![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)
2024 was an eventful year in Boston sports. From the Celtics winning the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals, to the first year this century without former head coach Bill Belichick coaching the Patriots, 2024 had it all. With 2025 underway, Boston sports fans have several wishes for the coming year. Here is a list of five essentials that should be on every Boston sports fans wishlist.
Banner 19 for the Celtics
The Celtics won their league best 18th NBA Championship win last season over the Dallas Mavericks, and they are looking to give their fans another shiny trophy this year for back-to-back titles. Consecutive titles haven’t been won since the Golden State Warriors in 2017-2018, however, Celtics fans are optimistic because of their returning core players and overall dominance last year. Franchise cornerstone players Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are hoping to lead the Celtics to their 11th straight playoff appearance, while NBA veterans Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis are hoping to make an even bigger impact in their second season with the Celtics. The Celtics have started their season with a 26-10 record. With almost one third of the season finished, Celtics fans should have very little reason to believe they won’t be playing for their 19th banner this spring. A shiny trophy and a fresh banner should be on the wish list of every Boston sports fan this year.
Red Sox make the playoffs
The Red Sox haven’t made the playoffs since 2021, and fans are questioning ownership’s commitment to winning based on their conservative approach to signing big-name players the last few years. Going against their reputation, Red Sox ownership has had a busy offseason making moves and signing some big market players. Garret Crochet, who was acquired via trade with the White Sox, and Walker Buehler, who the Red Sox signed in free agency, can provide the team with the starting pitching depth that was missing in 2024. Last year, the Red Sox finished with an 81-81 record, five wins out of the wild card spot. However, at the All Star break, the Red Sox were in position to make the playoffs as the third wildcard team thanks to the help of some of their homegrown stars in Jaren Duran, Rafael Devers and Brayan Bello. These three players took a big leap in 2024 and can make an even bigger impact in 2025. While many Boston fans have grown accustomed to banners and trophies, Red Sox fans should settle for a playoff berth on their wish list this year.
Patriots draft Travis Hunter
Is it too early to be looking forward to a draft in April? Probably. However, the Patriots gave us practically no hope at all for the 2024-2025 season. One of the lone bright spots of this season is Drake Maye, who threw for 15 touchdowns and over 2,200 yards in 11 games started this season. ‘If we have such a good rookie quarterback, why is our record so bad?’ The Patriots have almost no hope at any other position besides quarterback. They are losing the turnover battle with a net of -11 and their defense has given up 417 points, the most in the AFC East. Along with their defense, their wide receivers have raised some concerns as well. The front office couldn’t ask for a better solution than the Colorado Buffaloes’ wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter. Coming off a historic college season where he became the first two-way player to win the Heisman Trophy since the 1960’s, Hunter has amazed people on the field. The Heisman Trophy is the award that is given to the best college football player of the year. Not only that, he has also shown the ability to make difficult plays on both sides of the ball and has the kind of talent that the Patriots need at the wide receiver position. With the Patriots slated to have the fourth overall pick in the draft, Patriots fans should hope the new year brings highlight videos of Travis Hunter wearing their uniform.
Bruins are buyers at the trade deadline and win a playoff series
Sitting in third place in the Atlantic Division, the Boston Bruins are looking to make the National Hockey League Playoffs for their ninth consecutive year. However, the Bruins have not won the Stanley Cup Finals in any of those years. One of their more memorable playoff disasters was in the 2022-2023 season, where they set the record for most wins in a season at 65, yet they lost in the first round of the playoffs. Last year, the Bruins won a playoff series in seven games against their rival the Toronto Maple Leafs, but lost in the second round against the Florida Panthers. This year, the Bruins are two games above .500 (20-17-5) and are debating whether to be buyers or sellers at the deadline. With veteran captain Brad Marchand at the tail end of his career as he is 36 years old, the time is now for the Bruins to buy at the March 7 deadline and push to win a playoff series around the deteriorating core.
BONUS Gift: Patrick Mahomes DOESN’T win the Super Bowl.
‘Will the Chiefs win the super bowl this year?’ This is the conversation that football fans have been having since Patrick Mahomes entered the league in 2017 and has made the playoffs in every season. The Patriots have been getting flashbacks to the Tom Brady era more frequently every year as they watch the Chiefs. Last year, the Chiefs won back-to-back super bowls for the first time since Tom Brady led the Patriots to two straight in 2003-2004. Mahomes and the Chiefs are looking to win their third straight super bowl this year, something that has never been done before. Although it could be overreacting, Patrick Mahomes is slowly closing in on the title of the Greatest Of All Time currently held by Brady. The Chiefs have a 15-1 record going into Week 18 and they have already clinched the AFC one-seed and first round bye in the playoffs. Patriots fans are many years removed from the glory days of Brady and championships, but watching Patrick Mahomes win his fourth super bowl would bring him one step closer to dethroning the Patriot legend.
