THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 14, 2025 Page 13 ~ Saugus High School Sports roundup ~ SAUGUS BOYS, GIRLS COMPETE AT NEC INDOOR TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS By Dom Nicastro The Saugus High School boys indoor track team put on a strong showing at the Northeastern Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston, with personal-best performances across multiple events. From sprinting to field events, the Sachems made their presence felt against some of the top competition in the conference. Junior Kaeleb Mathieu was the top Saugus sprinter in the 55-meter dash, clocking in at 6.94 seconds in the preliminary round. His time placed him 10th overall, just missing a finals qualification in a field stacked with experienced upperclassmen. In the 600-meter race, junior Dominic Rinaldi finished with a time of 1:50.82, finishing 22nd in the finals and setting a personal record (PR) while showing resilience in the mid-distance event. Junior Kason Imbrogna represented Saugus in the 1,000-meter run, finishing 16th overall in 3:08.38, also recording a personal record as he continues to improve in the longer races. Sophomore Pharaoh Brandenburg competed in the 55-meter hurdles, clocking 10.24 seconds, securing 17th place overall. The 4x200 relay team, featuring Brandenburg (sophomore), Gabriel De Souza (sophomore), Mathieu (junior) and Connor Bloom (senior), finished in 10th place with a time of 1:47.08. While not a podium finish, the race provided valuable experience for the young relay squad. Junior Koby Jette made his mark in the shotput competition, launching a 37-03.50 throw and placing 12th overall. Jette competed against a deep field, with the top throw reaching over 61 feet (Alex Jackson, Peabody). In the high jump, Saugus had its best performance. Bloom had a personal best with a 5-8 and finished sixth. Brandenburg, at 5-6, took seventh. And in the long jump, Mathieu finished 13th with a leap of 17-4.5. The Saugus High School girls indoor track team also delivered standout performances at the championship meet, with several athletes finishing among the top competitors in sprints, relays and field events. Freshman Soraya Mathieu proved she is one of the fastest sprinters in the NEC, finishing third overall in the 55-meter dash finals with a personal-best time of 7.56 seconds. Mathieu had earlier clocked 7.65 seconds in the prelims, securing her spot in the championship heat. Sophomore Destiny Okoye also had a strong showing, placing seventh in the prelims with a season-best 7.76 seconds, just missing a spot in the finals. Mathieu showcased her all-around athleticism, placing seventh in the long jump with a leap of 15 feet, 9 inches. Okoye was a top-five finisher in the high jump, clearing 4 feet, 10 inches for fifth place. Senior Layla Manderson competed in the shotput, registering a throw of 24 feet, 11 inches for 16th place. She also raced to a personal-best time of 46.17 seconds in the 300 meters, finishing 10th overall in a competitive field. The Saugus 4x200 relay team finished third overall, posting a time of 1:53.13. The team featured senior Angie Lopez, senior Manderson, sophomore Okoye and freshman Mathieu. Freshman Julia Strout represented Saugus in the 600 meters, clocking a time of 2:11.35 for 17th place as she continues to gain valuable racing experience. SACHEM BOYS FALL TO SWAMPSCOTT The Saugus High School boys basketball team fell to Swampscott, 69-51. Coach Joe Bertrand called it a “solid team effort to build off of.” Ryan Shea led the way with 17 points. Danny Zeitz added 11 points, while Cam Victor (nine) and Ryan Dupuy (seven) contributed to the Sachems’ offense. SAUGUS/PEABODY WRESTLING HOLDS OWN AGAINST N.H. COMPETITION The Saugus/Peabody wrestling team, fresh off its Northeastern Conference dual-meet and Northeastern Conference/Cape Ann League championship meet titles, competed against Salem, N.H., and pulled off five wins: · 144: Max Lorusso, Saugus, DEC, Carter Lemire, Salem, 12-9. · 150: Michael Maraio, Peabody, F, Reilly O’Brien, Salem, 1:13. · 157: Justin Bremberg, Saugus, F, John Vargas, Salem, 3:25. · 165: Evan Johnson, Peabody, DEC, Adrian Loria Alicea, Salem, 17-14. · 285: Antonio Anzalone, Peabody, F, Jack McElroy, Salem, 1:44. Candles, Cooking and Caution: Fire safety tips to keep your Valentine’s Day safe T his Valentine’s Day, make sure your romantic gestures stay memorable for the right reasons. When lighting candles and cooking a special meal, the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) says to closely monitor food cooking on the stove or in the oven, and to use candles with caution. “If you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day at home this year, your plans likely include a special meal and candles,” said NFPA VP of Outreach and Advocacy Lorraine Carli. “Our goal is to help ensure that everyone enjoys the holiday with fire safety in mind.” According to NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of reported home fires and home fire injuries year-round. Unattended cooking is a factor in over one-quarter (29 percent) of reported home cooking fires and half of the associated deaths. Simple cooking safety tips include the following: • Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling or broiling food. • Have a “kid and pet-free zone” of at least three feet (one meter) around the stove. • Keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. • Set a timer to remind you that you are cooking. Candles are also a leading cause of home fires and must be used with caution and supervision. NFPA data shows that half of all candle fires started when a flammable object – such as furniture, bedding, curtains, home décor or clothing – was too close to a lit candle. In 21 percent of home candle fires, the candle was either left unattended, discarded or otherwise misused. More than one-third of candle fires (36 percent) started in the bedroom. Consider using battery-operated flameless candles, which have a similar look and feel to real candles but eliminate the risk of fire. If you do plan to use real candles, NFPA recommends the following: • Don’t use lit candles in bedrooms, bathrooms and sleeping areas. • Use stable candleholders and place candles where they can’t be easily knocked over. • Keep candles at least one foot away from anything that can burn. • Keep hair and loose clothing away from the flame. • Don’t burn a candle all the way down – put it out before it gets too close to the candleholder or container. • Store matches and lighters up high out of children’s reach, preferably in a locked cabinet. • Never leave a burning candle unattended. • Blow out candles when you leave the room or go to bed. For more information about cooking safety visit https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/homefire-safety/cooking – and for using candles safely, visit https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/homefire-safety/candles. In addition, NFPA encourages the public to make sure they have working smoke alarms and develop and practice a home escape plan. SAFE | SEE PAGE 20
14 Publizr Home