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By CONNOR PIGNATELLO

Last year, the UMass football team had 10 players catch a total of 212 passes. Anthony Simpson is the only one of those 10 still on the Minutemen roster.He was last year’s leading receiver – his 57 receptions and 792 yards nearly doubled No. 2...

By CONNOR PIGNATELLO

AMHERST — In Damian Mincey’s 16 years of coaching college football, he said he’s never had a player come into camp as late as UMass’ newest addition, running back Brandon Campbell.Campbell, a graduate transfer from the University of Houston, was still...

By CONNOR PIGNATELLO

AMHERST — As performance-driven data has gained more and more use in sports over the past decade, Trackman has become a hot name.It’s most popular in baseball, where its ball-tracking data is primarily used by pitchers. Red Sox hurler Tanner Houck...

By CONNOR PIGNATELLO

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY — Ear-ringing whistles, low grunts and wide smiles marked the first day of high school football camp on Friday, as Hampshire County teams held their first practices in advance of the upcoming season.Full-contact practices don’t begin...

By CONNOR PIGNATELLO

SOUTH HADLEY — When Katie Hopp and her fellow volunteer organizers started the Western Mass. Summer Field Hockey League in 2019, the league contained seven schools and about 70 players.Five years and six seasons later, they’re at 243 players from 18...

By CONNOR PIGNATELLO

Just two days after the closing ceremony wrapped up the 2024 Paris Olympics, three-time gold medalist Gabby Thomas joined Comedy Central’s long-running comedy news show, “The Daily Show” to discuss her Paris experience, her mom and her healthcare...

By CONNOR PIGNATELLO

Five years ago, when Florence’s Gabby Thomas moved down to Austin, Texas to begin her professional running career, her new coach Tonja Buford-Bailey decided to test her out. Thomas moved to Austin a few weeks ahead of the rest of Buford-Bailey’s...

By CONNOR PIGNATELLO

In the 200 meters on Tuesday, Gabby Thomas turned her Tokyo bronze into a Paris gold. And on Friday in the 4x100 relay, Thomas turned her Tokyo silver into another gold, as the Americans won with a time of 41.78 seconds under a steady rain at the...

By CONNOR PIGNATELLO

AMHERST – Last year must have felt like a whirlwind for UMass quarterback Taisun Phommachanh.On his third school in three seasons but in his first starting job, Phommachanh injured his knee against Auburn just six quarters into the campaign on Sept....

By CONNOR PIGNATELLO

AMHERST – After 22 years calling offensive plays, Shane Montgomery spent the 2023 season working with longtime friends as an offensive analyst at East Carolina.But when news first broke on Feb. 2 of Steve Casula leaving his post as UMass offensive...

By CONNOR PIGNATELLO

Less than 48 hours removed from her gold medal in the 200 meters on Tuesday, Florence’s Gabby Thomas and the U.S. women’s 4x100 relay team advanced to the finals by winning their heat in 41.94 seconds on Thursday.Thomas will look for her second gold...

By CONNOR PIGNATELLO

The best part of a surprise party is the surprise. Though Gabby Thomas wasn’t exactly surprised when she entered the after-party following her gold medal in the 200 meters Tuesday night, the hundred-plus family and friends in attendance at the New...

By CONNOR PIGNATELLO

Gabby Thomas is golden.After winning a silver medal in the 4x100 meter relay and a bronze in the 200 meters at the Tokyo Olympics, the former Florence resident cleared the field in the 200 on Tuesday to claim the gold medal with a time of 21.83...

By CONNOR PIGNATELLO

AMHERST — Don Brown and his coaching staff are heading into their third season in Amherst, and defensive coordinator Keith Dudzinski said on Monday that the Minutemen have experienced a culture change since he came to Amherst in the winter of 2021.“If...

By CONNOR PIGNATELLO

Florence’s Gabby Thomas breezed through her semifinal round in the 200 meters at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Monday, winning her heat with a time of 21.86 seconds.She opened her 2024 Olympics on Sunday, easily winning her first-round heat with a time...

By CONNOR PIGNATELLO

Florence’s Gabby Thomas breezed through her semifinal round in the 200 meters at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Monday, winning her heat with a time of 21.86 seconds.She opened her 2024 Olympics on Sunday, easily winning her first-round heat with a time...

By CONNOR PIGNATELLO

Gabby Thomas rolled through the finish line in the biggest race of her life and claimed a bronze medal she didn’t think she’d win. It was the greatest moment of her career, and she beamed as she clutched the American flag. But there were no fans in...

By CONNOR PIGNATELLO

Of all the stories of Olympian Gabby Thomas’ athletic prowess during her six years at the Williston Northampton School in Easthampton, possibly the most revealing came in cross country, a sport the sprinter competed in for just one season.Thomas chose...

By CONNOR PIGNATELLO

The second game of the Valley Blue Sox’s first round NECBL playoff series against the Newport Gulls was postponed Friday due to weather. The game is now Saturday at 1:05 p.m. Gates at MacKenzie Stadium open at noon and admission is free.No. 7 Valley...

By CONNOR PIGNATELLO

AMHERST — The UMass football team held its first camp practice ahead of the 2024 season on Friday on a 90-degree day at McGuirk Stadium.The Minutemen open their season with a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, Aug. 31 at home against future MAC opponent...