As both a field hockey and basketball player for Oyster River High School, I have had the opportunity to travel to many different schools in the state for away games. While visiting these schools I’ve experienced many memorable things. Since my time exploring other schools is coming to an end, I’ve decided to break down my experience’s yearbook style with these school superlatives.
Nashua South – Best Christmas Spirit
I have been to Nashua South three times, each for their basketball preseason tournament. This year they had a major improvement: they hired a Santa that you could take pictures with in between games. Unfortunately, I did not get a picture, but my teammate Ashling Ferris (‘28) and her family did. It was also a Christmas miracle that their concession stand included a variety of Crumbl Cookies.
Bishop Brady High School – Best Fundraisers
The first time my basketball team went to Bishop Brady, they hosted a Chuck-a-Duck fundraiser, where you purchase rubber ducks and throw them to the center of the court. Whoever’s duck lands the closest wins. The boys’ basketball team played Bishop Brady right after our game, so we had the opportunity to participate in the fundraiser during the boys’ halftime. My teammate Caitlin Klein (‘25) threw her duck the closest and won the cash prize of 18 dollars. “It was like the cherry on top,” says Klein, “it finished off an already great night, and I had money to buy food after the game.” Thats a pretty good bonus after taking the dub.
Merrimack Valley High School – Most Likely to be an Adventure
Merrimack Valley…where do I start. Sophomore year, my team traveled there for basketball, and I thought it would be another normal game. This was not the case. Right before the game, while getting ready in the locker room, we heard screams from the hallway. A girl on the Merrimack Valley team had cut her finger off on a locker… I assume the girl went to the emergency room, and we played the game as scheduled. We ended up losing that game on a buzzer beater. After the game, when we returned to the locker room, we discovered that someone had pooped in the urinal…this was not there before the game. Two years later, when we returned to Merrimack Valley, a girl tried to fight my teammate in the handshake line…lucky for me, I will not have to go back there.
The Derryfield School – Most iPad kids
Derryfield is quite possibly the most modern school I’ve been to. The lobby of the school featured two foosball tables, a ping pong table, and two high-tech vending machines filled with snacks and drinks. However, what surprised me the most was the amount of iPad kids in the lobby. I don’t know why all these kids were hanging out in the lobby at 5 o’clock on their iPads, but you do you I guess.
Souhegan High School – Best Place Pre Game Yoga
When I walked into Souhegan High School, the first thing I noticed was the layout. Souhegan is shaped like an X with a giant circle in the middle. When you first walk into the school you notice two wide spiral staircases on opposite sides of the center that has four hallways branching out from it. The second floor center was the perfect place to do pregame yoga. My team and I gathered around and did various yoga poses. Vivian O’Quinn (‘25) says “Yoga is great to do before a game, it helps us all lock in and get in a good mindset.” Unfortunately, the yoga did not help me as I dropped 0 points this game.
John Stark Regional High School – Best Hot Dogs
John Stark gets infinite points for their incredible hot dog cart, which my field hockey team sold out when we played there this year. When we traveled there for basketball this season, it was an adventure. John Stark has a nice gym and locker room, but they definitely lost points when I went to the bathroom in the locker room during warmups and came outside the stall to see a boy in the locker room. We picked up our first win of the season here with NH Sports Page in attendance, so overall, going to John Stark was a good experience, despite my minor setback.
Hollis-Brookline High School – Best Lost and Found
My sophomore year, my basketball team travelled to Hollis-Brookline for the first round of playoffs. Unfortunately, the game did not go my team’s way, but despite this we were able to leave with one win: the Hollis-Brookline lost-and-found had a very good shoe selection. My teammate who graduated that year “borrowed” a pair of Nike Air Forces. She was later seen wearing them at school.
Milford High School – Friendliest Fan
The only time I went to Milford for basketball was my senior year. The opposing student section wasn’t very friendly but there was one man who made up for them. While watching the JV game, there was a friendly older man standing near us. While we chatted we learned that he was both a Milford and UNH alum, so he knew a lot about Oyster River. He was very nice except for the fact that he accused me (a shooting guard) of being the team’s center…later on, after we had won the game, the Milford Mystery Man sang a song for the seniors on the team to “remember for our 5-year reunion.” Despite his request I do not remember the song. The man also attended the semi-finals, and after we won, sang us another song. Unfortunately, I do not remember this song either.
Coe-Brown Northwood Academy – Best Energy
This may be an unpopular opinion, but I love playing at Coe-Brown. The Coe-Brown fans know how to bring the energy. Their band is unmatched, and it helps add fuel to the rivalry bringing both the fans and athletes’ emotions up. Playing a game at Coe-Brown is so fun just because of all the energy in that gym. It is so loud in there that you can barely talk to your teammates on the court. Before our game against Coe-Brown last year, my team tried to lean into the music from the band and have a dance battle with Coe-Brown in the hallway before warm-ups. Sadly Coe-Brown did not want to participate. I am extremely disappointed I could not play at Coe-Brown this year.
This concludes my superlatives for other schools in the state. If you are interested in learning more about some of the schools I explored, check out my video on the MOR youtube channel which includes a very detailed tour of The Derryfield School and Bishop Brady High School.
-Olivia Andersen
Mouth of the River 
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