Football Magicians fall to perennial Super Bowl contender to begin season 0-2
It was certainly not the easiest of ways for any high school football team to open up its schedule, especially if it has a lot of first-year starters on the roster. But that’s what the football Magicians had to deal with when they saw they were first playing Bishop Fenwick, always a talented squad that was extra motivated by the excessive penalty imposed by the MIAA (Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association) on the entire athletic program. After staking Marblehead to a 10-0 lead at halftime, the Crusaders came roaring back with two unanswered touchdowns, before their stout defense took over to shut down the home team’s offense to win the game, 14-10.
The Marblehead boys then only had to deal with King Philip six days later at home, a team that has played in the Super Bowl the last two years. Their overall experience was just too much for the young Magicians from the start, and as a result the Hockomock League club routed the home team, 34-6.
The Warriors led after one quarter, 7-0, while Marblehead had trouble running with the football. But their passing game had much better results.
Junior quarterback Colt Wales on one series found classmate Brady Selvais with a screen pass that went for 40 yards to midfield. But the drive stalled at that point.
On their next offensive series, Wales hooked up with Crew Monaco to account for a 73-yard touchdown late in the first half that trimmed the deficit to seven, 13-6. But the Warriors got it right back just before halftime to increase the margin of difference to two touchdowns once again, 20-6.
King Philip added another score in the third quarter to lead, 27-6, and one more in the fourth to account for the final score, while holding the Magicians scoreless in the second half.
The only thing coach Jim Rudloff’s crew can do now is head back to the drawing board, and get ready for North Andover Friday night (Sept. 22) in North Andover, starting at 6:30 p.m.
The Scarlet Knights began their season last Friday night, and they came away with a 21-6 victory over non-league Beverly. But the Magicians want to make sure they don’t make it two in a row against a Northeastern Conference opponent.
Boys cross-country wins second straight meet, makes history in annual Clipper Relays
The Marblehead High boys cross-country team defeated Beverly, 24-32 at Gatchell’s Park to go to 2-0 on the season.
Isaac Gross, Nate Assa and Will Cerrutti respectively owned the top three spots in this meet to lead their teammates to another victory. Henrik Adams and Jonah Potach also ran well against the Panthers, according to veteran coach Brian Heenan.
The Magicians also competed in the annual Clipper Relays at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport on Saturday, Sept. 9.
“It’s a unique meet in which we split the team into teams of three to compete in a six-mile relay race, where each member of a team completes a two-mile loop before handing off the baton to their teammate,” said Heenan. “The boys ran really well. Cerrutti, Assa and Gross combined for a time of 30:50 to finish third out of 108 teams. This is the highest place any Marblehead team has ever finished in this meet, and we have been going to this meet for over 20 years. A team from Lexington finished first, followed by a team from Billerica this year. The boys faced some of the best teams in the state from some of the largest schools in the state, and they still placed third overall. It’s a remarkable achievement. We had seven teams compete overall in Newburyport.”
The team of Will Cruikshank, Ryan Blestowe and Adams combined to finish 19th. The team of Zach Pike, Potach and Cronin was 39th.
The Marblehead boys head to Swampscott Sept. 20, looking to remain undefeated on the season against their longtime rivals.
Girls cross-country team up to escape past Beverly
The Marblehead High girls cross-country team defeated Beverly, 25-31, at home to remain undefeated after two meets.
“It was a true team win,” said coach Will Herlihy, “because our top six runners turned in significant personal bests on the 3.05-mile home course at Gatchell’s.”
Sophomore assistant captain Marri O’Connell captured first in a blistering fast time of 19:40, only 15 seconds off the course record set by Beverly in 2019. Senior captain Cat Piper finished third in 21:46, shaving nearly a minute off her personal best time on the home course. Junior assistant captain Maren Potter came in fifth in 23:56. Shannon Hitscherich (25:17) ended up seventh. Jesslyn Roemer took ninth in 26:08, over a 1:30 faster than her time in the previous meet against Salem. Abbie Goodwin (26:31) was 10th. Avery Barbeau (27:57) rounded out the top seventh 15th overall.
“Maren, Shannon, Jesslyn and Abbie were particularly outstanding in the third mile that created
separation from the Beverly runners, which locked up the meet for the team,” said Herlihy.
Junior Aria Hoover had the biggest improvement on the day, taking a full 6:30 off her time from the aforementioned Salem meet. Hoover was Marblehead’s eighth runner to finish against Beverly.
The Marblehead girls head to Swampscott Sept. 20 looking to remain undefeated on the season against their longtime rivals.
Volleyball team earns split
The Marblehead High volleyball team (3-1) lost its first match of the year in four sets to Peabody on Sept. 12.
Eva Burke was the leader in assists with 28. Mari Modrzynska was credited with 15 kills. Deysha Amadis and Greta Sachs each tacked on six more. Defensively, Alyssa Gentile accounted for 13 digs.
The Magicians wasted little time to bounce back from the Peabody loss to beat Winthrop in three sets the very next night.
Megan Parkman led the way against the Vikings with seven aces and three digs. Amadis collected six kills. Burke chipped in with nine assists.
After taking on non-league Woburn on Sept. 18, the Marblehead girls head to Boxford to take on
MascoSept. 20, starting at 5:30 p.m. They will then be facing host North Andover Friday at 5 p.m.
Golfers perfect after five
The Marblehead High golf team remains undefeated after beating Saugus at Tedesco on Sept. 12, 64.5-7.5. All eight Marblehead golfers won their match.
Charlie Grenier (7-2, shooting a 36) finished on top against the Sachems, followed by Simon Quicken (6.5-2.5, 37), Jacob Hershfield (8.5-.5, 39), Marty Ryan (8.5-.5, 38), Adrian Baron (9-0, 39), James Bickell (8.5-.5, 40), Matt Mahan (8.5-.5, 39) and Toby Grenier (8-1, 39).
Coach Bob Green’s team then made it five in a row after beating Salem, 66.5-5.5 on Sept. 14. Once again, the entire lineup won their matches.
Charlie Grenier (7-2, 39) bested the entire field for the second straight match, followed by Quicken (7.5-1.5, 38), Hershfield (8-1, 42), Ryan (9-0, 36), Baron (8.5, 39), Bickell (9-0, 38), Mahan (8.5-.5, 42) and Joy Meshulam (9-0, 47).
After facing Peabody on Sept. 19, the Magicians head back to Tedesco the next day to host Gloucester at 4 p.m.
