LYNN CLASSICAL HIGH SCHOOL  ATHLETIC DIRECTOR’S NOTEBOOK WINTER 2010/2011

BY BILL DEVIN

The 2010/2011 winter athletic season at Lynn Classical High School was an extremely exciting and successful one.  The Rams, who compete night in and night out in the tough Northeastern Conference, sent 4 teams to the MIAA State Tournament and a host of student/athletes to the Division 2 State Track and Field Meet at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston.

The fastest growing sport at LCHS is Girl’s Track…Head Coach Lauren (Abernathy) Phelps welcomed 65 girl’s into the winter program this season and it immediately paid dividends as the team finished the regular season with a 4-3 record.  Leading the way was junior speedster and NEC League MVP Hulerie McGuffie who dominated all season long in the 300m category…McGuffie, who ran in the Nike Nationals last spring in Greensboro, North Carolina also qualified for the Nike Nationals this winter (New York City) and finished 10^th in the country (out of 48 runners) on March 11^th…Though only a junior Hulerie is being heavily recruited by schools such  as Boston College, Columbia, Holy Cross, and Lehigh University…Freshmen Rebecca Potter (relay team), Junior Mackenzie Coppinger (shotput), Senior Tatiana Brown (shotput), Junior Saffi Bangura (50m and relay team), Sophomore Carla Altema (relay team), and McGuffie (300m and relay team) all represented Lynn Classical High School at the State Meet (Reggie Lewis Center)…look for many of these student/athletes to have impressive seasons in the spring as well with Coach Kathleen Miller.

Despite losing 10 seniors to graduation, the Lynn Jets Boy’s Hockey Team led by NEC South Coach of the Year Joe Conlon qualified for the Division 3 MIAA State Tournament for the second year in a row.  Early season victories over Mass State Champion Marblehead and Swampscott coupled with late season wins over Revere and Salem vaulted the young Jets squad into tourney play…The Jets bowed out of the tourney in Round 1 after faltering to Latin Academy 3-1 in Watertown…the Jets split with Latin Academy during the regular season losing 3-2 (in Lynn) and winning 4-2 (at Northeastern University)…Classical three-sport athlete John “the Finn Dog” Finnigan led the club in scoring by posting 9-11-20 numbers…this also included a huge hat trick against Marblehead…John was named to the NEC South All-Star Team…the defense was bolstered by Sophomore Kyle Devin and rookie sensations Brett Erelli (golf, baseball) and Patrick Finnigan (football, baseball)…Devin, who played defense and forward was selected to the All-Conference Team in the NEC South…Other Jet offensive stalwarts included pesky center Steven Petkevitch, freshmen Eric Brazell (a top Honors Student), scrappy winger Ryan Macdonald, and versatile Junior Aaron Reddick who played both offense and defense.  Sophomore netminder Erik “Beans” Schacht saw valuable varsity minutes during the season…A special thanks to Jets Booster President Silvana Comeau for coordinating the end of the season banquet at Spinelli’s on Route 1…Freshmen Ryan Macdonald was named Freshmen of the Year…Patrick “Sunshine” Finnigan took home the Student/Athlete Award…and Kyle Devin was named Team MVP…John Finnigan, DJ Hunt, and Devin will Captain the Jets next season…A big congratulations to Jets Assistant Coach Joe “the Gunner” Gunning on his induction into the Lynn Classical High School Hall of Fame which will be held on May 14^th at the Nahant Country Club.

After conquering several snow postponements (Peabody 3 times!!!) there was plenty of action at the LVTI Pool for the Ram’s Boy’s and Girl’s Swim Team…Cagey veteran swim coach Denise Silva and her longtime assistants Christina Collela and dive coach Don McKenna received excellent swim seasons from Dean Albert, Mac St Ives, Joey Field, Rachel Tomerlin, and NEC All-Star diver Rachael Thomas…At the Annual City-Wide Banquet (Prince of Pizza) senior awards went to Vania Aguilar, Alonzo Flores, Amanda Luongo, Erinne McCarthy, Dan Oliveira, Nicky Santiago, Kylie Trainor, and Captain Marissa Maillet…Joey Field received the school’s Student/Athlete Award while Mac St Ives and Marissa Maillet took home Team MVP Honors…Brian Nelson and Jen Moore got Most Improved..Amanda Luongo and Kostas Kourembanas were the Coaches Award recipients…Nicky Santiago (The Peter A. Sawin Unsung Hero Award)…Alison Steward (The Spirit Award)…Brian Maldonaldo (Booster Award)…Rachel Tomerlin (Ram Award)…Anthony Ong and Nicole Collins (The Monogram Club Award)…The Lynn Classical High School Swim Team was also recognized by the MIAA when it received Academic Gold Standard Certificates for compiling a 3.5 GPA during the season.

Boy’s Varsity Basketball Head Coach Tom Grassa has done it once again…in his 26 years at the helm of the program he has guided his teams to the MIAA State Tournament 23 times…Yet, this season looked like the Rams may not be going to the Big Dance when they started out the winter campaign with a 3-6 record…However, Coach Grassa’s troops turned things around in a hurry and went on a torrid 9 game winning streak before losing to a very tough Salem Witches team…Senior leadership was the key this year as sharpshooter/point guard Nicky Grassa, power forward Josh “Big Country” Cheever (St Anselm’s College/Football), Carlo “CB” Buono, Shaddai “Agent O” Pena, and center Wally Abraham paved the way…while the Bobby Jones 6^th Man Award went to small forward Keith “Larry” Nance who turned in several sparkling performances throughout the season…other valuable contributors were Seniors Joelle “Nate” Reyes and Tyler Lahue as well as Junior defensive stopper Moses Builou, Sophomore scoring machine Eraldo Custodio, and big man Uche Nwokeji …in the postseason the Rams rode the hot hand of Nicky Grassa in a victory over Chelsea and nearly upset eventual Division 2 State Champ New Mission…The Junior Varsity boy’s basketball team also had a superb season by going 15-5 in the NEC..Coach Kenny “KT” Turner praised the spirited play of big men Derek Edmonds, Jalen Brown, Tyler Ierardi, and baseball fireballer Ryan Hayward…Turner also was quite pleased with the backcourt play of floor general Brian Sandiford, shooting guard  Davon Morris, and defensive specialist Jorge Perez…with 8 seniors graduating in June look for many of these players to play major roles on the varsity next season…Freshmen Coach Robert “Junebug” Johnson, a former Syracuse University football player and teammate of Donovan McNabb, guided his team to a 13-6 record…Smooth forward Eddie Solis, quick guard Nick Wiltshire, and flashy point guard Jordan Brown led the club in scoring and assists while silky forward Derek “Larry Bird” Chigas led the team in rebounding and free throw percentage.

What a season for the Lynn/Winthrop Girl’s Hockey Team!!!  After finishing the year with a   17-4-1     record the girl’s dropped a 4-3 shootout heartbreaker to Hingham in the Division 1 State Semifinal.  Pickering eight grader Katie Burt, a standout goaltender, stopped 47 shots and kept the Lynn/Winthrop contingent in the game…trailing 2-1 in the 3^rd period, Classical’s star softball catcher Chelsey Bartlett tied it up with a snipe from 15 feet out…Bartlett (a junior) and sophomore Casey McNulty will again represent Lynn Classical on next year’s team…The Lady Rams basketball team finished the regular season with an 11-9 record and another trip to the MIAA State Tournament…the Rams hung tough in the first round before falling to  Division 2 North Champ Arlington Catholic…Head Coach and Exxon Oil Executive Tom Sawyer, well-known for his ardous game preparation, orchestrated regular season victories over Beverly, Lynn English, Peabody, and Salem.  The varsity team had a unique blend of veteran players and younger players who formed a very aggressive defensive style and unselfish style of play on offense…Saint Anselm’s bound senior captain Hannah Byrne, senior 3 point shooter Jenna Kulakowski, and crafty freshmen Kristin Lauria provided plenty of offensive spark and rebounding for the Lady Rams while senior captain Tashanna Brown and freshmen Franki Galeazzi shored up the backcourt with their steady ball handling skills and press breaking abilities…Coming off the bench Coach Sawyer lauded the scoring ability of sophomore southpaw Monta Connolly and the defensive grit of senior forward Roseanne Batista and guard Taylor Dumas…Hannah Byrne and Tashanna Brown were voted onto the Northeastern Conference All-Star Team…the Girl’s Team also honored one of LCHS all-time greats on February 8^th by presenting Helen Ridley with a banner honoring her 52 point game against Lynn English High School in 1999…Ridley played her college ball at Quinnipiac College where she is now an Assistant Coach…At the Junior Varsity level Coach Dennis Baldini had plenty of athleticism as well with future varsity stars Christine Connolly,Danesha Brown, Alina Garrity, Danielle Moran, Samantha Earp, Bobbi Dee Regan, and Kim Eldred all making significant contributions during the season. Freshmen Coach Cara Baldini acknowledged the tremendous play of Juliemar Perez, Asia McCellon, Alyssa Ouk, Angelina Calnan, Linda Khut, Eseosa Asiruwa, Carissa Contreras during their season.

The boy’s winter track team, under the auspice of WPI graduate and longtime assistant grid coach Ryan Hathaway made tremendous “strides” in all of its meets this winter…NEC Football Defensive Player of the Year and avid weightlifter Danny Omoregie was selected to the NEC All-Star Track Team and qualified for the States in the shotput event…football teammate Rudy Collymore also qualified for the States in the 50m and the High Jump…Malcolm Leng-King (300m), Jonathan Seng (600m), George Clark (mile), Perry Raymond (2mile), Kevine Kakou (300m), Daived Dawood (600m), Daniel Kong (1000m), Yvan Tchuinga (1000m), Adam Chambers (2 mile), Ryan Tesh (2 mile), Josue Delgado (1 mile), Alex Almonte (1000m), and Rithy Chhay (50m) all set personal bests during the season…many of these student/athletes will again compete in the spring season with Coach Hathaway…

John Finnigan and Hannah Byrne will be honored by Papa Gino’s and the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation on Sunday, April 3^rd at Gillette Stadium for their academic/athletic contributions to Lynn Classical High School…both will meet past Patriots’ greats Steve Nelson, Joe Andruzzi, Jermaine Wiggins and receive a private tour of The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon as well as lunch at Gillette Stadium…

On May 14^th at the Nahant Country Club, Lynn Classical High School will be inducting the following greats into its Hall of Fame…Jack Harney (1942), Dick Mikezenas (1951), Jim Cowdell (1979), Katie Barber (1997), Helen Ridley (2001), Gary Sverker (1968), Lex Thorton (1992), Jay Alicudo (1977), James Twombly (1958), Joseph Gunning (1968), Howard Lavan (1957), Kevin Debasitis (1978), and Bruce Hogan (1959)…

Athletic Director Bill Devin would also like to recognize the following people for their support during the winter athletic season: Dr. Catherine Latham, Dr. Jaye Warry, Tom Iarrobino, Dennis Thompson, Kevin McHugh, Amy Dunn, Chris Warren, Tom Strangie, Gary Molea, Diane Paradis, Joe Skeadas, Joe Pascucci, Dick Ruth, Arnie Ellis, Ted and Cindy Gaudreault, Leanne Baldini, Lisa Grassa, Ruth and Kenny Sawyer, Brian “Bubba” Barrett, Evan Shea, Silvana Comeau, Basketball Cheerleaders, Marilyn Chan, Jen Antonelli, Coach Melissa McCular, the Lynn Jets Cheerleaders, Coach Michelle Montoya, Bao Tran, John Hoffman, The Daily Evening Item, The Lynn Journal, Steve Brass, Kathy Grenier, Randy Nieves, Chris Ellis, Scottie Crooker, Lynne Devin and the Devin Boys, Dave Hegan, Joe Smart, Richie Magner, Dave Felton,Will Phelps, Tim Phelps, Will Brogden, Jared Surette, Frank Deluca, Coleen McNulty and the Koolie High Swag Team, Dick Baker, the MIAA, Steve Krause, Cary Shuman, Tom Bourque, Jen Mewa, Carol Fila, Katie Caffrey, Bob Melanson, Dot Frost, Pat Lee, the Classical Faculty and Guidance Department, Coula Kesanlis, Christine Pisanelli, John Hogan, Wayne Silva, Andre Gaudet, Joe Abelon, Larry Mcintire, Mike Roberts, Phil Terrenzoni, Barb Damon, and the NEC Athletic Directors and Principals.

Jarring hits like this one with Classical's Nick Grassa (2) and English's Tyllor McDonald have drawn concern. Lynn moving forward with concussion protection programs   By Steve Krause / The Daily Item The City of Lynn is taking an aggressively proactive stance on the state's initiatives to better protect high school athletes from traumatic head injuries. Under the direction of Dennis Thompson, the city's health and education curriculum director for Lynn Public Schools, the school department responded swiftly to the set of regulations the state issued last year with regards to concussions. Now, it is taking even bigger measures -- up to, and including, the purchasing of new football, baseball, hockey and lacrosse helmets within the next few years -- in an effort to minimize the effects of sports-related head injuries. "You are not going to eliminate them all," says English athletic director Gary Molea, "but you can try to lessen them." The measures, passed last August, stated that coaches, trainers, parents, physicians, and athletic directors needed to take an online course that outlined basic aspects of head injuries. "The course lasted from 20 to 30 minutes online, and afterward, you got a test. And if you passed, you got a certificate you could print out from your computer saying you passed," Thompson said. That was Phase One, which also included handouts for coaches, parents and students explaining the initiatives. Phase Two, which Thompson hopes to have in place by next fall, deals with testing students to measure the effects of any head injuries they might suffer. Thompson has chosen the ImPACT (Immediate post-concussion assessment and cognitive testing program) to conduct system-wide studies of all athletes who participate in sports. All students take a test before the school year starts to establish a base. Should anyone suffer a head injury over the course of a season, that student would not be allowed to resume participation without re-taking the test, and coming up with a score that matched -- within a certain range -- the base score. "If they don't match it," Thompson said, "they have to go back to their physician -- or whoever it was that treated them. And they won't be allowed back on the field until the score falls within the same range as the base." Students who suffer multiple head traumas must fall within a narrower range with each injury, Thompson said. Dennis Thompson, the city's health and education curriculum director for Lynn Public Schools, is helping the city's effort to minimize the effects of sports-related head injuries. Thompson and the athletic directors have also shopped around for helmets that might be more effective in lessening the impact of head injuries. "There is no clear-cut helmet that's going to completely do away with concussions and other head injuries," Thompson said, "but there are some that, hopefully, will be more effective." For 2011, Thompson said, the city hopes to have all new football and baseball helmets; with hockey coming next year. "But in the meantime," he said, "there's a shelf life for all helmets. And all our helmets go through reconditioning every year. The company that examines them might say one needs new airpads, or a new strap, or whatever. But if it doesn't pass the test, it's declared no good, and we can't use it. "Moving forward," he said, "whatever we do, we'll continue that practice." Thompson said a big part of the city's initiative is "just allowing students to learn about this. "Lynn," he said, "has a mentality of being tough-minded, and our kids are tough players. Kids won't say anything, because -- of course -- they want to play. But they have to learn that if they don't address these concerns, they might even miss more time in the end."

Tom Grassa Jamborees kick off hoop season By Joyce Erekson / The Daily Item The wait is nearly over for high school basketball fans. The regular season gets underway next week, but for those who are tired of waiting, the Elmo Benedetto Boys Basketball Jamboree and Paul Duchane Girls Basketball Jamboree might fit the bill. The 25th annual Benedetto Jamboree, which alternates between Classical and English, is at Classical this year. The boys will unofficially kick off the season beginning at 6 p.m. with Saugus vs. Peabody and end with Classical playing Marblehead in the final game at 9:20 p.m. The girls take center stage on Saturday in the 18th annual Paul Duchane Jamboree, also at Classical. Marblehead plays Lynnfield in the opening game at 3 p.m. and Classical faces Malden in the last game of the night at 7:40 p.m. Both jamborees honor men who left their imprint on high school athletics in the city. Benedetto was the Lynn public schools athletic director, a job that is now split three ways with each school having its own AD. Benedetto died in 1985 and in 1986, former Lynn English boys basketball coach Ron Bennett founded the jamboree as a way to honor his late friend and raise money for scholarships for English High basketball players. The jamboree was always held at English, but in 2005 it was moved to Classical and Classical High boys basketball coach Tom Grassa became the new director. In recent years, the jamboree has alternated between Classical and English with the scholarships open to players from all three Lynn public high schools. Grassa said he didn't know Benedetto very well, but he knows the former AD helped out athletes from throughout the city. "He did a lot for kids when he was the citywide AD," Grassa said. "He would really go to bat for them. He was of the opinion that there was a school (college) out there that was a good fit for every kid." Duchane was a teacher and coach at Classical and from 1979 through 1985, he was head football coach at English. After leaving English, he was an assistant coach at both Matignon and Bishop Fenwick. He was assisting Jack Radcliffe at Matignon when he fell ill at halftime of the game at Fenwick in 1989 and died on the way to Salem Hospital. Former Classical High athletic director Dick Ruth was instrumental in launching the girls jamboree in Duchane's memory. Classical High girls basketball coach Tom Sawyer, who runs the girls jamboree, said it's a good way to get ready for the season. "It's the closest thing you're going to get to a game (setting) in pre-season, with the uniforms, the clock, the crowd and three referees," Sawyer said. "It gives the younger kids a chance to get rid of the butterflies and the more experienced kids a chance to work on skills. It's kind of a dress rehearsal for the year ... it's also a great way to honor Mr. Duchane and raise funds for Classical." Grassa said the jamborees are a tradition and the players look forward to taking part in them. Grassa said coaches don't come in with the goal of winning the scrimmage. He said the jamboree can help get rid of the jitters that can come with playing in front of a large crowd. The Elmo Benedetto Jamboree schedule is as follows: Saugus vs. Peabody, 6 p.m.; Winthrop vs. Beverly, 6:40 p.m.; St. Mary's vs. Salem, 7:20 p.m.; Bishop Fenwick vs. Lynn Tech, 8 p.m.; Swampscott vs. English, 8:40 p.m. and Marblehead vs. Classical, 9:20 p.m. Tickets are $5 for students and adults. Each game will consist of two eight-minute periods. The Paul Duchane Jamboree schedule is as follows: Marblehead vs. Lynnfield, 3 p.m.; Saugus vs. Lynn Tech, 3:40 p.m.; Beverly vs. North Reading, 4:20 p.m.; Swampscott vs. Masconomet, 5 p.m.; English vs. Bishop Fenwick, 5:40 p.m.; Peabody vs. Reading, 6:20 p.m.; Danvers vs. St. Mary's, 7 p.m., and Classical vs. Malden, 7:40 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens. No passes will be accepted since it's a scholarship fundraising event.

Lynn City Soccer Tournament kicks off season

By Joyce Erekson / The Daily Item

It's time to put the baseball and softball gloves away and bring on soccer.

Tech, St. Mary's, English and Classical will get things rolling Tuesday with the fifth annual Lynn City Soccer Tournament. The girls open things up with English vs. Tech at 5 p.m. followed by St. Mary's-Classical at 7.

The boys take center stage Wednesday with the same matchups -- Tech vs. English at 5 p.m. and St. Mary's vs. Classical at 7 p.m. The consolation and championship games will be held on Saturday, Sept. 11, beginning at 9 a.m.

The city tournament was started by former St. Mary's athletic director Paul Athanasiadis and when he left, his replacement, Jeff Newhall, kept it going. The proceeds are donated to charity.

Classical has won the boys title the last three years while St. Mary's owns bragging rights for the girls, having won the tournament every year since it began.

The Lynn City Tournament is one of several that gives Lynn teams an opportunity to play against each other. All four schools put their boys and girls basketball teams in the Boverini Tournament held during the Christmas break. Classical, English and Tech meet yearly in the Lynn City Swim Meet and Classical, English and St. Mary's each send teams to the Nipper Clancy (baseball) Tournament and the John Holland (softball) Tournament.

"I think the kids who play soccer in the city look forward to playing in it," Newhall said. "I think it's a great way to kick off the soccer season."

Newhall said having the tournament at the beginning of the season also improves the odds of getting good weather -- although rain has been an issue the last two years. The tournament also raises money for charity. Along those lines, the tournament has benefited from donations -- in previous years, the referees have donated their time with Harrington Trophy and NEATCO donating the awards.

This year's tournament will feature some familiar faces on the sidelines, with Joe Skahan coaching the Classical boys, Kerry King, the English boys; Fred Gallo, the Tech boys and Mike D'Agostino, the St. Mary's boys. The girls games will have a few changes; Kerri Altieri, who coached Tech last year, is the new head coach at Classical. Her replacement, Jeremy McKeen, was an assistant boys coach with Gallo last year. Ed McNeil, English, and Jim Foley, St. Mary's, are also back.
"It's always a great tournament," Gallo said. "It's been a lot of fun with a lot of great soccer."McNeil echoed his sentiment. "We're looking forward to it," McNeil said "It's the highlight of the season at the beginning of the season."