WHS Sports Await Further Guidance from State Officials

Winthrop High School Director of Athletics Matt Serino said he is awaiting recommendations from state and MIAA officials about when teams can start their pre-season practices for the 2020 fall season.

“The latest information that we’ve been told is that the Governor Baker’s Office, the Department of Education, and the Department of Public Health have to give us their recommendation before we can proceed with our season,” said Serino. “We believe some type of decision will be made before Aug. 18.

“The state will make its recommendation and based off that, the MIAA [who governs all Mass. high school sports] will tell us what their plan is for fall sports,” added Serino.

Currently, the start date for fall sports practices is Sept. 14. But with the recent increase in COVID-19 cases nationally, that date could change.

Serino said he has not rescheduled any games at this point. The Winthrop High and Stoneham High football teams, who will be among the top-ranked teams in the division, were slated to meet in the season opener, but no decision has been made about that game.

Serino said many options are being discussed, one of which would be moving the football season to the spring.

“But until we get definitive word from the MIAA, we’re not changing any of our schedules,” said Serino. “They’re the experts and whatever they tell us, that’s what we’re going to do.”

All of Winthrop High’s varsity head coaches are returning for the 2020 season. The head coaches are Jon Cadigan (football), Tracey Martucci (girls soccer), Kyle Gagin (boys soccer), (Rachel DelSolio and Lauren Kostegan (volleyball), John Cross (golf), Mari Johnson (cheerleading) and Mark D’Amico (boys and girls cross country).

“We’re just waiting for the decision, so we can figure out the game plan,” concluded Serino.