Warriors will rely on veteran corps of athletes to have a strong season
THE WARRIOR boys’ outdoor track team is seeking to defend its Middlesex League Freedom division championship this spring.
Published in the April 5, 2016 edition.
By JIM SOUTHMAYD
WAKEFIELD — The goals for the Wakefield Memorial High boys’ outdoor track team are always the same — improve as a team, win a league title, state relays title and state title.
The Warriors have some holes to fill but also return some top athletes from last year’s squad that went 5-0 in dual meet competition and captured the Middlesex League Freedom division championship.
Wakefield also finished fifth at the Div. 3 state relays last spring and sixth overall in the Div. 3 championship meet.
“We hope to have another strong season and I will depend on my captains and seniors to lead the way,” said head coach Ruben Reinoso, in his eighth year. “Our goals are always the same — to improve as a team, win a league title, state relays and state title.”
The captains for the outdoor season are seniors Eric Chi, Jared Regan, Alec Rodgers and Tyler Whipple.
“After a very successful season last year we look to have another strong season this year but we know we have some big holes to fill,” said Reinoso.
In the field events the Warriors have Kevin Russo, a senior, who returns as one of the best throwers in the state. Russo qualified for all-states and nationals last year in the javelin and in the 4×200 meter relay.
In the javelin Wakefield also has junior Sean McNall, senior Eric Smith, junior Cole Mottl and senior Alex Jancsy.
In the shot put, Wakefield has captain Regan (he made states indoors), junior Joe Connell (who qualified for states indoors) and sophomore Patrick Redmond.
Redmond qualified for states last year as a freshman and was ranked sixth in New Englands. The Warriors also have newcomer Mottl. Mottl placed at states during the indoor season.
Connell and Mottl will also compete in the discus.
In the high jump, Wakefield has Marc Biennestin and Tommy Galvin, a sophomore and a freshman. Both athletes competed in the high jump indoors.
In the long jump newcomer Biennestin had a good indoor season and Wakefield has junior Dan Sallade returning.
Captain Chi and Peter Crump, a junior, will also be competing in the long jump.
In the triple jump Wakefield has only one returning jumper, Devin Pronco. Pronco, a senior, had some strong meets last year.
In the distance events, Wakefield returns a lot of athletes from last year. The Warriors have captains Rodgers and Whipple. Rodgers had a strong outdoor season last year, he placed at states and ran a 4:32. He also competed at nationals in the 4×800.
The Warriors also return junior Adam Roberto, another athlete who competed in the 4×800 at nationals.
The other athletes who will compete in the distance events will be senior Rich Custodio (qualified for states indoor), senior Alex Guerriero, sophomore Matt Greatorex (qualified for states indoor), senior Chris Skeldon, junior Ryan Sullivan (qualified for states indoors), junior Jack Stevens, sophomore Tommy Lucey and junior Jackson Kehoe.
In the sprinting events, Wakefield has Chi returning as one of the fastest athletes in D3. Chi qualified for states in the 100 meters, 200 meters and the 4×100 relay. He also qualified for nationals in the 4×200 meter relay.
Russo also returns as one of the top athletes in the league in the 100 meters and 200 meters. Russo qualified for states in the 100, 200, 4×100 relay and javelin. He also qualified for nationals in the 4×200 meter relay.
The Warriors also have Dan Sallade, a junior, who will compete in the 100, 200 and 4×100 relay. Sallade qualified for states indoors and had a strong year last year in the 200 meters.
In the 400 meters, Wakefield return Joe Boudreau, a senior, and has newcomers Dan Summers and Brian Smith, a junior and a freshman.
In the hurdle events, Wakefield has four-year veteran Zach Conlon, a senior, Crump, and newcomer Tommy Mottl.
The assistant coaches will be Perry Pappas (distance), Justin Berry (throwing events), Elias Reinoso (hurdles and jumps) and Anthony LaFratta (relays and sprints).
The Warriors were scheduled to have run against Woburn this afternoon. But the M.L. crossover meet has been cancelled due to the spring snow, ice and cold. So Wakefield will open up the season on Monday, April 11 when it takes on Stoneham at 3:30 p.m. at the Beasley Track and Field facility to begin its title defense.
