LYNN — St. Mary’s saw a historic indoor track season last year, with its boys not only going undefeated in dual meets, but also winning the Catholic Central for the first time in school history.
With coach Tristan Smith at the helm, the MIAA took note, rewarding him Coach of the Year in boys indoor track.
When asked his initial thoughts, Smith said he was excited, but wished there was a “Coaching Staff of the Year” award.
“Without them, nothing that we accomplished as a team would be possible,” he said. “It’s easy to win Coach of the Year when you have a great coaching staff, a great athletic director in Mr. (Jeff) Newhall, great support from the school administrators, our teachers, and, of course, our student-athletes and their families. Without them, it wouldn’t be possible.”
“I also want to thank my family for all of their support, and also to my high school coaches at Swampscott for showing me how to be such a great coach,” Smith said.
The MIAA has a nomination process where coaches need to be nominated to be in the running.
“I received word that I had been nominated a few months ago, which alone meant a lot,” Smith said. “Months later, to hear about actually winning was really exciting.”
Smith, hired in 2018 as an assistant before becoming the full-time coach in 2020, felt this past year was special for more reasons than one.
“I think we came together as a team and coaching staff. This was the first indoor season that was sort of normal post-covid,” Smith said. “I was appointed as coach in the fall of 2020, so it was the first time we had a real season in many ways. We had dual meets back and it was the first season where we didn’t have to run with masks on.”
“We had many athletes compete at the state and national level,” Smith said. “Through all the years of covid, all came to fruition in a powerful way for everyone.”
As for Smith’s favorite part about coaching, he pointed to student-athlete growth.
“A lot of the kids who made noise at the highest level of competition were kids who weren’t doing it as freshmen. Watching their progression as not only young athletes, but young people, is really a special thing for me,” he said. “There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing kids improve on the track and grow up as people who will go on to do great things.”
Smith, not an alum, feels at home thanks to a “strong school culture.”
“I didn’t go to St. Mary’s, but I feel like I was welcomed in with open arms from everyone, starting with Mr. Newhall all the way to the students, the parents, and the teachers,” he said. “I think people see the passion that we have for what we’re doing and they’re into it. The question is always, ‘How can we help?’ There’s great support here at St. Mary’s.”
Smith hopes this award shines a light on Lynn track as a whole.
“One thing I’m hopeful of, receiving this award, is putting Lynn track and field on the map. I love our city and we have such great student-athletes and, sometimes, track isn’t something you hear much about, so hopefully this helps put Lynn running on the map ” he said. “I work hard and I love my team and what I do. There are so many incredible things across the Commonwealth, so to receive this award means a lot. It’s hard to put into words.”
