The Marblehead High boys cross-country team is now 4-2 on the season after traveling to Breakheart Reservation in Saugus to beat the Saugus/Winthrop co-op going away, 19-42. Coach Brian Heenan’s squad has one more regular season meet left on the schedule against rival Swampscott in Big Blue country on Wednesday, Oct. 21, starting at 4:30 p.m.
Filip Grubor led the way again for the Magicians with another first-place finish. He was followed by teammates T.J. Waters (third), Isaac Durand (fourth), Ivan Monin (fifth), Felix Regnault (sixth) and Dylan Boland (seventh).
The girls cross-country team (6-0) remains undefeated in the regular season after beating the Saugus/Winthrop co-op by a virtual shutout, 15-50. With the Northeastern Conference title still up for grabs, the Magicians are ready to face the 5-1 Swampscott Big Blue on Wednesday, Oct. 21, in Swampscott, starting at 4:30 p.m.
Before that showdown, the Marblehead girls took that long trip to Westfield last Saturday to participate in the MSTCA (Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association) Dick Atkinson Invitational.
“It was worth the long drive after 10 of our 12 runners came away with new 5k personal bests,” said coach Will Herlihy. “Between the varsity and JV races, we had nine girls complete their runs in under 22 minutes on the speedy Stanley Park course with the fifth team finisher and ninth team finisher separated by only 23 seconds.”
The Marblehead harriers won the varsity race outright with an overall score of 30 points, 22 points ahead of Haverhill (52), the second-place team. West Springfield came in third with 62 points.
Sarah Munroe (18:40) and Eleanor Morgan (19:15.8) topped the ticket with teammate Norah Walsh (19:58) close behind in fifth place. Evelina Beletsky (20:54) ended up 10th. Sophia Letwin (21:34) rounded out the team’s Top 5 runners in this statewide invitational meet.
Nadia Siragusa (21:55.7) and Jesslyn Roemer (22:41.7) were respectively credited with 23rd and 27th place finishes to complete the varsity race.
The JV team tied Upton’s Nipmuc Regional for first, despite sweeping the first three places. Ruby Assa (21:37.6), Charlotte Sheridan (21:55.1) and Ginny Donato (21:57.2) were responsible for those high finishes. Izzy Anaya Lanzillo (sixth, 23:30.3) and Maddie Gelb (27th, 29:24.1) were the fourth and fifth Marblehead runners to cross the finish line that enabled the team to share the top spot with Nipmuc.
Golfers complete regular season undefeated; Gets another Tedesco Cup
The golf team took care of rival Swampscott on Oct. 14, 45-27 to secure its 14th straight win, while also capturing the annual Tedesco Cup for the fifth year in a row. All eight Marblehead golfers were victorious to make this day even more memorable.
Co-captains Tyler Forbes (5.5-3.5) and Greyson Leventhal (6.5-2.5) led the way with early victories over the Big Blue.
Colby Moore (5-4), Pete Ryan (6-3), Will Macrina (6-3), Max King (5-4), Teddy Dulac (6-3) and John Rand (5-4) followed suit to cruise to another victory.
The Magicians (15-0 overall, 13-0 in the NEC) then completed the perfect season against Winthrop, also at Tedesco, on Oct. 15, 47.5-22.5. A total of six players secured wins.
Moore (7.5-1.5), Ryan (8-1), Macrina (6-3), King (5-4), Dulac (7.5-1.5) and Rand (7.5-1.5) accounted for those victories. Forbes tied his Winthrop counterpart, 4.5-4.5.
It’s now onto the postseason for these Marblehead boys, who were looking to extend their winning ways statewide. They were at Haverhill’s Bradford Country Club on Oct. 20 to take part in the Division 2 North State Sectionals after press deadline. They will then be back at Tedesco for the annual NEC Open on Wednesday, Oct. 21, starting at 9 a.m.
Girls soccer splits the week
The girls soccer team (5-3-5) kept pace in its playoff pursuit after shutting out host Manchester Essex, 1-0 on Oct. 16. It followed a 3-1 loss to the Tanners at Peabody on Oct. 13. Prior to the game against the Hornets, these Magicians were seeded 11th in the MIAA Division 2 power rankings, as of Oct. 16. There are 63 schools in this division.
A total of three penalty kicks were called in the Peabody game, and two of them went against Marblehead. It cost them once, when the Tanners scored one of their goals as a result of it.
Senior goalie Hailey Gilmore came up with nine saves to keep her teammates close on the scoreboard. Callie Gilmore netted Marblehead’s lone marker on what else, but a penalty kick.
“We couldn’t find any rhythm to get going in this game, but give credit to Peabody, they were the better team (on this occasion),” said coach Lisa Wales.
But it didn’t take long for the Marblehead girls to bounce back from the loss to Peabody. Three days later, they were able to hang on to secure the win over the Hornets.
Freshman Maeve Korgie scored her first career varsity goal assisted by junior Stella Smith, and she will never forget it, as it also won the game.
“Maeve was injured in a preseason tournament in August, but she was able to come back two weeks earlier than expected, which helped us in this game,” said Wales. “Maeve’s speed is a huge asset, and we look forward to watching her develop as a player over the next four years, (not to mention in the remaining games this year).”
Wales also mentioned that Callie Gilmore and Ainsley McDonald “were solid as usual in the middle of the field for us.”
Hailey Gilmore only had to make one save in net to help capture another shutout for the team.
Volleyball comes through with two impressive road wins
The volleyball team (9-3) won both road encounters last week against Danvers (3-1, Oct. 14) and Winthrop (3-0, Oct. 15) to earn a spot in the Division 2 state tournament with six matches still left on the regular season schedule. These Magicians are seeded 17th in the power rankings as of Oct. 16. There are 57 clubs in this division.
Against the Falcons, Sammy Walker dominated the action with 21 kills and three blocks. Sydney Da Silva came up with 38 assists. Sydney Faris and Lila Moniz led the team on defense with 19 digs apiece.
First year coach Shelley Burns’ team then shutout the host Vikings. The Walker sisters took control of this match, with Taylor accounting for three aces and 10 digs, while Sammy collected 15 kills and three blocks.
Eliza Bland turned in a solid defensive effort, according to Burns, after coming up with five blocks. Da Silva chipped in with 26 assists. Faris was credited with 18 digs.
Field hockey foiled at home
The field hockey team (4-7-2) dropped two home games last week to Gloucester (3-0, Oct. 14) and Danvers (5-3, Oct. 16).
Against Gloucester, sweeper Kaylei Corbett and center defender Annie Wales had standout games, according to coach Alison Carey, along with right defender Hayden Mitchell and left defender Maggie Svencer.
“All four players turned in solid defensive games, while also helping to move the ball out to set up the offense for scoring opportunities,” added Carey. “Gloucester is a strong team, but (at the same time) we just couldn’t find the back of the net (to challenge them on the scoreboard).”
