Warriors are indoor Freedom champs for 3rd consecutive year

Published in the January 14, 2019 edition.

By DAN PAWLOWSKI

BOSTON — For the third straight year, the Wakefield boys’ indoor track and field team are Middlesex League Freedom Division champs.

The Warriors defeated Stoneham 82-18 on Jan. 8 to earn a perfect 5-0 regular season record and bring back yet another banner to the field house.

Apologies If this feels like a repeat headline. It speaks more to a lack of editorial creativity than the truth.

Yes, winning league championships has become the norm for the Wakefield track and field program.

No, the Warriors aren’t tired of winning.

“It doesn’t get old,” said Wakefield head coach Ruben Reinoso. “The boys didn’t wake up and become Freedom champs for three years straight. This is something they worked on and were dedicated to all year.”

Sometimes, prolonged success can lose it’s luster.

When Wakefield won their indoor title in 2016-17, it was the first in school history since 1971. It came a year after the Warriors were edged by perennial powerhouse Burlington. That was big for the program. This year is no different.

Reinoso, and his coaching staff of Perry Pappas, Justin Berry, Elias Reinoso and Anthony LaFratta, have created a culture that looks monotonous from the outside. When it comes to the Freedom Division there appears to be a lack of variety.

That false narrative is a direct result of Wakefield’s commitment and drive to constantly push themselves.

And for that reason, this one should be celebrated just as much as any of those other trophies.

Wakefield beat the Spartans behind another strong performance that showcased their depth.

Eli Gosselin-Smoske ran a big pr of 8.68 and was first in the 55 meter hurdles, continuing his stellar season in the event in which he holds the second best time in school history. 

Cory Sample ran 9.92 and Josh Catino ran 11.41 in the hurdles.

In the 55 meters, captain Brian Smith was first with a 6.94, Tucker Stikeman was second with a 7.17 and Bradley Diaz was third with a 7.48. Brayden Leishman ran a 7.73.

In the 300 meters, Stikeman was first with a 39.23. Leishman ran a 44.3.

In the mile, captain Rohan Singhvi won with a 4:39, captain Carter Margolis was second with a 4:48 and Jimmy Crump was third with a huge pr time of 4:53.

In the 600 meters as Derryn Langlois ran a blazing pr time of 1:26.97 for first, Trevor Zupan ran a fast time of 1:28.08 for second.

Bradley Diaz ran the 600 meters for the first time in a time of 1:28.27, just missing nationals. His time is number one in Massachusetts among freshmen and number three in the country.

“What he’s doing is very impressive,” admitted Reinoso, a rare bit of freshman praise for a coach who typically tends to focus on the success of his seniors.

In the 1,000 meters, Tanner Jellison was first with a 2:44.46 and captain Billy Stevens was second with a 2:48.81. Jonathan D’Ambrosio ran a 2:56.7.

In the shot put, Liam Cosgrove had a big pr throw of 39’8 and was second. Logan Cosrove was third with a throw of 36’3.

In the long jump, captain Tommy Galvin was first with a jump of 18’2 and Tommy Mottl was second with a jump of 18’1. Tucker Stikeman jumped 16’3.5.

In the high jump, Galvin was first with a 5’9, while Mottl was third with a 5’3 and Gosslin-Smoske was fourth with a 5’1.

In the 2 mile, Matt Roberto had a huge kick to the finish in order to beat a very good Stoneham runner for the win in a good time of 10:03. Michael Roberto was third with a time of 11:03. Captain Casey Brackett ran an 11:04.

In the 4×200 Brian Smith, Wesley Pierre, Derryn Langlois and Tommy Mottl ran a pr time of 1:35.67 for the win.

In the 4×400 Trevor Zupan, Rohan Singhvi, Billy Stevens and Tanner Jellison ran a 3:46.84 for the win.

By the way, if you’re wondering why coach Reinoso tends to heap praise on his seniors, it’s probably due to a multitude of reasons. These are the most important pieces to the puzzle year in and year out. The seniors and captains, while usually at the top performance-wise because they improve throughout their four years, are also important because they buy in fully each year and they set an example that is easy to follow. The training won’t be easy, but the path to success is clear-cut.

These seniors, captains Casey Brackett, Tommy Galvin, Carter Margolis, Rohan Singhvi, Brian Smith and Billy Stevens, as well as Nicholas Connor, Tommy Mottl and Marcelo Acevedo, will go down in the history books as one of the most successful groups in Wakefield history, regardless of the sport.

As freshmen, these Warriors watched as a Freedom title just slipped away. As sophomores, juniors and now seniors, they are Freedom champs.

These seniors have worked tirelessly to first uphold the tradition and then pass it along.

“A lot of people think this comes easy to us,” said Reinoso. “It doesn’t.”

“I just really appreciate the effort of the coaches and the dedication of the kids.”

The Warriors will now move on to the postseason. They competed in the Dartmouth Relays this past weekend (a full story will appear later this week), and they will now focus their attention on the rest of the postseason which will include the Div. 4 State Meet on Sunday, Feb. 17.