Winthrop Football and Cheerleading Teams Hold Awards Banquet

The Winthrop High School football and cheerleading awards banquet was held Sunday at the Lodge of Elks.

Head football coach Jon Cadigan and cheerleading coaches Brianna Hogan, Emily Bitchell, and Alyssa Ferrara presented special individual awards to their athletes, while the seniors were recognized for their careers in the respective programs.

Both programs are enjoying increases in enrollment. Cadigan expects more than 70 players to compete in the 2023 season that will begin officially with pre-season practices in late August. The cheerleading program, which excelled in NEC and regional competition this season, added a junior varsity team this season.

For the three seniors on the Winthrop High football team – Robert Noonan, Welvis Acosta, and Daniel Guauque – it was an especially memorable season as the Vikings qualified for the MIAA state playoffs and completed their season with a victory over Revere High on Thanksgiving to post a 7-4 record overall.

Noonan received the Irving P. Alexander Trophy, which is presented to the player who has contributed the most to the WHS football program during his career.

“Receiving that award feels nice, but being here with all my teammates feels good, too,” said Noonan. “I’m honored to be a part of the number of former players who came before me, and I hope I can represent them well in the future. I’m so proud of the seniors, Dan and Welvis, who both battled through everything, and my performance comes off of them.”

Noonan and teammates Welvis Acosta and Nick Cappuccio were the recipients of the William Rutherford Thanksgiving Day MVP Award.

Noonan sustained a torn ACL injury to his right knee injury during the Senior Night game, but gallantly returned on Thanksgiving to lead Winthrop to a 25-6 over Revere.

Acosta played the latter part of the season with a knee injury. He finished an All-Conference campaign with more than 1,000 yards in total offense. He leaves the Winthrop program as one of its most outstanding fullbacks.

Acosta and sophomore Nick Cappuccio were the recipients of the Curtis Cramb Offensive Player of the Year Award.

“I just want to thank all my coaches and teammates for making Winthrop football such a great experience,” said Acosta.

Guauque was the recipient of the Thomas D’Ambrosio Scholarship (presented by assistant coach Mark D’Ambrosio in memory of his brother) and the “Lefty” DeFelice Award. “It was a great season,” said Guauque.

Guauque took pride in helping to revitalize the program under the leadership of Coach Cadigan. “I feel we were in the class that started the growth of the program and the winning mentality that came through – Coach Cadigan really had everything to do with it, and it showed through the seniors, and I was proud to be a part of it. I think Winthrop football is going to win it all next season.”

Guauque said he is leaning toward attending the University of Maine, where he will study engineering.

The future of Winthrop High football is very bright, bolstered by the return of Alessio Marcoccio, who received the Dr. Robert Harney Defensive Player of the Year and the Dan Govoni Lineman of the Year Award, and sophomore Nick Cappuccio, who also received multiple awards.

Assistant Coach Mark D’Ambrosio said in presenting the Offensive Player of the Year Award to Cappuccio that “[Nick] is well on his way” to becoming a gold-standard running back,” and joining Steve Staffier, Anthony Palmer, Matt Murray, Chris Berenger, and Bobby Hubert in “that greatness category.”