WHS Sports Roundup

WHS Girls Hockey Knocks off Peabody, Moves into First Place

The Winthrop High girls hockey team earned one of the most important victories in the program’s history with a 1-0 victory over Peabody last Wednesday evening on the ice of the Mike Eruzione Center at Larsen Rink.

The teams had entered the contest tied for first place in the Northeastern Hockey League (NHL) with identical 8-0-1 league records, the lone blemish for both stemming from their contest earlier in the season at the end of December when the rivals battled to a 2-2 tie. The triumph propelled the Lady Vikings into sole possession of first place in the NHL, placing them in the driver’s seat on the road to an undisputed 2022 league title.

Freshman Talia Martucci, assisted by linemates Julia and Emma Holmes, gave the big hometown crowd something to cheer about soon after the opening face-off when she ripped a perfect backhand shot over the Peabody goalie’s shoulder and just under the crossbar into the back of the Lady Tanner net.

Talia’s icebreaker came just 1:07 into the game,

“That line has been monstrous for us this year,” said WHS head coach Anthony Martucci. “Julia and Emma Holmes are sisters who play very well together. This year, to give us some balance on our other lines, we moved (senior captain) Mia Martucci to a new line, and replaced her with her sister Talia. It has paid dividends as that line has really provided some offensive punch for us this year.”

However, any notion that this might be a high-scoring affair proved to be mere wishful thinking over the remaining 43:53. Though the fierce foes went toe-to-toe, up-and-down the ice, the score remained frozen at 1-0 all the way to the final buzzer.

“Our defense was all world in this game,” said Martucci. “Elle English, Abby Holmes, Adrianna Rizzotto, Avalina Coffey, Tegan Perreira, Amelia Spencer, Casey Petersen, Izi Hain, and Mia Currier were fantastic, blocking shots, working the corners, battling in front of our net, and making great breakout passes.

“Adrianna Rizzotto has been an absolute rock on the back end. She is doing all the little things, and playing as well as I have ever seen her play,” the coach added.

WHS goalie Summer Tallent was immense in net, earning her 50th career win and her 20th career shutout. Tallent’s superlative effort was the main reason that the Lady Vikings were able to kill eight penalties (Peabody was whistled for four) in what seemed to be an endless succession of Lady Tanner power play opportunities.

“Summer was flat out amazing in this game,‚Äù said Martucci, who attributed the discrepancy in penalties to “a combo of us being overly-aggressive and also physically stronger. Summer made some highlight reel saves and backstopped us to victory.‚Äù

Martucci also had words of praise for his forward lines for their all-out performances.

“All of our forwards were awesome in this game,” Martucci said. “Mia Norris, Kendall Brant, Mia Martucci, Lily Tallent, Hannah Parker, Sami DiMento, Izzy Cash, Gabby Buonapane, Talia Tartucci, Julia Holmes, and Emma Holmes worked their hearts out and battled from start to finish.

“Peabody is a great team with high-end talent and a good goalie,” Martucci said of his top rival in the NHL. “They are well-coached and every time we play them it is an absolute war. It was great to get that win over a great team like Peabody. “

Three nights later, the now first-place Winthrop Lady Vikings made the long trek to Newburyport and made their journey a worthwhile trip, bringing home a 3-1 victory.

The Lady Clippers are one of the up-and-coming programs in the NHL. They battled Winthrop impressively in their first meeting in mid-December, a 1-0 Winthrop victory, and came into the contest in third place in the NHL with a 7-3-1 league mark.

In addition, coming on the heels of the big Peabody win, a letdown by the Lady Vikings was not out of the question.

“I was a bit nervous about this one due to the emotional victory over Peabody, but this team has what I like to call ‘elite response’,” said Martucci. “This was a dogfight, but we eventually wore them down. Their goalie held them in it until the third period, but our goal in the second period was huge and kind of got us going strong.”

After a scoreless first period, Winthrop broke through in the middle period thanks to a goal from freshman defenseman Amelia Spencer. Spencer made a nice rush up ice and kept after the puck in the offensive zone, eventually pouncing on a rebound and smashing the puck into the Newburyport net.

“That was a dirty goal, full of grit, and toughness,” said Martucci. . “That is what Spence brings every single game — a lot of grit in front of our net and in the corners. I love seeing those kind of players score goals.”

The third period belonged to Winthrop. Julia Holmes scored both goals and both were assisted by linemates Emma Holmes and Talia Martucci.

“The ‘jet line’ really took off for us in the final period,” said Martucci.

Goaltender Tallent appeared to be on the path to another shutout, but Newburyport broke through with about three minutes to go on the strength of a nice goal on an incredible shot.

“I am very impressed with our strength down the middle this season,” said Martucci. “I really feel like we have three of the absolute best centers in the state. Julia Holmes, Mia Norris, and Lily Tallent are three players whom we rely upon heavily. They play a ton of minutes and in key situations.

“Right now Emma Holmes has really shone for us,” the coach added. “She leads the team in goals and points. She is working so hard in every practice and it has translated well into each game.

“Our three captains have been immense in leading this team,” Martucci continued. “Summer Tallent, who is on her way to owning every single program record for goalies, Mia Martucci, and Elle English have provided this team with experience, guidance, and elite leadership.”

Martucci and his crew, who are ranked second in the Division 1 polls according to Hockey Night in Boston with a 10-0-1 record (15-0 Austin Prep is ranked #1) that already has qualified them for a state tourney berth, were scheduled to meet Marblehead, another tough NHL foe, last night (Wednesday) and then will have a busy week ahead with three games in four days against NHL opponents to make-up for some previous postponements.

They will travel to the Janas Rink in Lowell on Sunday to meet Shawsheen Tech; trek to Medford’s LoConte Rink Monday evening; and then return home next Wednesday evening to host Masconomet at 6:10.

Gymnasts Turn in Strong Performances

The Winthrop High gymnastics team had a busy week, competing in meets on Thursday and Saturday, with the latter consisting of a quint-meet at the Yellow Jackets facility in Middleton.

Last Thursday the Vikings traveled to the Beverly YMCA to compete against the Panthers of Beverly High.

First up on the vault for Winthrop was Ellie O’Donnell, who delivered a handspring, sticking both of her vaults for a score of 7.9. Next up was Ellie’s big sister, senior captain Mary O’Donnell, who did her difficult flipping vault and sticking her landing for a season-high score of 8.75.

Rebecca Lindstedt came next, standing up her flipping vault with a score of 8.65. Junior Alayna Ronan next scored an 8.7 with her twisting handspring.

“Alayna has been our secret weapon all season long,” said WHS co-head coach Daria Millerick.

Senior captain Brandi DiCicco outscored everyone with a 9.0, giving Winthrop a 35.1-34.1 lead after the first event.

The uneven bars, the toughest event for both teams, started off for Winthrop with Shannon Abbott performing a nearly-flawless routine to score a 7.15. Shannon was followed by Ronan, who scored a 7.6. Isabella Rice hit a solid routine for a score of 7.7 and senior captain Megi Zogasi hit a beautiful routine, scoring a 7.95.

DiCicco then delivered a score of 7.9. The anchor for Winthrop’s uneven bars team, senior captain Mary O’Donnell, then came through with the top score of the day on that event with an 8.2.

“We had to fight through some pretty low scores, but managed to come out on top, 31.75-29.8,” said co-coach Pete Gobiel.

The next two events were close, with the Panthers edging the Vikings on the balance beam, 33-32.25, with senior captain DiCicco taking top honors.

Coming to the last event, the floor exercise, Winthrop needed to keep the scores close to hold on for the win. First up was Viking Gabby Currier, hitting her routine for a 7.8. Sophomore Ellie O’Donnell was next, performing a personal best of 8.25 in that event.

Lindstedt, the senior exchange student from Sweden, tied Isabelle Rice, with both scoring 8.5. Ronan then dazzled the crowd of standing-room-only fans with an 8.6. Captain DiCicco, celebrating her grandmother’s birthday, hit her routine for first place with an 8.9.

The final tally showed Winthrop edging Beverly by a score of 133.35-131.8.

Saturday night’s competition involved five teams, with defending state champion Masconomet (7-0) and Winthrop (6-0) entering the meet with undefeated records.

“This was definitely our biggest meet of the season,” said Millerick.

 First up on the vault for the Vikings was Ellie O’Donnell, hitting her handspring for a score of 8.1. Ronan stuck her twisting vault for an 8.9 and Zogasi and Lindstedt flipped both of their vaults to score 8.5.

Mary O’Donnell then stuck her second flipping vault, hitting a season high of 8.8. All-around DiCicco finished off the vault with a 9.2.

Heading to the uneven bars, Winthrop was slightly behind Masco, but ahead of the other three teams. First up was  Abbott, who is a regionally-ranked skier, hitting her bar set for a score of 7.8. Ronan performed what Millerick termed “one of Alayna’s best routines of the season” to score an 8.5.

Freshman Isabella Rice stuck her dismount, scoring an 8.4. The Vikings’ three senior captains, Mary O’Donnell, DiCicco, and Zogasi, all came through with scores of 8.7.

Heading to the balance beam, the Vikings were staying close to the Masco Chieftains and were ahead of the other three teams, Bishop Fenwick, Essex Tech, and Danvers. First up was Ellie O’Donnell, hitting her routine for a personal best score of 8.1 and getting the Vikings off to a good start. Rice and Mary O’Donnell both had some difficulties, leaving it up to Ronan to get things back on track. Alayna hit her routine, scoring an 8.75. Last up was senior captain DiCicco, hitting her routine for a score of 9.2.

The floor exercise was the last event for the Vikings. Currier was first up on the mat, scoring a 7.8. Ellie O’Donnell hit her routine for an 8.4. Lindstedt, who also is an avid surfer, hit with an 8.45, and Rice and Ronan tied with 8.5’s.

Last up for the Vikings on her signature event was DiCicco, hitting her routine for an 8.95.

The final tally showed Masco with a score of 150.1, Winthrop with 138.5,  Essex with 135, Danvers with 132.25, and Fenwick with 124.7.

Coaches Millerick and Gobiel will lead their charges into the final two meets of the season this week when the Vikings will host Hamilton-Wenham on Saturday at 4:00 at the Winthrop Gymnastics Academy in a meet that will be highlighted by Senior Night festivities. They will be back at the Yellow Jackets facility in Middleton on Sunday afternoon for the Northeastern Conference Invitational.

Busy Week Ahead for Boys Hockey

The Winthrop High boys hockey team had a busy week ahead, with four games on tap for the coming week.

The Vikings, who came up just short to Northeastern Conference rivals Marblehead (a 6-5 loss in overtime) and Beverly (a 5-4 loss) this past week, were scheduled to travel to Saugus last night (Wednesday) and make the long trek to Gloucester on Saturday. They will play at Medford on Monday before returning home to entertain Masconomet next Thursday evening at Larsen Rink at 5:00.

Coach Dale Dunbar and his crew stand at 5-7-1 overall and are 3-5-1 in the NEC. The Vikings presently are ranked fourth in Division 4 in the MIAA’s so-called power rankings. Under the new power ranking system, the top 32 teams in each division automatically qualify for the post-season state tournament, as do any other schools with a record over .500.

WHS Boys, Girls Ranked for Post-Season Playoffs

Both the Winthrop High girls and boys basketball teams presently are ranked high enough in the so-called MIAA power ratings to qualify for the post-season state tournament.

The Lady Vikings, who defeated Swampscott, 48-28, this past Tuesday evening, are ranked 19th in Division 4. The top 32 teams, as well any others who have a record of .500 or better, qualify for the post-season state tourney.

The WHS girls have a busy week ahead with five games in eight days. They are scheduled to host Beverly tonight (Thursday) at 7:30 and entertain Marblehead on Saturday afternoon at 1:00. They will travel to Salem Academy Charter School on Monday and return home to host Revere on Tuesday at 6:00. Next Thursday afternoon they will meet Chelsea at 4:00 at the WHS gym.

Coach Mike Triant and the Viking boys, who dropped an 87-54 decision to Swampscott Tuesday evening, are ranked 27th in Division 4. They will trek to Beverly tomorrow (Friday) evening and to Salem Charter on Monday evening. They will host Salem next Wednesday.