Prep ruggers under new management Team likely

BY CHAD KONECKY

This spring, the St. John’s Prep rugby team, which includes two likely returnees from Marblehead, will be taking direction from a new head coach after the Prep appointed Tom Clark to take over the school’s varsity program.

A native of the Youngstown, Ohio area, the 52-year-old will lead a program that won backto-back state titles in 2010 and 2011. Clark served as the Eagles’ assistant head coach last spring and has been a varsity assistant at the Prep since 2012.

“Tom owns a quarter century of experience as a player-coach in the sport, and he’s been a huge component of our coaching staff for the past 11 seasons,” said St. John’s Prep Athletic Director Jameson Pelkey. “An accomplished attorney in his professional life with a rich background of interpersonal skills, he believes strongly in a team sport’s unique ability to empower young people. We’re excited for him to take the helm of a program that’s been a perennial postseason threat for more than a decade.”

In Clark, Marblehead juniors Wells Gillett of Rose Avenue, who recently helped the Prep second), Cecelia Robbins (57.19, best time, new state cut, third) and Anna Coleman (59.93, fifth) swam for the Magicians. to a state title in football, and Samuel Tucker of Atlantic Avenue, also a member of the Eagles’ varsity ski team, will see a familiar face this April, but one who is playing a different role. St. John’s Prep reached the Division 1 semifinals in 2022, finishing with a record of 5-2.

The Eagles were also a state semifinalist in 2019 and last reached the state final in 2017 — the first season interscholastic rugby became a MIAAsanctioned state championship sport.

The Prep’s earlier state titles came under the aegis of the Massachusetts Youth Rugby finish, and Castillo, Lucas Rosen, Sullivan and Steven DeRosario (1:58.42) ninth.

Waitekus (2:15.39, best time) topped the field in the 200 IM. Bergquist (2:23.91, best time) was third, Maddy Auerbach (2:39.14, best time) fifth and Monica Pechhold (2:46.52) eighth.

Brady Leveroni (2:13.99, best time) and Podstrelov (2:15.48) were third and fourth in the boys 200 IM. Ezra Reid (2:32.57, best time) came in eighth.

Anna Coleman (26.56, second), Lucy Sabin (29,29, best time, ninth) and Rebecca Vaynshteyn (31:39, 13th) participated in the 50-yard freestyle. Doody (22.89, first), Torstenson (25.92, sixth), Yuri Volkov (26.37, seventh), Steven DoRosario (27.00, best time, ninth) and Armani Baez Castillo (29.70, best time, 14th) scored points in the boys 50-yard freestyle.

Waitekus (1:02.02, best time, first), Bergquist (1:02.17, best time, third), Emiyah Setalsingh (1:14.25, best time, seventh) and Auerbach (1:15, eighth) took part in the girls 100-yard butterfly. Brooks (53.20, best time, first), Podstrelov (57.19, best time, new state cut, fourth), Chemel (1:03.03, best time, fifth) and Quinn Sullivan (1:22.25, ninth) accumulated points in the 100-yard butterfly.

In the girls 100-yard freestyle, Takata (56.90, best time,

Doody (51.41, best time) and Rosen (55.29) went to the head of the class in the boys 100-yard freestyle. Torstenson (58.11) was fourth, and Volkov (58.97, best time) fifth.

Clementine Robbins (5:21.20) touched the end of the pool first in the girls 500-yard freestyle. Callahan (5:37.45, best time, new state cut, third) and Pechhold (6:24.41, best time, eighth) wrapped up top-10 finishes.

In the boys 500-yard freestyle, the Marblehead leaders were Greg Podstrelov (5:26.72, best time, third), Ezra Reid (6:07.21, best time, fourth) and Lucas Rosen (7:18.67, best time, ninth).

In the girls 200-yard freestyle relay, the team of Cecelia Robbins, Bergquist, Callahan and Waitekus (1:47.61, best time) came out on top.

Pechhold, Auerbach, Emiyah Setalsingh and Lucy Sabin (1:59.39) were fourth; and Aeryn Vizy, Olivia Hoover, Summer Genovese and Olivia Bloodgood (2:19.40) came in 10th.

In the boys 200 freestyle relay, the quartet of Torstenson, Gary Podstrelov, Greg Podstrelov and Nate Rosen (1:42.21, best time) accounted for second place. Volkov, Reid, Wade and Leveroni (1:48.93) chipped in with a fourth-place lacrosse team’s captains for 2023.

Weiner (1:03.43, best time) set the pace in the girls 100yard backstroke to account for a first-place finish. Setalsingh (1:13.47, best time) was sixth, and Rebecca Vaynshteyn (1:17.33) ninth.

Grady (55.49, best time) was alone on top in the boys 100-yard backstroke. Nelson (59.28, best time) ended up fourth, Leveroni (1:01.02) fifth and Wade (1:20.03, best time) eighth.

Takata (1:08.48, best time) recorded a first-place finish in the girls 100-yard breaststroke. Cecelia Robbins (1:14.55, best time, new state cut) was third, and Sabin (1:31.68) 13th.

Greg Podstrelov (1:08.02, best time) and Nate Rosen (1:10.82, best time) occupied the top two spots in the boys 100-yard breaststroke. Sullivan (1:26.17) was eighth, and Lucas Rosen (1:29.28, best time) 10th.

The foursome of Coleman, Weiner, Takata and Clementine Robbins (3:52.67, best time) finished on top in the girls 400yard freestyle relay. Cecelia Robbins, Vaynshteyn, Pechhold and Callahan (4:09.99) were fourth.

Doody, Nelson, Grady and Brooks (3:37.70) teamed up to come out on top in the boys 400-yard freestyle relay. Leveroni, Chemel, Wade and Torstenson (3:53.72) took home a second-place finish.

LAX LEADEr