Pioneer Charter School of Science celebrates outstanding fall season in school athletics program

Girls Cross Country took home a championship victory; fellow athletes celebrated finishing strong in a competitive conference

Pioneer Charter School of Science (PCSS) has just celebrated an outstanding season in athletics. While the school is highly regarded for its academic programs, the achievements of its student-athletes and its alumni who have transitioned into coaching roles have also contributed significantly to its tradition of excellence within the Massachusetts Charter School Athletic Organization (MCSAO).

“Pioneer Charter is proud of its athletics program and all it has achieved this season,” said PCSS Athletic Director Phil Signoroni. “We are known for our academic accomplishments, which are central to everything we do. But don’t count us out when it comes to athletics. It’s been a stand-out year for our teams, and we’ve become a school to beat in the conference.”

Notably, this year’s Girls Cross Country team won the MCSAO Championship meet in October in Stoneham. Coach Nick Ciavarra, who also coaches the boys’ soccer team, won MCSAO North Division Girls Coach of the Year. This was the second championship win for senior and Captain Marwa Yeznasni, who won the silver medal in the championship race and was named Lady Panther of the Year, a PCSS award given to the best female student-athlete.

The 2024 Boys Cross Country team was led by sophomore Naasson Charles, who finished tenth in the MCSAO Championship meet. Walter Villanueva finished 30th. The team finished seventh in the MCSAO Championship meet.

The Girls Volleyball team finished in fourth place at the MCSAO tournament this year. The Lady Panthers won their quarterfinal match against the Collegiate Charter School of Lowell but were eventually defeated by their sister school, Pioneer Charter School of Science II (PCSS II), in the semifinals. Despite losing in a preliminary match, the team made history by qualifying for the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) State Tournament for the first time. Individual honorees included juniors Sabrina Bocaneli, Sofia Salhi and Emelyn Wittkowski, who were named to the MCSAO North Division All-League team.

In soccer, the Lady Panthers finished third in the MCSAO tournament, winning in the Quarterfinal game against Salem Academy. The team eventually lost 1-0 to Boston Collegiate in the Semifinals. The PCSS junior goalkeeper celebrated making the MCSAO North Division All-League team.

In his second year as soccer Boys’ Head Coach, Pedro Calegari led the team to a second-place regular season finish in the MCSAO and its highest-ever ranking in the MIAA tournament, entering as the #11 seed. The team went on to win its second-ever MCSAO Championship and its first in 10 years, and out of 48 participating schools across the state, the Panthers advanced to the quarterfinals, ultimately losing to the #3 seed, Bromfield School, in the MIAA Tournament. Seniors Kelvin Souza, Rayane Chaibi, Hussein Al-Arashi and Daniel Taye were named to the MCSAO North Division All-League team.

Calegari is a familiar face in PCSS athletics. He graduated in 2013 and was a member of the school’s first-ever soccer team. In 2024, Coach Calegari was named the MCSAO North Division Coach of the Year.

“This was the best year in PCSS Boys Soccer history,” said Coach Calegari. “Our team was filled with talent, and they played for each other. We succeeded because of their dedication to the program and their academics. Next year, we can be the best team in the conference.”

For more info about PCSS, access https://www.pioneercss.org/