Both Abby Buckley of Lynnfield High and Ryan Garlitz of St. John’s Prep will leave lasting imprints on their schools’ athletic programs — even if, in the case of Buckley, its indirect.
The two athletes have been named the Moynihan Lumber Student Athletes of the Month for February.
Buckley may attend Lynnfield High, but the Pioneers join forces with Peabody and North Reading high schools every winter in girls hockey. And Buckley, the goalie, backboned the combined Tanner team to a historic season.
Garlitz, a senior, won the Massachusetts state championship in the 138-pound division in wrestling. He also grabbed first place in all but one of the matches in which he participated.
“Buckley “has been the backbone of our team for four years,” said Peabody/Lynnfield coach Michelle Roach. “And she’s been a key to rebuilding the program. As a senior captain, she holds the program record for wins (27, which not only eclipses the record for goalies, but is more victories than the entire program had prior to her joining the team).
Holder of a 3.78 grade point average, Buckley carried a 2.34 goals-against average for her four-year career, and had a save percentage of .901, “well above average for high school girls,” Roach said.
Buckley allowed only 14 goals this season, and 32 for her career.
She was named the Northeast Hockey League all-league goalie this winter, and led the Tanners to their third-straight Carlin Cup victory over Bishop Fenwick.
“Most recently,” said Roach, “she helped us make program history with our first tournament win.” And thanks to her, the Tanners shocked St. Mary’s of Lynn in the second game by not only beating the Spartans, but shutting them out.
“It honestly felt amazing,” Buckley said of her performance. “Seeing where we’ve come since my freshman year, getting an accomplishment like that means so much. It felt awesome, especially getting it against St. Mary’s who shut us out in last year’s tournament.”
The Tanners eventually lost in the third round, but to eventual Division 1 state champion Methuen/Tewksbury.
“Her leadership inspires her teammates and her play instills confidence,” Roach said. “She makes big saves at crucial time and it lifts our team.”
In the seven games she played in February, Buckley had three shutouts and a 5-1-1 record. She allowed nine goals for a 1.29 average.
Buckley has been on the high honor roll at Lynnfield all four years, and was student-athlete of the month once before, in February 2017. She also received the Spanish Award for Academic Achievement in 2016.
Off the ice, Buckley writes for the Lynnfield High School Catalyst, the school newspaper, is in the Kindness Club, Sisterhood Society Club, and Best Buddies club.
She also plays girls lacrosse for the Pioneers. She will be attending Boston College in the fall.
This winter, Garlitz recorded a 57-1 record on the mat — 33-0 in dual meets. He had 44 pins, 361.5 team points. And he did all this while maintaining a 4.0 GPA.
He was especially effective in the many tournaments, including Marshfield (five wins by fall) and Woburn (4).
Along the way toward his state championship, Garlitz was the Division 1 North champ and Division 1 state championship. He placed third in the New England tournament.
In his career, Garlitz is 226-13 and 139-1 in dual meets. He ended up with 153 career pins and 1,371 team points.
He won at the Marshfield Holiday Tournament four times, and was named outstanding wrestler three times), and won at the Woburn Tournament all four years as well.
He is also a four-time Division 1 North finalist, and twice won the championship.
Aside from his 4.0 GPA, Garlitz has been an Academic All-American all four years.
