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Hoffman, Channel 15 recognize Lynn student-athletes, coaching trio

Steve Krause

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LYNN – Lynn Cable Channel 15 host John Hoffman honored a large group of high-school athletes last night while recording his annual awards show – and also recognized three of Lynn’s coaches for their contributions.Aside from honoring athletes who took part in football, basketball, hockey and swimming, Hoffman honored outgoing Classical football coach Matt Durgin for his service to the school and city; outgoing English football coach Gary Molea for achieving his 100th career victory in his final season; and St. Mary’s girls hockey coach Frank Pagliuca for leading the Spartans to a 25-0 regular season and a Division 1 state championship.The affair also included a dinner that was catered by John’s Roast Beef proprietor Taso “Ernie” Nikolakopoulos, a St. Mary’s graduate and former Lynn athlete. Kevin Harrington, of Harrington’s Trophies, provided the hardware.”For me,” Nikolakopoulos said, “I came to this country to get an education. I grew up with a lot of the people here tonight, all of whom were exceptional athletes.”Frankly,” he said, “I’d like to be a coach. But I have a family, and a business, and I just don’t have the time. But this (sponsoring events such as this one) is a way I can feel as if I’m taking part, and that I’m giving back.”Nicolakopoulos employs several local athletes at his establishment.Athletes honored during the show’s taping were:Football: English: Byron Brown, Jason Gervacio, Al Soedomo and Charlie Rucker; Classical: Quivari Jackson, Tony Johnson, Chad Quintana, Alex Watler and Sebastian Begin; Tech: John Jones, Jose Rios, Stephon Carter and Lorenzo Rivera; and St. Mary’s: Kwesi Foster, Rich Barrows, Anthony Campagnone and Stephen Harper;Basketball: English: Rafael Perez and Jeanette Anderson; Classical: Jarell Byrd and Christina McKenzie; Tech: Jessica Underwood and Victor Smith; and St. Mary’s: Tyler Grillo and Amy Bozarjian.Hockey: Lynn Jets: Billy Mac Daniel; Tech: James Wall; and St. Mary’s: John Baldwin, Abby Gauthier and Christen Hart.Swimming: Classical: Tia Murkison; and Tech: Marcos Castellano.

  • Steve Krause

    Steve Krause is the Item’s writer-at-large. He joined paper in 1979 as a copy editor and later created a music column, called Midnight Ramblings, which ran through 1985. After leaving the paper for a year, he returned in 1988 as a reporter and editor in sports. He became sports editor in 1998; and was named writer-at-large in 2018. Krause won awards for writing in 1985 from United Press International; in 2001 from the Associated Press; and again in 2020 from the New England Newspaper & Press Association. He is a member of the Harry Agganis Foundation Hall of Fame, a past winner of the Moynihan Lumber Scholar-Athlete Community Service Award, and was the 2012 recipient of the Jack Grinold Media Award for MasterSports, an organization that conducts high school and college coaches’ clinics. He lives in Lynn, is active on Facebook, and can be found on Twitter @itemkrause.

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