Girls, Boys Hockey Open Season Saturday Afternoon at Larsen
The Winthrop High girls and boys hockey teams will open their 2024 seasons this Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader against Shawsheen Tech at Larsen Rink. The season-opening face-off for Coach Anthony Martucci’s Lady Vikings is set for 1 p.m., with coach Dale Dunbar’s boys’ contest slated for a 3 p.m. start.
Leading the way for the 2024 edition of the Lady Vikings will be a trio of senior captains, Hannah Parker, Sami Dimento, and Adrianna Rizzotto. They will be joined by juniors Talia Martucci, Izi Hain, Gabby Buonapane, Tori Bates, Hanna Barrett, Amelia Spencer, and Izzy Cash; sophomores Reese Ferrara, Avalina Coffey, Tegan Periera, Chloe Couture, Stella Pelletier, Avery Shea, Riley Towse, and Mia Currier; freshmen Angela Coscia, Amelia Serino, Claudia Alquinta, and Francesca Indresano; and eighth-grader Abby Githinji.
Winthrop has engaged in one scrimmage thus far in the pre-season, a 5-1 victory over Weymouth this past Saturday at Larsen.
“We played well,” said Martucci, whose 2023 squad won the Northeastern Hockey League (NHL) title with a perfect 16-0 record, completed an overall 18-0 season, and advanced to the Elite Eight of the Division 1 state tournament. “We got goals from five different players, Talia Martucci, Sami DiMento, Amelia Spencer, Tegan Periera, and Angela Coscia. Riley Towse finished with 11 saves.
“We are very lucky to have the captains that we do,” added Martucci. “Hannah Parker, Sami DiMento, and Adrianna Rizzotto are heart-and-soul leaders. They have led this team since being named captains at the banquet and it has really helped us grow together.”
Martucci and his crew were scheduled to scrimmage Boston Latin yesterday (Wednesday) prior to Saturday’s season-opener.
The WHS girls will play their eight NHL opponents (Shawsheen, Newburyport, Beverly, Marblehead, Peabody, Gloucester, Medford, and Masconomet) twice each and will face non-league opponents Winchester and Falmouth to round out their 18-game schedule.
On the boys’ side, head coach Dale Dunbar’s squad, which won the Northeastern Conference (NEC) title last year, will be led by senior captains Petey Silverman (who was the MVP of the NEC last year) and Billy Hayes and senior assistant captains Robert Rich and Hunter Fife.
The other members of the 2024 edition of the Vikings for Dunbar, who will be joined behind the bench once again by long-time assistant coach Mike Norris, are: Michael Donahue /Jr /G; Luke Gthinji /Jr /F; Thomas Babine /So / D; Nicholas Ramano /So /F; Phillip Boncore /Jr /F; Bertle Kline /So/F; Jackson Andy /Sr / D; Nolan Upton /Jr/ F; Joe Rich /Sr/ F; Aidan Survilas / Jr /F; Jay Fotiades /Jr /F; Michael Holgersen /Jr/F; Colin O’Leary /So /D; Glen Calla /Sr /F; Stephen Lindinger /Jr/G; and Robert Biancardi /Jr/G.
In addition, a group of Viking freshmen will alternate between the varsity and junior varsity teams: Paul Ferrara /Fr /D; Rick MacKenzie /Fr /D; Nate Previte /Fr/D; Joe Pumphret /Fr/F; Dom Spinale /Fr/F; Antonio Bordonaro /Fr/F; Charlie Ferrara /Fr /D; and Michael D’Ambrosio /Fr/ F.
After winning the NEC title last year, the Vikings advanced to the second round of the MIAA state tournament and Dunbar’s crew will be looking forward both to repeating as NEC champs and making some noise in the post-season.
After the season-opener with Shawsheen, Winthrop will entertain another non-league opponent, Triton, next Wednesday at Larsen at 6:10.
The Vikings will face NEC North Division rivals Danvers, Marblehead, Gloucester, and Masconomet twice each and NEC South foes Peabody, Beverly, and Swampscott once. Non-league opponents who will fill out their 20-game schedule include Shawsheen, Triton, Essex Tech (twice), Medford, Grafton, Lexington (at B.U.’s Walter Brown Arena on January 15), and two foes in a holiday tournament over the Christmas break.
New Coach, New Season for Boys Hoop
A familiar face will be coaching the Winthrop High boys basketball team this season. Quinton Dale II, who played a big role for the Vikings in their 2011 state championship season, will be behind the bench when Winthrop opens its season tomorrow (Friday) evening at 5:00 against Bishop Fenwick in a weekend tournament at Salem Academy Charter School. Winthrop then will play Saturday afternoon in either the championship or consolation contest.
“We have an outstanding group of young men who are committed to bringing a winning culture back to the Winthrop basketball program,” said the 29 year-old Dale, who played at Wheaton College, where he was a starter and all-NEWMAC selection, after his outstanding career at WHS. “They’ve embraced the new staff and have risen to the challenge of learning a completely new system on the fly. I expect us to be an extremely competitive team this year and we should be able to make some noise come tournament time.”
Dale and his crew scrimmaged Mystic Valley this past Saturday. “We lost by one point in overtime, but battled back from down 10 at halftime to force OT, and had an opportunity to take the lead with three seconds left. Unfortunately, we missed the shot,” said Dale, whose Vikings were scheduled to engage in a three-team scrimmage at Winchester High School vs. Winchester and Lowell Catholic this past Monday.
The Winthrop boys will be road warriors through the first week of the season. After the weekend’s contests in Salem, they will be making the long journey to non-league rival Ipswich this coming Monday and trekking to Arlington Catholic next Wednesday.
The Vikings will face their Northeastern Conference (NEC) South Division foes (Saugus, Gloucester, Danvers, and Swampscott) twice each and NEC North rivals Salem, Marblehead, Beverly, Masconomet, and Peabody once. Non-league opponents who will round out their 20-game schedule include Ipswich (twice), Fenway, Arlington Catholic, Bishop Fenwick, and two as-yet-to-be determined opponents in tournament games this weekend and over the Christmas break.
WHS Girls Hoop Ready for Season
The Winthrop High girls basketball team will open its season tomorrow (Friday) evening when coach Anthiny Hatzisavas and his crew host Cambridge Rindge and Latin at the WHS gym. The season-opening tip-off on the Chris Tsiotos Court Floor at the WHS gym is set for 6:00.
“I am excited to return for my second season as the girls’ head basketball coach,” said Hatzisavas. “We have had a great off-season and pre-season so far and I am really looking forward to this upcoming season.”
The 2024 edition of the Lady Viking squad will be led by a quartet of four senior captains, Grace Fleuriel, Kaylee Farrell, Reese Brodin, and Hailey Forsyth. Kaylee, Grace, and Reese are returning Northeastern Conference (NEC) all-stars. Rounding out the varsity roster are juniors Sophia Lindinger, Zoey Bogusz, Lilly Conway, Kate Brodin, and Tina Fabiano; sophomores Bailey Ferguson, Poli Tsiotos, Amina Barry, Giada Gergerian, Jenna Whitehead, and Josie Barry; and freshman Angela Tshowa.
“One thing I’m very happy about is how we handled our opening weekend,” said Hatzisavas. “Friday night we had an Alumni Night at WHS. First we kicked off with the alumni girls playing, which turned out to be a competitive game. At halftime we honored Peg Bailey for her 50th season with the Winthrop Vikings girls basketball program. We had the boys alumni finish the night which turned out to be a great competitive game. It was a great opportunity for the girls and boys of Winthrop High School to interact with the alumni who were once in the spot they are in.
“For years Winthrop basketball has adopted the family culture and that was in full display Friday night, and as a former player and current coach, I couldn’t be happier with how it went,” Hatzisavas added.
On Saturday morning, Hatzisavas and his crew drove to the Cape for an overnight trip. “It was great for team bonding and the girls really enjoyed themselves,” said the coach. “We scrimmaged Bourne High School, which also is a Division 4 team, on Saturday and then Sunday we had a tri-scrimmage with Groton-Dunstable and Bourne. Overall it was a great experience and the hope is to have this kickoff weekend become a part of the Winthrop basketball tradition.”
Winthrop was set to engage in a scrimmage this week with Manchester-Essex ahead of tomorrow night’s season-opener. “I am very excited about this team we have,” said Hatzisavas. “I feel like we have a very deep and talented roster and have enough experience to help us get to where we want to go.”
The Lady Vikings will travel to Hamiton-Wenham next Tuesday. They will face their NEC South Division foes (Saugus, Gloucester, Danvers, and Swampscott) twice each and NEC North rivals Salem, Marblehead, Beverly, Masconomet, and Peabody once. Non-league opponents who will round out their 20-game schedule include Cambridge, Hamilton-Wenham, Fontbonne, Malden Catholic, Watertown (twice), and an opponent to be determined in a Christmas holiday vacation week tournament.