After press time: North Reading falls to Lynnfield 159-155 (Sept. 4)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — The 2024 campaign was a memorable one for the North Reading High golf team. In the regular season, the Hornets captured the Cape Ann League Kinney Division crown going 10-1.
The team then reached the Division 3 state final for the second consecutive season as they came in second place in the Division 3 North Sectionals behind only Weston.
The Hornets then placed 8th out of 12 schools in the state final.
Seven seniors from that roster graduated including CAL First-Team All-Star Jason Curran.
When tryouts started a couple of weeks ago, second-year head coach Jon Kiniry welcomed back three veterans who started last year.
“I inherited a great team last year,” acknowledged Kiniry, who was named the CAL Kinney Division Coach of the Year last fall. “Our goal this season is to show progress each and every day.”
The captain this year is senior Leo Romanski who was also a CAL First-Team All-Star last year. The two other starters back are seniors Conrad Gerber and Brayden Carlson.
The tryouts and pre-season went well according to Kiniry.
“We had 36 kids try out with a lot of young players showing interest,” said Kiniry.
At the end of last season, the CAL coaches elected to change the schedule. Instead of played the league schools once, they will now play the schools in their division twice and they will play three of the teams in the other division once.
So what this means for the Hornets is that they will play the Kinney teams twice and face three of the Baker teams one time.
Because of this, North Reading will play 13 matches instead of 11.
The Hornets opened the 2025 campaign on Aug. 28 as they went to Ould Newbury Golf Club to to take on host Triton. The Vikings ended up winning the match, 153-119.
“They look like one of the teams to beat in our league,” said Kiniry. “We didn’t play that well and that is a tough course.”
Gerber led the Hornets in scoring with 27 points (Stableford scoring). Romanski was second with 22 while junior James Harris was third with 18.
North Reading played host Essex Tech at Reedy Meadow in Lynnfield on Sept. 2 and came up just short, 185-177. A full story will appear next week.
The home opener at Hillview Golf Club is on Thursday as North Reading welcomes Lynnfield at 4 p.m.
The next couple of matches will also be at home.
On Sept. 8, the Hornets face Pentucket. Two days later, Ipswich comes to town. Both of those matches will also start at 4 p.m.