We spoke with Supt. of Schools John Macero and he informed us about the appointment of Ignacio Oyola as the new head coach of the Winthrop High School boys basketball program. Ignacio is coming off a superlative season in which he led (as head coach) the WHS girls basketball team to another Northeastern Conference championship, a Division 3 North sectional title, and a berth in the state semifinals at the TD Garden.
Ignacio has coached boys basketball in the past, having served as an assistant coach on Dave Brown’s staff. Ignacio was also a member of the 1995 WHS state championship boys basketball team.
Macero noted Oyola’s successful building of the girls program that led to this year’s signature season in which Winthrop was arguably the second best Division 3 team in Massachusetts (Archbishop Williams went on to win the state title handily after beating Winthrop in the Garden) and one of the top teams in the state. The seniors — Kristen Siscamanis, Niki Tsiotos, Poli Tsiotos and Maura Lanza — who played multiple varsity seasons under Oyola’s tutelage, ended their careers in spectacular fashion by advancing to the Garden where Winthrop fans (including our Speaker of the House, Robert A. DeLeo, who sat at courtside and was treated like royalty by MIAA officials) turned out in huge numbers.
Ignacio will try to duplicate his success with the WHS boys program and lead the Vikings to the State Tournament next season. We wish “Iggy” well in his new position.