Winter is coming, but Malden High Winter Sports Season is already here!

Good luck to all of our teams as they kick off their seasons this year

By Charlie Conefey

Those brisk December mornings we have had recently tell the tale very well: Winter is coming! It may not have arrived yet officially on the calendar, but it seems like it is already here.

What is definitely here already is the Winter Season for Malden High School athletics, and this is the time of year when it is a very quick transition, especially for those who are members of the football team. We just got finished with our final football game of the season, an exciting Thanksgiving Classic win, 20-8, in Game #138 over Medford on November 27, and we are now right into a new Game Week, starting a new season with our Winter teams.

All of our Tornado teams have been working hard and preparing for the new season whether it’s on the court, track, mat or in the pool. Regular season competition begins today in Boys and Girls Indoor Track (7:30 p.m. vs. Lynn Classical at Reggie Lewis Center in Boston), while Coed, GBL Co-op Wrestling opens tomorrow, Saturday, December 13, on the road at Winchester High (9:00 a.m. start).

Also opening its season tomorrow is Boys Co-op Ice Hockey with Revere High, Everett and Mystic Valley, which is hosting Greater Boston League rival Somerville at the Everett Allied Veterans Ice Rink at 4:00 p.m. The Girls Co-op Ice Hockey team with Medford High is hosting Winthrop High at 2:00 p.m. at LoConte Rink in Medford.

Our other Winter teams, Boys and Girls Basketball and Co-ed Swimming, are opening their seasons next week, while our Co-ed Gymnastics Team will begin a series of five meets in the month of January on January 13.

Winter season is regarded as one of the most rigorous of the three school seasons, since in addition to the actual event competition there is the added factor of weather that is both unpredictable and at times, extreme, due to cold and snow. As Winter Season has arrived, we advise all of our student-athletes, their coaches and caregivers to pay close attention to their health and well-being in ways they can control, such as dressing properly for the outside weather, continuing to address their nutritional needs and also making sure they get sufficient sleep.

Most games are in the late afternoon and early evening so the majority of our days, as well as the teams’ practices and games, begin and end in darkness. Let’s give our winter athletes a little extra cheer!

Wrapping up the Fall Season with our last Varsity Football game, the Malden High School Athletic Department would like to commend the extra efforts of the Football Cheerleaders and coaches and the MHS Band and Director Lauren Foley at the games this year, for helping create a very positive, traditional atmosphere for our football team, coaches and fans. Thanks also to the staff at Macdonald Stadium, Recreation Coordinator Joe Levine and Laura Perez and their assistants, who hosted the Football Team all season.

Lastly, thanks for the folks who staffed the Football, Soccer, Field Hockey and Girls Volleyball games, starting with MHS Principal Chris Mastrangelo, Jenkins Principal Jayson Payeur, Ms. Jeanne Marquardo and all the rest, who worked together to keep the sites welcoming and safe for all! Special thanks to Malden Superintendent of Schools Dr. Timothy Sippel and Assistant Superintendent Komal Bhasin and her family, all for making it to several football games to cheer on our Tornados.

Special Congratulations to our Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball and Boys Cross Country student-athletes who all participated in postseason, MIAA state level competition. Good luck to all our players, coaches and teams this winter. GO MALDEN!

  Charlie Conefrey is in his 10th year as Director of Athletics, Wellness and Physical Education for the Malden Public Schools.