~ Saugus High School Sports Roundup ~

Saugus boys, girls compete at NEC indoor track championships

By Dom Nicastro

The Saugus High School boys indoor track team put on a strong showing at the Northeastern Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston, with personal-best performances across multiple events. From sprinting to field events, the Sachems made their presence felt against some of the top competition in the conference.

Junior Kaeleb Mathieu was the top Saugus sprinter in the 55-meter dash, clocking in at 6.94 seconds in the preliminary round. His time placed him 10th overall, just missing a finals qualification in a field stacked with experienced upperclassmen.

In the 600-meter race, junior Dominic Rinaldi finished with a time of 1:50.82, finishing 22^nd in the finals and setting a personal record (PR) while showing resilience in the mid-distance event. Junior Kason Imbrogna represented Saugus in the 1,000-meter run, finishing 16th overall in 3:08.38, also recording a personal record as he continues to improve in the longer races. Sophomore Pharaoh Brandenburg competed in the 55-meter hurdles, clocking 10.24 seconds, securing 17th place overall.

The 4×200 relay team, featuring Brandenburg (sophomore), Gabriel De Souza (sophomore), Mathieu (junior) and Connor Bloom (senior), finished in 10th place with a time of 1:47.08. While not a podium finish, the race provided valuable experience for the young relay squad.

Junior Koby Jette made his mark in the shotput competition, launching a 37-03.50 throw and placing 12th overall. Jette competed against a deep field, with the top throw reaching over 61 feet (Alex Jackson, Peabody).

In the high jump, Saugus had its best performance. Bloom had a personal best with a 5-8 and finished sixth. Brandenburg, at 5-6, took seventh. And in the long jump, Mathieu finished 13^th with a leap of 17-4.5.

The Saugus High School girls indoor track team also delivered standout performances at the championship meet, with several athletes finishing among the top competitors in sprints, relays and field events. Freshman Soraya Mathieu proved she is one of the fastest sprinters in the NEC, finishing third overall in the 55-meter dash finals with a personal-best time of 7.56 seconds. Mathieu had earlier clocked 7.65 seconds in the prelims, securing her spot in the championship heat.

Sophomore Destiny Okoye also had a strong showing, placing seventh in the prelims with a season-best 7.76 seconds, just missing a spot in the finals.

Mathieu showcased her all-around athleticism, placing seventh in the long jump with a leap of 15 feet, 9 inches. Okoye was a top-five finisher in the high jump, clearing 4 feet, 10 inches for fifth place.

Senior Layla Manderson competed in the shotput, registering a throw of 24 feet, 11 inches for 16^th place. She also raced to a personal-best time of 46.17 seconds in the 300 meters, finishing 10th overall in a competitive field.

The Saugus 4×200 relay team finished third overall, posting a time of 1:53.13. The team featured senior Angie Lopez, senior Manderson, sophomore Okoye and freshman Mathieu.

Freshman Julia Strout represented Saugus in the 600 meters, clocking a time of 2:11.35 for 17^th place as she continues to gain valuable racing experience.

Sachem boys fall to Swampscott

The Saugus High School boys basketball team fell to Swampscott, 69-51. Coach Joe Bertrand called it a “solid team effort to build off of.” Ryan Shea led the way with 17 points. Danny Zeitz added 11 points, while Cam Victor (nine) and Ryan Dupuy (seven) contributed to the Sachems’ offense.

Saugus/Peabody wrestling holds own against N.H. competition

The Saugus/Peabody wrestling team, fresh off its Northeastern Conference dual-meet and Northeastern Conference/Cape Ann League championship meet titles, competed against Salem, N.H., and pulled off five wins:

• 144: Max Lorusso, Saugus, DEC, Carter Lemire, Salem, 12-9.
• 150: Michael Maraio, Peabody, F, Reilly O’Brien, Salem, 1:13.
• 157: Justin Bremberg, Saugus, F, John Vargas, Salem, 3:25.
• 165: Evan Johnson, Peabody, DEC, Adrian Loria Alicea, Salem, 17-14.
• 285: Antonio Anzalone, Peabody, F, Jack McElroy, Salem, 1:44.