SAUGUS– Four years after walking into her freshman year, as she puts it, “a weak little freshman,” Bishop Fenwick graduate Jennie Meagher is leaving high school as a model for what a student-athlete should be both on the court and in the classroom.
Meagher’s competitive athletic career will come to a close once and for all Monday night at St. Mary’s Conigliaro Gymnasium when she suits up for the North team in the 14th Agganis All-star Girls Basketball Game, as she’s not going to play anything more than clubs sports at Villanova University when she heads there this fall for her freshman year.
“I’m just going to stick to club sports and cheering on all of the teams,” Meagher, a Saugus resident, said. “You’ll definitely be able to catch me in the student section at the basketball games this winter.”
But Meagher accomplished plenty during her four years at Fenwick, including playing a key role on the girls basketball team as it went to four straight Division 3 North finals and won a Division 3 state title in 2016- her sophomore season with the Crusaders. And let’s not forget volleyball, where she dominated at the net and helped lead the Crusaders to a sectional title there as well.
“She’s just the ultimate competitor and team player,” said Adam DeBaggis, who coached Meagher in both basketball and volleyball, and will coach her one final time Monday. “She came in as a freshman and contributed right away on good teams. Over the past two years she’s taken over as one of the leaders on the team and proved to everyone that she really is the quintessential leader in every way.”
In addition to leading the way on the court, Meagher also led the way in the classroom by completing multiple Advanced Placement courses, posting a 4.4 GPA and becoming a member of the National Honor Society.
“It has really taught me to be self-disciplined, stay focused and do things 100 percent,” Meagher said of her busy schedule throughout high school.
Thanks to her valiant efforts in sports and in the classroom, Meagher was named the Moynihan Lumber Female Student-Athlete of the Year for 2017-2018.
“It’s a huge honor to win the award, and I think it really speaks to the positive environment I’ve been in at Fenwick,” Meagher said. “All along the way I’ve been given opportunities to learn, grow and compete, and it’s all led to this point.”
Meagher especially singled out DeBaggis, as being a big influence throughout her career as a student-athlete.
“He’s been a huge influence,” Meagher said. “He taught me how to get the most out of myself and become a leader. I’m just really grateful for the opportunity he gave me to lead.”
The two will have one final go-round as a player-coach duo, as DeBaggis will be coaching Meagher and the rest of the North all-star team in the Agganis game Monday night (6).
