Winter sports begin for Vineyard high school teams

0
Dorian Johnson shoots on goalie Mike Sylvia during a boys varsity scrimmage, Tuesday, at the MV Arena. — Photo by Ralph Stewart

Players on the winter sports teams at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, reported for action, Monday, as team tryouts and practices got underway.

The boys hockey team, coached by Matt Mincone, will hit the ice at the Martha’s Vineyard Arena, this weekend, for a series of scrimmages against top flight Division One competition.

The Vineyarders host Needham, Friday night at 6 pm, tangle with the Hamden, Conn. Green Dragons, Saturday at 11:40 am, and host Acton-Boxboro, Saturday at 5:40 pm. The team will visit Plymouth South High School for a scrimmage on Monday at 2:30 pm. The boys open the regular season against Old Rochester, at home, on Dec. 10 at 5 pm.

The Vineyard girls squad, coached by John Fiorito, also skates against Needham at the MV Arena, Saturday, at 1:20 pm and Sunday at 10 am. The girls begin their regular season on Dec. 10 with a trip to venerable Walter Brown Arena at Boston University, to face-off with Brookline. The Vineyarders will meet Qunicy/North Quincy in the home opener on Dec. 17 at 1 pm.

On the basketball court, coach Mike Joyce and Vineyard boys varsity team will look to win a third straight Eastern Athletic Conference crown. 55 students tried out at Monday’s opening practice. The Islanders travel to Windsor, Conn. this weekend for a scrimmage against the formidable Warriors. The Purple and White tip-off the regular season with a home and home series against Sandwich. The home opener is Dec. 17 at 6:30 pm.

The girls varsity hoopsters, coached by Lisa Stewart, open the regular season in Springfield against Sabis charter school on Dec. 10 and return home to the Sancy to play Sandwich on Dec. 17 at 5 pm.

The MVRHS swim team will take to the water for its second season, starting Dec. 8, against Sacred Heart of Kingston, at the YMCA pool. Coach Robin Tuck had more than 25 athletes show for Monday’s opening practice. The team, as mandated by Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association rules, will compete again as a club this season, before attaining varsity status next season.