“I’ll watch when they’re in the playoffs.”
If I had a dollar for every time I heard that, I could (maybe) get into Gillette Stadium this Sunday.
Just kidding. I see $300 nosebleed seats. Really?
Back to the point. Have you ever asked someone if they watch the Red Sox, Bruins, etc. and they say: “Nah. I will during the playoffs.”
Ugh. I never understood that.
Sure. We all have jobs and things to do, but how are Game 7 victories and last-second heroics supposed to hold any weight if you haven’t been invested?
Maybe I’m just becoming angry at age 26, but my point is: There’s a lot to watch during the regular season.
This applies to high school athletics, too, as winter sports teams are halfway through their seasons already.
Here are some regular-season trends I’ve noticed . . .
And still!
There’s nothing better than being undefeated — no matter the sport.
Saugus/Peabody’s co-op wrestling team knows the feeling. Even with three starters absent with the flu, the team took care of business at a recent quad-meet, upping its record to 11-0. Michael Maraio (100th win), Jackson Deleidi, Justin Bremberg, Jaden Ceac, Cesar Cruz, and Matt Dresser posted 3-0 records last Saturday.
Fenwick’s girls basketball team — fresh off a highly-intense win against archrival St. Mary’s — stands at 8-0. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, or Celia Neilson and Caitlin Boyle?
The Swampscott boys are 9-0 after Wednesday’s home win against familiar foe Marblehead. Coach Jason Knowles says representing Swampscott High is more important than remaining undefeated: “That’s what they take pride in.”
St. Mary’s boys team is also 9-0. Better yet, the Spartans sit atop the MIAA’s Division 2 power rankings. Not bad for first-year coach Josh Keilty and company.
These Jets can fly
Last season, Lynn’s co-op hockey team finished 5-12-2. Fast forward a year, and the Jets (5-5) have already won five games with more winnable matchups remaining.
From hat tricks to varsity firsts, the Jets see different contributors nearly every game. That’s what happens when a core has been playing together since Mites at the 8U level.
St. Mary’s icemen putting it together
Staying on Lynn ice, the St. Mary’s boys have been putting up fights against the state’s best. The Spartans gave Xaverian and St. John’s Prep everything they could handle, then defeated Pope Francis 7-3 this past weekend.
With a versatile offense, St. Mary’s (5-4) has ripped five or more goals four times already.
Sharing is caring in Lynnfield
When I think of unselfish basketball teams, my mind jumps to the 1986 Celtics. (I know, a stereotypical answer, but still.)
Well, with 23 team assists against Winthrop and 19 against Georgetown, the Lynnfield girls know how to move the rock as well.
Coach Sue Breen and the Pioneers have a good thing going, standing at 6-3 and 4-3 in the Cape Ann League. The boys, too, who have rattled off seven consecutive wins after dropping their season-opener.
Delivering in the clutch
It’s impressive to possess mental toughness — especially at the high school level — as we’ve seen clutch play after clutch play this winter.
KIPP Academy’s Viccee Howard buried a game-winning buzzer-beater to lift the Panthers past Shawsheen Tech. Peabody’s Mark Mendonca sent a game to overtime with a last-second triple just this week, and Marblehead/Swampscott wrestler Xavier Tejeda pinned an opponent to give the program its first-ever win against Bridgewater-Raynham.
