Andrew Hopgood

Male Athlete of the Year

Posted 6/28/16

Bishop Hendricken swept the football, hockey and baseball state titles for the first time since 2012, and junior Andrew Hopgood was the common denominator. 

The wide receiver/defensive back, …

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Andrew Hopgood

Male Athlete of the Year

Posted

Bishop Hendricken swept the football, hockey and baseball state titles for the first time since 2012, and junior Andrew Hopgood was the common denominator. 

The wide receiver/defensive back, left wing and first baseman proved to be versatile from season to season, and he is the Warwick Beacon’s Boys’ Athlete of the Year because of his integral role on three championship teams.

“Honestly, I’m pretty grateful to be on all those amazing teams and with my friends all three years,” Hopgood said in a phone interview. “It’s a pretty lucky situation to be in.”

Hopgood’s staggering year began in December with the Division I football title game, as Hendricken sought a sixth consecutive trophy and undefeated campaign against its bitter rival, La Salle. The Hawks led 28-24 with possession in the final minutes before a fumble led to the Rams taking over deep in Hendricken territory.

The defense backed them up, though, and on the final desperation throw by quarterback Jace Pena, Hopgood was there to knock it down on the sidelines.

“To me and the whole team, that game was just another game,” Hopgood said. “We were playing the way we had been playing all year. Do it for all the friends on my team. Absolutely unbelievable.”

Hopgood couldn’t celebrate for long, however, because hockey season was about to get underway. He played on the top line with senior captain Reilly Miller and junior leading scorer Pat Creamer.

“Really just comes down to dropping one and picking up the other one as fast as I can,” Hopgood said about his sports overlapping seasons. “I kind of juggle it a little bit. I do my best and when the time comes play the sport.” 

The left wing was tied for third on the team with 15 points, notching five goals and 10 assists. Much like in football season, though, he stepped up when the Hawks needed him the most during the Cimini championship series against Mount Saint Charles. 

With the score tied at 3 in Game 1, Hopgood dished out the secondary assist on Creamer’s game-winning goal. 

Hopgood scored Hendricken’s second goal of Game 2 as well, en route to a 4-0 rout of the Mounties and his second celebration of the school year.

“Andrew’s a winner,” Hendricken hockey head coach Jim Creamer said. “Three state championships under his belt. He’s just a kid that wins, he’s a great leader. He works especially hard. He does everything you could ask of a player.”

Hopgood barely had time to take off his skates before baseball season started up. The Hawks looked to be the last team standing in Division I for the fifth straight year, and Hopgood had a productive year at the plate and first base to help the cause.

He hit .333 over the course of the season, including a 1-for-3 performance in the series-clinching Game 2 against South Kingstown at McCoy Stadium. His only hit of the night was a pivotal one, lacing an RBI triple to right field in the first inning to give Hendricken a 2-0 lead.

“He got a lot of clutch hits for us, even batting ninth, where he was a double-leadoff trying to get him on base for Dante [Baldelli] to drive him in,” Hendricken baseball manager Ed Holloway said. “We had an injury to [Brendan] Conley, moved [Andrew] up to No. 5 and he had some big hits there, too. He was a good contributor on offense and on defense he was really good, too.”

Fast forward to the final frame with Hendricken leading 6-4 and a familiar face heading to the mound opposite Hopgood. Closer Chris Hindle, who plays quarterback with Hopgood in the fall, toed the rubber to close out the Rebels.

It took him only five pitches, and the final out was a tapper back to the mound. He flipped to Hopgood at first and the two rejoiced just as they did when the final buzzer sounded at Cranston Stadium.

“That was awesome, before that inning, we were talking about imagine if we made the final out like in football season,” Hopgood said. “Couldn’t have been a better way to end it.”

Hopgood will have the chance to sweep his three sports again during his final year at Hendricken in 2016-17. Given that the teams’ common factor will be returning, they should all be the favorites once again.

“I’m gonna try to do it again,” Hopgood said. “We’ll see what happens.”

-Jacob Marrocco

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