From the Press Box sponsored by: Winthrop Book depot
The New Winthrop Girl’s Basketball Coach
By: Jim Lederman
The rivalry between Swampscott and Winthrop dates back to the 1940’s. The Big Blue and Winthrop dominated the NEC in basketball.
In football the Big Blue under Stan Bondelevitch, dominated football in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.
The basketball rivalry was even stronger, WHS won eight NEC hoop titles 1956-1965.
In 1972 and 1973, the Tsiotos brothers Nick and Chris won back-to-back titles and two trips to the Boston Garden to play in the legendary “Tech Tourney.†The 1963 Vikings won the Class B State Championship in the Garden. In 1973 the rivalry had a ‘classic’ game played in the old Swampscott high school, high on top of a hill overlooking Swampscott Harbor. The Big Blue had a 49-game home win streak.
I watched Chris Tsiotos score 42 points to end the streak. Chris holds two NEC records that will never be broken, a (28.5) season average and a single game 53-point record.
The 2014 NEC champions Lady Vikings (best in the NEC North and South); the Lady Vikings won the North title by only one point. The 2014 team had three division 2 college players (two playing division 2 college hoop presently), a great season that ended with a loss in the T.D. Garden. (The 2015-2016 team brings back Nina Bartlette, another college player from 2014. New coach John Gambale brings the qualities that could match some of the past WHS coaches that developed players, working year round to build a strong program. Coach John Gambale has been hard at working and restoring a program that was low in numbers – 40-girls are in the New Lady Vikings program.
Viking coaches Driscoll, Dunbar and Martucci have built strong programs. John Gambale will follow their success that leads to championship teams!
The Lady Vikings opened practice for (2015-2016) with 40 girls trying out for the varsity, sophomore and freshmen teams, that is a record number.
Coach John Gambale will rebuild a program that was decimated in 2014 in numbers. He will restore the pride and the reputation of Viking basketball.
Coach John Gambale will have his daughter Marissa as one of his assistant coaches. Marissa was a ‘Big Blue’ standout guard on a NEC championship team. She played at Merrimack College and teaches at the Garfield School in Revere.
Marissa played vs. Courtney Finn in a ‘classic’ Lady Vikings vs. Big Blue game at the old Holland Gymnasium.
The Lady Vikings in 2016 (December) will play in the new Winthrop high school gym. The new building is progressing well for a 2016 opening!
Winthrop was the ‘basketball capital of the North Shore.’ The Vikings (boys and girls) have captured 45 – NEC champions in their proud tradition.
A trip to the legendary Boston Garden for the ‘Tech Tourney,’ the last high school game in the Garden was the 1995 Viking championship team, coached by the late Peter Grimes, added to the Viking hoop legacy.
The Lady Vikings bring a new coach John Gambale to town. John an ex-Swampscott athlete and coach brings experience and enthusiasm to WHS.
The Lady Vikings open the season with two back-to-back home games at the Memorial Gym. The Gloucester Fishermen invade Winthrop on Tuesday, December 15th.
The Big Blue invades the Memorial Gym on Friday, December 18th. How’s that for the ex-Big Blue athlete coach Gambale, I’m sure he will have his Lady Vikings up for the game. John was coached in Swampscott by Frank DeFelice, legendary Big Blue baseball coach (450 wins in baseball). Frank is a member of the Winthrop high school athletic Hall of Fame.
Coach John Gambale bring the program to the level of three ex-Winthrop athletes that coach championship teams at Winthrop high school. Football coach Sean Driscoll, Viking hockey coach Dale Dunbar and Lady Bulldog hockey coach Anthony ‘Butch’ Martucci.
The Lady Vikings future is bright with coach Gambale working year round to bring another title to Winthrop John Gambale.
Winthrop Home of “Championship Teamsâ€.
Good Luck coach Gambale.
 Coach Grimes
Condolence to the family of Peter Grimes on the loss of Peter J. Grimes. Peter was an outstanding coach of boy’s basketball and Lady Vikings hoop at WHS.
Peter’s 1995 state championship team won the title in the old Boston Garden. Peter coached the Lady Vikings ‘Fab Five’ that lost in the North Final at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. He coached championship teams (Lady Vikings (20-0) and boys (Division 4 – state champions in 1995 – defeating Cohasset in a classic game.
All Stars
Congrats to three Viking football standouts named to the Northeastern Conference All-Star team. Joe Trenouth, jr. defensive lineman; Jon Gonzales, jr. outside linebacker and Chris Zuffante jr. quarterback, strong safety defensive back.
The Vikings should have seven all-stars in 2016. Revere had 5 all-stars, led by quarterback Dan Murphy, named Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the game. The final score was Winthrop 15 – Revere – 12.
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On the Sidelines
Best wishes to a couple of standout ex-Viking athletes, who are recovering from operations.
To Lady Vikings standout Nicole Giaquinto and NEC All-Star hoop player on the Fab Five team, coached by the late Peter Grimes, Nicole’s team reached the Division 3 final at the Tsongas Center in Lowell.
Nicole was an All-America track standout at UMass Lowell. “The Fab Five had All-American Bentley Universitiy hoopster Courtney Finn and Babson College captain Rena Mallios.
Get Well Soon Nicole!
Ex-Viking quarterback Jamie Tipping, owner of the popular Boston Landmark – The Boston Sail Loft on the Waterfront in Boston John had a serious operation recently.
Jamie played quarterback in the 1969 ‘classic’ Revere vs. Winthrop, Thanksgiving Classic. The Revere quarterback was Al ‘white shoes†Petrilli. Jamie Tipping’s brother John was fullback on the undefeated 1964 NEC football Vikings.
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Turkey Leftovers
The huge Winthrop crowd at the sparkling new Harry Della Russo Stadium on Thanksgiving had a first hand look at the $7.5 million dollar facility.
The comments from many Winthrop fans, “Why can’t we have a field and track like Revere?†The Speaker of the House Robert A. DeLeo was my halftime guest in the Pressbox at Harry Della Russo and Bob assured me “Winthrop will have a new stadium.†We will hear more in March of 2016. The Vikings will play the 2016 Thanksgiving game at HDR next November. With the ten out of 22 starters on the Vikings team on turkey day, the turkey day desserts “turkey leftovers†will taste special once again in Winthrop in 2016!
I spoke with the two hockey coaches at WHS, Dale Dunbar and Butch Martucci on the holiday. The (2015-2016) Lady Bulldogs look very strong and the defending NEC Viking hockey sextet, led by co-captains Michael Norris and Noah Hodgkins will win plenty of big games at Larsen Rink this winter. Yes, the winter is here, see you rink side!
The ‘O’ Line
I will take a holding penalty for omitting junior tackle Andrew McGrail from my ‘Turkey Day’ Victory column.
The big junior (6’1-250) tackle improved his game every week. McGrail will return with another ‘big guy’, Derek Wasson (5’10-215), who was injured with a hand injury. McGrail and Wasson will form a potent tandem to open holes for the ‘Junior Jets’ in 2016.
Let the Games Begin!
Gonzo Attack
The key play in the Vikings comeback victory on Thanksgiving was the fumble recovery by junior Jon Gonzo Gonzales.
The game plan was to control the clock and let the ‘Junior Jets’ run the ball. Gonzo had 102-yards rushing in the ‘Driscoll Attack.’
The junior back h ad a season filled with injuries, he missed 5-games but his running on the new Harry Della Russo Stadium turf spelled victory.
The Prospects for 2016 are very promising, with ‘Gonzo’ carrying the pigskin, behind a veteran line – watch out!
Let the Games Begin!
Faithful Faces in the Crowd
I left out two ‘faithful parents’ who never missed a game in 2015; they traveled from Medfield to Gloucester to watch their son play. Ed and Jackie McGrail enjoyed Thanksgiving like many proud Viking faithful.
‘Super Soph’ Jaidon Brown was injured on turkey day, Ginny Brown, his proud grandma is his number one fan!
Jaidon had 5-touchdowns in 2015 – look for ‘number 25’ to have a big junior season.
Arete Awards
The Greek word for excellence is Arete – I learned that from Mr. Basketball in Winthrop Chris Tsiotos – here are my Arete Awards for 2015:
There were many excellent moments in the 2015 Viking football season, highlighted by victories over our archrivals Revere and Swampscott. The Vikings finished strong, prospects for a championship team in 2016 are bright!
Kelly’s Roast Beef Award – The Revere Patriots hold their Annual Superman on the Beach every summer after the big day, Kelly’s serve roast beef to the entire team. Captain Dan Murphy said “we look forward to a great season making the playoffs and beating Winthrop. They won seven games, made the playoffs and were shooting for the second best record in school history. They ran into a Viking team, an underdog and the Vikings had their Superman on the holiday – a bruising fullback – number 33 Matt Tarantino, he wins the prize of free roast beefs for a month.
*Play of the Year – The fumble recovery on the 24-yard line by Jon Gonzales. Leading to the Vikings victory. The Patriots always make crucial turn overs on the holiday.
Tough Guy Award – Junior center Luigi Spinazzola was the standout Viking lineman who knocked his man out, paving the way for quarterback Chris Zuffante to run up the middle for two touchdowns.
Courage and Leadership Award – Co-captain Matt Feeley playing on the holiday, despite a separated shoulder and punting and providing the leadership for his team.
The Announcer/Cheerleader Award – The Amesbury public address announcer – cheering “stand up for another Indian first down and move the chains†– yes, the Amesbury team scored a number of touchdowns, but the PA announcer was ‘obnoxiousâ€!
Defensive Play of the Year was the fumble recovery by junior standout Jon Gonzales at the Revere 24-yard line. The play led to the Vikings winning touchdown. Gonzo had his finest game – 10 tackles and 102-yards on the ground. He missed 5 games but he will be an all-NEC halfback in 2016! Go Go Gonzo!
Cameraman of the Year – The professional job done by Mike Mahoney for coach Sean Driscoll, taping the games. The excellent work of Nick DiMartino taping the game for Viking TV – catch the games on Viking TV Channel 15!
The Harry Della Russo – The First annual “HDR†Award – The most outstanding player in the Winthrop-Revere game. The award was to be given to Dan Murphy – NEC Most Valuable Player – the winner – Chris Zuffante, sorry Revere fans; Winthrop always wins when they lay Revere in their stadium. The new Harry Della Russo Stadium – See you next year!
Same stadium – same result!
WHS sports roundup
Winter sports programs get underway this week
The winter sports season swings into high gear for Winthrop High athletes and fans this week.
The WHS boys and girls track teams are set to inaugurate the season when they trek to Salem today Thursday.
The Viking boys hockey team will face off for the first time Saturday in a non-league contest against rival Mansfield.
The Lady Bulldog hockey team also gets its season underway Saturday when they host Longmeadow in a non-league encounter Saturday at Larsen Rink.
The WHS boys basketball team, under the direction of new head coach Ignacio Oyola, who moved over from the girls’ side, makes the long trek to Gloucester Tuesday for its season-opener.
The Lady Viking hoop team, under new head coach John Gambale, will host Gloucester Tuesday evening.