For one week every summer, student athletes from Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School return to the fields and track, eager to prepare for the upcoming fall season.
Hell Week, as it is commonly known, consists of early morning workout routines that are often followed by tryouts and practice. The week provides coaches and players a chance to hit the ground running and get a feel for how the rest of the sports season might unfold.
For the fall, the high school fields a football team, boys and girls soccer teams, a cross country squad, a field hockey team, a cheerleading squad and a golf team.
By mid-week, the MVRHS football team was already feeling the heat.
“Everything you do now is for the fourth quarter,” said Zeke Vought, the new head coach of the football team.
During the practice, Coach Vought knelt before a blocking sled. He showed the players how to pop the pads by generating power from his hips and shoulders. Nearby, offensive players practiced hand-offs and footwork drills.
“Don’t just throw your arms, bring your hips, bring your hips,” Coach Vought said in between coordinated whistles.
Last year, the team had a tough season, finishing with two wins and six losses.
Coach Vought was previously the team’s assistant coach. He said he learned a lot working with former head coaches Don Herman and Coach Tony Mottola and is hopeful that with a new approach and an inspired team, they will have more success in the coming months.
“We’ve totally revamped the playbook,” said Coach Vought. “We were a spread offense last year, and I’ve revamped it to what I’m more comfortable with… so, I think somewhere in the middle there is a good place to be.”
The first game of the season for the Vineyarders football is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 5, at MVRHS against Brighton High School. At the moment, the team only has two home games on the schedule as their game against Cape Cod Regional Technical High School on Friday, Sept. 25, was canceled.
Down at the track, cross country head Coach Joe Schroeder was running the team through a series of drills. Coach Schroeder has been with the team since 1989 and the energy of the students he coaches keeps him coming back each year.
“We had so much success last season, everybody kind of knows about us,” said Coach Schroeder. “We were kind of under the radar last year. So, you know, that success comes with other challenges.”
In 2025, both the boys and girls cross-country teams qualified for the state finals.
“Our team came together at the right time and peaked at the right time,” he said. “The kids are making themselves as ready as they can be for the upcoming season.”
Four seniors return this year to lead the boys cross country team this fall. They are encouraged by the way the team has been able to come together over the years and are excited to get started.
“I think our teamwork has definitely got a lot better,” said Enzo Reis, a senior on the cross country team. “We definitely bonded more than in my freshman year.”
The girls team is struggling to attract members. The high school recently put a shout-out to potential runners, as the team only had three members. The school also is allowing the team to recruit 8th graders.
MVRHS will host 30 schools in a cross country invitational on Sept. 6.
On the nearby soccer pitches Wednesday, the girls team was busy running shooting drills. While Hell Week provides an opportunity for athletes to prepare for the first matches of the season, it also provides coaches the opportunity to fine tune their rosters.
During a scrimmage, head coach Matt Malowski squatted beside Annie Ollen, the team’s assistant coach. The two watched the field, analyzing the game underway.
“You’ve got to communicate, girls,” he said upon standing.
With only four seniors and seven juniors returning, this year’s team is young, said Coach Malowski, who is about to undertake his fifth season as head.
“One thing that I’m always impressed with these players is they come in with a great attitude,” said Coach Malowski.
Currently, the women’s soccer team has four captains, consisting of Leah Thomson, Ava Townes, Maple Martone and Laina Dubin, who is recovering from an injury. Together, Coach Malowski is confident in their ability to lead the up-and-coming class.
“I have no doubt in their ability to manage the team and make sure the girls stay positive and all of that,” said Coach Malowski. “So, we’ve got some good things going for us.”
MVRHS girls soccer has a scrimmage against Triton High School on Thursday, August 27. They will also participate in a jamboree against five other schools on Saturday, August 29. The first game of the season will be on Thursday, Sept. 10, at Monomoy Regional High School.
Similarly, the boys soccer team is also undergoing tryouts. According to head coach Rodrigo Honorato, there are 57 athletes competing for a spot on the varsity roster. There’s a lot of talent on the Island, he said, and it has been that way for 20 years.
“The kids that are returning this year, they are hungry,” said Coach Honorato. “They want to feel that energy again. They want to be in the playoffs again. So that’s our main objective: qualifying for playoffs, and hopefully we can try to win the league title this year.”
Coach Honorato, now in his second season as head coach, led the team to the second round of the playoffs last year. The team was defeated by Chicopee High School in overtime.
The team will have a scrimmage against Franklin High School on Friday, August 28 and on Sunday the team will participate in a jamboree against Barnstable High School, Dover-Sherborn High School and Tyngsborough High School. The first official game of the season will be against Collegiate Charter School of Lowell on Sunday, Sept. 6.
“It’s another year, another opportunity to be teaching these kids the love of the game, and hopefully we have a good season,” said Coach Honorato.
This article appears in August 28, 2026.
After a brutal Vineyard Summer Season, the Island could use some winning. GO TEAMS GO !