Sports 10-11-2018

WHS sports roundup

Martucci, Dorr, and Skomro also earned assists on the day.

The big win over Pope John, a fellow Division 4 rival, qualified the Lady Vikings for the MIAA D-4 post-season state tournament.

The Winthrop girls then made the long trek to Gloucester and came home with a hard-fought, 2-1 victory. The Lady Vikings were trailing, 1-0, with just 18 minutes left in the game when Dorr found the back of the Lady Fishermen net for an unassisted goal to bring the contest back to level.

Dorr worked her magic once again six minutes later with another marker, assisted by Martucci, to provide the Lady Vikings with the victory.

This past Friday Winthrop came up on the short end of a 2-0 decision to Saugus. “We played a great game and fought til’ the end,” said WHS head coach Tracey Martucci. “Our sophomore goalie, Gemma Dimento, had an outstanding game. Saugus is a very-skilled team, but we kept some pressure on them throughout the game. They scored on two restarts, a corner kick and a free kick.”

Martucci and her crew engaged in a hard-fought battle this past Tuesday at Lynn Classical, falling by a score of 4-3.

Dorr once again put on an offensive show, scoring all three of the Lady Vikings’ goals. The contest was level at the half, 1-1, but the Lady Rams moved out quickly after the intermission, scoring three goals within the first 15 minutes to take a 4-1 advantage.

However, Winthrop refused to give up and regrouped, scoring two goals to draw close, but could not quite make it all the way back.

“We found our spark, but there just wasn’t enough time left in the game,” said Martucci, who lauded the play of Sydney Mignosa and Summer Tallent, “who have been playing outstanding defense for us.”

The Lady Vikings were set to play at Salem yesterday (Wednesday), and will host Everett tomorrow (Friday). They will trek to Malden on Tuesday and entertain Excel Academy next Thursday.

 

WHS girls run

past Salem, 24-36

Camila Miranda Llovera outdistanced the field in 17:26 to pace the Winthrop High girls cross country team to a 24-36 victory over Salem last Wednesday on the Deer Island course.

Camila’s first-place finish marked her fifth consecutive dual-meet victory.

Lady Viking captain Caroline Zuffanti placed third overall with a personal record (PR) time of 20:32. Teammate Kat Thano was next across the line in 21:43, followed by Catherine Zuffanti in fifth place in 22:30.

Heather Buccini completed the scoring for Winthrop with an 11th place finish with an outstanding run of 26:31, lowering her PR by three minutes. Mary Texeira also competed for the Lady Vikings.

 

WHS boys fall

short to Salem

The Winthrop High boys cross country team just missed earning a victory in their meet with Salem last Wednesday on the Deer Island course, coming up short by a score of 26-32.

The Vikings’ top runner, Cormac MacPhail, continued to build toward a championship-type season, easily outdistancing the field with a time of 14:18, which was just two seconds short of a course record.

Teammate Patrick Haskell ran what WHS head coach Waren MacPhail termed “the race of his life,” placing third with a clocking of 16:11. Mark Amatucci ran an outstanding race, coming across in seventh spot in 17:06.

Ari Hain took eighth position in 18:08 and Michaelangelo Marcoccio finished 13th with a time of 18:46.

 

WHS boys soccer

drops two contests

The Winthrop High boys soccer team came up short in both of its contests this past week against two of the strongest foes in the Northeastern Conference.

Last Wednesday the Vikings dropped a 5-0 decision to Danvers.

“The game against Danvers was tough, as they are in the NEC Large,” said WHS head coach Kyle Gagin. “They are already a great team and historically have a strong program within the NEC. They outplayed us start to finish.”

Last Monday evening the Vikings played at Everett, a Division 1 school, and fell short, 6-2. Winthrop fell behind early, 2-0, but Viking senior Tony Nargi took advantage of a nice through ball from fellow senior Olli Cahani and reached the back of the Everett net to slice the margin to 2-1 before the end of the half.

Everett regained its two-goal advantage shortly after the intermission and then made it a 4-1 contest a few minutes later, but WHS senior Jaylin Cordes scored his seventh goal of the season, with Cahani earning another assist, to keep the Vikings within striking range, 4-2.

However, Everett was able to add two more to finish the game at 6-2.

“We were able to create a lot of chances, but couldn’t put them away,” said Gagin. “Going up against a Division 1 team like Everett, we need to go forward and take advantage of those chances, otherwise we’ll get punished for it.”

Gagin and his crew were set to play at Salem yesterday (Wednesday) and will host Lynn Classical tomorrow (Friday) evening under the lights at Miller Field. They will make the short trek to Lynn English next Tuesday and then entertain New Mission next Wednesday.

 

From the Press Box

Youth Football

By: Jim Lederman

The crowd was big and very enthusiastic Saturday at Miller Field. Winthrop vs. North Reading and Lynnfield at the New Miller Field.

The sun was out and many ex-Viking football standouts were coaching, the future Viking football all-stars!

The history of youth football in Winthrop travels back to 1960 and 1975. The program was called ‘Pop Warner. I watched Swampscott ‘Big Blue’ football’s success develop because Swampscott started Pop Warner in 1958.

The legacy of Swampscott football, under the tutelage of Stan Bondelevitch was the success from the youth program. The program produced three NFL players from the 1969 team (Dick Jauron, Billy Adams and Tom Toner).

Let’s advance to the 1980’s after the 1977 Winthrop Pop Warner program. The DeFelice era (two Super Bowl titles and a 33-game unbeaten streak).

The other NEC program with ‘Youth Football’ building the success of Beverly, Marblehead, Lynn and Gloucester, was because of strong youth programs. The first coaches in the Pop Warner (Winthrop Youth Football) were Robert ‘Barney’ DelGregegorio, Anthony Ferrara and Henry Hayes. Barney was assistant hockey coach on the 1976 State Hockey (Division One) hockey champions (26-0-1). Barney is presently Commissioner of the Atlantic Hockey League and a member of the Winthrop High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee.

The 1981 Winthrop Viking Super Bowl championship team was the greatest team in WHS history. The 1981 Super Bowl champs were the product of the first Winthrop Pop Warner team. The 1981 champions had John Tiano as quarterback (three sport All-Scholastic), who played on a national championship college hockey team at RPI. Halfback, Chuck Sullivan,  scored 165 points. Chuck played hockey at Division One Boston University. Steve Staffier (149 points) played Division One college football at U Miami-National College Champions. Joe Giaquinto – Boston College was the receiver for Doug Flutie, Mike Brenner played at Division One Rutgers and Gus Martucci.

Saturday at Miller Field I watched the B-team – 12-year-old players. The coach is ex-Viking quarterback NEC Most Valuable Player and Captain of Colby College (and a WHS Hall of Fame inductee) Mark is giving back to his alma mater and helping develop future Viking All-Stars.

Coaching the 8th grade team Michael DeFelice and Kevin Adamson (one of the greatest players in Savio football history and Stonehill College) – Played D’1 – head coach at the high school level.

How many Adamson’s played football for the Vikings? That is a story for another article!

The future of Vikings football has players like ‘ Number 42’ aka Demetri Kuntz (DK) running his dad is Johnny Koutsouflakis.

His dad could be heard cheering and coaching from the stands at Miller Field, all the way to Magee’s Corner. Johnny Kuntz was a Pittsburgh high school football legend. His high school team defeated Gateway high, Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, three consecutive ‘Thanksgiving Day” games.

I watched my grandson play for the Triton Vikings frosh team last week. Triton Regional high school (The Towns of Newbury, Rowley and Salisbury) does not have a ‘youth football program.’

Marblehead has won three consecutive NEC football championship teams (just like the 1981-1983 Vikings coached by Bob DeFelice). They have a youth program with 175 players!

I remember watching Chris Beranger (two time all-scholastic) and UNH standout playing youth football with quarterback Will Milano (Will holds Viking career touchdown passing record of 31-touchdown passes). They built their careers in the Winthrop Youth Football Program, we salute youth program leaders like Peter Caggiano and Joey Ferrara. Leaders of a program that has helped the Viking Football legacy!

The Winthrop Vikings vs. Revere rivalry on Thanksgiving. The Vikings have won 40 out of the last 45 years (40-5) on the holiday. Yes, Viking players in 2018 – you have to keep that tradition alive!

 

 

Salem 26 – Winthrop 24

The trip to Bertram Field is always memorable but exhausting. One hour to go through Revere and Lynn and traveling down Route 107.

The Viking players were exhausted and after leading at home (8-6) and missing the opportunity to cash in on two trips inside the 10-yard line. Salem scored 20 second half points, the Vikings lost (26-14) to suffer their third loss of the season.

The Vikings travel to Stackpole Field in Saugus on Saturday at noon to battle the Sachems (1-9).

Saugus took the long trip up Route 128 North to try and slow down the powerful Gloucester Fishermen (61-15). The Fishermen are undefeated (5-0) and lead tier NEC 2.

The Salem Witches (3-2) were led by sophomore halfback Sam-Lauren O’Furie, who had a huge night running wild over the Vikings defense to score three touchdowns. The Witches scored 14-fourth quarter points.

The Vikings cut the lead in the fourth quarter to four points but the third O’Furie touchdown sealed the victory for Salem.

Salem quarterback Jeffrey Holloway was sacked by Brian Chalmers (Great game on defense with three sacks) and fumbled at the Salem 17-yard line.

Three plays later (c0-captain Feedle Small, crashed in from the three yard line for the touchdown. “Super Soph’ Bobby Hubert playing quarterback and running wild) rushed the extra points for a (8-0) Viking lead.

Salem’s best drive of the first half went 820yards on 11 plays, culminated by an 8-yard touchdown run by O’Furie to cut the lead to (8-6).

The halftime score was Vikings 8 – Witches 6.

The Vikings mounted a long drive on their first third quarter possession. The drive ended on the Salem 8-yard line – fourth down and goal on an incomplete Bobby Hubert pass.

Two plays later for Salem, quarterback Holloway threw a 53-yard bomb (outracing the Vikings secondary) to Devin Tolbert to put Salem ahead (12-8).

Salem scored two fourth quarter touchdowns and the Vikings had a later Bobby Hubert touchdown pass to Andrew Love to cut the final margin to (26-14).

 

 

NEC Tier 3

Lynn English 4-1

Swampscott 4-1

Salem 3-2

Winthrop 2-3

Saugus 1-4

NEC Tier 1

Danvers (5-0) vs. Marblehead (5-0)

I like Marblehead in an offensive game. Can the Magicians win 4 NEC titles in a row?

Ed. Note in 60+ years Danvers has won only one NEC title (2004)

The Falcons –

The old NEFC in 1959 – Winthrop vs. Danvers

Turkey Day – 1959 I played in that game 59 years ago!

“We have to execute better on offense and be consistent for four quarters,” said coach Jon Cadigan. “We play great in the first half but we let down and make crucial mistakes late in the games,” “We could be (4-1) with the only loss to a strong Swampscott team,” said coach Cadigan.

“We have to make big plays on offense, we were inside the Salem 10-yard line and did not score.” I want to give three huge stars to three players on defense, Brian Chalmers had three sacks. The senior who never played football is getting better learning offense.” Tyler Rockefeller (only a sophomore – Number 34) Chalmers made a sack hit the Salem Player and Rockefeller recovered the fumble that led to the first Viking touchdown.

Co-captain Feedle Small was strong on defense and scored the first Viking touchdown.

Bobby Hubert was (3 for 11-75 yards) on passing and tossed a huge touchdown pass to Andrew Love.

The ‘Super Soph’ rushed for 75 yards and is playing quarterback with a lot of confidence. Small rushed 9 times for 32 yards. Soph Austin Daigneault (#33) had two receptions for 62 yards. Andrew Love is very strong pun ting and had the 10-yard touchdown reception.

The Vikings hope to bring a victory home form Stackpole Field Saturday noon.

Let’s Go Vikings!

Let the Games Begin!

 

 

 

Skimming the Sidelines

Congrats to the Jayvees for their first victory of the 2018 campaign. A (19-12) win over Salem. The Vikings have seven sophomores that are playing big roles for the Vikings. The soph class played for the youth football title in 2016 in Newburyport.

The big game up at War Memorial Stadium (I played at the old stadium with the lights when Newburyport was in the old Northeast Conference).

Trivia: Can you name the first four North Shore stadiums with lights?

The Vikings last trip to Stackpole Field in 2017, was a (40-17) loss to the Sachems. The Vikings played all their games on the road. The 40 points were the most by a Saugus team over Winthrop.

The Vikings have a 2-3 record. A win would give the Vikings a (3-3) record. The first place Lynn English Bulldogs invade Miller Field on October 19th.  Lynn English has an al-star quarterback in Matt Severance. The Vikings have allowed opposing quarterbacks to pile up the yardage in the air.

Revere won their third consecutive victory in overtime with another great game from their field goal kicker, 27-21 victory over Medford.

Rayan Riazi kicked a 44-yard field goal. Yes – 44 yards! Who can forget the last minute Revere field goal to defeat the Vikings on Thanksgiving Day – 2017, 17-14.

The three in a row for Patriots gives them momentum before the playoffs. Darius McNeil rushed for 117 yards on the ground.

 

 

The Top Three

I have had the honor of writing about many great athletes in Winthrop high school sports history.

I broadcast WHS games from the Miller Field Press box, the Larsen Rink, the James Holland Gym at WHS and watched great baseball players on the Veteran’s Field diamond.

The 1981 Vikings football super bowl championship team, Viking and WHS hockey championship teams and watching my first WHS. Football game in 1952 at Miller Field, I watched the first WHS football player score 100 points in one season – Joe Duplin.

My top three are John Tiano, Chucky Sullivan and the late legend Joe Duplin.

Joe won two world championships scoring in basketball and football. Johnny led the NEC in football at quarterback, a division one national hockey championship college hockey champ at RPI.

Chucky was three-sport all scholastic scored 165 points in football, played on the 1981 state championship baseball team and played Division One college hockey as a Boston University Terrier.

Three great three-sport WHS athletes that have built the WHS sports championship legend.

We Salute the ‘Top Three’

Let the Games Begin!

 

 

The Class of 2018

Saturday night, October 20th the WHS Athletic Hall of Fame, will induct 9 new Hall of Fame members. Two state championship teams, the 2006 WHS super bowl championship football team. The 1984 state championship softball team.

The induction ceremony is at WHS – Neil Shapiro Auditorium tickets are available at the office of Attorney Chris Tsiotos, 193 Winthrop Street.

 

 

Extra Points

The latest Boston Globe ‘top 20’ has Gloucester ranked Number 15; the Fishermen will win Division 4 North with a 15.80 power ranking for the playoffs. The Fishermen have won super bowl titles.

Danvers Falcons (5-0) are ranked number 19. The Falcons play Beverly on Friday night. Danvers has won one – yes one! NEC football title in 60 years the Winthrop Vikings have won 11-eleven NEC football titles and three super bowl titles. Yes, the smallest school in the NEC (600 students vs. 2,000 at Revere) Stoneham (5-0) is first in Division 6 North. Winthrop is ranked number 11 – the chance to make the playoffs depends on a victory over Saugus!

Coach Sean Driscoll’s Spartans of St. Mary’s of Lynn is (4-1) they are ranked, ‘number 3’ in Division 7 – coach Driscoll was (7-4) vs. Revere and his 2014 Vikings were4 (9-0) in the NEC! Congrats coach Driscoll!

Go Vikings!

Let the Games Begin!

 

The Rivalry

The archrivals – Yankees vs. Red Sox are in the playoffs. The last game I was at Fenway Park was the Yankees crushing the Sox in game 3 – (2204) the Sox won 4 in a row to win the World Series!

The ‘epic collapse’ – that should be a book written by David Price – The $217 million dollar pitcher. He is (0-9) in the playoffs.

I write this column (Ed. Note) on Monday morning, can the Sox win another game? The Yankees have the most powerful lineup in baseball – one through nine! If the Sox win the series – they need strong pitching – If the Sox win the ‘Price Problem’ the Price is not right! – The Price Problem is not going away.

Price is wildly rich but his performance anxiety renders him hopeless in the big moments 0-9 is terrible.

Time for an opt-out for Price on his contract.

Or a Trade!

Or an Exorcism!

Go Sox!

Let the Games Begin!

 

 

Give Me a Nathan’s Dog

Have you tasted a Nathan’s Hot Dog? The popular hot dog form New Jersey. Do you think the Yankee fans eat Nathan’s?

‘A tip of the dog to Nathan Eoualdi for pitching a masterful game vs. the hated Yankees on Monday night.

The Sox have a chance to win the American League Division series after the comeback victory on Monday.

The Sox are coming back to Fenway Park!

Can the Red Sox win and advance to play Houston in the final?

I thin I will have a Nathan’s Dog in honor of Nathan Eovaldi.

Let’s Go Red Sox!

Let the Games Begin!

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