Jumping into spring: Revere student-athletes gear up for next season

By Dom Nicastro

And we’re on to spring. Not just the season changed, but the Revere High School student-athletes have turned the page from winter to spring season. Tryouts began last week, and games will begin soon.

We caught up with some of the spring sports teams for a glimpse of what’s to come over the next three months.

Softball: coping with low numbers

  The Revere High School softball team had a great week of tryouts and is hoping to have a JV and varsity team this year. Numbers are low, and they’re making the most of it.

“The RHS girls softball program is looking forward to the up-and-coming season,” Revere coach Megan O’Donnell said. “Graduating only two seniors from last year’s team leaves us with a lot of experienced players coming back. We had a great run towards the end of last season so we are hoping to continue that this season. We want to make an impact statement in the Greater Boston League this year.”

Revere has a 20-game schedule, and its goal is to make it the MIAA state tournament.

The captains for the Patriots this year are seniors Isabella Qualtieri, Luiza Santos, Ally Straccia and Riley Straccia. “These four young ladies are strong leaders in all different ways, and they are ready to have a great season,” O’Donnell said.

Revere got busy with two scrimmages this week, the latest Thursday at home against Winthrop.

Revere girls track ready to ride winter momentum

  Racquel MacDonald-Ciambelli returns to lead the Patriots’ outdoor track team after an incredible winter season in which the program swept the GBL championships. “We’re super excited to get our girls outdoor track season underway after such a successful indoor season,” MacDonald-Ciambelli said. “We had about 50-60 girls at practice this first week. I won’t cut anyone unless they stop coming or something serious happens, so I don’t consider it tryouts.”

The coach said it’s been great to see how the previous members of the indoor team have stayed in shape throughout the offseason and how excited they are to pick up right where the Patriots left off. Last year, the Revere outdoor girls track team went 5-2 on the outdoor season and were only a couple points off of being outdoor GBL champions.

“I think this year we’re coming in even stronger and have such great young talent in people like Olivia Rupp and Gemma Stamatopoulos,” MacDonald-Ciambelli said. “Both are coming off of an excellent indoor season and will lead our team through the mid-distance and distance races. Liv Yuong and Ashley Cabrera Rodriguez are both close to multiple outdoor records as well and are coming off record-breaking performances in indoor. We also gain a couple strong athletes from basketball including captain Rocio Gonzalez and Marwa Riad.”

Revere’s captains are:

• Angelina Montoya
• Camilla Echeverri
• Rocio Gonzalez
• Ashley Chandler
• Yara Belguendouz
• Giselle Salvador

This will be MacDonald-Ciambelli’s fourth year coaching the girls outdoor team as head coach and seventh year including her time as an assistant.

“My second year we went undefeated in the league and finished as GBL champs,” MacDonald-Ciambelli said. “The seniors on the team are eager to get back to that status. I’m eager for them to keep performing to their highest capacity, and I know those wins and records will keep coming.”

The coach said the Patriots’ biggest area for development will continue to be their throws in the absence of a specific throws coach. “However,” she said, “our upperclassmen continue to improve in both the discus and shotput so I am hopeful we will hold our own at GBL meets in this area.”