Crannell and Foley Snag Athlete of the Year Honors

Emily Crannell and Drew Foley have one thing in common. They let their play do the talking.

Both Wilmington High School athletes, Crannell a 2012 graduate, are soft spoken, but their performances on the court, ice, and field spoke loudly in the last year. As a result, Crannell and Foley were selected as Patch’s Athletes of the Year.

Foley anchored the state championship Wildcat boys hockey team in between the pipes with a 1.72 goals against average, six shutouts and a 92 percent save percentage. He also was a key contributor for the boys soccer team, which reached the North Division 2 semifinal this fall.

Crannell, meanwhile, was the standout player for the girls basketball team that reached the North Division 2 semifinal in the winter season. She was the unanimous selection for Middlesex League MVP, pouring home 17 points per game en route to a league title. Then in the spring, she was a leader on the diamond for the Wilmington softball team

“(Foley) is a talented athlete in both sports. I would say that in soccer and hockey, the common thread is that though he’s competitive he’s a very level headed kid who doesn’t get too high or too low,” said Steve Scanlon, who coached Foley in both sports. “He’s a quiet kid, but he gets along with anyone and when he does speak, people listen.”

Wilmington girls basketball coach Jay Keane said Crannell is similar to Foley in that respect. While she wasn’t a vocal leader, she was a great teammate for the Lady Wildcats.

“I always considered her a silent leader,” said Keane. “She’s not the most outspoken player I’ve coached, at least around me. But she’s well liked and once of the reasons we were so successful was her personality. She’s a great teammate and a great leader.”

Crannell will continue playing softball this spring at the collegiate level, where Keane said he is certain she will find success.

Similarly, Scanlon said he believes Foley will continue his success at the next level, though he still has time left suiting up for the Wildcats.

“I think he can play goalie at the collegiate level when the time comes,” said Scanlon. “We’re hoping that when he gets through here, you’ll still be hearing about him. He’s been a big factor in the success of our two teams.”