The Magicians, or Headers on the ice, have seen their winter sports seasons come to an end (boys basketball excluded). That said, several coaches have weighed in on their favorite moments this past season.
The Lady Headers had an up-and-down year. However, in one game, the score on the ice didn’t matter as much as the cause they were skating for.
In a 3-0 win against Newburyport, head coach Brittany Smith described it as “their best overall game of the season.”
“Newburyport was taking us lightly [and] I think we capitalized,” Smith said.
Despite the shutout victory, the Lady Headers were also winners off the ice as this was their Mental Health Awareness game – one that raised money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The effort raised more than $10,000.
The Marblehead-Swampscott wrestling team had a “tough year” according to head coach Michael Stamison. However, there was a bright spot with sophomore newcomer Mason Hinshaw (Swampscott).
Hinshaw qualified as an alternate in All-States, and “went on a serious tear” to place eighth. Hinshaw’s tear continued as he pinned the “recently crowned Division III state champion.”
The Magicians were magical in the pool. The Marblehead girls team won the state title with just eight swimmers, to which head coach Susan Guertin said the girls “swam their hearts out.”
At the start of the season, they made it clear they wanted to win the title. Fast forward a few months and they achieved their goal, making it Guertin’s moment of the season.
“A moment that will never be forgotten by me or the girls,” Guertin said.
Marblehead’s champions were Bella Takata, Song Waitekus, Sophia Weiner, Finn Bergquist, Anna Coleman, Clementine Robins, Brinleigh Callahan, and Cecelia Robbins.
The Marblehead girls basketball team has had a couple of memorable moments according to head coach Paul Moran.
“Our win against Saugus. I love Saugus,” Moran said. “We beat them by two from a late play from Samantha Dormer.”
The other game Moran mentioned was the team’s second victory against Swampscott. When the teams first matched up, the Magicians took a two-point (16-14) victory, but in the latter matchup, Marblehead found its offense and won 49-39.
“We played really well and I think we came into our own at that point,” Moran said.
For the indoor track team, head coach Nolan Raimo brought up two moments. The first moment was the 600-meter race from senior captain Ryan Thompson in the Division III state championships. Thompson not only won the title, but did so from a losing position.
“In the last 50 meters, he made up four or five stride lengths on two guys to win the state championship,” Raimo said. “I don’t think he does this on purpose, but he finds himself in positions that are a little bit hairy [and] always digs himself out of it. His time was 124.60.”
On the girls side, it was the 4×200 relay team that also won the state championship with a time of 1:48.43. Senior captains Devin Whalen, Claire Davis, Cate Trautman, and sophomore Ava Machado’s time broke the previous school record of 148.50.
“The same four girls ran together all last year and had phenomenal races, and qualified for nationals but didn’t get to go,” Raimo said. “This was like a vengeance season for them.”
“It was one of those races where they took off in the beginning and it looked like their best race from the start. It was awesome to watch,” Raimo said. “It was awesome watching them build up the speed and, in this event, one little mishap usually always happens, but not with them.”
The boys basketball team is still going strong in the state tournament after a 60-55 win against Pembroke to advance to the Sweet 16 against Pope Francis (Tuesday, 5 p.m.).
When looking back on the season, head coach Mike Giardi pointed to the opening game against Beverly.
“Just seeing the way we came out and played against Beverly. For us to go there and play with confidence and come away with a victory has helped us all year,” Giardi said. “And then coming right back and beating Salem in the next game was huge for us. Our kids did a great job. Going into the holiday break with two quality wins right away was huge for us. I was very happy.”