WELLESLEY — Inside his cozy office, complete with black and Raider red cushioned chairs, Wellesley High athletic director John Brown has annually updated a number on a greaseboard behind his desk.
Entering the 2017-18 school year, the number is “12” — 12 years since a Wellesley student-athlete has signed a national letter of intent to attend a Division 1 college program on full scholarship.
That athlete was Thomas Claiborne (Class of 2005), a 6-foot-3-inch, 330-plus pound lineman who parlayed his dominant play in the Bay State Conference into a four-year career at Boston College, and briefly, the National Football League.
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Wellesley has produced hundreds of talented athletes in Brown’s 12-year tenure as AD — including Claiborne, now 29 and back in town coaching three sports at the high school and middle school levels — that have gone on to collegiate success.
Brown, his hard-working staff of coaches, invaluable secretary MaryAnne McDonald, trainer Patty Hickey, and school administrators are proud of every one.
But there has only been one true “LOI.” Partial scholarships to Division 2 or 3 programs, no matter how deserving, do not make the cut.
Wellesley measures success as a program in four letters . . . T-E-A-M. And the athletic program, on Brown’s watch, has certainly set the bar high.
The Raiders field 36 varsity teams through the fall, winter, and spring seasons. In the 2016-17 campaign, Wellesley won 70.60 percent of its 420 regular-season matchups, racking up an EMass-high 288 victories, along with 17 ties. Only four varsity teams had losing records.
And for the third time in four years, Wellesley is one of 10 divisional winners in the Globe Scholastic Awards, nosing out a worthy Hingham contingent (69.61 win percentage) under the direction of retiring AD Margaret Conaty by less than a percentage point for the Ames Division 2 trophy. The award is named after Larry Ames, the Globe’s high school sports editor from 1979-94.
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The awards, now in its 45th year, rank schools based on their win percentage for regular-season play. Scores are compiled and updated daily during the season through the Globe’s database. Complete results are available on bostonglobe.com/schools.
At Wellesley, success was far reaching.
Jesse Davis’s football squad (10-1) ripped off a 9-0 regular season, the boys’ cross-country team (11-0) legged out a state title, the boys’ swim team (10-1) made a splash, the girls’ indoor track team (5-1) sprinted to the D2 state title, the boys’ (17-0) and girls’ golf (21-0) teams were unbeaten, and Rob Kane’s nine, in danger of not qualifying for the D1 South baseball tourney late in the season, made a spirited run to the state championship game. The boys’ and girls’ tennis teams were a net 34-4 in the regular season, 42-6 overall.
“We’ve had real good success, we’ve won a lot of games, in a lot of sports, with a lot of kids that love playing sports, with a lot of good athletes,” said Brown.
“But we are not pumping out a lot of scholarship kids. It’s all about team. They take pride in wearing their Wellesley gear, and taking part. And we try to do it the right way.”
In the 2016-17 campaign, 938 Wellesley students participated on teams, filling 1,634 spots. “Eighty percent of our graduating class played a sport,” boasted Brown.
And in an age in which specialization is the rage, 183 Raiders were three-sport athletes.
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Rocky Batty, who compiled a 134-57 record in a 10-year run as the varsity boys’ lacrosse coach before stepping away this week to be an assistant at Boston University, told his players in a breakup meeting on Wednesday, “How do you become a better lacrosse player? . . . Play other sports.”
Said Brown, “Our coaches get along. If a kid might be a marginal player in one sport, but a good player in another sport, they are trying to do what is best for the kid. . . . And it is what helps us to succeed, wins and losses-wise, but also get kids to participate.
“We try to make everyone comfortable, and be part of the program.”
The journey is important.
“We want everyone to have a great experience playing sports,” he added. “That experience might be different for every kid. Somebody might be the No. 3 hitter on the baseball team . . . another kid may just want a uniform. . . . We want each kid treated the same. We want them to look back and say, ‘I really liked that.’ ”
The payoff may come 10 to 15 years down the road, “when that kid that was here is a parent and they start coaching their kids, and they say, ‘I got something out of that. I learned the right way to play sports, the right way to treat people.’ Life lessons. Teamwork. Sportsmanship.”
And the other winners:
Dalton Division 1 — On the strength of a 14-1 mark (15-2-2 overall) from its field hockey team, a 19-1 record (22-2) from the girls’ basketball program and a 19-1 spike (22-2) from the boys’ volleyball squad, both under the direction of EJ Perry, Andover won 71.40 percent of its games to outdistance reigning champion Needham (66.88) for its first title since 2006.
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Dalton Division 3 — Marblehead (69.92) repeated with a dominant spring (85-29 overall), riding a 19-1 record (19-2 overall) from girls’ tennis and a 16-2 mark (18-3) from girls’ lacrosse. Westwood (65.70) was second.
Ames Division 4 — The Dalton D3 champion in 2015, Old Rochester (enrollment now at 693) ruled in its new division with a 68.66 winning percentage. The 19-3 boys’ hockey squad (24-4) skated to the Division 3 final, the girls’ basketball team went 14-5, and the boys’ tennis team (16-1) was near perfect in the regular season. Mystic Valley Charter (64.69) was second.
Nason Division 1 — In the Boston City League, East Boston (66.32) edged Latin Academy (65.04) for its second Scholastic crown in three years. The Jets were 18-2 on the baseball diamond, 15-4-2 on the ice, and 15-2 on the boys’ soccer pitch.
Nason Division 2 — St. John’s Prep took a back seat to BC High a year ago, halting a run of 19 straight Scholastic wins. But the Prep (75.41) is back in the top spot again, denying the Eagles (68.16). A 35-9-3 fall was the spark, paced by boys’ soccer (11-4-3) and the Division 1 runner-up golf team (15-1). A 27-4 takedown from the wrestling squad was the clincher.
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Nason Division 3 — Once again, Bishop Feehan (75.84) compiled the best winning percentage (75.84) of any school, in all divisions, to earn its fifth straight championship. A tip of the cap to retiring AD Paul O’Boy and his 50 years of stellar service to the school. Austin Prep (64.26) was second.
Singelais Division — The Notre Dame of Hingham ladies captured their fifth straight trophy after compiling a 71.58 winning percentage. The volleyball team (18-1 regular season) advanced to the Division 2 state final and Jean Ives Roy’s hockey squad (19-0-1) was the D2 state champ.
Markham Division 1 — Blackstone Valley Tech (68.57) in Upton continued its excellence, outpointing Whittier (61.35) for its sixth title in the past 10 years. The girls’ soccer team (18-2) is the three-time defending Large vocational champion, the BVT girls’ basketball team (19-3) beat Whittier for the state vocational title last February, and the baseball team (16-5) advanced to the Division 3 Central final for the first time.
Markham Division 2 — Diman got off to a running start with a 12-1 finish for its boys’ cross-country team en route to its first Scholastic award. The Fall River school won 58.25 percent of its games, edging back-to-back runner-up McCann Tech (57.09).
DIVISIONAL ALIGNMENTS
Dalton Division 1 is for schools with enrollments of 1,400 and up, Ames Division 2 is 1,000-1,399, Dalton Division 3 is 700-999, and Ames Division 4 is 699 and under. Nason Division 1 is for Boston Public Schools, Nason Division 2 is for Catholic boys’ schools, and Nason Division 3 is for Catholic coed schools. The Singelais Division is for Catholic girls’ schools. The Markham Divisions are for vocational schools. The enrollment totals reflect students in Grades 9-12; enrollment figures are supplied by MIAA member schools
THE NAMES
LARRY AMES: Ames was assistant sports editor/schools at the Globe from 1979 to 1994.
ERNEST DALTON: Dalton was the Globe’s high school editor from 1938 to 1970. He died in 1971.
JERRY NASON: Nason was the former executive sports editor of the Globe. He died in 1986.
NEIL SINGELAIS: Singelais was the Globe’s high school sports editor from 1970 to 1979. He died in 2002.
WALTER MARKHAM: Born and educated in Lowell, Markham was president and treasurer of the American Vocational Association for four years and was responsible for initiating the concept of regional vocational and technical high schools in the state.
PAST WINNERS
DALTON
1973
Catholic Memorial
1974
Brockton
1975
Division 1 — Brockton
Division 2 —Lincoln-Sudbury
Division 3 —Westwood
1976
Division 1 — Brockton
Division 2 — Concord-Carlisle
Division 3 — Westwood
1977
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Concord-Carlisle
Division 3 — Holliston
1978
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Andover
Division 3 — Westwood
1979
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Methuen
Division 3 — Westwood
1980
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Methuen
Division 3 — Westwood
1981
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Methuen
Division 3 — Duxbury
1982
Division 1 — Winchester
Division 2 — Acton-Boxboro
Division 3 — Duxbury
1983
Division 1 — Chelmsford
Division 2 — Beverly
Division 3 — Seekonk
1984
Division 1 — Chelmsford
Division 2 — Marblehead
Division 3 — Westwood
1985
Division 1— Chelmsford
Division 2 — Marblehead
Division 3 — Duxbury
1986
Division 1 — Chelmsford
Division 2 — Lincoln-Sudbury
Division 3 — Duxbury
1987
Division 1 — Chelmsford
Division 2 — Lincoln-Sudbury
Division 3 — Holliston
1988
Division 1 — Chelmsford
Division 2 — Lincoln-Sudbury
Division 3 — Duxbury
1989
Division 1 — Chelmsford
Division 2 — Acton-Boxboro
Division 3 — Holliston
1990
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Lincoln-Sudbury
Division 3 —Holliston
1991
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Lincoln-Sudbury
Division 3 — Holliston
Division 4 — Weston
1992
Division 1 — Andover
Division 2 — Beverly
Division 3 — Holliston
Division 4 — Weston
1993
Division 1 — New Bedford
Division 2 — Masconomet
Division 3 — Holliston
Division 4 — Norwell
1994
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Walpole
Division 3 — Holliston
Division 4 —Norwell
1995
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Burlington
Division 3 — Old Rochester
Division 4 — Norwell
1996
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Holliston
Division 3 — Scituate
Division 4 — Weston
1997
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Holliston
Division 3 — Medfield
Division 4 — Weston
1998
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Masconomet
Division 3 — Hanover
Division 4 — Weston
1999
Division 1 — Newton North
Division 2 — Masconomet
Division 3 — Norwell
Division 4 — Tyngsboro
2000
Division 1 — Andover
Division 2 — Dighton-Rehoboth
Division 3 — Medfield
Division 4 — Tyngsboro
2001
Division 1 — Lexington
Division 2 — Arlington
Division 3 — Duxbury
Division 4 — Harwich
2002
Division 1 — Peabody
Division 2 — Danvers
Division 3 — Dighton-Rehoboth
Division 4 — Abington
2003
Division 1 — Peabody
Division 3 — Hopkinton
2004
Division 1 — Peabody
Division 3 — Duxbury
2005
Division 1 — Andover
Division 3 — Duxbury
2006
Division 1 — Andover
Division 3 — Duxbury
2007
Division 1 — Lincoln-Sudbury
Division 3 — Old Rochester
2008
Division 1 — Acton-Boxboro
Division 3 — Winchester
2009
Division 1 — Lexington
Division 3 — Duxbury
2010
Division 1 — North Andover
Division 3 — Medfield
2011
Division 1 — Mansfield
Division 3 — Medfield
2012
Division 1 — Franklin
Division 3 — Hopkinton
2013
Division 1 — Masconomet
Division 3 — Medfield
2014
Division 1 — Masconomet
Division 3 — Duxbury
2015
Division 1 — Franklin
Division 3 — Old Rochester
2016
Division 1 — Needham
Division 3 — Marblehead
2017
Division 1 — Andover
Division 3 — Marblehead
AMES AWARD
2003
Division 2 — Lincoln-Sudbury
Division 4 — Medfield
2004
Division 2 — Lincoln-Sudbury
Division 4 — Medfield
2005
Division 2 — North Andover
Division 4 — Cohasset
2006
Division 2 — North Andover
Division 4 — Cohasset
2007
Division 2 — Reading
Division 4 — Norwell
2008
Division 2 — Reading
Division 4 — Westport
2009
Division 2 — North Andover
Division 4 — East Bridgewater
2 010
Division 2 — Reading
Division 4 — Norwell
2011
Division 2 — North Andover
Division 4 — Norwell
2012
Division 2 — North Andover
Division 4 — East Bridgewater
2013
Division 2 — Beverly
Division 4 — West Bridgewater
2014
Division 2 — Wellesley
Division 4 — West Bridgewater
2015
Division 2 — Needham
Division 4 — Cohasset
2016
Division 2 — Wellesley
Division 4 — Hanover
2017
Division 2 — Wellesley
Division 4 — Old Rochester
NASON AWARD
1981
Division 1 — Boston English
Division 2 — Matignon
1982
Division 1 — Boston Latin
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 —Bp. Fenwick
1983
Division 1 — No winner
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1984
Division 1 — East Boston
Division 2 — Xaverian
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1985
Division 1 — Dorchester
Division 2 — Xaverian
Division 3 — Abp. Williams
1986
Division 1 — Boston Tech
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1987
Division 1 — Boston Tech
Division 2 — BC High
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1988
Division 1 — Boston Tech
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1989
Division 1 — Latin Academy
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1990
Division 1 — Latin Academy
Division 2 — BC High
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1991
Division 1 — Boston Tech
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1992
Division 1 — South Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1993
Division 1 — West Roxbury
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1994
Division 1 — Latin Academy
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1995
Division 1 — Latin Academy
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1996
Division 1 — South Boston
Division 2 — BC High
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1997
Division 1 — South Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bp. Fenwick
1998
Division 1 — Latin Academy
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
1999
Division 1 — East Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2000
Division 1 — East Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2001
Division 1 — East Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2002
Division 1 — Charlestown
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2003
Division 1 — Madison Park
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2004
Division 1 — O’Bryant
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2005
Division 1 — Charlestown
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2006
Division 1 — O’Bryant
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2007
Division 1 — East Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2008
Division 1 — Latin Academy
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2009
Division 1 — East Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2010
Division 1 — East Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2011
Division 1 — Madison Park
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2012
Division 1 — Brighton
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Cardinal Spellman
2013
Division 1 — Latin Academy
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2014
Division 1 — New Mission
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2015
Division 1 — East Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2016
Division 1 — Fenway
Division 2 — BC High
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
2017
Division 1 — East Boston
Division 2 — St. John’s Prep
Division 3 — Bishop Feehan
SINGELAIS AWARD
1988
Notre Dame of Tyngsboro
1989
Notre Dame of Hingham
1990
Notre Dame of Hingham
1991
Notre Dame of Tyngsboro
1992
Notre Dame of Hingham
1993
Notre Dame of Tyngsboro
1994
Notre Dame of Hingham
1995
Notre Dame of Hingham
1996
Notre Dame of Hingham
1997
Notre Dame of Hingham
1998
Notre Dame of Hingham
1999
Notre Dame of Hingham
2000
Notre Dame of Hingham
2001
Notre Dame of Hingham
2002
Ursuline
2003
Notre Dame of Hingham
2004
Ursuline
2005
Mt. Alvernia
2006
Notre Dame of Hingham
2007
Notre Dame of Hingham
2008
Notre Dame of Hingham
2009
Notre Dame of Hingham
2010
Notre Dame of Hingham
2011
Notre Dame of Hingham
2012
Notre Dame of Hingham
2013
Notre Dame of Tyngsboro
2014
Notre Dame of Hingham
2015
Notre Dame of Hingham
2016
Notre Dame of Hingham
2017
Notre Dame of Hingham
MARKHAM AWARD
1997
Shawsheen
1998
Greater Lowell
1999
Greater Lowell
2000
Keefe Tech
2001
Keefe Tech
2002
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Norfolk
2003
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Norfolk
2004
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Norfolk
2005
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Blue Hills
2006
Division 1 — Greater Lowell
Division 2 — Blue Hills
2007
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Blackstone Valley
2008
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Blackstone Valley
2009
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Blackstone Valley
2010
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Blue Hills
2011
Shawsheen
2012
Shawsheen
2013
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Norfolk Aggie
2014
Division 1 — Blackstone Valley
Division 2 — McCann Tech
2015
Division 1 — Blackstone Valley
Division 2 — McCann Tech
2016
Division 1 — Shawsheen
Division 2 — Essex Tech
2017
Division 1 — Blackstone Valley
Division 2 — Diman Voke
Craig Larson can be reached at craig.larson@globe.com