WHS Sports Roundup

WHS boys hockey to play on the Miracle on Ice rink

Thanks to the efforts of 1980 USA Olympic Hockey Captain Mike Eruzione, head coach Dale Dunbar and the Winthrop High boys hockey team will have a chance for a once-in-a-lifetime experience when they journey to Lake Placid, N.Y., this weekend to meet Northeastern Conference rival Marblehead for two games on the fabled ice of the Olympic Skating Center where Eruzone and his USA teammates, who essentially were a group of unknown, college-age players, knocked off the superpower Soviet Union team (which had won the previous four gold medals) to bring home the Gold Medal in the 1980 Winter Olympics, a feat that was labeled the greatest sporting event of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated magazine.

Eruzione, who was the captain of the 1980 squad, scored the winning goal in the Amercians’ 4-3 win over the Russians in the semifinal — an upset immortalized by the call of announcer Al Michaels, “Do you believe in miracles?” —  and then went on to defeat Finland in the Gold Medal game.

The 2025-26 edition of the Vikings will be led by junior captains Joe Pumphret and Paul Ferrara, supported by assistant senior captains Tomas Babine, Nick Romano,  and Bert Kline. Winthrop, the defending Division 4 State Champion, will be opening the season against a Marblehead squad, their chief Northeastern Conference North Division rival, that won the D-3 title in 2024 and advanced to the D-3 semifinal round in 2025.

Winthrop’s 2025-2026 full roster is as follows;

#1 Jimmy Lyman JR/ Goalie

#2 Joe Pumphret JR / F *(Captain)*

#3 Mike Harrison JR/F

#4 Tomas Babine SR/ D *(Asst Captain) *

#5 Nick Romano SR /F*(Asst Captain) *

#6 Jacob Buckman JR /F

#7 Dom Spinale JR/F

#8 Bert Kline SR /F *(Asst Captain) *

#9 Nikita Rossi JR/D

#10 Charlie Ferrara JR/F

#11 Paul Ferrara JR / D*(Captain)*

#12 Mike D’Ambrosio JR /F

#13 Ethan Staff FR/F

#15 Tony Bordonaro JR /F

#16 Louk Belghiti SR/F

#17 Nate Previte JR /D

#18 Dylan Fife JR /D

#19 Rick MacKenzie JR /D

#20 Max Dassau FR/F

#21Breadon Lounsbury SO/F

#22 Steven Calla SR /F

#30 Dax Sabin JR /Goalie

#31 Evan Demayo JR/ Goalie

After this weekend’s contests, Dunbar and his crew will travel to non-league opponent Lynnfield next Wednesday.

WHS girls hockey ready for new season

The Winthrop High girls hockey team — perennially one of the most successful girls’ hockey programs in the state — has been getting ready for its upcoming season under the direction of veteran head coach Anthony “Butch” Martucci.

The 2025-26 edition of the Lady Vikings will be led by captains Tegan Pereira and Avalina Coffey and assistant captains Reese Ferrara, Chloe Couture, and Riley Towse.

“We are really looking forward to a big season with some excellent returning players such as Angela Coscia, Norah Zaffini, Francesca Indresano, Amelia Serino, Mia Currier, Stella Pelletier, Avery Shea, Giuliana Marenghi, Katherine Clark, Claudia Alquinta, Bella Vellieux, and Abby Githinji,” said Martucci.

“We expect to be solid from the net out as we return program record-holding goalie Riley Towse, as well as two of the top defenseman in the state in Tegan Pereira and Avalina Coffey, along with having some great depth down the middle with centers Chloe Couture and Reese Ferrara leading the charge,” Martucci said.

“We also have some new blood in the program this year with the addition of Ava Mackenzie, Giuliana Greygor, Lola Ferrara, and Claire Chapman,” Martucci added.

The Lady Vikings once again will compete in the eight-team Northeastern Hockey League (NHL). They will meet NHL foes Medford, Peabody, Beverly, and Gloucester twice each and Marblehead, Masconomet, and Newburyport once each.

Non-league opponents include Grafton, Arlington Catholic, Burlington, Weymouth, Winchester, and Boston Latin (twice).

The Lady Vikings were scheduled to meet Newton North in their first scrimmage of the pre-season yesterday (Wednesday). They will open their season this Saturday at Medford and will host Grafton next Wednesday at Larsen Rink for a 6:10 face-off.

WHS boys basketball opens season Friday

The Winthrop High boys basketball team will open its season tomorrow (Friday) when coach Quinton Dale and his Viking crew travel to East Boston. The opening tip is set for 6:00.

The 2025-26 edition of the Vikings will be led by seniors captains Nicolas Correa and Noah Bayersdorfer. Their teammates are: seniors Matthew Wall, Liam Natareno, Chris Cirelli, Noah Barry-Sow, and Javian Alexander; juniors Nico Ruggieri, Owen Pumphret, and Desmond Cassidy; sophomores Joseph Schettino, Domenic Farrell, and Ali Benchikhi; and freshman Lucas Souza.

The Vikings enjoyed a successful pre-season outing in the Keith Nance Memorial Classic in East Boston last Saturday morning, defeating Boston United, 39–23.

Bayersdorfer led the way with a superb all-around performance with 17 points, four assists, two steals, and four rebounds to earn Most Valuable Player honors for the tournament.

After Friday’s opener, Dale and his crew will travel to Northeastern Conference (NEC) rival Swampscott next Tuesday. The Vikings’ 20-game schedule will consist of two games each against their four NEC South opponents (Swampscott, Salem, Saugus, and Gloucester); one contest with each of their five NEC North foes (Peabody, Danvers, Marblehead, Masconomet, and Beverly); and matches with non-league opponents East Boston, Excel, Rockport, Billerica, Ipswich, and Arlington Catholic.

In addition, Winthrop will face an opponent to-be-determined in the David Green Memorial Tournament over the Christmas break.

WHS girls host Swampscott in season-opener

Coach Anthony Hatzisavas and the Winthrop High girls basketball team will open their 2025-26 season this Tuesday (December 16) when the Lady Vikings host Swampscott at the WHS gymnasium. The season-opening tip is set for 6:00.

“The first week was very good and it was very competitive across the board,” said Hatzisavas. “We had tryouts on Monday and Tuesday and the teams were set by Wednesday for our first practice. We have five returning seniors, Polixeni Tsiotos, Bailey Ferguson, Amina Barry, Josie Barry and Jenna Whitehead. All five have been tremendous leaders and worked extremely hard all offseason and in the first week of tryouts — which they have done not only this year, but for the last three as well.  I am very happy with how they have been and can’t ask for much more for the start of the season.”

The trio of Polixeni Tsiotos, Bailey Ferguson, and Amina Barry were voted as captains. “They have earned this honor and have been doing a tremendous job,” said Hatzisavas. “I am lucky where all five of my seniors have really stepped up and taken on a leadership role on and off the court.”

Rounding out the varsity roster are juniors Sophia Sarnaglia, Grace McCurdy, Sara Yepes, Alex Ross, and Safi Barry. “I expect all of them to make major contributions throughout the whole season,” Hatzisavas said.

The Lady made their annual trek this past Saturday to the Cape to play in a pre-season jamboree with Barnstable and Sandwich (which made it to the Division 3 state semifinals last season).

“I was very happy with how we performed,” said Hatzisavas. “All five seniors stepped up in different ways. We took a lot of pride in our defense and that’s something we will continue to do. After that, we enjoyed a nice day with some team-bonding and the girls really did love it. It is a great way to kick-start our season and it’s something we want to continue doing every year.

“I remember when coach David Brown (the former WHS boys coach who led the Vikings to a state championship in 2011, a team for whom Hatzisavas played a crucial role) would take us that first Saturday every winter and it was something we always looked forward to,” Hatzisavas noted.

Joining Hatzisavas on the sidelines this year will be head assistant coach Kevin Adamson,  JV head coach Bobby Nimblett, and assistants Michael Griffin and Andrea Martucci. “I couldn’t ask for a better staff,” said Hatzisavas. “They are committed and all bring something different to the table, which is a positive impact to the environment we are trying to create.”

Lady Viking fans once again will see a familiar face at the scorer’s table in Peg Bailey, who is returning for her 52nd year in that capacity.

The Lady Vikings will play a 20-game schedule consisting of two games each against their four NEC South opponents (Swampscott, Salem, Saugus, and Gloucester); one contest with each of their five  NEC North foes (Peabody, Danvers, Marblehead, Masconomet, and Beverly); and matches with non-league opponents Arlington Catholic, Winchester, Ipswich, Triton, Essex Tech, and Manchester-Essex. In addition, Winthrop will face an opponent to-be-determined in the David Green Memorial Tournament over the Christmas break.

The Winthrop girls were scheduled to play at Greater Lawrence in a scrimmage yesterday (Wednesday) and will participate in a jamboree at Lynn Classical Saturday. After Tuesday’s season-opener with Swampscott  — “Swampscott always is a matchup we get excited for,” said Hatzisavas — they will  entertain Danvers next Friday (December 19) at 6:00.