This Sunday, 95.9 WATD announced the finalists for the 2023 Bill Wilhelm Award, recognizing the most outstanding high school football player on the South Shore.
Announced during the Sports Exchange, airing every Sunday at 5 p.m., three student athletes from the area were announced from the pool of 10 semifinalists that were named last month.
Those finalists are Alex Barlow (Duxbury), Tyler Lennox (Carver), and Ben Scalzi (Hanover).
The three will join the hosts of the Sports Exchange for a live awards ceremony on Sunday, Jan. 14 at Mamma Mia’s in Marshfield.
You can listen to the announcement and more below.
The Finalists
Listed in alphabetical order
Alex Barlow, SR, Duxbury
One of the toughest runners on the South Shore, Barlow was an unstoppable force for the Duxbury Dragons along their romp to a second consecutive Division 4 title.
Barlow finished the season with 1,515 yards and 22 touchdowns on 184 carries, adding another 150 receiving yards and anchoring the Duxbury defense from the middle linebacker position, where he finished with 82 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, six sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception.
It was in the final two weeks of the season that the Bentley commit truly showed his might, rushing for 570 yards and 8 touchdowns as the Dragons took down state runners-up Marshfield and Scituate to capture league and state titles consecutively.
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Tyler Lennox, SR, Carver
The Carver Crusaders’ record books have been completely rewritten thanks to the dazzling career of Tyler Lennox.
Lennox captained the Crusaders to their second ever state title game and their first playoff appearance since 2000 amidst a season in which he racked up 2,817 passing yards and 38 touchdowns.
Add in six rushing touchdowns and 233 yards, and the of-yet uncommitted star was the only player in the state to total more than 3,000 yards this season.
Lennox completed 70% of his passes this year, throwing just four interceptions, and finished his career with 7,105 total yards and 83 total touchdowns.
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Ben Scalzi, SR, Hanover
Scalzi, in his coach Brian Kelliher’s words, has “pinpoint accuracy and an extremely strong arm.” These attributes were on full display this season, as the Hanover Hawks senior captain threw for a state-leading 39 touchdowns and 2,621 yards.
After moving from wide receiver in his junior season, Scalzi lit it up for the Hawks over the past two seasons, totaling 70 passing touchdowns and 80 total touchdowns.
Hanover returned to Gillette this season for the first time since 2016 as Scalzi carved up defenses left and right.
Scalzi received multiple collegiate offers, but recently announced his intentions to do a year of prep school in 2024-2025.
Bill Wilhelm receiving the President’s Award at the Massachusetts Basketball Coaches’ Association meeting in 2011
Bill Wilhelm
Bill was our station’s first Sports Director, overseeing and participating in four decades of high school football, basketball, and hockey broadcasts, as well as hosting the weekly Sports Exchange talk show.
Tirelessly working to make sure that every accomplishment of local student athletes was given appropriate recognition, Bill Wilhelm was, for so many on the South Shore, the first name that came to mind when they thought of high school sports.
Last year, Bill was inducted into the Duxbury High School Athletics Hall of Fame; recognition of his over 30 years as head coach of the junior varsity boys soccer team, as well as his innumerable contributions off the field.
Nowhere are those contributions felt more than here at 95.9 WATD. Here, entering our 46th year, we are still able to provide coverage of South Shore high school athletics thanks to the groundwork Bill laid over so many years.
Matt Festa, winner of the Bill Wilhelm Award, poses with WATD’s Brendan Connelly, Johnny Rorke, Bill Wilhelm, and Quinn Kelly.
The Inaugural Winner
Last year, Matt Festa of Duxbury High School was named the inaugural Bill Wilhelm Award winner.
Festa led the Dragons to a 12-0 record and Division 4 state title to close his incredible career, compiling 50 total touchdowns, 2,931 yards passing, and 469 yards rushing on the season.
In the process, he set the Duxbury High School record for single season passing yards.
Festa, now playing football at the University of New Hampshire, was joined by fellow finalists Owen McHugh (Milton, Williams College) and Casious Johnson (Plymouth South).
Follow WATD Sports on Twitter for more information and updates regarding the Bill Wilhelm Award and South Shore high school athletics.
