Sports 12-10-2015

CHS Roundup

CHS track girls open

season Thursday

The 2015-16 winter season kicks off today (Thursday) with the Chelsea High Lady Red Devils facing Greater Lawrence at Somerville High.  This is Chelsea’s second year competing as a varsity sport in indoor track, with the Red Devils reuniting with their old friends in the Greater Boston League featuring Everett, Medford, Malden, and Somerville. Greater Lawrence, which is a member of the Commonwealth Athletic Conference with Chelsea in all other sports, also is in the GBL.

Last year the CHS girls finished in the middle of the pack in the GBL, but coach Mark Martineau and his squad have high hopes for the coming season.

“This year we are looking to build upon the success of last year with most of the major contributors back from last season,” said Martineau.

Leading the way is Mariama Kamara, who finished 5th at last year’s MIAA Division 2 meet in the 55 meter dash. “In this, her senior season, Mariama worked hard in the off-season to have a monster year,” noted Martineau.

Fellow senior Katherine Cabral is also poised to have a great year as one of the best 300M runners in the GBL and MIAA Division 2.  Katherine is the current CHS school record-holder outdoors in the 400M.

Junior long sprinter Owliyo Mohamud (300M and 600M) and sophomore short sprinter (55M) Martine Simon are coming off great indoor and outdoor seasons from last year.  Combined with Cabral and Kamara, the quartet forms one of the best 4 x 200M relay teams in the state.  This foursome finished just out of placing in both the 4 x 200 and the 4 x 400 at last year’s state meet.

Senior Wendy Becerra leads the Lady Red Devils distance squadron.  Becerra had a great cross country season and is primed to maintain her winning ways on the track.  Freshman Jocelyn Poste also was a strong contributor during the cross country season and looks to continue that breakthrough on the track.

In the throws, senior Jasmine Castillion will be one of the best in the conference and will have to play a big part in developing the new, young CHS athletes.

“For this team to be successful, every member will have to contribute,” said Martineau, mentioning in particular junior Melanie Nguyen (55 hurdles and 600) and senior Cynthia Guzman (1000 and mile). “Our many returning sophomores and new freshmen also will have to work hard to contribute.  While this team has lots of star power, for us to compete for a GBL title we will need every athlete to do their best,” asked Martineau.

The Lady Red Devils’ next dual meet will take place Wednesday at Somerville.

CHS boys indoor track

team opens season today

Today (Thursday) marks the season-opener for the 2015-16 indoor track season with Chelsea taking on Greater Lawrence at Somerville High.  Chelsea will compete in the  Greater Boston League against Everett, Somerville, Medford, and Malden.

“This is our second year as an indoor track program and we are looking to build upon the success of last year,” said CHS head coach Mark Martineau.

Among the Red Devils who should have big indoor campaigns is senior captain Jose Aguiar, who is coming off a breakout cross country season where he earned all-conference honors by finishing fourth at the Commonwealth Athletic Conference championship meet.

“Jose’s ‘reward’ for this success is moving from a short sprinter, where he has spent most of his career, to the land of middle distance,” said CHS head coach Mark Martineau. “Jose will compete in all events from the 55M dash to the 1000.  On the state level Jose will focus on the 300 and 600.  Jose has had an amazing two weeks of training.  His work ethic and dedication set an example that the whole team benefits from.”

Another sprinter coming off a solid cross country season is junior Adriel Cedano. “Adriel has worked hard since since the end of last year’s outdoor season to get himself ready to compete at the highest level,” said Martineau. “Last spring as a sophomore, Adriel qualified for the Division II state meet.” Cedano will compete in the 55, 300, long jump, and high jump.

Also coming off solid cross country seasons are seniors Johnny Gomez (also a captain) and Jansel Claudio. “This duo forms the nucleus of our distance team,” noted Martineau. “Cross country is the best off-season training track athletes can do no matter what event they run.  We have seen the difference in practice alone, where the athletes who competed on the cross country team are performing at such a higher level than those who did not.”

Another bright spot for the boys’ team is the number of underclassmen on the squad.  “We have a tremendous amount of young talent,” enthused Martineau. “The challenge to the coaches and captains is to develop this talent as quickly as possible to contribute to the success of the team.”

In the throwing events, senior captain Luka Braga continues to provide leadership by the example of his work ethic. “Luka has taken the responsibility for leading the throws team personally,” noted Martineau.

“We have a promising season in front of us,” added Martineau. “It’s exciting to be around a group of athletes who work so hard and find a way to have some fun while trying to do so.”

Chelsea’s next meet is set for Wednesday at Somerville.

CHS boys basketball

team opens Tuesday

The Chelsea High boys basketball team will open its 2015-16 season Tuesday when the Red Devils host Minuteman Regional. Tip-off is set for 5:30 at the CHS gym.

The Lady Red Devils also open their season Tuesday, traveling to Minuteman.

Bruins Beat

by Bob Morello

Bruins continue to fight

The possibility exists that Monday night’s 3-2 loss to the Nashville Predators was due to the tough schedule which had the Bruins playing four games in six nights – although the stronger indication is that a major part of the team’s downfall was the total lack of discipline. Whether attributed to the fatigue factor, or not, it earned Boston 10 penalties against the Preds, that resulted in two Nashville power-play goals. The momentum the Bruins built up on their recent three-game West Coast trip while taking four of the six available points, eventually disappeared on Garden ice by game time on Monday.

The fact that the B’s have such a problem in trying to earn a win on Garden ice is astounding, their 5-7-1 home record pales in comparison to their impressive 9-2-2 road record. At press time last night (Wednesday) the Bruins faced the Montreal Canadiens, a team they have had little success with over the years. The game, a prelude to the 2016 NHL Winter Classic on New Year’s Day, would have a lineup littered with injured Boston players. The ‘walking wounded’ presently entrenched in the trainer’s room – Chris Kelly, Dennis Seidenberg, Colin Miller, David Pastrnak, and most recently Joonas Kemppainen on injured reserve, with the ‘domino’ effect taking its toll on the team’s penalty-killing efforts.

Hoping their road game success will continue with a victory in Montreal may seem unlikely, but the way Boston has played lately, anything is possible. The Canadiens game will leave the Bruins with just two more road games (Pittsburgh and Ottawa) in December, with seven games remaining on Garden ice. Despite the roller-coaster season the Bruins have created, they currently maintain a ‘tentative’ playoff spot, holding on to eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference standings. With a couple of victories during their upcoming three-game homestand, they can put themselves in a much more comfortable position in the conference standings, plus if they had success against Montreal last night (Wednesday).

Schedule wise, the Bruins return from Montreal and will have a couple of days off to prepare to face teams that are right behind them in the conference standings. On Saturday (12/12 @ 1:00pm) the B’s have a matinee game with the Florida Panthers, Monday (12/14 @ 7:00pm) Boston will take on the highly touted Connor McDavid and the struggling Edmonton Oilers who will be making their initial appearance at the Garden this season. Wednesday (12/16 @ 8:00pm) the B’s will host the Pittsburgh Penguins as the first part of a home-and-home series that will continue in Pittsburgh on Friday (12/18 @ 7:00pm), for the second half of the back-to-back. At press time on Wednesday the Penguins were hot on the Bruins’ heels in the standings.

Toys for Tots Program: The Bruins and U.S. Marines Corps Reserve will be collecting new, unwrapped toys to benefit the Toys for Tots Program prior to home games in December (December 12, 14, 16, 20 & 22). Fans are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate or give a $10 donation to the Toys for Tots Program. For every toy or $10 donation made, fans will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win Bruins autographed memorabilia. Representatives from the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve will be on hand at the East and West turnstiles of TD Garden to collect toys and monetary donations. All toys will be distributed to less fortunate children in the community during the holidays. All monetary donations will be used to purchase additional toys.

Fans who cannot make it to any of the December games but still want to support Toys for Tots, can purchase a ticket to the Boston Bruins Foundation Benefit Show. Fans can enjoy a night of great live music, on Saturday, December 12, 2015 from 5-8 PM at West End Johnnie’s (Portland Street, Boston). Proceeds from the show will benefit the Boston Bruins Foundation and Toys for Tots.

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