammates because we all worked together," Zinkus said.
On the field, the Naps are a cohesive bunch, too, having allowed only two goals this season, both on Monday against Tantasqua Regional. Zinkus thinks their on- and off-field results go hand-in-hand.
"We're a really close team - we like to do things together like pasta parties and just hanging out," she said. "Doing this together made us even closer."
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