Sports 12-24-2015

WHS SPORTS Years

10 years ago

December 22, 2005

Winthrop’s Rick DiPietro, currently a goaltender with the New YorkIslanders, has been named to the U.S. Olympic team that will compete in Turin, Italy in February.  The 24 year old played briefly with Winthrop Youth Hockey and attended St. Sebastian’s School. He played for a brief time at Boston University, but was drafted in the first round by the Islanders in 2000.

Coach Peter Grimes’s WHS girls basketball team ran its record to 5-0 with wins over Lynn Classical and Danvers this past week. In the 49-43 win over the 20th-ranked Lady Rams, freshman Courtney Finn hit for 20 points of which 12 were free throws. In a 66-46 triumph over Danvers, Finn hit for 17 points, Meredith Soper scored 12, Nicole Giaquinto scored 12, and Kristen Finn added nine.

In a 5-2 win for the WHS hockey team over Lynn Classical, Ricky Boudrow scored two goals and Paul Eruzione scored on a penalty shot for the Vikings.

After a 59-38 loss to undefeated Lynn Classical, the WHS boys basketball team rebounded for a 64-40 rout of Danvers. Jason Griffin led Winthrop with 16 points, Vasily Mallios added 12, Anthony Giuliano hit for 11, and Dan Mahoney chipped in 10.

Kareem Thompson blazed to victory for the WHS boys indoor track team in the 50 dash with a time of 5.8 seconds to defeat all rivals in a  tri-meet against Gloucester and Lynn Classical. Thompson’s time is the fastest thus far this season in the NEC. Winthrop, which has only a handful of performers, dropped an 80-6 decision to Gloucester and absorbed a 54-27 loss to Classical.

20 years ago

December 28, 1995

Lawone Bennett led Winthrop with 17 points in a 55-48 win over Salem, marking the first home loss for Salem since 1990 and the first time Winthrop has defeated Salem at home since 1987. WHS captains Anthony Poto and James Buono had 14 and 13 points respectively for coach Peter Grimes’s squad.

The WHS hockey team defeated Pope John, 7-2, in a  contest in which seven Vikings scored goals.

Tony Ferrara won the mile, Matt Passaro won the hurdles, Carlos Bonilla took the shotput, Albie Maggio captured the 50 yard dash, Mike Zedalis won the 300, Chris Welsh won the 600, and Russell Howell took the high jump as the WHS boys track team defeated Lynn English, 59-26. WHS coach Pat McGee said she is pleased with the performance thus far of her 37-member WHS boys indoor track team.

WHS sports roundup

Girls hockey team

defeats Medford, 5-2

The Winthrop High Lady Bulldog hockey team defeated Northeast Hockey League foe Medford, 5-2, last week to post its first win of the season.

Senior captain Olivia Shkliew provided the spark for the Lady Bulldogs with her  typical, up-and-down-the-ice performance, earning three assists.

After a scoreless first period, Mia Price gave Winthrop a 1-0 lead in the second frame on a power play goal. Michaela Norris dug out the puck from behind the Medford net, moved it along the boards up to Shkliew, who then found an open Price out front, from where Mia let fly a hard shot that beat the Medford goalie.

Shkliew set up the third Winthrop goalie with a perfect backhand pass to Sophie Leray as the pair broke in on the Medford net. Olivia earned her third assist on the fifth Lady Bulldog marker with another nice set-up to sophomore defenseman Emma Carney, who blasted a slap shot from the point.

“All of those goals were a result of Olivia’s unselfishness,” said WHS head coach Anthony Martucci. “She is a great captain and a true leader of our team by the example she sets for her teammates.”

The other two Winthrop goals were unassisted. Freshman Bella Perrotti notched the second Winthrop goal when she made a hustle play along the boards and beat the Medford goalie with a well-placed shot. Junior Sidney Adamson, who is centering a line between senior Ally Scarfo and junior Emma Carleton, scored the fourth Lady Bulldog lamplighter.

Martucci and his crew, who are 1-1 on the season, were set to play at Marblehead last night (Wednesday) and will host Shrewsbury this coming Wednesday during the vacation break.

WHS girls track team

runs past Salem, 66-19

The Winthrop High girls track team coasted to a 66-19 triumph over Salem last week.

The Lady Vikings took first place in eight of the nine individual events: Kim McDuffe won the high jump with a leap of 4’-2” (Kim also took a third place in the 1000); Gianna Massa grabbed top spot in the shotput with a throw of 28’-8”; Alyssa Ferrara sped to victory in the 50 yard dash in 7.0 seconds; Regina Garufo took the 300 dash in 49.6; Holly Benson easily took the 600 in 1:52; sister Heidy Benson topped the field in the 1000 in 3:51; Carmela-Miranda Llovere won the mile in 6:39; and Christina Leone took the two-mile run in 14:43.

The Lady Viking 4 x 400 relay also won first-place honors with a clocking of 5:01 compared to Salem’s 5:23.

Second-place finishers who earned three points for the Winthrop cause were:  Gabriella Hinchion in the 50 hurdles in 8.9; Fiona MacPhail with a high jump of 4’-2”; Emily McGovern in the 300 in 7.3; Olivia Rago in the 1000 in 3:56; and Zara Powell with a two-mile run of 17:30.

Lady Vikings who grabbed third-place points were: Fatma Tufa with a shotput throw of 20’-6”; Lilibeth Morales in the hurldes in 9.4; Emily Colella in the 50 dash in 7.3; Haley Holden in the 600 in 2:03; and Isabell Skomro in the mile in 6:57.

The Northeastern Conference’s Freshman/Sophomore Meet is set for Saturday. The next dual meet will take place next Wednesday against Saugus.

Boys hockey team

defeats Peabody, 2-1

The Winthrop High boys hockey team earned its first win of the season with a 2-1 victory at Peabody last Wednesday. Sam Yarrow notched the first goal for the Vikings with an assist from Mike Norris. Charlie Page lit the lamp with the eventual game-winner, assisted by linemate Henry Brooks.

However, three days later the Vikings dropped a 4-1 decision to Marblehead at Larsen Rink, leaving Winthrop with an even-steven 1-1-1 record.

Coach Dale Dunbar and his crew were set to take on Triton in a non-league encounter this past Monday and will play in the Saugus holiday tournament this coming Monday and Tuesday.

Viking boys basketball

seeking first victory

Although the Winthrop High boys basketball team has battled hard in its first three games this season, the Vikings have learned the truth of the maxim, “Close only counts in horseshoes,” after coming out on the short end of those three contests.

In the season-opener at Gloucester, Winthrop held a lead at each of the first three periods, including a 36-34 edge at the three-quarter mark. However, the visiting Fishermen outscored Winthrop 25-11 over the final eight minutes to claim a 59-47 triumph.

Sophomore Tayjuan McKenzie led Winthrop with 12 points and made it a double-double with 12 rebounds. Devin Pulsifer also reached double figures with 10 points and Chris Zuffante hit for eight and snared eight boards.

Friday evening the Vikings dropped a 62-60 decision in overtime at Swampscott. The Vikings held leads of 14-6 after one period and 26-17 at the intermission. However, Swampscott outscored the Vikings 20-10 in the third frame to take a 37-36 edge. The teams ended regulation tied at 57-57, but the Vikings could muster only three points in the OT session.

McKenzie once again was high man in the scoring department with 18 points, with Pulsifer and Zuffante chipping in 12 points each and senior Zack Fisher adding 10. McKenzie and Loran Shuka both grabbed save rebounds.

Although the final outcome of the contest with Marblehead showed the Magicians prevailing, 54-36, Winthrop led at the half, 27-26. McKenzie scored 10 points (to go with eight rebounds), followed by Fisher with eight (including a pair of three-pointers) and Dimonne Marshall with seven.

“We are still trying to establish ourselves as a team,” said first year boys’ head coach Ignacio Oyola, who moved over to the boys’ side after years of success at the helm of the WHS girls program. “We need to work on our half-court offense and other aspects of the game. However, the boys are working hard and giving 100 percent when they are on the floor.”

Oyola and his crew were set to host Salem last night (Wednesday) and will play in the Pope John Christmas Tournament over the weekend starting at 5:00 Sunday.

Holden wins mile

in meet with Salem

Will Holden took home first place in the mile for the Winthrop High boys track team in the Vikings’ meet last week against Salem with a time of 4:51.4.

Andrew McGrail took a second place in the shotput with a toss of 34’-3” and Jacopo Velesi grabbed second in the 300 dash in 2:43.7.

Devin Racow added a point for the Vikings with a third in the 50 hurdles in 8.5 seconds and Luiigi Spinnazola added a third in the shotput with a throw of 31’-3”.

The Northeastern Conference’s Freshman/Sophomore Meet is set for Saturday. The next dual meet for the Vikings will take place Wednesday during the vacation week against Saugus.

Injuries hit WHS

girls basketball team

The Winthrop High girls basketball team came out on the short end of a pair of contests this past week with Northeastern Conference rivals Swampscott and Marblehead.

Friday evening’s encounter with Swampscott was a nip-and-tuck battle throughout. However, bad luck plagued the Lady Vikings from the outset when starting forward Jaida Hightower sprained her ankle in the layup line before the game when she landed on a teammate’s foot.

Senior center Nina Bartlette, a candidate for NEC Player of the Year honors, then sprained her ankle with about two minutes to play when the game still was up for grabs.

Bartlette ended up as the Lady Vikings’ leading scorer with 16 points and Olivia Grillo, whom WHS head coach lauded for a “masterful game,” reached double figures with 10 points.

“I was very proud of the way the team fought and the hustle they showed, especially on defense, against Swampscott,” said Gambale, who is in his first year at the helm of the girls’ program. “We rotate 10 girls into the line-up and all of them give 100 percent every moment they’re on the floor.”

With both Bartlette and Hightower out of action — joining teammate and fellow projected starter Allie Love on the injury list (Allie was lost for the season thanks to a knee injury she incurred while playing on the WHS volleyball team) — Monday’s encounter with Marblehead, one of the top teams in the NEC this season, was a bit of mismatch with the final outcome in the Lady Magicians’ favor, 63-17.

Gambale and his crew were set to  host Salem last night (Wednesday) and then will compete in the Pope John Christmas Tourney Sunday and Monday. The Sunday contest is slated for a 1:00 tip-off against North Reading.

From the Press Box sponsored by: winthrop book depot

banned number 13 raised

By: Jim Lederman

The capacity crowd that filled Larsen Rink at the Michael Eruzione Center was there to watch a Winter Classic, the Vikings vs. the Magicians – Winthrop vs. Marblehead. The rivalry for over 50 years, the two schools in the NEC with rich history.

The pre-game ceremony was another excellent reunion for 50 years of WHS hockey. The (1965-1966) Viking team the first in WHS history.

Twenty members of that first team led by the first WHS hockey captain Bobby Tallent had his teammates were honored by Vikings head coach Dale Dunbar.

The highlight of the ceremony was the raising of “Banner Number 13” for the (2014-2015) NEC Championship hockey team. You can count the NEC hockey titles for Marblehead and Beverly – they do not add up to 13!

The (2014-2015) NEC Champions returned to Larsen Rink to be honored led by captain’s Dylan Driscoll and P at Todisco, they captured the NEC title. The (1965-1966) team returned to Larsen Rink to see how far the Viking hockey teams have reached in the conference.

Dick Dimes (88 years young) was honored by coach Dunbar. Captain Michael Eruzione remembered when they used to pay to skate in Revere after skating on Lewis Lake and the tennis courts outside Winthrop high school.

The ‘tradition’ of WHS athletic teams – Winthrop players from Winthrop families is the reason WHS has captured more NEC titles in hockey, basketball and football vs. the strongest NEC schools like Marblehead, Beverly and Swampscott.

The Winthrop Vikings – a proud sports legacy on the North Shore and in the 12-school Northeastern Conference.

The Dale Dunbar hockey team and Sean Driscoll’s football squad will add more championships in the future to add to the legacy.

The Home of Champions! The Winthrop Vikings

Let the Games Begin!

The Hockey Tradition

The Viking hockey tradition started in 1966, the first year of WHS hockey. They celebrated 50 years of Winthrop hockey on Saturday at Larsen Rink at the Michael Eruzione Center – 20 players from the first team were at Larsen Rink.

I’ve been fortunate to watch WHS hockey from 1969-2015. I watched my first WHS hockey game at the legendary Lynn Arena on Boston Street in Lynn.

In 1974 I wrote my first WHS hockey column and broadcast my first WHS hockey game “From the Press Box” in the legendary Boston Garden. The highlights included the 1976 undefeated (26-0-1) division one state championship team that captured that historic title and the entire state found out Winthrop high school hockey is legendary. The Vikings have won more hockey games than any high school team in Massachusetts (confirmed by assistant coach Michael Norris).

In 1980 when captain Michael Eruzione scored the most memorable goal in United States Olympic history, when hockey fans speak about high school hockey, the ‘Winthrop Tradition’ stands out.

The NEC team with the most NEC hockey titles, the best high school hockey rink (Larsen Rink), what a proud tradition WHS Vikings hockey holds in this state.

Saturday at Larsen Rink when the Vikings hoisted ‘another’ NEC hockey championship banner (we only need a few banners to match the Boston Celtics), Coach Dale Dunbar and Michael Eruzione are responsible for the fine facility – Larsen Rink and Dale has started the 50-year reunions in the past two years.

Can they match that in Arlington and Marblehead? Can they match that at Malden Catholic?

When you talk about hockey tradition it starts in Winthrop – “Hockey Town USA”!

Winthrop’s World Champion

Forrestal takes gold in Muay Thai

By Sue Ellen Woodcock

If you knew your opponent had a record of 23-0 with 11 knockouts would you get into the ring with him?

That’s just what John Forrestal of Pearl Street did when he recently went to Spain to compete in the Unified World Championships for muay Thai, a Thai boxing form similar to kickboxing where protective gear is optional.

“It’s an intense sport,” Forrestal, 27, said, and his girlfriend can attest to the fire that comes out of him when he’s in the ring. “I like to study the fighters, how they walk, how they stand.”

It’s that fire that consumed Forrestal in Spain when he represented the USA with competitors from France, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand.

Forrestal got into muay Thai in late 2011 as a way to keep fit. He had tried regular boxing but wanted a sport with full-contact and a bit of risk, although he is not into mixed martial arts.

He found Total Performance Sports in Everett and found a great teacher in Marc Meltzer. Meltzer has also opened an academy in Beverly where Forrestal now trains.

“It’s high pace, energetic using your fist, chin, elbows and knees,” Forrestal said. “It’s an intense sport and my family is supportive.”

This past March he fought in Richmond, Va. and qualified to fight on Team USA. In April he fought in Melrose, Fla. and qualified to compete in the Queen’s Cup in Thailand. Then he was off to Spain to enter a competition which included competitors from 90 countries.

His Spanish competitor was a fierce professional. Every cheer Forrestal heard was for “Espana!”.

“You want to be the first to punch but I let him do it,” Forrestal said. “I saw his face go from anger to fear. It was the first fight I hit hard enough to throw a knockout.

In Spain he placed gold in the 155-lb. light middleweight division and is currently the WKA light middleweight world champion.

All the funding needed to compete was raised by each fighter.

When Forrestal isn’t working on his muay Thai techniques, he’s working on his doctoral degree in ethnomusicology at Boston University. A native of New Jersey, Forrestal also holds a degree from the Berkley School of Music in composition, and a master’s degree from Boston University in historical musicality. He plans on being a professor some day.

–30–

Magicians end Viking hockey streak

By: Jim Lederman

A capacity crowd filled the Larsen Rink at the Michael Eruzione Center and were treated to a classic Winthrop vs. Marblehead hockey game.

Marblehead won (4-1) but not before a young Viking sextet displayed Winthrop tenacity in a classic that for two periods were thrilling.

Junior goaltender Greg Gill put on a fantastic performance, shutting out a powerful Magician team that could go undefeated in the NEC. Greg stopped 32 shots in his first Viking game!

Sophomore Henry Brooks lit the lamp on a pretty unassisted tally in the first period. The Magicians would score the final four goals for a (4-1) victory.

The young Dunbar sextet will improve in each game. The Vikings opened the season, shutting out two good hockey teams. The Vikings battled division one power, Mansfield for a (0-0) tie.

The trip to Peabody is always a big challenge for the Vikings. The Tanners with a 1,800 student enrollment are tough to beat at home.

Freshman Sam Yarrow opened the scoring and his goal, the winner in a (2-1) shutout was huge. Junior Viking all-star Charlie Page (perhaps the best player in the NEC) scored the second Viking tally. Brandon Creator, a last year Viking player, a senior, shut out the Tanners.

The Viking defense spearheaded by two powerful Vikings, the strong tandem of captain Noah Hodgkins and junior football standout Matt Tarantino, shut down the Tanners,

The Vikings with many young skaters will improve with solid coaching from coaches Dunbar and his top assistant Michael Norris should be a NEC contender as they try to defend the NEC title they captured in (2014-2015).

The capacity crowd that included many WHS alumni that came to celebrate ’50 years of WHS hockey’, left Larsen Rink after an exciting December battle in the first big Larsen Rink game of the season.

I spoke with an ex-Viking standout Lawrence ‘Huckey’ Larsen, son of the man who helped Winthrop develop hockey and who the beautiful rink is named for, “Dale does an incredible job with his teams and the future is bright for WHS hockey,” said a member of the WHS Hall of Fame and a hockey standout for the Northeastern Huskies. Huckey was joined by over 20 former Viking skaters to be honored at Larsen Rink.

Dale Dunbar once again, combined with Michael Eruzione to honor WHS hockey in a memorable fashion.

Let the Games Begin!

 

The Schedule

The Vikings hockey team plays host to arch rival Saugus on January 2nd (Saturday) at Larsen Rink at 6:30 p.m. A trip to play Beverly on Wednesday, J an. 6th at Endicott College’s new hockey rink at 8 p.m. will be a great game for Viking hockey fans.

The Lady Vikings hoopsters play host to Saugus on Tuesday, Jan. 5th at 7 p.m. at the Memorial Gym. I predict the first Lady Vikings victory in 2016 vs. Saugus!

Lady Bulldog’s fans can travel to Belmont (Viglirolo Rink) next to Belmont high school for a 5 p.m. face off on Monday, Jan 4th. Coach Butch Martucci’s ‘Dawgs’ play host to Peabody at Larsen Rink on Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 6 p.m.

Who let the Dawgs out?

Let the Games Begin!

Viking TV

Did you watch the Vikings – Revere Turkey Day? Classic on Viking TV – Channel 15. Saturday at 5:45 you can en joy the Vi kings big win at Revere. The WHS Marblehead hockey game will be broadcast soon!

Stay tuned for the scheduled.

Let the Games Begin!

A salute to the Winthrop High Vikings athletes

The year of 2015 was filed with many memorable moments in Vikings sports. Here are just a few highlights:

  • Lady Vikings capture NEC and Division 3 North title at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, with a victory over Bishop Fenwick.
  • A trip to the Garden (TD Garden) to play Archbishop Williams in the D-3 final. A victory over archrival St. Mary’s of Lynn to reach the finals. We salute captains Niki Tsiotos, Kristen Sisscamanis and Maura Lanza. The play of senior Poli Tsiotos, her foul shooting led to victories over Fenwick and St. Mary’s.
  • The 2015 Viking hockey team captures another NEC title. We salute coach Dale Dunbar and co-captains Pat Todisco, Sean Gillis and Dylan Driscoll. Assistant captains Ray Feeley and Marc Ferullo, another MIAA Tourney Team.
  • The Cheerleaders captured a National Championship. A salute to captain Jessica Vigliotta.
  • The Lacrosse team under the tutelage of A.D. Matt Serino, a winning season and a trip to the MIAA Tourney.
  • The Lady Bulldogs hockey team under the leadership of coach Anthony ‘Butch’ Martucci. Another winning season and a trip to the MIAA Tourney. We salute Caroline McKinnon – 100-point scorer. Caroline is playing at Salem State.
  • The 2015 graduating class!
  • The 2014 Viking football team undefeated in the NEC. A 10-1 record, another victory over Revere. Coach of the Year – Sean Driscoll.
  • All-Scholastic Honors – Sean Gillis in football (Sean is playing at WPI), Kristen Siscamanis Lady Viking (playing at Caldwell College) and Patrick Todisco – hockey.
  • NEC all-stars hoop Niki Tsiotos (Niki starts at Division 2 Dowling College).

* Jake Chiudina (two sport all-star football and basketball.

  • Three sport standout – NEC all-star Alex Anzuoni (football, hockey and Lacrosse).
  • The 2015 graduating class – Four championships – What a class! Tip of the hat!

MVP’s in 2015

The 2015 graduating class ranks in the top ten with four championship teams. A salute to a few ‘unsung’ MVP’s that led to NEC titles:

Jake Chiudina – NEC all-star football standout on offense and defense. Jakes’ huge touchdown and reception in the big victory over Peabody helped the Vikings go undefeated (9-0).

Alex Anzuoni – 3 time NEC all-star in football, hockey all-star and Lacrosse all-star. His hockey talents led to an NEC title.

Poli Tsiotos – NEC all-star first team goalie led Lady Vikings to the final in D-3 North in soccer. Her clutch foul shooting in the MIAA Tourney led Lady Vikings in to the Garden.

Niki Tsiotos – NEC soccer all-star. Basketball all-star, best point guard in the NEC, Niki is starting college point guard Division 2 – Dowling College.

Maura Lanza – Three sport NEC all-star soccer, basketball and softball. Maura is at Bentley University.

Dylan Driscoll – Three sports NEC all-star, football MVP, small in size, but a big time player.

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