Krause: Lynn teams well represented heading into state tournament season

Nine … and 10 if you count the Winthrop/Saugus/Lynn combined girls hockey team (and why wouldn?t you?).That is the number of teams from Lynn that will play — in one way, shape or form — later this month when the winter state tournaments begin.They are as follows: English, Classical and St. Mary?s boys and girls basketball; St. Mary?s boys and girls hockey; the Lynn Jets boys hockey team; and the Winthrop/Saugus/Lynn Lady Bulldog hockey team.Some of these were pretty much deemed automatic. Both the English girls and boys, and the St. Mary?s girls, were seen as automatics. In fact, both the Lady Bulldogs and Spartans have been ranked at or near the top of their respective divisions (1 and 3 respectively) and are expected (and should be) to go far in their North sectionals.It?s s been a struggle at times for the English boys, who have only lost four games, but have also had their hands full in a few others. But to their credit, and with injuries and other personnel problems to contend with, they?ll be there come the end of February. And the Bulldogs are tournament tested, too. They have four of the five returning starters off last year?s team that went to the Division 1 North final.The Classical girls basketball team, once again, will be there. The Rams clinched their spot Monday by beating Everett after being on the verge for three straight games prior to that. Making the tournament has to be another feather in coach Tom Sawyer?s cap. Sawyer has had to make do for major stretches without center Kristen Lauria, but he?s found the right combination with what?s left (Franki Galeazzi, Chelsea Rogers, Chenysse Hill, Heidi Milhem, Shannon Magner and Christine Connolly) to make it work.Dave Brown took over this year at St. Mary?s and had Anthony Silfa (formerly of English) drop in his lap. It?s tough to say the Spartans will waltz through Division 4 North, but they?d have to be a favorite the way they?re playing.Props also to Tom Grassa and the Classical boys. There wasn?t much talk about the Rams in December, but here it is February and they?re playing Salem tonight for the Northeastern Conference/North championship. It?s been a little like Mr. Toad?s Wild Ride for Classical at times. When they?re good … they?re very good. When they?re not … they?re REALLY not (as witnessed by the shellacking they took two weeks ago at Beverly).One of the reasons Classical is in this position, though, is because the Rams have won some games no one thought they?d win. They swept English and beat Salem — the preseason pick in the league — in their first meeting last month.In hockey, the Jets looked to be in the hunt prior to the start of the season, and they have not disappointed anyone. In their league (Northeastern Conference/South) they are undefeated.However, Mark Lee of St. Mary?s has to be considered — strongly — for coach of the year in the Catholic Central/Large (and perhaps beyond). The Spartans are 13-4-2 overall and 6-1-2 in their league, and that?s a far cry from the off-year they suffered in 2012-2013 when they failed to make the tournament.Granted, the return to St. Mary?s of Bailey MacBurnie, who is riding a 1.38 goals against average (as of Wednesday night), has an awful lot to do with this. As we all know, a good goalie makes a huge difference. But you have to do other things to win, too, and Lee has put together a team that has scored 86 goals and 101 points. And he has his team back where it?s accustomed to being.The girls are defending a state title, but they?re doing it with a small roster (17 players — five of them goalies). As you might expect, it?s been a struggle (the Spartans? overall record is 9-5, not counting Wednesday night?s game). Goals have been harder to come by than they have in other years, but the defense, led by Tatiana Doucette, has saved them.The real diamond in the rough this year is the Winthrop Bulldogs, who are 4-0 in the NEC/North and 11-3-1 overall. For this year, at least, it might be time to l