It was a super start for Malden High School Fall Sports preseason this week

Golden Tornado teams go through preseason paces; Opening Day for all teams is right around the corner

By Steve Freker

  It was “Back to School” this week and included in the same time frame this year was the start of Fall Sports tryouts and preseason practices for Malden High School athletics. Malden High School joined the over 350 other high schools in Massachusetts, from Springfield to Newburyport and all points in between, which kicked off Fall Sports season this week.

The Malden Public Schools also started classes for all students in Grades 1-12. Some other schools in Mass. also started this week, while many begin classes next week or after Labor Day.

It is certainly a busy time of year for everyone involved, but it is mixed with the dual excitement — tinged with a bit of apprehension — that comes with the start of both school classes and the Malden Golden Tornado sports programs. Malden High School’s Charlie Conefrey has known the feeling on all levels — as a Hall of Fame student-athlete in the 1990s, a coach in the 2000s and now in his 12th year as Director of Athletics/Physical & Health Education, PreK-12.

“It was an excellent start to the preseason, with both numbers of student-athletes who have come out for the teams and atmosphere around the athletic program,” Conefrey said. “We have close to 300 student-athletes who started the preseason this week, and there’s a lot of excitement around the teams, which is always great to see.”

Conefrey said most of the teams are reporting increased tryout numbers so far, a trend in the Fall Sports teams overall. Conefrey said even more student-athletes will be joining the ranks after school opened this week on Wednesday, August 27. “Usually a number of ninth-graders join the teams after school starts and there is still plenty of time to join our teams, especially those freshmen looking to try out or sign up.”

Malden High School will be offering Varsity Teams in Boys Cross Country, Girls Cross Country, Coed Golf, Coed Field Hockey, Football, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer and Girls Volleyball. Junior Varsity level teams will be part of Football, Boys and Girls Soccer and Girls Volleyball. Freshman level teams are being expected for Boys Soccer and Girls Volleyball, though not all Greater Boston League (GBL) schools offer three levels of competition.

The Malden High School Athletic Director noted there are also Middle School Sports being offered for Malden Public Schools students in Grades 7 and 8 in Boys Baseball, Boy and Girls Cross Country, Football (Tackle) and Girls Softball. Football is the newest offering, with Malden beginning its Inaugural Season in the Middlesex Middle School Football League. When the Middle School Sports programs begin practice and play, then the number of student-athletes will grow to close to 350 in all for the Fall Sports season.

Conefrey said anyone seeking information on the registration process for any of the Fall Sports teams may email the Athletic Office to administrative assistant Jeanne Marquardo at ww************@******ps.org or call 781-397-6007.

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Preseason Scrimmages begin next week for several teams

—Preseason Scrimmages kick off next week for several Golden Tornado teams, beginning with Malden Girls Soccer, which participates on Sunday, August 30. Malden is at a doubleheader scrimmage at Medford High School (489 Winthrop St.) fields behind the school in a jamboree against Winthrop High at 1:00 p.m. and then Mystic Valley Regional Charter School at 2:00 p.m. Then on Tuesday, September 1, at 4:15 p.m. hosts Rockport in a scrimmage at Pine Banks Park.

—The season opener for Head Coach Rick Caceda’s Tornado Girls Soccer is Friday, September 11, at Stoneham High at 4:15 p.m.

—Also on the scrimmage list next week is Malden High Football, led by sixth-year Head Coach Witche Exilhomme. Malden will host Wakefield High at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 1, at Macdonald Stadium, 22 Pearl St., Malden. Malden’s official season and home opener is Friday, September 11, at 6:00 p.m. at Macdonald Stadium, Malden.

—Malden Girls Volleyball, coached by 11th year net boss Dan Jurkkowski, will be at Wilmington High for a 10:00 a.m. scrimmage on Friday, September 4. The season opener is Monday, September 8, at East Boston High at 5:00 p.m.

—Malden Boys Soccer has a home scrimmage on Thursday, September 3, at 4:30 p.m. at Pine Banks Park in Malden, versus Northeast Vocational. The season opener is on Tuesday, September 8, versus Malden Catholic at Pine Banks Park at 4:00 p.m.