Alpert Looks Ahead as Chelsea High Exits CAC

Chelsea High Director of Athletics Amanda Alp­ert is preparing for the start of the spring sports season on May 4 following the MIAA’s recent decision to move up the season by one week from April 27.

Of note, Chelsea will be competing in its final sea­son in the Commonwealth Athletic Conference (CAC) after being a member for the past 20 years. Chelsea will be an “independent” school in the 2020-21 school year and will rejoin the Greater Boston League in the fall of 2021.

After two decades of competing against mostly vocational schools includ­ing Northeast Regional and Lynn Tech, Chelsea will head to the GBL which consists of Everett, Malden, Medford, Somerville, and Revere. Chelsea is a former member of the GBL.

“This is it for Chelsea in the Commonwealth Con­ference,” said Alpert, who is her fourth year as athletic director. “Next year we’ll be an independent for a year and then starting in the fall of 2021, we’ll be join­ing the GBL.”

Chelsea intends to play some GBL teams during the 2020-21 school year. Chel­sea football will be an inde­pendent program in 2020 and continue in that status in the fall of 2021.

Practices Start May 4

Alpert said if the schools re-open on May 4, Chel­sea’s baseball, softball, and track teams can begin prac­tices on that day.

“All games would begin on May 11,” said Alpert. “The minimum number of games we can play is eight and the maximum number is 12. The State Tourna­ment will start on June 20. If you do not qualify for the tournament, you can play games until June 27.”

Alpert said two of Chel­sea’s teams will have new head coaches. Gena Restia­no, who was the first-year girls basketball coach this winter, is the softball coach. Michael Lush, son of for­mer Chelsea High baseball star Mike Lush and nephew of sports great Linda Lush Ayala, is the baseball coach. Cesar Hernandez returns as the head track coach.

Alpert is hoping that CHS athletes, especially the seniors, can return to the playing fields.

“All of our senior ath­letes are sad, frustrated, and upset by what’s happening, because you only get one senior year,” said Alpert.