WHS Sports Roundup

WHS Volleyball Does Well in Season-Opener

Although the Winthrop High volleyball team dropped its season-opener to Swampscott, 3-1, last Thursday, the Vikings showed a lot of promise for their 2021 Fall II campaign.

“Despite the loss, we were proud of our team,” said WHS co-coach Rachel Del Solio, who is co-coaching once again this season with Lauren Kostegan. “This is the first time many of the players have played together, and the first time some of them have played at the varsity level. After not playing or practicing volleyball for over a year, they did well for their first game of the season.

“We already have noticed great chemistry with the players out on the court,” Del Solio continued. “We had strong defensive play by senior Xhona Kokeneshi and junior Megan Goudge. Senior Adyana Barbarisi had a great varsity debut. She adjusted really well when we needed her, which helped us out on some big plays. 

“Also, our returning captains, Caroline Earl and Carolyn Kinsella, were a strong presence on the court and gave it their all for the whole match,” Del Solio added.

The Vikings were scheduled to play at Saugus this past Tuesday. They will host Marblehead this evening (Thursday) before trekking to Salem next Tuesday and to Swampscott next Thursday.

The volleyball team has an 11-game schedule for their Fall II season that will conclude on April 15.

Soccer Teams Open With Victories Over KIPP

The Winthrop High boys and girls soccer teams opened their Fall II seasons with triumphs over KIPP Academy of Lynn on Monday.

Coach Tracey Martucci’s girls’ squad handily defeated their KIPPster rivals by a score of 7-0, while coach Kyle Gagin’s boys earned a 2-1 victory.

Both teams were scheduled to take on KIPP in a rematch yesterday (Wednesday).

The teams then will encounter Northeast Regional in home-and-home matches this coming Monday and Wednesday. The girls will be home at Miller Field on Monday at 4:00 and away on Wednesday, and vice-versa for the boys.

The WHS soccer program did not participate in the regular fall season with the Northeastern Conference because of the town’s high coronavirus positivity rate at that time, but is engaging with the Commonwealth Athletic Conference this spring.

WHS Track on Track for Meet With Saugus

The Winthrop High track teams will open their season next Thursday with a meet against Saugus at Miller Field.