The start of the 2024 fall sports season for Winthrop Viking teams gets underway this week.
As usual, the WHS golf team, under the direction of former Viking star Jack Wallace, got the fall campaign going with a match yesterday (Wednesday) against Northeastern Conference (NEC) rival Saugus on their home course at the Winthrop Golf Club (WGC), which once again is graciously hosting the Viking linksmen.
Wallace and his crew are scheduled to travel to NEC foe Beverly next Tuesday and then will return to the WGC to entertain non-league rival Northeast Regional next Wednesday and NEC opponent Swampscott next Thursday.
The WHS girls soccer team, who no doubt will be inspired by the exploits of the gold medalist U.S. women’s soccer team and their young stars in the Paris Summer Olympics, will trek to Salem for their season opener next Wednesday (September 4).
“The pre-season has been going really well,” said long-time WHS head coach Tracey Martucci, who greeted an amazing total of 44 girls who turned out for the Lady Viking program. “The team has been working very hard and is bringing great energy to our workouts and practices.”
The 2024 Lady Vikings will be led by a trio of captains, Talia Martucci, Gabby Buonopane, and Marwa Mimiouni.
“Our captains have been great leaders for the younger girls and have kept the team together as a unit throughout the pre-season,” said the coach. “We have 12 seniors this year and I’m super-excited to see what this group can do this season.”
The WHS boys soccer team also will open its season next Wednesday afternoon when the Vikings will host Salem on the turf at Miller Field at 4:30.
The 2024 edition of the Vikings will be led by the duo of senior captain Sebastian Yepes and junior captain Noah Bayensdorfer.
“Sebastian and Noah did a tremendous job this summer preparing for the upcoming season by holding 18-20 captains’ practices,” said long-time head coach Phil Ronan. “The boys appear to be in excellent shape.
“We are returning eight starters and several others who played varsity last year,” Ronan continued. “Although we lost three of our top players to graduation, I feel there is room for optimism for the coming season.”
Ronan was impressed with his team’s performance in a scrimmage against former NEC rival Lynn Classical, which now plays in the Greater Boston League and which always fields a strong team.
“The boys showed a great deal of resilience,” said Ronan. “We were down 2-0, but then tied it up. Classical went ahead 3-2 with eight minutes to go, but we tied it again in the final two minutes. Eron Mudja, Kai Faber, and Junior scored our goals.”
The WHS cross-country teams, under the direction of new head coach Eric Ferguson, are slated to start their season at Peabody next Wednesday. The girls volleyball team, headed by new coach Jeremy Wein, opens its 2024 campaign at Wilmington next Friday (September 6).
Coach Jon Cadigan and the WHS football team will trek to non-league opponent Stoneham next Saturday (September 7) for a contest under the lights at 6:00.