Senior Night for Boys Soccer Tonight; Vikings are 30th in D-4
The Winthrop High boys soccer team will conclude its regular season this evening (Thursday) with a contest against Northeastern Conference rival Marblehead that will be highlighted by Senior Night festivities. The opening kickoff under the lights on the Miller Field turf is set for 6:00.
This past week the Vikings dropped a 5-2 decision at Gloucester. Ian Camillo and Julian Alvarez Serna scored the goals for Winthrop.
“Gloucester is a very strong team,” said WHS head coach Phil Ronan. “The boys played very well in the first half and we were down, 3-1. We once again had a bundle of chances and probably deserved a tie.”
Ronan and his crew presently are ranked 30th in the MIAA Division 4 power rankings, with the top 32 teams qualifying for the post-season state tourney. If the Vikings hold that position in the final rankings, they would host the 35th-ranked team (which currently is the Tri-County Regional Vocational School in Franklin) in a preliminary round contest. If the Vikings prevail in that encounter, they will travel to play the third-ranked school, which presently is Lynnfield, in a first round contest.
Murphy Finishes 15th in D-3 North Sectional
Winthrop High freshman Ryan Murphy shot an 83 (+11) for a 15th place finish among a field of 55 golfers at Monday’s Division 3 North Sectional held at the Stow Acres Country Club. Murphy had qualified for an individual berth in the state tourney thanks to his outstanding 39-scoring average during the season.
“Ryan has had an exceptional fall season of golf,” said WHS head coach Jack Wallace. “He was slotted in the #1 spot this season and recorded an impressive 13-3 record against the top players from every team we faced. Ryan’s best finish was in our tri-match at the Rockport Golf Club where he carded a 37 (+2), earning 33 points for the team. “
Murphy (who also plays hockey and baseball) and Viking senior captain Eli Wickham will represent Winthrop at the Northeastern Conference (NEC) Open that is scheduled to be held today (Thursday) at the Tedesco Country Club in Marblehead. The NEC Open features the top two players from each of the NEC schools.
This past week, the Vikings came up short in their final two contests of the season. In a match at the Ferncroft C.C. against NEC North champion Masconomet, the highlights for Winthrop were provided by senior Petey Silverman, who had the best match of the day, tying his opponent to earn 4.5 points, and fellow senior Andrew Faretra, who earned four points in the number three spot.
“These two have played well together down the stretch on some tough courses,” said Wallace.
Last Wednesday in the season finale at Tedesco against NEC South champion Marblehead, Murphy shot a 37 to earn four points for the Vikings. “All of our seniors, Eli Wickham, Joey Rich, Petey Silverman, Andrew Faretra, and Jake Galuris, competed in the last match of their careers for Winthrop High School and played well, capping off a good season,” said Wallace.
“We have a lot to look forward to in the future for Winthrop golf,” Wallace added.
New PRs on D.I. Course for Cross Country Runners
The members of the Winthrop High boys and girls cross country teams turned in impressive individual performances in the last dual meet of the season on their home course at Deer Island last week against Danvers, with many of the Vikings turning in personal record (PR) performances.
Thomas D’Amico (15:48) and Liam Kenney (15:52) both achieved PRs by more than a minute over the 2.5 mile course. Evan Tallent (22:53) came through with a PR of more than two and one-half minutes in what WHS head coach Nikolas Beshere termed “an amazing job.” Liam Natareno was the third Viking finisher on the day with a clocking of 16:57.
The meet was highlighted by Senior Day festivities at which Lady Viking senior captain April Ferguson (who ran a PR of 19:28, topping her previous PR by four seconds) was honored for her contributions to the WHS cross country program. The other finishers for the girls were Bailey Ferguson (19:06), Annabelle Giardino (20:34), and Aitana Bartolome (22:12).
“It was a great job and an amazing meet by everyone,” said Beshere.
Beshere and his crew will compete in the Northeastern Conference Meet this Sunday morning at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester.