WHS sports roundup
Girls soccer team drops season-opener
The Winthrop High girls soccer team dropped a 5-0 decision to Division 4 Rockport last Friday in the Lady Vikings’ season-opener.
Coach Tracy Martucci’s 2016 edition features 10 seniors and will be led by a quartet of captains, Regina Garufo, Heidy Benson, Abby Carleton, and Kelsie Griffiths.
“We are starting off with a few preexisting injuries that are hurting us,†noted Martucci.
Martucci and her crew have a big week ahead, starting last night (Wednesday) Â at Gloucester. They travel Friday to Swampscott and the Lady Vikings then will trek to the southern side of Boston Harbor Saturday to face Hull as part of a doubleheader with the boys.
“The Hull game will be our only other D-4 game of the season (other than Rockport), so it’s a big one for us,†said Martucci. “We hope to keep improving on the little things that need to be worked on.â€
A victory against Hull will give the Lady Vikings a .500 record against D-4Â opponents and will qualify them for the post-season state tournament.
Girls cross country
wins season-opener
The WHS boys and girls cross country teams opened their 2016 season Tuesday, hosting Lynn Classical on the Deer Island course.
The Lady Viking squad came away with a 19-42 triumph. Camila Miranda-LLovera outsprinted teammate Fiona MacPhail to grab her first-ever, first-place finish in a time of 20:40. Fiona proved to be the biggest surprise of the early season with a strong second place. Caroline Zuffante, Zara Powell, and Trinity Rist solidified the victory with a grouped finish for the 3-4-5 spots.
The boys’ side came up a little short in a 29-32 defeat, but showed they are ready to start winning future meets. Capt. Nick Beshere had his best performance ever by placing second. Cormac MacPhail placed third overall, showing his ninth grade all-star season wasn’t a fluke. Jacob Hain improved from last year by placing seventh. Patrick Haskell and Michelangelo Marcoccio rounded out the team’s top five scorers.
Both the boys and girls teams have begun the 2016 season with their best results in many years. In addition to their fine effort against Lynn Classical, they traveled to the Lynn Woods last Friday afternoon for the St. Mary’s Cross Country Invitational. Fiona MacPhail, Nick Beshere, Cormac MacPhail, and Camila Miranda-Lovera all placed in the top five in their races in a meet that featured teams from Swampscott, Lynn Tech, Lynn Classical, Lynn English, and St. Mary’s.
Both the boys and girls will travel to Swampscott this Tuesday hoping to continue their upward swing to a successful season.
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WHS golf team
edges Salem
The Winthrop High golf team earned its first victory of the season with a razor-thin 36.5-35.5 triumph. The outcome of the match came down to a five-foot putt by Salem’s No. 7 player, who was playing against Viking David McCready. However, the Salem player missed his putt, which gave Winthrop the win.
Leading the way for the Vikings was their senior captain and No. 1 player, Jack Wallace, who handily defeated his Salem counterpart by a score of 6.5-2.5. Senior Nathan Rich, playing at No. 5, outscored his Salem rival 6-3. McCready, a sophomore, topped his Salem foe, 5-4.
Patrick Staff earned 4.5 points for Winthrop in the No. 4 spot. Other contributors to the Viking victory were sophomore Cody Dassau at No. 2 with 2.5 points; Drew DiMento at No. 3 with four points; Alex Pesiri at No. 6 with 3.5 points; and Sean Alioto at No. 8 with 4.5 points.
The Vikings opened their season last week with a 42.5-29.5 loss to Wakefield on the Winthrop Golf Club course. Wallace shot a one-under par 34 to defeat his Wakefield opponent at No. 1, 6-3. DiMento, playing at No. 4, was a 5-4 victor and Rich at No. 6 won his match, 5.5-3.5. Dassau halved his match at No. 2 to place 4.5 points into the Winthrop scoresheet.
In a loss to Danvers at Ferncroft, Wallace provided the major highlight for the Vikings, halving his match.
“The team is working hard and improving,†said Lyons. “We have a lot of young players and first-time varsity players.â€
Lyons and his crew were set to host Saugus today (Thursday) on the local links; Â trek to Gloucester Tuesday; and then return home to face Swampscott next Thursday.
From The Press Box
“The Game”
By: Jim Lederman
There are many great rivalries in sports and each year there is a big game – “The Game†will always bring a huge crowd.
Harvard-Yale is a long time rivalry and it is the final game of the season for these two Ivy league-rivals.
Michigan – Michigan State, USC-UCLA, Notre Dame-Southern Cal, Florida and Florida State are just a few strong rivalries in college football.
For many years Swampscott-Winthrop was the big rival for Winthrop teams.
The Big Blue under the tutelage of the legendary Stan Bondelevitch dominated the NEC in football in the 50’s-60s and 70s.
Winthrop and Revere renewed their Thanksgiving rivalry in 1964. This year will mark the 85th game in the rivalry, but the 1964 game will always be “The Game†in this big rivalry.
Next month the members of the 1964 undefeated Vikings team will be inducted in the 2016 Winthrop High School Hall of Fame.
The Vikings and Patriots were both undefeated when they battled before an estimated crowd of 10,000 fans in Revere.
The Vikings (8-0) in the NEC were led by the late Steve “The Tank†Adamson.
Steve was unanimous all scholastic who played for the University of Wyoming and played in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day.
Revere was led by all-scholastic quarterback Jim DelGaizo. Jimmy played at Syracuse and the University of Tampa. Jimmy played in the NFL (National Football League). He has two super bowl rings with the Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers as a backup quarterback.
The game was decided in the final two minutes when Billy Cintolo scored a touchdown for Revere, the final score of (8-0) was one of the most exciting games in the rivalry. Cintolo played at Rutgers University and is now a prominent lawyer in Boston.
The Winthrop backfield had Lance MacFarald at quarterback. Halfbacks Billy Dooley and “The Tank†and a very underrated John Tipping at halfback.
The line had Tucker Connolly, John Slaney, Bob Katz, Ronnie Miles, the Ollson twins, Ronnie and Billy Ollson, split end Tom Conley, Rippy Dyer, Billy Jesson, Barney DeGregorio and coach Tony Fucillo was a sophomore defensive back.
It was 52-years ago when ‘the game’ was played in Revere. The team will be honored when they are inducted next month into the WHS Athletic Hall of Fame.
Game Story
Danvers Christens New Field With Victory 27-7
With the temperatures still hovering near 90 degrees at game time, the Danvers Falcons opened the 2016 football season with a (27-7) victory over the Winthrop Vikings.
The Vikings had a first half advantage in statistics, trailing the Falcons (7-0) at the new Morse Field at Dr. Deering Stadium.
The Falcons scored first when junior Justin Mullaney stepped in at quarterback for injured starter Dean Borders. Mullaney scored on a 10-yard keeper early in the first quarter to give the Falcons a 7-0 lead.
The Vikings behind the passing of Chris Zuffante (5 for 14-72yards) and the running of Jon Gonzales (15 for 68 yards) tied the score at (7-7) early in the fourth quarter.
Gonzales scored on an 11-yard touchdown run behind solid blocking sophomore Jon Applebee kicked the extra point. Senior captain Matt Andreas took the game over in the final quarter, rushing for 174 yards on 26 carries.
Andreas ran the ball on direct s naps 12 straight times to open the third quarter, but the Vikings held Danvers scoreless and Danvers led (7-0) at the end of the quarter.
Danvers wasted little time to start the fourth quarter. The Falcons needed only five plays for the go-ahead score. Junior Tahj Coakley took a delayed draw play and raced 48-yards for the touchdown.
Andreas scored the next touchdown on a 15-yard run. Coakley finished the scoring on a 24-yard run.
Skimming the Sidelines
Danvers captured the Division 3 Northeast Championship in 2015. The Falcons defeated Revere (7-0), Tewksbury (14-3) and NEC North champions Marblehead (13-6).
The Falcons lost to division 3 champions Melrose (24-6).
The Vikings will be shooting for their first victory of the 2016 campaign on Friday night (7 p.m.) when they play host to the Medfield Warriors at East Boston Stadium.
The game will be the first home game at East Boston the Vikings play Gloucester on October 7th and the Big Blue of Swampscott on October 21st.
The Vikings lost to Medfield (33-12) last year in the second game of the season at Medfield. The Warriors opened the 2016 season with a (21-6) victory over Dedham.
The Warriors play in Division 2A South in the Tri-Valley League (Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton, Westwoood) a victory for the Vikings would give them 12 points in the MIAA playoff standings.
Let the Games Begin!
Around the NEC
Lynn Classical almost pulled a big upset on opening night. The Rams lost a (21-19) decision to defending NEC South champions, the Gloucester Fishermen.
The Fishermen scored on an 82-yard touchdown pass from Nate Young to Jermaine Edwards. Edwards was the star for Gloucester rushing for 140 yards.
Revere lost to Medford (30-28). The Patriots had 100-yards in penalties that proved to be very costly. Quarterback Eddie Sullivan completed 12 passes on 17 attempts for 150-yards and four touchdowns. Receiver Oscar Lopez caught all four of Sullivan’s four touchdown passes.
The Patriots host Masconomet from the Cape Ann League on Friday night at DellaRusso Stadium.
Swampscott defeated Lynn English (11-8) in overtime at Manning Field in Lynn.
Co-captain Sean Lahrizi booted a 19-yard field goal for the victory. The Big Blue had only four first downs in the victory.
The Big Blue plays host to Lynn Classical at 12 noon at Blocksidge Field on Saturday.
Salem lost to Archbishop Williams (31-6) Friday night at Bertram Field. The Witches trailed by 31 points at halftime. Saugus lost to Austin Prep (20-6) in Reading. The Sachems travel to play Manchester-Essex on Friday night in Manchester.
On the Mound
Congrats to Jack Wallace! The Vikings senior has accepted a scholarship to Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire.
The NEC All-Star pitcher will play for the nationally ranked baseball team. Jack comes fro a very athletic family. Mom Beth grew up in a family with many outstanding baseball players, the Tallent Family.
Jacks grandfather John Wallace ran in many Boston Marathons. Strike me out Jack! Congrats Mark and Beth!