Page 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, SEpTEmbEr 11, 2026 Saugus Sports Roundup: Sachems ready to kick off Bluestein era against Cambridge By Dom Nicastro T he fall season is getting into full swing at Saugus High, and this week brings the official beginning of a new era for the Sachems football program. First-year head coach Greg Bluestein and the Sachems open their season Thursday, Sept. 10, at Cambridge Rindge & Latin at 6 p.m., giving Saugus its first opportunity to put a new system and a new culture to the test. Elsewhere, Saugus volleyball is navigating a rebuilding season with just two varsity returners, while the girls soccer team opened with a competitive loss to Salem. The boys soccer team, meanwhile, enters its second season under coach Josh Crespo looking to turn a hardworking group into a more structured unit. Football opens Bluestein era Bluestein has spent his first preseason installing much more than an offensive or defensive system. The new Saugus coach said one of the most encouraging developments has been seeing players embrace the standards his staff is trying to establish. “The culture is being set the way that we want it,” Bluestein said. “Kids really are buying into what we’re doing and the new standards that we have; they’re doing so at a high level.” That commitment, he said, extends from the seniors through the freshmen. “They’re taking the little things seriously,” Bluestein said. Now comes Cambridge Rindge & Latin. There isn’t an abundance of scouting material available this early in the season. Bluestein said he has one game of Cambridge film obtained through a mutual exchange. He has also studied last year’s material and any coaching changes while preparing for an opponent he expects to have plenty of speed. “They are a fast team. They’re talented,” Bluestein said. “They throw the ball well. They have a couple of good running backs.” Saugus will try to contain those backs and force Cambridge to win through the air while seeing how its own skill players match up. The Sachems’ offensive line will feature Dante Vazquez at left tackle, Evan Tran at left guard, Moses Guadalupe Perez at center, Cooper Middleton at right guard and Steph Cazeau at right tackle. It’s an inexperienced group, with some players moving from running back and other positions to the line to better fit the new scheme. Bluestein credited offensive line coaches with helping accelerate their development during a short preseason. “They’ve done a really good job of taking it, owning it, running with it, and really improving throughout camp,” Bluestein said. Many of those linemen will also see significant defensive snaps. Tran and Middleton are working at defensive end, while Guadalupe Perez and Cazeau are defensive tackles. Vazquez could also see time at defensive tackle. Jacob Boyce will rotate into the offensive line and also play linebacker. At linebacker, Dawin Camilo Grullon returns after finishing last season strongly, and sophomore Isaiah Santiago is expected to receive snaps. The secondary includes Ryan Moreira and Fernando Avila Bonilla at corner, with freshman RHODJ Laguerre among the players at safety. Quarterback Eli Fialho may also see defensive snaps at strong safety as Saugus works around some early injuries. Fialho has particularly impressed his new coach during camp. “He’s been an unbelievable leader,” Bluestein said. “He’s been super, super positive, holding people accountable, demanding, trying to pull up the young guys and really getting them to buy into what we’re doing.” Bluestein added that Fialho is throwing the ball “really, really well” and has improved his mobility. His targets should include Moreira and senior captain Paxton Ferraro, along with freshman Dicky Nuzzo III, who has impressed the staff with his hands despite Fialho putting plenty of velocity on the football. Laguerre and freshman Leo Exantus are also emerging options. The backfield could feature Camilo Grullon, Santiago and Ferraro. Pablo Dejesus is recovering from a minor injury and was considered a game-time decision for Thursday. Saugus will be missing a few players in the opener for various reasons, but Bluestein said there are no season-ending injuries among them. “We’re still trying to figure out who we are athletically,” Bluestein said. “We’re going to put out our best game plan on Thursday and rock with what we have.” Volleyball rebuilding around Cruz, Foley Saugus girls volleyball coach Mikayla Niles knows this season will require patience. The Sachems have just two returning varsity players, meaning nearly the entire roster is experiencing varsity volleyball for the first time. Saugus dropped its opener, 3-0, to Winthrop, but Niles came away encouraged by several individual performances and believes the team’s potential is greater than the opening result might suggest. Senior captain Aiyana Cruz remains the centerpiece. “She played phenomenal, all around, hitting, passing, serving,” Niles said of the Winthrop match. “She played a really good game.” Niles believes Cruz possesses the versatility and skill to play at the college level. She can fill virtually any role on the floor, and her leadership is equally important to a young roster. “She knows it too, but she doesn’t carry it like that either,” Niles said. “She’s such a team player. She picks her girls up. That’s why she’s a captain.” Her fellow captain is sophomore Ava Foley, a middle hitter whom Niles put into the varsity lineup as a freshman last season knowing the experience would pay dividends. Foley became one of Saugus’ top blockers and plays club volleyball throughout the year. “She became a powerhouse in the front row,” Niles said. “She was a lead blocker on the team as a freshman.” Junior outside hitter Danielle Braga also delivered a strong opener with her passing, hitting and serving. Senior Arianna Chianca impressed Niles defensively, digging several hardhit balls and producing an allaround strong performance. The challenge is finding the right combination around that core. “We gotta build that team chemistry,” Niles said. “We gotta see how well we work with each other. We’re still trying to figure out position-wise, you know, kind of where some people are going, where everyone works well and clicks.” Niles doesn’t believe talent is the problem. Saugus went five sets with Masconomet in a preseason scrimmage before losing by two points in the fifth, evidence to the coach that the Sachems can compete. What they lack is varsity experience and consistency. Saugus next faces Pioneer Charter School, an unfamiliar league opponent that leaves both programs entering the matchup somewhat blind. Garcia sisters score in girls soccer opener Saugus girls soccer opened its season with a 4-2 home loss to Salem, but coach April Martinez saw positives from a young team already dealing with injuries. Sophomore Selena Garcia scored one of the Sachems’ goals, while her sister, senior captain Maria Garcia, accounted for the other on a direct kick. Saugus went into halftime tied at 2-2 before Salem moved ahead 3-2 early in the second half and the Sachems were unable to recover. “The girls played well in the first half,” Martinez said. With several new faces and injuries slowing the team’s early progress, Martinez said the goal is to learn from the opener and regroup before Saugus takes on Peabody next Monday. Boys soccer looking to build structure Saugus boys soccer coach Josh Crespo enters his second season leading the program with a team he describes as hardworking and committed. Senior Donny Santostefano is the Sachems’ lone captain at this stage of the season, while juniors Ryan DeSousa and Leonardo DeSantis are among the other players Crespo believes are worth watching in the early going. Saugus had played only scrimmages entering the season, and Crespo identified organization as an important area for development. The goal is to get the Sachems playing as a more structured and organized team while maintaining the effort level Crespo sees as one of the group’s strengths. He is looking for “a hardworking and committed group of kids who will always give 150% every match.”
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