​With the 2025-26 high school year in the books, it’s the perfect moment to look back at the standout performances from our local teams that reached the highest levels of achievement. The SouthCoast was rich with success, featuring three state championship squads and two programs that earned runner-up finishes on the state stage. The candidates for our 2025-26 Boys High School Team of the Year impressed on the field, on the court, and on the course, bringing pride to their towns and creating memories that will last a lifetime. But only one team can claim the coveted title.
Here are the nominees for The Standard-Times/SouthCoast High School Boys Team of the Year. Voting will close at 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 19.
In their third straight appearance in a state final at Gillette Stadium, the Blue Devils defeated Norwell, 28-14, to win the Division 6 Super Bowl for the second time in the last three years. Fairhaven’s football program demonstrated a remarkable turnaround after winning only five games in 2024, as the Bears captured both the South Coast Conference and State Vocational Large School championships and reached the program’s first-ever state final, ultimately falling to Norwell, 1-0, in the Division 3 title game.
GNB Voc-Tech’s Aiden Andrade helped power the team as they punched their ticket to the MIAA Division 3 Soccer State Tournament Round of 8 with a precise crossing pass against Watertown, contributing to a 4-2 victory. Old Rochester’s golf squad, with only two of their top four golfers returning, posted a flawless 15-0 season and swept the big meets, capturing the South Coast Conference title, the South Sectional crown, and the Division 3 state championship.
The Vikings completed a dramatic season with an exhilarating 80-73 comeback victory over defending state champion Georgetown in the Division 4 state final, securing their third state championship in four years. Wareham’s basketball program celebrated a historic milestone as Aaron Cote spearheaded their charge to a third state title in the Division 4 competition, forged at the UMass Lowell Tsongis Center.
After opening the regular season undefeated at 11-0, the Lakers claimed the South Coast Conference Blue Division championship and earned a historic trip to the baseball program’s first-ever state final, where Apponequet fell 2-1 to Middleboro in the Division 3 title game. Ryan Levesque of Apponequet delivered a strong showing on the mound as the Lakers battled to a close loss in Worcester’s Polar Park.
Our team of the year feature is designed to honor the local high school athletes who shone throughout the season. Being included in this list is in itself a notable achievement. Congratulations to all the athletes for their hard work and excellence this year.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times. Cast your vote for the 2025-26 Standard-Times Boys Team of the Year and help determine the standout squad among our local competitors.