You know how, sometimes, certain years stick out because of their sports?
I can only speak for myself, but when I think of the year 1986, Bird is the word. Same with 1992 (that one was a dream), and when 2004 pops into my head, well, Sox fans know…
This state tournament season goes down as a memorable one, too.
Granted, there are still a few days remaining, but the last few weeks have been chalk full of storylines. Some pull at the heart strings, others inspire, and others show the heart of strong athletics programs.
First, let’s talk about Lynnfield tennis star “Marathon” Maddie Sieve, a nickname given to her by coach Craig Stone for her perseverance during long matches.
In a narrow 3-2 win over Bromfield this tournament, she put on a show in front of 100-plus people crowded around the tennis complex, but it was so much more.
Her match went into a tiebreaker, and Sieve found strength through her mother, Sharla, who died from cancer in 2022.
“Before the tiebreaker, I talked to my mom. Tennis was our thing. I told my mom, ‘Mom, I know you are here with me. Please help me get through this. Please help me win this for my team,’” she said. “That’s exactly what she did. This whole match was just so important to me.”
She sent her Pioneers to the next round, and they’re still dancing.
As for Marblehead’s softball team, it was also playing for a special someone in Todd Norman, a beloved assistant coach and face in the town who died suddenly in April.
What did the Magicians do? All they did was win 21 games and reach the Division 2 semifinals – all for Todd.
Despite a season-ending loss to fourth-ranked Westfield earlier this week, Marblehead’s run was nothing short of sensational.
“It’s been an honor to play in his memory. I wish we didn’t have to, but it’s given us a goal,” said coach Johnny Gold. “Nobody can ever take away what we did this year. … We have 21 wins. It’s unbelievable.”
In the world of volleyball, Lynn Classical and Lynn Tech each won their first state tournament games in program history – on the same night.
No. 41 Tech upset No. 24 Madison Park, 3-2.
“Great, all-around team win,” said coach Kaitlyn Wechsler. “We fought together the entire match.”
As did the No. 19 Rams, who took care of No. 46 South Shore Charter about an hour later.
“If you had told me at the beginning of the year that as a second-year program, we would end up with a home game in states and end up winning that game, I wouldn’t have believed you,” said coach Chris LeBlanc.
Keeping things in Lynn, St. Mary’s baseball team comes with an intriguing story, too. Toward the tail-end of the regular season, it’s safe to say, the Spartans just couldn’t hit.
Coach Derek Dana told his guys to “Just relax in there.”
“They know it. We’ve done everything. Throwing live, soft toss, we’ve got two pitching machines – they’ve done it all,” he added. “They’re just pressing too much. When we are hitting, we’re hitting ropes all over the place.”
Well, good things come to those who wait – and keep swinging, I guess.
St. Mary’s rattled off four state tournament wins and exploded offensively, plating 18 runs across the stretch. The Spartans take on Oakmont Regional this Saturday for the gold (see you there).
Last, but not least, and definitely not on the standings, we have to talk about the St. John’s Prep tennis team – one that still hasn’t lost this spring.
The Eagles are 21-0 and have eliminated two top-10 teams in Division 1. They fight for all the marbles this Saturday at MIT (Concord-Carlisle at 4:30 p.m.).
To coach Mark Metropolis, well done. I only say that coaches who earn their 500th win, as Metropolis did earlier this spring.
To the St. Mary’s baseball team, St. John’s Prep lacrosse and tennis squads, as well as both Lynnfield tennis programs, let’s see what you can do this weekend.
