THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JAnUARy 9, 2026 Page 9 Savvy Senior by Jim Miller ~ Saugus HS Sachems Winter Sports Roundup: Wrestlers roll through December, hoops programs find their rhythm, track youngsters shine ~ By Dom Nicastro T he winter season continues to unfold at a fast pace for Saugus teams, with sustained success on the wrestling mat, new and exciting progress from underclassmen tracksters and encouraging signs from both basketball programs as league play ramps up. In this roundup, we look at a dominant stretch for Saugus/Peabody wrestling, a confidence-building win for Saugus boys’ basketball, and the latest results and upcoming tests for Saugus girls’ basketball. WRESTLING: SAUGUS/PEABODY STACKS DUAL WINS, COMPETES AT BRUCE RICH INVITATIONAL The Saugus/Peabody wrestling co-op closed out December with an impressive run of dual-meet victories, showing depth and consistency across the lineup. On Dec. 23, Saugus/Peabody picked up three wins, defeating Carver 65–11, Silver Lake 46–27, and St. John’s Shrewsbury 44–26. The momentum carried into Dec. 31, when the co-op again went 3–0 with wins over Worcester Tech (64–10), Pentucket (48–24), and Burlington (54–18). The team then competed Saturday, Jan. 3, at the Bruce Rich Invitational in Chelmsford, finishing second overall out of 21 teams while producing multiple podium finishes. At 157 pounds, Justin Bremberg of Saugus reached the finals and finished second after a major decision loss to Jake Rivera of Southington, Conn. Earlier in the tournament, Bremberg continued to compete at a high level in one of the event’s most competitive weight classes. Several teammates also reached placement matches. Jackson Deleidi of Peabody finished second at 132 pounds after falling by major decision to Izaiah Santiago of Methuen. Tucker Landry of Saugus reached the finals at 126 pounds before being pinned by Cahota Lafond of Colchester, Vt. Peabody’s Jaden Ceac placed third at 175 pounds with a 5–0 decision over Grady Kiley of Holliston, while Camdyn Lanning of Peabody finished third at 113 pounds following a 3–2 decision loss to Brodie Kaplan of Shepherd Hill. Jake Murray of Saugus placed fifth at 120 pounds, Cesar Cruz of Saugus finished fifth at 165 pounds, and Michael Maraio of Peabody placed third at 150 pounds. The results continued a strong start to the season for a Saugus/Peabody squad that has consistently controlled dual meets while testing itself in tournament settings. BOYS BASKETBALL: SACHEMS IMPROVE TO 2–3 WITH WIN OVER BOSTON UNITED The Saugus High boys’ basketball team picked up an important non-league win, defeating Boston United 71–58 to improve to 2–3 on the season. Jordan Rodriguez led the way with 23 points, knocking down four 3-pointers and providing a perimeter spark. Ryan Shea followed with 21 points, doing much of his damage attacking the paint, while Huey Josama added 16 points with a strong interior presence. Cristian Dean chipped in six points and Ryan Dupuy added five as Saugus showed improved balance on the offensive end. Head coach Joe Bertrand said the difference came on the defensive side of the ball, where the Sachems turned pressure into transition opportunities. “We picked it up defensively,” Bertrand said. “We got a few steals that turned into transition points, and we were able to roll from there.” Bertrand noted that while turnovers remain an area of focus, the team has made progress and continues to work on decision-making as the NEC schedule intensifies. With league games now coming fast and frequently, Saugus is preparing for what Bertrand described as one of the toughest NEC seasons in recent years, with Masconomet emerging early as a team to watch. GIRLS BASKETBALL: SACHEMS SPLIT RECENT GAMES, FACE CHALLENGING WEEK AHEAD The Saugus High girls’ basketball team continued to work through a demanding stretch of the schedule, earning a 57–46 win over Wilmington before falling to Newburyport. Head coach Taylor Bogdanski said the Wilmington win reflected the team at its best, with multiple players contributing and energy playing a major role. “We had lots of contributors to the score, which is why we were able to pull through,” Bogdanski said. “When we feel good, we play good, and that’s exactly what we brought.” Saugus traveled to Winthrop after press time and will host Swampscott at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, before heading to Masconomet on Monday, Jan. 13, for a 7 p.m. tipoff. As league play continues, Bogdanski said ROUNDUP | SEE PAGE 10 How to Appeal a Medicare Coverage Denial Dear Savvy Senior, What steps do I need to take to appeal a denied Medicare claim? Frustrated Retiree Dear Frustrated, If you disagree with a coverage or payment decision made by Medicare, you can appeal, and you’ll be happy to know that many appeals are successful, so it’s definitely worth your time. But before going that route, talk with the doctor, hospital and Medicare to see if you can spot the problem and resubmit the claim. Many denials are caused by simple billing code errors by the doctor’s office or hospital. If, however, that doesn’t fix the problem, here’s how you appeal. Original Medicare Appeals If you have original Medicare, start with your quarterly Medicare Summary Notice (MSN). This statement will list all the services, supplies and equipment billed to Medicare for your medical treatment and will tell you why a claim was denied. You can also check your Medicare claims early online at MyMedicare.gov, or by calling Medicare at 800-633-4227. There are five levels of appeals for original Medicare, although you can initiate a “fast appeal” if you’re getting services from a hospital, skilled nursing facility, home health agency, outpatient rehabilitation facility or hospice, and the service is ending. You have 120 days after receiving the MSN to request a “redetermination” by a Medicare contractor, who reviews the claim. Circle the items you’re disputing on the MSN, provide a written explanation of why you believe the denial should be reversed, and include any supporting documents like a letter from the doctor or hospital explaining why the charge should be covered. Then send it to the address on the form. You can also use the Medicare Redetermination Form. See CMS. gov/Medicare/CMS-Forms/CMSForms/downloads/CMS20027. pdf to download it or call 800633-4227 to request a copy by mail. The contractor will usually decide within 60 days after receiving your request. If your request is denied, you can request for “reconsideration” from a different claims reviewer and submit additional evidence. A denial at this level ends the matter, unless the charges in dispute are at least $190 in 2025. In that case, you can request a hearing with an administrative law judge. The hearing is usually held by videoconference or teleconference. If you have to go to the next level, you can appeal to the Medicare Appeals Council. Then, for claims of at least $1,900 in 2025, the final level of appeals is judicial review in U.S. District Court. Advantage and Part D Appeals If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage health plan or Part D prescription drug plan the appeals process is slightly different. With these plans you have only 65 days to initiate an appeal. And in both cases, you must start by appealing directly to the private insurance plan, rather than to Medicare. If you think that your plan’s refusal is jeopardizing your health, you can ask for an expedited (fast) request, where a Part D insurer must respond within 24 hours, and Medicare Advantage health plan must provide an answer within 72 hours. If you disagree with your plan’s decision, you can file an appeal, which like original Medicare, has five levels. If you disagree with a decision made at any level, you can appeal to the next level. For more information, along with step-by-step procedures on how to appeal Medicare, go to Medicare.gov/claims-appeals and click on “File an appeal.” Also make sure to keep photocopies and records of all communication with Medicare, whether written or oral, concerning your denial. Need Help? If you need help filing an appeal, you can appoint a representative (a relative, friend, advocate, attorney or someone else you trust) to help you. Or contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which has counselors that can file your appeal for you for free. To locate your local SHIP, go to ShipHelp.org or call 877-839-2675. Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.
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