Big Wins for Big Blue Cross Country and Golf

Cross Country by Coach Jeffrey Bartlett

The Swampscott High School cross-country teams headed to picturesque Bradley Palmer State Park on Wednesday to dual with Danvers and Winthrop in a tri-meet.

Held in quintessential fall weather, the meet was a great opportunity for the Big Blue to preview the race course where the Northeast Conference Championships will be held in October.

Both teams emerged with victories over both Danvers and Winthrop, with the boys leading things off.

Senior captain Peter Hale and junior Matt Mahoney took the race out from the start, with senior captain Sam Crimmins and a pack of Danvers runners in pursuit.

Picking up speed over the second half of the course, Hale soloed his way to victory, crossing the finish line in a personal best time of 16:13 over the 3.1 mile course. Mahoney (2nd, 16:59) and Crimmins (3rd, 18:16) wrapped up the victory with their 1-2-3 finish.

Danvers filled in the next few spots with their pack, and sophomore Bennett Smith, running in his first cross-country race, came in 8th overall with  time of 19:19. Marco Scibelli (12th, 20:23) rounded out the scoring for the Big Blue.

With a varsity runner out sick, the Big Blue needed runners to step in; Smith and Scibelli accomplished that goal. Hale, Mahoney, Crimmins, Smith, and Scibelli finished 1-5 against Winthrop.

For the girls, the race went out more tightly bunched, with a pack of Big Blue runners near the front. Entering the second loop of the three loop course, the top Danvers girl opened a gap.

Freshman Isabella Kornitsky led the chase for the Big Blue, and ended up being the team's top finisher with her second place finish (21:32).

Junior Sarah Kelley was second for the Big Blue, finishing third overall with a time of 21:58. Kelley was followed by sophomore Alyssa Mauriello (5th, 22:45), freshman Olivia Cooke (23:41), and junior Michelle LaConte (11th, 23:55).

With two of the top seven out battling sickness, Cooke and LaConte both stepped in to provide needed depth. Kornitsky, Kelley, Mauriello, Cooke, and LaConte placed 1-5 against Winthrop.

With such a young squad, the future looks bright for the Big Blue Girls' cross-country team!

Many Big Blue runners ran times equal to or faster than they did on this same course at the end of October last year, an encouraging sign at this early point in the season. 

The Big Blue race again next Tuesday against Peabody at Peabody High School, starting at 4PM.

Golf information from Coach Linda Portnoy

Swampscott won their third match of the young season on Wednesday against Salem at Salem by a score of 40-32.  

Winners were Kevin Marescalchi 7 1/2-1 1/2, Peter Wright 5-4, Cameron Swigor 5 1/2-3 1/2,  Anthony Springthorpe 5-4,  Noah Maerklein 5 1/2-3 1/2, Max Cohen with a tie 4 1/2 -41/2, and Victoria Malatesta 5 1/2-3 1/2

Last week the Swampscott golfers beat Wakefield 45 1/2 to 26 1/2.  The match was played at Kernwood.  Winners were Kevin Marescalchi, Trevor Massey, Peter Wright, Cameron Swigor, Max Cohen and a first varsity win for Noah Maercklein.

The day before they lost to Danvers 25 1/2 to 46 1/2.  Had only one tie from Max Cohen and one win from Anthony Springthorpe.