RHS Patriots Spring Sports Roundup

By Dom Nicastro

Revere girls track races toward perfect season; softball shuts out Lynn English
Revere High School spring athletics took the spotlight this week with a dominant showing from the girls track and field team, which remained undefeated with wins over Everett and Malden and posted impressive performances at the Weston Twilight Invitational. Meanwhile, the varsity softball team made quick work of Lynn English in a 13-0 shutout victory, powered by an eight-run second inning and stellar pitching from Caleigh Joyce.

Revere girls track improves to 5-0, eyes undefeated season

  The Revere High School girls track and field team swept Everett and Malden in a home tri-meet on Monday, improving to 5-0 on the season with scores of 94.5-38.5 and 98-38. Leading the way was junior standout Gemma Stamatopoulos, who scored 15 total points and set personal records in all three of her winning events: the long jump (15 feet, 2.5 inches), the 400-meter hurdles (1:13.6) and the 400 meters (1:03.8).

“This was Gemma’s first time running the open 400, and she came within one-tenth of a second of the school record (1:03.7) set in 2010,” said Head Coach Racquel MacDonald-Ciambelli. “I strongly believe Gemma will break this record by the end of the school year. Her willingness to try new events is remarkable, and with college coaches looking at her right now, it’s important we showcase her versatility.”

Senior captain Liv Yuong added 10 points with two first-place finishes in the high jump (4-8) and 100-meter hurdles (17.7). Fellow senior captain Ashley Cabrera Rodriguez contributed eight points, winning the triple jump (32-1.75) and placing second to Stamatopoulos in the 400-meter hurdles (1:13.7).

Junior Olivia Rupp made her 800-meter debut with a first-place time of 2:34.8 and anchored the winning 4×400-meter relay in both meets. MacDonald-Ciambelli noted, “Like with Gemma, we want to get her as many times as possible for college coaches to see.”

Freshman Isabella “Izzy” Marin Isaza continued her consistency in the 200 meters, taking first in both meets with a 28.5. Revere swept the 200 with Jaliyah Manigo (29.0) and Mayaah Ndi (29.5) taking second and third.

Senior captain Francoise Kodjo had a breakthrough in the shotput with a 29-5 throw, winning both meets and coming within a foot of her 30-foot goal. Freshman Haley Peralta also notched a first-place finish – in the javelin against Malden with a personal-best throw of 81-9. Other first-place finishes included:

• Amina Larzhal, discus vs. Malden (61-7)
• Victoria Osias, 100-meter dash vs. Everett (13.7)
• Genevieve Zierten, 2-mile run vs. Everett (15:24.6)
• 4×400-meter relay (Rania Hamdani, Manigo, Rupp, Marwa Riad) in both meets, 4:41.5

Revere also collected numerous second-place finishes:

• Ndi, high jump (4-8 PR)
• Riad, long jump vs. Malden (13-5.5)
• Basma Sahibi, triple jump in both meets (26-11)
• Dayana Ortega, 100-meter hurdles vs. Everett (18.6)
• Hamdani, 400 meters in both meets (1:06.1)
• Gigi Zierten, 800 meters in both meets (2:54.0)
• Sophia Raso, 1-mile vs. Malden (6:58.2)
• Daniela Santana Baez, 2-mile vs. Everett (16:21.1)

Third-place finishes included:

• Izzy Marin, high jump in both meets (4-0)
• Amy Astu Rodriguez, triple jump (26-10)
• Jocelyn Lazo, discus (51-4) and javelin vs. Malden (70-8)
• Manal Hazimeh, 400-meter hurdles (1:26.8)
• Riad, 400 meters vs. Everett (1:11.3)

Revere looks to close out the regular season undefeated with meets against Medford and Lynn English.

Revere also sent four athletes to compete in the elite Weston Twilight Invitational on Saturday. Stamatopoulos ran a 2:32.91 in the 800 meters and a 1:04.32 in the 400 meters. Rupp clocked a personal-best 5:42.91 in the outdoor mile. Cabrera Rodriguez ran a 13.88 in the 100 meters and jumped 32-9.75 in the triple jump, narrowly missing the finals. Kodjo threw 25-6.25 in the shotput.

Softball shuts out Lynn English with second-inning explosion

Revere softball rolled to a 13-0 win over Lynn English on Wednesday, scoring eight runs in the second inning to break the game wide open. Caleigh Joyce earned the win, throwing six shutout innings with one hit allowed, six strikeouts and two walks.

The Patriots tallied 10 hits, led by Brianna Miranda, who went two for four with three RBIs. Joyce, Miranda and Anna Doucette all had two hits. Doucette also stole four bases. Revere finished with seven stolen bases overall and didn’t commit an error in the field.

Frankie Reed, Jordan Martelli and Shayna Smith also contributed RBIs during the second-inning burst. Lea Doucette, Reed and Smith each walked twice, and Revere worked seven free passes as a team.

Revere was 7-3 after 10 games and ranked No. 45 in the 55-team Division 1 power rankings.