Sports 05-26-2016

WHS sports roundup

WHS boys tennis team

finishes season at 11-5

The Winthrop High boys tennis team completed the most successful season in the history of the Viking tennis program with two victories this past week. The twin wins gave coach Marie Finn and her crew a final record of 11-5, setting a new WHS standard for wins in a season, eclipsing the previous mark of nine victories.

The Vikings’ put the finishing touch on their record-breaking campaign with a 5-0 shutout of Revere Monday. Noah Hodgkins, Winthrop’s top player, handily defeated his Revere counterpart in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0. Mike Norris similarly cruised to victory at No. 2 singles, 6-1, 6-0, and Jake LaFratta won his match at third singles in shutout fashion, 6-0, 6-0.

The first doubles duo of Robbie Miles and Matt Sennott triumphed 6-1, 6-0 and the second doubles tandem of Corey Cherico and Kyle Dalton took their match by a score of 6-2, 6-1.

Last week the Vikings defeated Lynn English 4-1, but fell to Beverly by the same score.

“This has been a fantastic season by a great group of boys,” said WHS coach Marie Finn. “I am very proud of what they have accomplished.”

Finn and her crew now will await word later this week of their seeding and first-round pairing in the upcoming MIAA state tennis tournament.

WHS girls tennis team

wins two of three matches

The Winthrop High girls tennis team won two of its three matches this past week to finish the season with a .500 record at 8-8, the best record by a Lady Viking tennis squad in anyone’s memory.

Although coach Ken Hodgkins’s squad already had qualified for the state tournament via the so-called Sullivan Rule (which allows a team to reach the tourney if its record against opponents in its division is .500), the overall final mark of .500 gave Winthrop a tourney spot even without the benefit of the rule.

The Lady Vikings got to .500 in their last match of the year Monday, a 5-0 shutout of Revere on Monday. All three of the Winthrop singles players won their matches in straight sets: Meg Dolan at first singles (6-1, 6-1), Haley Holden at second singles (6-0, 6-0), and Kailyn Ferrara at third singles (6-1, 6-2).

The first doubles tandem of Courtney McSwiney and Sarah Kfoury overcame a 5-7 setback in the first set to take the next two sets, 6-3, 6-3, and the second doubles duo of Brooke Baciagalupo and junior Dana Marshall won their match, 6-2, 6-2.

Last week the Lady Vikings knocked off an 11-3 Beverly squad that had been in contention for the North Division title of the Northeastern Conference. Winthrop won by a 5-0 margin to shatter Beverly’s dreams of a division title .

“This has been a great year,” said Hodgkins. “The team has worked hard and often has won matches, in which they were the underdogs, because of their determination and mindset to win.”

Two Lady Vikings, Dolan and Holden, qualified for the individual state tennis tourney that was held last weekend, with Meg advancing to the second round.

Hodgkins and his crew now will await word of their seeding and first-round pairing in the MIAA state team tennis tournament. That announcement is expected early next week.

WHS girls 4 x 400 team

takes third at NEC meet

The Winthrop High girls’ 4 x 400 relay team captured third place at Saturday’s Northeastern Conference meet to provide the major highlight for the Lady Vikings at the all-league meet.

“They had the race of the day for us,” said WHS head coach Warren MacPhail of the performance (4:24.42) of his quartet of Heidy Benson, Holly Benson, Emily McGovern, and Fiona MacPhail. “They all ran terrificly to finish up what I thought was a ‘step in the right direction for our program’ kind of day.”

In the individual contests, Winthrop’s top finisher was Holly Benson, who took fifth place in the 400 dash in a clocking of 1:03.98. Two teammates also brought home medals with sixth place performances, Gianna Massa with a shotput toss of 32’-3” and Gabriela Hinchion with a discus throw of 74’-7”.

Christa Vaccaro narrowly missed medal-worthy performances with seventh-place efforts in the 400 hurdles (1:13.58) and long jump (15’-.25”). Christa was less than one second off the sixth place pace in the hurdles and just two inches short of sixth in the long jump.

MacPhail finished ninth in the high jump (4’-6”). Nina Leone was ninth (13:31.88) and teammate Camilia Miranda-Llovera was 10th (13:37.58) in the two-mile run.

McGrail is second

in NEC in discus

Andrew McGrail brought home a second place medal in the discus at the Northeastern Conference Meet Saturday for the Winthrop High boys track team. Andrew’s toss of 122’-7” trailed only the winning throw of 125’-3” and was two feet ahed of the third-place finisher.

WHS softball team

wins two contests;

tourney berth at stake

The Winthrop High softball team will be shooting to qualify for a berth in the MIAA state tournament when the Lady Vikings host Triton this evening (Thursday) under the lights at Cellucci Field at 6:30.

Coach Dave Guffey and his crew played their best softball of the season this past week, earning victories over Saugus, which had been in second place in the NEC South Division, and Salem.

In the 5-2 win over Saugus Monday, the Lady Vikings were led in the hitting department by Gabby Kenniston, who went 3-for-4 with three RBI. Nicole Pucillo also had three hits and Maddie Finga’a had two hits.

Winthrop also played exceptionally well in the field. Jaida Hightower made two outstanding catches in right field and Alexis Joyce accounted for four catches in centerfield. Second baseman Bella Perrotti also shone defensively with two assists and four putouts.

WHS pitcher Taylor Taylor went the entire seven-inning route, tossing a four hitter, allowing just one earned run while fanning two and walking three.

In a 15-4 rout of Salem last week, Pucillo slammed a home run to lead the Winthrop offensive barrage. Jessie Martin had three hits with two doubles and three runs scored and Finga’a likewise had three hits with two runs and three RBI.

On Saturday the Lady Vikings played Gloucester in a doubleheader at Boston University, dropping both contests.

 

WHS sports years

10 years ago

May 25, 2006

Viking trackmen Shane Mukerrin and Chris Testa captured NEC titles in the discus and shotput respectively at Saturday’s all-conference meet at Beverly. Mulkerrin won the discus with a toss of 125’-5”, which was a personal record, and Testa took the shot with a throw of 41’-7”. Travis Kratman took second in the 200 dash in a PR time of 23.7. Ed Ikhariale took third in the 100 dash in 12.0. The 4 x 100 relay team of Chris Sullivan, Chris Dalrymple, Ikariale, and Kratman took third place.

The WHS boys track team defeated Saugus, 78-34, to capture the NEC South Division title. Travis Kratman led the way for coach Pat McGee’s Vikings with first place finishes in the 400 and long jump. He took second in the 100 dash and ran a leg of the winning 4 x 100 relay team.

The WHS girls track team finished at 8-2 on the season to capture the NEC South Division title. The Lady Vikings defeated Danvers and Revere in a tri-meet to claim the title for coach Warren MacPhail, who was named the NEC Coach of the Year. Christina Datta led Winthrop with first place finishes in the long jump and triple jump and ran a leg of the winning 4 x 100 relay team. Datta finished the season with 142 points, the third-best in WHS girls track history. Andrea Bruno was a double winner in the mile (5:49) and 400 (64.0) and Brittany Page took the shotput and discus.

At Saturday’s all-conference meet, the Lady Viking 4 x 400 relay squad of Genevieve Plant, Stephanie Costello, Meghan Doherty, and Julie Dowson took first place.

20 years ago

May 23, 1996

Tom Reilly threw a shutout to lead the WHS baseball team to a 10-0 win over Lynn English and clinch a spot in the post-season state tourney. Jason Calla and James Buono both went 4-for-4 on the day.

Coach Pat McGee’s WHS boys track team defeated both Saugus and Lynn English this week to finish the season at 8-1, good for second place in the NEC.

Jack Cimino won his match at first singles in straight sets to lead the WHS boys tennis team to a 5-0 shutout of Lynn English.

From the Press Box

Raise the Racquets

There is a resurgence of tennis in town. Coach Marie Finn’s boys team h as established a school record for victories. Coach Ken Hodgkin’s Lady Vikings tennis team has qualified for the MIAA post season with a (8-8) record.

The 1969 tennis team coached by John Domenico held the previous record. I spoke with coach ‘JD’ last week from his retirement home in Arizona. “We had five outstanding players, Joe Wyson, Bill Schmidt, David Muracaver, Kevin Roy and Ken Sibelian.

Coach Domenico is still playing tennis at 88 years young! John was an outstanding principal and coached baseball for many years. His first all-scholastic player is still coaching baseball – Bobby DeFelice, the former Boston College and Boston Red Sox minor league (triple A) standout is the Bentley University coach and athletic director.

Coach Marie Finn’s team is led by captain Noah Hodgkins, enjoying an all-star senior year. Noah was named NEC first team hockey a—star. Seniors Michael Norris and Jake LaFratta and frosh standout Corey Cherico (cousin of captain Noah) have had outstanding seasons on the courts!

Noah followed his two older brothers, Kenny, coach of the Lady Vikings team and Luke, playing at Salem Stated.

Coach Ken Hodgkins in his first year as Lady Viking’s coach has done an outstanding job! “We have 19 players on the team, they responded very well to adversity during our matches. They improved in every match and today (Monday) I’m proud to say we shut out arch rival Revere (5-0)”

The Lady Vikings finished (8-8) and qualified for the MIAA playoffs. Senior Meg Dolan and junior Haley Holden qualified for the State individual matches.

Coach Ken was captain of tennis for the Salem State Vikings. Kenny was all-conference and team MVP. Salem State is a “Family Tradition” in the Hodgkins family. Mom Maria is a Salem State grad and a teacher at Winthrop high school. Brother Luke is a junior at Salem and is playing tennis. Captain Noah Hodgkins of the boy’s team will play at Salem after a super senior year, earning all-NEC first team selection.

Let’s “Raise the Racquets” and salute coach Ken Hodgkins and coach Marie Finn!

Let The Games Begin!

The New Stadium

I received word from Sean Driscoll, director of recreation and head football coach. The committee has approved larger bleachers and seating capacity.

The plans for the additional parking across form the new Winthrop high school will include moving the new tennis courts to Ingleside Park.

The success and popularity of tennis and the growth of boys and girls lacrosse will please both student-athletes and adults using the new stadium/track and new tennis courts.

When I read a track meet score Swampscott 64 – Winthrop 12, I could only reflect on many outstanding track athletes coached by the legendary Pat McGee, coach Wallace McLean and Matty Boyle.

Let the Games Begin!

Hall of Fame

The 2016 Winthrop high school Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held in the new Winthrop high school. The induction will be on Saturday night October 22, 2016.

To be eligible a Winthrop high graduate must have been part of a class that was graduated at least ten years (2006) prior to nomination. The deadline to submit nominations is July 4th. The nomination forms are available at the office of Attorney Chris Tsiotos, 193 Winthrop Street or by calling (617) 846-9192.

Trivia

The single season Northeastern Conference (NEC) leading scorers in football, Anthony Palmer (195 points), Doug Santos (Peabody – 190 points), Chuck Sullivan (WHS 1981 – 166 points), Dick JaVron (Swampscott 0 146 points), Steve Staffier (WHS – 1983 – 144 points).

Danvers and Saugus are the two NEC schools to win only one NEC football title. The Falcons had to defeat the Vikings in 2004 to win their only NEC crown.

The two all-time Viking hoop players to hold assist records are the father and son family – Steve and Gain Mahoney. Steve passed the ball to the first (1,000 point scorer and 28.5 average Chris Tsiotos in 1972 and 1973).

Gavin passed the ball to the all-time Viking boys scoring leader Dino Mallios (1,475 career points). Dino led Division 2 college assist leader in 2014 in the country for St. Anselms.

Take it to the rim!

Let the Games Begin!

OKC and JBJ

The two big names in sports this past week – the Oklahoma Thunder NBA team upsetting the defending NBA champs – the Golden State Warriors.

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook scores 33 and 30 points respectively in leading ‘PKC’ to a convincing (133-105) victory over Golden State. Westbrook dished out 12 assists in the big victory.

‘OKC’ led (72-47) at the half. OKC leads the series (2-1) and played a crucial game on Tuesday night (press time).

Can the Thunder win the series and challenge the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA finals? I will continue to cheer against “The greatest player in the world” – quote from Lebron James.

Memorial Day used to be ‘Boston Celtics’ on the tube.

Jackie Bradley Jr. (JBJ) is having an incredible month of May. JBJ is batting .342 (as of Sunday) he is second in the American League in batting average (teammate Xander Bogarts is hitting .346) he has 8 home runs – a 27-game hitting streak and has 33 RBI’s (runs batted in).

Two years ago he was struggling to hit .200. H e is an outstanding defensive center fielder. Three years ago Jacoby Ellsbury left town for a $150 million dollar New York Yankees contract, who would you rather have now?

Let the Games Begin!

70 Years

The Winthrop-Revere rivalry has produced 86-Thanksgiving games. In 1946 – 70 years ago, a fight on Thanksgiving ended the rivalry. A brawl between the teams suspended the rivalry.

In 1959 Winthrop played Revere for the first time since 1946, (Winthrop 12 – Revere 6). I played in the game, it was not on Thanksgiving. “The Game” will be played on the holiday at Revere this year – that’s another story! 6 months before another Vikings victory!

Let the Games Begin!