It’s March Madness Time!!!! WHS Boys and Girls Hockey, Basketball Teams Begin State Tourney Play

WHS Girls Hockey Wins NHL Title; Hosts Longmeadow in Tourney Opener Tonight

The Winthrop High girls hockey team will open play in the Division 1 state hockey tournament this evening (Thursday) when the Lady Vikings host Longmeadow at Larsen Rink. The opening face-off is set to drop at 6:00.

“Longmeadow is a big, strong, and physical team,” said WHS head coach Anthony “Butch” Martucci. “We are looking forward to the challenge.”

Winthrop is seeded 16th in the D-1 rankings despite having compiled a 17-0-1 record during the regular season, a winning percentage that was second only to unbeaten-untied Auston Prep, which garnered the number one seed in D-1. The Lady Vikings’ low seed is attributable to the controversial new rating formula being employed by the MIAA this year which uses a sophisticated calculation to determine seedings based on a team’s strength of schedule and margin of victory.

Longmeadow, which finished the season at 8-7-1, is the 17th seed.

“Right now, we are feeling a little disrespected as we are ranked 16th in Division 1,” said Martucci. “So we are coming in angry and looking to earn some respect.”

The winner of tonight’s contest will advance to the Sweet 16 where they will in all likelihood face Austin Prep, which is playing its first-round game tomorrow evening against Ursuline Academy, the 32nd seed in D-1.

Last Wednesday the Lady Vikings took care of their last piece of unfinished business from the 2022 regular season when they squared off against Northeastern Hockey League rival Beverly at Larsen. The Lady Vikings entered the contest needing a win or a tie in order to clinch an undisputed NHL title. A loss would have left Winthrop sharing the NHL crown with Peabody.

In addition, the evening was preceded by Senior Night festivities at which the four members of the Class of 2022,  Summer Tallent, Mia Martucci, Elle English, and Kendall Brant, were honored for their contributions to the WHS girls program.

“All four have been instrumental to the team, and the team’s performance, this season,” said Martucci. “They are not only great players, but they are great people. They are leaders on and off the ice. The four of them are the true definition of student-athletes. They excel in the classroom and on the ice. They will be greatly missed next year, but what a year they all have had.”

As for the game itself, Winthrop had easily handled the Lady Panthers (who form a co-op team with Danvers) in their first meeting this season on Beverly’s home ice (which is the Ray Bourque Arena at Endicott College) by a score of 5-2.

However, a combination of a tough rival (Beverly finished in fourth place in the NHL with a 9-6-1 league record and 9-9-2 overall) that was determined to deprive Winthrop of the league title and the pressure of a big crowd on Senior Night made the rematch anything but easy for the Lady Vikings

“The Beverly game was a war,” said Martucci. “Anytime you play a team for the second time, it is always tough. They know you, you know them, and the battle is on.

“For some reason we are always a little off on Senior Night,” the coach continued. “I am not sure if it is the emotion of the players about the seniors or the circus that is going on, but we seem to have a tough time in the Senior Night games. This was just another example of that.

“Beverly played physical and played lock-down defense,” said Martucci. “They blocked a ton of shots (16 total).  We were attacking and playing hard, but we just could not seem to find our flow.”

After a scoreless first period, the Lady Vikings finally put together some momentum in the middle stanza. Winthrop took full advantage of a power play opportunity with Emma Holmes, the team’s leading scorer, blasting home a goal from the slot.

“It was just some nice puck movement among Abby Holmes, Mia Martucci, Mia Norris, Julia Holmes, and Emma Holmes,” said Martucci. “Finally, Julia Holmes found Emma and we got the goal we needed.”

That would prove to be enough for the win, as Winthrop netminder Summer Tallent, the NHL’s co-Player of the Year, once again was superb in net, making 19 saves to add to her program records of wins (58) and shutouts (24).

“Our defense was equally as amazing with keeping Beverly off the board,” said Martucci. “Abby Holmes, Elle English, Adrianna Rizzotto, Amelia Spencer, Teegan Pereira, Avalina Coffey, Casey Petersen, and Izi Hain were all tremendous in this game. Also, one forward who really had a great game was Lilly Tallent. She was phenomenal on the penalty kill and her relentless backchecking was immense.

“I am so proud of every player on this team,” added Martucci. “They work so hard every single day. They are elite at every practice and they prepare like champions for every single game.”

Boys Basketball Plays at Cathedral Saturday

The Winthrop High boys basketball team will open play in the Division 4 state basketball tournament this Saturday afternoon, March 5, when coach Mike Triant and his Viking crew make the trek to the South End to take on Cathedral High. The opening tip-off is set for 3:00.

Winthrop enters the contest as the 28th seed in Division 4 with an overall record of 8-12. Cathedral is the fifth seed in D-4 after compiling a record of 8-10.

“Cathedral is tough, but I wouldn’t want it any other way,” said Triant. “They have been a big favorite in D-4 since the preseason. This is what we have worked all year for. We have a great opportunity in front of us Friday night and I think my guys will embrace it.

“Finishing 8-12 was a great year for us and getting back to the tournament was one of our goals,” Triant continued. “Now we want to go out and give it our best 32 minutes of the year.  We have had a great weekend and we set up a tough scrimmage last Saturday morning with a very good Cardinal Spellman team. 

“It was a bit nostalgic for me coaching against (Spellman) coach Perry, who is such a great coach and has been for many years,” Triant added on a personal note. “It brought back some mid-to-late ‘90s Savio memories, and the Cathedral matchup does the same.”

Triant said he was pleased with his team’s performance in the scrimmage with Spellman.

“We played great and handled that test vs. Spellman,” Triant continued. “Then we had a joint practice with Eastie on Sunday morning where both programs were amazing.  We worked one another hard and gave each other great looks. I have a great deal of respect for their coaches and players.  More importantly, there is a great deal of mutual respect between the players. They genuinely care for each other and want to see one another be successful.  I think as coaches it really gives a great sense of community to all of our players.  Neighboring programs wanting to work together to make one another better is a great thing to teach the kids and to show the communities.  I wish East Boston players and coaches all the best in their tourney game in Chelsea.

“These scrimmages definitely helped us get more prepared for Cathedral,” Triant added. “They’re super-athletic and skilled. They want to really force the tempo and make their opponents play fast. I think that we can play that style very well. I told the boys that we are playing our best ball of the season right now and that’s exactly the way it is supposed to be.  I’m super proud of them and our staff.  It should be a good one Saturday afternoon in the South End.

“What a great time of year this is,” added Triant. “I’m so proud to be a part of Winthrop athletics.  Big congratulations to all of our winter sports teams and individuals who are competing in the state tournament.  Best of luck to everyone this week and beyond.”

The winner of the Winthrop-Cathedral game will advance to the Sweet 16 where they likely will face #12-seeded Manchester-Essex, which is taking on Whittier Regional in its Round of 32 contest.

WHS Girls Basketball Faces Hamilton-Wenham

The Winthrop High girls basketball team, the champion of the South Division of the Northeastern Conference, was scheduled to travel to Hamilton-Wenham last night (Wednesday) for a Round of 32 contest in the Division 4 state basketball tournament.

The Lady Vikings are seeded 21st in D-4 after compiling an overall record of 16-6. The Lady Generals, who play in the Cape Ann League, were 15-5 during the regular season and are the 12th seed in the D-4 tournament. H-W plays in the Kinney Division of the Cape Ann League where they finished in third place with a 9-4 league mark behind Pentucket and Newburyport.

The winner most likely will face fifth-seeded Tyngsborough, which is set to host #28 Manchester/Essex tomorrow (Friday) evening.

WHS Gymnastics Completes Outstanding 2022 Season

The Winthrop High gymnastics team completed an outstanding season with a 7-1 record in dual-meet competition that qualified the Vikings for the Mass. Sectional Team Championships at Algonquin Regional High School this past Saturday.

Winthrop’s sterling 7-1 mark placed the Vikings in second place in its Northeast Conference in the regular season behind only state champion Masconomet.

At Saturday’s sectionals, 12 teams competed at the same time from the North, vying for the top four spots to reach the state team championships, along with the top four teams from the South.

Winthrop started on the balance beam with Ellie O’Donnell up first, scoring an 8.0. Isabella Rice competed second, scoring an 8.1. Captain Mary O’Donnell and captain Megi Zogasi both tied with a 7.9. Junior Alayna Ronan hit her routine for an 8.675 and captain Brandi DiCicco finished with an 8.4.

On the floor exercise, up first was Gabby Currier, in her first sectional competition, who started the Vikings with a score of 7.75. Sophomore Ellie O’Donnell, flashing some new skills, scored an 8.25. Freshman Isabelle Rice scored an 8.2 for her last floor routine of the season. Coming all the way from California after traveling on two planes, two trains, and a bus, Swedish senior exchange student Rebecca Lindstedt hit her routine after competing in a surfing competition all week. The storm got in her way traveling home and became a nightmare, but she made it and competed with a fantastic score of 8.5.

Junior Alayna Ronan finished up her last floor routine with an 8.6. Senior captain Brandi DiCicco, who competed on all four events while suffering a head cold, performed a double-twisting somersault for the first time this season and led the Vikings with a mark of 8.8.

Vaulting, the next event for the Vikings, had been up-and-down all season for Winthrop, but the girls showed up for the sectionals. First up was Shannon Abbott, hitting her vault and scoring an 8.15. Next up was Ellie O’Donnell, sticking her second vault and scoring an 8.35. Junior Alayna Ronan, with her amazing twisting-handspring, stuck both vaults as she usually does, scoring a season high of 9.0.

Captain Mary O’Donnell, after adjusting her run several times, hit her flipping vault to score an 8.5. That left the two senior captains, Megi Zogasi and Brandi DiCicco, who both stuck their flipping vaults for a score of 9.0.

The Vikings’ last event, the uneven bars, has been a hit-or-miss event for the Vikings all season. First up was Shannon Abbott, hitting her routine without as much as a bent toe and starting the Vikings off on the right foot.

Junior Alayna Ronan set a new Winthrop record for the most long hang kips in a routine, scoring a season high 6.8. Freshman Isabella Rice performed her bar routine without a deduction, scoring an 8.0, her season’s best score.

That left the final three routines to the team’s senior captains, Megi Zogasi, Brandi DiCicco, and Mary O’Donnell, and with great Viking Pride, each athlete stuck her routine without as much as a slight wobble.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our senior captains,” said WHS co-head coach Pete Gobiel. “They set the bar pretty high for the next 140 point team.”

WHS Quartet Qualifies for State Championships

Congratulations to WHS gymnasts Megi Zogasi, Alayna Ronan, Brandi DiCicco, and Mary O’Donnell for qualifying for the Mass. Gymnastics Championships.

In addition, DiCicco has been selected to the Mass. State National Team, which is comprised of the top 20 high school gymnasts in Massachusetts. She will follow in the footsteps of former Vikings Danika Dellanno, Christa Vaccaro, and Danielle Carter who also qualified for the national team.

Brandi will make the trip down to Ft Myers in May to compete against the top high school gymnasts in the country.