Joe McConnell

After eight years on the job, legendary high school basketball coach Paul Moran, a Swampscott native, stepped down as the Marblehead High girls coach to return to his hometown to head up the Big Blue boys program once again.  New MHS girls basketball head coach Phill Witt. COURTESY PHOTO But in a touch of irony, following the usual interview process of prospective candidates for the job, Moran’s replacement ended up being Phil Witt, a Swampscott boy himself, who actually played for his Marblehead predecessor, before…

We’re only over a week into soccer’s World Cup teams invading North America, and there are already a couple of observations that stand out in the early going. First and foremost is Team USA’s fast 2-0 start in Group D with wins over Paraguay (4-1, June 12, in Los Angeles) and Australia (2-0, June 19, in Seattle). Their domination in both games has ardent or even casual soccer fans in this country dreaming of what might be, while we also celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday. …

Sarah Munroe, Eleanor Morgan, Norah Walsh and O'Connell of the Marblehead Track Club pose with Marblehead’s very own marathon runner Shalane Flanagan during the Nike Outdoor National High School Track Meet in Eugene, Oregon last weekend. The foursome secured fifth place in the mile relays to earn All-American honors, while O’Connell also placed 26th in the 2,000-meter steeplechase. COURTESY PHOTO From June 18-22 at Eugene, Oregon’s Hayward Field, the Nike Outdoor National High School Track Meet took place. The Marblehead Track Club, consisting of only…

Marblehead High Spring track decathlon athletes, from left, Colin Hart, Graham Firestone and Alex Humphreys pose with their head coach Nolan Raimo, right, during the annual MSTCA (Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association) event earlier this month in Weston. The local trio ended up combining to finish fifth in the state. COURTESY PHOTO The Marblehead High School spring track program has a history of success participating in decathlons, and this year is no exception.  Weston High School and Regis College played host to the annual Massachusetts…

The Marblehead High School athletic department recently spotlighted seven senior student-athletes at its annual Signing Day ceremony that recognizes their commitment to continue to pursue academic and athletic careers on the collegiate level.  Seven Marblehead High School senior student-athletes pose for a photo during the school’s annual Signing Day recently. They are, from left, front row, Sydney Ball, Sadie Halpern and Madison Bassett. Second row, Finn Gallup, Ilan Druker, Declan Gibson and Breydan Callahan. CURRENT PHOTO / GREY COLLINS  Sydney Ball (soccer, Temple University), Madison…

Marblehead High boys spring track high jumper Clark Roszell soars to a 14th place finish during the annual All-State Meet of Champions at Merrimack College in North Andover on June 6. COURTESY PHOTO / NOAH JACKSON Several Marblehead High spring track athletes competed in the All-State Meet of Champions, held this year at Merrimack College in North Andover.  The annual statewide competition, encompassing all divisions, featured Marblehead’s Colin Hart (400-meter hurdles), Lucy Flynn (200) and Marri O’Connell (two-mile) on June 4, the first day of…

After 17 regular season wins and three more in the postseason, the Marblehead High boys tennis team proudly poses with the Final Four state trophy and banner after beating Walpole in the Elite 8, 3-2. COURTESY PHOTO Karl Tenenholtz won’t soon forget his first season as coach of the Marblehead High boys tennis team. His Magicians enjoyed arguably the program’s best regular season ever with a 17-2 record, which propelled them to a fifth seed in the Division 2 state tournament. They then went on…

The fifth-seeded Marblehead High boys tennis team’s historical season continues on into the Division 2 state semifinal round after it defeated host Walpole (15-6), the fourth seed, in an Elite 8 matchup, 3-2 on June 4.  First-year Marblehead High boys tennis coach Karl Tenenholtz and his team pose with the Division 2 Final Four trophy and banner after beating host Walpole in an Elite 8 matchup, 3-2 on June 4. These Magicians are now onto the state semifinals for the first time in the history…

As the 14th seed in the Division 2 power rankings, the Marblehead High girls tennis team (12-6) took on Nauset Regional (8-9), the 19th seed, at home in the Round of 32 on May 26, and ended up defeating the Warriors, 4-1. Marblehead High girls tennis senior captains Caroline Bruett and Joy Meschulam have that determined look on their faces, while waiting for Nauset’s return shot during the Division 2 Round of 32 matchup on May 26. The Magicians won the match, 4-1 to advance…

The Marblehead High boys lacrosse team (14-5) entered the Division 2 state tournament as the 20th seed, and as a result it had to travel to Westboro to take on the Rangers (14-4), the 13th seed, last Friday afternoon, May 29, in a Round of 32 game. But that didn’t deter Coach John Wilkens’ young team from staging a furious second half comeback to beat those Rangers, 8-7. The Marblehead High boys lacrosse seniors pose for a photo after being honored on Senior Day prior…