Another eventful year of high school sports has come and gone in the Greater Taunton area.
Once again, the area was home to a pair of state champion teams, but this time both were on the girls side as Taunton softball made it four straight in Division 1 and Dighton-Rehoboth softball took home the Division 3 title for the program's first since 1990. Elsewhere, several local wrestlers , runners and throwers were crowned individual state champions, with the MIAA holding a girls wrestling championship for the first time this winter. A basketball team had its best season in over a decade while another made it to the Elite Eight and another softball team made its return to among the top of its league.
While no local boys team took home a state title this past school year, several local wrestlers, runners and throwers were crowned state champions. A few league titles were captured, one a first since 2013 , while another team made an underdog run all the way to the Final Four, one had its best season in decades and a local basketball star became the area's latest member of the 1,000 points club .
With all of those accomplishments and more, now its up to our readers to vote for the 2023-24 Taunton Daily Gazette Team of the Year. Choose from 15 nominees, with polls running through noon on Aug. 4.
Taunton football
The Tigers (6-5, 2-3 Hockomock Kelley-Rex) were the area's top team despite graduating 25 seniors from the season prior , going on a three-game win streak. including a first Hockomock-era win over North Attleboro , and making the Division 1 Round of 16 where they fell to No. 8 BC High .
Dighton-Rehoboth boys soccer
The Falcons (13-2-8, 6-1-7 South Coast Conference) made it all the way to the Division 3 Final Four as the No. 26 seed before falling to eventual champions No. 3 Norwell.
Taunton girls basketball
The Tigers (15-7, 10-6 Hockomock League) had their best season in more than a decade , nearly winning the Hockomock Kelley-Rex and making it to the Division 1 Sweet 16 before falling to eventual champions No. 1 Bishop Feehan.
Bridgewater-Raynham girls basketball
The Trojans (16-7, 6-2 Southeast Conference) utilized a balanced attack and solid defense to make it to the Division 1 Elite Eight before falling to No. 4 Woburn.
Bridgewater-Raynham/West Bridgewater gymnastics
The co-op (5-1, 5-1 Cranberry League) captured its eighth straight Cranberry League Championship and finishing fifth overall at the MIAA South Sectionals.
Taunton wrestling
The Tigers won their third straight Division 1 South title and saw a pair of wrestlers take home Division 1 titles .
Bridgewater-Raynham wrestling
The Trojans finished runner up in Division 2 South but took home a pair of Division 2 state titles.
Bristol Aggie/Dighton-Rehoboth wrestling
The co-op took home the Mayflower Athletic Conference title with a 4-0 league campaign, finished runner-up in Division 3 South and had a Division 3 champion.
Bristol-Plymouth wrestling
The Craftsmen finished fifth at the Division 3 South Sectionals, had two state champions and sent four wrestlers to MIAA All-States for the first time ever.
Taunton baseball
Though the Tigers (19-5, 14-2 Hockomock League) may not have won a third straight state title, Taunton captured its first outright Hockomock Kelley-Rex title since 2013 .
Taunton softball
The Tigers (25-0, 16-0 Hockomock League) were perfect in their pursuit of a fourth straight Division 1 title , shutting out longtime rivals No. 21 King Philip in the first ever state title showdown between the Hockomock heavyweights.
Bristol-Plymouth softball
The Craftsmen (14-6, 10-2 Mayflower Athletic Conference) built on their progress from last season, nearly winning the MAC Large while qualifying for the Division 2 tournament, falling to No. 32 Minnechaug in the Preliminary Round.
Dighton-Rehoboth softball
The Falcons (23-3, 11-3 South Coast Conference) rode their high-powered offense and strong pitching all the way to the Division 3 title game, beating No. 3 Hudson in walk-off fashion for the program's first title since 1990.
Bridgewater-Raynham boys lacrosse
The Trojans (13-7) qualified for their 14th straight postseason berth, scoring an overtime win over No. 20 Marblehead in the Division 2 Round of 32 before falling to eventual finalists No. 4 Marshfield in the Sweet Sixteen.
Dighton-Rehoboth boys volleyball
The Falcons (13-7, 10-4 Tri-Valley League) had their best season in decades , finishing tied for second in the TVL and qualifying for the postseason for the first time in 20 years, reaching the Division 2 Round of 32 before falling to No. 13 Minnechaug.
Vote: What is the 2023-24 Taunton Daily Gazette Team of the Year? This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Vote: What is the 2023-24 Taunton Daily Gazette Team of the Year?
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