Whitcomb, Miles receive Conlon Memorial Scholarship

St. Mary?s Erik Whitcomb and Essex Tech?s Brooke Miles found plenty of success on the soccer field. Both can trace that success to their soccer roots at Hood Park and their time in Lynn Youth Soccer.
Both have played, coached, refereed and volunteered in the program. It was that dedication to the program and helping the boys and girls in it that led Lynn Youth Soccer?s board to name them this year?s recipients of the Michael J. Conlon Memorial Scholarship Award.
Conlon was a Lynn Youth Soccer player who went on to graduate from Lynn English before attending Babson College. He was killed in a car accident in 1996, during his junior year of college.
Since 1997, LYS has awarded a check for $500 to help defray college expenses to a male and female graduate of the program who best exemplified the qualities of teamwork, leadership and dedication.
Whitcomb and Miles were presented with their awards along with a plaque that will hang in the Hood Park clubhouse with their names on it during the 24thannual Lynn Youth Soccer Memorial Day Tournament.
?It was really exciting to hear about both of them,” said Diane Conlon, Michael?s mother. “We got the chance to talk to them before the ceremony and after and it gives you an insight into the kids they are. They were very nice and are great representatives of Lynn Youth Soccer.”
Whitcomb shined in goal this season at St. Mary?s. The Spartans won the Catholic Central League/Large title and put together a 19-game unbeaten streak after losing their season opener to Lynn Classical. St. Mary?s eventually reached the Division 3 North final, losing to Manchester-Essex, 5-4, in a shootout.
Whitcomb also was a standout swimmer, helping to lead the Spartans to a 4-5-1 record and a fourth-place team finish in the CCL championships. He will continue his swimming career at Washington College in Chestertown, Md.
?Erik is quite an athlete,” said Bart Conlon.
Miles also had a standout senior year and career at Essex Tech. She served as a two-year captain for the girls? soccer team, helping guide the Hawks to a 13-7-1 record and a spot in the Division 4 North semifinals.
She is Essex Tech?s senior class president this year and has earned an appointment to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, where she will play soccer.
She is the second member of her family to be honored with a Conlon scholarship. Her cousin, Jessica (Miles) Dormady, was a recipient in 1999.?It was really nice to see Brooke honored because her father, Ed, was a student of mine at Lynn Tech,” said Bart Conlon, Michael?s father and the former director of Lynn Tech. “(Ed has) helped out every year in setting up for Memorial Day weekend and the tournament.”