More than 80 Winthrop High students have begun preparations for the school’s first season of lacrosse.
Athletic Director Peter Gobiel said that Winthrop will field two teams, boys and girls, and they will play a “club†schedule this spring. The goal is to begin interscholastic (varsity) play next year.
The teams have been practicing at various fields [Coughlin, Ingleside, Miller] in the town. The teams will play their home games on Miller Field.
“We’re trying to have five home games, with the girls and boys teams playing a doubleheader,†said Gobiel.
Gobiel said the school had to purchase equipment for the two teams and the 80 players. The Viking Pride Foundation has generously donated new uniforms for each player.
“We’re so grateful to Viking Pride for paying for the uniforms and helping us defray the start-up costs for the program,†said Gobiel.
The teams will wear navy blue and white uniforms with gold numbers.
“We’re hoping to host our first games on April 11,†said Gobiel.
Matt Serino, health teacher at WHS, the head coach of the boys lacrosse team. Brian Donnelly, a WHS teacher and son of WHS Life Skills Program coordinator Chris Donnelly, is the assistant coach.
WHS teacher Jennifer Adams is the head coach of the girls lacrosse team. The assistant coaches are Christina Kostas and Matt Sorter, who are both teachers at the middle school.
Gobiel said one of his goals as athletic director has been to increase the number of participants. He said approximately 40 percent of all WHS students are participating in sports this spring.
The other spring sports are baseball (47 players), softball (28) girls track (20), boys track (13), boys tennis (14), girls tennis (14), and sailing (10).