For their excellence both in the classroom and their respective athletic endeavors, Peabody High senior volleyball star Abby Bettencourt and Bishop Fenwick football captain Luke Connolly have been chosen as the Moynihan Lumber Student-Athletes of the Month for October.
The 17-year-old Bettencourt, a three-sport ace for the Tanners in volleyball, basketball and softball, has already committed to Brown University in Providence to continue her career on the diamond as an ace pitcher and hitter. Her academics speak volumes, as she ranks third in her senior class with a 4.12 GPA.
“I enjoy school a lot,” said Abby. “I’m a competitive person, so I take that with me into the classroom. Every test is a new challenge for me; I prepare for those the same way I prepare for a big game. I need to feel comfortable that I’ve studied enough beforehand, so that I go into the test prepared and confident.”
Abby, whose favorite subject is math, (“I like how there’s a right and a wrong answer; it’s not up for interpretation”), is a member of Peabody High’s Exceptional Honor Roll, awarded to those select few for a classroom score of 90 or above in all subjects for all quarters. She is a Harvard Book Award winner and secretary of her school’s NHS.
She plans on studying in the medical field at Brown.
“My mom (Lauren) is a physician assistant, so that’s always interested me,” Abby said.
At 5-foot-10, Abby considers volleyball to be her “fun” sport. She originally was a soccer and field hockey player in the fall before attending a volleyball camp with her younger sister, Lizzy, and fell in love with it.
The daughter of Peabody High football and baseball coach Mark Bettencourt, Abby was named Most Valuable Player of the Northeastern Conference this fall, finishing her career with better than 1,500 assists (a school record), 200 aces and 400 kills. She helped guide the Tanners to an 18-2 record, a conference championship, and a spot in the Division 1 state tournament.
“Volleyball is fast paced, and I really like that I have a lot of control on the court,” she said. “I don’t necessarily score all the points, but set up my teammates for success.
She has received many awards during her time at Peabody High, but this particular honor ranks high on her personal list.
“Because it involves being both a student and an athlete, that makes me proud,” Abby said. “A lot of awards I get are heavily weighted towards one side or the other, so to receive this honor where it’s weighted equally is really nice.”
Connolly is also an exceptional three-sport at Bishop Fenwick, where he not only dominates as a two-way standout in football, but is also one of the state’s best wrestlers and is a valuable weapon for the Crusaders’ lacrosse team in the spring, taking faceoffs and playing long stick middie.
During the school day in his classes, Luke more than measures up, too. Owner of a 4.3 grade point average and member of the National Honor Society, he thrives in an atmosphere where both his teachers and peers challenge him academically.
“I love to push myself academically, ask questions, get involved in discussions, and get help when I need it,” he said. “I’m not afraid to give the wrong answer, because then I can find out the mistake and not make it again.”
“I’m in a lot of high honors classes,” he continued, “so the others in my classes really push me to be a better student. My parents (Scott and Renee) help me in that regard, too.”
Wanting to study engineering in college, Luke’s favorite class is physics.
“I like the concepts and to see how things in the world actually happen,” he said. “I’ve always been a math guy, too, which helps me understand physics that much better.”
Luke has had a sensational season for Bishop Fenwick on the gridiron this fall. The 5-foot-10, 175-pounder is averaging 15 tackles per game as a strong safety, unafraid to step up and make big hits before opponents reach the second level of the Fenwick defense.
Offensively, he’s been a jack of all trades, lining up in the slot but also running out of the backfield more than he ever has. Heading into the Crusaders’ season finale against Masconomet on Thanksgiving, Luke is leading the team in rushing yards with 787, while also catching 29 passes for 540 yards. All told, he has scored 13 touchdowns and one 2-point conversion, good for 80 points.
With his school ineligible for postseason play this school year, Connolly’s role as a team captain has meant more than ever.
“It’s been a season where we’ve bonded as teammates more and not taken things for granted,” said Luke. “I honestly feel like we’ve cherished each and every game more than ever. I try to remind the boys, ‘Sometimes, life doesn’t go your way, and you just have to fight through it.’ I’m always trying to encourage the guys and focus on what we can control, not what we can’t.”
“Sports are very important,” he added, “but I always say to my teammates, ‘Remember that you’re a student-athlete, not an athlete-student.’ School always has to come first.”
