From the Press Box
2016 Sports Arete Awards
By: Jim Lederman
ESPN annually awards their ‘Arete Awards,’ my 2016 Arete Awards include (Ed. Note – Webster’s Dictionary-Arete (excellence in Greek)
Best ‘Game of the Year’ – The exciting Winthrop-Revere Powder Puff Game. Game ended in (20-20 tie) Vikings awarded the trophy – held a (20-6) lead.
Best Female Athlete – Heidy Benson – Her performance in the Powder Puff game was astonishing! A three-sport standout, Miss Benson is an outstanding Viking student-athlete in the Class of 2017.
Arete Award for Excellence in Academics and Athletics – Chris Zuffante – Viking football captain – two-time Lynn Item all-star 2nd in his class for academics – A three-sport standout
Bentley Swift Award – The 2016 graduating class – the top male athlete and outstanding student-athlete – the winner Noah Hodgkins – hockey all-star, tennis captain and all-star from the top athletic family – the Martucci family (eight family members in the WHS Athletic Hall.
Unsung Player – Matt Tarantino – he could have been a bruising fullback, he was a strong blocking back and a very good linebacker!
Alumni Award – In honor of the Memory of an ex-WHS superstar – who passed away in 2016, Joe Duplin, brought honor to our town, as a world champion – sailor – a three-sport WHS legend ‘Big Joe’ loved Winthrop Sports!
2016 – Unsportmanship Award – Revere Patriots players on ‘Turkey Day’ for injuring two Viking players.
Feeling Blue Award – Another Viking victory over Swampscott. The (20-7) victory was the 4th in the last five years for coach Sean Driscoll.
Super Fan Award – Richard Dimes – 90 years young, never misses a Winthrop-Revere Thanksgiving game.
Best Sports Anchor Award – Bob Neumeier – Comeback after (CSNE) a stroke – Bob is on Comcast.
A holiday tradition – “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire†– December for the New England Patriots means – ‘Championship for the 8th consecutive year – the Patriots won the AFC title. We have one more championship to win – The super bowl in 2017. Can Tom Brady win his 5th super bowl title – stay tuned – January will be exciting. The ‘Arete Award’ for team excellence!
* Best Sports Night Award – The 2016 WHS Athletic Hall of Fame induction at the new WHS. 300 attended – 10 inductees – three championship teams – next Hall of Fame October 2018.
‘It takes a village’ Ward – The strong community of Winthrop
Support from (100) who attended town council meeting to support – Sean Driscoll and the saving of the Memorial Gym.
The strong opposition to taking down the Wallace McLean Tennis Courts – we do not need additional parking around Winthrop High School.
Reminded me of the old town meeting – the people speak when poor decisions are made!
Athlete of the Year – ‘Big Papi’ – David Ortiz – Boston Red Sox, you brought world championships back to Boston.
You inspired the City of Boston
We will miss ‘Big Papi!’
* TB-12 Award – 17 years of enjoying Tom Brady – We need one more super bowl title!
* Best Young Political Man – A salute to Tino Capobianco – top vote getter for school committee – he speaks his mind – a bright future. “As they come back up the fieldâ€!
* Camera Men of the Year – Mike Mahoney and Nick DiMartino – Thanks for your hard work producing the Winthrop Athletic Games.
* To Captain Carl and Kathy – Thanks for the rides to all the Viking hockey and football games.
* Handicapper of the Year – A legend out of Winter Hill, Somerville and Suffolk Downs – Bobby A. – two minutes to post!
We Love ya “coaches Award’ –
The Lady Bulldawgs – Dressed up in uniforms to support their coach – Butch Martucci on his induction to the WHS Athletic Hall of Fame.
The 3- youth football players in support of coach Mark D’Ambrosio’s Hall of Fame Induction.
Coach of the Year Award – Kenny Hodgkins and Marie Finn – NEC Tennis coaches – outstanding job in the spring!
Tennis is Back! – Let’s keep and rebuild the Wallace McLean Courts!
Let the Games Begin!
‘Mensch’ of the Year – He works behind the scene – he is generous and cares about his town – “GM) not a general manager, but a very successful president! Did Donald really win?
Counselor of the Year – We call him “the attorney†– he is my friend and counselor – We will salute his reputation in March – Atty. Chris Tsiotos.
Nomination of the Year – I congratulate Tino Capobianco for asking the school committee to name the new WHS basketball court in honor of a true legend. The Chris Tsiotos Court (the dedication of the court will be held in March!)
Speech of the Year – After his induction in the WHS Hall of Fame – Mark D’Ambrosio fold his life story – 40 minutes – he established a new record!
Best Press B ox – Manning Field (Lynn) I broadcast two Viking games at Manning. A (27-25) overtime loss to Lynn English in a pouring rainstorm. A (52-8) blistering loss to St. Mary’s of Lynn – second floor – warm – ‘beautiful boxâ€
Hall of Fame Speech from an Inductee – Jim Evans – my favorite and most respected WHS Athletic Director – talking about the growth of Winthrop Sports (Jimmy established girls sports in the 1970’s). Jim presented coach Larry Keegan for induction into the WHS Hall of Fame.
A very Happy and Healthy New Year – See you in 2017
“The Voice of the Vikingâ€
Winthrop Man of the Year – We salute Jim Fabiano for his work to pass a new Miller Field and the vote for the construction of the $88 million new WHS middle/high school.
Great work Jimmy Fab!
2017 New Years Wish List
To coach Sean Driscoll – A winning season and a new football stadium – nor more East Boston stadium.
To our two ‘outstanding’ hockey coaches – Dale Dunbar – Butch Martucci
A winter filled with victories, another trip to the playoffs
To all the Viking fans!
A Happy and Healthy New Year!
Let the Games Begin!
Viking Sports Schedule
Boy’s Hockey –
Monday, January 2 – at Somerville
Wednesday, January 4 – Bishop Fenwick at Larsen Rink – 6:00
Saturday, January 7th – Marblehead at Salem State – 6:30 p.m.
Lady Bulldawgs Hockey
Saturday, Dec. 31 – Belmont 1:30 p.m. at Larsen Rink
Saturday, Jan. 7 – Algonquin Regional at Larsen Rink 1:30 p.m.
Let the Games Begin!
2017 New Years Predictions
The year in sports will be filled with championships
The New England Patriots will win their fifth super bowl – Tom Brady leads the Pats to the Lombardi Trophy – TB 12 wins MVP and there is another ‘Duck Tour’ in Boston. I will predict the NFC team and the final score in two weeks.
Viking Sports
Coach Dale Dunbar and his Viking hockey team capture t heir 15th NEC title.
Vikings Football – the 2017 Vikings football team defeats Revere on Thanksgiving at the ‘new’ Miler Field.
Vikings Tennis – The newly refurbished Wallace B. McLean Tennis Courts hold a dedication ceremony and ‘Mr. Winthrop Tennis’ – John Domenico is the ‘Master of Ceremoniesâ€
WHS Baseball – Vikings defeat the Big Blue of Swampscott at the New Veteran’s Field.
Jack Wallace wins the pitching battle vs. Gavin Sullivan
The Chris Tsiotos Court – The new WHS Gym is filled with ex-Viking hoopsters to celebrate the dedication of the Chris Tsiotos Court – a salute to Chris Tsiotos!
Can you believe Larry Bird is 60 years old?
‘The Voice’ will name his “all-time†Vikings hoop team in January.
All-Scholastic Awards – Charlie Page Vikings hockey captain and Gretchen Howard – Bulldawgs captain – selected to the Globe/herald All-Scholastic 2017 team.
Boston Red Sox – Chris Sale pitches Boston into the World Series – David Price is still looking for his first playoff victory – “Most Overpriced Player in Sox history
Lewis Lake – Winthrop skaters enjoy skating in a “new Lewis Lake†– Howie Conley – an old Lewis Lake Legend returns to skate in Winthrop
Oh well it is vacation time in Ogunquit Maine!
Let the Games Begin!
WHS SPORTS roundup
Lady Bulldawgs drop 5-3 contest with Beverly
Although the Winthrop High Lady Bulldawg hockey team came out on the short end of a 5-3 decision to defending Northeast Hockey League champion Beverly last Wednesday at Endicott College, WHS head coach Anthony Martucci was pleased with his team’s overall effort.
“We have some young players and it took them a while to get used to the tempo and the higher level of competition,” said Martucci, whose squad fell behind 2-0 after one period.
However, after Martucci and his staff emphasized the basics on defense at the first break, the Lady Bulldawgs regrouped and responded with two lamplighters to knot matters at 2-2.
Beverly counterpunched to regain the advantage, 3-2, but Winthrop answered back before the second horn to deadlock matters at 3-3 after two periods.
Junior Makayla Norris lit the lamp twice and linemate Emma Carleton scored once to account for the Winthrop goals. “Our third line played terrificly,” said Martucci.
However, a victory was not to be in the cards for the Lady Bulldawgs. Beverly scored the game-winner with four minutes to go and then added another late in the game.
“We played Beverly much more evenly than we did last year,” noted Martucci. “After a tough first period, we outplayed them in the second period, and they had a slight advantage in the final period.”
Martucci and his crew, who now stand at 2-1 on the season, were set to face Stoneham last night (Wednesday) and will host Belmont Saturday.
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WHS track teams compete against Beverly
The Winthrop High girls and boys indoor track teams took on Beverly last week.
On the boys’ side, two Vikings claimed first place in their specialties. Andrew McGrail won the shot-put with a toss of 39′-2″ and Nik Beshere handily captured the two-mile run with a time of 11:36, which was 32 seconds faster than his closest Panther competitor.
Jaidon Brown also scored a point for the Winthrop cause with a third-place finish in the 50 yard dash in 6.2 seconds.
For the girls, three Lady Vikings took second place: Gianna Massa with a shot-put throw of 34′-2″; Holly Benson in the 300 dash in 47.2; and Soneida Dahquist in the 600 dash in 1:59.7.
Four Winthrop girls placed third to add single points to the WHS side of the scoresheet: Fiona MacPhail with a high jump of 4′-4″; Daniella Zanelli with a 50 dash of 8.8; Regina Garufo in the 300 in 48.4; and Camilla Miranda-Lovera with a two-mile run of 13:55.
Boys hockey team thumps Peabody, 11-2
The Winthrop High boys hockey team put it all together Tuesday evening in the consolation game of the Kasabuski Holiday Tournament in Saugus to post an 11-2 thrashing of fellow Northeastern Conference member Peabody.
WHS captain Charlie Page led the way for the Viking rout with a four-goal night. “The team came out on fire and we never let up,” said WHS head coach Dale Dunbar.
The Vikings were in the consolation round of the tourney after a 3-1 loss to North Reading in a preliminary round contest Monday night. “We had played a lackluster game against No. Reading, so before the Peabody game, the coaches talked to the players about what it was going to take if they wanted to be a championship team.”
Dunbar’s squad clearly responded to the call for action as evidenced by the huge win which saw every Viking get some time on the ice. “It was a total team victory,” said Dunbar. “Everybody contributed.”
What made the 11-2 rout all the more impressive was that it came on the heels of a tightly-fought, 2-1 triumph last Wednesday at Larsen Rink against the same Peabody team in an encounter that counted as a league match.
“The first game with Peabody was a a classic high school hockey game,” noted Dunbar. “Both teams went up-and-down the ice all game and both played very physically. There was lots of life at the rink from the fans, who created a great atmosphere.
“We played defense well and moved the puck up-ice as a team,” added the coach.
Henry Brooks lit the lamp for the game-winning tally midway through the third period. Sophomore goalie Ryan Skoczylas earned the win, making a number of stellar saves that helped preserve the victory.
Dunbar and his crew will be back in action Monday when they trek to non-league rival Somerville. They were set to host Bishop Fenwick last night (Wednesday) and then will face a big NEC matchup at Marblehead next Saturday (January 7).
Viking basketball team drops two contests
After winning its season-opener, the Winthrop High boys basketball team dropped a pair of contests last week, falling to Salem, 73-64, and to Marblehead, 92-41.
The Vikings trekked to the hostile environs of Salem last Thursday and led through much of the game before yielding the lead in the third period. Winthrop led 21-13 after one frame and 34-32 at the half, but saw their advantage dissipate after the intermission, with Salem grabbing a 53-49 edge at the third-quarter mark.
The duo of Devin Pulsifer and Tayjaun McKenzie turned in stellar efforts for the Vikings, with both playing all 32 minutes of the contest. Devin was 8-for-9 from two-point range and made three three-pointers, plus sank a free throw, to pace the Viking offense with 26 points. Pulsifer also dished out six assists and made seven steals.
Tayjaun turned in a strong double-double with 17 points, including a trio of treys, and snared 14 rebounds.
Chris Zuffante also reached double figures for Winthrop with 12 points and pulled down nine caroms. Alex Dernier led Winthrop in the playmaking department with nine assists, while scoring five points, including a three.
Jonathan Van Buskirk added three points and David Diaz sank a free throw to round out the Viking scoring chart.
By contrast, in the 92-41 loss to Marblehead a few days earlier, the Vikings never were in it. The Magicians sprinted to a 22-10 lead at the first juncture and expanded their bulge to 44-23 at the half. By the end of three, Winthrop trailed 69-33.
Pulsifer led the Vikings with nine points (to go with his four steals), followed by Dernier with seven points (including two treys), and McKenzie with five.
The trio of Jake Polino, Luigi Spinazzola, and Buskirk struck for four points apiece and the foursome of Jonathan Applebee, Ray Bennett, David Diaz, and Chris Zuffante contributed two points each.
Winthrop made 9-of-15 free throw attempts, but was just 14-for-51 (including 4-for-18 from three-point land) from the field.
The Vikings were set to play in the Pope John XXIII Holiday Tournament this past Tuesday and last night (Wednesday).