From the Press Box
2018 Hall of Fame
By: Jim Lederman
The Winthrop High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee is pleased to announce the inductees for the “Class of 2018.â€
The induction ceremony will be held on October 20 (Saturday) at Winthrop High School. This is the 13th Hall of Fame induction.
Inductees and two championship teams will be hoxnored.
Michael Eruzione Jr. (Class of 2003)
Michael won the prestigious Bently Swift Memorial Award, Captain of Football, Hockey and Track, Agganis football All-Star
Paul Ferrara (Class of 1996) Football and Baseball Irving P. Alexander Award, Football Captain. Lynn Item All-Star NEC Allstar,
Kristen Finn (Class of 2008) Basketball Softball and Track, Captain of Three Sports, Winner of the Wallace B. McClean Award (Outstanding Senior Female)
Boston Globe and Boston Herald All-Scholastic Softball. Bates College- four-year State and Captain in Softball
Nicole Giaquinto (Classs of 2008) Basketball and Track Captain two-Sports NEC Basketball All-Star, MVP in NEC in Trackand Basketball. Umass Lowell Captain of Track , Named to All-American in 2013 in the 4 x 400m relay team
Patrick Gunn (Class of 2004) Soccer, Hockey and Basketball. Three sport captain in Soccer NEC All-Star,Eastern Mass All-Star Hockey -NEC All-Star, Boston Herald All-Scholastic, NEC MUP At UMass Dartmouth, Patrick played Soccer
Lou Hinckley (Class of 1974)
Basketball and Track. Two Year Starter on NEC Championship Team, Senior Captain, NEC All-Star. Track: Broke long standing High Jump Record. University of Maine Division one Scholarship. Broke State of Maine High Jump Record ( 6 foot, 8 inches), Basketball starter
Joseph Murphy (Class of 1998)
Football, Basketball and Baseball, Boston Herald Football All-Scholastic, Scored 110 points (Senior Year) Boston Herald All-Scholastic , All-State (Top 22) player, NEC All-Star, Agganis All-Star. Two year starter at Colby College. Robert Flanagan (Exceptional Service) Class of 1978-Football, Basketball and Baseball, His unprecedented donations to Viking Pride have made a Difference to Winthrop High Athletes
Paul Gallivan (Exceptional Service)
Paul’s work on the ice at Larsen Rink and the Turf at Miller Field made Winthrop Athletes feel like they were playing in the NHL and NFL
The 2006 Undefeted (13-0) Super Bowl and NEC Championship team two Boston Herald and Boston Globe All-Scholastic Players (James Fucillo and Matt Murphy)
The 1984 State Championship Softball team: We salute the 2018 WHS Hall of Fame Inductees.
Smart Signing
The ‘free agent’ period is over, Danny Ainge as signed (RFA) Marcus Smart to a four-year deal at $13 million per year. This is the final nail in what could be the greatest run around here since Larry, Kevin and Robert.
Smart, thanks to the free marker got what he deserved. He is not a star, but he adds value most of the games he plays, even some of those games he thinks he’s Larry Bird from 24-feet away. Smart is a role player on a great team and from what we saw last year, the infancy of a great team. Smart will be asked to win games.
His arsenal is different than most players. If he’s not the heart and soul of the Celtics, he’s their intestinal fortitude.
But this wasn’t only Smart’s Day, it was Ainge’s too. He has completed this incredible re-do post-Doc Rivers and the Big Three Part II. Danny Ainge has assembled a roster, health permitting, that can win a championship. It might not be this coming June, but then again it might.
What is Jayson Tatum continues to trend to a top 15 player at age 20.
What if Jaylen Brown continues to trend as a stop 40 player at age 22?
What if Gordon Hayward, who is entering his prime at age 28, is the borderline unstoppable scorer he was 14 months ago with the Utah Jazz?
You could play similar games with Terry Rozier, now a proven starter, who will move to the bench. And young players Daniel Theis and Semio Jeleye.
Kyrie Irving doesn’t need an introduction; he is a bondafide superstar, especially when you need a basket.
And Al Horford, the leader of this group has proven to be a gem on both sides of the floor. Marcus Morris and Aron Baynes will have to accept lesser roles.
But they are one-year guys with something to prove, veterans who aren’t afraid in big games in May and June.
The team is an ideal mix of young and veteran talent, with championship aspirations.
Smart was the last move and a key one Ainge made during a quiet, yet productive summer.
Let the Dynasty – I mean games begin!
Conference Champions
The 1958-1959 Winthrop high school basketball team captured the Northeastern Conference Championship for the third consecutive year.
Coach John P. Sheehan built a dynasty at Winthrop winning seven NEC titles and one Tech Tourney Class B Championship (1963).
Co-captains Arnie Springer and Billy Sliney led the team to the NEC title. Arnie established a new WHS scoring record, tossing in 40 points in one game. Springer set a new NEC 14-game scoring record of 304 points Arnie was named to the Boston Herald All-Scholastic team. Arnie played at Brandeis University. Arnie was inducted in the WHS Athletic Hall of Fame.
Billy Sliney was nominated for the 2018 WHS Athletic Hall of Fame, induction is in October.
(Ed. Note: The team picture is in this week’s Transcript).