PEABODY — It’s been a busy senior year for Bishop Fenwick’s Cade Buckley.
Between golf in the fall, basketball in the winter, picking a college and volunteering his time to charitable causes, he’s hardly had time to sit down.
But he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It’s been a crazy year, but it’s been a fun year,” said Buckley. “There was so much uncertainty after the pandemic, so I feel very fortunate that I was able to compete in both of my senior seasons this year.”
Buckley had the interesting distinction this year of being the first player to compete again in North Shore high-school sports following the easing of pandemic restrictions. He was the No. 1 player for Fenwick’s golf team, which played the first high-school varsity match of any sport back on Sept. 27.
Buckley had a stellar year on the golf course, with the senior captain averaging roughly 31 points per match in the No. 1 slot for the Crusaders. He was named both a Daily Item All-Star and a Catholic Central League All-Star for his efforts.
“I played really well this year, and I think it was really a buildup from all the work I’ve put in over the past four years,” said Buckley. “Before this season, I was a really up-and-down kind of player. I think the biggest improvement for me was my consistency, and I was able to score about 30 points in every match.”
He took that momentum from golf right into the basketball season, helping Fenwick to a successful season along the way.
“Basketball was so fun, and it was such a great group of guys,” said Buckley. “Playing with the COVID guidelines was a little weird at first, but just to be out there playing with the guys again was worth it.”
With his athletic prowess, his academic achievements and his volunteering with the Stock Club and My Brother’s Table, Buckley was recently honored by Salem Country Club as one of the Joseph O’Boyle Memorial Fund Scholarship recipients.
The scholarships are for college-bound seniors who reside in Peabody, attend either Peabody High or Bishop Fenwick and have excelled in leadership, athletics, academics and community service. Buckley was honored alongside classmates Colby Browne, Aidan Dwyer and Hannah Johnson as well as Peabody High’s Olivia Barrete, Lily Bromberger, Sophie Izzo and Amber Kiricoples.
“It was a great ceremony and a great honor, and I’m really humbled to be chosen because I know that there were so many great applicants,” said Buckley. “It was great to be up there with Colby, Aidan and Hannah as well. We’re all friends and we always talk about Peabody pride and never forgetting where you came from.”
Buckley also found his future home at St. Joseph’s College in Standish, Maine, where he plans to major in business administration/sports management and play on the golf team.
“I’m really excited to get started up there,” said Buckley. “I’ve already made some great relationships and I’ve met a bunch of great people, but I know the hard work isn’t finished. Golf isn’t an easy sport, and I know there’s plenty I need to work on to get ready for next season.”
Now that Buckley is officially a high-school graduate (Fenwick’s ceremony took place Thursday evening at Donaldson Stadium), he’s got eyes toward his summer schedule — which includes a lot of golf.
“I haven’t fully set up my schedule yet, but I know that I’m going to be playing in the North Shore Amateur (at Far Corner Golf Club) and there are a bunch of Mass Golf tournaments that I have my eye on. Other than that, the plan is to play a bunch of golf with my teammates and continue to prepare for the fall. It’s going to be a packed schedule, but that’s how I like it.”
