![The Wayland Police Department have issued a warning on the rise of scammers during the holiday season. “Hang up [the phone]. if you get a text and you do not know who it's from, just delete it. Don't click on any links, nothing,” Wayland police chief Edward Burman said. “Every single one of them is a scam.”](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/img_0954_720-e1734676255647.jpg)
![WHS’s Connect Program ran its annual holiday gift drive to fulfill the wishlist of children enrolled in the Dorchester based non-profit daycare organization, the Yawkey Center. This drive brought the town together and impacted both the students in Connect, as well as the greater Wayland community. “You could see how helpful the town was and how our community came together and wanted to help out a community that wasn't our own [and] kids who were less fortunate than we were,” senior and Connect Program member Jordynn Lee said.](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/screenshot_2024-12-20_at_12.21.24___pm_720-e1734734228474.png)
![The Boy Scouts will be selling trees on Fridays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays noon to 6 p.m. until they sell out.
“This event is one of the things that [the Boy Scouts] get to have a direct impact on the community,” freshman Alex Macleod said.](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-11-at-8.38.38 AM.png)
With a game winning arm, senior captain and quarterback Michael Keenan has led his team to several victories in the ongoing fall season. The Warriors’ record so far this season is 5-1.
Keenan started playing football in third grade where he was a quarterback. Keenan’s dream of being quarterback originated from throwing around a football with his dad. He came to love having the football in his hands during every play throughout the game. Keenan played flag football until seventh grade, and then switched to tackle football in eighth grade.
Keenan was chosen as one of the five captains this season. He leads the football team alongside senior captains Max Dresens, Ben Hynes, Luke DiPietro-Froio and Owen Finnegan. Keenan, along with his fellow captains, has the responsibility of ensuring team cohesion and keeping the field a positive place to practice and play.
“It is important to have a good team environment and I think that is one of my main jobs as a captain,” Keenan said. “I think it is my responsibility to keep everyone connected as a team and make sure we are working together.”
Keenan’s commitment to his captainship is noticed by his teammates. They feel supported with Keenan leading them, whether it’s on or off the field.
“[Keenan] represents being a good captain for a few reasons,” senior Jaden Kaufman said. “He always shows leadership during games and practices, and always has every one of our backs no matter what.”
To prepare for the season, Keenan did a number of things to stay in the football loop. This included running drills, throwing a ball around with some friends and conducting captains practices in lifts right before the season started back up.
“I lifted and practiced a lot in the offseason,” Keenan said. “A few receivers and I spent a ton of time on the turf throwing the ball and I think this helped me build a connection with them and get better at throwing.”
With his senior season being at its halfway point, Keenan has grown to love the sport and take on the captain title with full responsibility. For Keenan, his role is about the connections and friendships he has made within the team and the support from the other players.
“I love being able to play with all my friends in something that we all take so seriously,” Keenan said. “Being out on the field feels much different than anything else, and it forces you to have your teammates’ backs.”
