Page 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 19, 2025 ~ SHS Sports Winter roundup: early momentum on the mat, growth showing on the court ~ By Dom Nicastro T he winter season is just getting underway, and Saugus High School teams are already seeing meaningful action across multiple fronts. In this roundup, we check in on Saugus boys basketball as the Sachems settle in through their first two games, and Saugus/Peabody wrestling following a strong showing at the Glen Doherty Memorial Tournament, where multiple locals reached the podium against deep competition. BOYS BASKETBALL: SACHEMS RESPOND AFTER OPENING-NIGHT LOSS The Saugus High boys basketball team wasted little time showing its resilience. The Sachems opened the season with a 73–51 loss to Salem, a game that Head Coach Joe Bertrand said provided valuable early lessons. Huey Josama led the way with 15 points, while Oliver Hernandez added 11 and Ryan Shea finished with nine as Saugus worked through some early-season adjustments. Two nights later, those lessons translated into results. Saugus bounced back with a 65–56 road win over Community Academy of Science and Health (CASH) in Hyde Park, earning its first victory of the season. This time, the offense ran with more balance and control. Shea scored a game-high 25 points, knocking down four three-pointers and consistently attacking off the pick-and-roll. Josama added 15 points, finishing strong around the basket, while Ryan Dupuy chipped in 10, cleaning up on the glass with putbacks and second-chance points. Paxton Ferraro added six in a complete team effort. “I think we showed some good resilience,” Bertrand said. “We fought hard in the Salem game, bounced back with a good practice, and it resulted in a solid game.” With the NEC schedule beginning, Bertrand said taking care of the basketball will be a major emphasis as Saugus prepares for a physical stretch of league play. WRESTLING: SAUGUS/ PEABODY EARNS MULTIPLE PODIUM OPPORTUNITIES AT DOHERTY TOURNAMENT The Saugus/Peabody wrestling co-op delivered a strong, well-balanced performance at the 2025 Glen Doherty Memorial Wrestling Tournament, placing multiple wrestlers in championship, third-place and fifthplace bouts across the day. At 157 pounds, Saugus’ Justin Bremberg turned in the top finish of the tournament for the co-op, winning the championship with a 4–2 decision over Quinn Carbone of Shawsheen in the first-place match. Saugus’ Lukas Fondulis finished second at 144 pounds, falling by a 6–1 decision to Ray Mwangi of Leominster in the firstplace bout after reaching the finals. Several wrestlers battled through the consolation rounds to earn thirdplace finishes. At 132 pounds, Peabody’s Jackson Deleidi captured third place with a pin of Connor Buckley of Salem at 4:15 in the third-place match. At 165 pounds, Saugus’ Cesar Cruz secured third place with a 10–5 decision over Luca Kovacev of Winchester. At 190 pounds, Peabody’s JJ Figueroa finished fourth after falling in the third-place match to Zachary Hashley of Gloucester by no contest. Saugus’ Jake Murray placed fourth at 120 pounds, dropping the thirdplace match to Jayden Chadwick of Gloucester by fall at 3:55. At 175 pounds, Peabody’s Jaden Ceac also finished fourth after being pinned by Ilyas Malik of Winchester at 2:29 in the third-place bout. Two wrestlers finished fifth after winning their placement matches. At 126 pounds, Saugus’ Tucker Landry earned fifth place with an 11–2 major decision over Owen Savage of Melrose. At 150 pounds, Peabody’s Michael Maraio placed fifth with a 13–5 major decision over Liam Siana of Cheverus/Falmouth. Lady Sachems basketball opens new season with familiar standard S By Dom Nicastro AUGUS — The standard doesn’t change for Saugus High School girls’ basketball, even when the voice on the sideline does. Taylor Bogdanski begins her first season as varsity head coach after serving as an assistant during a 2024– 2025 campaign that delivered another Northeastern Conference title, a 14–8 record and a second straight season that featured an MIAA Division 3 tournament win. A Saugus alum and former Endicott College standout, Bogdanski steps into the role with deep ties to the program, its players and its expectations. At the center of it all is senior Peyton DiBiasio, the program’s all-time leading scorer and the lone captain entering the season. After leading Saugus through another championship run and a dominant postseason win over Auburn last winter, DiBiasio now anchors a roster that blends experience with opportunity. DiBiasio has an outside chance to eclipse 2,000 points for her career this winter; it will take around 25 points per game. She passed former Saugus assistant coach Norma Waggett (now at Reading; more on that in a bit) on the leaderboard last winter. “She’s absolutely a leader off the floor, too,” Bogdanski said of DiBiasio. “She’s always advocating for other players. She’s always getting them together, and she’s always reiterating what I’m saying to the younger kids.” Bogdanski sees DiBiasio’s growth extending beyond scoring. With several starters graduating, including Taylor Deleidi, Madison Botta and Ella Castle, DiBiasio’s expanded role includes directing traffic, setting the tone in practice and helping younger players settle into bigger responsibilities. “I feel like within the week that we’ve had, she’s really amplified her voice on the court,” Bogdanski said. “She’s directing more, explaining more and stepping into that role of being our only captain.” The next wave is already pushing forward. Sophomore Katie Hashem has impressed with her versatility and confidence, while sophomore Angelina Dow brings defensive intensity that Bogdanski values across matchups. Freshman Georgia Condakes is stepping into a larger role after time at the sub-varsity level and has drawn early praise for her potential. “We have a young crew coming in, but they’re hungry,” Bogdanski said. “And that’s all you can want.” That hunger could translate into more balance offensively, especially as defenses focus on DiBiasio. Bogdanski believes the attention her senior leader draws can open opportunities throughout the lineup. “It’s not just, ‘You have to worry about Peyton,’” she said. “You’re guarding Peyton, but here comes Katie. You’re guarding Peyton and Katie, but here comes Georgia.” Defensively, Saugus plans to stay flexible. Pressure, half-court traps and matchup-based adjustments are all on the table, depending on the opponent. “Every matchup is different, every game is different,” Bogdanski said. “It’s how are we adapting to them, and they’re really open to that.” Saugus opened this week with games against Gloucester and Marblehead. One of the early highlights on the schedule comes at the Reading Invitational (Dec. 28), where Saugus will face Reading and former co-coach Waggett, the program’s second all-time leading scorer. Waggett and Bogdanski coached together last season after Joe Lowe stepped away late in the year, guiding the Sachems through adversity and into another postseason run. “I’m honestly really excited,” Bogdanski said. “I love Norma. There’s no bad blood. It really is all love, and I think it’ll just be a really fun game for us.” Off the court, Bogdanski’s connection to her players runs just as deep. She teaches fourth grade at Belmonte Elementary School in Saugus and understands the academic and personal pressures her players face, having recently navigated them herself. “It’s honestly so full circle,” Bogdanski said. “I still feel like I’m on the court. That passion and that love for the game and Saugus, especially, has not changed. I feel that just shows my team how much I really do care and how much I really want to see them succeed, which builds that trust, and I’m also able to guide them through school, too.”
13 Publizr Home