From the Press Box: Where Are They Now?

Steve Miles led the Northeastern Conference in basketball  scoring 174 points in 1952 for W.H.S.    Steve went on to play football at Cornell University.   Now living in Houston, Texas Steve often returns to his hometown for Thanksgiving Day to watch Winthrop Vikings play the Revere Patriots.

Phil Ratner followed Steve Miles to Cornell in 1961. Phil was the Big Red Captain and an All-East tackle.  Phil is in the W.H.S. Athletic Hall of Fame.  He now resides in Dana Point, California.

Co-Captain Sean Mullane scored 4 points in overtime, leading Winthrop to a 56-52 overtime victory over Danvers High in a 1960 playoff game.  The victory was the fourth successive Northeastern Conference Title for WHS.  Sean lives in Shadow Hills, California.

David Ginsberg is a native of Winthrop.  He graduated from Northfield Mt. Hermon School, Kenyon College and B.U. School   of Management.  He is Vice Chairman of the Fenway Sports Group.

The Fenway Sports Group owns a portfolio of companies that includes the Boston Red Sox,  New England Sports Network (NESN) and Fenway Sports Management.  In 2010, the group acquired The Liverpool Futball Club.

 

SKIMMING THE SIDELINES

Coach Anthony “Butch” Martucci coached the North Team to a gold medal in girls ice hockey at the Bay State Games.

The Northeastern Conference was formed in 1945.  Winthrop won the NEC Title in basketball in 1945 with a (10-0) record.  Center Bill Countaway won the NEC scoring title with 179 points.

Marty Fischer WHS Hoop Captain in 1957, holds a NEC record of nineteen free throws in one game.

Arnie Springer scored forty two points in one WHS basketball game in 1959.  In 1973,  Chris Tsiotos broke the record scoring fifty three points at Saugus High School.

 

TRIVIA ANSWERS FROM LAST WEEK

(A) Three former WHS athletes who played at Brandeis University.  Amy Sullivan (basketball),  Arnie Springer (basketball), and Mark Schlafman (baseball).

(B)    Name two Tewksbury High School administrators from Winthrop.  Joe Crotty (principal) and Bob Vadeboncoeur (head football coach).

(C)    Danvers High School captured their 1st NEC football title in 2004.

(D) Steve Demetriou, WHS basketball captain in 1976 is one of the  owners of The Cleveland Caveliers .

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

 

MacPhail named Offense Defense All American

Luke MacPhail was named Offense Defense (OD) All American and is once again returning back to the Citrus Bowl. Luke, from Winthrop, Massachusetts traveled to the deep south of Southern Louisiana to compete in this year’s Offense Defense camps. We soon learned that in attendance for this camp were OD’s top three ranked Quarterbacks in the nation Luke MacPhail from Winthrop, MA, Bryson Lucero from Loma, CO, and Drew Rios from Cutt Off, LA.

At first the Director of the camp had no knowledge that all 3 were present.  Soon after they reached out to a local Division One college, Nichols State University, to add some coaching staff and assistance with local high school wide receivers.

Although Luke has traveled across country to compete with some of the best in the country this was the first time he had the chance to play in someone’s back yard in the deep south. Many say if you want to play football this is where to do it.  An hour before the opening time family members would be fighting for position to place their tents and sitting areas.

We have never witnessed such passionate football families. After 4 days of intense competition in 100 degree weather with humidity that was something you would have to be present to understand these 3 athletes had the results of their evaluations. It was almost impossible to predict a winner.

Every one of them played at the top of their game and were absolutely incredible. Winthrop’s Luke MacPhail ended up winning the top prize as MVP and will be attending the Citrus Bowl for the 2014 All American Bowl games in late December. Camp Director Natalie Pippen from Dallas, Texas stated she had never witnessed such electricity at any of her camps she has attended.

She stated what impressed her most about Luke is the courage it took from someone to come all the way from Boston and not be intimidated. Any one of these 3 could have won the MVP. Drew and Bryson won performance awards that also give them automatic invites to the Citrus Bowl. What was most amazing was after the camp was over the 3 athletes became such good friends. They all have amazing families. They went to a Southern Restaurant and enjoyed some Cajun food. They have so much respect for each other and they were able to learn about who they all were underneath the helmet.

Luke’s journey didn’t stop there. The next day he attended the Manning Passing Academy located at Nichols State University. This was an intense 4 day schedule filled with nonstop fundamentals and conditioning. It was amazing to have the opportunity to be coached by Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Andrew Luck, and the top Division 1 Quarterbacks such as Florida State’s Jameis Winston. In attendance were the top quarterbacks and receivers in the nation from middle school, high school, college, and Division 1 coaches from across the world.

Luke returned home and two days later he attended the New England OD camp at Bryan University. The camp was overseen by legendary Bryant’s coach Marty Fine. This was again a four day full contact camp that had campers from all over New England and Canada. Luke decided to go as a Tight End. He felt is was important to step outside his comfort zone and play different positions. This gives a player an opportunity to learn the position under professional guidance. Amazingly Luke was able to pull off an incredible week and ended up once again receiving the MVP award with an overall rating of 8.67.

After a long three weeks of football he came home to learn that his two sisters, Natalia and Jessica, who played for the U10 All  Star Revere Rampage softball team had won the Massachusetts State Championship. Luke respectfully placed their trophies and medals in front of anything he received this summer. He explained that their State Championship trumps everything.