Sports - Marblehead Current

Boys soccer scratches out two ties during competitive week on pitch, faces Saugus next

18Sep

By Joe McConnellNo Comments

Local News, Sports

Boys soccer scratches out two ties during competitive week on pitch, faces Saugus next

The Marblehead High boys soccer team faced a tough slate of opponents — Beverly, Swampscott and Danvers — in just its second week of the season. They ended up going 0-1-2 during this stretch of games. On Saturday, Sept. 9, the Panthers came to town for the first of two matchups this fall. At the outset, Beverly played an aggressive style of soccer at a heightened pace. Rory Zampese CAPTION: Marblehead boys soccer goalie Rory Zampese is shown leaping to make a save during a recent game, with a coach looking on. COURTESY PHOTO / RICH BIBBINS But the Magicians struck first on a nifty, spinning high ball by captain Jack Burke. Later in the first half, forward James Achterhof displayed his strength in getting through not one, not two, but three Swampscott defenders, before releasing a...

Girls soccer hopes to return to the win column against Saugus after close loss to Danvers

18Sep

By Joe McConnellNo Comments

Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Sports

Girls soccer hopes to return to the win column against Saugus after close loss to Danvers

After beating host Beverly to begin the Lisa Wales era on a successful note, the Marblehead High girls soccer team made it two in a row on Sept. 11, when they shut down Swampscott, 2-0. The game against the Big Blue was pretty much even throughout, with Marblehead holding a slim 13-12 advantage on shots on goal. Marblehead’s Liv Carson netted the first goal against Swampscott from Ava Machado at the seven-minute mark of the first half. Marblehead High girls soccer captain Talia Selby clears the ball out of the defensive zone in front of goalie Kate Burns, also a captain, during a game against Swampscott on Sept. 11. COURTESY PHOTOS / COLETTE RODRIGUES Marblehead High girls soccer captain Talia Selby (6) lines up a shot against Swampscott on Sept. 11. Marblehead High girls...

Football Magicians off to rough start, plus updates from cross country, volleyball, golf

18Sep

By Joe McConnellNo Comments

Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Sports

Football Magicians off to rough start, plus updates from cross country, volleyball, golf

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...

10Sep

By Joe McConnellNo Comments

Marblehead Public Schools, Sports

Magicians notebook

O’Connell, girls cross-country team gets off to flying start The Marblehead High girls cross-country team defeated Salem by default because the Witches only had four runners and a team needs at least five harriers to figure into the final score. But Marblehead’s top seven showed that they are ready for the local haul. Last year’s freshman sensation Marri O’onnell captured the top spot in the Salem meet. Cat Piper recorded a second-place finish. Maren Potter was third, followed by Shannon Hitscherich in fifth, Jesslyn Roemer sixth, Abbie Goodwin seventh and Willow Waddington eighth. The Marblehead girls will next go up against Beverly at Gatchell’s Sept. 13, starting at 4 p.m., hoping to make it two straight wins to start the 2023 season off right. Boys cross-country shuts down...

MHS volleyball begins season with two wins

10Sep

By Joe McConnellNo Comments

Sports

MHS volleyball begins season with two wins

The Marblehead High volleyball team couldn’t ask for a better start to the season. On back-to-back days, coach Killeen Miller’s squad came away with two victories, first defeating Beverly on Sept. 5, 25-19, 25-13, 25-15. They then took down Saugus, 25-9, 25-23, 25-19. Remington Tilkens had 12 digs to help lead her teammates to victory against the Panthers. Mari Modryznska also contributed to the win with eight kills. Sammy Walker was credited with five kills. Setter Eva Burke finished up with 16 assists. Walker led the offense against Saugus with seven kills. Tilkens chipped in with seven digs, while Burke collected 16 more assists. Megan Parkman, Maddie Cole and Tilkens are the 2023 captains. The Magicians were 15-4 in 2022, losing in the first round of the state tournament. ...

MHS girls soccer beats host Beverly in the season opener to secure first win for new coach

9Sep

By Joe McConnellNo Comments

Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Sports, Top Stories

MHS girls soccer beats host Beverly in the season opener to secure first win for new coach

The Marblehead High girls soccer team didn’t waste any time to give their new coach her first varsity victory. First-year coach Lisa Wales was able to witness the winning team effort against host Beverly that resulted in the 1-0 triumph, which even included a weather delay. “After a lightning delay (on Friday afternoon, Sept. 8), we finally got under way,” said Wales. “Beverly came out strong and aggressive, but we were able to make some adjustments at halftime, and so at the 20-minute mark of the second half Sadie Halpern took a pass from Liv Carlson to account for the eventual game-winner. We were able to hold onto that lead for the remainder of the game.” MHS girls soccer wins the first game of the season. COURTESY PHOTOS / ALEXA SINGER Goalie Kate Burns came up w...

Gridiron dreams: Marblehead Youth Football kicks off new season with influx of players

7Sep

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Local News, Sports, Top Stories

Gridiron dreams: Marblehead Youth Football kicks off new season with influx of players

It’s a cool and foggy evening at Gatchell's and about 130 players with Marblehead Youth Football are passing, throwing and running. You can hear coaches calling plays and the thud of footballs landing in gloves. “Youth football teaches these boys about teamwork and responsibility on the field, executing plans and working together,” said Joe Dever, coach of the youngest players in grades two to four. Marblehead Youth Football eighth-graders take to the field at Gatchell's. CURRENT PHOTOS / LEIGH BLANDER MYF has been around since the early 1950s, according to Matt Martin, who played in the league when he was a kid and has coached since 2006. “Kids get a lot out of playing,” Martin said. “We teach them a great deal about the game and team sports, but also about ...

Net positive: Marblehead Youth Basketball to see changing of guard

6Sep

By Kris OlsonNo Comments

Local News, Nonprofit corner, Sports

Net positive: Marblehead Youth Basketball to see changing of guard

The Marblehead Youth Basketball Association will begin its 20th season this fall with a changing of the guard, but not a change in its underlying philosophy. In 2004, Paul “Mitch” Mitchell co-founded the league and has led it ever since. Mitchell started when his son was playing and remained active long enough to see a grandchild participate. Action from the 2022-23 Marblehead Youth Basketball Association season. MYBA will be back for its 20th season under new leadership this fall. COURTESY PHOTO/VICTORIA DOSCH But now — after two decades of scheduling gym time with the local schools, balancing the teams’ rosters, coordinating the officials, purchasing equipment, and even washing the uniforms at season's end — Mitchell is stepping away from the program. He has handed the reins...

Young Marblehead hockey star gets ready to start pro career with Penguins affiliate

6Sep

By Joe McConnellNo Comments

Sports

Young Marblehead hockey star gets ready to start pro career with Penguins affiliate

Hockey is definitely a family tradition in Matt Koopman’s family. His older twin brothers Ben and Tom were on the 2011 Marblehead High School state championship team, along with cousin Jake Kulevich. Matt’s twin brother Kyle played on the same Providence College team with him for four years and now Matt is following in Jake’s footsteps as a pro. Matt’s maternal grandfather is Alex Kulevich, former MHS athletic director and football coach. Marblehead’s Matt Koopman is shown playing for the Providence College Friars during his collegiate career, and now it’s onto the pros and the West Virginia Nailers in the ECHL, a minor league affiliate of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins. COURTESY PHOTO Jake finished up his pro career a couple of years ago in the National Hockey League’s Edmonton Oil...

Magicians begin season at home Friday night against non-league Bishop Fenwick

6Sep

By Joe McConnellNo Comments

Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Sports, Top Stories

Magicians begin season at home Friday night against non-league Bishop Fenwick

The high school football season kicks off Friday night, Sept. 8, and on the local front the Marblehead Magicians will be at home to take on non-league Bishop Fenwick, starting at 6:30 p.m. Marblehead Magician defender Christian Pacheco stops a Lynn English running back in his tracks during a scrimmage at Lynn’s Manning Field on Aug. 26. COURTESY PHOTOS The Crusaders, still reeling from the harshest of penalties levied on any athletic program in history by the MIAA (Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association) for alleged student eligibilities, will be looking to take their frustrations out on regular season opponents after the MIAA banned all of the school’s teams from postseason play throughout this coming school year. The Magicians will definitely have to b...