WINTHROP — There are two goals Winthrop football senior Chris Castro has yet to reach during his three seasons on the Vikings varsity team. The first is a winning season. The second is a victory over Thanksgiving rival Revere.
Both goals are at stake Thursday when Castro and the Vikings travel to Della Russo Stadium to clash against the Patriots in their annual Turkey Day meeting.
“It would feel really good (to beat Revere), especially considering how our past couple years have gone,” Castro, a defensive end and offensive tackle, said. “Going into the season one of our goals was to finish above .500. To be able to finish here with the program in a better place for the underclassmen, that would feel really good.
“We’re really determined,” Castro added. “We’ve been a part of a couple losing seasons the past few years. We’re determined to win this game and we’re excited.”
The Vikings didn’t find themselves where they hoped to be at the end of the regular season. A loss to English at Miller Field in Week 7 bounced Winthrop from the postseason picture and forced the Vikings to make a choice. They could’ve thrown in the towel in their three non-playoff game. Instead, they chose to rally together and right the ship.
Winthrop, on a three-game win streak, enters Thursday’s game at 5-5.
“After the English game, we talked about coming together,” Castro said. “We’ve been the tightest we’ve been in the past few years. We’ve executed really well the past couple weeks and here we are, thankfully.”
A team captain, Castro has built a huge impact in Winthrop’s turnaround during the past three games. First-year Vikings coach Jonathan Cadigan said Castro has been an ideal captain and role model for his teammates this year.
“I’d say Chris is definitely our emotional leader,” Cadigan said. “Last year he was ineligible and missed the first nine games. He came to practice every day and he was a great scout team guy. He was a pretty good player the last two games last year. He really turned around his academic career. The team saw what he’s done here the past few years and they voted him a captain.
“I have three captains but he’s really the captain,” Cadigan added. “He’s the player the kids really look up to.”
Although the duties and responsibilities that come with leading a team aren’t easy, Castro embraced his role as team captain. His top priority was helping create a tight-knit unit and Castro believes his teammates have bought into that goal.
“It’s an honor, considering the past captains that have been here before me,” Castro said. “Once I found out I was a team captain, I knew I wanted to set a good example for the rest of my teammates. I wanted to make sure they learned from some of my mistakes. I wanted to help us be as close as we can be. That’s been a problem for us the past couple years. Thankfully we’ve been a close team this year.”
With one game left in his high school football career, Castro will try his best to seize the moment when he takes the field Thursday.
“I’d say it’s a little upsetting knowing it’s my last game,” Castro said. “The idea of knowing who I’m going to be around, especially coach Cadigan, those are the things I’ll cherish the most. I’m going to be really excited.”
Castro has built a strong relationship with Cadigan and the coaching staff this season. He credited Winthrop’s coaches for teaching life lessons in addition to football.
“I really think I’ll miss the coaching staff the most. Coach Cadigan has had a really big impact on all the players,” Castro said. “He has set a great example. He has prepared all us seniors to get ready for life. There’s more to football than just football. I think I’ll miss that the most, hanging with him and having kind of a father figure.”
Kickoff for Thursday’s game is scheduled for 10 a.m.
