EV Vol. 33, No.2 -FREEEVE ER TT Have a Safe & Happy Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Day. ADDOCCO TEAT www.advocatenews.net Free Every Friday 617-387-2200 Friday, January 12, 2024 Everett Pride on display in the national championship game Former Crimson Tide stars Sainristil, Stewart help set the tone for the Wolverines to clinch title By Joe McConnell M ike Sainristil, the Gatorade 2018-19 Massachusetts Player of the Year and two-time Super Bowl winner for the Everett Crimson Tide, is now a national champion. And just like his high school conquests, Sianristil also played an integral role in Michigan’s 3413 triumph over the University of Washington in the NCAA CFP (College Football Playoff ) national championship game on Monday night in Houston. His fourth quarter interception and subsequent 81-yard return to the Washington six led to running back Blake Corum’s second touchdown of the game to seal the victory from the one, while it also wrapped up the perfect season with the team’s 15th straight win, only the sixth program in major college football history to compile such a lofty record. The last two teams that ended up with 15-0 records were the 2022 Georgia Bulldogs and the 2019 LSU (Louisiana State University) Tigers, and now Everett residents Josaiah Stewart and Sainristil are a part of that unique history. Stewart, a juMichigan defensive back Mike Sainristil (0) of Everett proudly poses with the national championship trophy after the Wolverines defeated the Washington Huskies, 34-13 at NRG Stadium in Houston on Monday, Jan. 8. (Courtesy photo / Detroit Free Press / Junfu Han) nior edge rusher on the Wolverines, also did his part to bring home the ultimate prize to the Ann Arbor, Michigan campus with four solo tackles and one assisted tackle against the Huskies. But it was Sainristil’s interception – his sixth this season to lead the team in that category – that virtually ended any thoughts of a Washington comeback bid. At one point during his runback, he SINCE 1921 Messinger Insurance Agency 475 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 Phone: 617-387-2700 Fax: 617-387-7753 NEW COMPETITIVE AUTO RATES AND BENEFITS AVAILABLE ACCIDENT FORGIVENESS DISAPPEARING COLLISION DEDUCTIBLE 11% DISCOUNT WITH SUPPORTING POLICY 10% COMBINED PAY IN FULL DISCOUNT AND GREEN DISCOUNT 10% GOOD STUDENT DISCOUNT Celebrating 100 years of excellence! Monday thru Friday: 8am to 6pm Saturdays 9am to 1pm! Check out our NEW website! www.messingerinsurance.com was thinking touchdown all the way. “The second I (intercepted) the ball, the only thing I thought about was scoring a touchdown,” Sainristil said during an interview with the Everett Advocate on Tuesday. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t do that, because I got tackled at the six, but at least I was still able to give the best off ense in the country this year a short fi eld to work with before Blake (Corum) was able to punch it in. They know how to capitalize on these situations.” Sainristil knows something about the Michigan off ense, because he was a starting wide receiver on that side of the ball throughout his fi rst three years as a Wolverine. He scored five offensive touchdowns in three years, before switching to defensive back in 2022, his senior year. Going back to his critical interception return, it was the longest in CFP title game history, and the second longest in CFP history (86 yards, Clemson, 2016 Fiesta Bowl). That runback set a new single-season school record, putting Sainristil at 232 total yards. He ranks second all-time with 240 career yards to Tom Curtis’ 431 that he established in 1968. Since Monday night, however, Sainristil has been living a dream. “It’s just starting to SAINRISTIL | SEE PAGE 17 Van Campen to lead City Council in ’24 Most diverse City Council in Everett history By Neil Zolot N ewly elected Ward 5 Councilor Robert Van Campen was elected president of the City Council at their reorganizational meeting on Monday, January 8. “There are a number of challenges facing the city and I’m hoping to work collaboratively with the Council and Mayor to address them,” he said. “We’ve got to fi nd a way to make development responsible and reasonable so it doesn’t add to overcrowding and congestion,” a reference to an issue he heard a lot about while campaigning. He also mentioned making Everett more inclusive for all its residents and a review of the city charter “to make sure it’s a viable governing document” as other priorities. Van Campen previously served as a Councilor from 2000-14. “It’s important for us to have some stability in debate,” he feels. “I hope to off er my experience in that regard.” In addition, he called for civility in debate and public participation. “My commitment is to make sure our work is done in an orderly and civilized manner,” he said. “This VAN CAMPEN | SEE PAGE 6
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