SalemNews.com, Salem, MA

Sports Special

September 7, 2011

Fishermen hit hard by graduation, retirement

Change is in the air for the Gloucester High football team entering the 2011 season.

The Fishermen were hit hard by both graduation and retirement during the offseason. They not only graduated 19 seniors and 20 starting positions from the 2010 Division 1A Super Bowl championship squad, but also lost wildly successful head coach Paul Ingram and long-time assistant Tom Walsh to retirement.

Former assistant and 2010 defensive coordinator Tony Zerilli takes over as head coach for the two-time defending Super Bowl champs.

Leading the way for the Fishermen this year will be senior tri-captains Chris Burke, Matt Taormina and Kyle Lucido.

Burke looks to lead the defense as a returning starter at middle linebacker. He will also be starting at guard. Toarmina started at offensive tackle in 2010 and looks to start at both tackle and defensive end this year. Lucido missed just about all of the 2010 season with lingering injuries, but showed promise in the playing time he got as a sophomore in 2009.

Every other starter for the Fishermen this year has little to zero varsity experience.

"We have a lot of new starters that we have to find positions for," Zerilli said. "We've been moving guys around a lot in the preseason to get an idea where the best place to put them is.

"Our senior captains are going to be the ones who lead us this year. They have the experience and they know what it takes to win in this conference."

The 31-year-old Zerilli, a long-time assistant for Gloucester, is inheriting the state's longest winning streak at 26 games. He captained the 1997 team and played for the 1995 Super Bowl championship team as a sophomore, both under former coach Terry Silva.

FISHERMEN'S CATCH

Last year's record: 13-0 (Division 1A Super Bowl champions)

Head coach: Tony Zerilli (1st year, 0-0)

Team captains: Chris Burke Sr., LB/G; Matt Taormina Sr., OT/DE; Kyle Lucido Sr., RB/LB.

Top returning rusher: Zach Smith (74 yards, 0 TD)

Top returning passer: None

Top returning receiver: None

Last league title: 2010 (NEC Large)

Did You Know?: Head coach Tony Zerilli, his older brother Leo, and his younger brother Chris were all captains at Gloucester High School — and each won a Super Bowl.

2011 schedule

DateOpponentTime

Sept. 9at Lynn English7 p.m.

Sept. 16Andover7 p.m.

Sept. 23Weymouth7 p.m.

Sept. 30Peabody7 p.m.

Oct. 6at Masconomet7 p.m.

Oct. 14at Lynn Classical7 p.m.

Oct. 21Marblehead7 p.m.

Oct. 29at Beverly1 p.m.

Nov. 4Salem7 p.m.

Nov. 12at Swampscottnoon

Nov. 24Danvers10 a.m.

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