WHS Golf Team Improves to 5-3
The Winthrop High golf team turned in a successful week, winning two of its three matches against Northeastern Conference opponents.
The Vikings turned in one of their best performances of the season last Wednesday in a 36.5-35.5 victory over Swampscott at the Winthrop Golf Club (WGC) in a contest that was as close as it can get in match play without ending in a tie.
The outcome of the match came down to the last hole, but Viking senior Jake Galuris sank a clutch putt to earn a 4.5-4.5 deadlock with his Big Blue rival to assure Winthrop of the winning margin.
Viking freshman Ryan Murphy turned in a huge, 7-2 win vs. his Big Blue counterpart. Senior captain Eli Wickham won his match and sophomore Tomas Babine came through with a strong effort, 4.5-4.5
“This was a great team win,” said WHS head coach Jack Wallace. “I was extremely impressed and proud of the team, as Swampscott is a very good golf town.”
This past Monday the Vikings cruised past Saugus, 52-20, winning seven of the eight matches on the Cedar Glen course. Senior Joey Rich defeated his Sachem opponent, 6.5-2.5 and sophomores Louk Belghiti and Tomas Babine both won their matches handily, 8-1.
Sandwiched between the victories was a loss at Peabody Meadows last Thursday in which freshman Ryan Murphy accounted for the only Viking victory in the #1 spot. Rich contributed four points to the Winthrop cause.
“The team struggled to adapt to the Meadows,” noted Wallace.
Wallace and his crew, who now stand at 5-3 on the season, were scheduled to host a pair of tough opponents this week, Marblehead yesterday (Wednesday) and St. Mary’s of Lynn today (Thursday), on the local course. The Vikings will make the long trek to take on Ipswich next Wednesday at the Ipswich C.C. before returning to the WGC next Thursday to entertain Danvers.
Boys Soccer Tops Boston Collegiate
The Winthrop High boys soccer team picked up its second victory of the season with a 4-0 victory at Boston Collegiate Charter School last Thursday. Although Winthrop was playing shorthanded, a number of Vikings picked up the slack, led by Fabiano Alcala Rodriguez, who scored two goals. Ian Camilo and Drew McLaughlin also reached the back of the Boston Collegiate net, while senior captain Mateo Martinez posted a clean sheet in goal.
Last Wednesday coach Phil Ronan and his crew traveled to Danvers and dropped a hard-fought decision, 1-0.
“We played an excellent game,” said Ronan. “We outshot them and had plenty of opportunities. Unfortunately, we missed our chances. Late in the first half the official missed a high kick (a dangerous play) and an offside on the same play, which resulted in the only goal of the contest. He would later admit that to me after the game. I explained to my guys that if you play well enough and take your chances, then the officials can’t affect the outcome.”
Winthrop was scheduled to play at Salem yesterday (Wednesday) and will trek to Saugus today (Thursday). They will entertain Boston Collegiate on Monday, Peabody next Wednesday, and Salem next Thursday.
Improving Times for WHS Cross Country
The Winthrop High boys and girls cross country teams traveled to Beverly last Wednesday and turned in some fine individual performances over the 2.95 mile course.
“Unfortunately, both the boys and the girls did not win as we didn’t have enough runners to make a team, but they put up some great times,” said WHS head coach Nik Beshere.
On the boys’ side, Thomas D’Amico was the first Viking across the line with a time of 21:45, followed by teammates Liam Kenney (22:40), Liam Natareno (22:52), and Evan Tallent (27:48).
For the girls, the top Lady Viking was Bailey Ferguson with a clocking of 23:45, followed by April Ferguson (24:23), Annabelle Giardino (28:34), and Aitana Bartolome (31:02).
Beshere and his crew were scheduled to take on Masco and Salem in a tri-meet yesterday (Wednesday) at Bradley Palmer State Park in Topsfield and will host Marblehead next Tuesday on the course at Deer Island.
Volleyball Team Tops East Boston
The Winthrop High volleyball team earned a 3-0 victory over East Boston this past Friday. The contest was a hard-fought affair from the opening serve, wth the Lady Vikings winning all three sets by narrow margins, 25-22, 25-23, and 29-27.
“That third set was a grueling nailbiter,” said WHS head coach Lauren Kelly.. Among the Vikings who provided highlights for the match were Zoey Bogusz, who served eight aces on the evening; Mira Ivanis who delivered four kills; and Sebastian Echeverri, who made a successful dig.
Last Wednesday the Winthrop squad took on Salem and came up short by a score of 3-1. The Vikings won the opening set, 25-20, but the Witches grabbed the next three by scores of 25-20, 25-9, and 25-21 to claim the victory. Winthrop’s highlights came from Anastasia Gajica with three aces; Samantha Correa with an ace; Emily Maddalone with a kill; and Bridget Hickey with a serving streak of five points.
This past Monday Winthrop came up short to Mystic Valley in three sets (25-18, 25-19, and 25-19). The trio of Emily Maddalone, Zoey Bogusz, and Lily Conway all had successful kills in the first set. Mira Ivanis had three successful blocks throughout the match.
Kelly and her crew are scheduled to host Saugus today (Thursday), Swampscott next Monday, and Beverly next Wednesday. They will make the short trek to East Boston next Friday.
Girls Soccer Tops Excel for First Win
The Winthrop High girls soccer team broke into the win column with a decisive 8-0 victory over Excel Academy this past Monday.
The Lady Vikings divided their scoring equally with four goals in the first half and another four after the intermission. Junior Talia Martucci, with an assist from senior Kaylee Farrell, delivered the opening salvo with what would prove to be the game-winner. Freshman Angela Coscia, with an assist from Farrell, made it 2-0, and then Capt. Hannah Parker scored on a corner kick. Martucci netted her second goal of the contest on a nice pass upfield by Emily Hoxhaj to make it 4-0.
Coscia (unassisted) and junior Marwa Mimouni, assisted by Daniela Gomez, added to the Lady Viking tally in the second half. Gomez scored the final Winthrop goal when she delivered a free kick perfectly into the back of the Excel net. “Daniela has been a standout for us in the backfield this season,” said WHS head coach Tracey Martucci.
Last Thursday Winthrop came out on the short end of a 5-3 decision to Boston Latin Academy.
“We were without our starting goalie, who is out with an ankle injury,” said Martucci, “but senior Reese Brodin has stepped up for us.”
Parker, Shannon Abbott, and Gomez scored the Winthrop goals.
“These girls have been working so hard and show up to practice every day with a smile on their faces and ready to work,” added Martucci. “Iām so proud of them for not giving up despite our record.”
The Lady Vikings were scheduled to face Salem yesterday (Wednesday) and will host Saugus tomorrow (Friday). They will entertain Mystic Valley on Monday at 6:00 under the lights at Miller Field and then travel to Peabody next Wednesday.