RHS sports Roundup
New-look RHS hockey team opens season
The Revere High hockey team dropped its season-opener in a tough 3-2 decision to Salem Saturday afternoon at the Salem State University rink.
The Patriots held a 2-1 lead entering the third frame, but yielded a pair of unanswered markers in the final 15-minute stanza. Senior captain Rich Polignone scored both of the Patriot goals in the second period to erase a 1-0 advantage that Salem had held thanks to a goal on a 5-on-3 situation in the first period. Junior Joe Ristaino and junior captain Steve Noel assisted on the first lamp-lighter and Noel and senior John Galatis assisted on the second.
“We have a young team and we lack experience in many areas,” said RHS head coach Joe Ciccarello. “We made some costly mistakes that led to their goals and that proved the difference.”
Revere is coming off a highly-successful 11-6-3 campaign in 2013-14 which saw the Patriots qualify for the state tourney for the first time in several years. However, seven seniors graduated from that squad and, more important, there have been dwindling numbers of Revere High hockey players to replace those who have left.
Thus, for the first time in the history of the RHS hockey program, it has formed a co-op team, joining with Malden High, a former rival from the Greater Boston League which itself has not had a hockey program for seven years.
“We picked up seven boys from Malden and they have been a much-needed addition to our program,” said Ciccarello. “They’re a great group of kids, as are the Revere boys, and it’s a move that will greatly strengthen our program.”
Cicarello’s first line consists of a veteran combination of senior Polignone centering juniors Ristaino and Noel. The second line features sophomore center Jim Pandolfo from Malden, freshman Mike Giordano from Malden, and Revere sophomore Anthony Cecca. The third line has freshman center Jason Loeser from Malden skating between freshman Robert Stoica and sophomore Cam O’Neil.
With sophomore Kevin Childs the lone returnee on defense, senior John Galatis moved to the blue line crew and will be joined by three boys from Malden, Chris Anderson, Dan Valenti, and Liam Elliott. Holding down the fort as the last line of defense for the Pats in net is junior Max Anderson.
“The boys have been great,” said Ciccarello. “They’ve been working hard. It’s just a question of coming together and gaining the experience to compete in the Northeastern Conference.”
Revere will host Lynn (which itself is a co-op team comprised of players from Lynn English and Lynn Classical) this evening (Wednesday) at Cronin. Face off is set for 5:30. They will travel to Bourne for a weekend tournament Friday and Saturday, taking on Holliston in the opener and then playing either Bourne or Stoughton Saturday. The Pats then will trek to Lowell Tuesday.
Boys hoop team to open NEC season
The Revere High boys basketball team was set to get into the heart of its schedule against Northeastern Conference North Division opponents this week, taking on Lynn Classical last night (Tuesday), hosting Salem Friday evening, and then traveling to Beverly Tuesday. Tip-off for all three contests is 7:00.
Coach Adam Rizzo’s quintet unofficially opened its season last week against former Greater Boston League rival Malden in a so-called “exclusion game” contest. Although the Patriots have 21 games on their schedule, they are allowed to count a maximum of 20 games for their “official” record toward qualifying for the state tournament. Revere chose to exclude the Malden game, which the Patriots dropped, 65-53.
“We got beat up on the glass,” said RHS head coach Adam Rizzo, whose team finished with 29 total rebounds, while Malden had 50, of which 24 were offensive rebounds. “Those extra possessions led to almost 20 more shot attempts and 10 more free throws in the game for Malden.
“We know that with a better rebounding effort, we would have been in a much better position to win that game,” added Rizzo. “Fortunately it doesn’t count for our record as it is a game that is being waived.”
The contest was a tight 13-11 affair in favor of Malden at the end of the first period, but the Golden Tornadoes extended their advantage to 35-23 at the half and to 50-35 by the end of three frames.
Camilo Gomez led the way for Revere with 13 points, while Tommy Chea and Gerald Charles chipped in nine points each. All three sank a three-pointer on the night. Nermin Ibrejic and Janard Jones added five points apiece, with Jones hitting a trey. Romeo Thomas (four points), Marvin Urdaneta (four points), Christian Brito (two points), and Mass Joof (two points) completed the according for the Pats.
The Patriots took part in the North Shore Jamboree Friday night against Lynn Tech. Although the Pats were without the services of Chea, who was out with an illness, Revere turned in what Rizzo termed “a good team effort and we were able to win the one half of basketball.”
The Pats led 15-11 after the first quarter and went on to win by nine. Jones led Revere with 10 points including a pair of treys and Gomez was next with nine points.
“No official stats were kept, but it was good for our team to play against a different team that we won’t see during the season,” noted Rizzo.
RHS boys in close meet with Danvers
The Revere High boys indoor track team dropped a close contest in its season opener, 47-39, at Danvers last week.
Mirza Liscovica and Bounlaing Chea were individual winners for the Patriots. Mirza won the shotput with a toss of 40′-1″ and Bounlaing captured the 600 dash in a clocking of 39.2 seconds.
Second-place finishers (of whom there were seven for Revere among the nine individual events) who placed three points onto the RHS scoresheet were: Lionel Forbes in the 55 meter hurdles in a time of 9.2; Dom Giangregorio in the 55 dash in 7.6; Gabriel Felix-Martinez in the 300 dash in 43.5; Zachary Gentile in the 600 dash in 1:44.4; Richie Damiano in the 1000 in 3:00.8; Salah Barhoum in the mile in 5:07; and Zakaria Attioui in the two mile in 11:42.3.
Scoring one point for the Patriots’ cause with third place efforts were Nelson Cevallos in the 55 dash in 7.6 and Sebastian Mejia in the 1000 in 3:09.3.
“We lost a close meet that we could have won,” said RHS head coach Sam Ros. “First-meet jitters got the better of us. Our second best hurdler, sophomore Andy Em, hit a hurdle and was unable to finish. Our best sprinter, Daniel Murphy, cut in a step too early in the 300 and got DQ’ed. He originally won the race by over two seconds and that cost us even more points.
“Senior Mirza Lizkovica won the shot for us with a great early-season throw, missing qualifying for States by two feet,” continued Ros. “The shotput is an event where two of our best returning throwers from last year, sophomore Anthony Destefano and junior Martin Keuchkerian, are both injured from the fall season. Had we had those two, we would have swept the event.
“Overall we had a good first showing,” added the coach. “Some of the newer and younger guys on the team are stepping up and will only get better.”
The Patriots’ next meet is at Lynn English tis evening (Wednesday).
Cambraia, Dion win in meet with Danvers
Jessica Cambraia and Jaclynne Dion earned first place honors for the Revere High girls indoor track team in their season-opening meet against Danvers last week.
Jessica captured the 300 dash in a time of 48.2 seconds and Jaclynne took the two-mile run with a clocking of 14:55.
Lady Patriots who came across in second place in their events were: Jasmina Zelkanovic in the 55 meter hurdles in 11.3; Angelisa Nguyen in the 55 dash in 8.4; Danielle Fortuna in the 600 dash in 1:59.5; and Cristina Martinez in the 1000 in 3:44.
Earning single points for the Revere side of the scoresheet with third place finishes were: Romessa Ali-Moussa with a high jump of 4′-0″; Sarah Almeida in the 300 in 52.0; Nadia Lerari in the 600 in 2:02.7; Suellen Guerreiro in the mile in 6:26; and Monica Posada in the two mile in 15:26.
The relay team was comprised of Nadia Lerari, Jessica Cambraia, Hannah Fitzpatrick, and Danielle Fortuna won its race.
The final tally showed Danvers with a 54-32 victory.
“We lost a handful of talented seniors from last year, especially in the field events and are still trying to fill those voids,” said LaBruna. “We went into the season with two returning throwers and no returning high jumpers, but so far the girls have been eager to step up and work to fill those voids. It is definitely going to be a rebuilding year for us, but it is a hard-working group and it will be a fun challenge.
“Nadia Lerari ran a very good time and finished third as a freshmen in the 600,” added LaBruna. “The distance runners are the strength of our team this year and each of the girls ran comparable times to how they ended last spring which is a great sign. By the nature of the sport, they will improve on a weekly basis and are on track for great seasons.”
LaBruna and his crew were set to be back in action today (Wednesday) at Lynn English.
Revere’s C Squad won their fourth National Title last week in Florida. They competed against 16 teams in their division.
Shown from left Back Row Rita DePina, Student coach, Catherine Elam, Student coach, Amanda Reyes, Ana Garcia Torres, Nevaeh Taylor, Haley Belyea, Zach Chbani, Yanna Rosa, Wendy Sanchez, Lolita Rodriguez, Evelyn Lara, Jessica Reyes, Jennifer Keefe, Assistant coach, and Melissa Elam, Head coach.
Bottom Row from left: Vanessa Cabrera, Danielle Lafontaine, Olivia Harvey, Kalei Alba, Luana Barbosa, Adrianna Keefe, Kaylee Matthias, Bryn McManus, Alyssa Gamble and Zoey LeGrand. See next weeks journal for photos and story.
