Catching up with Revere Athletics Director Frank Shea

By Dom Nicastro

REVERE – As winter soon gives way to spring, Revere High School Athletics Director Frank Shea caught up with The Advocate and offered insights into a season marked by significant achievements and challenges.

“Obviously, you know, we had our ups and downs,” Shea said on the overall season. “We had our successes. The track teams both won the GBL and went undefeated. Girls basketball qualified for the states. Boys basketball didn’t qualify. But the Ethan Day story kind of gave them something very positive to conclude their season.”

Girls basketball team shows grit in postseason play

Under the guidance of second-year Coach Ariana Rivera, the Revere girls basketball team concluded their season with a solid 11-9 record, securing a spot in the Division 1 tournament. Despite an early exit, the team’s performance was a testament to their hard work and Rivera’s coaching acumen, setting a promising stage for future campaigns, according to Shea. Shea lauded Rivera for her supportive style of coaching and even-keeled demeanor.

Ethan Day’s historic performance highlights boys basketball season

The boys basketball team experienced a tougher season, finishing 8-12 and missing the postseason cut. However, the season was brightened by senior Ethan Day’s remarkable achievement in his final game: a sensational 65-point performance that pushed him past the 1,000-point milestone, making him only the third boy in school history to reach such heights.

This season marked boys coach David Leary’s ninth as head coach with the Patriots. “Dave’s another veteran,” Shea said. “He knows the system. I don’t really have to micromanage him. I’m not a micromanager anyway, but I don’t have to look over his shoulders.”

Track teams continue to dominate

The indoor track teams, both boys and girls, under coaches Racquel MacDonald-Ciambelli and David Fleming, respectively, continued their dominance in the Greater Boston League (GBL). Both teams not only won the GBL but went undefeated through the season, with the girls not having lost a dual meet over the last two seasons. MacDonald-Ciambelli’s deep roots in the community and experience – she was a track athlete at Boston College – and Fleming’s recent accolade as a state title-winning cross-country coach for Brookline have been instrumental in fostering a culture of excellence, according to Shea.

Swimming and other sports face rebuilding phases

While track and basketball had their moments of triumph, other sports at Revere High faced rebuilding years. The swimming team, coached by Gesar Tsering, is in a period of growth and adjustment, striving to build a competitive team in the coed division.

Meanwhile, the hockey team, a cooperative program with Everett, Malden and Mystic Valley, had a down year, and the wrestling team, a cooperative with Malden, faced participation challenges. Revere had only a couple of entrants into hockey and wrestling.

Looking forward to spring with new leadership

With the winter season wrapped up, attention shifts to spring sports, where new leadership is expected to invigorate the programs. Notably, the baseball team will see a fresh face at the helm, with Sebastian Salvo taking over as head coach. Salvo’s background as a Division 1 player at Fairfield (Conn.) University and his presence within the high school promise to bring new energy and strategy to the baseball diamond. Michael Lewis, also in the Revere school system, takes over boys lacrosse.

In summarizing the winter season, Shea expressed a balanced view: “We had our ups and downs…but all in all, it was more good than bad.”