WHS boys hockey hosts Medford Saturday
The Winthrop High boys hockey team, the defending Northeastern Conference (NEC) champions who attained the number one ranking in Division 4 and advanced to the semifinals of the D-4 state tournament before falling in a heartbreaking 2-1 shootout loss to eventual state champ Dover-Sherborn, will open their 2025 season this Saturday when coach Dale Dunbar and his crew host Medford.
The season-opening face-off at Larsen Rink with the Mustangs is set for 3:00.
The Vikings will be led by a trio of senior captains: Mike Donahue, their returning NEC all-conference goaltender, who last season allowed just 1.88 goals per game and had a save percentage of 97.5; NEC all-star Mike Holgersen, who scored 11 goals and had 22 assists; and fellow NEC all-star Phil Boncore, who scored 12 goals and had 18 assists.
In addition, senior Luke Githinji, who tallied eight goals and eight assists, will serve in the role as the Vikings’ assistant captain.
Winthrop’s 20-game schedule will consist of two games each with NEC North rivals Danvers, Gloucester, Marblehead, and Masconomet and single contests with NEC South foes Peabidy/Saugus and Beverly. Non-league opponents include Medford, Essex Tech, Norwell, Lynnfield, Lexington, Grafton, Nantucket, and Wakefield.
In addition, Dunbar and his crew will play two opponents in a Christmas vacation tournament at Murphy Arena in South Boston.
After Saturday’s opener with Medford, they will trek to the Essex Sports Center next Wednesday evening to meet Essex Tech.
The full Viking roster for the coming season is as follows:
# 1 Mike Donahue …SR/G / Capt
# 2 Joe Pumphret…. SO /F
# 3 Luke Githinji…. SR /F/ Asst Capt
# 4 Tomas Babine …JR/D
# 5 Nick Romano ….JR/F
# 6 Dom Spinale …SO/F
# 7 Phil Boncore ..SR/F / Capt
# 8 Bert Kline …JR/F
# 9 Nikita Rossi …SO/D
# 10 Nolan Upton ..SR/F
# 11Paul Ferrara …SO/D
# 12 Aidan Survilas ..SR/F
#14 Charlie Ferrara …SO/F
# 15 Jay Fotiades …SR /F
#16 Mike Holgersen ..SR /F / Capt
# 17 Nate Previte ..SO/D
#18 Dylan Fife ..SO/D
# 19 Rick Mackenzie ..SO/D
# 20 Tony Bordanaro ..SO/F
# 21 Braedon Lounsbery ..FR/F
#22 Steven Calla ..JR/F
#23 Mike Dambrosio ..SO/F
# 30 Robbie Biancardi ..SR/G
# 31 Stephen Lindinger ..SR/G
Coaching Staff:
Head Coach Dale Dunbar
Asst Coach Mike Norris
Coach Mike Eruzione
Coach Phil Lundberg
Coach Chris Finn
Coach Dan Lynch
Head JV Coach Ryan Skoczylas
WHS girls basketball preparing for season-opener
The Winthrop High girls basketball team will open its 2025 season this Tuesday when coach Anthony Hatzisavas and his crew travel up the coast to take on fierce Northeastern Conference South rival Swampscott.
“This week we had tryouts on Monday and Tuesday, and Wednesday was our first official practice,” said Hatzisavas. “I am very happy with the number of girls who tried out for this upcoming season. The numbers definitely have gone up in the past couple of years.
“Right now we have 11 girls on the varsity team,” Hatzisavas continued. “Our practices have been running very smoothly and the girls have been working extremely hard. One of the biggest things you worry about is how long it will take to be in game-shape, and I can already see a huge difference in one week and I expect it to only get better and better as the week keeps going.”
The Lady Vikings will be led by a trio of returning senior captains, Sophia Lindinger, Zoey Bogusz, and Lily Conway.
“All three did a tremendous job during the offseason leading us through our captains’ practices, weight room sessions, and summer league as well,” noted Hatzisavas. “They are a perfect example of what you look for in a student-athlete because they are also great in the classroom and are very respected by their peers.”
Junior Bailey Ferguson is another returnee who was the team’s starting point guard last season as a sophomore. “Bailey is poised to have a big junior year, as she has gotten better and better,” said Hatzisavas. .
Another returning junior is guard Poli Tsiotos. “Poli had a really big second half of the season for us last year with her ability to knock down a shot, especially in clutch situations.”
Other members of the junior class are Amina Barry, Giada Gergerian, Josie Barry, and Jenna Whitehead. “They are great student-athletes and will have an impact for us this season,” noted Hatzisavas..
The Lady Vikings’ lone returning sophomore is Angela Tshowa, who started as a freshman. “Angela has worked on her game a ton in the offseason and is poised for what I call ‘the sophomore leap’,” said the coach. “We are expecting big things from Ang’ this season.”
Freshman Helena Gajica rounds out the varsity roster. Joining Hatzisavas behind the bench will be returning coaches Kevin Adamson, Andrea Martucci, Michael Griffin, and Peg Bailey. “They are all key members of this coaching staff and each brings something different every day that really helps the team,” Hatzisavas said. “We have a new JV coach in Bobby Nimblett, who is doing a tremendous job and we are very excited to have him on board.”
The Lady Vikings engaged in their first scrimmage this past Saturday when they traveled to Bourne High School and stayed overnight, returning on Sunday.
“When I was in high school, coach Dave Brown always brought us to Falmouth the first weekend of every season and it was really a great team-bonding experience, which helped us a ton, so I am trying to install this tradition and it seems like the girls really enjoyed it,” Hatzisavas said. “On Saturday we got to Bourne and were involved in a tri-scrimmage with Bourne and Plymouth South. We started off a little slow but that’s to be expected, as we’d had only three days of practice.
“We turned it around though, and got better as the day kept going. Poli Tsiotos, Lily Conway, and Sophia Lindinger really got us going in the beginning with our scoring from the outside,” said Hatzisavas. “Bailey and Zoey both did a great job bringing the ball up the court and controlling our offense.
“After every scrimmage game, we hand out a ‘Top Dawg’ award and the Top Dawg Saturday was Amina Barry,” Hatzisavas said. “She controlled the day underneath on the offensive and defensive end. She must have had four blocks and at least 10 rebounds. We were very impressed with what she brought. Overall, it was very good to see what we have against someone other than ourselves in practice. The girls really enjoyed the trip, and it makes me proud to see that this tradition is something they will look forward to every season.”
Hatzisavas and his crew are scheduled to travel to Arlington Catholic for a scrimmage tomorrow (Friday) and will participate in a Jamboree on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 at Lynn Classical, taking on Lynn English.
After Tuesday’s opener at Swampscott, they will trek to Danvers next Friday.
The Lady Vikings’ 20-game schedule will consist of two games each with Northeastern Conference South rivals Swampscott, Gloucester, Saugus, and Salem and single contests vs. NEC North foes Peabody, Danvers, Beverly, Masconomet, and Marblehead. Non-league opponents include Hamilton-Wenham (2), Cambridge Rindge and Latin, Revere, Cathedral, and Manchester-Essex. In addition, the team will compete in the David Green Memorial Tournament over the Christmas break in which they will meet another non-league opponent.
WHS boys hoop hosts Arlington Catholic in season-opener tomorrow
The Winthrop High boys basketball team will open its 2025 season tomorrow (Friday) when the Vikings host non-league opponent Arlington Catholic. The season-opening tip is set for 7:00 on the Chris Tsiotos Floor at the WHS gym.
Winthrop next will entertain Northeastern Conference (NEC) South rival Swampscott on Tuesday at 7:00.
The Vikings will play a 20-game schedule, with two games each vs. NEC South rivals Swampscott, Saugus, Gloucester, and Salem and single matches vs. NEC North foes Marblehead, Beverly, Danvers, Masconomet, and Peabody. Their non-league opponents include Arlington Catholic (2), Ipswich (2), and Stoneham, plus two more in the David Green Memorial Tournament at Winthrop High over the Chrstmas break.’