Each year, Lynn English High School picks two scholar-athletes – male and female – to celebrate their achievements in and out of the classroom. This year’s recipients are Eamonn McHale and Nina Ly.
McHale is enrolled in several honors and AP courses, including calculus, physics, world history, and ancient Greek. The track, cross country, and swimming star is also an active member of National Honor Society and sports a 4.0 GPA.
He’s received the Abigail Adams, Heisman, and Koplik Scholarships, among others that are still pending. McHale has been accepted into the Isenberg School of Business at UMass Amherst, but is still weighing his options.
As for his work outside of school, McHale was a captain for all three sports from sophomore to senior year. In cross country, he’s been a top-five finisher in the Greater Boston League multiple times, an All-Star, Division 1 state qualifier, and first-place runner in the Lynn All-City Meet.
“Eamonn is a dedicated and strong-willed leader who constantly strives for the best in not only himself, but also his teammates, devoting many hours to be the best version of himself,” said Athletic Director Dick Newton. “He has been an athlete for four years and a varsity athlete for three, significantly contributing to the cross country, swim, and track teams.”
In the pool, he finished first in the GBL in the breaststroke his senior year – all while going undefeated. The GBL All-Star also led the Bulldogs to two second-place finishes in the medley relay and 400-yard relay as an anchor.
“He is an individual who is remarkably ahead of his competitors, and a person who displays leadership and the ability to work in a team,” Newton said.
Ly has run outdoor track for two seasons, as well as indoor track and cross country for one.
“Although I have only been competing for one year, the lessons, experiences, and memories have been limitless,” she said. “During the first two years of high school, I always believed that I would injure myself if I ran track due to my asthma. Junior year, I finally got out of my comfort zone after years of being told that participating in a sport was an unreachable goal. After joining, I realized that I was faster than I thought.”
It’s true. Her 4×200 relay team earned first place in four of six meets, including a second-place finish in the GBL.
“Our team qualified for the MIAA State Championship and was able to break our school’s record,” Ly said.
Off the track, she’s just as fast in what she wants to accomplish, ranked fourth in her class with a 4.58 weighted GPA and seven AP classes under her belt.
She’s also been Senior Class Secretary, a violist in the All-City Orchestra, Co-President of Asian American Club, and Upward Bound Student Council President.
“As for college, I am waiting on decisions from colleges like Amherst, Tufts University, Boston University, and Cornell University,” Ly said.
The do-it-all Bulldog thanked coach Brenda Martin, assistant coach Jackie Ramirez, Rachel Villanueva, and the relay team of Abety Kivagheni, Jania Cooper, and Jade Quero.
“We earned each and every accomplishment together,” Ly said.
