Warriors had an up and down year, posted a 4-5-1 record
THE WMHS freshman football team posted a 4-5-1 record this fall. The members of the team included Andrew Miller, Ryan Patrick Smith, Ryan Chambers, Robert Keegan, Robert Guida, Cole Gregson, Alex Joly, Tyler Ford, Robert Young, Kendall Hiltpold, Tyler Pugsley, Dan Cataldo, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Henry Stikeman, Pat Bertini, Brendan Coughlin, Evan McMaster, Mike Melito, Patrick Beaver, Jake Goodchild, Patrick Tannian, Brendan Marshall, Devin O’Brien, Charles Senior, Christian Hayes, Stephen Mercurio, Stephen Calandra, Mark Bielakiewicz, Charles Oates, Michael Clancy, Jack Moran, Jake Dennen, Ryan Arthur Smith and Jack Shannon. The head coach was Rick Quattrocchi and he was assisted by Tom Crusco III and Brian Millea. (Donna Larsson Photo)
By JIM SOUTHMAYD
WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield Memorial High varsity football team had an up and down year and finished with a 5-6 record. The Warrior freshman football team had a similar 2014 season.
The ninth grade Warriors were competitive but posted a 4-5-1 record as they also finished a game below the .500 mark. Still the young Wakefield players worked hard to improve and prepare themselves to move up to the next level, whether it be with the JV squad or with the varsity in 2015.
The team was coached again by WMHS freshman head coach Rick Quattrocchi and he was assisted by Tom Crusco III and Brian Millea. Crusco and Millea are both former Warrior players.
Wakefield had 34 players on the roster and all received playing time and contributed to the team’s cause.
Those players included Andrew Miller, Ryan Patrick Smith, Ryan Chambers, Robert Keegan, Robert Guida, Cole Gregson, Alex Joly, Tyler Ford, Robert Young, Kendall Hiltpold, Tyler Pugsley, Dan Cataldo, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Henry Stikeman, Pat Bertini, Brendan Coughlin, Evan McMaster, Mike Melito, Patrick Beaver, Jake Goodchild, Patrick Tannian, Brendan Marshall, Devin O’Brien, Charles Senior, Christian Hayes, Stephen Mercurio, Stephen Calandra, Mark Bielakiewicz, Charles Oates, Michael Clancy, Jack Moran, Jake Dennen, Ryan Arthur Smith and Jack Shannon.
The Warriors started off 2014 with two one-sided defeats to Lexington and Lynn English by identical 36-14 scores. The Lexington game was played on Thursday, Sept. 11 at Lexington High School and the game against Lynn English was played on Thursday, Sept. 18 at Landrigan Field.
The Warriors rebounded from those defeats with a 16-8 victory over Melrose on Saturday, Sept. 27 at Landrigan Field.
Wakefield then played Watertown to a 10-10 tie on Thursday, Oct. 2 at Landrigan Field.
The Warriors fell to 1-3-1 after five games with a 22-14 setback against Wilmington at Glen Road Field in a contest played on Thursday, Oct. 9.
The second half of the season proved to be better for Wakefield as it posted a 3-2 record.
The Warriors recorded back to back victories over Stoneham and Burlington on the road. On Friday, Oct. 17 at Stoneham, Wakefield rolled to 38-14 triumph over the young Spartans. On Friday, Oct. 24, Wakefield pulled out a 26-20 win over Burlington at Varsity Field.
Wakefield played Lexington for a second time on Thursday, Oct. 30 at Lexington High School. While Wakefield didn’t win the game it gave a better account of itself as it came up short in a high-scoring 44-38 contest.
The Warriors earned their fourth win of the season as they blanked Woburn by a 28-0 score on Thursday, Nov. 6 at Woburn High School.
In the final game of the 2014 season, Wakefield hosted Reading at Landrigan Field on Thursday, Nov. 13. But unlike a year ago, the Warriors were unable to earn the win and clinch a winning season as they dropped a 33-8 game.
Wakefield honored its season last week with a banquet on Wednesday, Dec. 3 at the Crystal Community Club.
Overall the ninth grade Warriors had a fine season and continued the fine tradition of the Wakefield Memorial High football program. If the young Warriors make the most of the playing experience gained and work to improve, then the future of the varsity program should be a good one.
