Winthrop High Winter Sports can begin Practices Dec. 14

Following the official go-ahead from the Winthrop School Committee, WHS Athletic Director Matt Serino announced that  winter sports teams will begin their preseason practices on Monday, Dec. 14.

Winter practices usually begin on the Monday after Thanksgiving, but the start date was pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The WHS boys and girls hockey teams will practice at the Larsen Rink at the Mike Eruzione Center. Head coaches Dale Dunbar and Anthony Martucci, respectively, will return to lead their highly successful programs.

The WHS boys and girls basketball will practice at the high school gymnasium. Mike Triant will begin his first season at the helm of the Vikings’ boys basketball program. Joe Lowe is returning for his second season as the girls basketball head coach.

The WHS gymnastics team, under the direction of coaches Peter Gobiel and Daria Millerick, will practice at the Winthrop Gymnastics Academy.

The boys and girls indoor track seasons have been moved to the “Fall 2” season with a start date of late February.

Winthrop High varsity swimmers compete for the Lynn English co-op team, but Lynn officials have not made a decision about the season. The team’s home meets are held at Lynn Tech.

The hockey and basketball teams will play a regular season schedule consisting of between 12-14 games. The hockey and basketball teams will open their seasons on Jan. 9. and Jan. 12, respectively. The date of the gymnastics team’s opening meet has not been announced, but the season will not commence any earlier than Jan. 9. The JV and freshman teams will also play a regular season schedule.

Serino said he was excited that the winter sports season will begin soon after having the entire fall season postponed until February.

“I’m extremely excited that we’ll be starting on Dec. 14,” said Serino. “I was pleasantly surprised Monday night when the School Committee voted to allow us to start winter sports. I know our students are really looking forward to it. It will be a nice way to ease them back into a little bit or normalcy. I’m happy for our kids and our coaches and this town to get some athletics back.”