Spring Sports Preview: 2023

The warmer weather and spring breeze bring along a new season of sports at RMHS. Eight new sports kick off their season in just a few weeks with tryouts beginning on March the 20th.

With tons of talent on each and every team the Rockets should expect to continue their success in the MIAA.

Boys Lacrosse 

The team with maybe the highest expectation out of the spring sports this year is the Boys Lacrosse Team, a team that finished last season with an 18-4 record, won the Middlesex League Liberty championship, and made it to the final four of the MIAA state tournament, returns over 20 players. The senior class, including captains Robbie Garnara, Finn Garnara, Ethan Haggerty, Mikey Miele, Nate Johnson, and Mark Boyle have the talent to back up the high expectations.

When asked about team expectations for the year Haggerty echoed these goals. “We have high goals, I think we have 19 or 20 seniors, we have played together since kindergarten, this is kind of the year for all the pieces to fall into place so it is kind of ‘ring or bust’ this year.“ With a very senior heavy team, the Rockets hope to finish the season with a ring on their fingers. The Rockets kick off there season on March the 27th against Saint John’s Prep.

Important games:

Billerica (4/24) at Turf 2 and Concord Carlisle (5/23) at Concord Carlisle.  

Girls Lacrosse

The Girls Lacrosse team is coming off a very successful 2022 season in which they were Co-Middlesex League Liberty champions and made it to the round of 16 in the MIAA Division 1 Tournament. With the return of 17 players from last year’s team highlighted by captains, Sam Maher and Julia Barabato, there are high hopes for this year. When asked about expectations for the year Maher said, “Hopefully we are going to have a great season, lots of wins, make it to the tournament.” 

The Rockets open their season on April 1st against Acton-Boxborough away.

Important Games:

Winchester (5/19) away and Lexington (5/12) away.

Baseball

The baseball team has been working hard all offseason with high hopes for this year. Coming off of a year in which they won 18 games including one playoff game, the Rockets hope to further improve on last year’s success. With 10 returning varsity players including captains Nick Mazzerala (’23), Ben Wright (’23), and Micheal Fabiano(’23), this team has goals of winning both a Middlesex League Liberty title and even competing for a Massachusetts state title.

When asked about expectations for the year starting catcher and captain Nick Mazzerala said, “We have a lot of seniors, last year a majority of the starters were class of 2023, so I think that rolling into this season with a similar starting lineup brings with it a lot of experience as long as chemistry.” With 6-8 open spots on the team, they hope to find an impact from some 1st year players as well.

The Rockets open their season on March the 25th against North Reading High School away.

Important Games:

Arlington (5/16) away and (4/21) home and Woburn (4/12) home and (5/4) away

Softball

The RMHS Softball Team is coming off a very successful 2022 season with a record of 19-3, however, with losses at some important positions, the Rockets will hope for some additional support from some new 1st year players and the 9 returners from last year’s team. Among these 9 returning players are captains Caroline Higgins(’23), Bella McGonagle(’23), and Katie Hurley (’23).

When asked about goals for the upcoming season, Higgins set some expectations for the team this yearop:  “Hopefully we have a pretty good season, more than .500 record, and hopefully we’ll be pretty successful in the Middlesex League.”

The Rockets begin their season on April 3rd against Wilmington High School at home. 

Important Games:

Woburn (4/12) away and (5/4) home

Boys Track and Field

Coming off of a 4-1 league record and runner up finishes in both the Division 2 state relays and the Division 2 championship meet in the indoor season, the boys track team hopes to continue their success from the winter. Led by captains Jack Doughtery(’23), Jack Quinn(’23), Jackson Clish(’23), Peter Tompkins(’23), Brendan Lindmark(’23), and Tyler Lloyd(’23), they hope to defend last year’s perfect 5-0 record and Middlesex League Liberty Championship.

When Jackson Clish, a captain and league all star indoors was asked about the expectations for this season his sights were set high:  “Shooting for a State Championship, maybe a League Championship–we were close indoors, I think we have the people to do it outdoors.”

The Rockets open their season April 8th against Woburn at Burlington High School 

Important Meets

Winchester (5/10) and Lexington (4/26) at home 

Girls Track and Field

The girls track and field team finished with a 3-2 record indoors this season with a 7th place finish at Division 2 Relays and an 8th place finish at the Division 2 Championship Meet. With a 3-2 record last year outdoors, this team led by captains Olivia Ritondo(’23), Audrey Thornton(’23), Sedona Skenderian(’23), Kaitlyn Drummey(’23), Jess Hayes(’23), and Jess Malley(’23), they hope to build on this record. When asked about expectation for the year Ritondo said, “We are going to have a really strong spring season, because we just came off of a 3-2 winter season and we have been working really hard over the winter and we have some new additions in the spring and we hope to beat Lexington and Woburn.”

The Rockets open their season April 8th against Woburn at Burlington High School.

Important Meets:

Woburn (4/8) away and Lexington (4/26) at home

Boys Tennis

The Boys Tennis Team is captained by Eddie Matthews (’23), Drew Lynch (’24), and Pip Bialas (’24). They are a part of a very tough Middlesex League division with strong teams from Lexington and Belmont. They struggled last season with those two teams but Matthews expressed hope in better success against them: “We can actually take a match off–nobody did that last year.” The Rockets open their season against Wilmington High School on March 30th. 

Girls Tennis

The girls tennis team is captained by seniors Ella Keddy and Elise Verrier, and they compete in a very competitive Middlesex League Liberty Division. Verrier is optimistic about this season.  “We hope win more, and also there is a state tournament and individual tournament–we probably want to go far in the state tournament.” The Rockets open their season on March 30th at home against Wilmington.