Boys track team enjoys banner week
The Revere High boys track team continued to excel and move onwards toward greater heights this past week.
At Sunday’s MSTCA D-1 State Relays, the 4 x 200 quartet of Joey Ritchie, Bobby Rose, Johnny Lopes, and Karim Sahila set a new school record with a time of 1:35.65, finishing 13th out of the 40 D-1 schools at the meet.
The quartet of Kristi Nushi, Zachary Primo, Rawlings Toglon, and Karim Sahila shattered a nine year old school record in the 4 x 800 meter relay with a time of 8:41.97, finishing in 15th out of 32 D-1 schools. The previous mark was set back in 2004 by Billy Melchionno, Joseph Dreeszen, Ryan Burke, and Mike Nickerson with a time of 8:47.42.
Earlier last week, the boys team ran their dual meet record to 4-0 with a 112-24 win over Lynn Classical last week. The victory was highlighted by 33 personal records (PR) by varsity performers and 14 by members of the JV team. In addition, five Patriots qualified for the State Meet, led by high jumper Tarik Maddrey, whose leap over the bar at 6-3 also qualified him for the Emerging Elites national meet which is held in North Carolina in June. Tarik also was a member of the Patriot 4 x 100 relay quartet that qualified for the States with a time of 45.4.
Other Patriots who qualified for the State Meet were: Joey Ritchie, who led all scorers in the meet with 16.25 points thanks to first place efforts in the 100 meter dash in 11.4, the javelin with a throw of 118-0, and a triple jump of 42-0 for which he qualified for the State Meet. Joey also ran a leg on the winning 4 x 100 relay team which also qualified for the States with a clocking of 45.4;
Bobby Rose, who won the 200 meter dash in 23.2 to reach the States and who also was a member of that 4 x 100 relay quartet;
Karim Sahila, who took first in the 100 meter high hurdles in a state-qualifying time of 16.0. Karim also won the 400 intermediate hurdles in 58.8; and
Johnny Lopes, who was the fourth member of the 4 x 100 foursome, also will be going to the State Meet in that event. Johnny also won the long jump and took a third in the triple jump.
Two Patriots also qualified for the upcoming Coaches Invitational Meet in the 800 meter run, that duo being Kristi Nushi, who crossed the line in 2:06.3, and Zack Primo, who came home in 2:07.5.
The complete scoring chart for Coach Jack Mosko’s Patriots in the Classical win was as follows:
Revere 112, Lynn Classical  24
400 low hurdles: 1. Karim Sahila sq 58.8, 2. Lionel Forbes 70.6, 3. Riyad Douane 71.0.
Two mile: 1. John DelloRusso 11:08.3, 2. Sala Barhoum 11:15.9, 3. Jay Mistri 12.16.3.
100 meter: 1. Joey Ritchie 11.4, 3. Younes Hartout  11.8.
4×100 relay: Revere 45.4. (Joey Ritchie, Bobby Rose, Johnny Lopes, and Tarik Maddrey).
110 high hurdles: 1. Karim Sahila 16.0, 2. Tarik Maddrey 19.2.
One mile: 1. Frank Davidson 5:08, 2. Will Troung 5:13.11, 3. Mo Benzadok   5:26
400 meter: 1. Rawlings Toglon 53.8, 2.  Derek Fortuna 61.2.
800 meter: 1. Kristi Nushi 2:06.3, 2. Zack Primo 2:07.5.
200 meter: 1. Bobby Rose 23.3, 2. Johnny Lopes 24.1, 3. Chea Bourlaing 25.3
High jump: 1. Tarik Maddrey 6-3, 2. Bobby Rose 5-8.
Long jump: 1. Johnny Lopes 20-1, 2. Bobby Rose 19-11.
Triple jump: 1. Joey Ritchie 42-0, 3. Johnny Lopes 34-8.
Shot put: 1 Omar Morales 44-9, 3. Mirza Liskovica 37-5.
Discus:  2. Omar Morales 115-3.
Javelin:Â 1. Joey Ritchie 118-0.
4 x 400: 1. Revere (Rawlings Toglon, Derek Fortuna, Kristi Nushi, and Zack Primo).
Girls track team nips Classical, 73-63
The Revere High girls outdoor track team earned an exciting victory with a 73-63 win over Lynn Classical last week.
The outcome was in doubt as the 4 x 400 relay teams took the track for the final event. Revere was leading, 68-63, so a win by Classical would result in a 68-68 tie.
However, the RHS quintet of Danielle Fortuna, Nikki Nelson, Fiona Kerthi, and Jaclynne Dion made sure that the meet would go into the win column for the Lady Patriots with a flawless effort that carried them to victory over their Classical counterparts.
Another highlight of the meet was the performance in the 200 meter dash by junior Comfort Toglan, who tied the school record in the event with her first place effort of 27.2 seconds. Comfort added three more points to the RHS tally sheet with a second place finish in the 100 dash in 13.4.
Caitlin Caramello was the top point producer for the Lady Patriots with 11 points. Caitlin took first in the high jump and seconds in the 400 low hurdles in 79.4 and 400 meter dash.
Senior Noelle Galli had a personal best in the shotput with throw of 27-7.5, which earned her first place in that event. Noelle also captured the discus to give her 10 points on the day.
Lindsay Gurska had what RHS head coach Rosalind Murphy termed “an amazing throw†of 88 feet in the javelin to earn first place. Lindsay added three points with a second place in the 100 meter high hurdles in 17.7 and one point with a third in the shotput with a toss of 25-6.
Maggie DiPlatzi was another first place finisher for the Lady Patriots in the two mile with a clocking of 14:42.
Nikki Nelson continued her reign in the mile with a first place time of 5:55.9 and Danielle Fortuna took first in the 800 meter run.
Jaclynne Dion scored points in two events, taking a second in the mile in 6:50.4 and a third in the triple jump.
Also adding single points, which are crucial in a close meet, with their third place finishes were:   Yesenia Arango in the 400 hurdles in 84.8; Herlinda Fernandez in the two mile in 17.35;           Angie Buenaventura in the 100 dash in 14.0; Immaculate Langat in the mile in 7.07; Brenda Rudecindo in the 100 high hurdles in 18.6; Fiona Kerthi in the 400 dash; Cristina Martinez in the 800; Angie Buenaventura in the 200 in 29.1; Brenda Rudecindo in the high jump; and       Angel Hodaj in the javelin.
A contingent of Lady Patriots also competed in the State Relay Meet Sunday. Competing in the 4×100 were Comfort Toglan, Angie Buenaventure, Brenda Rudecindo, and Caitlyn Caramello; in the 4 x 200 were Fiona Kerthi, Lindsay Gurska, Jenn Dandrow, and Caitlyn Caramello; in the sprint medley were Nikki Nelson, Angie Buenaventura, Comfort Toglan, and Danielle Fortuna;in the shotput were Lindsay Gurska, Danielle Smith, Noelle Galli; and in the shuttle hurdles were Lindsay Gurska, Brenda Rudecindo, Jenn Dandrow, Jackie Pisano.
The Lady Patriots were set top battle Beverly yesterday (Tuesday).
Boys tennis team nets first win, 3-2
The Revere High boys tennis team claimed its first triumph of the season, defeating Lynn English 3-2, last week. The trio of Patriot singles players all captured their matches to power their team to victory.
Senior captain Mladen Pepic defeated his English counterpart in straight sets in a match that was closer than the 7-5, 6-2 final score might indicate. After edging his rival in the first set, Pepic was down 15-40 in the second set with the score tied at 2-2. However, Mladen battled back to win that game and went on to take the victory.
“If the English player had won that game, that could have been a turning point in the match,†said RHS head coach Mike Flynn. “But Mladen kept his composure and made some nice shots to keep the momentum from shifting.â€
Sophomore Ryan Tran easily handled his opponent at second singles, 6-0, 6-1. “Ryan has really been improving,†said Flynn. “He’s only a sophomore and is very talented. If he keeps working at his game, he has the potential to become one of the best players I’ve had.â€
Nick Mucci, playing at third singles, likewise dispatched with his English foe in handy fashion, 6-0, 6-1.
Although the RHS double teams of Satyak Som/Danny Talic and Brian Monroy/Talal Kahn both came out on the short end of their matches, Flynn was pleased with their performances. “This was the first time playing together for Brian and Talal and I thought they did very well,†noted Flynn. “Satyak and Danny also gave a good effort for us.â€
Although the Patriots dropped their next encounter 5-0 to perennial Northeastern Conference power Marblehead, Flynn was proud of his team’s effort, especially Mucci at third singles, who fell by a 6-4, 6-3 margin. “Nick played the best match I’ve ever seen him play,†said Flynn. “He went up against a strong opponent, but he was hitting the ball hard and making some nice shots.â€
The Pats have a busy schedule ahead. They were set to play Gloucester yesterday (Tuesday) and will host Danvers today (Wednesday), travel to Swampscott Monday, and then entertain Winthrop next Wednesday.
Girls tennis team continues to improve
Although the Revere High girls tennis team dropped its three matches this past week, RHS head coach Carla Maniscalco said her team has been working hard and improving. “The girls are giving it their best and are getting better every week,†noted Maniscalco, who was a member of the legendary RHS girls teams in the early-1980s. “We have only one senior, so it’s just a matter of the girls playing and gaining more experience.â€
In a 4-1 loss at Saugus Friday, senior Mariah Rivera won her match at second singles, defeating her Saugus counterpart by a score of 7-5, 6-0. Junior Sara Grujic played at first singles and junior Evelyn Bonilla played at third singles.
The duo of junior Carmen Peralta/sophomore Rim Lereri played at first doubles and the tandem of sophomores Krystal Burbank/Leila Darouey played at second doubles.
Maniscalco and her crew have a full week of contests on tap with four matches in eight days. They are at Danvers today (Wednesday), host Medford Friday, host Swampscott Monday, and trek to Winthrop next Wednesday.
RHS softball team wins two close ones
The Revere High softball team received a pair of stellar pitching performances from Sabrina Palermo to earn back-to-back 2-1 victories over Northeastern Conference rivals Gloucester and Saugus last week.
“Sabrina was immense for us,†said RHS head coach Joe Ciccarello of Palermo’s 10-strikeout effort against Gloucester and three-hit, seven-K outing against Saugus.
Christina Stella was the hitting hero in the Gloucester win, driving in both Revere runs, Logan DiCarlo and Jackie Noel, with base hits.
In he Saugus game, all three runs were unearned. The Lady Patriots got both of theirs, scored by Julianna Cecere and Noelle MacDonald, in the third and Palermo did the rest.
“We played well on defense and had just enough timely hitting to win both games,†noted Ciccarello.
Sunday’s contest with Danvers began badly and did not get better in a 14-0 defeat. The third batter of the game for Danvers lined a rocket up the middle that caught Palermo squarely on her quadricep. Sabrina was forced to leave the game, though fortunately she was not severely injured and is expected to be back on the mound in short order.
“It was very scary,†noted Ciccarello. “Sabrina was very lucky that she got hit where she did, because the ball was hit really hard.â€
The Lady Patriots, who now stand at 5-4 on the season, host Marblehead today (Wednesday) and entertain Swampscott Friday. They trek to nearby Winthrop Monday.