By Riley Fontana
Hometown Weekly Reporter
In Walpole’s 300 years as a town one thing has been consistent; the passion this town has for sports. Besides producing several successful professional and college athletes, Walpole has also produced the beloved sports broadcaster Gene Lavanchy. Lavanchy came to a packed Community Room to talk about Walpole’s rich history in all sports. The broadcasting legend brought along with him another Walpole legend, former MLB player and manager, Joe Morgan.
Fans of both professional and local sports flooded the Walpole Public Library to learn about the town's history of athletic achievement. Lavanchy presented a video showcasing some of the countless successful athletes to come out of Walpole, including Roscoe Coughlin, the first professional player from the town who made it to MLB.
Walpole has a rich history of producing notable hockey players and coaches, including Mike Millbury, Tom Songin, Chris Wagner, and Len Ceglarski. In football, the town has produced talents such as Butch Songin, Todd Collins, and John Turco. Other notable athletes from Walpole include former Celtics coach Jimmy Rodgers, field hockey standout Dina Izzo, and professional lacrosse player Ryan Izzo. At one point, Walpole also held the world record for continuous tennis play.
After the video, Lavanchy introduced Joe Morgan, who shared stories of his MLB career and took questions from the audience. This interactive session helped make everyone feel welcome and engaged, which is a hallmark of Walpole's community spirit. The audience remained captivated throughout the presentation, and everyone was invited to browse memorabilia before the event concluded. Speaking with a baseball legend added to the pride and joy of the town's residents.
From Hilltoppers to Rebels and now Timberwolves, Walpole takes pride in its hardworking and dedicated athletic teams. The town has produced several powerhouses on the field and has even turned out sports journalists. As the athletic programs continue to grow and develop strong athletes, more people are coming to Walpole for its sports opportunities. Only time will tell who the next professional athlete from Walpole will be.
