~ RHS Sports Round-Up ~

Everett/Revere/Malden/MVRC co-op boys’ hockey opens up with win

The Peabody-Saugus boys hockey team had a super-fast start in its opening-season game on the road against Everett’s cooperative team. The Tanners scored two goals in the first three minutes of the game to overcome a quick Everett goal 17 seconds into the game.

It didn’t faze Everett in the least. It was all Everett from there. The Tide netted five total goals in the first period and went on to a 9-6 win in the season-opener for the co-op team at Allied Veterans Memorial Rink in Everett.

Senior Matt Lacroix of Revere scored 17 seconds into the game for Everett. Sophomore Michael Brandano of Mystic Valley got into the party in the first period with two goals that paved the way for a hat trick. His final goal came 5:26 into the third period and helped stave of Peabody-Saugus’ four-goal comeback attempt in the third period. Sophomore forward Frankie Annunziata of Revere and senior Jake Simpson of Malden added two goals each for the Tide in the season-opening win. Liam Thompson of Mystic Valley added the other goal for Everett.

Adding assists for the Tide were Lukas Deguire of Mystic Valley (two), Annunziata, Michael Brandano, Jackie Summers of Malden (three), Lacroix (two), Ollie Svendsen of Revere (two), Vishant Chawla of Mystic Valley (two) and David Perez of Malden.

Peabody-Saugus outscored Everett, 4-2, in the final period but it wasn’t enough to overcome the 7-2 deficit after two periods.

Aaron Al-Marayati of Malden started in net for Everett.

Everett was scheduled for a home game against Somerville on Wednesday, Dec. 13, hosts Medford on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 2 p.m. then next gets on the road on Monday, Dec. 18, against Taunton (5 p.m.) and Lynn on Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 4 p.m.

Revere cheerleaders gear up for winter season

Revere cheerleading coaches Kayle Pezzuto and Sabrina Sloan take their team into this season excited for the opportunity and upcoming competitions.

Pezzuto cheered for three years at Endicott College and helped coach Danvers varsity cheerleading in the 2019 fall season. She’s also in her third year as assistant cheerleading coach at Endicott College.

“I grew up in Revere and am now teaching in Revere so it’s great being able to give back to a community that helped shaped me into the person I am today,” Pezzuto said. “Also as a teacher, it’s great being able to continue some relationships with past students outside of a classroom setting.”

Sloan cheered at Lynn English High School and has some coaching experience. After becoming a teacher, Sloan said, she knew she wanted to teach in Revere and give back to the community that helped shape who she is as a person.

Revere has nearly 30 on the winter cheerleading squad. In the fall season, the program won regionals and placed in the top five at states.

Asked what the team’s strengths are, Pezzuto said its ability to adjust and want to improve.

What are the big team goals this winter? “To just keep improving and getting better with each performance,” Pezzuto said.

Revere girls’ basketball team drops opener, bounces back with buzzer-beater

It was a sluggish start to the season for both the Marblehead and Revere girls’ basketball teams, who combined for five points in the opening quarter. Marblehead would end up scratching out a 34-25 win over the Lady Patriots at home. Revere had trouble on offense with only nine points in the first half but battled and trailed, 15-13, early in the third quarter.

Haley Belloise led Revere with eight points. Alisha Jean led the team with nine rebounds.

“We competed hard with Marblehead,” Revere coach Ariana Rivera said. “It was clearly a defensive game on both ends. We struggled to take care of the basketball having 18 turnovers as a team.”

Revere bounced back this week to get its first win. Jean drained a buzzer-beating shot, leading Revere to a 35-34 victory over Lynn Classical to start the season. Jean led the Patriots with 13 points in the team’s home-opener.

Revere boys track shines at MSTCA

Revere boys track competed at the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association Winter Festival–Small Schools at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston last weekend. Due to a technical error, Revere was temporarily moved to Division 4 but will compete in Division 1 beginning Sunday, Dec. 17, with the MSTCA Speed Classic–Large Schools.

Revere coach Dave Fleming said the team had an exceptional number of personal records (PRs), especially for first meet of season. New and young performers excelled.

In the 600 meters, JV Cunha placed second overall. It was the highest boys’ placement of the day. Kenan Batic had a strong second in his heat in his first time running the 600 in an invitational as he moves to shorter distances. The Patriots picked up three PRs in the 1,000 meters.

Youness Chahid placed fourth (and first in his heat) with a new personal record of 2:50.09. “This was a breakout performance for Youness,” Fleming said.

Edwin Alarcon, in his first time running the event, was first in his heat and beat a runner from Somerville. He moved into lead with about a lap to go, and he looked smooth and comfortable. “He is ready to run faster,” Fleming said.

Mo Fares had a strong run and a PR by seven seconds.

Revere also had three PRs in the shotput, including two over 40 feet. Allen Hou set a PR at 41-05, and Kevin Purcifull also had a PR at 40-05. Nico Aguirre also PR-ed at 38-09.50.

In the 55 meters, Allen Hou broke 7.0 (6.99), a strong early season time. He just missed the finals by .02 (6.97 was the cutoff).

In the 55-meter hurdles, Isaiah DeCrosta was out injured, and Fajr Riazi made the finals with a PR (9.88). Richard Vilme was sixth in the high jump with a strong early season jump of 5-8.

Three sophomores and one junior won their heat and placed sixth overall in 1:38.86 in the 4×200 relay, less than a half-second behind last indoor season’s best time (1:38.47). They were Yousef Benhamou, Oliver Escobar, Geo Woodard and Jeremy X.

Revere girls track team kicks off season in style

The Revere girls track team had 11 girls compete at the MSTCA Winter Festival as well.

“Overall, we saw some great times, jumps and throws for the first invitational,” Revere coach Racquel MacDonald-Ciambelli said. “It really shows how hard the girls were working in the offseason to come back just as strong as they ended last year.”

Junior Liv Yuong had an outstanding meet and placed highest amongst all Revere athletes. She took home fifth overall in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 10.07 and placed second overall in the high jump with a leap of 5-5, which qualifies her for the D1 state meet in February.

Senior captain Giselle Salvador opened up her season in the 55-meter dash with a PR-tying time of 8.29. Sophomore Olivia Rupp ran the mile in 6:09.19, which is only seven seconds off her PR last year. Danni Hope Randall also landed close to her last year PR in the 300-meter with a time of 48.31. Newcomer to indoor track Gemma Stamatopolous had a great first meet with a 1:53 in the 600-meter and a 4-6 jump in high jump.