Steady leadership sets the stage for success for Revere’s fall season

By Dom Nicastro

Revere High School is gearing up for another exciting fall sports season. This certainly helps heading in: every coach is back, and the one replacement the Patriots needed is a super successful winter sports coach who’s a familiar fall-season face.

Ariana Rivera, who led the girls basketball program to a terrific 14-6 season last winter in just her first season as head coach, makes another debut as she takes over as the girls soccer coach this fall. Serving as an assistant on the soccer field last fall, she replaces Megan O’Donnell, who decided to focus on softball coaching alone. Last fall, O’Donnell’s Patriots went 16-1-1 last winter.

All told: a solid group of returning coaches and one solid newcomer for the Patriots this fall. Athletics Director Frank Shea said the familiarity within the coaching staff is expected to play a significant role in his fall teams’ success. With only one new coaching appointment, Shea expressed confidence in the stability and continuity of the program, which he believes will be crucial for the upcoming season. “It’s a big advantage for us, especially since the kids already know what to expect, and the coaches can hit the ground running,” Shea said.

“Ariana was already part of the soccer staff, so it’s not like someone new is stepping in,” Shea explained. “She has coaching experience, knows the kids, knows the program and she’s already proven herself with the basketball team.”

Rivera’s transition to head coach is expected to be seamless, building on the momentum the team established last year. The girls’ soccer team had an impressive season, and with Rivera at the helm, there’s optimism that they can replicate or even surpass that success. “She had a fantastic first year as the head coach of the basketball team, and we’re hoping she can bring that same energy and success to the soccer field,” Shea added.

As for the boys’ soccer team, the program continues to thrive with strong participation numbers. Shea reported that the team is seeing numbers in the mid to high 70s, a testament to the sport’s popularity among students. Revere went 9-3-3 last fall and brings back Coach Manuel Lopes.

“We’ve always had solid numbers for boys’ soccer, and this year is no different,” Shea said. “We expect even more to join once the freshmen get settled in.”

Football, another cornerstone of Revere High School’s athletic program, is also poised for a strong season. Despite a slow start last year, the team finished strong, and there’s hope that they can carry that momentum into this season. The football team opens at home with a non-leaguer against Whittier Tech of Haverhill on Friday, Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. Coach Lou Cicatelli is hoping the team can be victorious or at least very competitive in the first couple of weeks, with that early success setting the tone for the rest of the season.

However, Shea acknowledged that football participation is currently slightly lower than usual, with about 46 to 48 players as of the beginning of practices, compared to the typical mid-50s. He remains optimistic that the numbers will increase once school starts and more freshmen decide to join the team. Shea said the team is usually a little light when practices start but could get some player arrivals post-Labor Day and spike to the mid-50s.

The golf team, which operates as a co-op with Malden High School, also continues to show promise. Despite being a relatively small team, with numbers in the teens, Shea is pleased with the level of participation, particularly for an urban school. They won the Greater Boston League championship last fall. “For an urban school, I think that’s a decent number,” he remarked.

The co-op with Malden allows Revere students to practice at different locations and gain valuable experience, which is beneficial for their development, according to Shea.

While many teams are thriving, some challenges remain, particularly with the cross-country program. Shea mentioned that the team has struggled with participation in recent years, and this season is no different. “We’d like to get 15 if we can, but that’s been a struggle the last couple of years,” Shea admitted, indicating that the school is still working to boost participation in this sport.

Despite the challenges, Shea is pleased with the overall stability heading into the new school year.

Looking beyond Revere High School, Shea reported that the Greater Boston League remains stable, with no major changes expected for the upcoming season. “Everything seems to be in place,” Shea confirmed, noting that the only significant change is a new athletic director at Lynn Classical. The stability of the GBL is another positive sign for the upcoming season, as it means that Revere High School’s teams can focus on their performance without worrying about disruptions or changes in the league.